Not The Same

Yola was just a little girl born into a normal mid-century American family...until it wasn't. Raised by a father who traveled often and a mother who was self-consumed, this little girl was left to her own devices. Then at fifteen, her whole life turned upside down and everything she thought she knew, was a lie. The next few years brought heartache and one bad decision after another, until she found the one thing that would help her recreate her story!

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*Warning: This episode contains references to sexual assault on a minor and should be listened to with caution.*

Tumi is a Jozi girl, born and raised; to a single mom and lots of extended family who truly wanted the best for her. Unfortunately, the very thing that haunted her over and over again, went unseen and known by everyone. It wasn't until she followed her heart to a place of healing, that she truly became free of the secret burdens she carried.

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Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas from my family and I. May you be blessed beyond expectation in the coming year!

Thank you for your support!

Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony.

Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

notthesame.cfm@gmail.com

Prince was the fourth child of five, each one being shipped off to live with a grandmother who tried her best. When that didn't work, the siblings were left to fend for themselves. The result was chaos and heartache. Through his sheer determination to create a different path for himself, Prince set off to fulfill his dreams. What he found was only more emptiness and disappointment. It wasn't until he surrendered to the one thing determined to chase him down, that he truly found what he was created for!

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Melissa was raised in a stable home, with two parents that loved and provided for her. That didn't protect her from the rejection the world had in store. A doting father and distant mother, hiding their own secrets, did the best they knew how until they couldn't anymore. That's when she found the one person who truly accepted and loved her despite everything.

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Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

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*Note: All affiliations have been redacted for safety purposes.

Morgan wasn't who most people thought he was. He wasn't even who he wanted to be. Morgan was stronger, tougher, and angrier than others but he didn't like the life he was given. Pushed by an unknown force into drugs and caught in the middle of gang life, all he desired was to find peace and purpose. After more than one escape from death, he finally surrendered and found real love, acceptance and the life the didn't know he needed all along.

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For all intents and purposes, Molly lived a very simple, safe life. The middle child of three with two parents who provided everything she needed, Molly should have felt fulfilled. However, what she felt instead was lost and out of place, searching for an identity. Life has a way of teaching its lessons and after many years of searching, this lost little girl learned that no matter how long you run, God will find you in the end. The result was a found purpose and true identity!

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(Republished from Oct 2024)

Nandi began life with two loving grandparents in a home full of love, despite not having her father present. However, as things often do, life changed suddenly and one thing led to another. Soon, this broken little girl found herself at odds with the world and enslaved by an addiction she didn't know how to break free from. Listen as she shares the one place and the one moment she found her redemption and freedom.

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Lloyd grew up amidst violence and vice; a young boy surrounded by the effects of alcoholism and brokenness. Thinking this was normal but wanting to believe there was something more, Lloyd began his search. What he found was more chaos, abuse, divorce, and a desperate longing to just belong. Then someone told him that there was indeed something greater. Listen to him share how he finally found the way to prevail!

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Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life...

*Warning: This episode does contain references to sexual abuse/assault. Discretion is advised for younger listeners.

Tumi's life started out with promise; both parents, a clean home, and everything she could ever want or need. As it sometimes does, life changed. First one thing, then another and as a teenager, Tumi found herself living a life very different from the one she once had. Everything was upside down or backwards and it was only getting worse. After searching for something to make it right, she found the only thing that truly realigned her life to one even...

Raised with two loving parents and even a doting grandmother, Sizwe was set to live a life of ease. Bad friends with  worse influences led him astray at a very young age and he found himself in the midst of a life of crime. Living as one person at school but another at home, this bright young man tried to fool everyone by making a name for himself on the streets. The only person he fooled was himself, until a friend tricked him to going to the one place that revealed real truth - and the life he was m...

*Warning: This episode contains references to many subjects that could be disturbing to some listeners. Please listen with caution!*

Cathleen was raised in a godly home by parents who loved her and did their best to be the example she needed. There's another side to every story and plagued by being seen as 'different', she became the object of constant bullying. This led to years of feeling left out and insecure. Then came high school. Thinking that a new 'personality' would hold the answers she sought, Cathleen found herself in a downward spiral of bad decisions and...

Michael's world was a roller coaster ride from a very young age. It only got worse from there. An alcoholic father and a home torn apart made him vulnerable and angry which manifested itself into drugs and alcohol as he grew older. The late nights and hard living left him broken with the biggest question running through his mind: what is it all for? Little did he know the route he'd take would mend his broken heart and lead him to the life he never dreamt could be his.

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*Warning: This episode does include references to violence/sexual assault.*

Growing up in the Eastern Cape, Mayson was born to a teen mom and raised by loving grandparents who tried their best. Looking different than most people in his community, he decided from a young age he was going to make a name for himself. The life of crime appealed to him and his ability to play the part of a good child, let him get away with a lot. However, at the age of 14, things changed and life became a familiar story of addiction, heartbreak, and...

