Mike was raised in a loosely religious family, first encountering Christ at a Bible Camp. While he chose to be baptized as a teenager, his faith remained surface level, seeing it more as a ticket to heaven than a true relationship. It wasn’t until the tragic events of 9/11 that he began to take these questions of faith seriously. Shortly after, a former teammate reconnected with him and offered mentorship, guiding him through the Gospel of John and helping him grasp his faith's true meaning. This transformative experience led Mike and his wife to commit to their lives to Christ together, strengthening their faith and marriage.

Years later, Mike and his wife were forced to deal with the tragic loss of their teenage son, Cole, in an accident. While grappling with profound grief, they received unexpected comfort through a woman who shared a spiritually vivid dream she had had about their son that brought them peace and strengthened their commitment to live out their faith and share God’s love with others.

"He’s my savior. He's my friend. He's my counselor. He's my comforter. He's my God, you know, he is my hope. Without him, I look around and I just think, man, if I did not have the Lord to lean on right now and, and seek advice and wisdom and, and comfort from in this crazy world… I just can't imagine what this life would be like right now. I mean, this would be a terrible place to live, wouldn’t it?”

Mark grew up in a home devoid of love. Despite attending a Seventh-day Adventist school, the spiritual teachings of his childhood felt distant and irrelevant compared to the harshness of his home life. His father was emotionally and physically abusive, referring to Mark and his brother as "slaves" and beating them for minor infractions if his rules were not kept. One particularly traumatic incident involved Mark being severely beaten for eating “too much deli meat,” further instilling a sense of worthlessness that permeated much of his early life.

This sense of feeling worthless defined Mark for much of his childhood, resulting in apathy and failing grades in school, despite the reprieve school and church had been from the abuse of home. Mark even attempted to take his own life, though the grace of God saved him. It wouldn’t be until Mark was 23 when his best friend, a recent Christian convert, told Mark that he valued him and wanted him to study the Bible together. Mark eagerly agreed and learned that God was real and actively pursuing a relationship with him, something he had never experienced before.

Today, Mark works as a site director for Youth for Christ, mentoring middle school students. His past experiences allow him to connect deeply with young people who are struggling, especially those contemplating suicide.

“Who is God to you?”

“The friend who chose me first.”

You can check out the amazing work Mark and others are doing over at Youth for Christ.

Graham Stanford grew up in Yorkshire, England. He did not grow up in a churched environment, or have any longing to pursue faith or church; his only love was soccer. Yet, despite being involved in soccer, he desired to seek and find truth in his life. While attending a youth club, a friend introduced him to Christ, leading him to embrace faith after learning about Jesus’ message: "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

With an emphasis the “greatest life" he found in the fulfilling promise and direction of Christ, Stanford founded “Greatest Life Ministries” to spread this message to others. The ministry revolves around sharing the gospel and empowering individuals to live this greatest life through Christ. Graham has been sharing this message for over 60 years, traveling and speaking, especially to young people.

Join the Greatest Life Ministries team as they discuss the amazing work God is doing through them, some of their major faith inspirations, and living out a practical Christian life.

Check out Greatest Life Ministries

Steve grew up in a coastal lake district community in Northeast England, the son of a miner and member of a large family. He experienced a significant transformation when he encountered Christianity during his college years. Feeling isolated after a delayed start to his college experience due to a heart condition, Steve met Malcolm, a Christian whose friendship and acceptance lit a spark in Steve to explore his faith. Throughout those college years, Steve found Christ’s presence becoming more real in his life, shifting his perception of God from distant and powerless to loving and present, and would even lead him to pursue ministry as a vocation.

Steve met Gloria at a Bible study group he led in a local Anglican church after finishing Cape Ray Bible School. They grew to be close friends before eventually getting married. Their marriage and family were rooted in their faith, with Gloria stepping away from her job as a midwife to assist in Steve’s ministry.

After a series of health complications, Gloria was diagnosed with and eventually lost her life to cancer. Despite the immense grief, Steve found strength in God, feeling closest to Him during this painful time. Steve’s experiences of personal pain, financial struggles, and loss only deepened his reliance on the lavish grace of God, which he now shares with others through his writing and testimony.

Rick grew up in a traditional Christian family in Norfolk, Nebraska. He grew up attending church regularly, learning Bible stories, and eagerly learning about God. While he believed, and his faith was sincere, it wasn’t until later that his relationship with God went from traditional to personal. He attended college in Kansas, where he became involved in campus ministries and, soon after graduating, went on a life-changing mission trip to Egypt. This experience shifted his perspective, allowing him to see a more global, less “Americanized” view of Christianity in a part of the world where such beliefs were persecuted. It was here where his faith started to evolve as he began to understand God’s guidance and that knowing about God was not the same as truly knowing Him.

