Claim OwnershipThe Unfolding
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God is writing a great big story and you have a standing invitation to be a part of it. Every week, host Meridith Foster sits down with a guest to share their chapter in God's Unfolding story.
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What happens when you learn to recognize God's voice and actually follow it? Gale Kragt is a pastor, hospital chaplain, and founder of Spiritual Care Consultants, whose life has been shaped by quiet promptings from God. From feeling like a misfit as a child to experiencing supernatural encounters, Gale learned early on to pay attention to the subtle whispers of God, and those promptings have led him into extraordinary places. As a hospital chaplain working in trauma centers, Gale has prayed with families at the edge of life and death and witnessed remarkable moments of healing. Over time, those same promptings led him to launch a ministry that now serves thousands of people, offering spiritual care at no cost. Gale Kragt is the Executive Director of Spiritual Care Consultants of West Michigan. He is also the host of the Healing Begins radio show and podcast, and the author of God Moments and Jesus in the Mountains. Show Notes- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/galekragtbooks Gale's books: www.galekragtbooks.com Spiritual Care Consultants website: www.scchealingbegins.com God Moments Book: https://a.co/d/jbgZclN God Moments Study Guide: https://a.co/d/3TtMvNp
John Cooper, frontman for the band Skillet, never set out chasing fame. What mattered most was his foundation in Jesus, established long before the tours, radio hits, or millions of listeners. As John's career with Skillet began to really take off, his honesty and consistency caught the attention of another musician who was quietly watching. Years later, that same man would give his life to Christ.
Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. Bob Goff has spent decades trying to convince people God is over the moon about them. If you struggle to believe God loves you and if you long to live a life of adventure, Bob's story will inspire you. Bob is known as the guy who included his phone number in the back of his first book, Love Does, because he loves people and wanted to be available. Since then, he's written multiple New York Times bestselling books and included his number in every one of them. Bob says his greatest ambition is to love people and inspire others to follow Jesus into a life of adventure, whimsy, and wonder. In this episode, Bob talks about starting a zoo, getting gored by a cow, shot with a pellet gun, and visiting the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein. His new book is Catching Whimsy. It's an invitation to wake up each day expecting to live a more meaningful life, a more engaged faith, and a more intentional future. Show Notes: https://www.bobgoff.com/ https://lovedoes.org/ https://www.bobgoff.com/books/catching-whimsy/ https://www.instagram.com/bobgoff/ https://www.facebook.com/bobgoffis
"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.
"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. Show notes: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RussTaff Website: https://russtaff.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russtaffofficial/ "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
"The Imams are convinced that… an angel of God is with you." Today's story comes from an interview Meridith did with Jamie Winship a couple of years ago, first shared in our 2023 Angels episode, Episode 183. In a remote desert camp, a simple detail about table settings leads to an extraordinary realization. God's presence was already there.
What if heaven is closer than we think? In this special episode of The Unfolding, we share true stories of angelic encounters, near-death experiences, and glimpses of heaven- moments that leave people searching for words to describe what they saw. You'll hear from Bruce Van Natta, who encountered angels while hovering between life and death after a devastating accident. You'll also hear from bestselling author, psychologist, and speaker Dr. Henry Cloud, who reflects on unforgettable moments that made him wonder whether angels were protecting him, and shares a profound encounter with Jesus at the edge of death. Finally, John Burke, pastor and author of Imagine Heaven, joins us with stories from his extensive research into near-death experiences, sharing remarkable accounts of people who encountered angels and consistent patterns that echo Scripture. This episode invites you into the awe, mystery, and hope of the season, reminding us that the angels who announced the birth of Jesus are still pointing us toward Him today. Show Notes: Bruce Van Natta: https://sweetbreadministries.com/ Bruce's book Saved By Angels: https://sweetbreadministries.com/books/ Dr. Henry Cloud: https://www.drcloud.com/ Dr. Cloud's memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Believe-Psychologists-Thoughts-Suffering-ebook/dp/B0CK8C76LD John Burke's website: https://imagineheaven.net/ Imagine Heaven Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnBurkeImagineHeaven
"This is not just a story you read on the internet. This is a documented case." Lee Strobel knows what it means to ask hard questions. Before becoming the author of The Case for Christ, he was a legal editor at The Chicago Tribune, trained to investigate claims and follow the evidence. In this episode of Unfolding Short Stories, Lee shares three real-life stories of healing that stayed with him because they held up under careful scrutiny. Each one connects to the questions explored in his film The Case for Miracles.
Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. Do angels still show up in the lives of ordinary people? In this special Christmas episode of The Unfolding, you'll hear powerful stories of angelic encounters—moments of protection, comfort, and God's undeniable presence. From hospital rooms to everyday situations, these eyewitness accounts point to a God who still intervenes in miraculous ways. Featuring stories from Gale, Stesha, Mark, Susie, Hannah, and Christy, this episode explores how God uses His messengers to bring hope when we need it most. If you're drawn to stories of evidence of God at work today, this episode will encourage and inspire you.
After years of questioning if adoption was right for her family, Megan Nilsen felt a clear leading from God to pray, fast, and search His Word. Her 'yes' to adoption opened the door to both immense challenges and undeniable moments of God's presence, teaching her about love, grace, and identity in Christ. Megan is also the author of the Advent devotional Untangled Advent: Finding Hope in a Weary World, designed to help readers reconnect with God's peace during the holiday season. Learn more at meganbnilsen.com/untangled-advent.
Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. When Louis Dooley was 19, the judge sentenced him to life in prison plus 100 years. At that moment, something inside him shut down. His future felt gone and life as he knew it was over. But Louis' story didn't end behind bars. In the darkest, most hopeless place he could imagine, something unexpected and truly miraculous began. Today, Louis Dooley is the Executive Director of Philemon House, a ministry that disciples people touched by incarceration, and the author of "Prison Saved My Life." In this powerful episode, Louis shares his journey from despair to hope, the lessons he learned inside, and how his life now points others toward redemption and possibility, even when it feels impossible. Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of violence and suicide and may not be appropriate for young listeners. Show Notes: Book: https://emmausworldwide.org/products/prison-saved-my-life?_pos=1&_sid=1f0bdf573&_ss=r Philemon House Website: https://philemonhouse.org/ Louis' Website: https://www.louisdooley.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philemonhouse5/
Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. "Sometimes God uses the smallest things to tell the biggest truths… a pair of shoes given to a child in the name of Jesus." Shawn Spurrier knows this firsthand. His own return to faith came through the steady kindness of community, long before missions was ever on his radar. Today, as director of Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, he's seen that same kind of community transformation unfold in Tenango, Mexico. This episode traces God's faithfulness in Shawn's story and in a village brought together by something beautifully simple.
Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. What do you do when you're sure God has given you a dream, but every door stays firmly shut? Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of The Chosen, spent more than 20 years praying for the chance to make a film based on the beloved book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. But year after year, the answer was the same: no. Until one unexpected moment when God stepped in. In this episode of The Unfolding, Dallas shares the behind-the-scenes story of waiting, disappointment, and the whisper from God that stopped him from deleting his dream forever. It's a story about calling, hope, and God's timing- perfect for the Christmas season and for anyone who's ever waited for God to open a door. Show Notes: The Chosen: https://www.thechosen.tv/en-us Best Christmas Pageant Ever Movie: https://bestchristmaspageantever.movie/ Dallas Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasJenkinsOfficial Dallas Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dallas.jenkins/?hl=en
Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. "Every cell in my body recognized that this was Jesus." Heidi Barr was sixteen when a traumatic horseback accident changed her life. She describes leaving her body, meeting Jesus face to face, and waking up with a faith she never saw coming. Growing up in a Jewish home that rejected Jesus, her experience stands out as both unexpected and deeply powerful. Read more in her book What I Saw in Heaven.
Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. What happens when a skeptical agnostic begins investigating near-death experiences? For bestselling author and pastor John Burke, that search changed everything. John's journey began as a teenager while his father was dying of cancer. After picking up a book about near-death experiences (NDEs), he spent decades studying thousands of NDE accounts from people around the world. Their stories of encountering a God of light, love, and overwhelming peace, led him to a deeper understanding of Scripture, the afterlife, and the reality of heaven. John Burke, author of Imagine Heaven and Imagine the God of Heaven, explains how science, faith, and evidence from NDEs intersect, and how his own path from doubt to belief became a powerful story of hope. If you're curious about life after death, what the Bible says about heaven, or how God pursues people through their questions, this episode offers real-life stories you won't forget. Show Notes: Imagine Heaven Book: https://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Heaven-Near-Death-Experiences-Exhilarating/dp/080101526X Website: https://imagineheaven.net/ Imagine Heaven Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnBurkeImagineHeaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnburkeofficial/
"Why Is Your Son Still Alive?" Susie Larson knows what it feels like to walk through a season where God seems distant and every day feels fragile. Between high-risk pregnancies, neurological symptoms, and two children fighting for breath, she cried out for God to speak and heard nothing. But then a nurse asked a question that revealed a miracle Susie never expected. This powerful story invites you to rest, be still, and remember that God is rarely absent, even when He seems quiet.
Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. At seventeen years old, a diving accident changed Joni Eareckson Tada's life forever. Paralyzed from the shoulders down, she sank into anger and depression, convinced her life was over. But in the midst of deep suffering and thoughts of suicide, Joni began to experience God in a way she never had before. What started as heartbreak became a story of transformation, from despair to hope, and from questioning God to trusting Him. Through her journey, Joni discovered that the places of our deepest pain can become the very places God uses for His greatest purpose. Today, through her ministry Joni and Friends, she shares that message of hope with millions of people around the world, offering practical help and the love of Jesus to those living with disabilities. Show Notes: Website: https://joniandfriends.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoniEarecksonTada Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joniandfriends/ Face of Anguish Drawing: https://joniandfriends.org/jonis-artwork/how-god-redeemed-my-life-in-the-face-of-anguish/
"I threw this Bible across the room and I said, 'God, if you're real, why won't you talk to me?'" He writes fiction stories about danger and survival, but this story is real. Years before the books and the success, Ryan Steck's life unraveled into silence, weakness, and a single cry to God. https://ryansteck.com/
LaMorris Crawford had every reason to believe his life was destined for despair. Growing up in the projects on the south side of Chicago, his story began with tragedy. His mother was murdered before he turned one; he never knew his father, and he was raised by his grandmother along with eight cousins. Surrounded by poverty, gangs, and hopelessness, LaMorris followed the only path he knew, until everything changed. When he encountered Jesus, his entire identity was transformed, from victim to beloved son of God, created on purpose and for a purpose. That new identity would later anchor him through one of the hardest tests of his life, when the woman he loved came from a family who refused to accept him. Rooted in who he was in Christ, LaMorris chose faith over anger and grace over bitterness. Today, LaMorris and his wife Megan serve as chaplains to the Carolina Panthers and lead Covenant Culture Ministry, helping couples build strong, Christ-centered marriages. Show Notes: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamorris_crawford/?hl=en Covenant Culture website: https://www.covenantcultureministries.com/ Covenant Culture podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@CovenantCulturePodcast Support LaMorris and Megan: https://subsplash.com/u/-KBRBBK/give?frequency=once&next_process_date=11/04/2025&amount=25.00&fund_id=e79e07ea-a5f1-425b-8520-2baa38a69ee7 Share your Angel Story: https://www.myfaithpodcasts.com/contact-us/
Years before becoming a Christian apologist, Alisa Childers sat in a church hearing her pastor question the Bible. As she puts it, "It propelled me into a faith crisis." That experience and the years she spent rebuilding her faith would one day become the foundation that held her when tragedy struck. Hear how truth and God's quiet presence sustained Alisa through grief, and why apologetics still matters for every believer. Also, find a list of great books on apologetics, at alisachilders.com/books. Hear more great stories of apologetics on the Wow God Stories podcast's latest episode.
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dangerous theology. self love is not what Jesus taught. selfless-love is how he lived. we can rest in who we are in Christ, and we love others of Christ's love for us, but not out of our love for ourselves
This is a classic Godtail, the original author of fairytails! Thank you father for confirmation and communicating to our hearts and minds!
I love how the leadership of the church stood by and honored God's story! Thank you, thank you for sharing your story!
I needed to hear this today. I'm struggling and I feel so alone. I went to my 1st group bible study last night and someone asked if she could pray for me- that's the first time that's ever happened to me and I felt a little bit of weight lifting off of me. I've isolated myself for so long, I have anxiety of being in front of others so the fact that I heard God tell me to go and I did it, was an accomplishment. Thank you Lydia for telling your story.
thank you for sharing your story! I believe it's beautiful insight that many would benefit from hearing!!
As I listened to your story I was thinking about how grateful I am to God for helping me get help with depression and anxiety. I have a psychologist I see sometimes and I'm celebrating 8 years at C R next month. thanks for sharing your inspiring story of hope
I'm so excited to watch this!! THANK YOU ❤️
I have really enjoyed all the podcasts, but this one really resignated with my heart. I appreciate hearing other lifelong christian's experiences and how God led them through. Thank you for sharing your story!!! I don't know how you have such clarity!
Thamk you for sharing. What an amazing example of how forgiveness is a journey.
I too really believe God is moving and getting ready to do something big. I can't wait to see what he's going to do next!
Thank you for sharing your story, it really touched me.
what an amazing and beautiful testimony I'm so many different levels! God has something for everyone in this one, the birth mom, the adopted child, the adoptive parents, the perfectionist, the every day Christian, parenting, daily distractions that keep us from God's plans, even more I missed. Simple, honest, enjoyable, thank you for sharing!
thank you for sharing how God is working in the lives of do many belieberd