As Director of Adult Probation Services in Arizona, Shanda Breed deals with issues like sex offender supervision, mental health intervention, access to substance abuse treatment and domestic violence offenders. Yet one of her greatest legacies is an innovative Reentry Simulation training program for both staff and the public, to build empathy and understanding for the challenges facing men and women trying to rebuild their lives after leaving prison. Original air date August 11, 2022. See omnyst...
Aug 11, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Like many young marrieds, Leigh Mitchell and her husband started out with $140,000 in student loans. Then they bought a house. And a new truck. One day, after paying on his student loan faithfully for 10 years, her husband realized he owed $3,000 more than the original loan. They were just one problem - one medical event, one major emergency - away from not being able to survive financially. Hear the story of how they got out of debt, and what Leigh is doing to try to keep other young couples ou...
Aug 04, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Scott Wesley Brown got a guitar for his seventh birthday, and that ultimately led to a lifelong calling that reaches around the world. Now, almost five decades later, he has recorded 26 albums and his music has been recorded by many popular Christian artists including Bill Gaither, Mark Lowry, Amy Grant, Petra, Sandi Patty, Pat Boone and international opera star Placido Domingo on his album with John Denver. Scott has traveled to 50 countries and worked with Compassion International, Youth With ...
Jul 28, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Tony Rodarte’s last assignment before he retired from law enforcement was homicide, and the stressors of the job left his wife encouraging him to seek help for the pressure. He didn’t. Until after he retired, and once he got assistance he realized what a difference it made in his quality of life. Soon after, he and his wife Melody started Compassion Alliance, a nonprofit designed to provide free, confidential assistance and trauma counseling Click here to learn more about Compassion Alliance: ht...
Jul 21, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Denise Resnik had no idea when her son Matt was born 31 years ago, his diagnosis of autism would not only impact his life and hers, but it would lead her to a life calling. Since then, she has made a better world for those dealing with autism and their families. She is co-founder of the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), an internationally recognized nonprofit that conducts innovative research, provides evidence-based practices, disseminates effective training and builds in...
Jul 14, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Military veterans have a wealth of services available to help them, but finding the right match can be overwhelming. That’s where James Fawbush has found his calling. Fawbush helps get the word out and connect those veterans with the people and programs that can help them the most. He is on the communications team with the Veteran’s Health Administration, and also finds time to volunteer with Freed Spirits Animal Rescue and Arizona Game and Fish. Join us to hear about the passion that drives him...
Jul 07, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Jay Cory has experienced a lot, but each stage of his life has made him the perfect person to head Along Side Ministries at this point in the organization’s history. He led the Phoenix Rescue Mission for eight years, helping men and women dealing with homelessness and addiction. Before that, he was with the Atlanta Union Mission. And before that? Jay has a powerful story of personal transformation from a lifestyle of brokenness and addiction of his own, which gave him the experience and the hear...
Jun 30, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Sam Burba is the Executive Pastor at Shiloh Community Church, but he didn’t take the traditional route in getting there. Instead, he is a living example of how God can take the most painful, downtrodden parts of our lives and use them in glorious ways to help others. Listen to this amazing story of hope, promise, and service. Original air date June 23, 2022 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 23, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Tabitha Lee grew up in a home where her parents served in full-time mission work with Child Evangelism Fellowship. She began teaching children alongside them when she was still a child herself. Today, she and her husband Jamie are serving in their own full-time ministry, Edify KidMin, that offers free children’s ministry training to local churches across the county at no charge. They are missionaries, fully-supported by their giving partners and love gifts from churches. Learn how they are chang...
Jun 16, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 7
As a collegiate swim coach, Brad Hering’s strength might reasonably assumed to be athletics. It is … but he also has a much larger calling. His gifts as a swim coach at Arizona Christian University are genuine. His personal vision, however, is to see people of all races live life to the fullest and to come to know Jesus in their hearts. Hear how he changes young lives. But WAIT, there’s more! He also writes a blog … in verse! Here’s a sample of a recent entry titled “Don’t wait for tomorrow:” It...
