I said to myself, if I'm going to believe in the Christian faith and I have to

believe that Jesus really died for the forgiveness of all sins and that

includes mine. And so I was able to to make that transformation took a while.

I mean, you don't just go from mob guy to better guy and think, hey, that's it.

You get down on your knees, say a prayer and it's all forgiven. It wasn't that easy.

Welcome to the Jesus Calling podcast. When we face life experiences that hurt

that drastically alter the way things go, it can cut deep and cause a significant pain.

But as the Bible says in 1 Peter 2 24, he himself bore our sins on his body, on the cross,

so that we might live for righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed.

Remember that even in the most daunting of circumstances,

Jesus took your wounds as his own so that you may know peace and hope in salvation.

Our guests this week have experienced their own personal wounds.

Former Mafia member Michael Franzis shares about growing up in more than

most notorious crime families and how he himself descended into the darkness.

And ultimately, God healed every element of his past and made him a new person.

Michelle Wilbur Christensen shares the tragic story of her parents heartbreaking death

and how her and her siblings found peace in knowing that one day they'll be reunited

with them in heaven. Let's get started with Michael's story.

My name is Michael Franzis and at one time in my life, I was a soldier at Coppergain

in the Colombo Crime family, one of the five New York,

Kosenhorstrom, Mafia families.

I had a different childhood than most people out there. My dad was a very high profile figure

...