The Unfolding

" We prayed for her to wake up on Valentine's Day. And she did—but in heaven. " Every year, Lee and Terry commemorate their daughter Amanda's passing with a homecoming celebration. In this deeply moving episode, they share the painful journey leading up to Amanda's diagnosis, the heartbreak of losing her, and how their faith was tested in unimaginable ways.   In 1985, they noticed Amanda was exper...

Riley Kehoe was 10 years old when her family's island vacation turned into a nightmare.  On the morning of December 26, 2004, an earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia. Riley's family had to run for their lives from a tsunami with waves up to 100 feet high. It was a terrifying experience that took the lives of more than 200,000 people. In the aftermath, fear threatened to rule Riley's life....

Melissa shares how one act of obedience became a powerful confirmation for someone desperate to know that God sees, hears, and loves her. Melissa stepped into a conversation with a woman and felt God's presence in a way she couldn't ignore. Then, God asked her to do something bold: tell a complete stranger, "I love you." Fear and doubt held her back, but what happened next showed God's perfect tim...

  As a rising star at a Fortune 500 company, Hope Reagan Harris thrived on the thrill of getting the next promotion and pay raise. A bigger house, more expensive car, and international travel were all the stuff that was supposed to signify success and happiness .  But after six years of climbing the corporate ladder at a dizzying pace, Hope realized she'd been so determined to move ahead, she didn...

In the Bible, mountaintops symbolize moments of spiritual clarity, renewal, and connection with God. For Averil Shadd, a new widow navigating the profound grief of her darkest valley, the mountaintop became more than a metaphor. She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, not just to find healing but to offer hope to others walking through the shadows of loss. As Averil explains, "I wanted to do something that...

  Chris Baker has devoted his life to helping people walk out the words of 2 Corinthians 5:17:  " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! " As the founder of Ink 180 , Chris has given away more than two million dollars' worth of free tattoos .  Not just any tattoos- these are tattoo cover-ups and removals for people who are makin...

Despite achieving material success, Derek Mason found himself consumed by emptiness and despair—so much so that he considered taking his own life. In a moment of desperate prayer, an unexpected encounter with sparrows led him to Matthew 10:29–31, revealing that he was profoundly seen and cherished by God. This pivotal sign brought radical transformation, shifting Derek's life from hopelessness to...

  Bob Goff has spent decades trying to convince people God is over the moon about them. If you struggle to believe God loves you and if you long to live a life of adventure, Bob's story will inspire you . Bob is known as the guy who included his phone number in the back of his first book Love Does , because he loves people and wanted to be available. Since then , he's written multiple New York Tim...

Rick and McKenna bring us the story of Megan Woods. At a crucial moment in Megan's life, God's word came to life for her, and a call to sing for Him seemingly came out of nowhere.    Here's the full episode on Apple or Spotify , where you can subscribe to The Morning Focus with Rick and McKenna for daily encouragement in God's Word!      

When you wait for years for an answer to prayer it's easy to get discouraged. The Band  Jaren is fronted by two sisters, Jaren - lead singer, guitarist and songwriter, and Jade- who sings and plays electric violin.  These super-talented young women started playing music before they started school.  Now, at ages 20 and 19, they have an unusual clarity about the call on their lives.  Their passion i...

An update from John Karakian, who was featured on Page 45 of  The Unfolding.  John's Unfolding episode on Apple John's Unfolding episode on Spotify John Karakian from Novi, Michigan, discovered an unexpected way to share his faith—through the legacy of his late chocolate lab, Buddy. Even years after Buddy's passing, John's simple acts of kindness—like calling people by name and treating them with...

Tarn Cross believes God has hard-wired us for adventure.   When Tarn and her husband Matt had a young family in Australia, they began to grow restless.  Their church experience seemed more like dry religion than a relationship with the Creator of the Universe. That's when God led them to their first mission experience in Uganda.  Within days of arriving, they realized what they thought would be an...

