Featuring: Jeff Craigen, Transformational Coach & Speaker
Host: Shawn Whitson — The ActsSocial Podcast
Every once in a while, a conversation reminds you just how personal God’s hand is in our stories. In this moving episode of The ActsSocial Podcast, host Shawn Whitson sits down with Jeff Craigen, a transformational coach and speaker, for a deeply honest and faith-filled journey through wrongful imprisonment, chronic illness, and discovering true freedom in Christ.
What begins as a story of hardship and confinement quickly unfolds into a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness — one that inspires hope, resilience, and a renewed understanding of God’s love and light.
Wrongful Imprisonment and the Test of Faith
Jeff’s journey begins with an unimaginable challenge: being jailed in a foreign country. Fear, uncertainty, and helplessness became daily companions. “I kept thinking, I’m not going home. Something’s going to happen,” Jeff recalls.
But even in those dark circumstances, he began to see God at work. He witnessed others around him finding faith and experiencing transformation. “God doesn’t go to where everything is perfect. He goes to the lost, the broken, the dark. And He takes a light and illuminates it,” Jeff explains. This realization became a cornerstone of his faith, showing him that hope and purpose can flourish even in the bleakest situations.
Trusting God When Control Is Impossible
Even when faced with the threat of a longer prison stay due to pandemic travel restrictions, Jeff held firm in his convictions. He refused a vaccination he did not believe in but found a God-provided alternative that allowed him to return home.
He vividly recalls the tension of signing the paperwork that could either set him free or extend his imprisonment. “I could have stayed another year if I wanted to hold out, but I decided to trust God and take the step forward,” he says. This act of faith reinforced the truth of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
From Confinement to Clarity
The challenges of prison and illness taught Jeff a deeper lesson about freedom. Physical confinement mirrors the “prisons” many face in life — emotional struggles, mental blocks, or chronic health challenges. Jeff discovered that even these invisible prisons can become spaces where God works, bringing healing and wholeness.
Through these trials, Jeff realized his calling: helping others step into freedom and joy in Christ. He shares how God healed him from chronic illness and autoimmune disease, and how this personal experience equips him to guide others toward wholeness.
Transformational Coaching: Walking the Path with Others
Jeff’s coaching philosophy is rooted in lived experience. He emphasizes that wholeness and freedom are possible, even for those who have faced years of struggle or therapy without breakthroughs. “You are whole. You are complete. You are the light of the world. You are a city on a hill that cannot be hidden,” he tells his clients, encouraging them to see themselves through God’s eyes.
A key aspect of his work is helping people release control. Jeff shares the story of a friend with cancer who had spent her life supporting others to avoid being supported herself. By letting go and trusting God, she experienced true peace — a reminder that freedom often begins when we stop trying to carry burdens meant for God alone.
Everyday Moments, Divine Encounters
Jeff emphasizes that God’s work is often revealed in ordinary moments. Whether dealing with illness, trauma, or fear, God’s light can guide people toward transformation. Shawn Whitson reflects that everyone faces their own “prisons,” and Jeff’s story is a powerful illustration of how faith, surrender, and trust can turn confinement into a place of growth and freedom.
Connecting with Jeff Craigen
For those looking to learn more from Jeff or experience his coaching, he shares resources and insights on Instagram @JeffCraigen. Through stories, videos, and guidance, he helps people embrace God’s light, release limitations, and walk in freedom and wholeness.
A Message for Listeners
This episode is more than a story of hardship and perseverance; it’s an invitation to trust God in every season. Jeff Craigen’s journey — from wrongful imprisonment to spiritual awakening, from illness to coaching others toward freedom — reminds us that even in our darkest moments, there is hope, healing, and light.
“Faith isn’t about avoiding the storm,” Jeff reflects, “it’s about trusting God in the middle of it, knowing He can bring light where there is darkness.”
Whether you face physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges, Jeff’s story encourages listeners to step out of fear, release control, and embrace the transformative work God can do in their lives.
Connect with Jeff Craigen
Instagram: @JeffCraigen
Linkedin: Jeff Craigen
X: Jeff Craigen
Final Thought
“No matter how dark the situation seems, God’s light can shine in every circumstance. Trust Him, release control, and step into freedom.”
