“You’re going to go through hard stuff either way. Why not walk through it with the One who created you?” – Mike

What happens when your life takes a turn you didn’t see coming? For Mike from MercyMe, it was a car crash at 18 that shook everything—his plans, his perspective, and his faith. In this episode, Mike shares how that moment of surrender became a turning point, leading to nearly 30 years of ministry with MercyMe.

From growing up with faith-filled parents to figuring out how to be a present husband and dad (and admitting he’s basically a 15-year-old in a band), Mike opens up about the messy, real-life side of following Jesus. They talk CrossFit, parenting, putting down their phones, and why walking with God—even through hard stuff—is always worth it.

Letting go can actually set you free. When Mike gave up control, he found more peace, purpose, and joy than he ever could’ve planned.

Small steps of discipline lead to big change. Whether it’s working out, eating better, or finally reading the Bible all the way through—Mike’s learning that spiritual growth shows up in everyday choices.

God doesn’t promise easy—but He does promise presence. Life’s going to be hard either way. Walking with Jesus doesn’t make the pain disappear, but it means we never face it alone.

In this heartfelt episode of Rewrite, Mac Powell and Sean Curran (of Passion Music) sit down with The Light FM's Music Director, Jonathan Unthank, to reflect on their personal journeys of faith, from childhood encounters with God to the evolving challenges of fatherhood, ministry, and daily surrender. Through laughter, real talk, and wisdom forged in the fire of life, they remind us that following Jesus isn’t a one-time moment—it’s a lifelong walk of presence, purpose, and grace.

1. That First Moment with God? It Stays With You.
Sean shares this beautiful story of riding his bike through the neighborhood as a kid and being totally overwhelmed by God’s presence—so much so that he just sat in someone’s yard and poured out his heart. Mac remembers climbing a tree in his front yard just to feel a little closer to heaven. Those early moments might feel small, but they were deeply personal and holy—and they still shape who they are today.

2. Jesus Wants to Walk With You—Not Just Save You.
Sean said something that hit hard: “Jesus isn’t just trying to get us into heaven. He’s trying to get heaven into us.” He talks about learning to follow Jesus not just on a stage or in a church, but as a dad, a husband, a person trying to be more like Him every day. For both Sean and Mac, Jesus isn’t a distant figure—He’s a friend, a teacher, someone they’re learning from in the middle of everyday life.

3. Your Presence Speaks Louder Than Perfection.
Mac and Sean get real about being dads in totally different seasons—Sean with toddlers, Mac with teens. But the heart is the same: showing up. Being present. Even when it’s messy or you don’t have the answers. Whether it’s praying during a walk, letting your kid teach you something, or just holding on through the teen years, they remind us it’s not about having it all figured out. It’s about being there, fully.

“I thought I had to clean myself up to be loved. Jesus flipped that upside down.” — Austin French

Austin French joins Jonathan Unthank on this episode of Rewrite to talk about the real behind the music—how the songs we sing often come from the scars we carry. From moments of doubt to declarations of faith, Austin opens up about the journey God’s taken him on, including the battles with identity, the lies that almost won, and the truth that set him free. You’ll walk away not just inspired—but reminded that God really does use all things for His glory.

God’s love isn’t performance-based. Even when Austin felt unworthy, he found Jesus standing steady, calling him beloved.

Music can be a weapon of truth. Writing songs became Austin’s way of fighting back against shame, fear, and lies.

Your past doesn’t disqualify you. If anything, it might be the very place where God writes your greatest testimony.

When Jamie MacDonald showed up at church camp as a teenager, broken and carrying more than her fair share of pain, she never imagined how far Jesus would take her. In this episode of Rewrite, Jamie sits down with Jonathan Unthank to share her story—from singing being banned in her home, to a battle with addiction, and ultimately, to topping the charts with her debut single “Desperate.”

Through raw honesty and heartfelt moments, Jamie opens up about being pursued by God even in her darkest places, discovering her purpose in prison ministry, and writing songs that come straight from her healing journey. This is more than a story about music—this is about redemption, purpose, and the faithfulness of Jesus who never let go.

God's love pursues us—even in rock bottom moments. Jamie shares how the same voice she heard at camp followed her through addiction and back to life.

Healing often comes before the breakthrough. Her songwriting didn’t truly begin until she embraced the slow, hard work of healing her heart.

Real ministry looks like prison walls and quiet obedience. Jamie’s work inside women’s prisons fuels the purpose behind every lyric she writes.

“When doubt creeps in, one of the most powerful things you can do is look back and remember what God has already done.” - Matthew West

Matthew West joins Jonathan Unthank on this episode of Rewrite for a powerful conversation about faith that becomes personal—and the God who keeps showing up. From growing up as a pastor’s kid to watching a Billy Graham crusade that changed everything, Matthew shares the story of how Jesus first captured his heart and how that moment continues to shape his life, his parenting, and his music. You’ll hear about the “blue couch” where it all started, the joy of baptizing his own daughter, and why he says God’s dreams are always better than our own.