Are you looking to grow your prayer life in the new year? Join Christina Hannan on her podcast, and discover a new rich prayer life in  Praying Through Scripture . PTS on Apple Podcasts PTS on Spotify This week on  Unfolding Short Stories,  Christina Hannan shares what she learned teaching science to her kids as a homeschool mom. A planet that rains  DIAMONDS!  The God who can make a planet rain d...

Renee Stains recounts a harrowing moment while teaching her young son Andrew to ski. After a mishap on a ski lift, Andrew was left dangling dangerously high above the ground, with no immediate help in sight. In a desperate and chaotic situation, two snowboarders appeared seemingly out of nowhere, skillfully unbuckled Andrew's harness, and safely brought him down. When Renee turned to thank them, t...

  The Christmas story is filled with angelic encounters. But are angels still active today? Psalm 91:11  says, "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." For many, that verse has come to life. People from all walks of life share their stories of seemingly supernatural encounters on earth in this special Christmas episode of The Unfolding. IT's one of our most-do...

"The dream had no expiration date."   In this episode, Jim shares how a dream led him to plant churches outside the walls of a mega-church—and how a trip to the world's largest basilica in Côte d'Ivoire confirmed that God was just getting started. 'I was comfortable, like Bilbo in The Hobbit…but God had other plans.' Hear how one vivid dream fueled over a decade of ministry and u ltimately redirec...

Michael Ritchason grew up feeling like he was on the losing end of the comparison game .  Insecurity drove him to chase affirmation and attention. It worked for a time, but then his girlfriend left, his cool car crashed , and the rest of his world seemed to be falling apart .  Soon Michael was falling apart, too. Discouragement led to disconnection, and that led to depression. One night, he began...

What began as a simple prayer meeting led to deep healing and reconciliation. As Mark wrestled with years of hurt, God's voice broke through, impressing these urgent words on his heart: "Call your father and hurry." That phone call, made just three hours before his father's passing, became a moment of profound restoration. This story is a reminder of God's relentless pursuit and perfect timing to...

    Barry and Gina Copeland have learned when it comes to addiction, desperation is a good thing.  That's when you finally realize Jesus is your only hope. Barry and Gina have followed Jesus and worked in ministry for years , and yet their son struggled with addiction for more than a decade. They tried everything they knew to "fix" the problem .  In the process, they lost their joy, their dreams,...

After years of questioning if adoption was right for her family, Megan Nilsen felt a clear leading from God to pray, fast, and search His Word. Her 'yes' to adoption opened the door to both immense challenges and undeniable moments of God's presence, teaching her about love, grace, and identity in Christ.   Megan is also the author of the Advent devotional Untangled Advent: Finding Hope in a Weary...

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 Fi...

"In everything, give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." These words from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 came to mind for Rhonda at her breaking point as her son battled severe epilepsy. Through heartbreak and surrender, she discovered how God brought purpose and beauty even in the hardest moments.

For years, Dallas Jenkins had a weekly notification on his phone, "Pray for Pageant."  Dallas is the creator and director of The Chosen, the first-ever multi-season show about Jesus .  Twenty years ago, Dallas read a beloved children's novel called, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and fell in love with it .  He just knew he was meant to make that book into a movie .  It wasn't just a hope or a dr...

Mey Deras' story is about overcoming—surviving childhood abuse, losing her mother, navigating her daughter's life-threatening health crisis, and enduring immigration struggles. Through it all, she's seen God's faithfulness in remarkable ways. Now a biblical counselor, Mey helps others find hope and healing. She also invites listeners to her free virtual event (Nov. 22-24), Comforted by His Love, w...

Christian historian Joe Thomas shares the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's struggle to discern God's will during a critical moment in history. As World War II loomed, Bonhoeffer faced a life-altering decision: remain safely in America or return to Nazi Germany to stand with his church. Discover how a simple Bible verse, "Come before winter," became a divine call that shaped his courageous path. Do y...