The Unfolding

Do you have a story of how "The Unfolding Podcast" has impacted you? We want to know about it, and hope to share more stories like yours on the 100th episode. Share here: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnfoldingPodcast

Laura Johnson experienced some hard and traumatic things as a child. As she grew up, she saw what other children were going through and made herself a promise – she would never do that to her kids. But addiction was tricky. One minute she was in control of her drug use, and the next she wasn't. Laura found herself doing thing she never could have imagined. But what the enemy intended for evil, God can turn for good. Through addiction, abandoning her kids, and the loss of her son to violence, Laura has found that God can redeem the worst of life. Laura is the founder of Mothers of Violent Crimes, a support group for those who have lost loved ones to violence. This episode contains mature content.

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.

Marcus Rixon grew up in a 12' x 6' home with no running water in Kolkata, India. One of the challenges he faced was the box that kids like Marcus grew up in- a box that defined him and his potential, based on where he came from. But his parents prayed for a way out of poverty, and the first answer to that prayer was sponsorship through One Child that allowed him to go to school. It was the beginning of a series of events that radically changed the trajectory of his life.

Something was gnawing at David Zach. For years he had been performing with his band Remedy Drive, singing and telling people about hope and faith. But when he read scripture, especially the prophets, he felt challenged. He sensed a call to do more on behalf of the poor and the oppressed. That call led this lead-singer of a rock n'roll band to risk his life, working undercover with The Exodus Road to help rescue prisoners of sex trafficking.

When Tom Frye got married, he and his wife knew they wanted to be deliberate about creating a healthy marriage and family. They wanted to do life differently than their parents. But sometimes choosing to do life in a more healthy way, can create conflict. And that conflict can lead to strained relationships that seem impossible to mend. If you've struggled with healthy boundaries and strained relationships, Tom's story will give you hope. Tom is a part of the Frye Family Band, and leads Deliberate Family Events through Family First Ministries.

Nobody sets out to be a failure. But what if failure is exactly what we need? Dallas Jenkins is the director of The Chosen. The first-ever multi-season show about Jesus. But long before The Chosen, Dallas wasn't interested in making faith-based films. He dreamed of making it big in Hollywood. What God taught Dallas through failure became part of the incredible story that led him to creating The Chosen.

When Lana Vasquez met Jesus at 19, she knew she had been rescued to rescue others. Within a few short years, she was a full-time missionary with Life Impact International rescuing kids from trafficking in Thailand. It was a daunting mission, far beyond what she could do in her own strength. In fact, the work often seemed impossible. But when God asks us to do the impossible, and we're willing to say yes, we are in the perfect position to see the miraculous.

Growing up in Southern California, Lana Vasquez found herself looking for love in all the wrong places. By the time she was a teenager she was trapped in an abusive relationship, addicted to alcohol and drugs, and spent her nights as a dancer in the clubs of Hollywood. She was living a fast life, but even the glitz and glamour of Hollywood couldn't hide the fact that she felt desperately empty. Then at 19 years old, Lana heard the Gospel for the first time. When God rescued her she knew she was called to rescue others. Within 4 years Lana was a full-time missionary rescuing kids in Thailand through the ministry of Life Impact International.

When people ask Baylor Wilson, "What happened to you?", the best way she can sum it up is: Jesus happened. At 26, Baylor has lived a life that many only dream about. She thrived as a competitive cheerleader, starred with her mom on Season 29 of the television show Survivor, and landed a country music publishing deal, all before graduating from college. But success didn't translate into happiness or feeling fulfilled, until Jesus happened.