Candy Christmas on Giving Her Way Out of Depression | Dinner Conversations

A Gospel music favorite since she was a teenager, Candy Christmas grew up on stage singing to thousands and soaking up the crowd's ovations. But it wasn't until she fell into a deep depression, contemplating suicide and the end of her options for living, when she was invited to feed the homeless on the streets of her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee and she discovered the gift that saved her life - giving. Hear Candy's life-changing story, plus go behind-the-scenes as we visit her now-staple outreach to the underprivileged, The Bridge (thebridgenashville.org), with her late son, Joshua Christmas. Don't miss a single episode of Dinner Conversations-subscribe above! #DinnerConversations #MarkLowry #AndrewGreer #CandyChristmas
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[@lisalankford8757]

Candy has a great ministry of God. Jesus has really helped her a lot. Give God the Glory!

[@lisalankford8757]

The Bridge ministry is a great ministry feeding the children being Jesus Christ through your hands and heart.

[@shelbyyoung1663]

Love this show !!!

[@rubyreid517]

This is what it’s all about !!

[@rubyreid517]

Amazing lady

[@dwayneandmelissamorris6686]

This is such a great program and Candy has such an amazing heart. She is truly the hands and feet of Christ!! Love love love this!!!

[@lynnefleming8614]

Mary Did You Know is my absolute 100% favorite Christmas song.

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

Candy's singing voice is beautiful!

[@pambranscom7093]

Jan Crouch suffered terrible depression, one evening in Church she saw a girl at the alter and went to pray with her because nobody else did and because she reached out to someone in need God orchestrated her recovery, I believe helping people is a great move of the Holy Spirit

[@chubster71]

I support the Bridge! Love Candy.

[@cynthiarollins3949]

She’s not only pretty on the outside but her heart for our Lord Jesus just shines through …what a blessing this video is💕

[@lindapearson3411]

Mark you are such a beautiful person! You light up the room!

[@myrakitchens2635]

Loved the conversation with Candy Christmas, she is wonderful, so dedicated to her cause for the Lord. Thank you Andrew and Mark.

[@gailreineke7186]

I’ve fought depression most of my life. And yes, there’s still a huge stigma about it. Recently, joy has been flooding my soul, thus choking the depression and allowing me to serve God more fully. I sing some in church, but my heart is in soul winning.

[@rachelandies4748]

Best interview ever. She is wonderful.

[@robertabardsley4559]

I am looking forward to this conversation!

[@michaellin1006]

So much respect and admiration for Candy Christmas.

[@drewwhitehead7646]

Love her, this is probably my favorite dinner conversation. Thanks 🙏

[@vickihogan8207]

I wonder how long before Josh Christmas died was this interview done. Candy is so beautiful inside and out.

[@petraschneider3086]

This was soooo good!! I needed to hear this. God bless y'all!!

[@cindyalcorn6590]

I feel welcomed at your table. Thank you!

[@kimberlyborges2866]

Jesus + nothing=everything! He is all we need. :)

[@shannonbuschman1432]

This is so heartwarming. Candy your still a beauty inside and out. Bless you swéetie .

[@marianfernwood6945]

Glad to see Candy again, being real. Great visit!

[@reneecasey5719]

my heart is so full hearing this

[@sandratagart8753]

I love this Dinner Conversation program. I just love Candy Christmas and her beautiful spirit. She lights up a room with love. I would have never guessed she had depression. She is such a delight! The message she is giving out is truly, what Jesus would do, give love, compassion, and mercy in the form of fulfilling the need of necessities and most of all filling their souls with the love of Jesus. Thank-you Mark and Andrew for having Candy on and allowing her to give this message. What an absolute blessing!

[@hisforever4937]

I LOVE this. I relate to this entirely with everything she is saying and has experienced. I’m thankful to be on the other end of depression now . The Church needs a better understanding on this and BE THERE for those that can’t move in the dark depression. Thank you for sharing your story🦋💜

[@janinesechler6278]

Thank You Candy❤❤❤

[@deanakilpatrick7230]

Thank you Mark and Andrew for the wonderful Dinner Conversation. I have enjoyed Candy’s testimony. I am going to sleep blessed from just listening.