Jun 09, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Even though Trish Plum grew up in the church with a loving family, she struggled with feeling valued. She did have a gift for dealing with people, unfortunately it was some of her friends who introduced her to drugs and alcohol. A week after her 17th birthday she got behind the wheel of a car while under the influence, and the ensuing accident resulted in death for a woman named Hannah, and a six-year stint in prison for Trish. You’ll be stunned by her story of redemption, reconnecting with her ...
Jun 02, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Tawnya Williams-Christensen has three priorities in her life: her relationship with Jesus, being a mom to her daughter, and her mission in caregiving. Both of her parents serve in the senior living industry. She remembers tagging along with her father to help the older members of their church, and learning the value of service before self, as he brought her along to do everything from serving communion to fixing a leaky sink. Today she has 32 years of serving seniors, and is also teaching studen...
May 26, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 4
When Ray and Alice Chastain founded the Gospel Rescue Mission in 1953, they had no idea their compassion would be passed to their granddaughter Lisa, who years later would become CEO of the organization. A disastrous fire in 2016 not only destroyed the office, two vehicles and all the donations, but triggered an external review of the fire code at the Men’s Center. As a result, they had to halve the number of beds from 110 to 55. That tragedy led to supporters Humberto and Czarina Lopez to purch...
May 19, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Melissa Pullon grew up in a home with a severely disabled older sister. Then her first son was born and diagnosed with autism, followed by two other children with medical issues. Twice she has been diagnosed with brain tumors. She has used those experiences to touch the lives of others. She credits God with leading her into the field of disability and ministry for her entire adult life. As the Area Director for Young Life Capernaum Arizona, she gives young people with intellectual and developmen...
May 12, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Nine-year-old Tommy Brown had a dream to be on the radio. Today, after 30 years in the business, he has that same passion and enthusiasm for touching lives through the airways. At 19 while working at a radio station in Tulsa, OK, he asked the station manager how he could follow in his footsteps. The advice came back to learn every aspect of the business – and that’s what Tom has done. Not only that, but through the years he’s played a role in the launch of 137 radio shows, helping others to reac...
May 05, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 1
The Rev. Dr. Timothy Smith has spent 35 years helping people grow in intimacy with God and experiencing spiritual renewal. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the task, from time spent as an ordained minister, to being a chaplain (hospital, hospice, and prison), spiritual director, adjunct seminary professor, and retreat leader. His passion for sharing that sense of spiritual renewal comes from his own life story where he has learned the need for connecting an intelligent biblical ...
May 03, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 52
When Okky Oei was attending medical school in Toronto, he suffered debilitating back pain. He discovered he didn't tolerate pain medications and muscle relaxants well, and began a lifelong journey to learn about other alternatives. That journey ultimately led to his developing the LaserTouchOne (TM), a hand-held, pain relief device that integrates low level laser therapy and electric stimulation. It has proven to be an effective pain management technique that is easy to use, drug-free, with no s...
Apr 26, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Mark Miller spent 27 years in the software/technology arena, but he's now doing what he loves - leading small study groups. He has found a special niche in working with business leaders to engage them in sharing about the challenges they face with the workplace and their faith. Leaders often operate in isolation, but these groups give them safe environments to learn and implement biblical economic principles while connecting to God’s presence and deepening their faith. To learn more about Truth ...
Apr 14, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Terry Lents has made a living in the homebuilding industry with Blandford Homes, but he's made a life giving to others through a long list of nonprofits, but most notably the New Generations Foundation which works with underserved communities so that new generations can positively transform themselves, their families, and their communities; and as a promoter of the 1979 epic, the "Jesus" film to get it translated and distributed around the globe. Learn what drives him, and the different ways liv...
Apr 07, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 49
Jimmy Walker is a great story-teller. And many of his stories feature well-known figures from Billy Crystal to Kevin Costner, Halle Berry, Kurt Warner, Tom Hanks, Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow, Reba McEntire, Magic Johnson and his close friend Muhammad Ali. He doesn’t tell those stories to impress – he talks in a soft voice about their adventures and their lives, and most of all their generosity in helping with his many philanthropic efforts, including the storied Celebrity Fight Night that has ...
