From Orthodox Judaism to Doctor of Theology: Dr. David Shapiro’s Radical Encounter with Jesus
Season 2 of EVOLVE thru God opens with a powerful and deeply personal testimony from Dr. David Shapiro — a former Orthodox Jewish atheist, professional fighter, and military veteran whose life was radically transformed by a single moment of divine conviction.
Born and raised in an Orthodox Jewish community in New York, David struggled with dyslexia, identity, and belonging from an early age. Feeling disconnected from faith, he rejected God altogether and spent years silencing internal pain through noise — fighting, extreme sports, and achievement.
But everything changed the day he walked into a church for the first time.
What followed was nothing short of miraculous: in one week, David — who struggled to read most of his life — read the entire Bible cover to cover and understood it. That encounter set him on a path that would lead to earning a Doctorate in Religious Education and dedicating his life to bridging apologetics, evangelism, and compassionate leadership.
This conversation explores forgiveness, silence, identity, and the profound truth that God often stretches us before He restores us.
💡 Lessons Learned
God meets us in conviction, not coercion.
David’s journey began with a simple internal prompting: “Go to church.”
Miracles aren’t always permanent — they’re purposeful.
God healed David’s reading ability for one week — long enough to show him truth.
Apologetics without empathy misses the mark.
People often need a hug more than an argument.
Forgiveness is an action, not an emotion.
It begins with the decision: “I don’t want to feel this way anymore.”
Silence reveals what noise was hiding.
Between your test and your testimony is a moment of stillness.
God stretches us before He gives us rest.
Just like Moses, discomfort often precedes calling.
🎁 The Gift of This Episode
A profound reminder that your greatest insecurity can become your greatest calling — and that silence with God is often the birthplace of transformation.
If you are in a season of stretching, questioning, or identity rebuilding, this episode will anchor you in hope.
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WHO IS DR. DAVID SHAPIRO?
Dr. David Shapiro grew up Orthodox Jewish, immersed in Scripture, discipline, and tradition. But faith built on performance eventually fractures. Dyslexia made reading Scripture slow and frustrating, yet it also forced David to wrestle deeply with the text rather than skim it. His journey to Jesus wasn’t a moment; it was a breaking. Through the Hebrew Scriptures and hard questions, he encountered Jesus not as a betrayal of his faith, but as its fulfillment. Today, David shares his story for those caught between belief and honesty, showing that surrender, not certainty is where real faith begins.
