The Real Jesus Experience

Brittiny and Kacie were both saved young, but the years that followed shook them deeply. In Part 1, they share how family pain, pressure, grief, and unanswered questions shaped their early lives—and how God was still holding them through it all. This is a raw and hope-filled conversation about childhood faith, deep wounds, and the quiet faithfulness of Jesus in seasons that make no sense. If you’v...

In Part 2 of his testimony, Ralph Rodriguez shares what happened when the pain and darkness in his life reached a breaking point. After years of depression, hopelessness, and questioning whether God was even real, Ralph entered a season of spiritual warfare that left him desperate for answers. Then, at a youth camp altar, he prayed, “God, if You’re real, show Yourself to me.” That moment changed e...

In this first part of his testimony, Ralph Rodriguez sits down with Chad to share the painful beginnings of a story marked by fatherlessness, hidden trauma, deep emotional wounds, and a battle with depression. As Ralph reflects on those years, he speaks honestly about anger, insecurity, loneliness, and the pressure to hide pain behind humor, toughness, and trying to fit in. What looked normal on t...

Acts 27 is one of those chapters that reads like a travel log… until it doesn’t. As I sat focusing on my Bible study, something flickered in my mind: buried inside this storm-and-shipwreck story was a description of my own journey through the wall! My own season where the headwinds wouldn't stop, plans fall apart, and I realized I couldn't push my way forward anymore. The kind of pressure that exp...

Heads up, TRJE family—our next episode will be two weeks out. But it’s worth the wait. We’re trying something new: a conversation with two good friends whose stories intersect in a way we can’t wait for you to hear. Their testimonies come together in a powerful, God-sized way—and we believe it’s going to encourage a lot of people. Thank you for riding with us. Stay tuned! Listen NOW for new episod...

In Part 2 of Derek Mathews’ story, the Lord keeps pulling back the curtain on a lie Derek didn’t even realize was still running his spiritual life: the idea that God is distant—powerful, yes—but cold, static, and impressed only by performance. Derek shares how God began rewriting that image, not just with new information, but with a new experience—the kind that turns fear-driven striving into rest...

In today’s episode of The Real Jesus Experience, I’m joined by Derek Mathews—the founder and host of the Storyverse Podcast, and the founder of Storyverse Ministries. In Part 1, Derek takes us back to the early framework he had for God—distant and critical—and how that shaped a faith that felt more like work than relationship. Derek's vision of God was as though He was sitting in a swivel chair, t...

In Part 2 of Barko Engelbrecht’s testimony, Barko shares what it’s like to hit the “wall” seasons—those moments that don’t just test your faith in Christ, they strengthen the foundation of it. As he steps away from security to serve in ministry, you’ll hear a powerful story of trusting God’s plan and watching Him provide in ways only He can. From there, Barko and Chad get into bold obedience and r...

REWIND (Part 2) continues the highlight reel from the first 40 interviews on The Real Jesus Experience Podcast —more of the moments that hit you right in the heart and leave no room for “that was just coincidence.” In this second half, you’ll hear more of Chad’s favorite turning points: the raw honesty that brings freedom, the prayers that marked a before-and-after, the hard lessons God used to re...

REWIND is a two-part look back at the past year and a half since The Real Jesus Experience began recording testimonies. This collection features Chad’s favorite moments from the first 15 interviews—the turning points, the honest confessions, the “only God” breakthroughs, and the hope-filled reminders that Jesus still restores. The goal of REWIND is simple: to help you discover an episode that spea...

In today’s episode of The Real Jesus Experience, we’re sitting down with Barko Engelbrecht—a man whose identity was built on the rugby field… until life forced him to ask who he really was without it. Barko grew up in South Africa in a culture where rugby isn’t just a sport—it’s a proving ground. From a young age, he chased the next level, the next team, the next opportunity. And while there was a...

In the first half of Owen Gray’s story, we heard how everything he thought his life would be—basketball, dreams of playing at the next level, a clear path forward—was suddenly interrupted. A diagnosis, a surgery, and a hard reset on his future forced him to wrestle with who he really was apart from the game, and what it actually meant to know and follow Jesus. In this second half of the conversati...

