"Shame is a prison," Russ Taff says, and he lived in that prison for more than 40 years. To the world, Russ was a Gospel music legend: six GRAMMYs, 18 Dove Awards, and three Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductions. But behind the stage lights and accolades, he was hiding from pain, trapped in addiction, and silenced by the relentless voices of shame and self-hatred. In this deeply honest conversation, recorded around the dining table in his home in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Russ shares the truth he kept secret for decades: while he sang songs about Jesus to millions, he was battling alcoholism in the dark. This is not just a story about addiction. It's a story about hope. About the supernatural healing that comes through love, and the power of God to break even the heaviest chains. Russ opens up about his abusive childhood, the pain that shaped him, and the redemption that's setting him free.

Show notes:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RussTaff

Website: https://russtaff.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russtaffofficial/

"I Still Believe" Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHdjcCfrSg

I Still Believe Book: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Believe-Wreckage-Recovery-Relentless/dp/1642931489

"The Imams are convinced that… an angel of God is with you."

Today's story comes from an interview Meridith did with Jamie Winship a couple of years ago, first shared in our 2023 Angels episode, Episode 183. In a remote desert camp, a simple detail about table settings leads to an extraordinary realization. God's presence was already there.

What if heaven is closer than we think? In this special episode of The Unfolding, we share true stories of angelic encounters, near-death experiences, and glimpses of heaven- moments that leave people searching for words to describe what they saw. You'll hear from Bruce Van Natta, who encountered angels while hovering between life and death after a devastating accident. You'll also hear from bestselling author, psychologist, and speaker Dr. Henry Cloud, who reflects on unforgettable moments that made him wonder whether angels were protecting him, and shares a profound encounter with Jesus at the edge of death. Finally, John Burke, pastor and author of Imagine Heaven, joins us with stories from his extensive research into near-death experiences, sharing remarkable accounts of people who encountered angels and consistent patterns that echo Scripture. This episode invites you into the awe, mystery, and hope of the season, reminding us that the angels who announced the birth of Jesus are still pointing us toward Him today.

Show Notes:

Bruce Van Natta: https://sweetbreadministries.com/

Bruce's book Saved By Angels: https://sweetbreadministries.com/books/

Dr. Henry Cloud: https://www.drcloud.com/

Dr. Cloud's memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Believe-Psychologists-Thoughts-Suffering-ebook/dp/B0CK8C76LD

John Burke's website: https://imagineheaven.net/

Imagine Heaven Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnBurkeImagineHeaven

"This is not just a story you read on the internet. This is a documented case."

Lee Strobel knows what it means to ask hard questions. Before becoming the author of The Case for Christ, he was a legal editor at The Chicago Tribune, trained to investigate claims and follow the evidence. In this episode of Unfolding Short Stories, Lee shares three real-life stories of healing that stayed with him because they held up under careful scrutiny. Each one connects to the questions explored in his film The Case for Miracles.

Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

Do angels still show up in the lives of ordinary people? In this special Christmas episode of The Unfolding, you'll hear powerful stories of angelic encounters—moments of protection, comfort, and God's undeniable presence. From hospital rooms to everyday situations, these eyewitness accounts point to a God who still intervenes in miraculous ways. Featuring stories from Gale, Stesha, Mark, Susie, Hannah, and Christy, this episode explores how God uses His messengers to bring hope when we need it most. If you're drawn to stories of evidence of God at work today, this episode will encourage and inspire you.

After years of questioning if adoption was right for her family, Megan Nilsen felt a clear leading from God to pray, fast, and search His Word. Her 'yes' to adoption opened the door to both immense challenges and undeniable moments of God's presence, teaching her about love, grace, and identity in Christ.

Megan is also the author of the Advent devotional Untangled Advent: Finding Hope in a Weary World, designed to help readers reconnect with God's peace during the holiday season. Learn more at meganbnilsen.com/untangled-advent.

Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

When Louis Dooley was 19, the judge sentenced him to life in prison plus 100 years. At that moment, something inside him shut down. His future felt gone and life as he knew it was over. But Louis' story didn't end behind bars. In the darkest, most hopeless place he could imagine, something unexpected and truly miraculous began. Today, Louis Dooley is the Executive Director of Philemon House, a ministry that disciples people touched by incarceration, and the author of "Prison Saved My Life." In this powerful episode, Louis shares his journey from despair to hope, the lessons he learned inside, and how his life now points others toward redemption and possibility, even when it feels impossible.

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of violence and suicide and may not be appropriate for young listeners.

Show Notes:

Book: https://emmausworldwide.org/products/prison-saved-my-life?_pos=1&_sid=1f0bdf573&_ss=r

Philemon House Website: https://philemonhouse.org/

Louis' Website: https://www.louisdooley.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philemonhouse5/

Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

"Sometimes God uses the smallest things to tell the biggest truths… a pair of shoes given to a child in the name of Jesus." Shawn Spurrier knows this firsthand. His own return to faith came through the steady kindness of community, long before missions was ever on his radar. Today, as director of Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, he's seen that same kind of community transformation unfold in Tenango, Mexico. This episode traces God's faithfulness in Shawn's story and in a village brought together by something beautifully simple.

Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

What do you do when you're sure God has given you a dream, but every door stays firmly shut? Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of The Chosen, spent more than 20 years praying for the chance to make a film based on the beloved book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. But year after year, the answer was the same: no. Until one unexpected moment when God stepped in. In this episode of The Unfolding, Dallas shares the behind-the-scenes story of waiting, disappointment, and the whisper from God that stopped him from deleting his dream forever. It's a story about calling, hope, and God's timing- perfect for the Christmas season and for anyone who's ever waited for God to open a door.

Show Notes:

The Chosen: https://www.thechosen.tv/en-us

Best Christmas Pageant Ever Movie: https://bestchristmaspageantever.movie/

Dallas Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasJenkinsOfficial

Dallas Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dallas.jenkins/?hl=en

Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

"Every cell in my body recognized that this was Jesus."

Heidi Barr was sixteen when a traumatic horseback accident changed her life. She describes leaving her body, meeting Jesus face to face, and waking up with a faith she never saw coming. Growing up in a Jewish home that rejected Jesus, her experience stands out as both unexpected and deeply powerful.

Read more in her book What I Saw in Heaven.