The Unfolding

Jon Reddick is a singer and worship leader who writes songs of hope and healing, like “God, Turn It Around” and “I Believe It.” There was a time when the hurts and hard parts of life left him questioning, is God’s plan always good?  Would the dreams planted in Jon’s heart ever really happen?  He seriously considered leaving music behind.  But God used encounters with 2 strangers to affirm Jon’s purpose and change his life. 

When it comes to addiction, freedom comes through surrender.  Scott Spiezio had always been a “goal guy,” setting goals, working hard and finding success.  The son of a major league baseball player, he grew up with his hopes set on playing in the big leagues.  He won two World Series Championships with the Anaheim Angels and the St. Louis Cardinals in his 12 years in the major leagues.  But an injury, a move away from the tight-knit community of believers that had surrounded him, and the pressures of great success led to the crumbling of his life and career.

Scott Hamilton is one of the most recognized male figure skating stars in the world, winning four World Championships and Olympic gold in 1984.  He is a three-time cancer survivor, television broadcaster, motivational speaker, and more.  Scott says failure is the thing that has fueled much of his success. God used the challenge of Scott’s journey with cancer to get his attention and to grab his heart.   

Long before Page Turner began transforming houses on HGTV shows like “Flip or Flop,” “Rock the Block,” and “Fix My Flip,” she experienced the transformation of her own heart.  Raised by her agnostic mother, she was exposed to many different religions as a child.  But at 19, she met Jesus.  As a single mother and sole provider for 3 young daughters, she desperately needed God to transform her life.  Along the way she became a real estate broker, entrepreneur, and TV host, as she learned to follow God wherever he leads. 

Austin French grew up in church, but for a long time he despised Christians.  It seemed religion was all about pretending your life was perfect, and Austin’s life was anything but that.  Living with an abusive father, he learned to hide his bruises and put on a smile.  He swore when he was old enough, he would run as far as his cynicism would take him.  But an encounter with Jesus at 13 changed Austin’s heart, and he committed to using his musical talents to telling people about Him.  After appearing on national television shows like The Voice and Rising Star, Austin has become a successful singer and songwriter with songs like “Freedom Hymn,” “Born Again,” and “Jesus Can.” 

Helen Smallbone and her husband David were living in Australia when David’s business unexpectedly collapsed.  With 6 kids, they took an enormous leap of faith and moved to the United States with everything they owned packed in 16 suitcases.  Within a couple of months, David’s new job fell through.  They were forced to live by faith and to trust God in ways they never had before.  Helen is the mother of Rebecca St. James and Joel and Luke Smallbone of For King & Country, along with 4 other amazingly talented children.  She is the author of “Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family. 

In 2006, 18-year-old Katie Davis traveled to Uganda for the first time.  The people captivated her heart and within a year Katie was back in Uganda. Over the next 13 years, Katie founded Amazima Ministries, became a mom to 13 beautiful girls by the time she was 23, and married her husband Benji Majors.  Her books, “Kisses from Katie” and “Daring to Hope” became New York Times best sellers. Her story of taking baby steps of faith and seeing both the mountain-top highs and heartbreaking lows of ministry will inspire you to believe God can do anything. 

Susie Larson is a bestselling author, speaker, and host of the popular radio show/podcast Susie Larson Live on the Faith Radio Network.  She is a woman known for her wisdom.  That wisdom has come through challenging life experiences.  The trauma she faced as a child left her feeling afraid and bracing for the next bad thing. But God had a plan for healing her wounds and equipping her to share her story, helping thousands along the way.  Susie is the author of more than 20 books and devotionals, including her latest, “Strong In Battle.”

In early 1970, a small group of hippies walked into a church in Costa Mesa, California and helped change Christian music forever.  The Jesus Movement had begun on the West Coast, kicking off a spiritual awakening that swept the nation. Chuck Girard was at the center of it. He was a talented musician looking for answers to the meaning of life. He threw off traditional religion, became a hippie, and embraced drugs as the path to finding spiritual truth.  Chuck is one of the founding members of Love Song, a band that changed Christian music. If you’ve seen the movie Jesus Revolution, you’ll love hearing this first-hand account of a fascinating time in American history. 

When there is deception in marriage, how can you rebuild trust? For more than 20 years Mark and Jill Savage had served in ministry; Mark as a pastor, and Jill as the founder and director of Hearts at Home, a ministry for moms.  Their marriage had good seasons and hard seasons. But in what the Savages describe as their darkest year, they faced infidelity and were headed for divorce.  How could the pieces of their shattered life be put together again?  Today Mark and Jill are passionate about encouraging marriages and families. Jill is the host of the No More Perfect Podcast and has authored twelve books.  Together Mark and Jill have authored two books and provide marriage coaching and resources at JillSavage.com. This episode contains adult content.