What Hope Sounds Like

“There’s no government or darkness that can stop the Gospel. The light always shines through.”

On this episode of What Hope Sounds Like, Jeff talks with Izabella McMillon from Operation Christmas Child. Izabella grew up under communism in Romania, where faith was forbidden and even owning a Bible could cost your life. But God broke through that darkness in the most unexpected way—through a hidden Bible and, years later, a simple shoebox.

You’ll hear how Izabella’s first prayer for snow led to a snow globe tucked inside her shoebox, and how that moment became proof to a 13-year-old girl that God saw her, loved her, and was real. Today, Izabella helps lead others to share that same hope around the world through Operation Christmas Child.

It’s a story about light breaking through darkness, a child’s faith, and how God can use something as small as a shoebox to change a life forever.

Remember...

1. God sees us—even in the darkest places. Izabella’s story proves that no barrier can keep Him from reaching those He loves.

2. Small acts of obedience matter. A simple shoebox, packed and prayed over, can open a heart to Jesus.

3. Hope multiplies. Izabella once received a shoebox as a child; now she helps share that same hope with children worldwide.

Leanna Crawford joins Jonathan Unthank to share how honesty with God has shaped her life, her music, and her marriage.

From writing her song Honest during a season of anxiety and depression, to discovering God’s kindness in unexpected ways, Leanna reminds us that Jesus meets us right where we are. She opens up about how marriage has taught her more about grace, why rest is so vital, and how hope is always available in Christ—even when life feels confusing or overwhelming.

3 Key Takeaways

1. God can handle our honesty. Leanna encourages us to bring our raw, unfiltered prayers to Him, trusting His grace meets us right where we are.
2. Hope is found in His presence. Even in seasons of anxiety, confusion, or chaos, God’s kindness and faithfulness remain steady.
3. Rest is biblical. Leanna challenges us to slow down, embrace Sabbath rhythms, and remember that God built us to rest, not run on fumes.

“What I thought was a setback was really a setup for what God was preparing.”

 – Drew Baldridge

 On this episode of What Hope Sounds Like, Brian from The Light FM sits down with Matt from I AM THEY and country artist Drew Baldridge to talk about their re-release of Scars.

They open up about the pain and healing behind their stories—how scars are more than reminders of the past; they’re testimonies of God’s redemption. Matt shares the heart behind I AM THEY’s biggest song and how God used it to transform their ministry, while Drew explains why the message of Scars hit so close to home after years of struggle in the country music industry.

Together, they remind us that scars don’t disqualify us—they point us to Jesus and give us a story to share with others who need hope.

Ben Kessler—known online as The Lord’s Giant—has a story you won’t forget. From battling mental health struggles to finding his purpose in Christ, Ben shares how God turned his pain into a platform for hope. With hundreds of thousands following his content online, Ben reminds us it’s never about the numbers—it’s about reaching the one.

Listen in as Ryan from The Light FM talks with Ben about faith, social media, and standing tall for Jesus in every season of life.

God meets us in our lowest moments—even when our hearts are breaking, He reminds us that His love is stronger than our pain.

Faithful obedience is greater than viral success—if one person comes to know Jesus, it’s worth it.

Your uniqueness is part of God’s design—you don’t need to copy anyone else to share Christ; He made you to shine in your own way.

“I stopped putting confidence in my own story and put it all in Jesus—the man who died and rose again for me.”

Jeff from Mornings on The Light FM sat down with Jimmy Clifton, a local, independent Christian artist whose music has been reaching people all over the world. Jimmy shares about growing up in a big family, wrestling with faith and temptation, and how God has used even his struggles to bring hope to others.

From playing guitar just to impress his future wife, to busking in downtown Asheville, to writing songs that point directly to Jesus—Jimmy’s story shows us how faithful God is. Jimmy and Jeff remind us that our first ministry is to our family and that when we put Jesus first He can use even our weakest moments for His glory.

