What does it really look like to raise a child when doctors say he won’t survive?

In this episode of Your Biggest Breakthrough, Ken and Mary Sue Grein share the deeply personal story of raising their son, Jacob Grein, over the course of 37 years. Born six weeks premature, Jacob faced severe medical complications, physical disabilities, deafness, and ongoing health challenges that required constant care from the day he entered the world.

Ken and Mary Sue open up about the realities of parenting a medically fragile child—the fear, exhaustion, faith struggles, marriage pressures, and the daily decisions to keep going when answers didn’t come easily. They reflect on the moments when they had to surrender outcomes to God, redefine what healing and success truly meant, and learn to live with hope amidst long-term caregiving.

This episode isn’t about a quick miracle. It’s about faith lived out over decades, love that never wavers, and a son whose life profoundly shaped his family in lasting ways.

If you’re a parent walking a difficult road, a caregiver feeling unseen, or someone wrestling with unanswered prayers, Jacob’s story—and his parents’ journey—will encourage you to keep going, one day at a time.

Chapters:

[00:00] Podcast Preview

[01:30] Topic and Guest Introduction

[03:25] Jacob Grein’s Traumatic Premature Birth

[04:35] Surrendering Jacob’s Life to God

[06:54] Doctors Give Jacob Six Months to Live

[09:50] Learning to Live Moment by Moment

[11:40] Bringing Jacob Home After 137 Days in NICU

[13:50] Discovering That Jacob is Deaf

[15:14] How Jacob’s Illness Tested Their Marriage

[18:21] Years of Surgeries and Setbacks

[20:32] Raising Other Children While Caring for Jacob

[22:00] Accepting Jacob’s Disabilities

[23:53] Caregiving as a Lifelong Calling

[26:14] How Jacob Became Their Greatest Teacher

[27:53] New Definition of Success and Purpose

[28:30] Jacob’s Joy Despite Suffering

[33:04] Losing Jacob After 37 Years

[36:44] Healing After Caregiving Ends

[39:13] Why Jacob’s Story Brings Hope to Others

[40:50] Where to Find Jacob’s Story Book

Resources mentioned:

Get Your Copy of Jacob’s Story

Guest's bio and social handles:

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.

All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.

And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!

Step inside the world of The Lost Healer with filmmaker and storyteller Wilson Hickman, a rising Christian creative who is using fantasy to bring biblical truth to life in fresh, compelling ways.

In this conversation, Wilson shares how his personal encounter with Jesus shaped his calling, why fantasy can powerfully reveal spiritual realities, and how storytelling can reach hearts without sounding preachy. He also opens up about the message behind The Lost Healer, the good-versus-evil themes woven throughout the project, and his passion for creating media that points the next generation toward truth.

Whether you’re a parent, filmmaker, writer, or someone searching for your God-given purpose, this episode will encourage you to use your gifts boldly and trust God’s timing in the process.

Tune in to discover how faith and creativity come together to make an eternal impact.

Chapters:

[00:00] Podcast Preview

[01:25] Topic and Guest Introduction

[03:58] Understanding the Gospel for the First Time

[08:14] What Changed After Meeting Jesus

[10:22] How Faith Shaped His Writing

[13:33] Becoming a “Media Missionary”

[14:54] Introducing The Lost Healer

[18:05] Balancing Truth Without Preaching

[20:42] Biblical Foreshadowing in Storytelling

[22:18] Spiritual Warfare Elements in The Lost Healer

[25:54] Advice for Aspiring Christian Artists

[29:39] Films That Shaped Wilson’s Vision

[31:07] Why This Generation Is Drawn to Fantasy

[33:27] What He Hopes People Take Away from The Lost Healer

[35:42] Wilson’s Life Verse

Resources Mentioned:

The Lost Healer Website

Tomorrows Filmmakers

Guest's bio and social handles:

Website: wilsonhickmanfilm.com

Wilson Hickman is a spiritual storytelling visionary and a devoted follower of Jesus with a deep passion for crafting meaningful, God-honoring stories. From a young age, Wilson began writing books across multiple genres, and his creativity eventually led him into the world of visual storytelling and film.

Today, Wilson uses his gift to create stories that reflect real human struggles, spiritual truths, and the ongoing battle between good and evil. When developing a film, he often draws inspiration from his own life—learning, growing, and discovering meaning alongside the characters he creates.

His latest work is an award-winning proof-of-concept episode for a Christian-themed fantasy TV series called The Lost Healer, a project inspired by real-world spiritual warfare and designed to transport viewers into a rich new world while helping them navigate their own struggles. Think Pilgrim’s Progress meets Narnia—a compelling blend of imagination, adventure, and biblical truth.

Recognizing the power of media to shape culture, Wilson is committed to creating entertainment that is excellent, engaging, and grounded in a Christian worldview. His work aims to reach broad audiences while pointing them toward hope, goodness, and the heart of God.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit...

Have you ever grown up in church, done “all the right things,” and still battled with a deep ache inside, the kind you just can’t explain to anyone? In this episode, we sit down with our friend Charles Wagner, and wow… his story is going to speak to so many of you who have carried silent pain, hidden shame, or unanswered questions about God’s love.

Charles grew up immersed in Scripture, Christian school, and church life… yet he spent decades believing God didn’t — and couldn’t — love him. His journey took him through trauma, identity confusion, depression, a painful divorce, and even suicidal thoughts. And yet, God interrupted his life with a love so powerful it melted years of fear, lies, and inner brokenness.

If you've ever wondered why you keep cycling through old wounds… or why you’re still battling thoughts that don’t match what you believe… or if you’ve questioned whether it’s “too late” for God to turn things around, this conversation is for you.

Chapters:

[00:00] Podcast Preview

[01:18] Topic and Guest Introduction

[03:47] Charles’ early church background

[05:00] Childhood trauma and identity confusion

[08:30] Hitting the lowest point: divorce & despair

[10:55] Meeting the counselor God used to heal him

[12:53] Why it’s never too late for God to transform your life

[14:21] Understanding rebellion & letting God take His rightful place

[17:26] The power of personal testimonies in the church

[18:45] Why “simple stories” matter too

[21:56] How brokenness transformed his prayer life

[23:27] Writing 700-page prayer books

[25:54] Overcoming depression through community & confession

[27:43] When secular counseling falls short

[29:25] Encouragement for late bloomers

[31:34] The biggest lesson about God’s redemptive love

[33:04] How to renew your sense of God’s love

[35:17] The Gramazin Testimony Center

[36:50] Charles’ fun hobbies & new music journey

Resources mentioned:

Gramazin Testimony Center

Charles Wagner's Books

Guest's bio:

Charles Wagner is a prolific author with a deep passion for God's Word. He has written five books, including powerful prayer commentaries, and is known for being an avid, lifelong student of the Bible. Charles doesn’t just study Scripture—he lives it, writes it, and teaches it with clarity, vulnerability, and authenticity.

He’s also a radio host and the founder of Gramazin, a ministry inspired by “Amazing Grace,” dedicated to equipping believers and churches to share the real-life stories of how God shows up. Through this growing testimony movement, Charles helps believers find their voice, share their journey, and build a stronger, more connected body of Christ.

Beyond his ministry and writing life, Charles is the husband of Karen, father to Chad and Stephanie, an avid walker, and even a pickleball enthusiast.

Call to action:

Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!

To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com

To find out more about Todd and his...