As we head back to school, we’re sitting down with Ceili Joyce who is preparing for an exciting new chapter at Summit College this fall.

But getting to this point hasn’t been easy. Throughout her middle and high school years, Ceili struggled with severe anxiety and panic attacks. Things many of us take for granted—like going to a movie theatre, being in a crowded church, or surrounded by large groups of people—could feel overwhelming.

Even when her parents stopped attending church, Ceili’s own faith remained. She continued attending Bible study and eventually found her way into the youth ministry at Emmanuel Church. What began as simply showing up grew into serving as the church’s office administrator, joining leadership teams, and eventually becoming a youth ministry intern. But there were moments when she was ready to walk away and decide that ministry simply wasn’t for her. After years of waiting she finally received an answer that changed her direction.

Today, the same young woman who once feared crowded spaces and struggled to enter a movie theatre has been able to preach in front of auditoriums full of students.

In this back-to-school episode, Ceili shares her journey of anxiety, faith, calling, and growth—and gives us an inside look at the many things happening behind the scenes in Emmanuel’s youth ministry.

Tune in to hear how far God has brought her—and where He is leading her next.

What began as a short-term missions trip to Mexico turned into 23 years of faithful ministry for Dennis and Diane Unrau. Continuing to serve through Restoring the Foundations, they eventually returned to Canada and their journey is a powerful testimony of God’s provision, guidance, and faithfulness through every season. If you’ve ever wondered whether missions might be for you, questioned how God makes a way when He calls someone to serve, or wrestled with what needs to be considered before stepping out in faith, this conversation will encourage and inspire you. Through real challenges, difficult decisions, and life-altering moments, Dennis and Diane experienced God’s presence again and again. They began serving at Emmanuel Church in the 70s (!) and are still involved members to this day. Join this long-serving couple as they share the incredible story of how one simple “yes” changed the course of their lives.

For our April episode we meet Shelley Thody. She has walked through more darkness than

most people ever face. She retells her story here with honesty and hard-earned peace. After

experiencing sexual molestation as a youth, she became very depressed. Many aspects of her

teen years affected her well-being and her moods became more extreme. She also experienced

intense highs. Eventually she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition that would shape

much of her life. By her early twenties, overwhelmed and in a deep low, she attempted to end

her life but was miraculously resuscitated. While dealing with and learning about her mental

illness, she went back to school and became a teacher. With her young family she decided to

find a church and together they decided to give it a try. This is a story of rebuilding, finding a

renewed purpose, and focusing on the steady ground of faith to build a peaceful life upon.

Listen in to her undeniable miracles and the ever-present hope of having God in her life.

Shelley has published her story and insights into bipolar disorder in two books too! Find

“Melancholy, Mania and Miracles” and “Miracles Unfolding” on Amazon.