The Redeemed Backslider

Kathy Chastain

“Welcome to The Redeemed Backslider—with your host, Kathy Chastain, Christian-based psychotherapist and a redeemed backslider. This podcast dedicated to those who have wandered but are ready to return to the life-changing power of grace and the freedom found in Jesus. In Luke 4:18, Jesus proclaimed: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.’ This is the heart of our message. Whether you’re wrestling with regret, despair, seeking freedom from spiritual chains, or longing to see the light of God’s love again, you’re not alone. Here, we share testimonies, biblical truths, and encouragement to remind you that no one is too far gone for God’s redemption. This is your invitation to find healing, hope, and restoration in Jesus. Welcome to The Redeemed Backslider—where grace is greater than your past and your future is abundant when God redeems your story.” https://www.buzzsprout.com/2446178/subscribe

  1. Fallen Faith to Faith Restored: Dustin Long #TRB Season 2 Episode 45

    FEB 5

    Fallen Faith to Faith Restored: Dustin Long #TRB Season 2 Episode 45

    Send us a text A chance phone call, a buried wound, and a locked detox bathroom became turning points in a story that moves from numbing to purpose. We sit down with Dustin Long, president and CEO of High Hope Ministries, to trace the honest path from a prayer-filled childhood and a teenage call to ministry, through unresolved offense, career seduction, and the quiet compromises that led to addiction and despair. Then comes the pivot: a 0.467 BAC, a nurse who sees the glory of God and introduces himself as Michael, and a web of intercession already praying for “Michael to stand up.” The thread you can’t miss is how persistent love meets precise timing. What follows isn’t a quick fix but a slow, sturdy rebuild. Dustin shares how a short rehab cleared his body, a grueling year-long program stripped control, and daily immersion in Scripture renewed his mind. Along the way a pastor’s wife named the childhood molestation he’d suppressed, opening the door for deep healing. That revelation reshaped his ministry philosophy: replace judgment with curiosity and ask, “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?” We explore why transformation outlasts conformity, how 2 Peter’s step-by-step growth—from faith through virtue, knowledge, and temperance to charity—offers a roadmap, and why many churchgoers need the same trauma-informed care we offer prodigals. Tune in to listen to the rest of Dustin's story of Redemption.  Visit www.highhopeministries.com Support the show Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider Kathy has two books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online: Redeem California, With God it IS Possible: God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California

    1h 29m
  2. Transformed By God's Love- Ben Bland: TRB Season 2 Ep. 44

    JAN 29

    Transformed By God's Love- Ben Bland: TRB Season 2 Ep. 44

    Send us a text A bold prayer can outlast decades—and catch up to you when you least expect it. That’s the heartbeat of this powerful conversation with Ben Bland, a designer whose life moved from church pews to drag stages and back to the waters of baptism, where identity was stripped and reborn. We pull no punches about the pain: abuse hidden in a miracle-working church, the ache for belonging that made the LGBTQ scene feel like home, and the wilderness that comes after early victory when temptation returns and the crowd is gone. Together we explore why love is not soft—it is strategic. Ben shares why deliverance must come before repentance for bound people to make a real decision for Christ, and how targeted intercession can go ahead of someone for years. We talk about not “jumping in front of prayer,” resisting the enemy in our thoughts, and recognizing the difference between inner desire and external spiritual attack. His baptism story is raw and helpful: it felt awful, warfare began immediately, and yet it changed him more than anything. That honesty will steady anyone who left the water confused rather than euphoric. Tune in for the rest of the conversation and follow Ben Bland on social media, his posts will inspire you, make you laugh out-loud and make you cry at the beautiful love of God in Ben's Life. If you are a prodigal who has come home, please reach out to us, we would love to feature your testimony. Support the show Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider Kathy has two books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online: Redeem California, With God it IS Possible: God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California

