Hear Deepa share her personal story of converting from Hinduism to Christianity. This pediatrician left home, traditions, and family in her journey to the United States that ultimately included a brand new relationship with God.
Fergus grew up in a cult that he rebelled against and then was ultimately ostracized from. Hear his fascinating story of redemption and new life in Christ, and how God has settled him in the grace and truth of the gospel.
Imagine getting pregnant and trying to figure out what to do next when you're just 14, that was Lee-Ann's reality. Hear how God brought her healing and used her abortion story to lead in a ministry to help other women who are seeking healing with broken hearts.
A series of events put Rachel's faith to the test, including the absence of bearing her own child. What do you do when one of your purest dreams is denied you?
No one is ever ok hearing about child abuse, but it's a real issue in our world. Hear Tammy tell her story of living with a mother who dragged her around from party house to party house in her earliest years. God would rescue Tammy from this situation however, and beauty for ashes came her way by the time she was 12.
Can you imagine the challenge of teaching the bible as a missionary within the atheist Iron Curtain? Listen to Miriam Charter tell her harrowing story of hope as she followed the Lord's leading into the eastern block European nations where her wellbeing, and those to whom she ministered, was constantly at stake.
Did you know that about 80% of moms with special needs children cannot work and earn an income? Raising special needs children can be incredibly challenging, especially for moms who are the sole caregivers. The most significant concern is safety, social skills development, and society's acceptance of their child. This can be very exhausting and can put a strain on the family dynamics. This was Zita's sister's case, who had to give up her job as a medical doctor to take care of her daughter diagnosed with Down syndrome. Being part of the family, Zita could feel every bit of the pain. This experience made her...
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Imagine the worst of the worst people (a teenage assassin) finding new life in Christ and how they are willing to lose their life for Him going forward. That's the premise of the book by Alberta author Cydnie Trendholm. Listen as she shares with Les Moore about how God's love and redemption are deeper and wider than anyone can fully know.
Listen to legendary praise & worship artist Brian Doerksen share a beautifully raw story of his life, ministry and family. A true 'beauty for ashes' story about love, sacrifice and hope, We sing his songs in church (‘Come Now is the Time to Worship’, ‘Refiner’s Fire, etc), now, hear him share his own story about raising children with disabilities.
It's not if, but when. Those who love will also grieve. To our detriment, society would rather sanitize or skip over the topic of grief. Twelve days after her son's wedding, Shirley Thiessen was thrown into the unimaginable task of planning his funeral. Grief threatened to extinguish her purpose for living. Hope and resiliency gradually emerged as Shirley learned to recycle the pain of loss for good purposes. While everyone's grief journey is unique, there are tips to be shared and missteps to avoid. Read her book 'The Little Black Funeral Dress' and listen to her story here.
Grieving: Part 1
Grieving: Part 2
Can anything good come out of Hollywood? Tanya Chisholm, a Christian actress out of Hollywood, says YES! Listen to hear this Glory x Glamour girl hold nothing back in telling her Story of Hope from crippling anxiety to freedom in Jesus!
It's been said there's no health without mental health. Hear Calgarian, Darlene Forgues, tell her story of victory over severe mental health issues through her relationship with the Lord.
Jessie is a true example that all things are made new in Christ. Raised in a home full of drugs and violence, every vice was at his disposal at a very young age. But God executed a plan to redeem not only Jessie's life, but that of his gang-involved dad as well. A focus on Jessie's amazing journey and his current venture into the world of coffee is featured in this story of hope!
Paul Buckner, a believer handicapped by blindness after a terrible car accident in his youth. Despite the massive setback, he has never lost hope in God's plan for his life. Join Les and Jacqueline as they talk in depth with Paul about his struggles and his victories and see that he truly can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.
Eunice Vincent struggled in her battle with depression even though she was raised in a Christian home. Jesus rescued her from the pit of despair, mud and mire so that she knows beyond a shadow of doubt where to turn as she places her trust fully in Jesus.
Many roads of heartache and pain could have derailed her faith, but the Lord held through it all. A disabled child... broken first marriage... miscarriage... and more; yet, hope was never lost!
David Punnamannil discovered that God creatively brings hope to the most hurting places. As a university student taking a semester abroad in India, David discovered God's love and purpose for his life as he worked to rescue and bring hope to trafficked women and children.
Russell Moore started his career at CBC Calgary but spent 24 years as a singer, dancer and entertainer in Vegas, LA and on cruise ships. A chance encounter with a Messianic Jew helped him understand that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only true source of hope.
Four years ago, Joyce Rempel was met by two Calgary Police officers who brought news that her husband had been hit by a C-train on his way to work. Suicide. Joyce shares how even tragedy and trauma can become a gateway to hope-filled days because of Jesus Christ.