In today’s episode of The Real Jesus Experience, we’re sitting down with Owen Gray—a young man whose entire future changed in a single moment. Owen grew up in church, with parents who genuinely loved Jesus and modeled what obedient Christian life looks like. He prayed the prayer, he believed in God, and he thought he knew Jesus. But like so many of us, there was something on the throne of his hear...

Welcome to a new kind of episode from The Real Jesus Experience. Because we know God doesn’t ever stop working on us, in us, or through us, we’re launching a new series called Faith in Motion: The Story Continues. On The Real Jesus Experience, we’ve heard powerful Christian testimonies—stories of how people encountered the real Jesus Christ, found redemption, healing, and hope in the middle of rea...

In the first part of her story, Jennifer shared what it was like growing up in a home full of expectations and rules — how she learned to survive by staying small, performing for love, and keeping quiet. That pressure eventually led to rebellion, heartbreak, and rock bottom. But the story didn’t end there. In this second half of the conversation, Jennifer opens up about what came next—divorce, a c...

What do you do when you’ve tried everything to be good—but it’s still not “good” enough? In Part 1 of this Christian testimony, Jennifer Collins opens up about her early life growing up in a religious home where church was expected, emotions were avoided, and love often felt conditional. She shares her experience navigating faith in Christ without ever really knowing Him, her struggle with identit...

Have you ever followed God and ended up in the wilderness? In this second part of his story, Doug opens up about what happened after he finally said yes to God—and everything seemed to fall apart. What he thought would be a breakthrough season turned into job loss, ministry burnout, financial pressure, and a literal heart attack. Through it all, Doug wrestled with the question: “God, why would You...

In this first part of his story, Doug sits down with Chad to talk about where it all started—small-town Kansas, a complicated family history with church, and a whole lot of running from God. Doug shares what it was like growing up trying to live up to his siblings, how rebellion became his identity, and how things spiraled into partying, drugs, and even a near-fatal overdose. But that’s not where...

In part two of Blake Swoboda’s powerful testimony, his faith and fortitude are tested in ways he never could have imagined. After discovering a true relationship with Jesus, Blake enters a season of unimaginable trials, where his only hope for survival is to lean fully on Christ. Through hardship, fear, and uncertainty, he experiences how prayer, Christian community, and the power of God’s promise...

In this powerful Christian testimony, Blake Swoboda shares how he grew up in a Catholic tradition shaped by guilt, ritual, and a distant relationship with God. He opens up about struggling with faith, battling feelings of spiritual inadequacy, and wondering how to get closer to God. But everything changed during college, when he had a divine encounter with Jesus Christ, discovering the true meanin...

In Part One, Matt shared the painful wounds of his past — from childhood trauma to years of shame and confusion. In Part Two, we see how God was working all along, turning those wounds into a powerful calling. Matt opens up about the unexpected ways God guided his healing, the people He placed in his path, and how even the hardest seasons became part of a greater purpose. This is a story of redemp...

Only God can take what was meant for harm and use it for healing. In this powerful testimony, Matt Delp shares how God stepped into his story of childhood sexual abuse, religious confusion, and shame—not with condemnation, but with compassion and a redemptive purpose. Though Matt once believed God didn’t truly like him, the Lord proved otherwise by placing key people in his life—a faithful youth p...

Welcome back to The Real Jesus Experience! We’re diving into part two of our conversation with Galen Blom — a man whose passion for living out the Gospel has had a real impact on communities and churches. In this episode, we talk about how God used Galen to plant churches and spark authentic growth — not through flashy programs or big marketing pushes, but by simply being the Church right where pe...

Welcome to The Real Jesus Experience, a Christian podcast where raw stories of faith, struggle, and redemption inspire us to trust in God's plan. Today, we begin a compelling two-part journey with a man whose life took a miraculous turn—Galen Blom, Minister of Domain Engagement at Houston NW Church. In this first episode, Galen takes us deep into a childhood filled with struggles—undiagnosed dysle...

In honor of Memorial Day, we are re-releasing this heartfelt episode that honors the sacrifice of our fallen heroes. Join us as we sit down with Sarah Delp, who shares her poignant journey of loss, healing, and hope after losing her brother, Specialist Scott Larson Jr., during his deployment in Iraq. Sarah speaks openly about the trials she faced, the way her faith guided her through the darkness,...