Katrin

My husband, Joe, passed away in June of 2022 after a long battle with cancer. We were married for 35 and a half years and ran our own business before retiring. Throughout our marriage, we were inseparable, spending every day together. In 2000, Joe was diagnosed with his first cancer, and over the years, he faced a total of 10 different cancers. One of the most challenging battles was against stage 4 metastatic lung cancer in 2015, which he fought with immunotherapy and successfully overcame. However, his last cancer was MDS, an incurable blood cancer, and he also had Congestive Heart Failure. Despite all the health challenges, Joe never gave up. In addition to the cancers, he endured three heart attacks, bleeding ulcers, and Heart Bypass Surgery in the final six years of his life. Every day, for 22 years, he fought with unwavering determination, becoming an inspiration to many. When asked about how he felt, Joe would always respond, "Better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow." This simple statement reflects the strength and positive attitude he carried with him each day. Fast forward to December of last year, six months after Joe's passing. Usually, during Christmas time, I enjoy watching all the festive shows and movies. However, last year, I wasn't in the right frame of mind to do so. A friend recommended The Chosen to me, and I decided to give it a try. Every evening, I would watch an episode, and it brought me immense comfort. Going to bed each night, I felt a renewed sense of strength. The Chosen became a turning point for me in my healing journey. Earlier this year, during a Bible study, I told a friend who hadn't watched The Chosen yet, "You will LOVE Jesus...Well, of course, we already LOVE Jesus, but you will understand what I mean when you watch the series." My faith has been my anchor throughout the past 22 years and the challenging year following Joe's passing. The Chosen has also sparked a newfound interest in learning more about the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. I have already watched all three seasons three times, and I plan to start watching it again soon. Each time I watch, I discover something new that I hadn't noticed before. Saying "Thanks" to The Chosen doesn't adequately express the depth of my gratitude for the series. It served as the catalyst I needed to continue on my path of healing, bringing me to where I am today. In this picture taken in April 2022, Joe's spirit for life shines through, capturing his resilience and strength.

I remember hearing some actors from Chosen doing readings on the Hallow app during Christmas. I've always been skeptical about Christian shows and movies, assuming they were cheesy with poor acting. But then, both Netflix and Amazon Prime kept recommending it. So, I decided to give it a shot, just one episode. To my surprise, I was instantly hooked. My friends now joke that I could be a marketer for the show, given my newfound passion for it! I'm currently on my third round of watching it and even participating in a Bible study alongside.

I was born into my faith, and over time, I've grown within it, slowly but surely. I've been fortunate to experience God's grace in profound ways, which has deepened my love, devotion, and understanding of Him. Less than a year ago, I stumbled upon The Chosen and decided to give it a shot. From the first episode of the first season, I was captivated. I devoured all three seasons in just three days. The joy and love for Christ, Scripture, and our shared history that this show has sparked in me is beyond words. I've watched it multiple times, and I'm still discovering new details and nuances. In my 80 years, I've never felt such enthusiasm for Christ and the Bible as I have in these past few months, thanks to The Chosen. The show, along with its round table discussions, podcasts, and specials, has been a gift. I only wish I could contribute more financially to the completion of all seven seasons. If God calls me home before I get to experience them all, know that my prayers will continue. I pray that His grace will reach over a billion people through The Chosen, a healing balm for our hurting, broken world.

At 68 years old, I've always considered myself a good person, but I never really followed my Catholic faith. When I got engaged to a Jewish man, he insisted that I convert if we were to get married. Tearfully, I agreed and raised our four children in the Jewish faith, feeling like I had betrayed God and turned my back on Jesus. Eventually, the marriage ended and I returned to my faith, but I hadn't been to confession in years. I tried to be better, but my relationship with Jesus felt distant. The movies I had seen about him portrayed him as constantly reverent, which didn't feel realistic. One day, while I was home sick, I decided to watch some TV. The Chosen caught my eye, so I started binge-watching the episodes. The moment I saw Peter drop to his knees, crying out to Jesus, "Depart from me. You don't know what I've done," it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was as if my entire life flashed before my eyes, and I saw every hurt I had caused others through my thoughts, words, and actions. It was a wake-up call like no other. I couldn't get enough of the episodes and I've watched them countless times, always finding a new message each time. I couldn't stop talking about the series either. I started sharing DVD sets of seasons 1, 2, and 3 with places I thought could benefit from them, like our local prison, the veteran's home, a home for victims of domestic abuse, the Methodist outreach center, and even our local library. One of the best moments was when two young men from the Latter Day Saints came to my door to share their beliefs, but I ended up talking about The Chosen instead. They left with the DVDs, and they seemed really excited about it! Now, I'm on my church's Parish Council, and we've started showing an episode of The Chosen once a week, followed by a discussion. I've also made it a habit to set aside time in the morning and at bedtime to talk to God and thank Him for everything He has done for me. I was truly a lost sheep, but I am so grateful for The Chosen. Jonathan Roumie's portrayal of Jesus opened my heart and soul, allowing me to move forward in my faith with hope and love.