What happens when a marriage that starts with secrets and lies transforms into a powerful ministry? JJ and Trina Harrison's raw testimony proves that even the most broken beginnings can become beautiful stories of redemption.

Their journey began with teenage romance that led to a secret courthouse wedding—him at 20, her just 18. What followed were ten years of separation, infidelity, and heartbreak. Yet something miraculous happened when JJ finally heard God's voice: "You're ignoring your favor." That divine moment transformed their relationship and eventually their ministry.

This episode beautifully demonstrates how transparency about past mistakes creates space for others to find healing. The Harrisons don't glorify their difficult beginning but use it to show God's redemptive power in restoring what seemed irreparably broken.

Ready to be inspired by a marriage miracle? Listen now and discover how two people who started with almost nothing but problems built a 31-year marriage and thriving ministry that's changing lives across the world.

## Timestamps & Key Takeaways:

- **4:15** - How JJ's hit song "You Deserve It" (144 million YouTube views) came after being dropped by his record label—allowing him to own his masters

- **10:30** - The secret wedding story and how Trina's father threatened JJ's "kneecaps" after discovering their elopement

- **17:20** - Living separately for years despite being married, functioning more like "baby mama, baby daddy"

- **25:45** - The turning point: JJ's revelation that he was "ignoring his favor" and how it changed everything

- **34:15** - Four marriage lessons after 31 years: Give permission to fail, trust is built not given, forgive as you've been forgiven, and embrace your spouse's evolution

- **44:20** - How their son witnessed their transformation and built a healthier marriage than they initially had

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Dive into an intimate conversation with wedding photographers Kareem and Sandy Virgo as they share their journey from college sweethearts to successful business partners. This candid discussion reveals how they overcame age differences, built a thriving photography business during COVID, and navigated the emotional complexities of fertility struggles and pregnancy loss.

The Virgos open up about the delicate balance of working together as husband and wife, how they've shot over a thousand weddings, and the profound spiritual growth they've experienced along the way. Their story beautifully illustrates how vulnerability, resilience, and faith can transform both personal relationships and professional endeavors.

## Timestamps:

- 8:30 - How Kareem and Sandy met in college despite their 5-year age gap

- 23:45 - Transitioning from accounting careers to wedding photography

- 37:20 - How they built their business during COVID with virtual photoshoots

- 49:15 - Their fertility journey and experience with IVF

- 1:05:30 - Navigating pregnancy loss and the different ways men and women process grief

- 1:25:40 - The importance of men expressing vulnerability and emotion

## Key Takeaways:

- Success in both marriage and business requires recognizing and valuing each partner's unique strengths

- Sometimes what appears to be an obstacle (like COVID) can become your greatest opportunity for innovation

- Fertility struggles affect both partners, though often in different ways

- Men need permission and space to express vulnerability and process grief

- Faith can provide strength during life's most challenging moments

Want to hear more stories of couples who've built legacies together while navigating life's challenges? Listen to this powerful conversation that will inspire you to approach your own relationships with greater intention and compassion.

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Are you searching for deeper meaning in relationships? This powerful episode of the Dear Future Wifey podcast, recorded live at Forward City Church, dives into the divine purpose of marriage beyond cultural expectations. Host Laterras Whitfield creates a space where singles and couples alike explore how true partnership can chase "ten thousand demons to flight."

The conversation begins with a profound revelation about marriage as more than just personal fulfillment—it's a covenant that unleashes divine power and authority. Through candid discussions with church members ranging from 22 to 39 years old, we hear stories of transformation, healing, and the journey toward becoming the right person rather than just finding the right person.

Key moments include:

- 5:30 - The spiritual power that's activated when two people enter covenant marriage

- 18:45 - A young man's journey from toxic masculinity to godly leadership

- 27:10 - A military veteran's story of marrying for the wrong reasons and finding redemption

- 39:25 - Pastor Travis Greene's insights on maintaining marriage through intentional covering

- 45:15 - Dr. Jackie Greene's warning about prioritizing motherhood over marriage

This episode challenges listeners to align their preferences with God's will rather than cultural standards. As Dr. Jackie powerfully states: "I could have had karats, but I had a man with character." It's a reminder that character trumps material possessions in building a lasting foundation.

Ready to transform your approach to relationships? Listen now to discover how covenant partnership can unlock healing, purpose, and spiritual authority in your life!

