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More To Life

by Rebecca Robinson

Season 2

A Short Term Trip to a Lifetime Calling

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.

Beyond Bipolar & Finding Peace With Jesus

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.

Ben McGilivray: A First Responder for Jesus

In this episode, I sit down with Ben, the Okanagan Director for Youth for Christ—a man whose life is guided not by a schedule, but by a willingness to respond to the Holy Spirit at any hour, at any moment. From showing up in the middle of the night during suicide crises or overdoses to walking with teens for years as a steady presence, Ben lives on the front lines of heartbreak and hope. He speaks honestly about burnout, discouragement, and the weight of life-and-death moments. As he puts it, “after years of being a presence in these teens' lives, what an honour when that teen says, ‘I believe you're actually here for me, you're on this journey with me,’ and then they ask me what to do at their personal crossroads.” This is a raw conversation about what it means to be a “first responder for Jesus”—and why, despite it all, he wouldn’t choose anything else.

A Second Home: Randy and Colleen Mueller

As Emmanuel Church celebrates 50 years of faith and community, this month’s episode shares the story of a couple who have called Emmanuel home for decades! Randy and Colleen Mueller found each other later in life after previous marriages, and they built their new beginning on a shared foundation of faith and the support of their church family — their true second home. Together, they have walked the challenges of Randy's lifelong Crohn’s disease with perseverance, patience, and a growing trust in God’s peace, strengthened by the care of their faith community. In this conversation, they also share heartfelt encouragement for anyone struggling with unexpected health issues or hardships. And they have some wisdom for the next generation on building a resilient faith and a strong church foundation that will carry them through every season of life.

Finding Purpose: Brandon Goudreau's Story

Born with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), Brandon faced early physical and social challenges, including developmental delays and bullying after entering a large public school. Though academically bright, these experiences shaped his resilience and led to a turning point when he repeated a grade and began to thrive. Guided by strong morals at home and the mentorship of a hockey coach, Brandon avoided destructive paths but continued searching for deeper purpose. After moving to West Kelowna, that search led him to a local church—one email and a few coffee conversations later, his life changed. Today, he is deeply rooted in his faith, has hungered after knowing God and read the Bible four times in three years! Listen in as Brandon gives a clear, upfront description into what his path was like as he learned what the Christian life was like and how he became a new follower of Jesus.

Kevin Burhmann: A Life Painted by God

At fifteen years old, while attending a South African boarding school for farming and agriculture, Kevin encountered Jesus in a life-changing way as the Holy Spirit met him through dreams, prayer, and a powerful anointing that sparked revival among his classmates and even his teachers. Years later, guided (in a sometimes humorous way!) by God’s provision, he immigrated to Canada, only to face the heartbreak of an unexpected divorce and the hard task of relearning his own identity. Yet through every trial, God continued to be with him and restore him. Today, he walks in renewed hope and faith, with his eyes ever fixed on the big picture of eternity. Join me as I interview Kevin Burhmann, a staple here in Emmanuel Church's worship and men's ministry.

Trisha Martin: What Happens When Your Body Fails as Life Demands the Most From You?

In this month’s episode, we sit down with a remarkable woman, Trisha Martin, who faced difficult health crises—not once, but twice. First during pregnancy she battled debilitating anxiety, and then again - a disease all too similar to what affected her father, all while balancing the chaos and beauty of motherhood, marriage, and career. With the shadow of her father’s incurable degenerative disease looming over her own symptoms, fear could have consumed her. But instead of asking “Why me, God?”, she discovered something much more powerful: a God who walked every step with her even when she couldn’t take steps herself. From initial diagnoses to what were potentially life-saving interventions, her story is one of grace, resilience, and unwavering faith. This isn’t just a story of strength in tough times; it’s a story of seeing God in the hardest places, and finding gratitude in the midst of uncertainty.

Called by God? A Lifetime of Faith with Pastor Daryl Busby

Have you ever wondered if you're truly being called by God? In this heartfelt and wisdom- packed episode, we sit down with Pastor Daryl Bugby. His journey of faith has taken him from nurturing family traditions and the sudden loss of his Dad as a child, to pastoring in the quiet wilderness of Northern Ontario, the heart of inner cities, federal prisons, and senior care homes. From his first job in a tiny church, that sometimes couldn’t pay him, to a lifetime of ministry, Pastor Daryl shares how his relationship with God deepened over decades of service, challenge, and calling. With warmth, insight, and just the right touch of humor, he unpacks how you can begin to discern God’s call on your own life. You’ll remember his simple, yet profound personal philosophy he calls “Know, Do, Feel.” Pumpkin Chocolate chip muffins may be involved. So grab your own muffin or a cuppa, settle in, and listen as Pastor Daryl offers stories, encouragement, and practical wisdom for anyone wondering what it really means to be called by God.

Season 1

In the Chaos, Be Still: Margaret Mary's Story of Trusting God Through Loss.

Growing up in a small village in Ghana and then raised in the city, Margaret Mary was surrounded by faith, family, and simplicity. Her journey took her through university and into a life she built with her soulmate, a love that anchored her. But during the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, her world unraveled. Within eight months of each other, she lost her beloved father and then her husband to a swift, unforgiving brain cancer. Medical setbacks, isolation, and the heartbreak of her sons being unable to return home tested her deeply. Yet, through this grief and loneliness, Margaret Mary chose stillness, chose to stay with God and believe in his plans for her. This is her story of how she held on when everything else was falling apart.

She Told Me This Was Home: A Journey from Abandonment to Grace

Tayler Lefevre At just six years old, Tayler was driven to her grandparents’ house by her mother—no explanation, no warning—just the words, “This is your home now.” What followed was a whirlwind of confusion, heartache, and years of wondering why. Previously raised in an environment consumed by drugs and late-night parties, her childhood was marked by instability, but it was her 'normal'. When someone called the Ministry for Child and Family Services, her life changed forever. In this raw and heartfelt testimony, one young woman opens up about being left in the care of her grandparents, only seeing her mother under supervision once a week, and slowly coming to terms with a reality she never asked for. But through the loneliness, the waiting, and family loss, came something unexpected: the steady love and safety of her grandparents, the realization that she was never really alone—and eventually, the peace she found in her faith in God. This is a story of resilience, healing, and the long road from abandonment to belonging.

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