No one wants to go through life with the feeling of utter hopelessness. But sometimes, due to a set of unforeseen circumstances, a person is forced to navigate through the perils of daily living without any clear sense of purpose or encouragement.

But there is always hope.

Nathaniel Deen knows hardship and hopelessness very well. Due to a traumatic incident, he lost both his parents at the age of five. For the next nine years, Deen bounced from an orphanage to a series of foster homes to eventually running away at age 16. He soon found himself living in a car, yet somehow still finding the wherewithal to attend and contend with the daily rigors of school. This chaotic lifestyle eventually brought him to the brink of suicide.

But fortunately, due to a stroke of divine providence, Deen came in contact with a teacher who was drawn to his mysterious past. Rather than run in the other direction, far from Deen’s problems, this small-town educator discovered the profound and direct impact he could have on another life.

Today, Deen is eternally thankful that this humble man took the time to journey with him through his doubt and betrayal and set him on a path to trust and redemption.

This amazing story is the subject of a new movie releasing in theaters this weekend called, “Brave the Dark”. Starring Jared Harris and Nicholas Hamilton, the film serves as a prime example that we should never give up on anyone. Doing so can often prevent a person from traveling down such a tortuous path of destruction, one that never seems to end well.

Deen joins us to talk about how his potentially tragic story turned into a blessing due to the gentle guidance of a teacher who was willing to demonstrate compassion and concern for him. Listen as he shares why he chose to be so transparent about his life despite such a tremendous sense of vulnerability in putting the scars of his past out there for the world to see.

For better or for worse, we have all heard the phrase, “Go to hell.” While considered a coarse and crass thing to say, this snide directive is seen as sarcasm and never viewed in a positive light.

But what about the inverse of that phrase? Have you ever heard someone utter, “Go to heaven?” It seems sort of foreign yet hopeful.

As far as heaven is concerned, who goes there? Where is it? What will we do there? These sorts of questions always come up when we consider our eternal future beyond this physical world that we are currently living in. How can we know for sure, what comes next?

In a new 7-session, video-based Bible study workbook titled “Heaven: When Faith Becomes Sight”, author Jennifer Rothschild explores the subject of Heaven from a biblical perspective. She is passionate about teaching others practical ways to set their minds on things above and live life with an eternal perspective.

Rothschild doesn’t just want people to wonder about heaven, her hope is that they will embrace it with a faith that turns anticipation into excitement and peace.

Rothschild joins us to talk about what it was like to go blind at the age of 15 and how it has shaped her faith as an adult. Listen as she shares some common misconceptions people have about Heaven while focusing on some key Bible verses that will provide us with a clearer understanding of it.

From the ghettos of Brooklyn, New York, to a successful singing career, to a stunning restoration in Jesus, Jeannie Ortega, a contemporary Christian musical artist, fought demonic attacks, thoughts of suicide, rejection, and being treated like a commodity earlier in her career as a secular pop star.

After many years away from music due to a new career in journalism and starting a family with her husband, Ortega never lost sight of her first love, the ability to glorify God through song.

Over the years, she has learned that to defeat the darkness in this world, you must activate your spiritual sight. It is Ortega’s desire to guide people to discover unseen spiritual activity in their day to day activities, how to guard your heart from evil, and how to find the love of God and His purpose for your life.

Ortega has just released her first album in eight years. It’s called “Letting Go”, and serves as a musical surrender of sorts. Each melody and lyric came from what she felt God put in her heart to share in such a time as this. Her prayer is that people will listen with an open heart so that God can speak to each and every one of them in a special way.

Ortega joins us to talk about how people can figure out unseen spiritual activity negatively affecting their lives and how to get away from it. Listen how she shares how music has the ability to connect with the human soul like nothing else, short of a relationship with Jesus.