2.3 The Tree

Send us Fan MailThough he grew up Buddhist, Savorn prayed to the Maker of the world during a desperate season of life as a child soldier in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime. Eventually, Savorn would meet this unknown God he prayed to and be used by Him to minister to hundreds of orphan children.Featuring the nonprofit Asia's Hope which provides family-style residential care to orphans throughout southeast Asia. Learn more about their work at asiashope.org.PersonnelChris Kuo - HostSavorn Ou - IntervieweeKristi Sturgill, Brian Grasso, Angela Tawfik - GuestAngela Tawfik - Executive ProducerAndrew Forrester - Production AssistanceMarketing and Audience Strategy - Lydia Kim

Send us Fan MailJohn's life was forever altered when he received a diagnosis as one more thing in a string of hardships. Hear his inspiring story of resilience and how he weathered these storms, rebuilt his life, and found ways to serve others like him. This is a conversation about stigma, loneliness, and connection that has implications for all of us.Featuring an interview with Molly Heacock, the COO of the nonprofit Untold which serves clients as they live lives beyond AIDS. Learn more about their work at untold.org.Washington Post article mentioned: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/05/africa-pepfar-kenya-trump-funding-cuts/ PersonnelKristi Sturgill - HostJohn Okelo - IntervieweeMolly Heacock (COO, Untold) - IntervieweeChris Kuo, Brian Grasso, Angela Tawfik - GuestAngela Tawfik - Executive ProducerAndrew Forrester - Production AssistanceMarketing and Audience Strategy - Lydia KimMusic“Night on the Dock” by Kevin MacLeod “Relaxing Acoustics” by Black Rhomb“Sailing to New Lands” by Mocha Music“Brookings” by Andrew Forrester“Night Vigil” by Kevin MacLeod“Evening Fall” by Kevin MacLeod“Newborn Life” by Kevin MacLeod“Angular” by Andrew Forrester“Mallet Machine” by Andrew Forrester“Dreamer” by Kevin MacLeod

Send us Fan MailYuliana grew up in Papua with a turbulent home life. As a little girl, she longed for her home to be a place of peace and shalom, but as a grownup, she learned that she had a role to play in bringing peace and shalom to families throughout her community... including her own.Featuring the nonprofit Mission Hope which works to bring locally led, holistic transformation to villages around the world.

Send us Fan MailAfter committing a crime that landed him in prison, Dwight Hunter's life seemed like it was over at the age of 20. From the darkness of solitary confinement to the brightness of a new life transformed by Jesus, Dwight's story demonstrates the power of redemption available to all of us.Featuring an interview with Ryan Ray, the CEO of Jobs For Life, who discusses how his nonprofit works to provide people with criminal records a second chance through employment.

Send us Fan MailAfter committing a crime that landed him in prison, Dwight Hunter's life seemed like it was over at the age of 20. From the darkness of solitary confinement to the brightness of a new life transformed by Jesus, Dwight's story demonstrates the power of redemption available to all of us.Featuring an interview with Ryan Ray, the CEO of Jobs For Life, who discusses how his nonprofit works to provide people with criminal records a second chance through employment.

Send us Fan MailFeaturing Season 1 reflections and bloopers, behind-the-scenes snapshots, Season 2 sneak peeks, and more!

Send us Fan MailJolie Sifa Kpaka quickly became the talk of the town when she dared to become the first female teacher at the Christian Bilingual University of Congo, a school run by the nonprofit Congo Initiative. Jolie had faced many hardships in her region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, including a civil war that had forced her out of her home. But now she was grappling with a different kind of challenge. Would a single choice be enough to break the status quo and bring hope to a new generation of women? To learn more about Congo Initiative and support their work, visit https://congoinitiative.org.For the full list of credits, visit https://simplecharity.org/podcast/1-9-the-whiteboard.

Send us Fan MailJust days after catching criminals on the streets of Machakos, Kenya, police officer Morris Kaberia found himself behind bars. Fellow inmates—some of whom he himself had put in prison—now ridiculed him as they passed by his cell. How had he ended up in this wretched place? And how could he get out? A curious law book, a persistent priest, and the nonprofit Justice Defenders became his tickets to freedom—and the reason he’s never left.To support the work of Justice Defenders,  visit https://www.justice-defenders.org. This episode uses sound effects from Freesound. For the full list, visit https://simplecharity.org/podcast/1-8-the-case-file.

Send us Fan MailVadim Dashko finally had everything he had dreamed for as a street boy: a wife, a home, a stable job. But then why was he still so afraid? And what was it about those people from HOPE Ukraine that was so strangely alluring? He resolved to find out, and in the process stumbled upon something that, if true, would mean he’d never have to fear again.Featuring returning guest Dr. Brian Fikkert, co-author of When Helping Hurts, who discusses holistic poverty alleviation. To learn more about HOPE International and support their work, visit https://www.hopeinternational.org.This episode uses sound effects from Freesound. For the full list, visit https://simplecharity.org/podcast/1-7-cell-phone-cases.

Send us Fan MailEvery morning, Kika Sansago would walk to her elementary school in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But one day, she never made it. Instead, she woke up in a Heal Africa hospital bed and found something there that, years later, drew her back to the same hospital—this time, to bring healing to others. But first, she would have to face the ugliness of her past. Content Warnings: Depictions of child sexual abuse and violence.To learn more about Heal Africa and support the ministry, visit https://healafrica.org.This episode uses sound effects from Freesound. For the full list, visit https://simplecharity.org/podcast/1-6-six-beaded-bracelets.