When Cedric Hardimon faced tragedy as a teenager, his friends challenged him.  Would he walk away from his faith or would that experience solidify what he believed?  A common thread throughout Cedric’s life has been seeing how God uses it ALL – the successes, the things that look like failures, the mountain tops, and the desert experiences.  Somehow God can work all of it together for good.  Today Cedric is a pastor at Life Church East Kansas City and he serves as the chaplain for the Oklahoma City Thunder. But the road to these two dream opportunities wasn’t easy. It was a journey filled with opportunities to choose to trust God. 

When police knocked on Pastor Monte Gannon’s door, he never could have imagined it was the start of something beautiful.  Everything his church-owned was packed in a trailer that had been stolen and burned to the ground. As Monte prayed, he remembered two things- desperate people do desperate things, and God can take what was meant for evil and turn it for good. In a video that went viral, Monte reached out to whoever was responsible for the crime saying, “You are valuable.  God has hope for you.  You are invited to Meadows Church.”  He had no idea how those words would come true. 

For years there has been a stigma around issues of mental health, including in the Church.  For many of us, we assume depression and anxiety are issues we can fix, if we just read the Bible or pray more.  Lydia Laird knew God was calling her to write and perform music about her faith, but she was struggling with depression, anxiety and panic attacks.  For much of her life she carried shame because she just couldn’t fix it. 

The Outpouring at Asbury University began with a small group of students who stayed after chapel to worship and pray.  Over the course of the next 2 weeks, some estimate as many as 50,000 people came to Wilmore, Kentucky to be a part of it.  On February 23rd, the university officially stopped hosting public services.  If you weren’t among the 50,000 who experienced it, today’s show will give you a glimpse.  In this episode, we talk with people who came from hundreds and thousands of miles to visit Asbury.  Why did they go?  What were they hoping for? Guests from Ohio to Ontario share their stories.  

On February 8, 2023, a normal chapel service for students at Asbury University turned into something extraordinary. A small group of students stayed afterward and began sharing struggles, confessing sin, and praying for each other.  From those humble beginnings, an outpouring of God’s love and presence began and within days thousands had traveled from across the U.S. and beyond to experience it.  Host Meridith Foster traveled to Wilmore, Kentucky to hear about it from the students themselves.   

Jeremy Camp is a singer and songwriter whose story has been told in music and in a movie about his life. One of his most well-known songs is a simple but powerful declaration of faith. "I Still Believe" was written in a time of deep heartache and grief. As a young man, he had to make a choice. Would he trust that God is good even when life is not or walk away from his faith? That heartbreaking season forged a faith that is the foundation of Jeremy’s life. 

Ryan Otto wanted the fairytale marriage and family that he missed out on as a child. But there was one problem- he was paralyzed by the fear of choosing the wrong person or repeating his parents’ mistakes.  Mary Jane was confident of one thing- she would never marry a pastor.  It seemed to be an impossible situation, but it was actually an only-God-could-do-this kind of love story. 

After experiencing dysfunction and hurt, Tasha Layton left church and set out on a search for truth. That journey led her back to Jesus and a call to use her musical talents.  As a gifted worship leader, God opened doors in music but not what Tasha had imagined.  She found herself on American Idol and touring the world as a backup singer for Katy Perry, before finding her home writing worship songs and books to help others experience the freedom she found. 

Christine O’Dell’s world slowly shrank as she lived with a fear of fear.  Panic disorder, anxiety, and agoraphobia lead her to impose restrictions on anything that might trigger an attack. For more than two decades she never traveled more than 15 miles from home. Their kids’ out-of-town games, relatives' funerals, college visits for their kids, visiting elderly parents- she could do none of these. Christine and her husband Les learned to function, but never to be free from the fear that ruled their family. It seemed obvious this wasn’t God’s will for their lives, but change, healing, and hope all felt impossible. But God used an illness that could have been a death sentence to give Christine new life.  Christine shares more of her story at GodIsInThisStory.com 

Praying for healing can be tricky.  Sometimes we pray and see miraculous results.  Sometimes we pray and it seems like God isn’t listening.  Weez Stockton loves to pray. She has used her voice for decades on the radio, leading worship, and praying for others.  She has been both the pray-er, and the one prayed for; especially during the long years when she faced multiple health challenges.  If you deal with chronic illness, her story will inspire you to pray and give you hope.