After Andrew Ripp’s family broke apart, he moved to California just to get away.  His alcohol addiction eventually led to the destruction of every important relationship in his life.  He had grown up in religion, but never had a relationship with a god who could help.  He was alone and desperate.  But Andrew says even the broken and difficult things in life can be a blessing if they steer you toward the God who loves you.  Today Andrew is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, known for songs like “Jericho,” and “Fill My Cup.”  He spends his days writing and singing about the One who saved him.

Alexandra Hope Craig courageously shares the journey she embarked on while navigating her husband John's brave battle with cancer, which ultimately ended in his passing.

By the time Christine D’Clario was a young girl, she had experienced more than her share of brokenness. She suffered sexual abuse, the death of her alcoholic father, her mother’s remarriage, moving from the only home she’d known in New York to Puerto Rico, and then bullying and rejection. By the time Christine was a teenager, she was angry with God.  She couldn’t imagine He would take the broken pieces of her life and write a story that would become a source of hope for the nations. Today Christine is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and worship leader with millions of followers in Latin America and beyond.  She has a passion to see those who struggle with mental health experience the hope and healing of Jesus.  (This episode contains discussion of sexual abuse, postpartum depression, and suicidal ideation.) 

Ken Guidroz is the author of "Letters to My Son in Prison".  At one point, Ken was a pastor, and he never thought he'd have to worry about his kids ending up in serious trouble, let alone prison. After his middle son, leading a wayward life, became addicted to heroin, this led to a car crash resulting in the taking of another man's life. That led to a series of letters to his son in prison, a road for their own reconciliation, and a rebirth and strengthening of faith for both. 

Nikki Davis discovered her passion for Hip Hop radio when she was in college.  She was good at it. She loved it and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.  But a series of failed relationships and jobs that just didn’t satisfy made it clear, she was longing for more.  Then she started growing in her relationship with Jesus.  Her life and priorities changed.  Nikki realized she couldn’t stay in a job where she was promoting negative things.  But how could she walk away from the safety and security of a job she once thought she would do for the rest of her life?   Today Nikki shares Hip Hop and the hope of Jesus as the morning show co-host at Boost Radio. 

Speaking on strength in weakness, Karis Meier lives with Lyme Disease. “So I know my story isn't over and it's not the fairy tale ending that I would hope for. But, I can see how God is working, and I know his promises won't fail me and that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living because that is what He promises.”

One hard event after another marked the childhood and early adult years of Molly Stillman. After serving as an army nurse in Vietnam, Molly’s mother was diagnosed with a fatal disease related to exposure to Agent Orange.  At 21, Molly received an unexpected inheritance which she squandered in less than two years.  Molly’s go-to coping mechanism was humor, so she masked her pain and depression with stand-up comedy and even pursued her dream of making it on Saturday Night Live.  But instead of the success she was chasing, Molly ended up in debt and suffocating under guilt, shame, and embarrassment. Molly is a speaker and host of the Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast, and author of If I Don’t Laugh, I’ll Cry: How Death, Debt, and Comedy Led to a Life of Faith, Farming, and Forgetting What I Came into This Room For. 

Sally Tuxhorn’s Dad rejected Jesus for 85 years, but 9 hours before passing, he accepted Him. Sally praises God for this miraculous change. Sally is a children’s pastor at Trinity Nazarene in Illinois. 

When Samuel Worden was 14 his life tragically changed in an instant. It devastated his family and his faith. Why would a good God allow this kind of pain? The hurt, sadness, and anger seemed like an impossible barrier between him and Jesus. But when he desperately needed a father’s love, Samuel had an encounter that changed him forever.

Bill Sammons wanted to start a Christian radio station, but there was a lot of opposition in his Delaware town. So much so, that Bill was attacked by a man named Spyro. He was beaten and thought he was going to die. That's not the end of the story, though. Through God's help, Bill was able to launch the station, and Spyro did a full turnaround and even requested to be baptized by Bill's father who was a pastor.