Mar 31, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 48
Most people know Rosie Romero as the congenial voice on the radio for the past 34 years that helps entertain and educate homeowners about caring for their investment. His homespun Cajun humor has helped make Rosie on the House a hit, but there’s a side to him that isn’t as readily apparent. He and his wife Jennifer “Sweet Jenn” are coming up on their 44th wedding anniversary, and together are passionate about rural ministries in Arizona, having helped start a church in Nutrioso. They also work w...
Mar 24, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 47
Linda Pauling’s story starts as unspeakable tragedy for her family, but she has helped turn it into a story of unspeakable joy for families all over the world. In the spring of 1980, her 7-year-old son Chris had already been battling leukemia for years. His doctors told Linda he may be approaching the end of that struggle. Knowing that Chris loved all things to do with the police, his mom reached out to friends and in the course of just a few days created his dream day that included rides in pat...
Mar 18, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Brad Cesmat has always had a passion for sports – from Little League and Pop Warner to track and basketball. But when they handed him a mic to do some announcing for his high school JV team, a star was born. That star not only earned a stellar reputation broadcasting throughout the Southwest, but has used his talents in countless ways to help mentor others, put the spotlight on local youth sports, teach, and devote 20 years to serving on the board of directors for the Salvation Army. Join us to ...
Mar 11, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 45
What if … leaders and companies could create a vision for their organizations to keep them from being led astray? What if … leaders could help their teams live life to the fullest? Bill Heitzman’s dream is to provide every person in the world with tools to create a personal written guidance for their life. In pursuit of that dream, he formed the Leadership Productivity Forum to work with organizations from the Rose Women’s Foundation in Kenya to Celebrate Recovery, and help causes like volunteer...
Mar 04, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 44
As the mom of five, Jenny Clark knows how different kids can be, even in the same family. Part of that difference is in learning styles and the needs of each child may call for different approaches. As a result, she uses a variety of schooling options for her own family, and loves sharing with other families about their options and helping them find the right fit for their kids. That passion led her to start the nonprofit Love Your School. She wanted to create an avenue for families and schools ...
Feb 24, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Tom Kuyper has been a basketball player for nearly as long as he can remember. He could never have guessed where that would take him, not as much in terms of his own career, but in terms of impacting the lives of children. He learned he had a gift for working with kids that surpassed even his talent at basketball, and he used that gift – coupled with his passion for the sport – to help change lives. Learn how he coaches his players both on the court and off. Click here to learn more: https://www...
Feb 18, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Aaron Parrott had an all-American childhood growing up in Seattle, at least until age 9 when his parents entered the mission field. From that point on, he moved throughout Central and South America, learning new languages and new cultures. That built a compassion for kids that he’s directing toward helping underserved students in Phoenix as executive director of MentorKids USA. He has been with the organization for 16 years, helping it through a reorganization, growing the budget by 500% and imp...
Feb 11, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Marc Lozano had a dream job working for the NBA. As in the National Basketball Association. But then he quit. Find out why he left, why he liquidated all his assets and what drove him to help people invest in a way that is aligned with their Christian values. He says, “When you invest in something, that means you want it to grow in power and influence. If you are a Christian than the things you want to grow in power and influence are probably not aligned with the typical retirement account or in...
Feb 04, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 40
As a teen deep in his active addiction, Sean Walsh was resigned to the fact he probably wouldn’t live to see young adulthood. Today, he not only is in long-term recovery, but he has helped thousands of others on their own path. As CEO of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, Sean is responsible for its family of programs which include not only the flagship location The Meadows, but more than 12 others that help people overcome addiction, heal unresolved emotional trauma, and develop the tools they need...
Jan 27, 2022•25 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Kathe Wunnenberg suffered three miscarriages and the death of an infant son. She could have taken that hurt and sunk into bitterness and sorrow, instead she believes God can transform anything you offer Him into hope to help others. Her life motto is “We go through what we go through, to help others go through what we went through.” She is the author of Grieving The Loss of a Loved One, Grieving the Child I Never Knew, Longing for a Child, and Hopelifter: Creative Ways to Spread Hope when Life H...
Jan 21, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 38