As a twin, life for Phumlani was always a comparison. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Raised in a poor family but one who knew how to work hard, Phumlani was raised with the desire to do something and be somebody. He was not one to shy away from a challenge and through dubious intentions found his way into a church. A whole new way of living was introduced and now he was forced to do his own comparison. What did he truly want for himself? Listen as he shares his story.

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Raised in a godly home, Emily grew up feeling loved and protected. She learned to follow Christ at an early age, enjoying the adventures of her parents' ministry. Soon after relocating to the United States, Emily found that not everything goes as planned. Young heartbreak left her vulnerable to those with bad intentions. Jumping head first into sin created a dangerous situation that only God could redeem. In that redemption, Emily found that she could forgive and be forgiven. Listen to her share her story in her own words.

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Edward Mphaga was born the second child of six. He was raised in a home full of culture and tradition. For most of his childhood, Ed suffered from one unexplainable ailment after another, which no amount of tradition could cure. This left him feeling left out and lacking. After three failed school years and a long stint in the hospital, he thought he was finally on his way to getting better. However, it wasn't until an encounter with true power, that Ed finally found healing, both physically and spiritually.

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From Zimbabwe to Cape Town, by way of Namibia, Tsitsi found herself in a life very different from what she had imagined. Born the only girl into a family that gained much through hard work and determination, Tsitsi knew her parents only wanted to best for her. However, with that came the fear of never quite being enough. Both she and her parents had dreams and plans for her future, but one question asked by a friend changed that forever. What she achieved was so much more than she could have ever hoped or imagined.

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Katlego was born a single child to a mother who aimed to provide her with everything she could want or need. Although not having a father around, she found herself surrounded by good people that showed her true love and guidance. Katlego loved Jesus from a young age and made it her mission to share it with everyone. Not every fairy tale goes as planned, however, and life can change course unexpectedly. When everything crumbled, she knows the only way to recapture her life, was going back to where it all began! Listen as she reminds us to always...

Wendel Jacobs never knew his mother. The youngest of his father's children, Wendel was shuffled around from place to place while his father worked. Although never really suffering as badly as some, this young boy grew into a teenager never quite feeling wanted by anyone. A series of events over a short period of time left him feeling desperate for a place to belong. The insistance of a friend and the love of people drew him to the one place he truly felt wanted! Listen as he shares his story of hope!

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Euston Rendell was born the eldest of four children. Raised with the pressure of that responsibility, he found himself full of anger. Big for his age, he quickly realized that could be an advantage for his criminal endeavors. However, one unhinged episode left him standing before a judge, facing a possible five year prison sentence at just 16. What happened over the next 15 years was a battle for his soul and eventually Euston found the one place that brought the reconciliation he longed for.

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Sheenn was a little girl raised by two loving parents in a situation that seemed normal until she realized it wasn't. Sheltered from most of the chaos of her notorious father and hard working mother, Sheenn had big dreams and big plans until life, as usual, intervened. One thing led to another and she found herself with an addicted husband, three kids, no job and no hope for the future. That's when everything changed! Listen as she shares how a supernatural intervention at the perfect moment, brought her biggest dream to pass.

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Just a few minutes to reflect and enjoy the last year and the blessings it brought through each and every guest and listener. Thank you.

Have a Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony.

Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

notthesame.cfm@gmail.com

From a tiny cabin in the backwoods of Ohio to the upper crust of California - and then the rest of the world - Michael never thought his life would turn out like it did. Born in 1952, when an unwed mother was still shamed, this young, awkward boy began life amidst a bit of family chaos. Very soon, however he grew up with all kinds of plans, until drugs derailed his life. Listen as he tells the story of his encounter with God and learning for what purpose he was intended.

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From the Cape Flats area of Mitchells Plain, Michele was no stranger to chaos and hardship. Even though her parents tried to keep her sheltered from the outside world, the chaos followed her home. Growing up, time and time again, Michele found herself at the crossroads of life. Over and over, she found herself encountering the one person who could - and would - change her life forever.

Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony.

Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

nott...

*Warning: This episode does contain references to sexual assault/abuse. Discretion is advised for younger listeners.*

Rutana never knew hunger, but she also never knew what it meant to be taken care of. As the oldest girl, Rutana was put in charge of her family of eight. Her two parents were alcoholics and life wasn't easy, especially when secrets come to light. An unplanned pregnancy led to an unwanted marriage, which led to a whole new world of abuse. On the surface, life was perfect, but underneath she knew something needed to change or she'd end up...

