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 is to play music that brings wandering hearts to Jesus.  It’s a prayer their mom, Sonya, has been praying for decades.  Answers to those prayers have come in the most surprising ways.   Show Notes:  https://www.instagram.com/thebandjaren/  https://www.youtube.com/@thebandjaren

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 genuine warmth—have opened countless hearts to the gospel. This past Christmas, his church entrusted him with 500 tickets for their production, and within 27 days, every single one was gone. 

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 adventure was actually going to require radical faith and trust.  Today Tarn is a leader who has traveled the world speaking and helping people discover their God-given identity and purpose.

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 diamonds, is also the God who cares for our needs. 

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, they had vanished without a trace.

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-downloaded episodes of the year! Thanks to Tim Hoerr, Tina Zimmerman, David Egli, Debra Wiese, and Bryan Crum for sharing these life-changing stories!    Links to previous Angel Story episodes:   https://www.wowgod.com/podcasts/the-unfolding/page-31-angels/  https://www.wowgod.com/podcasts/the-unfolding/page-183-2023-angel-stories/ 

"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 ultimately redirected Jim to West Africa.” 

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 to believe the lie that he was utterly alone. Then God, the One called Immanuel – God with us, did something supernatural.  It was a reminder that Michael wasn’t alone, and God had plans and a purpose for him.  Michael is the lead pastor at Riverside Community Church, a multi-cultural, multi-generational, and multi-socioeconomic church in the heart of Peoria, Illinois.    Follow Michael on YouTube and Instagram. To hear In Fulfillment, our Biblical Audio Drama, and go deeper into the Christmas story, go to https://www.wowgod.com/podcasts/in-fulfillment/ 

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 heal what’s broken.  Also, Mark wrote a book called Just One Word: A Collection of Advent Devotionals, if you're looking for new ways to connect with Jesus this Christmas.

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, and lived in chaos.  Then God used powerful experiences to teach them their son’s addiction was not their fault, and they couldn’t fix him.  They changed how they prayed and demonstrated God’s love to their son.  Today Barry and Gina help those who have loved ones trapped in addiction through the ministry of Finding Hope, a part of Hope Is Alive, an organization that exists to radically change the lives of drug addicts, alcoholics and those who love them.