Although she’s had a successful career in the Christian music world, Nicol Sponberg’s most important job title is mom. That role for her has come with many blessings, but also with tremendous heartache.

As an actress, Gwendolyn Briley-Strand was used to playing strong female roles—women of faith and perseverance. But playing a resilient character is far easier than being one in real life. Two rounds of cancer, including exhausting chemotherapy and radiation treatments, reinforced Gwen’s belief that she needed to turn to the healing words of the Bible for her strength.

Luke Michaels is a teenager who is serious about his faith. He knew the love of Jesus at a young age, and he wanted to share that love with others—especially youth.

Whether it’s physical or spiritual, a new heart brings new life. John was a healthy, active person until shortness of breath led to a diagnosis of an extremely rare heart disease that required a transplant. The spiritual insight of Jesus giving all who believe a “new heart” became very real to John as he awaited his physical transplant.

Angel believed the lies the world told her. She felt worthless and ugly. Her life became a swirling mess of men, booze, and drugs until one day she cried out to God, “Kill me or save me. But don’t let me live like this anymore.”

A serious car crash and one month in a coma changed the course of Russ Shadron’s life. This wake-up call took him from a life of selfishness and partying to a life of gratefulness and understanding.