Community Chat

This is a SUPER short episode (38 seconds or so) as this week is our church's VBS. Please be praying for us as this is one of the biggest events we (and other churches) have for impacting the kids and families in our community. Thank you!

P.S. It's not too late to register (if it's before the end of the weekend of July 28th-30th, 2023)! The link is below!

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: ⁠communitynorthbc.org⁠

Community North Baptist Church VBS: communitynorthbc.org/vbs

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - ⁠https://www.silvermansound.com

I like big tents! I'm not talking about camping (although you might as well have a big tent if you can). I'm not even talking about tents and canopies at the beach, although I am grateful for the shade they provide. I'm talking about big tents in Christianity - where as many people (and churches) as possible are welcome.

It's easy for churches and/or conventions to focus on the things that could divide them rather than on the key things that unite them. Unity is important - so important that Jesus prayed for it on His last night with His disciples before the crucifixion. After attending the Texas Baptists Family Gathering this week, this topic seems like an appropriate one to focus on.

I'm sure I ramble a little (or a lot), but I hope this is helpful in at least beginning a conversation about having big tents where as many people as possible come together for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. If you'd like to talk further about anything from this episode, I (Kevin) can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Texas Baptists website: texasbaptists.org

"Chatting About Women in Ministry (with Lillian Hinds" episode: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/XcDVJkNvBBb

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Sometimes it feels like life is just rolling along. Sometimes it feels like you're hanging on for life as you navigate changes, moves, and transitions. That's the season I've been in lately.

On this episode, I share about the last couple of months for our family: selling our house in Arlington, moving to a rental house in Coppell, surprising the ABU softball team in Kansas City, graduation, family trips, a soon-to-be new 16-year-old (and driver), ministry connections, and more! I also share about some cool things happening in ministry at Community North Baptist Church and in other area ministries.

Thanks for letting me share a little glimpse into our personal lives, and thank you to so many who have prayed for and supported us through all of this!

I (Kevin) can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Vacation Bible School registration website: communitynorthbc.org/vbs

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Welcome back to Community Chat after our month-long break! TransWorld Radio (TWR) is an incredible ministry that is spreading the Gospel literally around the world, utilizing radio and other forms of media.

I met Rachel Mehlhaff when I started as Pastor at NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington, TX. Rachel had grown up at NorthPointe and was in the process of raising support to go to Singapore with TWR. After serving there for 3 years, she moved to Cary, NC, where she is now the Marketing Director of TWR Motion (a branch of TWR which creates videos that connect people with Jesus). On this episode, Rachel shares about TWR and specifically about TWR Motion and the incredible work they are doing.

Rachel can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

TransWorld Radio website: twr.org

TWR Motion website: twrmotion.org

Rachel Mehlhaff's TWR Staff Page: twr.org/mehlhaff

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

After 22 weekly episodes to start the year, Community Chat is going to take a break for the month of June. The last few weeks have included a trip to Kansas City (with Arlington Baptist University softball), a move, and a graduation, and the next few weeks include an anniversary and a couple of trips. June is a good time to catch our breath for a short moment.

In the past 22 episodes, we've heard from pastors, leaders in compassionate thought, the leader of a ministry serving what is now the most populated nation in the world (India), a counselor, the leader of an exciting ministry serving the homeless in DFW, the leader of a private Christian school, a 2-time Regional Champion and World Series semifinalist head college softball coach, an immigration lawyer, and more.

When we return, we'll hear from a Boston Marathon competitor, a marking manager for an international ministry doing incredible things all around the world, other pastors and thought leaders, and much more.

In the meantime, we'll be highlighting various previous episodes on social media for those who may have missed them or for those who may want to hear them again. Thank you for being a faithful listener, and we'll see you again soon!

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In part 2 of "Chatting About Politics and the Church (with Brandon McCarroll)," Brandon McCarroll continues the discussion of how a church can not avoid talking about politics while also not being torn apart by politics. Once again, what should the relationship of the church be with politics? How do we keep politics from dividing the church while still having conversations we need to have? These are questions we must wrestle with if we want to maintain and use our prophetic voice in the world while also protecting unity in the church.

