Jamie Johnson's story could have ended much differently. After a tragic accident in his teenage years, Jamie spiraled. He began the walk down a dark road. Avoidance of pain and guilt sent him to turn to drugs, alcohol, and the things that would lead to severe criminal behavior. Even with bright moments along the way, such as becoming a college baseball player, getting married, and having a family, Jamie could not shake the bonds of addiction. Forsaking his family, his lifestyle took an even darker turn with highly addictive methamphetamines. Not only would he use the drug, but he also began manufacturing. Time was running out. Eventually, everything caught up with him, and he faced the sobering reality of the gavel slamming to begin a lengthy prison sentence. Ironically, Jamie says the day he went to prison was glorious. It was the day that he fully surrendered his life to Jesus. To know the road ahead, we must ask those coming back. In this compelling interview, Jamie bears his soul about the road he has traveled so that we may learn from it. This is a story of redemption.https://www.prisonfellowship.org/Jamie Johnson on Facebookhttps://www.whbcok.org/https://www.crosschurchnorman.com/

Tom Williams has been married for 47 years to his wife, Annette. In January of 2022, he faced the unthinkable as his wife had three massive strokes in a short time. Things looked bleak. Miraculously, a hopeless situation began a slow turn towards healing and progress. Tom walks us through the dark months of possibly losing his wife to bringing her home for recovery. It is a story of love, faith, and selflessness. It is a story of determination.How do you make it through shocking life events like this? Tom tells us to "Keep Looking Up." Additionally, Tom has a deep love for Bible Prophecy. Are we in the final four years of this age? He shares his heart about where we might be in the timeline of events. While he will not predict dates, he challenges us to be spiritually and physically prepared for imminent events. YouTube Devotional w/Tom WilliamsThe Final Four YearsMatthew 24Joel 2:31Joel 3:1-2Hosea 6www.crosschurchnorman.com

Dustin Kitchel is a husband, father, church leader, and football coach. He is also the identical twin brother of Life & Leadership's host, Daniel Kitchel. This wide-ranging and unscripted conversation is full of laughs and compelling stories. Dustin and Daniel walk us through the times of their lives when they were fatherless and the impact this still has on them. There are good and bad stories throughout, but through it all, they embraced it. God used it to make them who they are today.Forgiveness makes all the difference.www.danielkitchel.comwww.crosschurchnorman.comhttps://www.facebook.com/dustin.kitchel

In his mid-twenties, Daniel Kitchel found himself in his first full-time church leadership role. Things went well for a short time and then quickly spiraled out of control.On the surface, everything appeared to be right. The church grew quickly. People were baptized, and the Gospel was preached. But, underneath, Daniel's personal life was not matching what was going on publicly. It would only be a matter of time before everything collapsed. This is a story of loss, lies, pain, and suffering. It is also a story of God's love and incredible redemption.www.danielkitchel.comwww.crosschurchnorman.com

Elaine Kochanowicz is the mother of six children, a wife, a published author, and a podcaster. With her unique sense of humor, contagious laugh, and words of joy, she desires for moms to celebrate the wins and not take themselves too seriously.Elaine wants you to know that God is proud of you even when you have an inappropriate typo on the label maker or your husband is chasing your child down the street in his underwear as you drive away. As she has learned; sometimes eating fast food, drinking a supersized soda, and listening to rap music in your car alone is a proper form of taking care of yourself.This conversation is sure to make you smile and give you some much-needed laughs.Full Show TranscriptEmaginemom PodcastBook: Mom of Six Dies LaughingFacebookEmail Elaine KochanowiczWild at Heart by John EldredgeEmail Daniel KitchelThe Cross Church

The gift of rest was never intended to be earned after hard work. I have spent a big part of my life believing I only deserved rest if I worked hard. Gifts are no longer gifts if they must be earned. We should work from our rest. This is the better way to live.The Ruthless Elimination of HurryTo Hell with the Hustle www.danielkitchel.comwww.crosschurchnorman.com

It is common for the hurt of the past to haunt us. Often we hold onto things that are holding us back. God wants us to be free from our past failures. With stunning authenticity, Heather Bowen shares her story of redemption that will keep you on the edge of your seat and hungering for the love of God to do the same for you. Forgiven & Set FreeHope Pregnancy CenterEmail: heatherjbowen@gmail.comFacebook - Heather BowenThe Cross ChurchEmail: pastorkitchel@gmail.com

Rev. Michael M. McDaniel is passionate about the underdogs of the world. This drive comes from his own experiences of being counted down and out. With the protective love of God and the help of others, he was able to rise above the struggles of his neighborhood. Many around him were running to drugs, crime, violence, and gangs. His story could have gone a very predictable way – but it didn’t.Rev. McDaniel would go on to graduate from John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he developed into an outstanding student-athlete. As a result of his successful athletic career, he earned a full football scholarship at the University of Oklahoma where he received several awards which included: Honorable Mention All-Big 8, All-Big 12 Conference Wide Receiver, and the recipient of the Don Key Award. Later he was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent and he tried out with the Washington Redskins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rev. McDaniel earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma and then a Master’s Degree in Public School Administration from Oral Roberts University. Today, Rev. McDaniel is the Pastor of Northeast Missionary Baptist Church in Forest Park, Oklahoma - where he has served for 14 years.This is a gripping story of embracing the role of an underdog, learning to admit wrongs, and making the most of second chances.  Want to read this transcript to this show? Click here!Northeast Missionary Baptist ChurchThings I Think You Ought to Know Things I Think You Ought to Know (Amazon)Facebook: Rev. Michael M. McDanielInstagram: Rev. Michael M. McDanielThe Oklahoman: Rev. Michael M. McDanielKOCO Channel 5: Rev. Michael M. McDaniel