"God didn’t ask me to understand. He asked me to trust Him anyway." - Jeremy Camp

What do you do when the story of your life doesn’t go how you thought it would? Jeremy Camp has lived that question—through loss, grief, massive success, and unwavering faith. In this conversation with Jonathan Unthank, Jeremy gets real about surrendering control, finding peace in God's presence, and why he’s still singing songs of hope.

Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for years or you're in a season of struggle, this episode will remind you: God's not done with your story.

You don’t have to understand everything to trust God.
Jeremy shares how surrendering the "why" opened the door for healing and deeper faith.

Worship is a weapon in the middle of the battle.
He explains how leading people in worship—even when he didn’t feel strong—helped him stay grounded.

Pain doesn’t disqualify you from purpose.
God can redeem even your hardest chapters and use them to bring hope to someone else.

Life doesn’t always look like a big, mountaintop moment—and faith doesn’t either. In this episode of Rewrite, Jonathan Unthank sits down with Rachael Lampa as she shares the simple, powerful ways Jesus showed up for her: not with fireworks, but as a faithful friend. From youth conference memories to motherhood lessons learned on the kitchen floor, Rachael’s story reminds us that Jesus meets us in the everyday moments—and sometimes, the most beautiful thing we can do is slow down and butter the toast.

Whether you’ve felt like your faith story isn't "impressive enough" or you’re struggling to find God in the little things, this conversation will encourage you to remember: He is with you, and He is your friend.

Friendship with Jesus is foundational. Rachael shares how knowing Jesus as a friend first changed her faith forever—and still shapes how she shows up for her kids, her music, and her ministry today.

God meets us in the small moments. From parking lot prayers to cleaning up breakfast messes, Rachael reminds us that no moment is too ordinary for God's presence.

Slowing down reveals God's goodness. In a world rushing past us, Rachael encourages us to slow down, savor simple moments, and notice the ways Jesus is sitting right beside us.

“God’s not a helicopter parent. He doesn’t always stop the fall, but He’s there to pick us up every single time.” - Matt Fuqua, The Afters 

Josh and Matt from The Afters open up like never before—sharing the faith stories behind their music, the pain they’ve walked through, and how they’ve experienced the nearness of Jesus even when life didn’t make sense. From childhood faith to adult heartbreak, this episode is a powerful reminder that God's presence isn’t just for the mountaintops— He shows up in the valleys too.

They talk about what it means to truly know Jesus, not just know about Him. You’ll hear stories of healing, hard questions, miracles in motion, and a powerful testimony of a prodigal coming home. If you’ve ever wondered where God is in your pain, this one’s for you.

Worship artist and author Laura Story sits down with Jonathan Unthank for a deep and beautiful conversation about faith, surrender, and the grace of God that shows up when we have nothing else to hold on to. Laura opens up about her college season of wandering, a broken arm that rerouted her summer plans, and a life-changing missions trip to Mongolia that God used to rewrite everything.

She also shares how music became a surprising ministry, why she’s praying to return to her first love in Christ, and how being a mom is teaching her about the heart of God in new ways.

When Jesus is all you have, you discover He’s all you need.
Laura’s faith became real during a season where everything else was stripped away—her relationship, her scholarship, and even her car. God used it all to bring her back to Himself.

God can use your gifts when you stop trying to use them for yourself.
Music wasn’t originally Laura’s ministry plan. But as she gave her life fully to Jesus, songwriting turned into worship and a way to share the gospel with others.

Even mature faith needs renewal.
Laura shares honestly about asking God to bring her back to that first-love passion—proof that being “all in” with Jesus is a lifelong journey, not a one-time moment.

“The world’s snacks are numbing my hunger for God. I want to hunger and thirst for righteousness again.” — Laura Story

In this episode of Rewrite, Jonathan Unthank catches up with singer-songwriter Dan Bremnes. It’s not just a conversation about music; it’s about what happens when your faith hits real life. Dan opens up about growing up as a pastor’s kid, struggling to make his faith personal, and the season when everything felt like it was falling apart… until Jesus met him in the middle of the mess.

They talk about how faith isn’t a finish line—it’s a walk. And sometimes, that walk feels more like a tightrope. But in it all, Jesus is steady. Whether Dan’s leading worship, writing songs, or just trying to be a good dad, he’s learning to keep calling on the name of Jesus, again and again.

Faith is a journey, not a destination—and Jesus is with us every step.

Worship flows out of real life—even the messy parts.

God is our refuge—not just in theory, but in the moments we feel like we’re falling apart.