In this compelling episode of the Jesus Loves Addicts podcast, meet Dustin Long—a former addict who has turned his life around through faith. Raised in Southern Mississippi, Dustin fell into a 20-year whirlwind of substance abuse, which began in his early teens with marijuana and huffing gas, eventually leading to harder drugs like methamphetamine and heroin.

Faced with family traumas and the burden of being an absent father, Dustin reveals his darkest moments and how a heartfelt plea from a friend's mother set him on a path to recovery. His spiritual awakening happened when he cried out to God on the railway tracks, marking a turning point that led him to seek help. Today, Dustin is a worship leader and associate pastor, committed to spreading a message of hope and redemption.

Listen as Dustin shares insights into the stigma of addiction and the power of Christ's love to transform flawed lives. This episode is a powerful testament that no matter the depth of one's struggles, recovery and renewal are within reach.

In this compelling episode of "Jesus Loves Addicts," we welcome Stephen Walker, a man whose life story is a testament to the transformative power of faith and recovery. Stephen's journey is marked by early success in the financial world at Merrill Lynch, but addiction soon led him down a path of self-destruction. He candidly shares his struggles with alcohol and how it impacted his relationships, career, and family life.

Stephen opens up about his family background, marked by a history of alcohol issues, and his personal battles with addiction. Despite numerous attempts at recovery and some moments of sobriety, Stephen's life seemed to be in a cycle of relapse until he found true redemption through a Christ-centered program. His story is a profound exploration of the challenges and stigmas associated with addiction and the unwavering love that led him towards a path of recovery.

Listeners will hear Stephen's heart-wrenching experiences with loss, his journey through several recovery programs, and the eventual embrace of his faith that transformed his life. His message challenges the stigmas of addiction and highlights how Christ's love can overcome any weakness. Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with hope, redemption, and the power of unconditional love.

In this compelling episode, we sit down with Maggie Pitalo as she courageously shares her journey from addiction to redemption. Maggie opens up about her early life struggles, which led her to substance abuse at the tender age of 12, and her experiences working as a stripper to escape poverty. With powerful recollections, she reveals the pain of losing custody of her children due to her addiction, and the harrowing cycles she endured.

Maggie candidly discusses how her family dynamics, including the influence of her workaholic parents and the chaotic home environment, impacted her path. Throughout her narrative, she highlights how addictions savvy their maternal instincts and how dangerous the quest for the glittery facade of success can be.

Most importantly, Maggie shares her turning point, where she found faith and redemption through a touching encounter with an outreach team in a strip club, reminding her of the steadfast love of Christ. She walks us through her recovery journey, focusing on the critical support from strangers and the miraculous transformation in her life.

Listeners will be inspired by Maggie’s relentless courage to overcome her demons and the strength she found in faith and community. This is a story of resilience, transformation, and the healing power of love.