Paul Kelly had a passion to bring Christian music to cities and churches across Canada, and that has been the driving force behind Unite Productions touring bands coast to coast every year since 2002.

Over the years, Unite has seen thousands gather in Jesus’ name to worship and experience God’s love, but in 2020 everything was turned upside down when the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to everything.

Today on Connections, Paul shares why he started Unite Productions and how the pandemic has impacted Christian music tours in Canada.

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Arden Bevere is the youngest son of John and Lisa Bevere and the cofounder of Sons & Daughters, a movement committed to raise up a generation of uncompromising followers of Christ who will transform our world. He has a passion to see his generation go further than any that came before it, fully alive in this God-adventure.

Today on Connections, Arden shares the inspiration behind the Sons & Daughters movement. He also talks about his new book, I Am: Find Your Identity. Claim Your Freedom. Embrace the Adventure.

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Shoaib Ebadi was born in Afghanistan and raised Muslim, but fled the country’s violence as a young man. Living as a refugee in Pakistan but hoping to immigrate to North America, he joined an English Bible study as a way to learn the language. He did learn English but – more significantly – he learned that the Bible is the true Word of God.

Shoaib immigrated to Canada in 2000 and began sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ at every opportunity.

Today on Connections, Shoaib shares his unbelievable testimony.

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Singer-Songwriter and author, Ellie Holcomb has penned a journaling devotional book filled with encouraging, honest reflections and questions to help you process scripture. Fighting Words - 100 Days of Speaking Truth into the Darkness is a place where you can wrestle, respond to, and take hold of precious truths in God's Word to help you push back the lies that so often consume, distract, and destroy us.

Today on Connections, Ellie shares the inspiration behind the devotional and what she hopes the reader will take away from it.

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Deidre Haight is the daughter of Katarina MacLeod.

As a child, Deidre both watched the abuse her mother suffered and suffered abuse herself. Deidre was witness to her mother's addictions and has fought very hard to build a healthy life for herself. Deidre found music and singing to be restorative throughout her life. She teaches private music lessons in voice through her business Courageously Creative.

Today on Connections, Deidre shares the impact her mother's choices had on her life and how she was able to use God to help her mom get out of commercial sexual exploitation.

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Katarina MacLeod is the founder & Executive Director of Rising Angels Awareness & Restorative Care; she is also a survivor of 15 years of commercial sexual exploitation.  

Today on Connections, Katarina will share her story of survival, how God and her daughter helped her escape and how she is using her experience to help other women going through a similar situation.

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Judy Richichi grew up in a family with eight children and an abusive father.

Eventually, constant marital fights and the father’s aggressiveness led to divorce, leaving the children to figure out how to survive on their own, with only a mother suffering from mental health issues left to look out for them. 

By the grace of God, and through the help of ordinary people along the way, they not only survived but developed a relationship with Christ. 

Today on Connections, Judy shares her family's unbelievable journey out of poverty.

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Lucille Williams says allowing children to see parental weakness is difficult for any parent but sometimes it is necessary to reveal to their kids that they are human and approachable, not coming off as perfect while hiding who they really are.

She says God takes the messes, weaknesses, and difficult times, and not only gives them second chances to walk through trials with more faith and trust, but turns them into wonderful, beautiful, expressions of His love for us.  

Today on Connections Lucille shares how we can become the real super woman and begin sharing our emotions with our children.

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Former professional ballerina Valorie Kondos Field has never tumbled, flipped, or even played any type of organized sports, and yet she has been able to craft a legendary coaching career through curiosity, creativity, attention to detail, and unwavering care for the overall well-being of her athletes. For Valorie, it's not about winning and losing, it's about choreographing your life and owning the choices you make.

Today on Connections, Valorie reveals how her coaching journey had a rocky start before she found her own best approach. She'll also share what role faith played in all of this.

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What does it really mean to love your neighbour?

This is a question that Marcel LeBrun asked and it sent him on a great journey that has resulted in not only a documentary but an organization that is now helping those who are marginalized and in need around the world.

LeBrun is the founder of the 12 Neighbours Community, a dignified micro-home community where housing is just the beginning.

The community also has a social enterprise centre with a cafe and retail, as well as a tiny home manufacturing facility with hopes of helping people overcome employment barriers. 

Today on Connections, LeBrun shares why he started up this initiative and what he hopes will come out of it. 

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