Show Notes
Deacon Michael Nixon had a deeply troubled home life, and after a few years of homelessness, joined the Hare Krishnas at 13 and started selling drugs on the side. When he met his wife, they began a journey of spiritual exploration together, and in the most unexpected fashion, found a home in the Catholic Church, entering with their very young children. One of them, Fr. Michael Nixon, was a guest on The Journey Home in August 2025.
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Jonathan Bieler was born in Switzerland, and came from a strong Swiss Reformed Church background, with multiple family members who had served in ministry; Jonathan even pursued studies in hopes of possibly becoming a pastor himself.
Pierce Benefield came from an Evangelical Christian family in Georgia, and got some good Bible basics from the Christian school he went to as a kid. As a young man, he became more serious about his faith, and began to explore Calvinism, and even briefly considered becoming a pastor.
Cary Klivan grew up Jewish in Brooklyn, and though he was culturally observant, he was spiritually agnostic, more along the lines of scientific materialism.
Mark DeYoung came from a Nazarene family, and was heavily involved in church. He went on to attend Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, and then began work at a Christian music station, where he also hosted the morning show.
David DeAtkine was born into a Baptist family, but they also explored Pentecostal and fundamentalist churches along the way.