In Part 2 of his testimony, Ralph Rodriguez shares what happened when the pain and darkness in his life reached a breaking point. After years of depression, hopelessness, and questioning whether God was even real, Ralph entered a season of spiritual warfare that left him desperate for answers. Then, at a youth camp altar, he prayed, “God, if You’re real, show Yourself to me.” That moment changed everything.

Ralph shares how Jesus met him in that place of despair, how surrender changed the course of his life, and how God began turning deep pain into purpose.

If a teenager in your life seems deeply sad, withdrawn, or weighed down, choose to engage them with love, patience, and hope. A caring conversation can be the beginning of light breaking into a dark place. The statistics from 2023 suggest at least 40% of U.S. high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

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Thanks for watching the video Rafael Rodriguez: When Jesus Met Him in the Darkness (Testimony) | EP #62 (Part 2)

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, please do not suffer in silence. Help is available.

For immediate emotional support or crisis help anywhere in the United States, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7, free and confidential. It also offers chat support online.

For Christian mental health support, Mental Health Grace Alliance offers free Christian mental health resources, including educational guides, workbooks, and local and online faith-based support groups for individuals and families facing anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health challenges.

Focus on the Family also offers a Christian counselor referral network and states that its counseling department can be reached by phone on weekdays for support and referrals.

For teens and young adults, TheHopeLine provides Christian-oriented encouragement, resources, and live chat support for those in crisis or emotional distress.

You are not weak for needing help. Reaching out is a wise and courageous step, and there are people who care and want to walk with you through this.

TRJE Disclaimer: The Real Jesus Experience exists to share stories of faith, hope, and redemption, but it is not a crisis service, counseling provider, or medical organization. Content shared by TRJE is for inspirational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for licensed mental health care, medical advice, diagnosis, or emergency intervention. If you are in crisis, feel unsafe, or are having thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988 immediately, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

In this first part of his testimony, Ralph Rodriguez sits down with Chad to share the painful beginnings of a story marked by fatherlessness, hidden trauma, deep emotional wounds, and a battle with depression.

As Ralph reflects on those years, he speaks honestly about anger, insecurity, loneliness, and the pressure to hide pain behind humor, toughness, and trying to fit in. What looked normal on the outside was, in many ways, a life quietly unraveling within.

This episode is raw, vulnerable, and deeply human. It is for anyone who has wrestled with hidden pain, depression, unanswered questions, or the weight of wounds they never chose. Ralph’s honesty makes this first part especially powerful because it does not rush past the darkness.

If you have ever wondered where God is in the middle of pain, confusion, or brokenness, Ralph’s story will meet you there.

You can find Rafael's creative works on his Instagram and website (see below), or reach out to him for further info at his email (see below):

- Instagram - @thecatalyst1

- Website: rafaelrod.com

- Email: [email protected]

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Thanks for watching the video Ralph Rodriguez: Childhood Wounds, Depression, and the Edge of Surrender (Testimony) | EP #61 (Pt1)

Acts 27 is one of those chapters that reads like a travel log… until it doesn’t.

As I sat focusing on my Bible study, something flickered in my mind: buried inside this storm-and-shipwreck story was a description of my own journey through the wall! My own season where the headwinds wouldn't stop, plans fall apart, and I realized I couldn't push my way forward anymore. The kind of pressure that exposed how much control I was struggling to hold onto…

In this episode of The Real Jesus Experience, we walk through Acts 27 step-by-step and connect it to what the wall actually feels like:

- the “Fair Havens” moments God gives you to breathe.

- the fog where you can’t see the sun or stars - no way to navigate.

- the stripping away—jettisoning what you thought you needed to keep.

- and the moment that gets most people: reaching for the lifeboat to escape the process.

But here’s the hope: God doesn’t waste storms. And even when the ship doesn’t make it, He still gets His people safely to shore.

If you’re in a season where you can’t see the shoreline, this is your reminder: the storm can be loud… but God is steady. And He will carry you through the wall.

Listen NOW for new episodes of the Real Jesus Experience Podcast🎙:

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Thanks for watching the video Going Through the Wall in Acts 27: My Journey Discovered in Scripture (Testimony) | EP #60

Heads up, TRJE family—our next episode will be two weeks out.

But it’s worth the wait. We’re trying something new: a conversation with two good friends whose stories intersect in a way we can’t wait for you to hear. Their testimonies come together in a powerful, God-sized way—and we believe it’s going to encourage a lot of people.

Thank you for riding with us. Stay tuned!

