Unwritten

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Vince Sartori to talk about Vince shares how a persistent invitation from friends led him from a life dedicated to chasing thrills and parties to a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ.

Whether you're interested in stories of the Holy Spirit's movement in the world today, or just curious about the importance of persistence in inviting others to faith, this conversation will show how Jesus never stopped pursuing one person through the example and efforts of others.

What You’ll Hear:

• How Vince spent nine months defining success by being the life of every party, pursuing drinking and thrills, and leaving behind God and faith.

• The persistent efforts of his friends, Jared and Justin, who kept inviting him to Bible study, to play games, and finally, to a Catholic conference—despite Vince writing lists of reasons why he couldn't go.

• The unexpected moment during Eucharistic adoration when Vince felt compelled to go to confession, resulting in a literal weight being lifted off his shoulders and the realization that he was forgiven and loved.

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On this week's episode of Unwritten, Vince shares his story of living what he thought was a full life - until a compelling invitation changed it.

On this week's episode of Unwritten, Dorian Arellano shares a journey with his friend that sees a life changed little-by-little. 

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor  sits down with Dorian Arellano to talk about Discover how one simple question, prompted by the Holy Spirit, transformed a reserved student into a courageous witness for Christ.

Whether you're someone dedicated to sharing the stories and movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, or just curious about the power of intentional accompaniment and friendship, this conversation will exemplify a life that has encountered Jesus in an authentic way and been radically transformed.

What You’ll Hear:

• The story begins with the host, Trevor Bara, sharing his own experience of being drawn to the power of a simple question, and then introducing Dorian Ariano's account of asking a student named Shawn, "When you pray, what is it like for you?". This intentional question sparked a friendship between the focused missionary (Dorian) and the relatively reserved student (Shawn).

• Following several impactful experiences, including a mission trip to Mexico City where he encountered the poor, a Focus conference, and a Father's House retreat, Shawn underwent a radical transformation. He moved from being a somewhat antisocial loner who was overly dedicated to his studies, to being a lively, social person who sought real experiences and conversations with others.

• Dorian shares the conviction that the original question asked of Shawn was from the Lord, and it was the necessary beginning of a friendship that allowed him to walk with Shawn and challenge him. Shawn's transformation led him to pursue uncomfortable situations for the glory of God, such as demonstrating courage by inviting women to dance and gathering weekly to pray with a small group of women past retirement age in a new city.

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In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with John Michael Lucido to talk about how life-altering news about their unborn child led to a profound encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Whether you're someone who has received news that stirred your life in an unexpected way, or just curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, this conversation will provide an important truth about how God often moves outside of our plans and gives us strength for the unexpected journeys.

What You’ll Hear:

• John Michael recounts the tense moment in the high-risk fetal care unit at KU Medical Center in Kansas City when he and his wife, Emily, learned their six-month-old unborn child would have Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).
• The question that weighed on John Michael—"Do I have what it takes?"—was answered by a moment of clarity from the Holy Spirit, who spoke with confidence in his heart, saying: "you don't have what it takes but I do and I'll be with you in every step of the journey".
• The decision to name their son, born February 15th, 2021, Judah Michael (Judah meaning "Praise be to God" in Hebrew), reflecting their commitment that the world should look at their son and say, "Praise be to God," rather than viewing disability as a burden or hardship.

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On this week's episode of Unwritten, we welcome Carrie Wagner to the show to share a story of unexpected meaning in a familiar place.

Kim Zember delivers an Impact Session breakout talk about Same Sex Attraction at SEEK24 in St. Louis, Missouri. She shares an understanding of God's love, and those struggling with same-sex attraction are still deserving of his love.

Check out https://seekreplay.com/ for more talks like this from SEEK24 and visit seek.focus.org to find out how you can join us for SEEK25.

Subscribe to our newsletter to know when new videos are posted weekly: https://focusequip.org/torch/

0:00 The Father's Love
5:40 Struggling with Same Sex Attraction  
8:49 What the Church Says About Same Sex Attraction 
16:40 Who the father is: Prodigal Son  
25:14 God is Love, Love is Not Love  
29:32 You Are Radically Loved 
34:59 Whatever the Sin is God is Bigger

Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. shares an Impact Session talk from SEEK24 in St. Louis, MO where he discusses authentic friendship and shares practical advice in the form of 10 tips to help you improve your current friendships, and find new ones that are fulfilling and that lead you to heaven.

Check out https://seekreplay.com/ for more talks like this from SEEK24 and visit seek.focus.org to find out how you can join us for SEEK25.

Subscribe to our newsletter to know when new videos are posted weekly: https://focusequip.org/torch/

0:00 Opening Prayer 
0:28 Isolation: Why We Need Friends
3:55 #1 Will the Good 
6:49 #2 Share Your Life 
11:26 #3 Pursue Real Interests 
15:32 #4 Commit to Each other 
17:09 #5 Express Your Delight 
20:23 #6 Widen the Circle 
22:46 #7 Bear the Pain 
25:25 #8 Know Your Boundaries  
26:54 #9 Guard Your Heart 
29:39 #10 Work Within God’s Plan

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Carrie Wagner to talk about how recognizing the impact of a historical figure and the legacy of daily choices can recontextualize your life and renew your sense of purpose.

Whether you're someone who has wondered, "What am I doing with my life?", or just curious about finding profound significance in everyday choices, this conversation will help you realize that your life is profoundly significant and that you can impact countless future generations by your yes to Jesus today.

What You’ll Hear:

• The moment Carrie, during her fifth year as a missionary, questioned if her daily efforts mattered and whether she was wasting her life while hanging out with people significantly younger than herself.

• How a visit to Embassy Row led to researching a statue of Irish patriot Robert Emmet, who died for religious liberty, and discovering an unexpected lineage that linked his witness to her own family history.

• The realization that even though Robert Emmet's legacy was built upon sacrifice, it was made up of daily choices, and that faithfulness in the little things ensures your life will affect generations to come.

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Monsignor James Shea shares an Impact Session talk from SEEK24 in St. Louis, MO titled: Love for the Church in a Post-Christian Age where he discusses the tensions between progressivism and traditionalism in the Catholic Church and addresses the notion of a utopian Church.

Check out https://seekreplay.com/ for more talks like this from SEEK24 and visit seek.focus.org to find out how you can join us for SEEK25.

Subscribe to our newsletter to know when new videos are posted weekly: https://focusequip.org/torch/

0:00 Opening Prayer 0:50 JPII Lenten Retreat 4:26 Enamored with Utopias 9:00 Ideas Matter 13:46 Responses to the 2nd Vatican Council

16:31 Why People Are Always Angry Now 21:14 What the Church is Ment to Be 27:07 The Church is Not a Utopia