God can take the places where we feel ashamed, rejected, or broken and transform them into freedom, purpose, and joy.

In this powerful conversation on Road to Redemption, Valerie Peterson sits down with Casey Draughn, Assistant Director of Be Generous, to talk about foster care, healing, surrender, and discovering her identity in Christ.

Casey and her husband, Jason, opened their home to foster children after praying that God would use what He had given them for His purpose. Over nearly ten years, they welcomed around 53 children into their home, becoming a safe and loving place for young people who needed it.

But while Casey was helping others, God was also healing her.

For years, she struggled with shame and rejection. Although she knew Jesus loved her, she had difficulty believing that truth for herself. Through a Freedom group, confession, prayer, and trusted community, Casey began experiencing freedom and learning to replace shame with what God's Word says about her.

She discovered a powerful truth:

She is God's daughter. She is wanted. She is cherished.

Today, Casey serves women through Be Generous, a nonprofit providing a 24-month residential program for women coming out of substance abuse disorder and sexual exploitation.

Casey's story reminds us to:

Give your shame and rejection to God.

Stay rooted in His Word.

Find godly community and accountability.

Bring God your honest emotions—even your anger.

Allow Him to use your life to serve others.

Your shame doesn't define you.

Your rejection doesn't determine your worth.

And your broken places can become part of a beautiful story of redemption.

What burden might God be asking you to surrender to Him today?

Contact Casey Draughn:

 [email protected]

For more information contact us at
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Sometimes God gives us an experience so powerful that it changes the way we see life, death, and eternity forever.

In this deeply moving conversation on Road to Redemption, John Martin sits down with Bently Hornak to share her extraordinary testimony of surviving serious childhood heart complications, encountering what she describes as the presence of angels, and discovering a faith that has carried her through a lifetime of trials.

Bently was born in 1969 with numerous congenital heart defects. Growing up in Southern California, she faced serious health challenges from the very beginning. At just three years old, she underwent her first open-heart surgery. Four years later, on her seventh birthday, she underwent another major heart operation.

After the surgery, complications developed.

As doctors rushed Bently back into the operating room because of bleeding, something happened that she has never forgotten.

Bently describes opening her eyes and seeing what she understood to be the spiritual realm.

She saw angels filling the room.

She remembers experiencing overwhelming peace and realizing that the angels had not suddenly appeared because she was in danger—instead, she felt as though they had already been there and she was simply able to see them for the first time.

Then, Bently recalls being lifted by the wing of an angel and beginning to leave the operating room.

There was no fear.

There was no pain.

Instead, she experienced a profound sense of wholeness, joy, and the feeling that she was going home. She could see her physical body below and understood it as the broken earthly body she was leaving behind.

But suddenly, everything changed.

Bently describes feeling pulled back into her body and hearing the medical team announce that she was coming around.

She woke up in the ICU looking for the angels.

Years later, her parents revealed just how serious the situation had been. Doctors had prepared them for the possibility that their daughter was dying.

For Bently, however, what happened that day never felt like a dream.

She says the memory has never faded.

That glimpse of eternity became an anchor throughout her life, helping her face additional surgeries, uncertainty, and difficult seasons with the assurance that this earthly life is not the end.

As Bently grew older, she also had to learn how to understand what she had experienced.

As a teenager, she sometimes took unnecessary physical risks because she associated danger with encountering the presence of angels again. With maturity, she began to understand that she did not need another crisis to experience God.

God was already near.

That realization became an important part of her message to others.

You don't need a near-death experience to encounter Jesus.

You don't need to reach the darkest moment of your life before calling on Him.

And you don't need to have someone else's dramatic testimony for your relationship with God to be real.

Bently reminds listeners that Jesus meets each person personally, wherever they are.

Her story encourages us to:

• Invite Jesus into every part of our lives.
• Trust God even when we cannot see what He is doing.
• Stay grounded in God's Word.
• Find a Christ-centered, Bible-believing church.
• Build relationships with people who encourage faith and accountability.
• Remember that trials do not mean God has abandoned us.
• Live with the hope that our lives extend beyond what we can see today.

Bently's testimony is ultimately a story about hope.

The seven-year-old girl who once struggled with a broken heart grew into a woman whose experience gave her a powerful confidence in God's presence, His goodness, and the promise of eternity.

As she shares with those who may still be searching, Jesus is personal. He can meet you wherever you are, and you don't have to wait for a crisis to begin a relationship with Him.

Your circumstances may be difficult.

Your future may feel uncertain.

But you are not walking through it alone.

What would change in your life today if you truly believed that God is closer than you realize?

