After losing a close friend to cancer, a friend for whom she wrote her award-winning song, "Overcomer", Mandisa descended into a dark pit of depression, isolating herself from family and friends and turning to her familiar friend, food, for comfort.

Clinging to the hope of Psalm 40 in her overwhelming darkness, she slowly began to recognize cracks of light where God was at work. 

She writes about this in her new book, Out of the Dark: My Journey through the Shadows to Find God's Joy.

Today on Connections, Mandisa shares a bit about her journey and how she finally managed to come out of the dark.   

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Tomorrow is Earth Day.

Every year on April 22nd, people across the country recognize and celebrate Earth Day, one of the largest environmental events in the world. 

The goal is not only to promote Earth Day just once a year but to connect people to nature every day. 

A Rocha is an international Christian organization which, inspired by God’s love, engages in scientific research, environmental education, community-based conservation projects and sustainable agriculture.

Today on Connections, Scott Gerbrandt, A Rocha Manitoba director and Zoe Matties, A Rocha Manitoba program director share the importance of Earth Day and how we as Christians can start caring for the world around us.

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As parents, we either raise kids who are dependent on us or we raise kids who grow into confident and capable adults. It all comes down to helping them develop their mindsets, skillsets, and toolsets.

Jonathan and Erica Catherman share practical ways to prepare your kids for life on their own. They help you see how your kids view everyday demands of life as either threats to survive or challenges to thrive, then offer age and ability-appropriate guidance on the real-world skills kids ages 2 to 22 need before flying solo.

Today on Connections, the Cathermans share how we can start preparing our kids now, so they're independent when it's time for them to launch.

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Why can bad things appear so beautiful? Why are we so drawn to the shiny object in the room?

Wendy Patrick, PhD. is a career prosecutor with degrees in psychology, law, divinity, and theology. For decades, she has worked with victims and witnesses who
dismissed red flags and personal intuition, only to find themselves entangled in perilous situations with dangerous people. 

She writes about this in her new book When Bad Looks Good: Biblical Wisdom to Make Smart Choices in Life, Love, and Friendship.

Today on Connections, she shares how we avoid falling victim to the hazards of misperceptions and how to overcome deception with Biblical perception.

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Prayer places us into God’s grace and mercy, and the prayers that strengthen our souls are the ones that guide us into His presence, where He can soothe our concerns and raise our spirits. When we seek His strength, we need to listen for the still, small voice of God that helps us grow, change, and increase our obedience to Him.

Karen Moore is the author of over 120 inspirational books, including her new book, Prayers to Strengthen Your Soul. Karen understands that our fears, our shortcomings, and the demands of life can distract us from our prayer life. But if we desire a personal relationship with God, then we must commit to praying and listening to Him.

Today on Connections, Karen Shares how we start doing this. 

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Parenting is challenging. Finding time for family can be difficult, and carving out time for God is last on the list. 

Crystal Paine, mom of six, bestselling author, podcaster, and entrepreneur, wants to help you change this. 

In her new book, The Time Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most, Crystal delivers a no-nonsense, real-world guide on how to organize your life. 

Today on Connections, she shares how we become time-saving moms and invest in what matters most.

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Unresolved trauma can take a serious toll on a child, but sometimes families just don’t know what to say or where to turn for help. 

Hidden: Her Truth Her Pain, from Shun Jamerson Tomlin, is a thought-provoking story about a young girl who was victimized by a close family friend and the profound impact of her family’s decision to keep quiet. 

Hidden candidly explores themes of self-forgiveness, strength and salvation, and why God’s voice is necessary for the healing process.

Today on Connections, Shun shares her amazing story and the inspiration behind this book.

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Claudia Wells' iconic starring role as Jennifer Parker, Michael J. Fox’s present-day girlfriend in the 1985 hit film BACK TO THE FUTURE, has forever put her in movie history.

Although things seemed perfect on the outside, behind closed doors, Claudia's world was crashing down around her. 

Today on Connections, Claudia shares how she was able to find God in Hollywood. She also shares what she is up to nowadays.

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Women are bombarded with narratives about how they should look, behave and live. No woman could meet all these shifting expectations, yet many pour endless energy into the pursuit. And eventually, insecurity sets in as she questions everything about herself, including her worth.

Amanda Pittman, author of Stand in Confidence: From Sinking in Insecurity to Rising in Your God-Given Identity, has spent her adult life confronting our culture’s epidemic of insecurityand self-doubt. In this new book, Amanda unpacks her journey toward self-confidence rooted in Christ. She offers readers concrete tools for moving forward into wholeness, confidence and God-given purpose. 

Today on Connections, Amanda shares her story and how you can start standing in confidence.

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In 1991 Helen Smallbone and her husband, David, packed up their family and sixteen suitcases to move from Australia to the United States. Completely isolated from the support of family and friends, they relied on God to provide them with hope and direction.

In spite of all the barriers, Helen watched her children succeed. Rebecca St. James’ career grew, soon followed by blossoming careers for the others―as artists, entrepreneurs, filmmakers―and the rise of Joel and Luke’s for KING & COUNTRY on Christian music charts.

Today on Connections, Helen shares how her family worked and stuck together, constantly relying on their faith to guide the way.  

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