Samantha Jackel – My Purple Pants

Samantha Jackel was raised in an Australian country town, the fourth child to alcoholic parents. Instead of finding love at home, she encountered manipulation and abuse.

My father was a violent, threatening man when he drank. He was well known to the police and often spent time ‘cooling off’ in their cells. He was a constant source of fear in our home and his repeated violent attacks on our family would lead my mother to relocate the children in cross country escapades. My father would always find us, my mother lived with the fear that he would some how not only find us but would destroy what she had worked hard for – the love of another.

While growing up my mother seemed to be constantly drunk. She was a paranoid, unstable, abusive and desperately manipulative woman who forced those around her to constantly feed her need for emotional support. She was an expert at playing emotional mind games, and I was often used as the bargaining pawn in dramatic, violent fights that would break out between her and my father and later my step father.

Starved of a husband’s love, she instead looked to me to help meet all her needs. – My Purple Pants

Samantha suffered a traumatic and abusive childhood, but even in the midst of the trauma, there were moments that held out a hope for the future.

As my guest on this week’s episode of my podcast, Bleeding Daylight, she shares the journey that brought her to wholeness and forgiveness.

Hear Samantha’s story on Bleeding Daylight wherever you listen to podcasts or click play on the audio player below.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Samantha Jackel – My Purple Pants? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Dorsey Ross – Overcomer

His parents were told they should abandon him. They didn’t listen and Dorsey Ross has been ignoring every limitation ever since.

Dorsey Ross was born with a severe congenital disability. Now, in his mid-40s, Dorsey has proved the doctors wrong, but life still has been full of challenges.

Dorsey was born on January 16th, 1977, with a congenital disability known as Apert Syndrome. When Dorsey was born, his forehead was pushed outward, his nose and mouth were pushed inward, and his fingers and toes were fused, meaning he had no individual movement of them. Doctor’s gave Dorsey’s parents no hope for his survival and advised them to put him into an institution. His parents both knew and trusted in God, and they believed that God would do great things in Dorsey’s life. Throughout his life, Dorsey has had to overcome a lot of obstacles, and trials, being bullied, called names like monster and freak, and undergone multiple operations.

Teachers told Dorsey he would not make it in college, and with all odds against him, he entered Queens Borough Community College. After four years there, and after attaining an associate degree, he entered the University of Valley Forge. After years of hard work and perseverance, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Ministry. His life saying is, “can’t is not in my vocabulary” because, for most of his life, he has never used the word can’t. He believes that with God, all things are possible and that he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength. It’s with God’s help he is overcoming life’s obstacles.

He’s been told that so many of the milestones that most of us take for granted would be impossible for him. He’s refused to listen.

Dorsey was my guest on my podcast, Bleeding Daylight, this week. You can hear his incredible story wherever you find podcasts or by using the audio player below.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Dorsey Ross – Overcomer? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

John Simmons – Invisible Addiction

John Simmons battled an invisible addiction that plunged him into debt and deep depression. He was living a life that was totally out of control and the very thing that was pushing him closer and closer to destruction was the thing he thought would solve the issues he was facing.

It was a downward spiral that almost cost him his life.

Things are very different now. These days, John is bringing hope into the lives of others through his ministry, Testimony House.

John is the guest on my podcast, Bleeding Daylight, this week. You can hear his story wherever you listen to podcasts or use the media player below.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading John Simmons – Invisible Addiction? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Lori Morrison – The Unlovely Truth

In recent years, we’ve seen a growing interest in what many refer to as true crime. There are blogs, books, podcasts, television shows, and more dedicated to delving into the details of real crimes, and in many cases seeking resolution for previously unsolved crime.

In this week’s episode of my podcast, Bleeding Daylight, Lori Morrison takes us deep into the world of true crime.

Lori is a paralegal and a licensed private investigator. Her podcast, The Unlovely Truth, is dedicated to exploring the intersection of faith and true crime.

You can hear from Lori by listening to Bleeding Daylight wherever you find podcasts, or just click play on the audio player below.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Lori Morrison – The Unlovely Truth? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Yvonne Rempel – A Damascus Experience

Yvonne Rempel faced trauma from the day she was born. Her childhood left her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

At 17 I was kicked out of the house, and I went on a very destructive path because I didn’t have options. I had no structure. I didn’t know who I was, other than raising my brothers and sisters, other than trying to please my mother.

Following a difficult upbringing, she experienced a life transformation in her early 20s.

She’s come a long way since then and now helps others break free from their past to become the person they were meant to be.

Yvonne is this week’s guest on my podcast, Bleeding Daylight. You can hear her story on Bleeding daylight wherever you find podcasts or use the audio player below.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Yvonne Rempel – A Damascus Experience? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.