   All throughout the story of Jesus’ birth, there are encounters with angels. But many of us are perplexed by these spiritual beings.  Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”  Do people still encounter angels today? In this special 5th installment of our Christmastime episode about angels, we hear from Jamie Winship, LaDonna VonHolton, Stephanie Davenport and Jeff Hanus, each sharing their own unique encounter.  

Page 183: 2023 Angel Stories

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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Buddhism

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   Stephen McWhirter grew up watching his traveling evangelist dad live a double life.  He was one man behind the pulpit and abusive to Stephen’s mother at home.  Stephen decided that if God was real, He wasn’t good.  His earthly father and his heavenly father became the villains in his story.  Angry and rebellious, Stephen fell into addiction, eventually addicted to meth for six years. But one night in a miraculous encounter, Stephen experienced the presence and love of God, and he’s never been the same.  Today Stephen is a worship leader and singer of “Come Jesus Come.” Nearly 40,000 people have come to know Jesus through his TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram lives.  

Page 198: Stephen McWhirter: “Come Jesus Come” Singer’s Transformation from Meth Addict to Worship Leader

April Wilson is a morning show host on Christian radio in Waterloo, Iowa. In this episode, she shares two deeply personal stories intertwining addiction and motherhood. The first tale recounts April's own struggle with addiction, her journey to faith, and the life-saving gift she gave her mother through an organ donation. The second story shines a light on April's daughter's battle with addiction and the power of a mother's prayers in her recovery.

Unfolding Short Stories: "She is the most amazing mom..." April Wilson

   Motherhood is a journey of faith that requires trusting God and fighting battles on behalf of children. In this episode, we are sharing the stories of three brave women who have cared for, advocated for, and fiercely loved children. Through the stories of Courtney Smallbone, Lana Vasquez, and Kathey Garrison, we see that mothers come in many forms – biological, foster/adoptive, and those who are never formally recognized, but whose love has made all the difference in the life of a child.    

Page 197: Stories of Motherhood: Being Brave, Trusting God and Walking by Faith

Jemimah Wright shares a story of finding her now husband, and God's faithfulness being evident throughout this narrative. It includes her dad, Instagram, her passion for journaling, and hearing God's voice.

Unfolding Short Stories: "...it's by my Spirit, says the Lord." - Jemimah Wright, on waiting for a husband

   Hanai is a Hawaiian term for “adopted” or “chosen” family and it is a really effective way to describe Ryan and Sara Senters. When Ryan was younger, he was all about chasing significance. But then God gave him a heart for vulnerable kids. In their 17 years of marriage, Ryan and Sara have been parents to 11 kids- two biological and nine foster kids they have adopted. But their passion and willingness to trust God has led them on a wild journey of faith. Their story is so remarkable, People Magazine and CBS Morning News have featured stories about their family. Ryan and Sara never imagined they would be parents to 11 or help provide family for hundreds more, but once they heard God’s call on their lives, they could not look back. Ryan and Sara are the founders of Ohana, a foster care agency with 40 homes in Arizona and Hanai Coffee, where kids aging out of the foster system find hope, job training and life skills.    

Page 183: 2023 Angel Stories

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