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In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Cassandra Robertson as she shares her journey through grief following the loss of her husband Carl after 33 years of marriage. With raw honesty, Cassandra opens up about the multi-layered nature of grief and how she's learning to navigate her new reality - from the first night alone in their home to finding strength in her community and faith.

Cassandra's story isn't just about loss - it's about the beautiful love empire she and Carl built together, one founded on respect, honor and complete devotion. She shares how Carl emptied himself of every ounce of love he had for her, and how she did the same for him until his final breath. Her testimony serves as a powerful reminder of what true covenant love looks like, especially through the "for worse" parts of marriage.

## Timestamps and Key Takeaways:
- 5:30 - The multi-layered nature of grief and the importance of community
- 12:45 - Returning home alone for the first time and facing grief head-on
- 19:20 - Building a "love empire" and protecting what matters in marriage
- 27:15 - Finding gratitude even in life's waiting periods
- 35:40 - The beauty of emptying yourself completely for someone you love
- 42:30 - Advice for those supporting someone through grief

This conversation is essential listening for anyone navigating loss, supporting someone through grief, or wanting to build a relationship that stands the test of time. Cassandra's wisdom about "proper love" and her courage to face her new reality will leave you reflecting on how you approach your own relationships and life's inevitable transitions.

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Are you ready for a raw conversation about finding love after trauma? This episode features gospel artist Tasha Page Lockhart and her husband Deangelo Loftin sharing their whirlwind romance that defied conventional timelines. From their first Instagram interaction over a makeup-free photo to a Puerto Rico trip that sealed their commitment, their journey reveals how God orchestrated their union despite past wounds.

The couple candidly discusses their individual battles with childhood abuse, addiction, and failed marriages. What makes their story remarkable isn't just the speed of their courtship, but how their shared experiences of healing created a foundation of understanding that many relationships lack. "I understand him and he understands me," Tasha explains, highlighting the profound connection that made their quick transition to marriage feel divinely appointed.

## Timestamps:
- 12:30 - How Deangelo first reached out to Tasha through Instagram DMs
- 19:45 - Tasha's journey through addiction and recovery
- 28:20 - Deangelo reveals childhood trauma and his path to healing
- 35:10 - The three breakups that tested their relationship
- 42:35 - Their quick engagement and wedding decision
- 51:15 - How they handle disagreements with their motto "let love lead"

## Key Takeaways:
- True healing requires professional help - Deangelo credits therapy with preparing him for healthy love
- God's timing often defies conventional relationship advice
- Shared trauma can create deeper understanding when both partners are actively healing
- Authenticity in relationships begins with seeing and accepting each other's unfiltered selves
- Prayer and spiritual connection can provide the foundation for relationship decisions

Ready to be inspired by a love story that proves God can use our deepest wounds to create our greatest connections? Listen to this powerful testimony that reminds us healing is possible and love is worth believing in—even after multiple heartbreaks.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered if you're sabotaging your own love story? In this raw and revealing episode, host Laterras R. Whitfield sits down with Johanna King, a woman whose journey from nightclub bottle service to street evangelist showcases the transformative power of faith and self-discovery.

Johanna candidly shares her experiences with heartbreak, including a whirlwind 19-day engagement that ended in chaos, and her pattern of friend-zoning the very man who might be her husband. Through tears and laughter, she reveals how past trauma, including two abortions, shaped her approach to relationships and how God's healing power allowed her to break destructive patterns.

## Timestamps and Key Takeaways:
- **7:05** - Johanna opens up about her abortion experiences and how faith helped her heal from trauma
- **15:30** - The red flags she ignored in a previous relationship, including unhealthy boundaries with an ex
- **22:15** - Her 19-day engagement disaster and the importance of proper relationship order
- **32:40** - The pattern of returning to a "sweet" man she wasn't initially attracted to
- **39:25** - How street evangelism became her ministry and passion
- **43:18** - The growth of attraction in her current relationship and learning to value character over status

This episode is a masterclass in discernment, showing how we often chase what's toxic while friend-zoning what's healthy. Johanna's story reminds us that sometimes what we think we want isn't what God knows we need.

Ready to become a student of love yourself? Don't miss Laterras' upcoming book "Student of Love" - pre-order now through the link in the description!

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What happens when God's plan defies our carefully constructed checklists? In this powerful episode of Dear Future Wifey, host Laterras R. Whitfield welcomes Sophia Ruffin-Wilson and Tommy Wilson to share their extraordinary love story that transcends expectations and proves that divine timing changes everything.

