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Dennis Ritter spent decades battling heart disease, living with the knowledge that his time might be shorter than most. But suffering didn't make him bitter. It deepened his faith. When Dennis' health declined, his family gathered to say goodbye. In this deeply moving episode of The Unfolding, Dawn Ritter and her children, Ben and Karen, share the story of Dennis' final days, the legacy of faith he left behind, and the hope that carries them through heartbreaking loss. They talk honestly about grief, unanswered prayers for healing, and why their faith in God remained steady even when the miracle they asked for didn't come. Because sometimes God doesn't remove the suffering. Sometimes He meets us in it.

Show Notes:

Books:

Every Moment Holy Vol. 2 Death, Grief, and Hope https://www.amazon.com/Every-Moment-Holy-II-Hardcover/dp/1951872053

Grieving with Hope https://www.amazon.com/Grieving-Hope-Walking-Jesus-Heartbreak/dp/164507448X

A Grace Disguised https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Disguised-Revised-Expanded-through/dp/0310363594

When Mountains Crumble https://www.amazon.com/When-Mountains-Crumble-Rebuilding-Someone/dp/0802425569

Walking with God through Pain and Suffering https://www.amazon.com/Walking-God-through-Pain-Suffering/dp/1594634408

Podcasts:

The Widowed Mom Podcast by Krista St. Germain - https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/podcast/

The Widow Coach Podcast by Karen Sutton. https://www.karensutton.co.uk/podcasts/the-widow-podcast

A Widow's Heart Podcast with Pam Lundell

https://www.myfaithpodcasts.com/podcasts/a-widows-heart/

Website:

Never Alone Widows - a nationwide ministry to widows. https://www.neveralonewidows.com/

"There are no winners in what we went through… only Hannah."

Gary and Mari Malychewski share the story of losing their young daughter in a tragic accident. In the days and years that followed, they faced questions of grief, guilt, and forgiveness that few parents ever have to carry. Looking back, they say God had been quietly preparing their hearts long before that day arrived. This is a story about loss, faith, and the difficult grace of learning to forgive in the middle of unimaginable pain.

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

Dennis died three times. What he experienced while his heart stopped changed the way he—and his family—would live the rest of their lives.

Dennis spent his life trying to outrun the heart disease that ran in his family. He exercised. Ate well. Stayed disciplined. Then one day, without warning, he collapsed from a massive heart attack. His heart stopped three times. Dennis says during those moments he experienced something almost impossible to describe. It was an overwhelming sense of love and peace.

While doctors fought to save him, his wife Dawn stood in the hospital hallway praying, clinging to Scripture, and surrendering her husband's life to God. When Dennis came back, everything changed. They didn't just get survival. They got bonus time. A deeper intimacy with God. And a new understanding of how God had been preparing them long before this moment.

Show Notes:

Book Dennis mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/90-Minutes-Heaven-Story-Death/dp/0800759494

Travis West knows what it feels like to run on empty. Early in his marriage he was working multiple jobs and caring for his wife Mariah through a long illness. A study trip to Jerusalem changed everything. When the city slowed to a standstill on Friday nights, Travis experienced Sabbath rest for the first time. In this episode he explains how that weekly pause brought new life to his family and why he believes Sabbath is a practical gift for anyone today.

Book:

The Sabbath Way: Making Room in Your Life for Rest, Connection, and Delight

www.travis-west.com

https://www.travis-west.com/practices

What happens to a boy's heart when his father stands a few feet away in church every Sunday, but never really shows up at home? Singer and songwriter Jaye King grew up playing drums on the platform while his dad directed the music. They served in the same services. Created the same worship moments. But outside the church walls, his father wasn't consistently present in his life. That tension shaped how Jaye saw himself and how he saw God. In this hope-filled conversation, Jaye shares about wrestling skepticism, navigating father wounds, and the slow process of discovering that God doesn't leave the way people sometimes do. What unfolds is a story of identity, forgiveness, calling, and the hidden years that formed him long before the spotlight. Today, Jaye King is a singer and songwriter with Centricity Music, known for songs like Hard Places and Falling Into It. His music carries the very themes you'll hear in this episode- healing, hope, and a Father who stays.

Show Notes:

Website: https://www.jayeking.com/

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JayeKingMusic

"I've often felt I can be too much, but the more emotive I am, the more God surprises me."

Growing up in a family and culture where men were often reserved, Nigel Massenda felt out of place for expressing his emotions so freely. But when his mother traveled abroad for a funeral and could not return for two long years, loneliness and unanswered prayers pushed him deeper into raw, honest faith. Through caring neighbors, silent prayers, and a steady hope, Nigel discovered that embracing vulnerability before God not only shapes our perspective but can transform our very lives.

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

What if the hardest chapter of your life didn't get the final word? Esme Crawford shares the story of how she survived domestic violence, crippling shame, and a distorted view of God; and how faith in Jesus led her into healing and freedom. Esme was born in a small Mexican village and faced many challenges from birth. As an adult, she found herself in an abusive relationship that slowly stripped away her identity, confidence, and sense of worth. She believed the lie that it was her fault. But God never left her. Esme talks about wrestling with shame, learning that God is a loving Father, finding healing in Jesus, and reclaiming her identity as a daughter of the King. If you've ever struggled with guilt, fear, or questioned where God was in your suffering, this episode will remind you that you are seen, loved, and you are not alone.

Content Note: This episode includes references to domestic violence and some strong language.

Show Notes:

WINGS - Women In Need Growing Stronger: https://wingsprogram.com/

To reach Esme, Send a Direct Message via Instagram WILLOW WLN:

https://www.instagram.com/willow_wln

Additional Resources: Selah Empowers - Pause and find strength for the journey

Metropolitan Family Services

As a Black Hebrew Israelite, Jasmine spent years trying not to mess up or break God's law, living under strict expectations. After long prison phone calls with the man who would become her husband, she began to see Jesus differently, not as a taskmaster but as Savior. This is her story of laying down a heavy yoke and finding rest in Jesus.

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

If you know the music of MercyMe, then you know the voice of Bart Millard. He's the songwriter behind "I Can Only Imagine"- written after watching his abusive father transform from a monster into a man that loved Jesus. It is the best-selling Christian single of all time, with more than five million copies sold. With that kind of success, you might imagine Bart was living a life beyond anything he ever dreamed. But in 2004, the year "I Can Only Imagine" crossed over to mainstream radio and became a global smash, Bart and his wife Shannon were being gutted by one life-altering pain after another. Their son Sam was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and that diagnosis came alongside multiple family losses and medical crises that all seemed to hit at once. While MercyMe's career was soaring, Bart was unraveling - slipping into depression, hiding behind touring, and struggling to hold it all together. A new film I Can Only Imagine 2, and book Even If - Trusting God Through the Fire tell Bart's story.

Show Notes:

Official Movie Website: https://icanonlyimagine.com/

Even If book: https://mercyme.org/products/even-if-trusting-god-through-the-fire-the-official-book-for-i-can-only-imagine-2

MercyMe website: https://mercyme.org/

Bart on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBartMillard

Bart on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartmillard/

"I could only pray three words. I trust you."

Scripture tells us that every good gift comes from God. What do we do when a gift is taken away? Kim Snyder lost the voice she used to sing, speak, and serve God in Christian radio. In the stillness that followed, Scripture led her to a simple prayer, "I trust you."