[@nancyshirah8427]

My mama was born and raised in west Monroe la. She would tell stories of seeing the hemphills preach revivals. I’ve always looked up to candy as a singer. Now even more as a person

[@debbieforhim7800]

LOVE you guys!!!!

[@marionshields8023]

These conversations are always so interesting and inspiring. Thank you!

[@EdgarCPrice]

I met Candy at a school in Clinton, North Carolina. This was in the spring of 1978. Yes she was very beautiful and very nice to my surprise. I was with a group called the Redeemers Quartet. Candy's light for the Lord did shine. People has to know that the people who sings southern gospel music are real people to. They go through life's trouble and trials also. Praying for you Candy. Keep up the great work you are doing.

[@redeemedbygodsgrace1971]

Candy was such a delight…..her transparency was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed this “dinner conversation” podcast so very much! Mark & Andrew you are both so gifted at interviewing your guest. KUDOS for an amazing Dinner Conversation with the beautiful Candy Christmas. Sending Gods Blessings from my home here in Parker, Colorado to yours 💞👆✝️👆💞

[@brendawiles647]

so love Ms Candy. She still reminds me of my sister to this day.

[@reneecannon3571]

I was raised going to church every Sunday. Youth programs and so forth during the week. I tell you Mark, I happened to be watching "Just Whenever" one time and you leaned up, looked right at me and said Jesus LOVES you ! He's CRAZY about you ! This changed my life ! We read the bible ect. But in watching you i see you LIVE JESUS ! Practically all you do is related to Jesus ! I've feel closer to him now more that i ever have. I look forward to seeing you because you have this light within you that i just suck up ! I'm so grateful to know yo in ! I'll most likely never get to meet you but I sure partake of your sweet spirit ! Thank you for loving our Savior and sharing this with us ! 💜

[@melissaparks5947]

Such a great message

[@LorieLee7]

I’ve been waiting with great anticipation to see this convo with Candy Christmas!! Thank you for this!! 💜

[@tammyhollandsworth6783]

Wow! It was met for me to hear this today. Always loved hearing candy Christmas sing on the gather’s program. I use to think they didn’t have her singing up front enough. She was one of my favorites on this program. May the lord continue to bless you in where He has you! I’m just positive that so many people have been changed!

[@andrealudwig6754]

Regeneration Nashville is my home church on line. I love the Christmas family and Candy Is so honest about her struggles.from GREER SC ❤️

[@laurakerr3450]

I Love you guys ! You are so real and your hearts are full of love and it shows ! This was awesome with Candy Christmas ! God Bless you all !

[@valeriebates2642]

This program tonight really hit home for me. I’ve had a depression disorder for 28 years. With the help of doctors and medications I have lived a very normal life. However I was overjoyed to hear Candy talk about volunteering.. I have been searching for something to do since I retired and I think serving the community in some sort of way, with the underprivileged is what I need to look into doing..thank you for these conversations . God continue to use you Andrew and Mark with this ministry.

[@Dee-Wayne]

I loved that music video when she sang the verse ♪Would you be free from your passion and pride... there's power IN THE BLOOD, POWER IN THE BLOOD♪ The Gaither videos, There's Power IN The Blood

[@deede2991]

Her real name is Candy Christmas!!! How cool!! Listening to story!!♥️

[@moosplotch]

Candy, Your ‘used to care about nails, lipstick, hair, but now the focus is people’, and Andrew’s observation that your nails and such are still looking great, God is using you, yes, in a mighty way. :) Your focus shifted, as you said, in so many other words, from self to being a vessel for Him. I think it’s wonderful, that you’re out there helping others. Keep up the positive work, for with Jesus, only He can make us what we truly are. :) Beautiful ministry! An example to other cities around the nation and globe. Thank you for having “Dinner Conversations”, Mark and Andrew. This also is a ministry, to meet many people in many angles and walks in life. :)

[@meredythhobbs6312]

Thank You so much for this video. I could completely understand how Candy was feeling/talking about. Also Appreciated how she said she doesn’t put people down who needs medications. I loved listening to Candy Christmas and her parents on the Gaither videos. Thank you Mark and Andrew for sharing these videos. God Bless

[@karenhansen-zachow4032]

I've always loved listening to CANDY CHRISTMAS, MY LATE HUSBAND also loved hearing her Beautiful voice . I was happy to hear her story ,as I've been going through this because of chronic lower back pain.