Roger and Bonita Bott's lives changed forever in October 2015 when their 3 daughters were tragically taken from them in a farm accident. While they were left with a huge hole in their lives, they were not left without hope.
I can't say I've ever been without hope. I had a father who instilled optimism and hope from my earliest days, until his untimely death in a kayaking accident when I was 11 years old. My dad raised a strong, confidant and hopeful young man. In the years that followed, I would learn much about the limits of my strength and hope apart from God...
My dad's death brought me face to face with the question of whether God exists. I concluded that he did not and my life as a committed atheist was underway. I remained an this way until my 30th year.
At 30 I had my God breakthrough. In a heartbeat, I had an experience that moved me from atheist to believing there was a God who loved me and wanted to help me. I entered my life as a seeker, I was OK with God but not with the church. I spent most of thee years as a New Age adherent. Thankfully, God was a patient teacher (no doubt why John 6:45 resonates so deeply with me.) I had some of my most vivid experiences with God during the 17 years I spent in this stage.
In May of '99, I was appointed president and publisher at the Calgary Herald and moved my family west. Here God would orchestrate three events to lead me the final steps to the cross, one of which was the death of Marissa Staddon.
Marissa and our daughter Paige were good friends who skated together and shared the same birth date - June 13, 1987. Marissa's celebration of life brought me back to a church for the first time in years. I recall being struck by how different this church was. This was a place filled with God's love. Sitting in the sanctuary with Sarah and our two daughters, Paige and Hayley, I asked Paige about her favourite memory of Marissa. She replied, "Birthday cakes at the rink." Immediately the screens filled with a photo of Marissa and Paige with a birthday cake at the rink. I was overwhelmed with a saturating feeling of God’s presence and love. I decided to buy my first bible and return to First Alliance.
That bible brought me face to face with the most important question in every life: Who is Jesus? I knew the answer, he is was who he says he is, God's only son who died to pay for our sin and make us right with our Father in heaven. At 47 years old I gave my life to Jesus and was born anew. In the years since I’ve learned there are real limits to the secular hope and the strength I relied on. God has been my Saviour through many events that were quite beyond my abilities. I've come to believe he wants me, and I believe all of his children, to rejoice in our dependence on our loving Father. Today, I can't imagine how anyone lives without Him.
Listen to Jason Caldwell, Director of HOPE150 share his testimony of HOPE at last year’s Calgary Leadership Prayer Breakfast. Jason has spent his entire IT career helping companies plan and be prepared for foreseeable disasters. Jason explains how his faith in Jesus Christ was the only source of HOPE when his twin sons died on the bobsled track of Canada Olympic Park.
Listen to Calgary surgeon, Dr. Jeff Way's story of sharing hope at the field hospital in Mosul, Iraq while serving with Samaritan's Purse.
Desiring to bring the hope of Jesus to Cuban women by providing greatly needed gifts of bras and underwear, Kimberly Gee is learning the benefits of vulnerability with her Abba Father.
After living a life of mental illness, suicide attempts and hardship, Elizabeth Anderson found the hope of Jesus to be real. Now an author, speaker and advocate for being mentally healthy, she is eager to encourage others.
Hear Thomas share how God has greatly helped him through some very deep mental health challenges.
No one wants to hear the confirmation: "You have cancer." But, those words confirmed the pain Fern was feeling on the side of her tongue. A battle with a disease and all the impactful life lessons that come along with it is part of Fern Buszowski's story... one that she has penned into a book. Details in this edition of Stories of Hope.
Imagine growing up in a Christian home and being blessed with all that you could imagine in life... just to lose it all to drugs and alcohol. That's what Chuck experienced, but thanks to the faithfulness of God to work through a family member, this prodigal walks with God today.
Following the 2013 floods in Calgary and southern Alberta, an amazing series of events helped calm the Greiners, who lost their home but not their hope.
Holly Fortier, a Cree/Dene from Ft. McKay First Nation, Alberta, was born in Treaty 7 Territory and was fortunate to be raised by cultural leaders, academics, and activists. She owns a business that specializes in the development and delivery of Indigenous Awareness Trainings. She has been delivering trainings across Canada since 2007 to thousands of participants. The audience has comprised of government, industry, agencies, schools, businesses, with people from a variety of positions such as stakeholder relations, administrative personnel, scientists, machine operators, supervisors, managers...
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Murray grew up in rural Saskatchewan never hearing the Gospel of Jesus until age 24, when the pursuing God radically changed his life. Murray and his wife, Cheryl, planted Grace Fellowship in Saskatoon in 2011. In addition to pastoring, training up new leaders, and church planting, Murray currently serves as the director of Acts 29 Canada Prairies Region. The Good News Story is a result of three organizations coming together for the glory of the God they love. Listen to Murray tell the story of the love of Jesus and how this project can dramatically affect your own walk with God through Jesus His Son.
