Ted was born with Cerebral Palsy. His mother left him at the hospital because they told her that he would not make it through the night. He was bounced around in foster care and spent a few months with his family, but ultimately was placed in long term care. Ted felt valued and loved when he was in the care of his foster parents. They called him their son and treated him like one of their own. Told that he would never walk, they invested in the belief that he would… and he eventually did. But, when a custody battle resulted in him moving back home, his life turned upside down.

New Years Eve is a very special time in the Claus family. It was on that night many years ago that the family gathered together around the radio and heard something that would change their lives forever. Listen as Tom reflects on the significance of that day and what it means to him after all these years.  Join us for this annual retelling of this Storyteller classic.

Soapy is a Mescalero Apache who was abandoned at birth and raised on a ranch for homeless and delinquent boys. As an orphan, his memories and perspective on Christmas are different than most, yet they are good. The significance that God and His greatest gift has had on Soapy’s life is not lost on him… and he loves to tell about it.

Mae shares her story of faith and recounts what it was like to grow up in a remote village of Alaska. Born in the village of Unalakleet before modern conveniences reached that far, she was aquainted with the ruggedness of life in the north. Fishing and berry picking weren’t recreational, they were essential to living. She has good memories of life there. And it was there in the village where she met the most important person in her life… who is still with her today.

Herman shares how he was bewitched by a medicine man. He became very ill and the doctors could find nothing wrong with him. Then came the singing and drumming from inside the walls of his home. After that, it didn’t take long to figure out what was going on… and what to do about it.

Herman’s trip off the rez – which was only supposed to be for two months – has turned into an epic journey of life transformation. God had a plan for Herman’s life. It was filled with purpose and adventure.