EP: 85 A Story of Survival, Loss, and Unshakable Faith | Pastor Yauo

In this special Good Friday feature of The School of Hard Knocks, I had the honor of sitting down with Pastor Yauo to hear a story that will stay with you long after this episode ends.Before becoming a pastor, leader, and pillar in the Wausau community, Pastor Yauo’s life began in unimaginable circumstances.While his mother was pregnant with him, his family fled for their lives—seeking safety in the jungle as refugees. During that time, his parents experienced devastating loss, forced to bury three of his siblings while fighting to survive.He was later born into a refugee camp, where life was confined, uncertain, and fragile.At the age of seven, he came to the United States and was met with an entirely new world—facing language barriers, bullying, and cultural isolation.But his story didn’t end there.He went on to serve in the military, earn his education, become a teacher and school leader, and eventually follow a calling that led him to start a church—first in his living room, and now as the pastor of The Cross Church.This conversation is about more than survival.It’s about faith.It’s about resilience.It’s about what’s possible when someone chooses purpose over pain.If you’ve ever questioned your path, your strength, or your ability to rise from what you’ve been through—this episode is for you.🎧 Listen in and share this with someone who needs a reminder that their story isn’t over.