Holy Wreckage

The Danger of Cultural Christianity: When You Know About God But Don’t Know Jesus

D. Scott Smith grew up with just enough Christianity to think he was fine. Church was familiar. God was familiar. The language was familiar. Christmas and Easter counted. Being American meant being Christian. But underneath the surface, there was no real surrender, no personal relationship with Jesus, and no understanding of the gift of salvation. It was cultural Christianity — the kind that can make you feel safe while your soul is still asleep. Scott didn’t have the kind of testimony people expect. No addiction spiral. No dramatic collapse. No obvious wreckage everyone could point to. He was a good student. A good kid. The outside looked solid. But inside, he describes it as “internal dry rot” — the beam looked fine, but there was no structure underneath. Apathy, anger, and spiritual emptiness were eating away at what religion could never fix. Then Jesus made it personal. In this episode of Holy Wreckage, Scott shares how God pulled him out of cultural Christianity and into real faith. He talks about growing up around religion, watching God radically change someone close to him, and finally realizing that knowing about Jesus is not the same as belonging to Him. This conversation goes deep into the danger of being spiritually inoculated — having just enough Christianity to feel covered, but not enough surrender to be transformed. Scott also shares how God brought order into his life, why structure matters, and how learning to seek the face of God instead of only His hand changed the way he sees faith, purpose, and the kingdom of God right here in the middle of this broken world. Please consider donating toward Holy Wreckage 👉 https://holywreckage.com/donate/ Thank you for watching, listening, subscribing, and sharing these stories of wreckage, redemption, and the God who still restores. Production Credits Testimony by D. Scott Smith Hosted by Crystal Dunaway Edited by Matt Sarmiento Produced by Holy Wreckage Recorded in Riverside 🎙️ Guest: D. Scott Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dscottsmith Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessnetworkingtips/ Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/d_scott Website: Confirm before posting — the website link provided appears to redirect to LinkedIn. 📬 Connect with Holy Wreckage Website: https://holywreckage.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@holywreckage Instagram: https://instagram.com/holywreckage Facebook: https://facebook.com/holywreckage TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@holywreckage Prayer Requests: https://tally.so/r/Np5Xvj Share Your Story: https://tally.so/r/MeKNPA Donate: https://holywreckage.com/donate/  #CulturalChristianity #ChristianTestimony #FaithJourney #RealFaith #SurrenderToJesus #PersonalRelationshipWithJesus #KnowingJesus #JesusChangedMyLife #ChristianPodcast #ChristianYouTube #FaithOverReligion #SpiritualAwakening #GodsGrace #KingdomOfGod #SeekGodsFace #ChristianEncouragement #TestimonyTuesday #RedemptionStory #FaithAndPurpose #HolyWreckage

How God Rebuilt Her Identity After a Traumatic Brain Injury | Amanda Maddox Testimony | E11

Most women carry invisible wreckage from their past — but what if your greatest mess becomes your most powerful message? Amanda Maddox’s story of trauma, faith, and transformation reveals the extraordinary power of trusting God through life’s darkest moments. After surviving a devastating car accident and suffering a traumatic brain injury, Amanda thought her life was over. Instead, God used her pain to redefine her purpose, healing her mind, heart, and identity along the way. In this raw and inspiring episode, you’ll hear how Amanda’s journey from chaos to clarity unlocked a profound understanding of who she is in Christ. We break down her battles with memory loss, hallucinations, aphasia, and feelings of worthlessness—showing that wounds don’t have to define us. You’ll discover how her faith grew stronger amid the storm, and how trusting God's process can turn your wreckage into a testimony of grace. Amanda shares her transition from a high school dropout, teenage mother, and EMT to a woman awakening to her divine calling. She explores the lessons learned from materialism, shame, and identity, and why God often allows fire to burn off everything that’s not His best for us. Her story uncovers powerful frameworks like the “Invisible Path” of trust—comparing it to stepping stones over a cliff—and reminds us that surrendering control is where true healing begins. This episode isn’t just about surviving trauma—it's about thriving through it. If you’re feeling lost in your own wreckage, Amanda’s story will ignite hope and show you how to find your purpose in God's restoration. Perfect for anyone wrestling with shame, identity, or the fear that their pain is too great to be redeemed—this is your reminder that with God, your story is still being written. Amanda Maddox is a powerhouse of faith and healing, whose journey through brain injury and spiritual renewal has inspired countless others to trust in God's transformative love. Her upcoming book, “I Am Who I Am in the Great I Am,” shares her journey in detail and aims to help women everywhere embrace their worth, find their voice, and walk confidently in Christ. If you’ve ever felt like giving up, this episode will remind you that your wreckage is the foundation God will use to build something beautiful. Your story matters, your scars are sacred, and your divine purpose is waiting just on the other side of surrender. Hit play and discover how your greatest mess can become your most powerful testimony of faith and victory. #FaithJourney #BrainInjuryRecovery #ChristianInspiration #HealingThroughFaith #PurposeInPain

