The Unfolding

For nearly 40 years, Chris Hauser has been a trusted force behind the scenes in Contemporary Christian Music—promoting the work of artists like Amy Grant, Chris Tomlin, Lauren Daigle, and Russ Taff. Known for his humility, authenticity, and deep love for the Gospel, Chris has built a reputation not on self-promotion, but on service.  But behind that professional success was a personal story marked by struggle. For years, Chris admits he was a fast talker—someone who could charm his way out of tough situations, even with the people who mattered most: his wife and kids. He made promises he didn’t keep, avoided hard truths, and watched the people he loved most get hurt.  In this powerful episode of The Unfolding, Chris shares how everything changed when God lovingly confronted him at a pivotal moment during a retreat called Encounter. Through God's grace—and learning to love himself the way God does—Chris experienced radical transformation in his marriage, his family, and his faith.    Chris’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hauserpromo/  Encounter Training: https://encountertraining.com/  Chris’ speech at Judson University commencement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trVJOSmO5l0 

“Everywhere somebody was sick, Jesus was right there.” Those words became Keith’s anchor as burn-pit-linked melanoma spread through his 33-year-old body. In this Memorial Day Moment, Navy-veteran and hospice chaplain Walt recounts the young soldier’s journey of courage, grace, and a faith found at the finish line. 

When Zach Meerkreebs finished speaking at Asbury University’s chapel on February 8, 2023, he texted his wife, “That was a stinker.” He thought the message had flopped. But what happened next was anything but ordinary. Students stayed. More arrived. And over the next 16 days, more than 60,000 people from around the world came to Hughes Auditorium to experience what became known as the Asbury Outpouring.  Marked by a profound spirit of humility, this movement reflected the very heart of Jesus. And as it turns out, God had been preparing Zach through years of heartbreak and refining. In the crucible of personal loss, Zach had come to treasure one thing above all: friendship with Jesus.  In this episode, Zach shares how his journey shaped the moment that changed so many lives—and why true spiritual awakening begins with radical humility.  Zach is the author of Lower: Igniting Spiritual Awakening Through Radical Humility. Learn more at ZachMeerkreebs.com.    Watch Zach’s Asbury Chapel Message here:  https://www.asbury.edu/about/revival-history/outpouring/    Page 151 of The Unfolding – Student Stories from Asbury  https://www.myfaithpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-unfolding/page-151-stories-from-asbury-students-share-their-experiences-at-asbury-outpouring/  Page 152 of The Unfolding – Why So Many Traveled to Be There  https://www.myfaithpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-unfolding/page-152-stories-from-asbury-why-so-many-traveled-to-be-there/  Resources focused on nurturing spiritual awakening in the body of Christ  https://awakeninglibrary.com/ 

“We began to… say the Nicene Creed.” That decision changed everything for pastor and researcher Glenn Packiam, when a 2006 scandal rocked his Colorado Springs church. In this Unfolding Short Story, the Barna Group scholar and host of The Resilient Pastor podcast recounts how repeating the Creed each week knit a fractured congregation back together, and how its ancient words still steady believers facing today’s confusion and corruption.   Want to dig deeper? Check out Glenn’s new book What’s a Christian, Anyway?: Finding Our Way in an Age of Confusion and Corruption. 

She’s the voice behind the hit song Desperate—a powerful anthem that soared to number one and struck a chord with thousands. But Jamie MacDonald’s story runs much deeper. In this episode, Jamie shares about growing up in a house where singing was banned and hope felt out of reach. After being kicked out at 15 and dropping out of high school at 16, she spent years bouncing between couches and group homes—no phone, no address, no one in her corner. But even in the darkest moments, a flicker of faith from a childhood church camp refused to go out. Join us as Jamie shares how one desperate prayer changed everything—and how her pain gave rise to a song that’s giving hope to so many.    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiemacdonaldmusic/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=jamie%20macdonald%20music 

David Sunde wrote a book called Homegrown Disciples: Parenting Rhythms for Drawing Your Kids into Life with God  Hear David reflect on the book, and it’s development from a time of community that continues to this day. David learned that discipleship doesn’t begin in a sanctuary. It begins around tables, in relationships, and in everyday moments of faith.  For David Sunde, a pastor and author, that truth came to life when his family was grafted in to a community of Burmese believers. What started as outreach turned into friendship… and then, family. 

Guilt says you did something wrong. Shame says you *are* the thing that’s wrong.  Russ Taff grew up believing he’d never be good enough. Raised by an alcoholic Pentecostal preacher and a co-dependent mother, his childhood was marked by abuse, secrets, and the suffocating weight of shame. But even in the darkest moments, music was his refuge.  Russ’s extraordinary talent propelled him to the heights of Contemporary Christian Music. By 23, he was performing with The Imperials, later becoming a celebrated solo artist and member of the Gaither Vocal Band. With GRAMMY wins and a place in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, his success was undeniable.  But behind the spotlight, Russ was fighting a silent battle. The echoes of shame never faded — and only alcohol seemed to silence them. What followed was a decades-long hidden struggle with addiction.  This episode is the second of a two-part story sharing Russ Taff’s raw, redemptive journey through trauma and addiction, and the healing power of Love.  Show notes:  “I Still Believe” Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHdjcCfrSg  I Still Believe Book: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Believe-Wreckage-Recovery-Relentless/dp/1642931489  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RussTaff  Website:  https://russtaff.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russtaffofficial/ 

Joseph Descans loved surfing. It was everything to him until a violent wave left him with a shattered leg and a long road to recovery. After surgery and a painful hospital journey, Joseph says God healed his knee and restored him to the waves he loved. But physical healing was just part of his story. Joseph also battled addiction to marijuana and alcohol, and he says God healed him there too. Over the years, Joseph says God has healed him at least sixteen times, including his heart and ankle. In Joseph’s words, "God had healed me." This is a story about the God who still restores and heals today.  

“Shame is a prison,” Russ Taff says—and he lived in that prison for more than 40 years. To the world, Russ was a Gospel music legend: six GRAMMYs, 18 Dove Awards, and three Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductions. But behind the stage lights and accolades, he was hiding from pain, trapped in addiction, and silenced by the relentless voices of shame and self-hatred. In this deeply honest conversation, recorded around the dining table in his home in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Russ shares the truth he kept secret for decades: while he sang songs about Jesus to millions, he was battling alcoholism in the dark. This is not just a story about addiction—it’s a story about hope. About the supernatural healing that comes through love, and the power of God to break even the heaviest chains. Russ opens up about his abusive childhood, the pain that shaped him, and the redemption that’s setting him free.  Whether you know Russ Taff or are hearing his name for the first time, his story will leave you changed. Don’t miss this unforgettable two-part episode of The Unfolding.  Show notes:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RussTaff  Website:  https://russtaff.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russtaffofficial/ 

"I left school angry on Friday. On Monday, people saw a light in me."  Walter Hill was filled with grief and resentment after losing his mother and watching his father disappear into addiction. He had no interest in faith and no patience for empty answers. But God used one faithful friend and one unexpected night to break through the bitterness. This is a story of how deep anger was transformed into lasting joy.  Walter Hill's book: Amazed Again: Reclaiming Christ’s Joy in a Fading World