    1h 51m
  3. Mercy and the Miraculous- Rev. Robert Rodela TRB Season 2 #43

    JAN 22

    Mercy and the Miraculous- Rev. Robert Rodela TRB Season 2 #43

    Send us a text A voice in a jail laundry room. A Bible open to a sentence that felt like a summons. And a quiet whisper that rewrote a life: “I never left you.” Kathy sits down with Rev. Robert “Bobby” Rodello to trace a raw, unforgettable journey—from a childhood steeped in altar calls and miracles, to the fracture of a family, to gang nights and a case that stacked into centuries on paper. As the bars closed, a prophecy remembered, and a soul tested prayer by inches, grace did what grace does best: it found a way in. Bobby shares the turning points with striking clarity—the heaviness that drove him to argue with God, the line “you cannot serve two masters” that proved God was listening, and the seven-and-a-half-year wrestle to be renewed in the Holy Ghost. In a cramped room behind bars, he surrendered everything and felt the flood of the Spirit. Then came the words that cut through years of lies about abandonment, ushering him into a love that turned defiance into devotion. What followed was a jailhouse revival with daily Bible studies, healings, and over a hundred baptisms in Jesus’ name, even as legal setbacks tested hope and refined purpose. Listen, share with someone who needs hope, and help us reach more prodigals ready to come home. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what line in this story spoke to you most? Support the show Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider Kathy has two books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online: Redeem California, With God it IS Possible: God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California

    2h 43m
  4. How God Called Me - Rev. Justin Leyva  Season 2 TRB #42

    JAN 15

    How God Called Me - Rev. Justin Leyva Season 2 TRB #42

    Send us a text A nightclub. A tray of free cocaine. Faces twisting into something dark. Then an audible voice: get in your truck, go home, and go to church in the morning. That moment didn’t just interrupt a spiral; it rerouted a life. Evangelist Justin Leva joins us to chart a raw, unscripted journey from a childhood of abuse, addiction, and witchcraft-laced culture to a steady walk defined by prayer, fasting, and the prophetic. We dig into what listeners always ask but rarely hear explained with clarity: How does the word of knowledge actually work? When is a condition “just medical,” and when is it spiritual—and how do you minister to both with wisdom? Justin shares how he stopped asking for healing and began declaring it, cursing disease at the root and commanding infirmity to leave, following the pattern of Jesus and the apostles. He breaks down a recent case of multiple sclerosis where every Spirit‑revealed detail matched the medical report, offering a practical, biblically grounded approach to healing and deliverance. Identity and authority sit at the center of this conversation. We talk about moving from operating in gifts to standing in the office of a prophet, why submission to pastoral authority matters, and how hunger—not hype—forms a durable ministry. We also face what too many avoid: Spirit‑filled people living under oppression and shame. Justin distinguishes attachment from possession and points to forgiveness, community, and discipleship as vital parts of freedom. His own recent battle with crushing depression became a furnace that forged deeper faith and ushered in some of the strongest miracles he’s seen. Follow Bro. Justin Leyva on his podcast, The Elisha Generation.  If you would like to invite him to minister at your church, email Kathy@theredeemedbackslider.org and I will connect you. For more information on the Unshackled Conference, please visit the events page at either theredeemedbackslider.org or pentecostallighthouse.org Please prayerfully consider partnering with us. May God  Support the show Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider Kathy has two books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online: Redeem California, With God it IS Possible: God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California

    1h 43m
  5. 2025 End Of The Year Recap: TRB #40 Kathy Chastain

    12/24/2025

    2025 End Of The Year Recap: TRB #40 Kathy Chastain

    Send us a text Stories of return have a way of finding the person who needs them most. We close the year by opening our inbox and our hearts—sharing letters from listeners who pulled over in tears, confessed hidden battles with pornography, and asked for prayer in moments of deep despair. We also celebrate quiet miracles: three people who went back to church, two brand-new believers who found a home, and a former running partner who wept through our first episode and rededicated his life. None of this is about a show; it’s about what God does when testimony meets a willing ear. I talk about how this mission started—as a clear nudge from God to give voice to backsliders who haven’t spoken yet—and why compassion matters when prodigals walk back into the room. We read encouragement from pastors and friends across denominations, because the work of restoration belongs to the whole body of Christ. One story stands out: a man who once served time at Soledad State Prison now drives past the yard on a delivery route, free in body and purpose. That’s the kind of grace we want the world to overhear. If you are interested in joining Partners in Prayer, please visit their website at https://pipsministry.org If you'd like to be part of The Redeemed Backslider ministry, please contact us at www.theredeemedbackslider.org If you know a backslider, or have a testimony to share, please reach out to us! Support the show Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider Kathy has two books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online: Redeem California, With God it IS Possible: God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California