Listen NOW for new episodes of the Real Jesus Experience Podcast🎙:

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In Part 2 of Derek Mathews’ story, the Lord keeps pulling back the curtain on a lie Derek didn’t even realize was still running his spiritual life: the idea that God is distant—powerful, yes—but cold, static, and impressed only by performance. Derek shares how God began rewriting that image, not just with new information, but with a new experience—the kind that turns fear-driven striving into rest, and turns “servant or soldier” into something far more personal: son.

Derek walks straight into a third “wall”: deep church hurt, spiritual and emotional abuse from leadership, and the gut-wrenching decision to leave a place he loved. Yet even there, God meets him in the Word—especially in Ezekiel 34—with a promise that lands like oxygen: when human shepherds fail, the Lord Himself will search for His sheep and care for them.

This episode is raw, discerning, and full of hope in hard times. If you’ve ever tried to earn God’s love, felt disoriented by leadership failure, or wondered whether you can trust Him in grief and uncertainty, Derek’s journey will remind you: Jesus doesn’t just point the way—He walks with you through the wall, carries you when you’re weak, and leads you into deeper freedom.

LISTEN TO STORYVERSE PODCAST:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/storyverse-podcast/id1687014735

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MyYLrPjprSDXJDk24gcAp (or wherever you listen)

DOWNLOAD THE STORYVERSE INSTITUTE APP (Appstore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/storyverse-institute/id6745186204 or Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kj2148391339.app&hl=en_US)

GET 50% OFF using promo code REALJESUS using the links below:

Lay Institute Courses | Think simple, rich, and transformative course library on all things Jesus. https://institute.storyverseministries.com/offers/B7aUmVrk?coupon_code=REALJESUS

Ministry Residency Course | Think seminary, but way more accessible, way less expensive, and way more engaging. https://institute.storyverseministries.com/offers/sGG6X7HV?coupon_code=REALJESUS

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Thanks for watching the video Derek Mathews: The Grief of Loss, Spiritual Wounds, and a New Calling (Testimony) | EP #59

Guest: Derek Mathews

Host: Chad Beck

Sound By: Steven Cooley

Edited by: The Real Jesus Experience

In today’s episode of The Real Jesus Experience, I’m joined by Derek Mathews—the founder and host of the Storyverse Podcast, and the founder of Storyverse Ministries.

In Part 1, Derek takes us back to the early framework he had for God—distant and critical—and how that shaped a faith that felt more like work than relationship. Derek's vision of God was as though He was sitting in a swivel chair, turning away from Derek when He was displeased, and back toward him when Derek had performed well.

He describes trying to “get back into God’s good graces,” and even after coming to understand salvation by grace, still feeling the pull of a shame-driven mindset.

If you’ve ever wrestled with feelings like God thinking you're a failure, Derek’s story will put language to it—and point you back to what’s true.

LISTEN TO STORYVERSE PODCAST:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/storyverse-podcast/id1687014735

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MyYLrPjprSDXJDk24gcAp (or wherever you listen)

DOWNLOAD THE STORYVERSE INSTITUTE APP (Appstore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/storyverse-institute/id6745186204 or Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kj2148391339.app&hl=en_US)

GET 50% OFF using promo code REALJESUS using the links below:

Lay Institute Courses | Think simple, rich, and transformative course library on all things Jesus. https://institute.storyverseministries.com/offers/B7aUmVrk?coupon_code=REALJESUS

Ministry Residency Course | Think seminary, but way more accessible, way less expensive, and way more engaging. https://institute.storyverseministries.com/offers/sGG6X7HV?coupon_code=REALJESUS

Listen NOW for new episodes of the Real Jesus Experience Podcast🎙:

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Thanks for watching the video Derek Mathews (Storyverse): From Ritual to Relationship—Meeting the God Who’s Near | EP #58 (Pt 1)

