The Unfolding

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 ministry that aims to encourage, empower and teach others that through Jesus they can have and live a good, fulfilling life.

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 first time at her brother's funeral. That was also the moment God clearly called Anne to spend her life praising and worshipping Him. Her first song, "My Jesus," debuted at #1 on the iTunes Christian & Gospel music chart.

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. That was true for Nathan. He dreamed of becoming a singer and songwriter, but he struggled to believe he would ever be good enough for that dream to come true.

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 pornography and sexual addiction.

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 Keeper," but in the years prior to that success, God called her to lay down dreams and follow Him wherever He might lead.

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 held captive by terrorists with ties to Al Qaeda. Mel Torre shares how a supernatural experience helped him get out of the city that day. From her vantage point overlooking the World Trade Center complex, Christina Stanton was close enough to not only witness the events, but to feel the shockwaves. The final story takes you inside the South Tower, sharing how Brian Clark, one of only 18 survivors from above the impact zone, saw the hand of God that day.

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 his relationships. It seemed he would never change. But at 55 years old, entering his 5th prison term, he knew he needed transformation. In desperation, he committed to do only one thing – read God's word.

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 driven by addiction. From cigarettes, to alcohol, to drugs, to living in drug houses, his addictions grew stronger. He moved further away from the life God wanted for him and spent every day chasing the next fix.

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 God and had never believed in Him, one night they had an encounter with Him that changed their lives forever.

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 both eyes. It was a series of events that many people might have considered tragic, but Blessing Offor considers a gift. Blessing is a talented musician and songwriter, with songs like "Brighter Days," "Tin Roof," and "The Goodness" (with TobyMac). If you're in a place where your prayers don't seem to be answered and it feels like everything has gone wrong, Blessing's story might change your perspective.