Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 04/07/25

The power of faith and resilience. In a new generation edition of his book No Bad Days: Turning Your Biggest Challenges Into Your Greatest Opportunities, young entrepreneur, philanthropist, podcaster and inspirational speaker JT Mestdagh chronicles how he overcame extreme challenges through the strength and guidance of his personal faith.

JWK: You were born with VACTERL syndrome and faced hundreds of surgeries from a very young age. Can you describe that experience and how it affected you growing up?

JT Mestdagh: Yes, at birth I was born with VACTERL syndrome which is a birth defect that compromises your GI system from top to bottom. This meant that I had a colostomy for the first few years of my life and had to have my colon re-sectioned.  Another aspect of VACTERL syndrome is spinal cord challenges so I had two tethered spinal cord repairs in my young, adolescent years.

Although I was faced with these medical challenges, I was blessed to live a very normal life because my parents did not allow my medical differences to determine how I lived everyday life. This allowed me to grow up experiencing everything I wanted to try.

JWK: On top of that, you also have struggled with dyslexia. How did that complicate your already complicated life?

JTM: Well, for me and my family, the medical came first and foremost. But there became a time in my life in 5^th grade that I realized just how much I was struggling with reading and writing.  One day,  I came home from school crying after the Headmaster told me I was not keeping up with all the other students.  That’s when I told my parents that all I wanted to be able to do was read and write like every other kid.  I think that the good Lord puts obstacles in our lives, like this, to open up new doors for greater opportunities….because now I am an author!

JWK: Despite everything, you’ve accomplished some amazing things – like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and racing through the Grand Canyon. Tell me about those experiences and how they helped shape your perspective?

JTM: Doing these extreme sporting events have shaped my perspective in a very positive way. Getting out into nature and challenging myself is what brings me great joy and helps me grow in my relationship with the Lord.  I need to lean on Him to get me through the challenges, both physically and mentally.  Through these adventures, I have found that I don’t only love doing them for myself but I also love to use them to raise funds to help others through my foundation.  I think that anything that challenges you, helps shape your perspective on the world around you.

JWK: How did you develop and maintain your positive outlook in facing the challenges that have faced you – and how important is it to do so?

JTM: Through my faith, I developed my positive outlook to overcome the challenges that I faced. With my relationship with the Lord, I know that I can do all things through Him.

JWK: Your book is titled “No Bad Days.” Why that title? Do you literally have no bad days?

JTM: After my tethered cord surgery, I told my dad that there are no bad days, only hard days, and we get through those with the good Lord. This became a life motto for our family and myself and I’ve continued to get through those hard days knowing that there are going to be challenges in life but I can always overcome whatever comes my way.

JWK: What would you say is the key factor in turning adversity into opportunity?

JTM: A positive attitude is the best way to get through adversity in life. It is also important to have a solid tribe of people in your life to continue to motivate you to overcome adversity.

JWK: You founded the JT Mestdagh Foundation to raise money for children’s charities and support families in need. Can you share a bit more about this foundation and its mission?

JTM: I started my foundation after I saw and heard stories of kids whose insurance did not cover the costs of their medical supplies.  Their parents had to choose paying for heat and groceries instead of paying for supplies which caused more illness for the kids. This is obviously a very difficult situation for families and my hope is to help with that burden.

JWK: What do you hope readers take from your story? How can they apply your story to their own lives?

JTM: A major takeaway is the importance of giving young adults the space to share their stories. By doing so, you not only foster trust but also encourage them to open up about their greatest challenges. This is an essential tool in building your tribe and creating meaningful connections in your life.
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America was no accident. In anticipation of he 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Heroic Pictures and Fathom Entertainment have  set June 9, 10, and 11 for a special nationwide release of The American Miracle – Our Nation is No Accident. The docudrama, inspired by the New York Times bestselling book by Michael Medved puts forth the notion that a Divine Hand guided America’s founding and path becoming a beacon of freedom for the entire world. The film (featuring Pat Boone, Kevin Sorbo, Cameron Arnett and Libby Smallbone) takes audiences on a journey through some of the most pivotal moments in early U.S. history, including seemingly impossible victories of the Revolutionary War. Historians and scholars offering their insights include Joseph Ellis, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert P. George, Akhil Reed Amar, Paul Kengor and Jana Novak.

According to Medved, “Many of the Founding Fathers were not conventionally religious but they deeply believed in what Washington, in his first inaugural address called, ‘The Invisible Hand,’ which was the hand of God in human affairs.”

Executive Producer, Ralf W. Augstroze adds “This film is a story about the birth of our nation, our foundational years and the men and women who were instrumental during those years…They all believed deeply in the divine hand of providence in America’s creation, and we are bringing that history back to the forefront.”

Producer Douglas B. Maddox asserts that “With the upcoming 250th Anniversary of America, this is the perfect time to release this film…We’re inviting Americans to rediscover their roots and the true history of our nation. We hope viewers of the film will be surprised and deeply moved by what they see.

Director and Executive Producer  Timothy P. Mahoney notes that “A strong theme in the film is gratitude for God and His divine providence, which we should never take for granted…A lot of other nations look to America and wonder, ‘what is it that makes America what it is?’ The American Miracle clearly communicates that our freedoms and liberties don’t come from a government or person; they come from a higher power – they come from God. It is in God that we trust.”

Tickets for The American Miracle – Our Nation is No Accident  will be available beginning May 2 at fathomentertainment.com and participating theater box offices. For more information visit: AmericanMiracleMovie.com.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.