💡 Takeaways

1. God’s grace is greater than our failures.

2. Ministry begins at home.

3. Staying true to Christ matters more than chasing success.

“He doesn’t compare us to other people. He meets us exactly where we’re at.” - Madison Watkins

What Hope Sounds Like is BACK—and kicking it off with us is none other than rising Christian artist and former American Idol finalist, Madison Watkins! You might know her from Idol or America’s Got Talent, but today you’ll get to know her heart, her journey, and the One who changed her life forever.

In this powerful and transparent conversation with Carol, Madison shares her story of chasing fame, hitting rock bottom, and hearing God say, “Give it back to Me.” From mainstream music to full-on ministry, Madison opens up about surrender, rest, healing, and writing music that points people straight to Jesus—especially those who don’t know Him yet.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt burned out, confused about their calling, or like they might be too far gone. (Spoiler alert: You’re not.)

Takeaways from the Episode

1. God’s plan is always better than your plan—even when it doesn't look like it at first.
2. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is rest and listen.
3. You’re never too far gone for Jesus. He meets you exactly where you are.
4. Fame without faith will never fulfill.
5. Laying down your dreams isn’t the end—it might be the beginning of something even better.

Connect with Madison

🎶 Music: Available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon – just search Madison Watkins
📱 Socials: @madison_watkins on all platforms
💌 DM her: She reads every message and loves connecting with new friends from The Light FM family!

How You Can Pray for Madison

Madison asked us to pray for protection—especially over her mind as she steps boldly into a new season of ministry and music for the Kingdom. Let’s lift her up together as a Light FM family! 💛

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helen's devastation, Operation Christmas Child continues to bring hope to children and families worldwide. Denise Gravely of OCC shares the resilience of volunteers and churches in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina as they prepare for National Collection Week. Discover how simple shoebox gifts, filled with toys, essentials, and love, are transforming lives and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Join the movement to bring joy and hope through the power of a shoebox. Whether through packing, donating, or praying, there's a role for everyone in this life-changing mission.

In this episode of What Hope Sounds Like, Carol and Jeff sit down with Mac Powell to chat about life on the road as a Christian artist, juggling his music career with family time, and the incredible story of his wife’s recovery from a brain aneurysm. Mac opens up about the power of prayer, staying hopeful through tough times, and why being fully present with the people he loves is what matters most.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Balancing Family and Career: It's so important to be all-in when you're with your people. It no doubt takes work to find the balance, but you won't regret making time for the people you love.
2. The Power of Prayer: Prayer makes a world of difference. Don't be ashamed to ask for prayer - it's an honor to be prayed for and to pray for others.
3. Hope in Tough Times: Although challenges are part of life, we’re never truly alone—God is always right there with us.

Mac Powell is a Grammy-winning Christian artist, best known as the former lead singer of the iconic band Third Day. With over 30 years in music, he’s still going strong, bringing a message of hope and faith through his solo work, and a new album releasing October 27, 2024!

"For the Lord to get the glory and honor He truly deserves, for Him to be truly Savior of your life, you're not just a believer—you're a follower. That means He must be the priority in your life, your decisions, and your thinking."- Stephen Kendrick

In this episode of What Hope Sounds Like, Jeff from The Light FM's Morning Show sits down with the Kendrick Brothers, Stephen and Alex, to discuss their latest movie, The Forge. The brothers share personal stories of how discipleship has shaped their lives and their families, and how these experiences inspired the theme of their new project. They explore the deep challenges of living out faith in daily life, emphasizing that true discipleship begins at home and requires a total commitment to following Christ. This conversation offers an inspiring look at how intentional, Christ-centered living can impact generations.

Tune in to discover where hope and faith intersect in the battle against human trafficking.

In this compelling episode of What Hope Sounds Like, we delve into the dark world of human trafficking in our own backyards and explore the powerful role that faith in Jesus plays in the fight against this evil. The Light FM's Director of Programming, Doc, sits down with Demetria Williams, the Executive Director of Life 107, a Christ-centered nonprofit based in Asheville, North Carolina, dedicated to eliminating trafficking and empowering survivors.