Connect with Bently Hornak:

📧 [email protected]

For more information contact us at
[email protected]

Sometimes the moments that bring us to the end of ourselves become the very moments God uses to deepen our faith, reorder our priorities, and reveal a greater purpose.

In this powerful conversation on Road to Redemption, John Martin sits down with Laura Sink to share her journey of faith, surrender, healing, marriage, and learning to trust God when everything felt uncertain.

Laura has been married to her husband, Andy, for 33 years. Together, they have spent about 15 years teaching a marriage enrichment ministry through their home and church, helping couples—from newlyweds to those married for decades—strengthen their relationships through practical biblical principles. 

But one of the greatest tests of Laura's own faith came in August 2021.

Andy was hospitalized with COVID during a time when hospital restrictions prevented Laura from being with him. Communication was difficult, and she could only watch from a distance as her husband's condition deteriorated.

Fear began to overwhelm her.

Unable to be beside him, Laura turned to the two things she knew could fight that fear: prayer and praise.

Prayer groups began surrounding their family, and Laura faced an agonizing decision about whether Andy should remain hospitalized or come home. She finally reached a place where she told God she could no longer carry the situation herself.

She surrendered her husband completely to Him.

Laura realized that, without intending to, she had placed Andy and her family ahead of God in her heart. In that crisis, she chose to put God back in His rightful place and trust Him with the outcome. 

And something shifted.

Laura became convinced that she needed to bring Andy home.

When he returned, he was extremely sick, and Laura suddenly found herself serving as caregiver, managing his nutrition, medications, breathing needs, and everyday care while privately battling tremendous fear.

She didn't want Andy to see that fear.

So she would retreat into her closet, pray, cry, and declare the attributes of God.

Then one day, while she was on her knees praying, Laura says she experienced something she had never experienced before.

She heard what she describes as the audible voice of God.

She felt God remind her that He had gotten Andy out of the hospital and then tell her that she would share their story so others could experience healing and hope.

At first, Laura didn't want the assignment.

But she quickly realized that the very story she had walked through could become part of God's purpose for her life. 

Andy eventually recovered.

But Laura says the experience changed her life too.

It awakened her to the Holy Spirit, challenged her understanding of surrender, reordered her priorities, and launched her and Andy into a new season of helping others.

Their experience eventually led them to help people searching for information and treatment resources, and Laura says they became involved with a group that started the Microvascular Research Foundation. Through that journey, she developed an even deeper passion for praying for people who are suffering and believing that healing is possible.  

Laura's story is also deeply connected to marriage.

She and Andy didn't begin teaching marriage enrichment because their marriage was falling apart. They had a good marriage—but discovered that a good marriage still needs intentional growth.

After taking a practical marriage course themselves, they realized how valuable it was to understand each other's needs, communication styles, and the things that can slowly create distance between a husband and wife.

That experience inspired them to help other couples.

Laura believes marriage shouldn't only receive attention when something is wrong.

It should be continually strengthened, protected, and enriched.

Her story reminds us:

Surrender what you cannot control.
Put God first—even above the people you love most.
Fight fear with prayer and praise.
Stay rooted in God's Word.
Find a Christ-centered church and godly community.
Invest in your marriage before it reaches a crisis.
Don't be afraid to seek appropriate help when you're struggling.
And trust God with the parts of your story you don't yet understand.

Laura is still discovering exactly what God will do with her passion for healing. She doesn't claim to have every answer. Instead, she wants to remain available and allow God to use her however He chooses. 

Sometimes surrender isn't giving up.

Sometimes surrender is finally admitting that God can carry what we were never meant to carry alone.

Your season of fear may become a testimony of faith.

Your struggle may become a source of compassion for someone else.

And the story you never wanted to walk through may become the story God uses to bring hope to another person.

What is one thing you're carrying today that God may be asking you to surrender completely to Him?

Contact Laura Sink:
📧 [email protected]

For more information contact us at
[email protected]

Sometimes the greatest turning point in life begins with a simple realization:

There has to be more than this.

In this inspiring conversation, John Martin sits down with Ron Myers to share an incredible testimony of purpose, surrender, and discovering what it truly means to follow Jesus.

Ron shares that although he grew up in a Catholic family and knew about Jesus, his childhood was filled with loneliness and pain. At just eleven years old, he attempted to take his own life. In that desperate moment, he heard a voice he would never forget:

"Ron, don't hurt yourself. I've got a plan for you."

That encounter became the first glimpse of God's purpose for his life.

Years later, after serving in the Air Force, becoming a young father, experiencing divorce, and building a highly successful entertainment and promotions business, Ron appeared to have everything the world considered successful.