Brandon can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Highland Baptist Church (where Brandon is Senior Pastor) website: highlanddenton.org

Highland Baptist Church Facebook: Highland Baptist Church of Denton

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Politics! What a loaded word! Some of you probably get excited when you hear that word. Others probably feel anxious. Others probably brace

What should the relationship of the church be with politics? How do we keep politics from dividing the church while still having conversations

Brandon McCarroll, the pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Denton, Texas, returns for a 2-part conversation on this topic. Brandon brings

Brandon can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Highland Baptist Church (where Brandon is Senior Pastor) website: highlanddenton.org

Highland Baptist Church Facebook: Highland Baptist Church of Denton

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

IMMIGRATION. It's estimated that over 1 million immigrants enter the United States each year. In 2021, that number was estimated to be near 1.5 million. Immigration is a complicated, and often controversial topic.

Jennifer Scarborough is an immigration lawyer in Harlingen. In this episode, she shares valuable insights on how the process works, many of the challenges faced by those in the system, the complexity of immigration policies, and also the simplicity that comes when you are able to view those involved in these cases as actual people. Jennifer also touches on the topic of LBGTQ rights, as many people seek asylum because they face persecution and maybe even death in their own countries, but now potentially face increasing legal challenges and even persecution in the United States.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor's degree from Mars Hill University, her dual Master's degrees in Social Work and Divinity from Baylor University / Truett Seminary (where she and Kevin met), and her law degree from DePaul. After working in law for several years, she started her own law firm in February, 2020.

Jennifer can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

I vividly remember the Cowboys' 3 most recent Super Bowl wins, and I was thrilled when the Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat to win the 2011 NBA Finals. Baylor's 4 combined National Championships in women's and men's basketball brought me great JOY. And I still feel the agonizing pain of how close the Rangers came to winning the 2011 World Series - "one strike away" multiple times.

But, as we discussed in part 1, sports is so much more than these things. In part 2, Davis Beaver shares about recruiting, assembling a team, Team One (the inaugural team at ABU) and Team Two - this year's team that begins regional play TODAY (May 5th) as it looks to earn a trip to the NCCAA World Series. Coach Beaver's passion for sports and coaching comes through clearly, but even more so, I hope you'll catch his care for his players and his desire to help them become the amazing people God has created them to be.

As I mentioned last week, I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to get to know, serve, and love these players, and I look forward to sharing a little bit about them with you!

Coach Beaver can be reached at [email protected]

Regional Tournament Dates: May 5-6, 2023

NCCAA World Series Dates: May 16-18, 2023

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Arlington Baptist University website: abu.edu

Arlington Baptist University (ABU) Softball Twitter page: twitter.com/ABU_Softball

ABU Softball Instagram page: instagram.com/abu.softball

ABU Softball Facebook page: @ABU Softball

Compete to Create (formerly Win Forever): c2c.competetocreate.co

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

I love sports! And I'm not the only one.

Davis Beaver and I have known each other since 1993, when he was a sophomore and I was a senior at Lamar High School in Arlington. After graduating from Lamar, Davis earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern State and a master's degree from Oklahoma. In addition to various high school stops, Coach Beaver coached college basketball for over a decade at NCAA Division 1, Division 2, and Juco levels. He helped Sam Houston State go from last to first in their conference. As head coach, he led Texas A&M International to its most successful season at the NCAA level and only winning nonconference record at the time. He also led Brown Mackie to just the 5th winning season in school history and the regional finals, the farthest they have ever advanced in the postseason.

When the public school I worked at was hiring Coach Beaver, his references included now 4-time National Championship coach Kim Mulkey and then UTA and now Troy head basketball coach Scott Cross, both of whom spoke very highly of him. While there, he picked up head coaching duties for our softball team, leading it to a district championship in our first year as a UIL school.

In May, 2021, Coach Beaver was selected to lead the inaugural softball team at Arlington Baptist University. I'm grateful that he extended the invitation to me to serve as the team's chaplain. Team One, as they were affectionately known, won a regional championship and finished as College World Series semifinalists at the NCCAA level. Team Two will be the top seed in the Regional Tournament and is hoping for a deep postseason run. Embracing the adage that "leaders are learners," Coach Beaver is also pursuing his doctorate in performance psychology at Grand Canyon University.

In part 1 or a 2-part series, I hope that you hear Coach Beaver's love for his players and his desire for them to not only become great players and a great team, but even more so, to become the incredible people whom God has created them to be.

Coach Beaver can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Arlington Baptist University website: abu.edu

Arlington Baptist University (ABU) Softball Twitter page: twitter.com/ABU_Softball

ABU Softball Instagram page: instagram.com/abu.softball

ABU Softball Facebook page: @ABU Softball

Compete to Create (formerly Win Forever): c2c.competetocreate.co

Music: Lookin' Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com