Crossroads with Jenny Bushkell

Many people struggle to start a family because they have been unable to become pregnant. In-vitro fertilization has been the answer to many couples' prayers to have a baby. But this success has created a surplus of frozen human embryos - human life - but embryo donation and embryo adoption offer the blessing of life! Jenny is talking with Dr. Jeffrey Keenan, President & Medical Director of the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) and a fertility specialist at Southeastern Fertility in Knoxville, TN. They are the largest group in the world providing embryo adoption. (more babies born than anyone) They are caring for the tiniest little ones - made in God's image! Hear stories of hope as they share some of what families have shared in writing and video about being able to adopt these precious babies. What a blessing NEDC is! To find out more about embryo adoption and donation, please see their website, embryodonation.org,, on social media and on their Podcast - "The Embryo Adoption Podcast" with Host Mike Mellinger."

"But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears." Psalm 18:6. Jenny's guest was wrongfully accused of abusing her children, threatened with the possibility of jail and possibly losing her children to foster care and even adoption!! One fateful evening Rachel Siqueira Bruno's life was changed forever. Her story unravels like a "Dateline" story full of false-allegations & corruption. Yet through it all, God was faithful. Hear her heart-wrenching story, how her strong faith in God brought her through this ordeal and how she is educating & helping other parents! Rachel Bruno - Author & Public Speaker talks about her book "Fractured Hope: A Mother's Fight For Justice."

We all face hard times, and when we do, can we really just God to "sustain me to the end?" (I Cor 1:8) Jenny's guest is Author, Speaker, Retreat Leader & business owner Kim Jaggers. Her online devotional "Kim Jaggers - Daily Seeking Him" can be found on Facebook and Instagram. She is passionate about spending time with God and leading others to have a real & personal relationship with Jesus. Kim has been through devastating loss, unimaginable circumstances & heartache that moved her closer to God and strengthened her faith. Her new devotional "A Journey Through Corinthians with Kim Jaggers" has just been released and she is sharing some of her story, why a book on Corinthians, and how important it is to know God's truth now. You can connect with her at kimjaggers.com. where you can find her contact, speaking engagements at women's events, devotionals, and her book, "Truth To Hold On To," that shares her story.

When we know what Jesus did for us, it gives us a different perspective of what it means to love ourselves and others. Foster Care and personal one-on-one evangelism is an opportunity to step into someone's life and make a difference. Jenny interviews Bradley Williams, President/CEO of Holston United Methodist Home for Children and staff member Joel Haler and hears how they are bringing Jesus to a hurting world. Joel leads a community ministry & heads up foster care recruitment in churches in Knoxville and the surrounding areas. They are talking about serving children & families and loving our neighbors. God has a plan and a purpose for every life!

Facing struggles of addiction, depression, anxiety, and self-worth can feel like an abyss of darkness. Jenny talks with Sarah Keel, Executive Director of Renew Clinic Knoxvilleand Board Member, Knox County Commissioner, Kim Frazier about what it means to suffer well! We all have days when we struggle, or feel things "closing in" or "feel stuck." In John 16:33, Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Darkness is real but we know Jesus can help! Renew Clinic has an event, Overcoming Addiction: Suffering Well - Aug 25th at Faith Promise Church with Musician Brian "Head" Welch from "Korn," Clinical Psychologist Jim Coffield, and Emcee Sports Radio Host, Will West. It's not just about addiction, it speaks to all of us! Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Hebrews 10:32

Jenny has a special guest this week! UT Music Education Professor & the Director of The University of Tennessee Bands - Pride Of The Southland Band - Dr. Michael Stewart (Mike Stewart). He will inspire & encourage you as he shares his walk of faith, about his family, their adoption story and behind the scenes on campus! He shares the importance of God's timing and how to live life daily to influence and encourage others. Even on a University Campus, you can touch lives as you walk in faith.

Hear how God has connected Jenny and Dr. Stewart in a special way through two of his children in two very different ways! God connects us to others at all kinds of crossroads in our life and theirs. We may wonder how that happens, but if you are watching for it, you will see God at work everywhere, even when we don't say a word!

Jenny interviews Raul Lopez, Executive Director of Men Of Valor sharing how Jesus restored his life from gangs, violence & drugs to now helping incarcerated men find freedom in Jesus! His story of getting out of Cuba and communism as a child began a broken & chaotic life for him. He shares how God perused him, had a purpose for his life and someone cared enough to tell him about Jesus! Then hear how God prepared Raul for leadership and how God's Grace and love has transformed his life and others!

Men of Valor is a Ministry that begins with reaching out to incarcerated men with the Gospel and on release, walk with them in a faith based structured plan to become the men - husbands, dads and members of society that God created them to be. For more about Men of Valor and video stories of hope, go to men-of-valor.org.

Jesus speaks on the importance of forgiveness, but how do we forgive such deep hurts? Bullied, abused and holding on to that secret. How do you forgive the unthinkable? Jenny's guest has lived with a disability, was bullied and then targeted & abused by a neighborhood pedophile. Pastor & Author David Peterson shares about his book, "Journey to Forgiveness:: 21 Milestones to Freedom" to give us steps to healing and restoration. He helps us understand how to forgive and how forgiving gives YOU freedom! David shares his insight and what Jesus showed us about it! In his book, he shares that forgiveness is for you and is not condoning what the person did to you. If you are struggling right now, unable to forgive someone, or even yourself, this interview helps us understand the power of forgiveness. Find more about David on FB, davidpetersonbooks.com, Amazon and hear his messages at apostle-lutheran.org

In a culture where we wonder how much more chaos and confusion we are going to see, sometimes we long to find a quiet place to rest and forget everything going on in our world. Jenny's guest today is a master at weaving faith-filled stories that take us to a far away place, back to simpler times and draw us into an adventure.

Jenny's interviews Award-winning Author, Keely Brooke Keith on her just released book, "Uncharted GRACE." It's the12th book in her "Uncharted Series!" Hear about some of the challenges from this master storyteller and how she is successfully bringing wonderful faith-filled stories to us! She talks about her amazingly talented family and how these books started for her. She's so creative and gives insight on how she writes. Learn more about Keely and her books on her website keelybrookekeith.com.

We know two things that can change a life. One is a relationship with Jesus Christ and the other is education. With Jenny are two young ladies whose lives are being significantly impacted through Mission of Hope's Scholarship program, mentorship & outreach. Summer Botts Wilkins and Toni Young share their stories along with our friend and mentor, Shawna Dittrich. Learn more about this ministry at Mission of Hope's FB page or missionofhope.org.