He promoted concerts, festivals, major events, and built a thriving business.

But inside, something was still missing.

While sitting alone in a hotel room after years of chasing success, Ron cried out to God and asked why he still felt empty.

That's when he heard those life-changing words:

"Now that I have your attention, let me show you what you were created for."

That moment changed everything.

Ron walked away from the business world and dedicated his life to introducing people to Jesus. Instead of chasing success, he began chasing God's purpose.

Over the years, God led Ron into radio ministry, podcasting, outreach, and countless opportunities to encourage people who believed they were beyond hope.

Throughout the conversation, Ron reminds listeners that many people don't meet Jesus in moments of comfort—they meet Him at the end of themselves.

He shares that after interviewing hundreds of people, one truth continues to stand out:

There was no hope until they called upon Jesus.

Ron encourages listeners to stop trying to earn God's love and instead simply come to Jesus as they are. God isn't looking for perfect people—He's looking for willing hearts.

He reminds us that every person has been uniquely created with gifts, talents, and purpose that only they can fulfill.

This conversation encourages listeners to:

• Spend daily time with Jesus.
• Read God's Word consistently.
• Find a Bible-believing church.
• Build relationships with godly community.
• Stop living for the approval of others.
• And discover the purpose God created you to fulfill.

Your past does not disqualify you.

Your mistakes are not the end of your story.

God still has a purpose for your life.

If you truly believed God had a unique purpose for your life, what step of faith would you take today?

Connect with Ron Myers:

📧 [email protected]

For more information contact us at
[email protected]

Sometimes following God means saying yes before you understand where He is leading.

In this inspiring conversation on Road to Redemption, John Martin sits down with Mark Mbayo, a Ugandan entrepreneur, ministry leader, and co-founder of Bold Creators, to share a story of faith, obedience, surrender, and purpose.

Mark grew up in a small fishing village in Kampala, Uganda. Through a sponsorship program, he was able to attend school from kindergarten through medical school, eventually earning a degree in medical laboratory technology.

As Mark began working in healthcare, he saw firsthand how difficult it was for people in rural communities to access quality medical care. Combining his medical background with a lifelong passion for business, he helped establish clinics that could sustainably serve people with very limited incomes.

His diligence eventually took him from working as a lab assistant to becoming an assistant to the medical director.

Then God asked him to surrender it.

At the height of his career, Mark felt God calling him to resign from his job—even though it was his primary source of income and he was preparing to get married.

It didn't make sense.

But Mark chose obedience.

Then came an even harder surrender. Mark believed God was asking him to give up his financial interest in the clinics he had helped establish.

Again, he said yes.

Those seasons taught Mark an important lesson:

Sometimes God asks us to release what He has given us so we can discover what He ultimately created us to do.

That journey eventually connected Mark with Ben Clark and helped lead to the creation of Bold Creators, a community focused on helping Christian entrepreneurs grow in faith, business, family, and community.

Through mentorship and biblical principles for business, Bold Creators connects American and Ugandan entrepreneurs and encourages business owners to think beyond personal profit.

The goal is redemptive entrepreneurship—building businesses that create jobs, strengthen families, support ministries, and transform communities.

Mark shares that the program has already worked with 127 people and helped create more than 100 jobs through its network.

But underneath everything Mark has accomplished is a much simpler message:

Don't leave God when life gets difficult.

Hard seasons don't necessarily mean God has forgotten you.

Sometimes they are preparing you for what comes next.

Mark encourages listeners to:

• Stay anchored in God when circumstances don't make sense.
• Be willing to surrender what God asks you to release.
• Trust that no situation is too difficult for Him.
• Build businesses and careers that serve others.
• Use your gifts to strengthen your community.
• And remember that your past does not put you beyond God's love or forgiveness.

You may not understand what God is asking you to surrender today.

But your obedience could be preparing the way for a purpose greater than anything you originally planned.

What might God be asking you to trust Him with today?

Connect with Mark Mbayo & Bold Creators:

🌐 boldcreators.org
📧 [email protected]

For more information contact us at
[email protected]

Life can change in an instant. But even in our darkest moments, God is still writing a story of redemption.

In this powerful conversation, Valerie Peterson sits down with Kellie Spears to share an incredible testimony of faith, perseverance, and the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Kellie shares how her life seemed perfect—a loving husband, two young children, a new home, and a bright future. But on what should have been an ordinary day, everything changed.

While driving home after purchasing a new family vehicle, Kellie, her husband Tim, and their six-week-old son were struck head-on by a drunk driver.

The crash was devastating.