Cherie has never met her father, being the product of an extra-marital affair. Despite these circumstances, between two older brothers and a very overprotective mother, Cherie still felt safe and loved. An introduction to God at a young age set the stage for her success. However, as we know, life changes and she has to make her own decisions. Not everyone needs to hit rock bottom before realizing they need a change. Listen as she shares how God kept her from what could have been.

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Jacques only knew his father as a broken alcoholic, an old man with nothing; not the affluent man he used to be. Growing up in poverty, watching both his parents lose the battle against alcohol, this quiet, lonely child did the only thing he knew how: build walls. Emotional walls and eventually physical walls were what Jacques knew best, until one day when a man offered him a way out. Listen to him tell his story of addiction, transformation and rebuilding a life of hope.

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A broken young boy hiding behind a smile, Jabu was raised never knowing the true love of a father. Years of chaos, instability and uncertainty led him to make big plans for the future. An encounter with God and His people changed those plans and his life was rewritten. This is just the beginning...

Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony.

Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

notthesame.cfm@gmail.com

The first of two daughters, Danielle was born to a teenage mother and hardworking father. She began her story surrounded by a large family who loved her; however, as time moved on, she watched the chaos of life tear her world apart. Uncertainty and loneliness left her searching for something she couldn't define. When faced with a difficult decision, Danielle chose the path that eventually led her to fulfill her dreams and ultimately, to find her destiny.

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A Xhosa girl, the third-born of eight children, Busi was basically left to raise herself. With both her parents enslaved by alcohol, this tiny girl felt she had no place to hide from the chaos of home. Little did she know that amidst her constant running away, she'd find the one place that welcomed her with open arms.

Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony.

Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

notthesame.cfm@gmail.com

The youngest sibling, the only boy, living a life of rejection, abandonment, and isolation; that is the story of Leebon Britde's childhood. Never knowing his father and losing his mother at a very young age, this broken child grew up not knowing what it meant to feel wanted. However, God's love knows no bounds. Listen to Leebon share this moving story of faith, hope, and love...and finding the greatest of these.

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Cheryl Stellenberg never wanted the typical life. She had big dreams and big plans, and the strength and determination to get there. However, life rarely goes as planned and her dreams were derailed by an unplanned circumstance. Little did she know that this would begin a chain reaction that would alter the course of her life forever. Listen to her tell it in her own words.

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Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

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From a small rural community to the Executive Capital, Mpho Mothoa was a little girl with big dreams. Unfortunately life doesn't always go as planned and this precocious child was left with too many questions and not enough answers. Raised within a protective family structure and constrictive religion, she soon felt the need to find her own way. However, this path only left her with a broken heart, a broken body and still more questions. Listen as she shares her story of finding the answers she was searching for!

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Growing up in the heart of Eldorado Park, Natasha figured her life would be just like everyone else's around her. With periods of instability and surrounded by drugs and alcohol, it didn't seem like she'd ever discover who she was supposed to be. Listen along as she shares how she found her true identity through the persistance of an unexpected friend.

Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony.

Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

notthesame.cfm@gmail.com

Born the youngest child, a boy who grew up the envy of the neighborhood, Sizwe was living a life of love and comfort; until he wasn't. Things suddenly shifted and all he knew about family and the world did as well. Searching for something to fill the widening void, this young man finds more than he could have imagined. Listen to Sizwe share his story of a life dedicated to one thing.

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One half of a set of twins born to a disabled mother and an unknown father, Dorothy met with tragedy at a young age. One event led to another which set her on a course of despair and loneliness. Searching for love, hope and a future, a young single mom is drawn to the one place she is sure to find the answers; a lighthouse of sorts. Hear the story in her own words of finding a place to belong; not once, not twice, but every time she went looking.

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The youngest of seven siblings, born to a single mother, Sanele seemed to be born for adversity. However, when his mother unexpectedly passed away, things only got worse. A life of uncertainty and desperation leaves this young man broken and addicted. One encounter with someone offering real hope led to a total transformation. Listen as Sanele shares how his life went from addicted to delivered.

Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony.

Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

notthesame.cfm@gmail.com<

Even with a good home and two loving parents, a young girl's life was turned upside down when tragedy struck and the only solution seemed to be in empty, confusing traditions. Depression and an intense feeling of worthlessness, led to more questions than answers until a chance encounter that changed her life forever. Listen along as Kgomotso shares her story of the one person able to rescue her.

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Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

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Raised in a home of chaos and violence, Bongi yearned for a place to find refuge and belonging. Listen to her share her candid story of fighting against the odds of an unwanted future, and finding adventure (and hope) in unlikely places.

Please send me a message if there’s someone you’d like to have share their testimony.

Don't underestimate the power of a transformed life.

notthesame.cfm@gmail.com