The Unfolding

When you work in the fashion industry, image is everything.  As a young woman, Hannah Corwin moved to London and began working as a photographer in the fashion industry.  It was an environment where it was easy to get caught up in believing you are what brand you wear. Image meant everything, and her identity was completely wrapped up in her job.  Today Hannah works in Nashville, shooting artists...

Marcus Rixon grew up in a 12' x 6' home with no running water in Kolkata, India.  One of the challenges he faced was the box that kids like Marcus grew up in- a box that defined him and his potential. But his parents prayed for a way out of poverty, and the first answer to that prayer was sponsorship through One Child that allowed him to go to school.  It was the beginning of a series of events th...

  Jo Saxton is one of those people who seems naturally gifted to lead. She's an author, speaker, podcast host, and leadership coach. But the early years of her life were filled with experiences that fed a deep insecurity. Her gifts and talents were buried beneath the weight of the baggage she carried. If you've ever questioned whether God could use even you, you'll want to hear Jo's story.  

Have you ever felt God's presence?  The Bible says one of the names of Jesus is Emmanuel, which means "God with us." In this special Christmas episode of The Unfolding, we asked our guests to share stories of how they have experienced God's presence in supernatural ways.  We hear stories from worship leaders Paul and Hannah McClure, Mike Weaver from Big Daddy Weave, Pam Peoples, and Katie Brink, w...

When Mike Donehey thinks about Christmas as a kid, he can't remember the gifts he received most years.  But one Christmas stands out.  It was the year there were no presents in the Donehey family.  His parents came to the Donehey kids with a proposition – they could afford Christmas presents or surgery to save their dog, Sam. Mike talks about how sometimes, not getting what we hope for, can be a g...

When God calls you to something, sometimes it takes years before it actually comes to pass.  Rob Wallstrom has had a very successful career as a retail executive, leading companies like Vera Bradley and Saks Fifth Avenue's outlet division. But years ago, his goal wasn't to lead companies.  As a teenager, he felt a clear call from God to be a pastor.  It's been 35 years since then.  Now, it seems t...

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? What would you do if you knew God was with you?  Ryan Leak is a teaching pastor, speaker, executive coach, and author.  He is widely known for his documentary, "Chasing Failure."  He asked himself: What would he do if he knew he could not fail?  The answer was easy- he'd be in the NBA- and since the only way to know if that dream could be a reality...

If you have experienced a devastating loss, you may wonder how anyone could survive such debilitating grief. How do you live through that kind of sadness? That's what Kyle and Betty Mertens thought when they lost their one-year-old daughter Ella. They were drowning in grief, but they were determined to find a way through it with God. In the wake of their tragedy, they created a journal to keep the...

Courtney Smallbone's family has followed Jesus for generations.  But as a teenager, Courtney was unconvinced.  Then a pivotal experience changed her from skeptic to whole-hearted believer.  She saw God doing the impossible, and that marked her for life.  It changed her expectations and prepared her for a day when she would need to believe for something that seemed impossible.  Courtney and her hus...

Despite what we often believe, success doesn't solve the problem of insecurity. Mike Weaver is the lead singer of Big Daddy Weave. For more than 20 years, the band has experienced amazing success – awards, gold and platinum records, and #1 songs.  They've toured across the U.S. and beyond.  But all that affirmation wasn't enough to quiet an inner critic.  For Mike Weaver, he was never enough.   

In 1975 when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia, Dareth Ly was 7 years old.  He spent most of the next 4 years in a work camp, barely surviving starvation and torture.  When he landed in the U.S. as an orphan, he forced himself to forget everything about Cambodia.  He knew he would never go back.  But God can take what others meant for evil and turn it for good.  (Caution for parents: this story c...

Nobody sets out to be a failure, but what if failure is exactly what we need? Dallas Jenkins is the director of The Chosen, the first ever multi-season show about Jesus. Long before The Chosen, Dallas wasn't interested in making faith-based films. He dreamed of making it big in Hollywood. What God taught Dallas through failure became part of the incredible story that led to The Chosen.  

For missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, a night to celebrate their wedding anniversary turned into a nightmare.  On May 27, 2001, they were kidnapped from a resort in the Philippines by the Abu Sayyaf, a militant organization with ties to al Qaeda.  Held hostage for over a year, the Burnhams were forced to live in the jungle with little food or water, endure gun battles, and witness atrocities...

Sparkle Sanders was driven to succeed in everything she did.  One of her greatest fears was failure. Nothing made her feel more like a failure than motherhood. When Sparkle became a mom, it didn't look anything like what she expected.   Every day was hard, and the struggle with postpartum depression made her feel miles away from God. Sparkle is the founder of Beautiful Truth, a for-profit, global...

When Anne Wilson was growing up, she wanted to be an astronaut.  She made plans, started taking classes, and set her hopes on traveling to space.  But one tragic summer night in 2017 altered the course of Anne's life.  The death of her brother Jacob set off a series of events that made clear to Anne that God's purpose was different than her plan.  Anne sang in front of an audience for the very fir...

Nathan Sheridan experienced more tragedy as a young boy than many of us face in an entire lifetime.  Born to addicted parents, Nathan and his sister were passed between relatives.  The abandonment of his parents was followed by even more heartbreak, and that left Nathan carrying a heavy load of grief.  Sometimes that kind of heartache can make you believe nothing good could ever come of your story...

Karen Horne got really good at "pretend normal."   Her husband was living a lie and she was pretending everything was fine. When you are married to a pastor, there is intense pressure to appear as if all is well.  Betrayal, deceit and hidden sin had eaten away at the foundation of their family. Karen would have to go undercover to find out the truth.  This episode contains references to pornograph...

Long before Hope  Darst  became a successful recording artist and worship leader, she believed God called her to lay down that dream. Surrender had become a theme in her life.  Giving up control to Jesus, letting go of her hopes for a career, and surrendering her dream to become a mother were all a part of her path.  Today Hope is known for powerful anthems like "Peace Be Still" and "Promise Keepe...

If you were old enough to be aware of the events that day, you likely know exactly where you were on September 11, 2001.  In this special 20th anniversary edition of The Unfolding, we are sharing a collection of stories from 9/11.  With each story we move closer to Ground Zero.  We begin 8,000 miles from Manhattan in the jungles of the Philippines. Missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were being...

James Winston understands that Romans 12:2, "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind," means more than simply changing your mind.  It means complete transformation.  When he was 22, James was sent to Viet Nam.  Like thousands of other soldiers, he was introduced to heroin.  That began an addiction that enslaved him for 30 years.  Along the way he served multiple prison sentences and devastated...

Chad Mattson is best known as the lead singer of the band Unspoken.   For nearly 20 years he's been touring the country, writing hit songs like "Reason," "Call it Grace," and "Start a Fire." But before he set foot on a stage or realized that music was going to be a part of his life, Chad was living under the weight of contradiction.  He knew God was real, he'd felt His presence.  Yet his life was...

Mike and Shannaree Muzinich say their relationship was like sandpaper.  It was constant abrasion and bracing for the next conflict.  For ten years the two physicians chased after things they thought would bring them happiness- a dream home, prestigious careers and big incomes. Yet they still lived in misery with little expectation that things would get better. Even though they weren't looking for...

Nigerian-born singer and songwriter Blessing Offor immigrated to the United States when he was six years old, leaving his parents and five older siblings behind. His family made the difficult choice to send him to America for medical care because he was born with congenital glaucoma and was nearly blind in his left eye. Instead, a few years later a fluke accident left him almost totally blind in b...

Terry Wildman didn't grow up immersed in the history and culture of his First Nations ancestors.  But after he met Jesus, his heart for Indigenous Americans grew.  As he learned more about the painful history of Native North Americans and the Church, he struggled with questions. But through that struggle, he felt a call to translate the Bible following the tradition of Native storytellers. The Fir...

The spinal surgery Katy Nichole underwent to correct scoliosis left her in excruciating pain.  For three years she battled anxiety and depression.  She came to a point where she wanted to give up, but God met Katy at her lowest and assured her he had a purpose for her life.  It was during those years of struggle that Katy began to realize God had given her the gift of mus ic so she could encourage...