The Faceless Man: From Hollywood to Redemption | John David Gregory | E10

Who does the world want you to be today? In this powerful episode of Holy Wreckage, Crystal sits down with actor, author, veteran, and speaker John David Gregory to talk about the story behind his memoir, The Faceless Man. John David shares how years of hidden pain, identity struggles, addiction, trauma, performance, and chasing acceptance left him exhausted and divided inside. But God met him there and called him into truth, healing, and redemption. From Kentucky to Hollywood, from childhood abuse to sexual identity confusion, from male dancing, drugs, and destructive detours to surrendering fully to Christ, John David opens up with raw honesty about the cost of becoming who the world wants you to be. He talks about how his book was born in a holy moment of obedience, and how God used his wreckage to begin reaching others who feel lost, ashamed, stuck, or unseen. This conversation gets to the heart of identity. Not the kind built on roles, titles, appearance, success, or survival, but the kind forged through redemption. John David shares the question that once drove his life: Who does the world need me to be today? And this episode turns that question back on every listener: Who does the world want you to be today? You will also hear: -how God prompted him to finally write The Faceless Man -why hidden pain and unconfessed shame keep people trapped -the danger of detours that feel exciting at first but slowly destroy you -why men especially struggle to talk about pain, weakness, and healing -what it means that God calls the unqualified and uses broken people for His glory -encouragement for anyone afraid to step into what God is asking them to do This episode is for the person who is tired of performing, hiding, pretending, or shaping themselves around everyone else’s expectations. It is for the one who has lived with secrets, shame, addiction, confusion, or regret. And it is for anyone who needs the reminder that redemption is still possible. Question to reflect on: Who does the world want you to be today? Maybe the better question is: Who is God calling you to be? Connect with John David Gregory: Website: johndavidgregory.com Book: The Faceless Man YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnDavidGregory-AList

Stage 4 Cancer Miracle; Russ Hedge Shares a Tragic Accident, Loss, and Cancer | E9

In this powerful episode of Holy Wreckage, Crystal sits down with inspirational speaker, marketing coach, and author Russ Hedge. Russ shares his incredible testimony of surviving a near-fatal car accident at age 19, walking through the heartbreaking journey of dementia and cancer with his parents, and his own miraculous healing from Stage 4 melanoma. Through it all, Russ maintains an unshakable faith and a positive perspective, reminding us that while life happens, we always get to choose how we respond. Resources Mentioned: Russ mentions several resources and concepts that have shaped his journey. You can find his book, Life Happens and Then You Choose, as well as his YouTube series on his channels. He also discusses the concept of "The Divine Equation" by Chip Ingram. Connect with Russ Hedge: You can connect with Russ Hedge by visiting his website at russhedge.com. There, you will find links to his books, podcast, marketing coaching, and speaking engagements. www.russhedge.com Connect with Holy Wreckage: Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform. Leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement today! www.holywreckage.com

What God Says About Mental Health, Addiction, and Healing Your Body | E8

What does the Bible say about mental health, addiction, emotional healing, and physical health? In this episode of Holy Wreckage, Dr. Laurette Willis shares how God brings healing to the mind and body through surrender, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit. Dr. Laurette shares her personal testimony of being delivered from alcoholism, smoking, compulsive overeating, and New Age practices, and explains why lasting freedom is not about willpower alone, but about surrender, sanctification, and the power of God working in us. Together, Crystal and Dr. Laurette discuss mental health, emotional regulation, journaling, cravings, addiction recovery, Christian wellness, and what the Bible says about healing your body and mind. If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, emotional eating, anxiety, self-destructive patterns, lack of peace, or feeling trapped in your own mind, this conversation will point you back to the hope, truth, and healing found in Jesus Christ. In this episode, we talk about: * what God says about mental health * what God says about physical health * Christian recovery from addiction * healing from emotional eating and food cravings * renewing your mind with Scripture * the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification * journaling, emotions, and nervous system regulation * biblical truth for healing the mind and body * surrendering destructive habits to God * finding freedom from chaos, guilt, and shame Dr. Laurette also shares practical tools for: * overcoming cravings * processing emotions in a healthy way * replacing toxic thoughts with biblical truth * building healthy habits through faith * pursuing Christian health and wellness without shame This episode is for anyone looking for Christian help for addiction, biblical encouragement for mental health, faith-based healing for emotional struggles, and God’s truth about caring for your body. Find more resources at holywreckage.com/resources #ChristianMentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #BiblicalHealing #EmotionalHealing #FaithAndWellness #ChristianPodcast #HolyWreckage #RenewYourMind #FoodAddiction #MentalHealthAndFaith