Demetria shares the heart-wrenching realities of trafficking in Western North Carolina, the unique challenges faced by survivors, and how Life 107 provides hope and healing rooted in Psalm 107. You'll hear how faith, prayer, and the love of Christ are transforming lives, offering restoration to those trapped in "the life."

This episode is a must-listen for Christian parents concerned about the safety of their children and communities, and for those seeking to understand how they can be part of the solution. Doc and Demetria also discuss how you can support Life 107 through prayer, mentorship, and financial contributions, as well as how churches and local organizations can collaborate in this vital work.

Note: This episode contains sensitive content related to human trafficking. Listener discretion is advised, especially for younger audiences.

Remember, together, with faith and action, we can make a difference.

How do you find God through grief? Carol had the opportunity to talk to Mark Hall from Casting Crowns about how God has shown Himself strong and kind throughout the loss of Mark's father and caregiving for his mother. 

How to help someone going through grief:

Pray for them and pray that you'll be able to see their specific needs and help them in this time.

Be there.

Love them - even if it means sitting quietly with them in their grief.

Offer practical help. Do they need restaurant gift cards? Could you help with household chores or yard work? Could you babysit for them? Could you walk their dog or pick up some pet food at the store?

In this episode of What Hope Sounds Like, we meet Jeff, Carol's co-host and second voice to The Morning Show. Join us as we dive into Jeff's inspiring journey of faith, courage, and unexpected career transitions that led him to become a part of the Morning Show team. From listening to the Holy Spirit to the power of stepping out in faith, this episode is a testament to the unpredictable journey of following where God leads!

God has big plans for us, even when we can't see those plans.

Tricia talked with Pastor Greg Berkey about how God has shown His mercy, protection and divine planning during the recent struggle and devastation in Claremont.

Doc got to talk with Jason Brown, City Manager of Claremont, talks about his experience in finding out about the tornado touching down in Claremont, NC.

Find out more information about Light on Claremont at www.thelightfm.org

"Get out beyond the walls of the church and go out and take the Gospel to the people." - Pastor Jason

Doc sat down with Pastor Jason Shoup from Cross Kingdom Church to talk about how God is moving through His people around Claremont, NC to bring a lot of hope amidst unexpected struggle.

Jason shares an incredible story of a single mom and her children who saw an incredible move of God during the storm. Find out how her life will never be the same.

Let's continue to pray for the people affected by January's storms in Claremont, and tell their hope stories!

Sheriff Don Brown took the time to sit with Doc from The Light FM to share how an unexpected and deadly storm came through Claremont, North Carolina, but the community came together to help each other. 

The sheriff asked for prayers for the mental and physical health of all involved. Let's shine the light of Jesus on the people of Catawba County!

Carol sat down to talk with Natalie Grant about finding hope despite dire circumstances. Find out how Natalie Grant listened to a "God nudge" that led her to helping change lives and put an end to slavery. Nearly 200,000 kids are finding freedom from human trafficking through Hope for Justice.

"God will do more than we could ask, think or imagine when we are obedient to what He asks us to do." - Natalie Grant

Hope for Justice is a non-profit organization aiming to end human trafficking and slavery. Natalie Grant co-founded the organization in 2005 and has been actively involved in raising awareness, fundraising, and supporting the mission to rescue victims, restore lives, and reform society through the hope of Jesus.

Join Brian from The Light FM as he welcomes Pastor Mark Brumelow and his wife, Sherry, from Wild Peach, Texas.

Dive into the heartwarming journey of the Grace Baptist Church, which grew from a small congregation of 23 to nearly 60 members under Pastor Mark's 16-year leadership. 

Discover how a simple act of listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit by packing shoeboxes for children led them to witness God's miraculous provision. This episode is a testament to stepping out in faith and witnessing God's abundant blessings. Be inspired and join the mission as The Light FM challenges you to build a shoebox online this year! 

🔗 Participate in the National Collection Week (Nov 13-20, 2023): www.thelightfm.org