"You're dumb!" That's what he told himself for years and it's what he believed. Hear the beautiful story of Julian Erb's transition from debilitating negative self-talk to a positive & productive self awareness as a valuable child of God.
Struggling with where you fit? Do you have a purpose? How could God possibly use me? Listen as Corina Clements Soria, a missionary to Street Kids in Bolivia, shares with Jacqueline and Les how she struggled with purpose in God’s Kingdom and now runs a center of hope to second and third generation families wanting to change their lives.
Porn in the life of a pastor's daughter and a pastor's wife; can the shame be replaced by Jesus' love? So often when society thinks of the pornography problem, they think of it as a men's issue. We're going to learn today that that's not entirely true... women, too, can struggle with this addiction and in this Story of Hope, Nadine Crain will share some sobering facts about woman, porn and victory.
On this episode Les and Jacqueline feature Caleb Bloomfield aka Xempt. Hear how God got a hold of this hip-hop missionary kid's heart after he rebelled, left his family as a teen and tried living as a prodigal.
This is the love story of Anna Sharp. She and her hubby John met on-line and a distant relationship budded. Hear how the Texan gal meets the Alberta boy and how they knew it was God's will for them to be together, forever!
Hear the inspirational story of Jacqueline Cameron of @superflyadaptivefashion. How and why she started the company; how it can help any care giver who dresses a patient and how she fulfilled a calling on her life. Hear Les and Jacqueline as they hear the depths of Jacqueline Cameron's heart for the Lord and serving His people.
Jews for Jesus missionary Tzachi Danor shares his story with Les about how he saw that Jesus Christ truly is the Messiah! Tzachi now serves his Savior around the world, but mostly in Israel.
Saving street kids from the perils of abandonment to a loving boys home where loving Jesus is preached and practiced. A young man from Saskatoon desires to change the world, well Bolivia, South America at least… being Jesus hands and feet.
An infant daughter named Hope born to Amy Koslowski with only half a heart became the catalyst to introducing her nurse to the hope of Jesus.
Growing up in an emotionally abusive home, Alejandro sought alcohol and drugs to numb the pain but the result was living on the streets without hope. The catalyst to Alejandro's transformation was one person who took notice of him, introducing Alejandro to the love and hope of Jesus. You can also read his story here.
Living on a farm as a young Mom who had only just recently put her hope in Jesus, Chantal had the devastating experience of helplessly watching her fevered infant son die in her arms. God provided a miracle and her son is now a healthy young man.
As a Christians living in Nigeria, Angela Sanwoolu's family experienced severe religious persecution in her community by Muslims. Rather than dismantling her hope in Jesus Christ, the persecution fortified her trust in God.
Heather & Chad have been married twice - to each other. While divorced and in new respective relationships, each experienced guilt and shame of abortions. As a remarried couple, the healing hope of Jesus has become their experience.
A thrill-seeking-toboggan-ride-turned-tragic at Canada Olympic Park made national headlines in Feb 2016. With the profound loss of their twin sons, Shauna, and her husband Jason, choose to lean into the hope and sovereignty of God even as they continue to grieve.
While playing hockey with the U of C Dinos, Shane Bassen realized that while he identified as a Christian, he didn't have a relationship with Jesus Christ. While surrendering to God has not prevented great hardships, it has given Shane the assured hope that God is always with him.
As a Hindu seeking healing for a rare and fatal illness, desperation drives Kamilla Prasad to read a Bible she received years earlier as a new Canadian. Not only does Kamilla experience a dramatic healing but also a new life in Jesus Christ.
Listen to Irene Bryant share her miraculous story of healing from Stage 4 throat cancer in 2000. The bonus; a transformational healing from unforgiveness.
Do you care about the wellbeing of Israel and the plight of the Jews in the Holy Land? Listen to Intermountain White House news correspondent discuss Israel/US news from a Christian perspective. If you love Israel, you won't want to miss this.
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There's joy and hope in a life redefined. A redefined life is a life worth celebrating. That's how Dr. Rai describes her journey into motherhood. The dreams she and her husband had to begin a family weren't realized naturally, as infertility and miscarriage held them back. Through prayer and faith, Alisha moved toward invitro fertilization where she became pregnant and carried a baby boy for most of her term. Listen as she describes the pain and confusion that followed a very complicated premature birth than lead to her baby acquiring cerebral palsy. But God is good, and you'll hear Alisha explain all the reasons why in this edition of Stories of Hope.
Grandparents play a vital role in the wellbeing of their children and grandchildren. Hear Brian & Liz Mackie share how it's never too late to nurture and build a spiritual legacy within your adult children and their kids (your precious grandchildren).
Chris grew up in a home where he was told that he wasn't wanted. This lead to life in the foster care system where he grew increasingly violent. Ultimately, after cursing God and declaring his autonomy, Chris got into a horrendous motorcycle accident that God used to humble him and lead him back to His heart.
