UNSHACKLED! Audio Dramas

Rich replaces church with parties when he’s in high school. Drug addiction leads to aimless life. He works but moves often, feels lonely. First marriage lasts only three weeks. Discovery of brother’s homosexuality leaves questioning all beliefs. Lives with Julie but cocaine addiction devours their life. She has two abortions then goes into rehab. Rich is so desolate he cries out to God, watches TV evangelist, prays for salvation. Witnesses to gay brother who dies of AIDS.

Mike grows up believing in salvation by works. Works and studies for degrees, then marries. Very responsible but success leaves him empty inside. Wife finds Christ and Mike finds a girlfriend. Wife prays but doesn’t condemn. Boss invites Mike to men’s prayer breakfast where he’s convicted of sin. Prays with wife for salvation. Now a pastor.

Rebecca is intelligent and goes to college at seventeen. Father gets saved, but she’s disinterested. Several men take advantage of her in college, then her boyfriend abandons her when she gets pregnant. He is killed in an accident. Rebecca takes daughter to church and gives her life to Christ. Then she is led astray by cult church and loses touch with reality. Diagnosed schizophrenic, she gets therapy and medication. Now a writer and speaker.

Bill is New York City policeman who works hard, drinks harder. His son is estranged by Bill’s harsh treatment. Wife gets saved and Bill fights her church-going and prayers. Bills health fails and sister invites evangelist to visit. Bill goes to service and receives Christ. As he retires, he goes to Bible school, but still can’t relate to his son. Bills pastors churches and teaches Bible school. Asks son’s forgiveness but dies before reconciliation.

David’s family is poor and godless, hard-drinkers and fighters. Mother gets saved but David won’t listen. At seventeen he is shot in stomach. The next year he is shot in shoulder. Christians witness in hospital but he won’t listen. Drunken dad fires shotgun in David’s face, blinding him. Filled with bitterness, he turns to drugs, almost overdoses, cries out to God. He goes to church with Mother, gives his life to Christ. Told to forgive his dad, he backslides, nearly dies in car crash and recommits life to the Lord. Forgives his father.

Born in Zimbabwe, Stephen’s mother abandons him and his two younger siblings when he is seven. Aunt lets him sleep in chicken coop. He forages in garbage cans for food. Completely illiterate, he tries to hang himself at fourteen but is rescued. Joins revolutionary gang bombing churches and banks. Tries to bomb a tent revival, gets saved instead. Part One ends with Stephen being discipled by a white missionary.

Stephen learns not only the Bible but manners and hygiene. He becomes an evangelist, menaced by the revolutionaries he once followed. He marries and has five children, learns to preach in English, overcomes inferiority complex. Mother comes to revival; he leads her to Christ and overcomes bitterness toward her. Eventually finds his father and leads him to repentance. Stephen now a world-wide evangelist.

Rebellious streak begins at age twelve and includes smoking pot, breaking rules and resisting authority. Drug use leads to job losses. During one drug party, a guy reads the Bible. Jim is drawn to the gospel but hates to give up drugs. Goes to a rock concert where singer blasphemes God. Horrified, Jim asks God to save him right there. Quits drugs and later witnesses to the same rock group. Now an evangelist.

A nightingale cannot sing a note, until it first hears the song of another nightingale. A tiny template planted in the brain of the little bird must be triggered by its hearing the notes sung by another nightingale, not those of a robin, or lark or bluebird, only the nightingales song. Perhaps there is a “template” implanted in us, which will be activated by hearing the word of God. This is what happened to the man whose story you will hear on Unshackled.

Family health problems, including Dad’s epilepsy and retarded brothers, leave Bill ashamed and confused. He blames God. Near drowning at age twelve. Classmates’ taunts lead him to rebellion, drinking and drug use. He deals drugs, drops out of football. Caring coach helps Bill return and succeed. But Bill hates everyone including himself. His dad keeps reaching out to him. Watching TV evangelist, Bill receives Christ and his life is transformed. Now pastors a church.