Sophia candidly shares her journey from living as a masculine-presenting lesbian to experiencing complete transformation through her faith. Her powerful testimony reveals how identity can be reclaimed from the inside out, challenging common assumptions about deliverance and healing. Meanwhile, Tommy's story of rebuilding life at 46 after a 21-year marriage demonstrates that God's best often arrives when we've stopped trying to orchestrate our own paths.

The couple's whirlwind romance—falling in love within two weeks and marrying within months—showcases how God orchestrates connections that defy human logic. Their story isn't just about finding love; it's about discovering purpose through surrender and recognizing that our preconceived "perfect match" often pales in comparison to God's divine selection.

## Key Moments:
- 12:30 - Sophia shares her journey from gender dysphoria to complete transformation
- 25:45 - The pivotal moment when Sophia saw her true feminine self for the first time
- 38:20 - Tommy's perspective on starting over at 46 and finding unexpected love
- 45:10 - How their paths crossed years before they actually connected
- 52:35 - The importance of allowing people to process their healing without judgment

## Final Thoughts:
This episode reminds us that transformation is a process, not an event. As Sophia powerfully states, "My relationship with Jesus is the confirmation of my freedom, and you can't question that." Whether you're walking through your own journey of identity, healing from past relationships, or waiting for God's timing in love, this conversation offers hope that what God has ordained for your life may look nothing like what you imagined—but will be infinitely better.

Ready to be inspired by a love story that defies all odds? Listen now and discover how God writes the most beautiful stories with the most unexpected characters.

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What happens when a church offers to pay your rent to move out or give you a free wedding to get married? In this powerful episode, host Laterras Whitfield takes us inside Concord Church's revolutionary "Cohabitation Challenge" - a program that's helped over 120 couples transition from living together to sacred marriage.

Through intimate conversations with Pastor Brian Carter, his wife Stephanie, and couples at various stages of the journey, we witness how one church is tackling declining marriage rates in the Black community with radical compassion rather than judgment.

## Timestamps and Key Takeaways:
- 8:30 - Pastor Carter explains the three options offered to cohabitating couples: move out with financial support, find another pathway, or commit to marriage through their 90-day challenge
- 15:45 - A couple married since 2009 shares how they became part of the very first Grand Wedding
- 28:20 - The importance of intentionality in marriage and balancing work life with home life
- 37:15 - A previously divorced man describes how his wife's trust in "the Jesus she saw behind him" helped heal his resistance to remarriage
- 51:30 - A couple reveals their journey from high school classmates to expectant parents navigating long-distance and cohabitation
- 1:08:45 - An engaged couple discusses overcoming family resistance and securing a father's blessing before their upcoming wedding

The episode culminates with powerful advice for those currently cohabitating: "You're never going to be ready for anything in life... so if you took that leap to move to Dallas from your hometown, why not take the leap to be with your forever and reap all the benefits and blessings God has for your life?"

Don't miss this transformative conversation about choosing covenant over convenience and building marriages that last. Subscribe now for more episodes that discover, uncover, and recover love.

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On this episode of Dear Future Wifey, Jimmy and Irene Rollins invite us into a raw and redemptive conversation about healing, faith, and freedom. Irene shares her journey of overcoming alcohol addiction and what it means to celebrate 10 years of sobriety. She opens up about the power of first admitting she was an alcoholic in order to receive help, and the joy of no longer needing that label as she walks in wholeness today.

Together, Jimmy and Irene reveal how radical transparency has allowed them to heal one another’s wounds and strengthen their marriage. They discuss their belief in a God who still works miracles—not only in supernatural ways but also through the miracle of new perspective, therapy, and counseling.

With wisdom drawn from their personal journey and their books, Jimmy and Irene offer hope for couples who long to experience restoration, freedom, and a love that endures.

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In this heartfelt episode, Ray Singleton opens up about his journey through love, loss, and new beginnings. Many came to know Ray and his late wife, Roslyn Singleton, through their beautiful and very public love story that touched countless lives around the world. Now, Ken shares how he has navigated grief while embracing life after loss. Alongside him is his new bride, Lexus Singleton, who brings powerful perspective on what it means to walk with someone through healing. Together, Ray and Lexus open up about the challenges and the beauty of their journey—how love can be reborn, how grief can be carried, and how faith sustains them both. This is a vulnerable conversation about resilience, love that endures, and the hope found in second chances.

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