Just because one grows up in the church does not mean they will be immune to the effects and the temptations of the world. Hear Jared tell the full circle journey that he took from church grounding into drugs, alcohol and all manners of worldliness... but ultimately back to Jesus; who was waiting for Jared the whole time.
Imagine the difficult journey being a medical doctor while battling the effects of clinical depression. Hear Magda's story of victory and healing over this debilitating condition.
A life journey in marriage ended tragically by her husband dying of cancer, but the life lessons Ruby learned, and a ministry to reach others in pain, lead Ruby to write a book called Joy in the Mourning (Ruby Heppner). Remarriage and 18 grandchildren later, there is much joy in her journey.
After a difficult upbringing full of abuse, Zsolt suffered a workplace accident that has left him suffering daily with physical pain. Learn how love, grace and a new life in Christ has transformed his perspective on life.
A life of pain and emptiness that began when her mother left the family was restored when Corrine found the Lord. It wasn't an easy journey as she was lead into a dark world of the new age first. Hear how Jesus offered her new life and gave her a completely new journey of faith.
Teena was raised in a Muslim home in Bangladesh where she felt like property, not a daughter. Listen to her incredible tale of running away from home, and an arranged marriage to a man she'd never met, to freedom here in Canada and eventually spiritual freedom in her new relationship with Jesus Christ.
No parent can fathom the thought of the death of their child. Saskia lived the nightmare when her 11 year old daughter Natasha was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Listen as Saskia Van Breevort shares how she discovered the incredible love and grace of God through it all. True beauty for ashes.
On this edition of Stories of Hope... Sara Bloomfield! Sara is the wife of Xempt [Caleb Bloomfield]. Jacqueline Clements talks with Sara about how God redeemed her life of addiction, abortion and promiscuity and gave her a new life ... and a ministry that helps heal the souls of women walking where she once walked.
A miraculous healing of a brain aneurysm is part of Bill's story of hope. Listen as Jacqueline's husband shares his personal story... a story that changed the trajectory of his life. Do you think you're in control of your life? Listen as Bill explains that none of us are!
Most girls dream of becoming a mother someday. Akeir M.J. was no different. From the time she was fifteen years old, she declared to anyone who would listen that she was going to have two boys and two girls. Two years after getting married, her plan seemed to be on schedule after giving birth to a healthy son and two years later being pregnant with her second child-a daughter, but during a routine ultrasound, she could tell by the technician's body language that something was wrong-dreadfully wrong. She then received news no mother wants to hear. Hear her full story with Les and Jacqueline.
The worst scare any parent can have is to hear that there's been a tragic accident and then discover that your son did not come home last night. Hear how God brought hope to Justin & Tammy Hettinga, the parents of Caleb Hettinga, one of the boys involved in the devastating February 6th, 2016 accident at Canada Olympic Park.
Unwilling to accept her 8 year-olds diagnosis of a severe brain injury as a result of an incident at school, Kamila Kitzul, turned to God for hope. Answers to prayer came in the form of small miracles which are helping to heal her son.
Katherine Gusztak grew up in a Christian home but in high school, she became addicted to a myriad of destructive vices. Now two years sober, Katherine has a desire to move to Japan and help women in the sex trafficking industry.
Three years ago, Matt Gillies was trafficking drugs across the country. His prosperous lifestyle, built on lies, suddenly blew up and Matt found himself friendless, in debt and without hope. Through attending a dynamic church, Matt found forgiveness, acceptance and a new hope-filled direction.
When Helen's 90 year-old father was brutally murdered by 3 teens with criminal records, fear of her own safety lated. Extending forgiveness to the killers was not in her plans, but because of her hope in Jesus, it became a reality.
As a result of finding the hope of Jesus when she was desperately lost, Christie Polson has learned to listen to God's prompting to share hope with others far beyond her comfort zone. God has led her internationally to share HIS hope with gang members, drug lords and war victims.
One year sober and free of addictions, Kyle is renewing his mind with scripture. He's finding joy in using his passion for speaking to share the hope of Jesus wherever he goes.
Coming to Canada from China in 2011, Xian expected her life to improve. With her marriage in trouble, two small sons, no friends and no car, Xian felt lonely and hopeless until she found out about God's love for her.
Parenting a profoundly disabled son, walking through the valleys of miscarriages, infant loss and divorce, Jessie Moore shares how God not only gave her hope but expanded her capacity to love and parent more foster and adoptive children with special needs.
Fitness has always been a passion and identity for Lauren Klukas but that abruptly changed with a surprising diagnosis of a rare heart condition: ARVC. Lauren is coming to realize that her hope comes from her identity in Christ alone.
Catherine's life changed in an instant when her oldest son, Alex, at age 9 was diagnosed with stage four cancer. The journey of watching her son die led her to experience the unfathomable love and hope only God can provide.