As a multi time X-Game and Olympic champion, it’s not difficult to argue that David Wise is the best halfpipe skier in the world. But let’s pause this highlight reel.

Despite finding some early success, after a string of poor competitions and injuries, people thought David’s career was over. Yet through the failures, God was leading David to an understanding of success that isn’t based off of winning competitions and fame. Success that defined by his character – being the best person, father, and husband he could be. With this new definition of success, it freed David up to enjoy skiing again, and to realize that he couldn’t fail, because it isn’t his victory, it’s God’s.

A top NHL prospect, Matt was told by his agent, “You will get drafted”. But after an unexpected injury put his hockey career on hold, Matt was left to try and understand who he was, and when, or if he could get back on the ice.

During his pain and disappointment, God started drawing him into a deeper relationship with Him. That began a journey of recovery from an addiction to pornography, as well as hope and discovering who he was, and what he was meant for.

Matt reminds us that our problems, failures, and even successes don’t define who we are, God does.

Have you ever tried to search for truth? It’s a loaded question, but one Steven was willing to take on.

After practicing mindfulness, lucid dreaming, tarot card readings, meditation, energy crystals, out-of-body experiences, psychedelics, and reaching out to other identities Steven found himself at the lowest point of his life.

Along his truth journey, Steven amassed hundreds of thousands of followers and a +$50k/month income from his website, but he had become the opposite of his teachings.

With a loss of direction, Steven embraced the one entity his new-age teachers instructed him to stay away from, Jesus.

His life changed. He gave up his mansion, his income and started to teach about the reasons for Jesus. He found truth and his life mirrors that today.

After signing with Sony, Fern was busted with cocaine and spent 1000 days in jail.

Devastated but devoted his family stood beside him through the 3-year sentence. But prison wasn’t where Fern found God. It was where Fern allowed God to start doing what He always wanted to do.

Upon release, Fern knew he couldn’t go back to his old ways. He had to learn to tame his pen and write a new way forward in grace. Instead of blaming anyone, he took ownership of his past and wrote his story into his music to help people make better life choices. Fern reminds us that we become the people we choose to become.

So the question is, who are you choosing to become?

Getting kicked out of his church, in front of the whole church, by someone he had looked up to, stung…  Understandably, Marty was angry with God and gave up on the church when this happened. But his friends, the church community, and God didn’t give up on him.  This is a story for those of us who have been hurt by the church and why we shouldn’t give up.  Even when it hurts.

We live in a culture saturated with and shaped by technology. It has transformed the way we learn, communicate and play. But for many of us it seems the church is lagging far behind; not just in using technology but finding a place for the tech savvy to use their gifts. In this episode we catch up with James Kelly to explore his story. As Founder and CEO of FaithTech, he is helping to pioneer a new way to share the good news about Jesus in the digital era.

As a young child, rapper WHATUPRG woke to the sounds of immigration officials taking his father into custody. Over the years that followed, he would struggle with the absence of his father and how to make sense of his faith. In this episode we interview WHATUPRG and hear his story of God’s faithfulness.

1K Phew got into a lot of things that he never needed to. He came from good parents, had a good church, but at a young age found himself on a path that would lead to either prison, or death.

After narrowly escaping a shootout, Phew gave his life to God.

Ignoring the college path, he took his music career on as his “fulltime job.” Without pay, he wrote, recorded, performed and started to make a name for himself in Atlanta. His southern flow attracted big ATL producers who started to work with and mentor Phew. After a few viral singles, Phew found himself in a studio at Reach Records.

This is the 1K Phew story.

Born in Brazil and immigrating to the States as a teen, Tiago dreamed about becoming an artist.

After learning english, understanding the culture and starting his art career in America, his life spiraled into disaster. Social drinking lead to constant intoxication. He couldn’t sell a painting, his marriage was falling apart and God, in his mind, was distant. Late one night, after finishing a bottle of Jack Daniel’s in his New York studio, he experienced God in a way he never thought possible.

Today, with a humble, outspoken desire to create, Tiago has established himself as an international artist.

This is his story from New York to Miami, from broken to a life of purpose. At the end of the day, his message is easy: love is simple.

Jared Brock is the author of A Year of Living Prayerfully, Bearded Gospel Men, and The Road to Dawn, and is the director of Red Light Green Light, Over 18, and Redeeming Uncle Tom. But five years ago, he was delivering pizzas.