Phillip Latislaw shares his story of freedom and encourages others to share theirs. To learn more about the same-sex support groups that helped Philip, visit ExchangeMinistries.org, BigFishMinistry.org, and HopeforWholeness.org.

Read Phillip's story through this link: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com/2019/07/welcome-home/

For more information on how you can help us deliver hope behind bars, visit our website: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com

“I believe that God has given us this time to learn to live a life of hope. Tony has served 19 years of his sentence and, just like any nagging mother, I constantly remind him of the world available to him if he keeps making good decisions. God has proven Himself to us over and over again through His miracles, and He is not through with us yet.

You may have read Proverbs 3:5–6 before, but I want to encourage you to see these verses as a promise meant just for you. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths” (NKJV).” His Miracles Are Real—Nancy Hunter

Read Nancy’s story through this link: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com/2018/05/miracles-real/

For more information on how you can help us deliver hope behind bars, visit our website: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com

Kristi and ministry partner Kenny Munds talk about Your relationship with God and the adventures of Prison Ministry.

Kenny Munds takes the good news of God’s love and forgiveness into prisons across America. To learn more about his ministry, go to kennymundsministry.org.

Read Kenny's Story: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com/2019/10/a-work-in-progress/

For more information on how you can help us deliver hope behind bars, visit our website: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com

Augie Ghilarducci was a successful principal of a financial planning firm in the Chicago area. Through a series of bad decisions and poor choices, he landed himself in federal prison for 12 years. He regained his liberty in 2017 and now provides life skill and employment readiness programming inside jails and prisons, in substance abuse recovery centers, and with at-risk youth. He works in a network that removes employment and housing barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Read Augie's story: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com/2019/07/forgive-yourself-and-move-on/

For more information on how you can help us deliver hope behind bars, visit our website: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com

"When my son Roger was arrested in 2001, I felt so helpless and had difficulty seeing through my pain. But the Lord showed me that He could use even the most painful experience of my life for His purposes. 

Listen—when God gives you an opportunity to share your faith and encourage someone, do it. Don’t let Satan’s lies and accusations hold you back. You don’t need to know everything about God for Him to use you. There is a dying world that needs the hope you have within you, and those people need it now!" - Kelli Parks 

KELLI PARKS is committed to helping incarcerated people grow in their faith. If you know someone who is incarcerated and would like for them to receive her newsletter, email [email protected].

For more information on how you can help us deliver hope behind bars, visit our website: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com

"My life was good. Everything was on track for a possible career in the NFL, a lifelong dream for my family and me. I’d had a successful college career at Kent State and was invited to the New Orleans Saints’ training camp following the draft. It was a chance of a lifetime—but my addiction to pain pills would destroy any hope of this dream coming true. 

My reason for stepping out with my story is simple. I want to help others seek help, find Jesus, carry a little less shame and guilt, and get a new chance at life. I know from experience and without a doubt that there is an incredible life on the other side of recovery. 

You are loved by a powerful, mighty God—a God of miracles. I am a living testimony of His miracle-working power. No matter what you think and no matter what Satan is telling you, you are never without hope. The God of Hope is ready to meet you right where you are, right now. He will transform your pain into a great purpose. 

In God’s hands, your story can be a mighty weapon against the enemy of addiction. Please, ask for help. Don’t wait another day. Your new life is waiting for you." - Luke Wollet

Luke Wollet’s dream was to play in the NFL, but an opioid addiction brought an end to his plans. Today, Luke is a spokesperson for Faith in Recovery Outreach. Learn more at banyantreatmentcenter.com.

For more information or to read our magazine visit our website: https://victoriouslivingmagazine.com

Murf the Surf, this man lives with more passion and purpose than anyone I’ve ever met. When Murf walks into a room, everyone takes notice, from the least to the greatest. His charismatic personality naturally charges the atmosphere, drawing in and holding captive anyone in his path. 

Murf the Surf is living proof of the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. He is a walking testimony of how God can take the most hardened, selfish, prideful criminal and transform his life until there is absolutely no trace of the old man anywhere to be found. 

Why would a man go back to a place that nearly killed him? Why would someone who had been released run back to the prison gates and ask to be let back in? To Jack Murphy, it’s simple. There are hundreds of thousands of men and women drowning in a sea of hopelessness, being beaten down by shame and despair, anger, bitterness, and fear. Those people, Murf will tell you, need to know there is a better way. They need to know there is hope, and that hope’s name is Jesus.

Murf’s message of hope to the inmates of CCDC began something like this: “You know those sayings, ‘once a con, always a con,’ and the infamous ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’? Well, let me tell you something—those sayings are nonsense. One hundred percent lies. I was a con once; one of the best.”

In today’s episode, we are diving in deep with Jack Roland Murphy A.K.A Murf the Surf where he talks about the Light at the End of the Tunnel. 

Mental health isn’t some fad diet it’s a pivotal part of life that will carry on throughout generations.

The best way to show love to those you love the most is being the healthiest version of yourself and that starts with your mind.

What the enemy cannot destroy he distracts. Don’t let it be your mind. 

Heart work is worth the hard work.

In today’s podcast episode we caught up with Amber Katynski and the importance of mental health awareness and taking care of your mind.  

Amber probably has more siblings than you. She loves coming up with new ideas to impact lives through being the connector that she is and by fulfilling the mission of Jesus Christ that Victorious Living carries out. In her free time she loves to spend time with family and friends—and talk. A LOT! So how’d this cosmetologist and Baylor grad end up as the Executive Project Manager at VL, managing projects with our world-famous skier, inspired writers, and inmates? We’re still wondering that too. One thing’s for certain: we love watching her cultivate relationships and lead projects as much as she loves Jesus and encouraging those around her.

Matt Manzari is our guest on the Victorious Living Podcast today, and he was kind enough to share his story of hope, loss, disappointment, redemption, and surrender.

Matt fell in love with water at an early age. He started wakeskating (think skateboarding, but on the water) and it wasn’t long until the sponsors came knocking at his door. He teamed up with Nike and Malibu Boats and before he knew it, he was thrust into the world of professional wakeskating, traveling the world and doing what he loved. All at the age of 15 years old.

But there was a tugging at Matt’s heart. He couldn’t shake this sense that he was being called to the ministry, even though he felt supremely underqualified for a life of sharing the gospel.

But sure enough, God spoke to him clearly through a friend and it wasn’t long before he was enrolled in school to study theology.

Matt was set to graduate and enter the world of full time ministry. He and his wife were ecstatic. The weekend before his final exams, though he had pretty much given up a career in wakeskating, he entered a pro tour contest to earn some extra money.

Matt was the first rider out of the gate, and through a freak accident, found himself pulled at nearly 30 mph into the shoreline, which was lined with cinder block and rebar.

Matt cracked his skull in 16 places, had 13 screws and 3 plates put in his face, broke his jaw, crushed his hand, broke his tailbone, and had rebar go through his leg. Matt’s ministry career suffered its first setback.

The chains of addiction are heavy.

They should not be faced alone.

In fact, God does not call us to face our battles alone. He calls us into community, bringing our sin into the light.

He leads us to repentance when we share our struggles.

Laddie Calloway, deacon at First Baptist Orlando and founder at Dieago’s LLC, learned this when he faced sexual addiction. His reliance on God and his brothers in Christ is what ultimately led him to leave his life of sin, and begin living his life for Jesus.

Laddie has come to know the Lord personally, and now uses his past with sex and porn addiction to relate to and inspire others facing similar struggles.

We caught up with Laddie on a recent episode of The Victorious Living Podcast, where he shared his inspiring testimony of God’s redemption and healing in his life.