The Redeemed Backslider

Send us Fan Mail

He grew up in church, but the altar scared him, fitting in felt urgent, and “I’ll come back someday” sounded believable for a long time. Sean McDonald joins me to tell the story behind his return to Jesus and why the biggest obstacles were not just behaviors, but shame, identity, and the lies that keep people out of the building.

We talk about what it’s like being raised by a praying mom while your dad only shows up on the big holidays, and how that tension shapes a kid’s view of God and church. Sean shares how he drifted through the teen years, started drinking and smoking, and convinced himself he needed to get clean before he could walk through the doors again. We dig into how common that “fix yourself first” mindset is for prodigals and why it quietly delays healing.

Tune in for more from Shawn McDonald

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"

Send us Fan Mail

You can sit in a church pew and still feel a hundred miles away from God and you can be far away and still feel pulled toward home. I talk with Bishop Jim McPhaill, the pastor who has had a front-row seat to my own back-and-forth journey, about what he has learned across 44 years of ministry and why most people do not “choose rebellion” so much as they slowly drift. He shares a simple, unforgettable picture of the lost sheep, and it lands because it explains how spiritual distance can grow quietly until returning feels impossible. We talk about this subject and more.

Tune in for more of the conversation with Bishop McPhaill

Kathy’s Children’s Book, “Where Did That Cone From” can be found on Amazon or follow this link 👉 https://a.co/d/096QAAUG

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"

Send us Fan Mail

In this Episode, Kathy sits down with some of her first guests to talk about what has life been like since you rededicated your life. The ups and downs, the good times and the hard times. They answer a total of 19 questions.

(Left to Right)

Keith Battle Episode 2
Keri McPhaill-Rodriguez, Episode 3
Kathy Chastain (host) Episode 1
Reyna Galvez Episode 5
Victor Molano Episode 15

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"

Send us Fan Mail

If you’ve ever felt like God’s love depended on how perfectly you followed the rules, Tabitha Lopez’s story will hit close to home. She grew up in a strict United Pentecostal world where standards, leadership pressure, and fear of “getting it wrong” shaped her identity, even while she genuinely loved God and hungered for the Bible. Then Hurricane Katrina wiped out her home and community overnight, and the faith that felt unshakable suddenly had nothing familiar to stand on. 

We talk through what happens after trauma when you’re grieving, angry, and trying to make sense of why God didn’t prevent the pain. Tabitha shares the slow slide into isolation, social anxiety, depression, self harm, and suicidal thoughts, plus the complicated church dynamics that can deepen shame instead of bringing healing. The most surprising part of her testimony is the detour into Jehovah’s Witnesses, not as a flashy rebellion, but as a desperate attempt to find belonging and rebuild a life without trusting God.

Tune in to hear the rest...

Find Tabitha's book, "No Longer A Prodigal" on Amazon

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"

Send us Fan Mail

She was the “good kid,” the straight-A student, the one who looked fine. But beneath the surface, Amber Alonzo was carrying loneliness, bullying, grief, and a private depression that eventually turned into anorexia nervosa and relentless intrusive thoughts. Amber joins me to tell the truth about what eating disorders actually feel like, how quickly control becomes obsession, and why so many teens hide pain behind perfectionism and people pleasing.

Tune in to hear the complete testimony of Amber Alonso!

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"

Send us Fan Mail

Some stories don’t fit into neat church slogans, and that’s exactly why they matter. I’m joined by Cindy Mayo, a licensed minister and founder of Alpha Ministries, to share a deeply personal testimony of trauma, survival, and finding a way back to God after years away from church.

Cindy opens up about a childhood marked by dysfunction, sexual abuse, fear, and later being kicked out at 17. We talk about how unresolved trauma can surface as rage, shame, and identity confusion, and why many people who struggle with same-sex attraction or gender identity confusion don’t leave because they stop loving God, but because they don’t know how to overcome what’s happening inside them. We also unpack the difference between gender identity confusion and same-sex attraction in plain language, without sensationalism.

Tune In to listen to more

If you have questions about homosexuality and how to live an overcoming life, contact Cindy Mayo at (209) 617-8114, or follow her on Facebook. Her ministry can offer many resources and counseling services to help.

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"

Send us Fan Mail

A mother’s prayer can sound fearless on the outside and still be full of questions in the quiet. Kathy Chastain sits down with Ashley Zachary, a newer convert with a raw, hope-filled testimony about coming out of a lesbian lifestyle, learning the Bible for herself, and discovering the power of the Holy Ghost in a way that turns “God is real” into lived experience.

Ashley shares how her daughter Autumn’s 1p36 deletion syndrome diagnosis shattered expectations and triggered real grief, anger, and spiritual confusion. We talk about what it feels like to pray for healing, attend healing services, do “all the right things,” and still walk out without the instant miracle you hoped for. Along the way, Ashley explains the turning points that kept her from closing her heart: a God-given dream, wise counsel, and learning that trusting God is sometimes “one step at a time,” not a sudden burst of certainty.

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"

Send us Fan Mail

Loneliness can be loud, even when you’re surrounded by people. Antonio Sarzi, a concert bassist who recently earned second chair in the Montana Symphony, joins me to tell the truth about what it feels like to be unseen, to chase perfection until it turns into shame, and to carry an addiction that started with childhood exposure to pornography and followed him into adulthood.

Tune in to listen to Antonio's testimony and please help us pray for all prodigals to come home.

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"

Send us Fan Mail

A pastor’s son commits bank robbery, lands in federal prison, and still can’t shake the pull of God. That’s the real-life backdrop for our conversation with Rev. Michael Torres, who joins us to tell the story from the parent’s side and to offer something many families are starving for: hope that doesn’t deny the pain.

We talk about the roots that shaped his life and ministry in the Apostolic and Pentecostal tradition, from revival stories and youth camps to a discipline of prayer that became his lifeline. Rev. Torres also speaks plainly about the issues that often sit under the surface for church kids and backsliders: offense, loneliness, spiritual sensitivity, depression, and the confusion that comes when we confuse church culture with a personal relationship with Jesus.

Then the conversation turns to the moment every parent fears, the phone call that changes everything.

Tune in to listen to the rest of the story.

To share your testimony, please email: [email protected]

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"

Send us Fan Mail

A church kid can know every altar call and still feel unsafe when life collapses. Kathy Chastain sits down with author Elizabeth Rocha for a raw, deeply personal story about how bullying, grief, sexual assault, church conflict, and workplace betrayal can quietly erode trust and push someone into a slow drift away from God. If you’ve ever wondered why God didn’t protect you, or felt like you were living on other people’s faith, Elizabeth puts words to that ache without offering shallow answers. 

We talk about what backsliding really looks like before anyone notices, the difference between transactional faith and a real relationship with Jesus, and why shame from church people can make “coming home” feel impossible. Elizabeth also shares how pregnancy became her breaking point and her turning back, leading her into a relentless search for Bible study, community, and spiritual mentorship. Along the way, she learns discernment, how to recognize God’s voice, and how to unlearn harsh prayer habits rooted in fear.

Tune in for the rest of the story!

Support the show

Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org

Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy has three books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online:

"Where Did That Come From?" A children's book

"Redeem California, With God it IS Possible" 

"God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California"