[@susannahwhite7561]

Dear Father, Please cover my sister Karen with your healing balm and deliver her from any dark clouds of discouragement that chronic pain brings. You are familiar with all kinds of pain and know first hand what she's going through. We thankyou now for all the blessings You've given her in the past and all the blessings You are giving her now and in the future. We ask in Jesus sacrificial conquering name. Amen😊

[@isaiahbolin8604]

God Bless y’all❤️

[@danaelivingtheword]

I loved this conversation. And Candy was right: what everybody needs above the material things is Jesus, because God is the giver of every good and perfect thing, and as we seek His Kingdom first, everything else will come as a result. Thank you, Andrew and Mark!

[@silasmonk2458]

It is really interesting sometimes, ... to watch other people's eyes be opened about the reality of how most people live

[@aliciaembro4694]

This is one of your best conversations (in my opinion😊)

[@mwsmith6209]

soooo ausome ! you see all these big name "christians" having real problems like depression and ADHD and you see them and their televised performance and think wow "it must be wonderful to be beautiful and blessed by God... and you see this and her soul just spliced - open for the big reveal. Candy this blessed me more than ur songs...

[@debbieforhim7800]

THAT'S Candy's SON???!! She must have had him at 9 years of age. My! She is certainly aging well.

[@JustAThought155]

Wow! Do I know that suicidal route. Only the Lord walks me through when that shadow of death starts to hover! He uses great friends and a counselor to help me through. It truly is as she said, depression is a living “hell.”

[@marylamb6063]

I did have severe depression but it was caused by something physical. The doctors didn't know much because they didn't have a "whole body" focus. Eventually I traced it to five foods I was eating and avoided them. Sucralose was a sixth trigger that would piggy back on my thoughts unlike the other five foods, but sucralose depression was mild. One day I had a sinus infection that caused debilitating fatigue. The doc suspected COPD but I noticed, just barely, that my sunuses were tender. He believed me and gave me three courses of antibiotics. Within a day the breathlessness was gone. The sinuses took a couple of weeks to get well. Somehow I just knew I could eat whatever I wanted. Sure enough, the antibiotics cured my depression for good.

[@silasmonk2458]

I had no idea you guys were back on together. I see the videos go back to last year.. That's me always missing the bus

[@mabeldurocher8172]

I'm hearing many different people talk about depression ... some get healing in an amazing way .. or some go home to Heaven . God once said to me , " People it's a good business to get into." Thank God I'm involved in helping people .. ever since I was sobered up over 30 years ago. I met Jesus when I was 42 days sober !! Hallelujah -- but not a cake walk ; because walking in faith of the real God is not for the faint of heart or fall away -- because of a test of faith . BUT - we have the Victory in Christ our Savior. Amen

[@ar12281]

That's exactly what's happening in Echo Park in Los Angeles. I live less than 4 miles from downtown LA and less than 2 miles from Dodger's Stadium. I see a New Townhouse Complex going up everywhere with homelessness on the rise.

[@suetipping4841]

This is good because it's true. When you feel least able to give, give. When you feel least able to be something, be that something. Life is a paradox. When you feel least able to smile, smile. Least able to speak, speak. These acts will remind us of God's presence because in the beginning of doing this, He is the one doing; He works through us.

[@sherlynleavitt224]

When was this recorded?

[@blossombolton9829]

Gosh, what her mom said about delighting in the Lord and not allowing her relationship with Jesus to become a drudgery - I wish I could figure out how to do that.

[@thinkbeforesaying244]

I don't necessarily agree with Andrew's comment that "we don't extend true grace until we've learned to extend it to ourselves". I believe it's more accurate to say we don't extend true grace until we've understood the grace we received from Jesus".

[@nxtchpforme9154]

Does she eat or sit back?

[@nxtchpforme9154]

Do they eat??

[@nxtchpforme9154]

Is there a thyroid swelling under her neck.

[@shannonwilliams7606]

Short hair isn't for her. Really liked her long hair

[@annettavicckies7445]

What if kid's have nut allergies?

[@phyllisneither9097]

Im sure she has other options along with the peanut butter.

[@nxtchpforme9154]

Ngo with lots of fund raising... Government s can't find a way to infused sustainable income cycle.