Trapped inside the vehicle for hours, Kellie suffered life-threatening injuries, while her infant son was airlifted to another hospital fighting for his life.

In the middle of the chaos, Kellie remembers crying out just one prayer:

"Jesus, save us."

That simple cry became the beginning of a miraculous journey.

Doctors weren't sure they would survive. Kellie faced months of recovery, learning to walk again, overwhelming pain, fear, depression, and unexpected struggles in her marriage. What began as a physical tragedy exposed emotional wounds that had been hidden for years.

But God never left them.

Through faithful friends, family, church community, counseling, and the power of prayer, God slowly restored what seemed impossible. Kellie discovered that healing isn't instant—it happens one day at a time as we continue trusting God through every step.

Today, Kellie uses her testimony to encourage others facing tragedy, loss, fear, or hopelessness. Through her book, Trials, Tragedies & Triumphs, she reminds people that even the deepest pain can become a testimony of God's faithfulness.

Kellie's story is proof that:

• God is present in our darkest moments.
• Healing is a journey, not an event.
• Community and accountability matter.
• Jesus brings peace even when circumstances don't change immediately.
• Hope is stronger than fear.

She encourages listeners to:

• Call on the name of Jesus.
• Stay rooted in God's Word.
• Find a Bible-believing church.
• Allow others to walk beside you.
• Never believe you are facing your trial alone.

Your tragedy does not have to define your future.

God can bring hope, healing, and purpose from even the most unexpected circumstances.

What trial are you trusting God to carry you through today?

Connect with Kellie Spears:

📧 [email protected]

📖 Trials, Tragedies & Triumphs is available on Amazon.
:::

For more information contact us at
[email protected]

God can take the most broken story and turn it into a testimony of His love.

In this powerful conversation, Valerie Peterson sits down with Rachael Cannon to share her incredible road to redemption—a story of addiction, restoration, healing, and the life-changing love of Jesus Christ.

Rachael opens up about spending 25 years trapped in addiction and going in and out of county jail. After four rehabs, years of brokenness, legal trouble, homelessness, and hopelessness, she reached one of the darkest points of her life.

She was suicidal, addicted, facing another felony, and unsure if freedom was even possible.

But God met her there.

After hearing the testimony of a woman named Dawn, Rachael saw a kind of freedom she had never experienced before. Something in her heart awakened, and she knew she wanted what Dawn had.

That moment became the beginning of a brand-new life.

Rachael entered recovery, encountered the unconditional love of God, and began discovering her true identity in Christ. Through love, grace, and discipleship, God rebuilt her life from the inside out.

Today, Rachael is ten years sober and now goes back into the very places she once sat in as an inmate. She ministers in county jails across the Emerald Coast, teaching women about the love of God and reminding them that their mistakes do not define them.

She is also an author, musician, teacher, and founder of Greenhouse Lilies, using her testimony to help others find freedom, healing, and hope.

Rachael’s story is proof that:

Nothing is wasted.
Pain can become purpose.
And one encounter with Jesus can change everything.

She encourages listeners to:

Reach out for help.
Stay open to healing.
Get into God’s Word.
Find a church community.
Walk in accountability.
And believe that God still restores.

Your past does not disqualify you.
Your pain is not the end of your story.
And God can still bring beauty from every broken place.

What is one area of your life where God may be inviting you into deeper healing today?

📧 Email: [email protected]

For more information contact us at
[email protected]

Success isn't measured by what you build—it's measured by what you do with what God has entrusted to you.

In this inspiring conversation, John Martin sits down with entrepreneur and ministry leader Ben Clark to share a story of perseverance, faith, and using business as a platform to impact lives around the world.

Ben is the owner of B-Unlimited, a successful licensed collegiate apparel company, but his journey to entrepreneurship was anything but easy.

Growing up, Ben struggled with dyslexia, ADHD, learning disabilities, and a poor self-image. School was incredibly difficult, and he often felt like the underdog. He experienced failure after failure and never imagined the path God had planned for him.

Instead of allowing those struggles to define him, God used them to build resilience, character, and dependence on Him.

Starting with almost nothing, Ben slowly built his business from the ground up. Every dollar he earned went back into growing the company. There were no shortcuts, no wealthy investors, and no overnight success—just years of perseverance, hard work, and trusting God through every setback.

But after experiencing business success, God began stirring Ben's heart for something greater.

Following a mission trip to Uganda through his church, Ben recognized that many aspiring entrepreneurs had incredible ideas but lacked mentorship and guidance. Rather than simply giving financial assistance, God inspired him to help equip business leaders with wisdom, encouragement, and practical tools for success.

That vision became Bold Creators.