    25 min
  6. Journey From Grief to Forgiveness TRB #39 Billie Jean Bishop

    12/18/2025

    Journey From Grief to Forgiveness TRB #39 Billie Jean Bishop

    Send us a text What if the prayers you’ve been whispering for years are beginning to be answered—and the church needs to be ready for the homecoming? We sit down with Sis. Billie Jean Bishop, co-founder of Partners in Prayer, to trace a path from personal tragedy to a nationwide movement of intercession for prodigals. Her story carries a fierce tenderness: a miracle-filled conversion, a mother’s grief after losing her son Christopher, and the costly decision to forgive the man involved in the crash that took his life. Through it all runs a bright thread—God’s comfort is real, His sovereignty can be trusted, and He is calling exiled sons and daughters back. Reports of returning backsliders now arrive almost daily: adult children, teens, even grandparents. But the call is bigger than celebration; it’s preparation. Restoration requires more than an altar moment. It needs discipleship, practical help, and a community that welcomes with robes and rings rather than suspicion. Billie Jean names the spiritual battle shaping families, the unique pressure on fathers, and the simple tools that build resilience—praying scripture, blessing instead of lecturing, and showing up in covenant agreement. Tune in to listen to more of this amazing testimony! For her full testimony of forgiveness and to hear the man she eventually would call son, click the link below.  https://youtu.be/SXmRG4cmpSE?si=akaZ2mRRol-TZxHd and be sure to visit her website at https://www/pipsministry.org Support the show Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider Kathy has two books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online: Redeem California, With God it IS Possible: God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California

    1h 40m
  7. What About The "Standards" TRB #38 Pastor Jeremy Cain

    12/04/2025

    What About The "Standards" TRB #38 Pastor Jeremy Cain

    Send us a text The word holiness can feel like a verdict, especially if you’ve been burned by “standards” that sounded more like a measuring stick than good news. Kathy sits down with her pastor to untangle the knot: holiness as a life turned toward God, standards as practices that may flow from that love, and the harm that happens when we reverse the order. The conversation is tender, candid, and practical—rooted in real stories of backsliders who returned against all odds and found that God had been working the whole time. We get honest about what keeps people away: the belief that you must fix everything before God will receive you, the sting of conference moments that celebrate strictness while fragile hearts shut down, and the old habit of wearing an image like armor. Kathy shares her own journey—fashion, jewelry, hair, and the gym culture that once defined her—and how God slowly reshaped identity from the inside out. The pastor offers a clear path: start with presence, not performance. Let love make surrender light. Fruit will follow the root. Tune in for more... Support the show Partner with us : https://www.theredeemedbackslider.org Follow us on Insta & Facebook: The Redeemed Backslider Kathy has two books out and they can be found on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online: Redeem California, With God it IS Possible: God of the Impossible: 30-Prayers for the Redemption and Restoration of California

    2h 8m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

“Welcome to The Redeemed Backslider—with your host, Kathy Chastain, Christian-based psychotherapist and a redeemed backslider. This podcast dedicated to those who have wandered but are ready to return to the life-changing power of grace and the freedom found in Jesus. In Luke 4:18, Jesus proclaimed: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.’ This is the heart of our message. Whether you’re wrestling with regret, despair, seeking freedom from spiritual chains, or longing to see the light of God’s love again, you’re not alone. Here, we share testimonies, biblical truths, and encouragement to remind you that no one is too far gone for God’s redemption. This is your invitation to find healing, hope, and restoration in Jesus. Welcome to The Redeemed Backslider—where grace is greater than your past and your future is abundant when God redeems your story.” https://www.buzzsprout.com/2446178/subscribe