The Unfolding

Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. At seventeen years old, a diving accident changed Joni Eareckson Tada's life forever. Paralyzed from the shoulders down, she sank into anger and depression, convinced her life was over. But in the midst of deep suffering and thoughts of suicide, Joni began to experience God in a way she never had before. What started as heartbreak became a story of transformation, from despair to hope, and from questioning God to trusting Him. Through her journey, Joni discovered that the places of our deepest pain can become the very places God uses for His greatest purpose. Today, through her ministry Joni and Friends, she shares that message of hope with millions of people around the world, offering practical help and the love of Jesus to those living with disabilities. Show Notes: Website: https://joniandfriends.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoniEarecksonTada Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joniandfriends/ Face of Anguish Drawing: https://joniandfriends.org/jonis-artwork/how-god-redeemed-my-life-in-the-face-of-anguish/

"I threw this Bible across the room and I said, 'God, if you're real, why won't you talk to me?'" He writes fiction stories about danger and survival, but this story is real. Years before the books and the success, Ryan Steck's life unraveled into silence, weakness, and a single cry to God. https://ryansteck.com/

LaMorris Crawford had every reason to believe his life was destined for despair. Growing up in the projects on the south side of Chicago, his story began with tragedy. His mother was murdered before he turned one; he never knew his father, and he was raised by his grandmother along with eight cousins. Surrounded by poverty, gangs, and hopelessness, LaMorris followed the only path he knew, until everything changed. When he encountered Jesus, his entire identity was transformed, from victim to beloved son of God, created on purpose and for a purpose. That new identity would later anchor him through one of the hardest tests of his life, when the woman he loved came from a family who refused to accept him. Rooted in who he was in Christ, LaMorris chose faith over anger and grace over bitterness. Today, LaMorris and his wife Megan serve as chaplains to the Carolina Panthers and lead Covenant Culture Ministry, helping couples build strong, Christ-centered marriages. Show Notes: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamorris_crawford/?hl=en Covenant Culture website: https://www.covenantcultureministries.com/ Covenant Culture podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@CovenantCulturePodcast Support LaMorris and Megan: https://subsplash.com/u/-KBRBBK/give?frequency=once&next_process_date=11/04/2025&amount=25.00&fund_id=e79e07ea-a5f1-425b-8520-2baa38a69ee7 Share your Angel Story: https://www.myfaithpodcasts.com/contact-us/

Years before becoming a Christian apologist, Alisa Childers sat in a church hearing her pastor question the Bible. As she puts it, "It propelled me into a faith crisis." That experience and the years she spent rebuilding her faith would one day become the foundation that held her when tragedy struck. Hear how truth and God's quiet presence sustained Alisa through grief, and why apologetics still matters for every believer. Also, find a list of great books on apologetics, at alisachilders.com/books. Hear more great stories of apologetics on the Wow God Stories podcast's latest episode.

Matt Forté knew his calling when he was just seven years old- to play in the NFL. What he didn't know was how much faith, perseverance, and surrender it would take to get there. Through injuries, setbacks, and seasons of doubt, Matt discovered that God's purpose was about more than football. It was about shaping his heart, not just his game. In his new book, Stay in the Game, Matt shares the lessons that carried him from a childhood dream to the NFL, and how faith, focus, and purpose can guide anyone through life's highs and lows. Today, the former Chicago Bears running back uses his platform to mentor others and live out his faith beyond the field. Hear how God led Matt from religion to relationship, and from chasing success to finding lasting purpose. Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. Show Notes: Book: https://www.tyndale.com/p/stay-in-the-game/9798400510786 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mforte22/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattforte22/ Sports Spectrum Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/sports_spectrum/?hl=en The Champion podcast: https://www.myfaithpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-champion-unlike-any-other/?t=1761583375786

John Prince never set out to sell olive oil. He just wanted to help people in Illinois, around the world, anywhere God pointed. When finances got tight, John feared his impact might be over. But God brought a new opportunity: importing Sabba Oil to help families in Lebanon keep working and providing for their loved ones. The results are not guaranteed. But John is choosing to trust God in the middle of it.

Rebecca Nichols Alonzo's childhood was built on faith and family, yet marked by fear. For years, her family was targeted by a man from their church who terrorized them with threats, harassment, and violence. Then one night, the unthinkable happened. Her mother was killed, and Rebecca's world was shattered. Years later, the man responsible reached out with a shocking question: "Will you forgive me?" That moment changed everything. Rebecca and her brother later shared their story on national television, publicly forgiving their mother's killer and showing the world what God's grace can do. Based on her bestselling book The Devil in Pew Number Seven, Rebecca's journey has inspired millions. It's a powerful story of pain, faith, and a forgiveness that could only come from God. Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. Show Notes: Website: http://www.rebeccaalonzo.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Pew-Number-Seven/dp/1414326599 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedevilinpewnumberseven

"God decided… I'm gonna have you be a play-by-play voice in the NFL… even though you've never done it in your life." Paul Allen didn't take the usual path to the broadcast booth. He went from horse racing to becoming the voice of the Minnesota Vikings. His passion made him go viral, but his greatest transformation didn't happen on the mic. It happened when Jesus became real to him after 52 years of belief without relationship. In this Unfolding Short Story, we share a powerful moment from The Champion: Unlike Any Other podcast, where Paul tells how God changed everything. Hear the full story of Paul Allen on this episode of The Champion: Unlike Any Other.

What do you do when life takes everything, your home, your job, even your hope? Cory Nickols knows those struggles intimately. Raised in a Christian home, he thought he understood who he was, but trauma, loss, and doubt left him questioning everything, including his value. One heartfelt prayer, "God, I want to know You," set him on a journey through what he calls The Breaking, The Crushing, and The Stripping. These seasons challenged everything he knew about God and himself, ultimately revealing his true identity: loved, chosen, and a child of God. Today, Cory helps rescue children trapped in human trafficking, showing how God can transform brokenness into purpose. Content caution: This episode includes references to suicidal ideation, childhood sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Show Notes: Website: https://corynickols.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corynickolsministries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corynickols/ Destiny Rescue: https://www.destinyrescue.org/ Cory's book: https://www.amazon.com/More-God-Not-Done-You/dp/B0F4Z3QHHH

"My little boy, who was one, was in our goldfish pond." A fall afternoon on the farm turned from laughter to panic. When Sarah Philpott's one-year-old slipped toward danger, her four-year-old daughter heard a whisper from God that changed everything. This short story is about paying attention, seeing God's mercy, and staying present in the life He has given. Sarah's latest children's book: Wake Up, Little Seed Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.