Today, Bold Creators connects experienced business leaders with entrepreneurs in Uganda, helping them build sustainable businesses, create jobs, strengthen families, and transform communities—all while sharing the hope of Jesus Christ.

Throughout the conversation, Ben reminds listeners that success isn't about titles, wealth, or recognition.

True success is using your gifts to serve others and saying "yes" when God opens a door.

Ben encourages listeners to:

• Trust God through every season.
• Don't let failure define your future.
• Invest in people, not just projects.
• Stay grounded in God's Word.
• Get involved in a Christ-centered community.
• And never underestimate what God can do through one simple act of obedience.

You don't have to be perfect for God to use you.

You simply have to be willing.

What is one opportunity God may be asking you to say "yes" to today?

Connect with Ben Clark:

📧 [email protected]

📧 [email protected]

🌐 https://boldcreators.org
:::

For more information contact us at
[email protected]

The healthiest leaders are the ones who learn to care for themselves first.

In this encouraging conversation, Valerie Peterson sits down with Joy Makela, licensed mental health therapist, licensed school psychologist, and founder of True Joy Counseling, to discuss one of the most overlooked topics in leadership: self-care.

Joy explains why so many leaders, parents, pastors, business owners, and caregivers view rest as a luxury instead of a necessity—and how that mindset often leads to burnout, exhaustion, anxiety, and emotional fatigue.

Together, Valerie and Joy share practical, biblical, and clinical wisdom on building a healthy rhythm of life through intentional self-care.

They discuss:

•  Why quality sleep is essential for emotional and physical health. 
•  Healthy sleep habits that improve rest. 
•  The dangers of constant screen time and distraction. 
•  Why laughter, relationships, and time in nature matter. 
•  Creating small, medium, and large self-care habits. 
•  Recognizing when stress becomes burnout. 
•  The importance of accountability and healthy community. 
•  Learning to recognize when professional counseling is needed. 
•  Putting God first and creating healthy priorities. 
•  Finding a sustainable rhythm that brings peace instead of chaos. 

Joy reminds us that leadership begins with leading ourselves well.

When we neglect our own health, we eventually have nothing left to give those we lead.

She encourages listeners to:

•  Prioritize healthy rest. 
•  Practice intentional self-care. 
•  Build meaningful relationships. 
•  Stay connected to God's Word. 
•  Find a healthy church community. 
•  Seek professional help when needed. 
•  Create rhythms that protect your emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. 

Healthy leaders don't burn out because they care for themselves before they run empty.

How are you intentionally caring for your emotional, physical, and spiritual health today?

Connect with Joy Makela:
🌐 https://TrueJoyCounseling.com

For more information contact us at
[email protected]

Some stories remind us that no one is too broken for God to restore.

In this powerful conversation, Valerie Peterson sits down with Sarah Atchley to share a testimony of addiction, surrender, healing, and God’s redeeming love.

Sarah opens up about growing up with deep pain, a spiritual emptiness, and addiction in her family background. From a young age, she felt a void she could not explain. By 12, she began self-harming, and by 13, she took her first pain pill.

For the next 16 years, addiction became the way she tried to numb the pain.

Her drug of choice became heroin, and for many years she lived through homelessness, legal consequences, broken relationships, overdoses, and deep hopelessness. After six rehabs, Sarah believed she might be too far gone.

But God was not finished with her story.

While sitting in jail, Sarah began attending Celebrate Recovery. At first, it wasn’t because her heart was fully ready—but God used even that small willingness. On Christmas Day, she genuinely surrendered her life to Jesus and asked Him to take over what she could no longer manage on her own.

That surrender changed everything.

Sarah eventually entered Path of Grace, a two-year program that became the place where God rebuilt her life, restored her identity, and taught her how to live in freedom one day at a time.

She learned that healing is not always instant—it is a process.

Through daily surrender, community, accountability, and time with God, Sarah began to see herself differently. What once felt like stubbornness and brokenness, God transformed into passion, strength, and purpose.

Today, Sarah is using her story to help other women find the same hope and healing she found. She now serves with Path of Grace and is stepping into full-time ministry, helping broken women discover that they are loved, valued, and never too far gone.

Her story is proof that God can restore the years addiction tried to steal.

Sarah encourages listeners to:
Stay surrendered daily.
Get into God’s Word.
Find a church community.
Walk in accountability.
And never believe the lie that your past disqualifies you.

Your pain can become your platform.
Your story can bring hope.
And God can use even the darkest places to reveal His greatest restoration.

What is one area of your life that God may be asking you to surrender today?

Contact Sarah Atchley:
📧 [email protected]

For more information contact us at
[email protected]