After returning to the U.S., Rick worked in the agriculture industry, moving between states like Minnesota and Wisconsin before eventually returning to Nebraska and settling down with his wife, Jackie, after meeting at a church singles group. As an adult, Rick understood Jesus not only as his Savior but as his Lord, and how his faith evolved from something inherited and practiced out of routine to something deeply personal and transformative. This deeper connection with God, built on trust and reliance, allowed him to see God's presence not only in major life events but also in the small, everyday moments.

“God is very personal. As we've talked about the depth and how the personal side of God just resonates with me more than anything else. He is there in the little things. He's there in the big things, too. He has everything. But at the same time, we sometimes forget that he's there in the small, seemingly insignificant things that develop, like the conversations and who you meet.”

Lynn grew up working on a farm in rural Sutton, Nebraska. Raised by parents who made faith an everyday practice, Lynn attended a small Methodist church, prayed at every meal, and learned the value of hard work alongside his three older brothers. Lynn first felt God's presence during thunderstorms on the farm and the stillness of country nights.

As Lynn grew older, his faith evolved from being a family tradition to a personal relationship with God. He learned to trust in God’s provision in profound ways, such as when he and his wife had to decide between tithing to their church or buying groceries. In an act of faith, they chose to give to the church, and shortly after, an unexpected financial blessing arrived. Lynn continued to look to God’s provision and guidance throughout his life.

Throughout his life, Lynn has modeled his faith by teaching his two sons about Jesus like he had learned from his own family: through the example of a life rooted in prayer and trust. Whether it was building a clubhouse with his young son or taking them to church every Sunday, Lynn believes that children learn about God by observing their parents. Lynn continues to rely on God’s timing, provision, and love. His story is one of faith, family, and unwavering trust in God’s presence, a testament to the power of a life lived in close relationship with Christ.

“God is our creator. God is our maker. God is the person we trust for everything that we have. And we really don't own anything. He has given us everything that we have. We realize that and we realize that we won't take anything with us. We'll be naked as the day we are born. When we meet him on the throne, that it will be a glorious day.”

Dennis grew up in a close-knit farming community in Nebraska, surrounded by faith in a churched environment. His family attended church, and he even went through catechism. Despite this, his faith remained intellectual and cultural, lacking a personal connection with Jesus as he wrestled with the contradictory things he learned in church and school.

While attending a management seminar in Green Lake, Wisconsin, in his mid-20s, a friend asked Dennis if he had ever accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Dennis realized that while he knew about God, he had never made a personal commitment. In that moment, he decided to accept Jesus into his heart, which planted the subtle seeds of faith in Dennis that his wife of 5 years, Patty, noticed, even though he wasnt fully aware of the changes himself. Within a few weeks, through subtle nudges, the two would wind up at a small Evangelical Free Church early one Sunday morning, where Patty would also have a transformative encounter with Christ.

Following this transformation in both their spiritual lives and relationship with one another, Dennis and Patty began to build a family with God at the center rather than themselves. Despite initially struggling with infertility, failed procedures, and miscarriages, they eventually surrendered their desire for children to God and, soon after, were blessed with six children. Dennis and Patty committed to raising their children in a Christ-centered home, creating traditions like "Dad’s Class," where Dennis spent one-on-one time nurturing the faith and character of his children. This strong spiritual foundation not only helped their family grow closer but also prepared them for one of the greatest trials of their lives—the sudden, unexpected death of their son in 2020. Though their grief was overwhelming, Dennis and Patty leaned on their deep faith, finding solace in the belief that God was with them through the pain and that they would one day be reunited with their son in Heaven.

“My relationship with God is such that I can't imagine my life without. I can't imagine going through anything like the things that we've gone through in our life without having the faith and the assurance of things unseen. I think that as much as God is unseen, He's still very present.”

Mike’s story is a journey of faith and how, through struggle and pain, God was able to work through and transform his life.

Despite growing up in a Greek Orthodox family, Mike had a distant relationship with faith. He referred to his connection with Jesus as a "valet" type—reaching out when in need but otherwise leaving church for Sundays. He spent 20 years working in his family's restaurant, shaping him into a man with a strong work ethic and desire to pursue the American Dream but leaving little room for spiritual development.

Later in life, after his first marriage ended and raising two children, he entered a period of spiritual searching. He started attending church sporadically, feeling he needed to be there, though not committing until a random encounter with a man sitting in front of him at church asked Mike to join his wednsday night bible study. While wary, he attended and found community with the men in the group, which opened the door to explore deeper into his faith and a deeper relationship with God.

Around this time, Mike was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which marked the beginning of a significant turning point in his life. The anxiety and fear of facing cancer pushed Mike to rely more on God, spending time in prayer and devotion, and finding comfort in the faith community he had been welcomed into. God had a plan for Mike that brought him to his knees and made his faith more real than ever, especially in the face of uncertainty regarding his health and future.

