Dr. TJ and Dani Klein

Every story has a starting point. Ours began at “Rock Bottom.”

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Not metaphorically—though God has certainly worked through those seasons too—but at Rock Bottom Restaurant on Bell Road in Phoenix, Arizona. It was a blind date arranged without ever hearing each other’s voices. Just faith, a little courage, and what we now recognize as divine orchestration.

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Dr. T.J. Klein walked through those restaurant doors, nervous and praying he wouldn’t ruin the evening before the appetizers arrived. Dani was sitting near the entrance, long brown hair falling forward as she looked at her phone, unaware that God was about to write the next chapter of both their lives.

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Dinner conversation flowed easily. There was laughter, honest faith, and yes, nervous grace before the meal. When the night could have ended with a polite goodbye, Dani asked T.J. to see a movie. It was raining. The kind of steady, storybook rain that feels like heaven is leaning in. On the way, her shoe “broke,” leading to an unexpected stop at a store before they shared an umbrella into the theater. They held hands for the first time that night—and by God’s grace, never let go.

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Psalm 40:2 says, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit… He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” What began at “Rock Bottom” became a living testimony of that verse. God used what seemed ordinary to establish something sacred.

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Before Dani, T.J. was in a season of searching—faithful, but uncertain of what was next. Through their relationship, God revealed something deeper: that love built on Christ becomes steady ground. Dani’s grace, strength, humor, and unwavering faith became tangible reminders that redemption is not abstract—it is personal. That foundation is the heartbeat of the Flint to Grace Podcast and Flint to Grace Blog.

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Flint to Grace exists because we believe God meets people in real places—dusty baseball diamonds in Flint, Michigan, rainy parking lots in Phoenix, quiet prayers before meals, and seasons that feel like rock bottom. Our story is not polished or perfect. It includes grocery lists, carpool lines, folded fitted sheets (or attempts at them), laughter, late-night conversations, and choosing each other daily with humility and grace.

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Through the podcast and blog, Dr. T.J. and Dani share honest reflections on faith, marriage, perseverance, identity in Christ, and the transforming power of grace. We talk about real struggles. We celebrate redeeming grace. We remind listeners and readers that God does not waste pain—and He certainly doesn’t waste humble beginnings.

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Our story is proof that sometimes rock bottom is not the end of the story. It’s the place where God sets your feet on solid ground.

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And if He can do that for us, He can do it for you, too.