Podcast Summary: GPS: God. People. Stories. – "Four Inspiring Stories for Reflecting on Advent"
Host: Jim Kirkland (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
Episode Date: December 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This special Christmas Eve episode revisits four powerful personal stories exemplifying the Advent themes: hope, peace, joy, and love. Through the experiences of a former street child, a military chaplain, a recovered hippie, and a grateful orphan, listeners reflect on Christ’s transformative impact and the true meaning of Christmas.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Advent Themes Framed Through Personal Stories

• The episode centers on four real-life faith journeys, each aligning with a core Advent theme:
  • Hope (Peter Mutabazi)
  • Peace (General Douglas Carver)
  • Joy (Mitch Glaser)
  • Love (Veronica Miranda)
• Host Jim Kirkland introduces the purpose: "Each carries a theme of the Advent season. Hope, peace, joy and love." (00:59)

2. Hope: Peter Mutabazi's Journey from Streets to Serving Others

• Background: Ran away from home at 11, lived on the streets of Kampala, Uganda.
• Challenges: Felt dehumanized, believing he was “useless…nobody.” (02:07)
• Turning Point: Met Masiko, who provided both physical sustenance and hope.
  • “Somehow he saw a kid, said ‘No matter how far he is, no matter what he looks or where he’s been,…I would like to help this kid.’” – Peter Mutabazi (02:44)
• Transformation: Became part of Masiko’s family, exposed for the first time to Christian faith and loving fatherhood.
• Redemption: Accepted Jesus as Savior, now a foster parent himself, reminding foster children:
  • “[Christ] was the nobody that nobody wanted. Like he was born in a manger…Meaning he didn’t really have much…He was born for you. That you and I can inherit God’s kingdom.” (04:32)

3. Peace: General Douglas Carver’s Calm in Chaos

• Background: Retired Chief of Chaplains, US Army, served during the Iraq war.
• Crisis: Under missile attacks, found miraculous inner peace while praying in a bunker.
  • “I wanted the troops to look into my eyes and not see fear. I wanted them to see peace and comfort and strength...” (05:41)
• Christmas in Combat: Spent Christmas 2003 in Mosul at a diverse interfaith service, then at midnight mass during a mortar attack.
• Memorable Experience:
  • “…the concussion was so strong that candles on the altar were flickering like they were going to go out. And here we are standing there worshiping the Lord... even though you’re in the middle of combat…these services were so important.” (07:17)

4. Joy: Mitch Glaser’s Unexpected Encounter

• Background: Once described himself as a “drugged out Jewish hippie.” (08:32)
• Journey to Faith: Friends became Christians, curiosity grew, prayed for a sign:
  • “God, if you’re really there, show me and show me how I’m supposed to get to you...” (08:53)
• Divine Coincidence: Found a plain-English New Testament at a phone booth after praying.
• Revelation: Discovered Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, as prophesied.
  • “I had no idea Jesus was absolutely Jewish. And he claimed to be the Jewish Messiah in fulfillment of the prophecies...” (09:52)
• New Life: Accepted Christ, left drugs behind, discovered profound joy.
  • “I was cleansed, and I felt joy. It sounds almost cliche-ish, but it really happened to me...I felt like a different man.” (11:11)

5. Love: Veronica Miranda’s Operation Christmas Child Moment

• Background: Grew up in a Christian orphanage in Mexico.
• Misconceptions: Saw Christmas as about gifts and fun, not Jesus. (12:20)
• Moving Gift: Received an Operation Christmas Child box with a heartfelt card:
  • “‘Merry Christmas. You have a family that loves you and is praying for you.’ And when I read those words, I just started crying.” (13:29)
• Healing & Community: Comforted by her director, accepted love from those around her.
• New Mission: Now shares Christ’s love with others, especially at Christmas:
  • “That gives us so much opportunity to minister in love... show your community that you are there, that you do see them and that they’re loved.” (14:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Christmas tells us what it cost God to save the world. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Christ is God’s great Christmas gift to the world.” – Billy Graham (01:04)
• “I remember sitting there praying, asking God to forgive me of every sin I’d committed or forgotten to admit…and I wanted the troops to see peace and comfort and strength.” – General Douglas Carver (05:41)
• “I prayed that prayer in the morning. Then at night...I find a New Testament in modern English.” – Mitch Glaser (08:53)
• “We’re your family too, and we love you. And I just knew in my heart in that moment that that gift was sent specifically for me.” – Veronica Miranda (13:41)
• “May this become the first genuine and real Christmas that they’ve ever spent…to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Billy Graham (16:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment/Theme | Speaker | Timestamp | | -----------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------| | Opening Remarks & Advent Overview | Jim Kirkland | 00:00–01:04 | | Billy Graham on the Gift of Christmas | Billy Graham | 01:04–01:17 | | Story of Hope: Peter Mutabazi | Peter Mutabazi/Jim Kirkland| 02:07–05:06 | | Story of Peace: Gen. Douglas Carver| Douglas Carver/Jim Kirkland| 05:06–07:49 | | Story of Joy: Mitch Glaser | Mitch Glaser/Jim Kirkland | 08:32–11:45 | | Story of Love: Veronica Miranda | Veronica Miranda/Jim Kirkland |12:20–14:46| | Billy Graham’s Prayer | Billy Graham |16:00–16:53 |

Conclusion: Universal Message of Advent

Jim Kirkland summarizes:
“Whether you’re in need of hope, peace, joy, love, or all of the above, that’s exactly what Jesus Christ offers you and exactly why he came to earth.” (14:46)

Billy Graham’s closing:
“There must come a point in your life when you accept and appropriate his great Christmas gift. This is what Christmas is all about.” (16:07)

Tone & Style:
The podcast is heartfelt, hopeful, and conversational, interweaving raw testimonies with biblical hope, aiming to uplift and encourage listeners at Christmas.

If you wish to learn more about starting a relationship with Jesus, visit findpeacewithgod.net.

This summary captures the core stories and takeaways, providing a rich, authentic experience for those unable to listen to the full episode.