Newsmakers

'Real Housewives' Star Turns to Jesus: 'God Has Transformed My Life'

When one thinks about Bravo's "The Real Housewives" franchise, many things likely come to mind. But "Jesus-loving" and "Christian" generally aren't two of the first descriptors to materialize. Yet Lydia McLaughlin, who formerly starred on "The Real Housewives of Orange County," fully embraces these titles, and openly shares her faith with the masses.  In fact, McLaughlin, who left the show in 2018, recently released a book, "JoyFull: 365 Daily Devotions for Women," aimed at helping women get closer to Jesus. The title of the book has much to do with McLaughlin's own life and demeanor. "My time in the spotlight — on 'Housewives,' I was known for being a happy housewife ... being someone [who has] a lot of joy," she told CBN's Faithwire. "I just believe in the joy that comes from the Lord."  McLaughlin pointed to the Apostle Paul's writings on the subject of joy, paraphrasing Paul's words in Philippians 4. "Paul wrote, 'I have learned to be content,'" she said. "Joy is something that we can learn to do even if it's not something that comes natural to us." McLaughlin acknowledged joy comes more naturally to some than it does others — and explained how life circumstances can complicate people's quest for peace. Yet even in the midst of the storm, she believes it's possible to cling to hope and experience joy.  "I've had the hardest year," McLaughlin said of her own journey. "My mom's been sick, and even in the midst of hardship and trial, no one can steal my joy because the joy comes from the Lord. And that is everlasting, and that is never changing." Watch McLaughlin discuss how she ended up on "Housewives," how she came to Christ, and why her faith matters to her so deeply.

Iran War Rages: Man Reveals Past Escape From Brutal Regime

On this episode of Newsmakers, we go behind three major headlines shaping faith and culture. First, Shah Ahmadi of Iran Alive Ministries shares his powerful story of fleeing Iran — and what’s really happening inside the Islamic Republic. As tensions rise in the Middle East, his firsthand perspective offers sobering insight and hope. Then, surgeon and author Dr. Raymond Wiggins breaks down the growing body of research surrounding marijuana use. Are today’s legalization narratives ignoring serious health risks? He unpacks the studies and challenges the myths. Finally, Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, joins us to respond to controversy surrounding her recent comments on the death penalty — tackling one of the most complex moral debates in America today. For over 20 years, CBN has beamed life-giving Farsi broadcasts into Iran despite internet shutdowns. Now, with war erupting across the country today and civilians facing mass displacement and suffering, CBN is ready to deliver prayer support, emergency food, humanitarian aid, and the hope of Jesus to families whose lives have been upended by conflict.

Man Claims He Died, Met Jesus and Returned: Randy Kay's Incredible NDE

Author Randy Kay says he’s seen heaven — and it’s an experience he still gets emotional recounting. It all happened years ago when Kay experienced a medical emergency. He recalled waking up in the middle of the night with a swollen calf after a business trip — something he initially ignored. “I could barely walk, went for a bike ride of all things, which I should not have done because that exacerbated the problem,” he told Billy Hallowell and Jen Lilley on their “Into the Supernatural” podcast. “I went up the coast of San Diego ... on the bicycle and could barely breathe. My calf was about one and a half times its size.” At first, he thought he was experiencing asthma, but soon realized it was something else entirely. By the time he reached his doctor’s office, he collapsed and ended up in the emergency room. And things went from bad to worse from there. “The ER physician said that I was a walking dead man because I had let this go so long,” Kay said. “By the time I had made it into the emergency room, I had seven clots, one near my heart, six that were blocking the pulmonary artery, which is the main blood flow to the lungs.” Already struggling to survive, Kay ended up contracting Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which got into his bloodstream. Suddenly, he was clinically dead, but rather than being overtaken by darkness and nothingness, Kay experienced something he’ll never forget. “Immediately, my body went still, and, initially, it felt like a tugging at my hospital gown,” he said. “And, later, I would come to realize that that was my spirit leaving my body, and then I became a third party to my body. So, I was looking down this still body I knew that was my body, but that wasn't me.” Kay said he was suddenly “in a different place.” He found himself moving up to a new location. Watch his experience — and see the full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG3bqRLfpyw&t=58s ⁠⁠⁠Watch the weekly "Newsmakers" TV show each week on CBN News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the weekly "Newsmakers" TV show on CBN's YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download the free CBN News App⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Angels, Demons, and Evil: Ephesians 6 and What's Really Driving Chaos

Are angels and demons real? Does evil impact the world around us? Billy Hallowell and Raj Nair preview the new CBN documentary "Investigating the Supernatural: Angels and Demons" and discuss the importance of understanding spiritual warfare.

'Very Surreal': Miracle Heals Man Who Couldn't Eat For His Entire Life

Christopher Gunderson spent the first 16 years of his life unable to eat and in desperate need of medical intervention for survival. But Gunderson, who was born with chronic pseudo-obstruction syndrome — an ailment in which the gastrointestinal tracts can't appropriately absorb food — experienced a miracle that changed everything. Here's his story. ⁠⁠Watch the weekly "Newsmakers" TV show each week on CBN News⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Watch the weekly "Newsmakers" TV show on CBN's YouTube channel⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Download the free CBN News App⁠⁠