Story Behind

Paul and Jeane Briggs never planned on having a mega-family, but over nearly 50 years, their family grew to 37 children, including 32 adopted children and five biological children. Guided by prayer and a willingness to welcome children in need, the West Virginia couple built a remarkable legacy of adoption, faith, and love that has even inspired the next generation of their family. Listen For: How Paul and Jeane Briggs went from raising a few children to becoming parents of 37 Why prayer guided the couple as they welcomed adopted children from around the world How adoption transformed the life of their son Joseph after years in a Ukrainian orphanage How the Briggs family's example inspired their oldest daughter to build an adoptive family of her own To see photos and video from both stories, visit GodUpdates: https://www.godtube.com/blog/couple-raises-37-kids-love-faith-purpose.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/city-employee-saves-baby-abandoned-street.html Tags: adoption story, family of 37, adoptive family, Christian adoption, faith and family, children in need, answered prayer, faith in action, God’s purpose Enjoyed this episode? Get more stories of hope delivered weekly, sign up for The Good Word, our free newsletter: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Two families living 3,000 miles apart discovered that their adopted daughters, Olivia Coogle and Emaline Ricketts, were actually identical twins after one mother spotted an unmistakable resemblance in a photo shared by an adoption group. Separated after being left at the same orphanage in China, the sisters reunited at just 22 months old and, now 20, have remained close despite growing up on opposite sides of the country, a reunion their family calls a miracle. Listen For: How one photograph led two adoptive families to discover their daughters were identical twins The extraordinary circumstances that separated Olivia and Emaline in China The emotional airport reunion when the twins were just 22 months old How the sisters stayed connected across 3,000 miles as they grew up To see photos and video from both stories, visit GodUpdates: https://www.godtube.com/blog/adopted-children-are-identical-twins.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/two-time-cancer-survivors-find-lasting-love.html Tags: identical twins separated at birth, adopted identical twins, adoption story, twins reunited, China adoption, family reunion, miracle, faith story, God’s plan Enjoyed this episode? Get more stories of hope delivered weekly, sign up for The Good Word, our free newsletter: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A Yellowstone bison attack left 65-year-old Carl McDaniel with a femur broken in four places after the animal charged and threw him roughly eight feet into the air as he tried to draw it away from his 13-year-old grandson. Though the bison stood over him and could have attacked again, Carl survived, underwent surgery, and was taking his first steps in physical therapy just days later, a close call he and others see as a powerful reminder of God’s mercy and protection. Listen For: How a peaceful Yellowstone wildlife encounter suddenly turned into a terrifying bison attack Why Carl told his grandson to run while he tried to draw the charging bison away The remarkable moment the bison stood over Carl but did not attack again How a witness stepped in to help, and Carl began walking again just days after surgery To see photos and video from both stories, visit GodUpdates: https://www.godtube.com/blog/man-thrown-8-feet-air-bison-yellowstone.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/curious-bear-climbs-into-colorado-mans-truck.html Tags: Yellowstone bison attack, bison attack video, Yellowstone National Park, wildlife encounter, grandfather saves grandson, survival story, God’s protection, miracle, faith story Enjoyed this episode? Get more stories of hope delivered weekly, sign up for The Good Word, our free newsletter: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

An 84-year-old train manager in the U.K. has never quit doing what he loves. Bob Carpenter is one of London’s oldest train managers. AND Seniors in Tennessee had a fun day on the slip-and-slide, one they will never forget. Who says summer fun has an age limit? To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates! https://www.godtube.com/blog/84-year-old-train-manager.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/seniors-on-a-slip-and-slide.html Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Pensarn Beach in Abergele, Conwy, Wales. Tamika Hezzell, 12, Sofia-Ann McKenna, 14, and their friend, 12-year-old Ruby Wilikins, were swimming when the tide pulled them out too far from the beach. AND A 12-year-old boy is recovering after a shark attack thanks to his brother’s quick thinking. To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates! https://www.godtube.com/blog/12-year-old-saves-friend.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/saved-brother-after-shark-attack.html Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What began as a routine call along a Wisconsin interstate became the start of an unexpected friendship neither of them saw coming. AND For Kathryn Woessner, 68, what began as an ordinary drive turned into three terrifying days trapped in mud near her van in rural Minnesota. To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates! https://www.godtube.com/blog/state-trooper-adopts-kitten.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/friends-find-woman-stuck-in-mud.html Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Four babies are a lot to bring into one family, but that’s what happened to this Texas clan. AND That’s the thing about dads, they’re our heroes from the moment we take our first breath, and they will move mountains to make our dreams come true. To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates! https://www.godtube.com/blog/sisters-give-birth-to-twin-boys.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/father-promised-to-walk-her-down-the-aisle.html Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What began with a Pop-Tart, a FaceTime call, and plans for an ordinary summer morning became a life-saving act of kindness neither boy will ever forget. AND For 14-year-old Cody Aliff of Wilson, North Carolina, what started as a duck hunting trip with his 20-year-old brother, Hunter, and their father quickly became a fight for Hunter's life. To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates! https://www.godtube.com/blog/teens-save-elderly-woman.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/teen-saves-older-brother.html Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In one terrifying moment, a father went from answering emergencies for strangers to racing toward the one call he prayed he'd never receive—his own daughter's. AND When a first responder in Miami-Dade County, Florida, lost his wife to a rare form of cancer, his community made sure he felt their support. To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates! https://www.godtube.com/blog/father-saves-daughter-after-crash.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/community-supports-firefighter.html Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Everyone loves The Sound of Music, and many different venues perform it, even all these years later. It is truly a classic. AND When a Massachusetts ice cream truck owner noticed a little boy wanted a sweet treat but could not pay, the ice cream shop offered him a scoop of kindness. To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates! https://www.godtube.com/blog/sound-of-music-granddaughter.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/ice-cream-shop-offers-kindness.html Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.