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What happens when following Jesus could cost you your family, your community, and the identity you’ve known your entire life?
In this episode of The Redeemed Podcast, Lauren Burns sits down with Bible teacher Sandi York to share her powerful journey from growing up in a traditional Jewish home to discovering a personal relationship with Jesus as the Messiah.
Sandi grew up immersed in Jewish tradition in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended Jewish day school, and her parents ran Alabama’s only Jewish newspaper. But when her mother came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, Sandi was warned to keep that belief hidden from their Jewish family and community.
For years, Sandi lived between two worlds—carrying secrecy, fear, and shame while trying to maintain the life others expected of her.
After a short-lived marriage, difficult choices, and a season that brought her to rock bottom, Sandi found herself awake at 2:00 a.m., crying out to God.
What happened next began changing everything.
Within weeks, God opened doors for a job at a Christian radio station and a place to live through a coworker. For the first time, Sandi experienced Christian community up close. She began learning about prayer, devotionals, Scripture, and what it meant not simply to know about Jesus—but to surrender her life to Him as Lord.
Eventually, Sandi faced another decision: Would she continue hiding her faith, or would she live unashamed of the gospel?
Her decision to tell the truth led to letters sent to friends and family, painful backlash, public exposure, and strained relationships. But it also led to freedom, healing, restored relationships, and a faith she no longer had to hide.
Today, Sandi teaches Scripture and encourages others to know God deeply and personally. She shares why **Song of Solomon 8:5—“Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?”—**has become such a meaningful picture of her walk with God.
In this conversation, Lauren and Sandi talk about Judaism and Christianity, Messianic Jewish identity, family expectations, shame, secrecy, surrender, prayer, finding Jesus, spiritual transformation, and having the courage to live out your faith.
If you have ever wrestled with family expectations, felt afraid to openly live out your faith, or wondered whether God could meet you at rock bottom, Sandi’s story is a reminder that He can meet us in the wilderness—and teach us to lean on Him.
In This Episode
00:00 Meet Sandi York
00:46 Judaism Basics and Jesus
03:28 Messianic Jewish Identity
03:55 Growing Up Jewish in Alabama
07:28 A Closet Faith at Thirteen
09:43 Double Life Through College
13:03 Marriage and Career Crossroads
14:47 Workplace Friendship Turns Affair
16:16 Rock Bottom and 2AM Prayer
18:32 A Job at Christian Radio
19:14 God Opens Doors
20:29 Devotionals at Work
21:44 Bible Study Breakthrough
24:18 Owning the Faith
25:53 No More Hiding
26:54 Letters and Fallout
30:18 Public Exposure Storm
32:46 Aftermath and Apologies
35:05 Leaning on Beloved
37:52 Contact and Farewell
Connect with Sandi York
Learn more about Sandi, her Bible teaching, ministry, and resources:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandi_york_
Connect with Lauren Burns
Learn more about Lauren Burns, The Redeemed Podcast, speaking events, upcoming book information, and free resources:
Website laurenburns.net
Book STOLEN subscribepage.io/R8EW8e
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laurenburnsredeemed/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laurenBredeemed/
Subscribe to The Redeemed Podcast and join us for real stories of brokenness, healing, faith, miracles, and redemption.
“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” — Psalm 107:2
If Sandi’s testimony encouraged you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to be reminded that following Jesus is worth saying yes—even when that yes comes with a cost.
#SandiYork #RedeemedPodcast #LaurenBurns #JewishChristian #JewishBeliever #MessianicJew #JesusMessiah #ChristianTestimony #FaithStory #FindingJesus #ChristianPodcast #BibleTeacher #FaithInJesus #RedemptionStory #ChristianWomen
Lauren Burns Stolen, true story of being kidnapped by their father at seven years old, taken halfway around the world, and rescued. The book covers what happened after returning home, including years of hiding, father wounds, forgiveness, and discovering that God working in her story. Stolen: True Story, Kidnapped, Rescued, Redeemed is available now in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook. Lauren personally narrated the audiobook find it wherever books are sold.
