What happens when a man who was trapped in gangs, violence, addiction, organized crime, and prison encounters the saving grace of Jesus Christ?

In this powerful episode, Jody Burkeen sits down with Christopher Brown to hear one of the most remarkable testimonies you'll ever hear. Christopher shares how a childhood filled with chaos and dysfunction led him into a life of crime that ultimately resulted in more than five years in prison, including time in maximum security and over ten months in solitary confinement.

After his release, the cycle of destruction continued through addiction, broken relationships, spiritual darkness, and violence until a life-altering event changed everything. Following a near-death experience in which he died twice and was placed into a medically induced coma, Christopher came face-to-face with the reality that life apart from God is complete separation and hopelessness.

In 2020, Jesus Christ radically transformed his life.

Today, the man who once lived for the world now lives to proclaim the Gospel. God has taken Christopher from felony to freedom, from prison to purpose, and from darkness into the light of Christ. His journey has led him to a calling in West Africa, where he and his wife are preparing for long-term missions work, sharing the hope of Jesus with people who have never heard the Gospel.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Christopher's journey from crime, gangs, and prison.
• How a near-death experience became a turning point in his life.
• The moment he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.
• How God called him into missions in West Africa.
• Why no one is beyond the reach of God's grace.

If you've ever wondered whether God can redeem a broken life, this conversation is a powerful reminder that no one is too far gone for the transforming power of the Gospel.

Connect with Christopher Brown
If you'd like to learn more about Christopher's ministry or partner with his mission through prayer or financial support, be sure to listen through the end of the episode for more information.

Subscribe to the Man Up God's Way Podcast for more conversations that challenge men to follow Jesus Christ, lead courageously, and live with biblical purpose.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, LSB)

Phyllis was born in Ruston, Louisiana, in 1975, where she excelled in school, loved to read, and attended church on her own. Phyllis had many ups and downs in her childhood and teen years until she found a family to live with and attended church with at the age of 14. At age 17, Phyllis moved to Missouri to be near her brother and sister. She finished high school, and she and Tony were married two weeks later. Tony and Phyllis have two children, Grant and Joel. Phyllis was a stay-at-home mom until their youngest, Joel, started Kindergarten. Back in Missouri, Phyllis attended Crowder College and earned her nursing degree. While in Managua, Nicaragua, Phyllis served as a missionary nurse and teacher. She also earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Phyllis completed her Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University in 2024. She is a family therapist at the Center for Children and Families in Monroe, Louisiana, and is passionate about serving children from hard places. She's picked up painting as a form of self-care and to spend some quality time with Tony in the studio. She is a cooperative artist at Courtyard on Cotton Gallery in West Monroe, Louisiana.

In late 2019, Phyllis learned that her biological father was Duck Dynasty star and Duck Commander Phil Robertson. She and Tony live next door to her dad and Miss Kay. Tony and Phyllis also operate a short-term rental in St. Louis, where they stay as often as possible to visit Grant, Julie, Theo, and Harry.

David - I founded the non-profit organization "When the Saints" in November 2011. My passion is to see an end to sexual exploitation, and to invite Christ’s bride into the role we can all play.

More than that, my desire is to bring glory to the name of Jesus. Although I’m in his late 30’s, I have extensive "hands on" experience and have been advocating for poverty and justice issues for two decades.

In the fall of 2011 I graduated from St. Louis Christian College with a Christian Ministries degree emphasizing Intercultural and Urban Missions. I love traveling and watching documentaries or movies with a strong lead actress.

Essy - Hi there! I’m your friendly Operations Manager here at WtS. My job has to do with keeping our amazing 80+ staff members happy. I make sure everything is running smoothly so they can do their best work.

David and I have been married since 2017 and we have two awesome kids, Taji and Nuru, who keep life exciting (and slightly chaotic). I’m the third of four kids in my family, which means I’ve got a lot of practice helping things run smoothly.

Originally from Kenya, my heart is still there with my parents and siblings, though I now call Malawi home. I’m a statistician by education, so numbers are my thing! Above all, I’m a believer, and I totally love my role with the ministry — it’s not just a job, it’s what God created me for.

https://www.whenthesaints.com

What happens when someone leaves everything behind to follow Jesus Christ?