Shannon Monet is fifteen years old and wants to carry the light into the darkness. She is a leader of the next generation and wants to change the world. At the age of eleven, she was on the brink of ending her own life. Fear, depression, loneliness, and darkness had settled in on her, and she believed life was not worth living. Suicide seemed like the only solution. Through a life-changing encounter with God and the love of her family, she was able to overcome her feelings of hopelessness. Shannon is exceptionally articulate and shares her story with stunning honesty. It is rare to hear a fifteen-year-old express what life is like for them in this world. Shannon will pull back the curtain on social media, music, friendships, and many of the pressures that come with being a teenager today. She gives clear advice about teenage culture and provides understanding to help with mental and emotional health.Today, her life is devoted to helping people see the other side of suicide, the love of God, and being confident in who they are. This is an episode we all need to hear. Resources:Show Transcript https://shannonmonet.com Shannon Monet - YouTubeShannon Monet - InstagramThe Bible ProjectLife & Leadership w/Daniel KitchelDaniel Kitchel - FacebookThe Cross Church

Jack Spates was the Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Oklahoma for 18 years. During that time, he was named National Coach of the Year in 2006 and Big 12 Coach of the Year three times. Coach Spates developed several National Champions and dozens of All-Americans in his lifetime. His path of success includes coaching stops at Pittsburgh, West Point, and Cornell.While his success as a wrestling coach was known all over the nation, his personal life was collapsing and eventually would be in shambles. With stunning honesty, Jack will walk us through the darkest, ugliest, and loneliest times of his life. Through the prayers of many and God pursuing his heart, redemption would happen. Jack's story proves that there is life after everything falls apart, and you can discover faith through failure. Resources: Faith & Wrestling: How the Role of a Wrestler Mirrors the Christian Life by Michael FesslerSooner Sports - Jack Spates BiographyJack Spates to Retire - Daily Oklahoman Jack Spates on Facebook Hope Community ChurchWant to read the transcript of the show? Click here!

Dr. Rhonda Williams has seen the darkest sides of humanity. She has a storied career with the OSBI working crime scene investigation. Rhonda will take us through some of the most challenging cases she has ever worked on and the long-term effects they have had on her life. How do you hold onto hope in this world when you have seen humans act so horribly towards one another? Rhonda will answer this question and many more in this often difficult, wide-ranging, inspiring conversation.Rhonda overcame much on the road to getting her Doctorates in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Oklahoma. There were setbacks and many hardships, but she stayed the course and finished. While Rhonda is incredibly passionate about her career, she is most devoted to her family and faith. She will pull back the curtain on her personal life and share incredible wisdom on marriage, parenting, facing a cancer diagnosis, and so much more.With a refreshing undercurrent and essence of hope, Rhonda reminds us all that we can overcome.Resources:Want to read the transcript of this show? Click here! Dr. Rhonda Williams - The University of Central OklahomaPublished work by Dr. Rhonda Williams - Forensic DNA Collection at Death Scenes

Tragedy and disaster will show up for all of us eventually. It is the state of our broken world. All of us are literally one phone call from our knees. Since we know suffering will ultimately come for all of us, we must understand that there is a way to grieve and suffer well.

From the time I was a young boy, I found myself shattered by worry. I convinced myself that this was normal and that it was the way things were supposed to be. As I have grown, deeper truths have been shown to me. There is a better way to live. Worry can be replaced. You're invited to join me for nineteen minutes that just might change how you finish this year and allow you to walk away from the one thing holding you back.Resources:Want to read the transcript of this show? Click here!"Do Not Worry" - Luke 12

Our world is incredibly unpredictable and divided. The outrage and anger are at ear-piercing levels, and the spirit of comparison and arrogance seems to be the norm. More than ever, all of these issues have intensified because of how connected people are today. Tara Koetter presents refreshing wisdom and honesty to provide an alternative to the world. This wide-ranging interview approaches many difficult subjects with one resolution in mind; serving others. Tara walks us through some dark times in her childhood, how she leads in her home today, the overseas adoption of her son, making intentional room in life for others, the pitfalls of social media, and much more. Throughout the entire conversation, we are encouraged to make our words and beliefs come to life because of how we live. Resources:Protecting the Flock w/Tara KoetterPodcast: Domestic Violence w/Tara KoetterTara Koetter on FacebookWant to read the transcript of this show? Check it out here!

Curtis Lofton, former NFL Player and All-American Linebacker from the University of Oklahoma, shares his unique story. From being raised by his grandmother in the small town of Kingfisher, Oklahoma, to reaching the pinnacle of the NFL, Curtis opens up about everything in between all of that. With refreshing transparency, he shares the road he traveled to have a real relationship with God that changed his life forever. His story teaches us that there is always purpose in our pain and that we will never grow until we face who we are inside. Resources: A Promise Kept by Curtis LoftonOfficial Twitter @CurtisLofton30The Curtis Lofton StoryWant to read the transcript of this show? Check it out here!

Often, parents and grandparents try to control behavior instead of parenting hearts. This episode is focused on practical advice you can use immediately to move away from that. Kim Heinecke discusses the art of asking good questions to our children, speaking life to them, and modeling wisdom with our words and actions. We also face the difficult subject of parents having their personal identity and self-worth tied up in their children. Resources: 14 Gospel Principles that Can Radically Change Your Family (Paul David Tripp)Hard-Wired for Hope - Kim HeineckeWant to read the transcript of this show? Check it out here!

Our first show gives insight into the story and beginnings behind the launch of this podcast. "Dreams die when we live in fear. Keep your dreams alive by doing the work set out before you. It is in that place where you will find joy and the opportunity to change the world."UGob0Z5txh37yBSgk9Gz