Sarah Schalow has a lot to share with you in today’s special episode! So grab your favorite coffee or tea and settle in for a heartfelt look back at this year’s journey with The Stories Collective, including a personal update from Sarah and a glimpse into the future of the podcast.

The episode opens with a reflection on the 17 powerful stories shared over the past five months, each one a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness. One especially moving moment came when a recent guest revealed how listening to the podcast led to real, life-changing transformation. It’s been an incredible season.

Earlier this year, The Stories Collective took its first break in three years. In this episode, Sarah opens up about the reasons behind that pause and how it connects to what’s ahead. In the final 10 minutes, she reflects on how the podcast has grown over the past three years and the impact it’s had, noting that roughly 10% of the church has now shared their story. That’s a staggering picture of God’s work among us, and there’s still so much more to be told.

While there are no plans to end The Stories Collective, the podcast will be going on an indefinite hiatus following this episode. It’s not goodbye—just a pause—as Sarah steps into a new season of life, which she shares more about in the episode 😊

In the meantime, we encourage you to revisit past episodes, catch up on any you missed, and prayerfully consider sharing your story later this year. Because He is alive. He is working. He is faithful.

A heartfelt thank-you to the incredible team that makes this podcast possible each week: Brandon & Brittany Petry, Hailey Keller, and Brandon Lloyd. The Stories Collective wouldn’t exist without their dedication.

Want to share your story on The Stories Collective podcast in 2025? Email sarah@dscchurch.com

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We'd love it if you'd share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Wednesday to hear another story of God's faithfulness!

Gail Hosea’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late for God to bring transformation. A lifelong Arizona resident, Gail is the sixth of eight children. While she holds on to some fond family memories, many are overshadowed by the deep pain of growing up with an abusive father. From a young age, Gail learned to hide behind emotional “masks,” concealing not only what was happening at home but also the turmoil within her own heart and mind. This is unfortunately something that she would carry into adulthood. At 18, Gail left home, and shortly afterward, her father passed away. His death brought a flood of complicated emotions, but it also became the beginning of her journey toward understanding forgiveness. At 21, she met her first husband while serving in the National Guard, and it was through attending church with him that Gail accepted Jesus as her Savior. Looking back, however, she realizes that key pieces were missing, particularly genuine discipleship and community. While she had reverence for God, her daily life wasn’t centered around Him. Instead, she filled her life with idols—family, work, friends, and especially her children became her highest priorities. After her first marriage ended, God blessed her with a second husband, yet Gail continued living according to her own strength and understanding. For years and years, she leaned on self-reliance, still not finding true fulfillment. It wasn’t until living in Prescott that things slowly began to change. A friend came alongside her in a deeply intentional way, modeling what a vibrant relationship with God could look like. When Gail and her husband moved back to the Valley, she says it felt like she finally lost the “box of masks” she had carried for so long. At 63, she truly began her walk with Jesus—and life has never been the same. Gail shares how God awakened her heart to His love and how, despite her past, she now feels like she is living in the best chapters of her life. Though she sometimes grieves the time that feels lost, she rests in the truth that with God, nothing is ever wasted. His redemption is real, His grace is abundant, and all it takes is one intentional step.

Listen to Gail's discipleship journey on The Now Life podcast:

The Disciple's Journey of Gail Hosea + Danya Works Part 1

The Disciple's Journey of Gail Hosea + Danya Works Part 2

Desert Springs will be having baptism services August 23rd + 24th! Don't miss this opportunity to proclaim your faith in Jesus. Email robin@dscchurch.com to get started.

Want to share your story on The Stories Collective podcast in 2025? Email sarah@dscchurch.com

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We'd love it if you'd share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Wednesday to hear another story of God's faithfulness!

Karen Frey’s testimony is a powerful reminder of God’s redemptive work. With deep roots tied to the Desert Springs church building, Karen’s story is one of full-circle grace—how God gently led her back to a place she once thought she had left behind for good. Originally from Indiana, Karen fondly recalls how her mother faithfully brought the family to church every Sunday. She cherished that church community, being present whenever the church doors were open. That formative experience planted a seed in her heart, a longing for deep, authentic fellowship with God's people. In 2000, after moving to Arizona, Karen and her sons began attending a church that met at Westview High School in Avondale. It quickly became home. The tight-knit community supported her through one of the most difficult seasons of her life as she went through a divorce. The women in her small group were especially instrumental, surrounding her with prayer, encouragement, and love. As the church grew, exciting plans were made to build a new church and school in Goodyear. The future looked bright. But everything changed when troubling revelations came to light, ultimately leading to the heartbreaking dissolution of both the church and the school in 2006. The loss was devastating. Though Karen never turned her back on God, the disillusionment she felt made it difficult to re-engage with another church. After years of searching and disappointment, she stepped away from church life altogether. For five years, she lived in the tension of believing in God while feeling disconnected from His people. But in early 2019, God, ever faithful, began to stir her heart once more. Through His grace and kindness, He drew her back to community and back into fellowship. And in the most unexpected twist, He brought her right back to the very place where so much had once unraveled. Karen’s journey is a beautiful testimony of healing, restoration, and God’s unwavering pursuit of His people.

Ashley Nochevich's testimony (Karen's daughter-in-law!), Episode 137

Want to share your story on The Stories Collective podcast in 2025? Email sarah@dscchurch.com

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We'd love it if you'd share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Wednesday to hear another story of God's faithfulness!