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"How might acknowledging our weakness open the door to strength through faith-centered transformation? Today James Serpico will tell us how God transformed him from broken addict into THE America’s Keswick’s “Director of Fun”!"

James Serpico never expected to become the "Director of Fun" at America's Keswick. Six years ago, he was just another broken man entering their addiction recovery program, assigned to Room 18, top bunk. Today, he leads programming at the very place that transformed his life.

With raw honesty, James shares how childhood instability and his father's death when he was 13 left him desperately insecure. By 15, he discovered alcohol could temporarily erase his social anxiety. "I don't have those fears anymore," he thought, setting him on a dangerous path of substance exploration. In college, he found prescription painkillers particularly effective: "I didn't have a broken bone," James explains, "I had a broken heart, and it felt like it healed."

The facade crumbled after a car crash on the New Jersey Turnpike became his wake-up call. At America's Keswick — a 127-year-old faith-based recovery program in the Pine Barrens — James encountered a radically different approach to healing. "We are 100% believers that the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what changes a person, period," he explains. With no phones, TV, or outside distractions for four months, residents immerse themselves in Scripture and community.

Through trauma counseling, James began replacing destructive lies with God's truth that he is "accepted, approved, loved" regardless of circumstances. This ongoing transformation exemplifies a profound spiritual paradox: "The weaker that we understand ourselves to be, the stronger and more confident we actually become," because our strength comes not from ourselves but from Christ within.

For those struggling with addiction or supporting loved ones on their journey, James's testimony offers tangible hope that lasting change is possible not through willpower alone, but through heart transformation. Learn more about America's Keswick's men's and women's programs, or support their work by joining the Family Freedom Walk fundraiser on May 10th (11am-2pm).

Addiction Recovery at Keswick - https://addictionrecovery.org/
Barbara's Place - https://addictionrecovery.org/barbarasplace/relaunch/
America's Keswick - https://americaskeswick.org/

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"Did you know that you can find God’s purpose in the challenges of life? Today we continue with former NFL quarterback Dr. Gary Cuozzo’s story—how God transformed his personal tragedy into a powerful ministry of faith, hope, and purpose, as he shared Christ and anti-drug messages in schools."

Former NFL quarterback Dr. Gary Cuozzo shares his transformative journey from tragedy to ministry, revealing how God used his son's death in 1990 to launch years of speaking in high schools about both substance abuse dangers and the gospel message. His powerful testimony illustrates how tribulation produces perseverance, character, and ultimately joy—not fleeting happiness but the deep assurance of eternal life in Christ.

• Finding ministry purpose through personal tragedy
• Speaking in New Jersey high schools for 7-8 years despite resistance to gospel message
• Experiencing Romans 5 transformation: tribulation → perseverance → character → joy
• Leading multiple Bible studies in his Florida retirement community
• Growing in scripture knowledge through "Shepherd School" and Chuck Smith's teachings
• Understanding that earthly life is "a speck in time" compared to eternity
• Celebrating 60 years of marriage with his wife Peggy
• Continuing faithful service in his 80s

While you're still breathing, please come to the Lord. Just ask Him if what we're saying is true, ask Him to come into your life, forgive you of your sin, and live through you. How hard is that? Stop being so stubborn. Give Him a chance.

Fellowship Of Christian Athletes - FCA:
https://www.fca.org/

Gary Cuozzo Truth In Sports:
https://truthinsports.org/gary_cuozzo/

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"Have you ever seen challenges in someone’s life become a turning point for discovering deeper purpose? Today, former NFL quarterback Dr. Gary Cuozzo shares how faith, loss, and relationships led him from football glory to Spirit filled and impactful ministry beyond the game."

What does it take for an NFL quarterback to find deeper meaning beyond the game? In this captivating conversation with Dr. Gary Cuozzo, we discover how a professional football career intersected with a profound spiritual awakening. Gary takes us through his journey from backing up Johnny Unitas on the Baltimore Colts to playing alongside the legendary Purple People Eaters with the Minnesota Vikings during football's golden era. But beyond the highlight reels and stadium roars, Gary's story reveals something more valuable—how meaningful relationships with Christ-following teammates sparked questions about faith that would transform his life.

The contrast between yesterday's NFL and today's game becomes strikingly clear as Gary shares memories from an era when professional athletes often worked off-season jobs to make ends meet. His signed contract with the Vikings for $65,000 (after being traded for two first-round draft picks) highlights how dramatically the professional sports landscape has shifted in terms of compensation, player loyalty, and personal conduct on the field.

Most compelling is Gary's vulnerability in sharing his evolution from legalistic religion to grace-filled faith, and how personal tragedy became the catalyst for his most impactful ministry years. After losing his son in 1990, Gary found himself speaking in schools throughout New Jersey, using his platform to reach young people with both anti-drug messages and spiritual truth. His instrumental role in establishing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in New Jersey from humble beginnings in his orthodontic office has led to a ministry now spanning approximately 150 high school chapters.

Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a person of faith, or someone seeking meaning beyond professional success, this conversation offers wisdom from a life well-lived at the intersection of athletic achievement and spiritual purpose. Join us for this powerful exploration of finding true victory beyond the scoreboard.
Fellowship Of Christian Athletes - FCA: https://www.fca.org/
Gary Cuozzo Truth In Sports: https://truthinsports.org/gary_cuozzo/

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