Guest: Derek Mathews

Host: Chad Beck

Sound By: Steven Cooley

Edited by: The Real Jesus Experience

In Part 2 of Barko Engelbrecht’s testimony, Barko shares what it’s like to hit the “wall” seasons—those moments that don’t just test your faith in Christ, they strengthen the foundation of it. As he steps away from security to serve in ministry, you’ll hear a powerful story of trusting God’s plan and watching Him provide in ways only He can.From there, Barko and Chad get into bold obedience and real-world outreach: being called into a rough area, praying for strangers, and witnessing the kind of divine encounter that turns into healing and hope in hard times—including a moment of healing on the spot that reminds you Jesus still meets people right where they are.Barko also recounts an unforgettable school meeting where hundreds of students responded to an invitation to experience Jesus, and the Holy Spirit moved so powerfully the principal called him in afterward because the day couldn’t return to “normal.”Along the way, this conversation touches on marriage, boundaries, church hurt, forgiveness, and what it looks like to keep pursuing a real, personal encounter with Jesus—not a secondhand faith—through a continuing journey to redemption and deeper faith in Christ.Listen NOW for new episodes of the Real Jesus Experience Podcast🎙:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealJesusExperienceRumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-6527259Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-real-jesus-experience/id1752479121 Follow/Connect:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealJesusExperienceX: https://x.com/JesusXperienceTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.real.jesus.expInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_real_jesus_experience/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@the_real_jesus_experience_________LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍#testimony #god #faith #christianityThanks for watching the video Barko Engelbrecht: When Faith Hits the Wall—God Provides in the Unknown (Testimony) | EP#57 (Pt 2)

REWIND (Part 2) continues the highlight reel from the first 40 interviews on The Real Jesus Experience Podcast —more of the moments that hit you right in the heart and leave no room for “that was just coincidence.”

In this second half, you’ll hear more of Chad’s favorite turning points: the raw honesty that brings freedom, the prayers that marked a before-and-after, the hard lessons God used to rebuild lives, and the quiet breakthroughs that remind you Jesus still meets people right where they are.

Same purpose, same hope: to help you find the episode you need right now—whether you’re looking for healing, courage to take the next step, clarity in a confusing season, or a simple reminder that God is still writing your story.

Listen NOW for new episodes of the Real Jesus Experience Podcast🎙:

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Thanks for watching the video REWIND: Chad's Favorite Moments (Testimony) | Part 2

Guests: Sarah Delp, Adriana Reyna, Vernon Burger, Aaron Morales, Derek Prins, Claudia Hensley, Rotolet McGee, Steven Cooley, Emerson Morales Jr., Matthew Smith, Leydin Barraza, Sammy Ortiz, Steve Milbourn, Sal, Stuart Sheehan, Nathan Berry, Santos Roman, Calvin Green, Galen Blom, Matt Delp, Blake Swoboda, Doug Shutt, Jennifer Collins, Owen Gray, Barko Engelbrecht

Host: Chad Beck

Sound By: Steven Cooley

Edited by: The Real Jesus Experience

REWIND is a two-part look back at the past year and a half since The Real Jesus Experience began recording testimonies. This collection features Chad’s favorite moments from the first 15 interviews—the turning points, the honest confessions, the “only God” breakthroughs, and the hope-filled reminders that Jesus still restores.The goal of REWIND is simple: to help you discover an episode that speaks to the season you’re in right now - whether you need hope, healing, direction, or a reminder that God isn’t done with your story.Listen NOW for new episodes of the Real Jesus Experience Podcast🎙:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealJesusExperienceRumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-6527259Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-real-jesus-experience/id1752479121 Follow/Connect:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealJesusExperienceX: https://x.com/JesusXperienceTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.real.jesus.expInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_real_jesus_experience/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@the_real_jesus_experience_________LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍#testimony #god #faith #christianity Thanks for watching the video REWIND: Chad's Favorite Moments (Testimony) | Part 1.

In today’s episode of The Real Jesus Experience, we’re sitting down with Barko Engelbrecht—a man whose identity was built on the rugby field… until life forced him to ask who he really was without it.

Barko grew up in South Africa in a culture where rugby isn’t just a sport—it’s a proving ground. From a young age, he chased the next level, the next team, the next opportunity. And while there was ambition and discipline on the outside, there was also something deeper driving him: the need to be seen, to be enough, to matter. For Barko, rugby wasn’t just something he did—it became something he was.

And then, a serious ankle injury didn’t just interrupt a season—it shook the foundation of his life. The thing he trusted to give him purpose and direction suddenly couldn’t hold him up anymore. But in that painful turning point, God began to do what only God can do: meet him in the loss, confront what had taken the place of Christ, and open a door Barko never expected.

In Part 1 of this conversation, Barko shares how the pressure, the pursuit, and the performance-driven identity eventually led to a breaking point—and how a simple moment at a church camp became the start of a real, personal surrender to Jesus. This is a story about identity, faith in hard times, and the mercy of God when He lovingly takes away what we’ve been leaning on… so He can become what we stand on.

Let’s jump into the conversation with Barko Engelbrecht.

Listen NOW for new episodes of the Real Jesus Experience Podcast🎙:

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Thanks for watching the video Barko Engelbrecht: From Performance to Purpose—Finding Identity in Jesus (Testimony) | EP#56 (Pt 1)