“You know, God is my Father. He's there for me. I just need to reach out to Him in a loving way, and in a way of wanting; not just asking for things, but actually having a true relationship with God. He's my best friend. Jesus is my brother. He's my Savior. I mean, He's amazing for everything that He's done for me. And I pray about this all the time. I don't know what I'd do without Him. I wouldn't want to know life without God. He makes life better, and by just reaching out to Him and have Him be a part of your life, He makes life brighter than it was before.”

John grew up as an only child in a separated home. Although he was baptized in the Lutheran Church at an early age, his faith never progressed beyond book knowledge. In 1954, John attended Bethany High School in Minnesota for his sophomore year, taking a train to Mankato with just a trunk of clothes and supplies. This move marked the true beginning of his journey as God worked through John and those around him, leading him to meet his future wife, Karen, and igniting his passion for architectural drafting.

With a restless and yearning spirit, John traveled across the country, working a wide variety of jobs, including architectural draftsman, vocational teacher, and furniture sales manager. Throughout these years, he and his wife attended churches and joined Bible studies, where John deepened his relationship with Christ. In 1992, John made a life-altering decision by resigning from his job and moving to Lincoln, where he operated his own furniture store. Two years later, he finally rededicated his life to Christ at a Promise Keepers event.

As John's relationship with God deepened, he realized his increasing need for divine guidance. Shortly after his rededication, John was diagnosed with an abdominal tumor. His doctor prayed with him through the process, and through the Holy Spirit, John found peace—and he remains healthy to this day.

Throughout the trials in his life, John’s favorite Bible verse became Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” He writes this verse each month in his planner as part of his mission statement, which has guided him for the past 15 years. The more he matured, John saw how God had moved throughout his life, even when he didn’t recognize it in the moment. He understood that God isn’t opposed to using circumstances to guide people where they need to be, even when it involves pain.

For John, the focus was never on leaving a personal legacy but on reflecting God’s legacy through his life. He firmly believed that without a mission or purpose, one loses focus. His mission statement encapsulated this belief:

“Be God’s servant in all I do to grow and develop others in my daily walk with Jesus, my family, friends, business and social contacts, and all I come in contact with daily. Leave a Godly legacy to Karen, my children, and great-grandchildren, and all my family. Be in God’s Word daily, daily walk with Jesus as my personal Savior, be open to His purpose and direction for my life through the Holy Spirit by placing individuals in my life that need to know Jesus as their own personal savior and help them to be in God’s word in prayer. Surrender my life to God daily by giving up my pride and selfishness by focusing daily on His word and listening to the Holy Spirit through quiet times and for His guidance, patience, and wisdom.”

This is the mission John committed to living out each day, seeking to leave a legacy that reflects not himself but God’s work in his life.

You can learn more about John Radway and his work through Legacy Dynamics here: About — Legacy Dynamics

Paul’s is a story of buried hurt that had to be dealt with regardless of the pain that revealing and healing would cause. His story is evidence that God wants us to be healed. God heals us in community. Healing is often painful, but always worth it. God will make something bad into something good. This is called redemption.

Paul shared his story of being sexually assaulted as a young child. He was young enough that he didn’t really remember, and doubted whether his memories were true. Then as an adult married and watching his own child, these memories started flooding back. This time the memories were so vivid and clear that it was affecting Paul’s attitude in life. He found himself angry all the time. Even his wife would ask what was wrong.

Paul found the courage to step into these painful memories instead of repressing and hiding them. While he initially doubted his memories, when he discovered that others in his family knew, he found out that all of his memories were true, but they hadn’t really been dealt with.

He shares his journey through the pain of his childhood experiences, of being abused, pain of not being protected by family, especially those who were supposed to protect him. He also shares his journey through the fear of being rejected by his wife, family and who knows else. He carried the baggage of shame and guilt, feeling tarnished and unworthy.

In his struggle and pain, Paul recognized his need for God. While Paul knew he needed Christ and knew he needed community he still had fear and pain to overcome. Through the same child that brought all this back to the surface, God used her relationship and pursuit of Christ to push him past these obstacles into a church community where he could find safety, healing and eventually even joy.

Paul still had to be vulnerable. He had to open up and share his hesitations and fears in order to find victory and overcome them. Paul had to learn how to forgive in order to find peace in his heart. While these things were hard, Paul had the persistence, determination and faith in God to push through.

Some of my favorite quotes are

“There will always be a harvest.”

“I’m on the gravy train of life with biscuit wheels.”

“When Jesus hung on the cross, Jesus made the same promise to everyone.”

“All my scars are going to be gone.”

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