UNSHACKLED! Audio Dramas

A sadistic stepmother causes Robert and sisters to run away when he is three. Confined to an orphanage until he is sixteen, Robert wants revenge and becomes a pugilist. He joins the Navy, drinks too much and fights in World War II but stalks his stepmother while on leave. A Christian in his unit demonstrates God’s love and forgiveness, and Robert visits the man’s brother, who leads him to Christ. Robert marries Marjorie and becomes a pastor.

Born in Holland to atheists, Andrew comes to the U.S. at nineteen. The family settles in Iowa where Andrew’s inventive ability keeps him at work as a machinist. “Six dirty Swedes” who work for him get saved and the change is so extraordinary, he goes to revival to see for himself. Makes commitment, buys a Bible and reads about Jesus. Genuine repentance leads to new life. Invents many things but also has evangelical ministry around the world.

Raised by his grandparents, Brad grows up feeling worthless because his parents didn’t want him. He makes a profession of faith at age ten, but steals and gets in trouble. As a teenager, Brad searches for his dad and finds him. Brad and his brother go to live with him, but Brad still feels empty inside. He goes to revival and is saved. Learns to submit to his dad’s authority and ultimately leads his father to Christ. Then his father is reconciled to Brad’s grandfather and leads him to the Lord.

When Brian is ten, his parents divorce. Running the streets, he learns to drink, fight and steal. He buys a motorcycle and runs with Hells Angels. He shoots a man in self-defense and is arrested for attempted murder. He spends time in prison for weapons violations. He marries but is unable to change; plans to leave his wife on a cross-country motorcycle run when his wife receives Christ and prays for him. Brian surrenders to Jesus and now has a prison ministry.

Terry grows up in good home of ten children. Sports is more important than God to him, but he goes to church and youth groups. In college his hunger for God grows and he and a friend seek a good church. They both get saved. Terry studies the Bible and memorized scripture and leads friends to Christ. But he does poorly in baseball and questions God. Terry learns humility and commitment to serving Christ as coach in a small Christian school.

Robert grows up on farm caring for animals. He reads the Bible in sixth grade but still lives sinful life in high school. A co-worker explains the gospel and Robert prays to receive Christ at age twenty. He marries Deb and they head to Florida for Bible school. Plans are on hold when their first baby is born hydrocephalic. Their faith is tested through three years of medical and financial crises. Baby dies, but God gives them healthy daughter and son.

His father is imprisoned for embezzlement when Wesley is twelve, embittering Wesley and his mother. They lose home and live with relatives, who teach Wesley about God, Whom he rejects. Aunt sends him to Christian camp where he receives Christ. Mother is furious, won’t help him go to Bible school. As an evangelist, Wesley falls in love with Dorothy, who urges him to find his father, which he does. Wesley’s father receives Christ after hearing his son preach.

Christine’s parents divorce, and she is raised by paternal grandparents. Grandmother loves the Lord, and Christine accepts Christ after listening to “Unshackled!”. She goes to live with her father at age fifteen, but he mocks her faith. She joins the Army as a nurse, meets Rob and they marry. He gives up dabbling in the occult to join her in faith. Commitment to Christ antagonizes his family, but her father receives Christ after kidney problems.

Marjorie’s mother was a spiritualist who held séances in the home every Friday, so Marjorie grows up expecting to be a medium. Joining the girl scouts at age twelve, Marjorie learns about Jesus Christ, but falls in with girls at school who drink. As she sings in a church choir, the woman in front of her drops dead, and Marjorie responds to the invitation to accept Christ. Her life is unchanged for two years until she meets Robert, a sailor who is saved. They marry. Mother is furious about salvation, but their kindness softens her. Forty-seven years of ministry together.

Gangs seem to offer protection and acceptance to troubled young people. But Ricky Bueno learned they were a trap that dragged him down.