“Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache”

by Zach Clinton | Granger Smith

Original Air Date: 3/25/2025
Topics: Faith
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After stepping away from a 24-year career as an award-winning country music singer-songwriter, Granger Smith’s heart is now fully devoted to ministry, walking alongside those navigating grief and unimaginable hardships. In this vulnerable conversation with Zach Clinton, he shares the moment that forever changed his and his wife Amber’s lives. If you’ve experienced loss, we pray that the same truths that sustained Granger and his family through their darkest days will bring you hope and strength as well.

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About Dr. Tim Clinton
and Dr. Zach Clinton

Tim Clinton, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT, is President of The American Association of Christian Counselors, (AACC), the world’s largest and most diverse Christian counseling organization, with over 50,000 active members and students. He also serves as Executive Director of the Global Center for Mental Health, Addiction, and Recovery and Professor Emeritus at Liberty University. Dr. Clinton previously served as co-host of the Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk nationally syndicated radio program, from 2018 to 2023. Dr. Clinton hosts a weekend television news talk program, Sunday The Road Forward, which airs on Real America’s Voice News Network and is available across numerous streaming platforms. Licensed as a professional counselor and as a marriage and family therapist, Dr. Clinton is recognized as an expert on mental health and relationship issues and spends much of his time working with Christian leaders and professional athletes.

Dr. Clinton has authored or edited nearly 30 books, including Take It Back: Reclaiming Biblical Masculinity, and Focus on the Future: Your Family, Your Faith, and Your Voice Matter Now More Than Ever. Tim has been married for over 44 years to his wife, Julie, and together they have two children, Megan (married to Ben) and Zach (married to Evelyn), and two granddaughters, Olivia and Sophia, who have stolen their hearts.

Dr. Zach Clinton, Ph.D., serves as Vice President of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), the world’s largest and most diverse Christian counseling organization. He is the Host of the renowned Built Different Podcast as well as President and Host of Ignite Men’s Ministry and Conferences. Dr. Zach is also a Licensed Professional Counseling Resident at Light Counseling as well as an athletic counselor specializing in sport and performance psychology at Liberty University. As a former Division 1 college baseball player, Dr. Clinton loves working with professional & collegiate athletes and enjoys speaking into the lives of today’s generations as he has a deep passion for helping people build self-esteem, emotion regulation, leadership qualities, and perspective shifts. He has dedicated his life to reminding people that no matter how dark, difficult, or painful life can be, they are never out of the fight! He is the author of Even If and is currently working on his next book, Remember My Chains: Helping You Move from Bondage to Breakthrough. Dr. Zach is thrilled to be married to his lovely wife, Evelyn, as they make their home in Central Virginia.