Ryan Kennedy has spent years writing songs and touring alongside his wife, worship artist Charity Gayle. But before all of that, there was a moment when Jesus completely changed the direction of his life.

Ryan grew up in church, but admits that for a long time he was mostly going through the motions. Then he really met Jesus and his priorities changed. 

On this episode of Rewrite, Ryan talks with Jonathan about those early days of making music with Charity, watching God take songs like I Speak Jesus farther than they ever could have planned, and now stepping into a new season of releasing music of his own.

They also talk about life on the road with two little boys, the bus accident their team walked away from earlier this year, and learning to trust that God is in the details—even when life doesn't go according to plan.

It's a conversation about following Jesus into whatever's next, giving Him what you have, and trusting Him to do more with it than you ever could on your own.

“God is really, really good in the valley too, and He’s just as near to us and He’s just as kind to us.” - Michael Cochren

Michael Cochren of Cochren & Co. joins Jonathan Unthank for a conversation about new fatherhood, waiting on God, and discovering that His goodness doesn’t depend on getting the answer we hoped for.

Michael also shares the heart behind Cochren & Co.’s album Runs in the Blood, why redemption and the story of the prodigal keep showing up in his music, and why he wants every song to point people toward the hope and grace of Jesus.

GOOD TO REMEMBER:

Following Jesus usually doesn't begin with a spotlight moment, it starts with one simple "yes."

This week on Rewrite, Jonathan sits down with Chelsea McGinnis and Austin Shuffett from SEU Worship to talk about the moments that shaped their faith and the everyday choices that continue to shape it today.

Austin shares how God met him in high school, freeing him from depression and anxiety and showing him that real transformation happens through daily consistency with Jesus, not just emotional mountaintop moments. Chelsea opens up about the freedom she found when she stopped hiding parts of her story and experienced God's love in a deeper way by bringing everything into the light.

Together they talk about worship, surrender, songwriting, and why the greatest invitation from God isn't to do more, it's to keep saying yes.

If you've been waiting for the "right time" to trust God, this conversation is a reminder that your next step of faith might be much smaller, and much closer, than you think.

"God knew how stubborn I was, so He opened doors I couldn't ignore."

Before the stages, the record deal, and American Idol, Warren Peay was just a small-town guy from South Carolina with a guitar, a dream, and a lot of questions. He grew up in church and always believed in Jesus, but there came a point when faith became more than something he knew about. It became personal.

On this episode of Rewrite, Warren shares how seasons of waiting, disappointment, health struggles, and closed doors taught him something he never expected: sometimes God is asking us to stop striving and simply trust Him. When Warren finally prayed, "God, if this is really what You have for me, You're going to have to make it obvious," God began opening doors only He could open.

Today, Warren's heart goes far beyond making music. He wants people who feel like they don't fit in, don't understand church, or think they've wandered too far from God to know there's still a place for them in God's family.

"Your pain may be temporary, but God's faithfulness is permanent."

Some stories don't make sense until you can look back and see where Jesus was all along.

When most people think of Evelyn Cormier, they remember her time on American Idol. But behind the music was a season of heartbreak that changed everything.

In this episode of Rewrite, Evelyn talks about walking through divorce at 22 years old, returning home feeling like her future had been ripped away, and finding out that God is a Father who carries His children when they can't carry themselves.

Now, she's living a story only the Redeemer could write. 

Expecting her first baby, restoring a 200-year-old farmhouse with her husband, and releasing her new song "Leaning On Jesus," Evelyn shares what it looks like to live on the other side of God's faithfulness. She reminds us that restoration doesn't erase our pain - it reveals God's presence through it.

If you've ever wondered whether God can redeem what feels broken, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that He's still writing your story.

"Your pain may be temporary, but God's faithfulness is permanent."

Some stories don't make sense until you can look back and see where Jesus was all along.

When most people think of Evelyn Cormier, they remember her time on American Idol. But behind the music was a season of heartbreak that changed everything.

In this episode of Rewrite, Evelyn talks about walking through divorce at 22 years old, returning home feeling like her future had been ripped away, and finding out that God is a Father who carries His children when they can't carry themselves.

Now, she's living a story only the Redeemer could write. 

Expecting her first baby, restoring a 200-year-old farmhouse with her husband, and releasing her new song "Leaning On Jesus," Evelyn shares what it looks like to live on the other side of God's faithfulness. She reminds us that restoration doesn't erase our pain - it reveals God's presence through it.

If you've ever wondered whether God can redeem what feels broken, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that He's still writing your story.

"The resistance you're seeing may be proof that darkness knows it's about to lose."

Chevas Phillips never imagined she'd become a worship leader.

Raised outside the church, navigating divorce, brokenness, addiction, and a struggling marriage, she spent years running from the very God who was pursuing her. But through the faithful prayers of her husband, unexpected encounters with God's presence, and a love she couldn't explain, Jesus began rewriting her story one chapter at a time.

In this powerful conversation, Chevas shares how God met her in her darkest moments, the role her husband played in leading their family toward Christ, and why her new song "Stories" feels like the anthem of her life.

If you've been praying for a prodigal, struggling to believe God is still working, or wondering if your story is too messy for redemption, this episode is a reminder that Jesus specializes in rewriting stories.

Christians often want the people they love to choose Jesus right now. But what happens when faith doesn't happen on our timeline?

In this episode of Rewrite, Pat Barrett shares how growing up as a preacher's kid taught him one of the most important lessons of his faith journey: God plays the long game.

Pat opens up about the moment faith became his own, the example his parents set by trusting God with his future, and how those lessons are shaping the way he now raises his own children. Together, Jonathan and Pat explore God's patience, His pursuit of every heart, and why even the smallest steps of faith matter more than we realize.

If you've ever prayed for a child, worried about a loved one, or wondered if God is still working behind the scenes, this episode of Rewrite will remind you that He never stops pursuing the people He loves.

“Sometimes all you can do is say, ‘Lord, You’re going to have to do what only You can do.’” Holly Brand

Holly Brand joins Jonathan Unthank on this episode of Rewrite to share how Jesus completely changed the direction of her life. From growing up in Mississippi singing Southern Gospel, to competing on The Voice, to wrestling with whether God was calling her into country or Christian music, Holly tells us about the moments that shaped her faith and career.

She shares the powerful story of finding Jesus in a church stairwell at 14 years old, why her song I Know Somebodymeans so much to her personally, and how God continues to prove Himself faithful as her provider in this new season of music and ministry.

Holly's story will remind you that...

New artist, Rachel Purcell grew up surrounded by music in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, but her story goes way deeper than melodies and stages.

From a young age, she knew who Jesus was… but somewhere along the way, she started living a double life. Church on one side. Pain, shame, and choices she never thought she’d make on the other.

And then, at her lowest point, sitting alone in her car, Jesus met her there.

No stage. No church service. Just a whisper from the Lord.

In this episode, Rachel shares how God never stopped pursuing her, how a childhood prayer came full circle, and why her story is now giving hope to parents, prodigals, and anyone wondering if they’ve gone too far.

Because the truth? You haven’t.

Remember...

Jesus meets you right where you are, not where you “should” be.
Living a double life leads to exhaustion, but surrender leads to freedom.
No story is too messy for redemption.