In this powerful episode of the Man Up God's Way Podcast, Jody Burkeen sits down with Shahriq Khan, a former Muslim whose life was radically transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Shahriq shares his remarkable testimony, the cost of following Christ, and his passion for proclaiming the truth of God's Word to a world that desperately needs hope.

Together, they discuss what it means to stand firm in biblical truth, boldly proclaim Jesus Christ, and remain faithful even when following Him comes with sacrifice. Shahriq offers personal insights into his journey from Islam to Christianity, practical wisdom for evangelism, and encouragement for every believer to move beyond comfort and live on mission for God's kingdom.

Whether you're seeking to grow in your faith, become more confident in sharing the gospel, or be challenged to live wholeheartedly for Christ, this conversation will encourage and equip you.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Shahriq's journey from Islam to faith in Jesus Christ.
  
  
• The cost and joy of following Christ.
  
  
• Why every Christian is called to make disciples.
  
  
• How to boldly share your faith with confidence and compassion.
  
  
• Remaining faithful in a culture that opposes biblical truth.
  
  
• Practical encouragement to live as a disciple of Christ every day.
  
  

If this episode encourages you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19, LSB)

Cory Hinton is the founder of Disciplined Apparel, a faith-and-fitness brand built to encourage believers to live with purpose, discipline, and boldness in their walk with Christ. What started in 2017 as a vision to create authentic, Christ-centered apparel has grown into a thriving brand generating over $20,000 a month in revenue, all while Cory continues serving full-time as a Communications Director at a church.

Cory’s story is rooted in transformation. At 18 years old, he was a skinny 120-pound kid who had never read the Bible. Through discipline, consistency, and a growing relationship with Christ, he transformed not only physically but spiritually. By his mid-twenties, he had developed a strong standard of fitness, read through the Bible multiple times, and built habits that continue to shape his life today as a husband, father of two, and entrepreneur in his mid-thirties.

For Cory, discipline means defining your priorities and eliminating distractions until the work is done. His journey has required learning e-commerce, social media marketing, leadership, and time management while balancing ministry, business, marriage, and family life.

In this episode, we talk about faith, fitness, business, discipline, consistency, and what it looks like to pursue excellence without compromising your walk with God.

Don Ross is the founder and creator of Manhood Tribes. Don has served as a pastor and ministry leader for the past couple of decades and has led and worked with men in a wide variety of settings. He loves the outdoors (beach and mountains, please), all things Lord of the Rings, and has a slight addiction to Coke Zero. He lives with his wife and two sons in the Raleigh, NC area. https://www.manhoodtribes.com

Mark Ellis, who has spent more than two decades collecting first-hand accounts of radical faith. Since 1999, he has documented powerful stories of God at work—and he’d love to share these hope-filled testimonies with your audience.

Mark recently released When Kingdom Light Shines, a collection of 60 true stories that highlight God’s presence in the lives of ordinary people. Believing that “God’s stories are the best stories,” Mark gathered the most compelling accounts he has reported throughout his journalism career.

A few examples include:

The only known survivor from the impact zone on 9/11 who attributes his escape to God’s protection
An atheist professor’s near-death experience that shook his worldview after encountering hell
An astronaut’s unexpected encounter with Jesus while on the moon
A dream that led to the discovery of a previously hidden tribe
https://www.godreports.com/

Trey Tucker is a licensed mental health therapist with over 10 years of experience helping people achieve fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction in their lives. He has worked with corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, parents, students, and various organizations to maximize their performance and results by improving their mental health.

Known for his ability to connect on a deep level with individuals and large groups, Trey also holds specialized training in areas such as anxiety, trauma, relationship communication, sports psychology, identity, and purpose. He is also certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and neurofeedback.

Before becoming a therapist, Trey worked in marketing in the corporate world, where he earned his Master of Business Administration, and then transitioned into education. Even before he began his master’s degree in psychology, Trey began noticing patterns of what prohibited individuals and organizations from reaching their full potential, and he helped correct limiting and destructive thinking and behavior patterns. That instinct and experience, infused with the clinical psychological training he has received, gives Trey a unique ability to help people get to the root causes and find solutions and breakthroughs quickly.
https://toughenoughbook.com/