Community Chat

On Tuesday, Charles Stanley passed away at the age of 90. He pastored First Baptist Church Atlanta, Georgia, for 49 years before becoming Pastor Emeritus in 2020. Two great influences in my life, Andy Stanley and Louie Giglio, grew up in his ministry. His messages reached millions through In Touch Ministries. He left a powerful legacy.

Legacy is a big word with even bigger implications. And there's a danger attached to legacy. Rich Mullins said, "If your life is motivated by your ambition to leave a legacy, what you'll probably leave as a legacy is ambition." At the same time, the truth is that we will ALL leave a legacy - whether good or bad. Our families, our churches, and our communities will all be impacted by what we do or don't do with our lives. As William Wallace said in Braveheart, "All men die; not every man really lives. Let's make the most of this life God has given us.

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

StoneGate Christian Academy's Legacy Banquet Auction (referenced in Episodes 16 and 17): sgcalegacy2023.ggo.bid

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

Private Christian education is a hot topic for sure. Does supporting Christian education mean you hate public schools? Can students from Christian schools get into college or get a good job? How could you justify taking public funds and spending them on private Christian instruction? What are vouchers about anyways?

Our guest, Matt Maples, tackles these topics, questions, misconceptions, and more about private Christian education. Matt felt a clear call from God to work with young people back when he was in high school. He studied Youth Ministry and Human Relations at Milligan College and also earned a Master of Education (Secondary Education) from the University of Phoenix. Having served as a youth minister, teacher, and coach, Matt came to StoneGate Christian Academy (Irving, TX) in 2011 and is now the Principal, Athletic Director, and Head Varsity Volleyball Coach at StoneGate. Matt's insights on Christian education are sought by leaders at the local and state level.

StoneGate Christian Academy opened in 1976 as Shady Grove Christian Academy, a ministry of Shady Grove Church in Grand Prairie, TX. In 2005, the school became an independent organization and was renamed StoneGate.

This episode will hopefully be the first in a series (over time) about education, whether private, public, public charter, or homeschool. Each plays an important part in efforts to education today's students.

For more information, to register, or to bid on auction items for StoneGate's Legacy Banquet (with guest speaker and former Cowboy George Teague), see the links below.

Matt can be reached at [email protected].

Kevin can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

StoneGate Christian Academy website: sgca.net

StoneGate Christian Academy Facebook page: facebook.com/StoneGateChristianAcademy

Legacy Banquet information and registration: sgca.ejoinme.org/legacy2023

Legacy Banquet Auction: sgcalegacy2023.ggo.bid

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

Holy Week. The Passion Week. Hopefully it's not something we just fly through as we move towards celebrating Easter.

Join us in reflecting on Jesus' journey through that fateful week as He travels from the high of the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday to the devastating atrocity of the crucifixion on Good Friday to the silence and hopeless of Silent Saturday and ultimately to the greatest joy and hope of Resurrection (Easter) Sunday. Let this journey challenge and encourage you to connect with the love that Jesus has for you and for all those around you.

If you want to know more about a relationship with Jesus Christ, reach out to us at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Holy Week - Monday video: youtu.be/VKMqPOerCnM

Holy Week - Tuesday video: youtu.be/3NM8Moa7gzE

Holy Week - Wednesday video: youtu.be/8xAsR89zEtg

Holy Week - Thursday video: youtu.be/oCoS_iv4B2I

(Holy Week videos for Friday through Sunday will be added as they become available).

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

Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you." That sounds pretty hopeless. But Jesus' audience would have known the rest of the passage He was referring to in Deuteronomy 15:11, which adds, "Therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'" Homelessness is an issue in almost every community, including McKinney. While we may want to avoid or look away from those who are homeless, they are created in the image of God and deserve to be treated with love and dignity.

Our guest, Lance Olinski, had a life-changing encounter in a restroom with a man who was homeless and was washing off in a sink. This stirred a holy discontent in Lance and eventually led him to found Streetside Showers. The mission of Streetside Showers is "to offer hope and help restore human dignity to the homeless community in the form of a hot shower and personal hygiene care." Streetside Showers currently serves 13 locations in Texas and Florida and has been the inspiration for a number of similar ministries throughout the United States.

Lance is a native of New York and received his bachelor's degree from Oral Roberts University. He served over 30 years in church ministry before heeding the call of God to serve the homeless community. He and his wife Sharon have been married for over 30 years.

Lance can be reached at [email protected] (or through Streetside Shower's Ministry Assistant Hannah Bradford at [email protected]).

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Streetside Showers website: streetsideshowers.com

Streetside Showers Facebook page: facebook.com/streetsideshower

Streetside Showers Instagram account: instagram.com/streetsideshowers

Streetside Showers Twitter account: twitter.com/StSideShowers

Streetside Showers YouTube account: youtube.com/channel/UCr34lNK97UDH4mXbXQLqmEA

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

The topic of mental health is EXTREMELY important. Unfortunately, there is often a stigma attached with the topic and anyone who is dealing with mental health issues. That needs to change. Professional athletes, the hit TV show Ted Lasso (and its cast), and others are working to highlight the importance of mental health.

Our guest, Bob Mullen, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), shares about mental health, how we can overcome the stigmas that are attached to mental health issues, and various resources that are available, including counseling.

Bob has over 27 years of experience, specializing in depression, anxiety, anger management, and grief counseling. He treats patients 18 and older utilizing Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Person-Centered counseling in his approach with his clients. A native of Long Island, New York, Bob has a Master's in Counselor Education and a Doctorate in Adult Education from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He is also the Fort Worth Chapter President for Christian Counselors of Texas.

Bob is also a talented musician, has served as a chaplain, and has also served as Pulpit Minister and/or Executive Minister at churches in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Bob and I met and became friends in 2009 when we were both serving churches in River Oaks (Fort Worth) and were part of the River Oaks Ministerial Alliance together.

If you are struggling with mental health issues, please know that you don't have to go through this alone. If you need immediate assistance for you or a friend or loved one, dial 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or 911.

If you know of other resources which would be helpful to share, please email [email protected]. Thank you for helping us help others!

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

LifeStance Health (Mental Healthcare practice which Bob is a provider for): lifestance.com

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Number (available 24/7): Call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org

Texas Mental Health and Substance Use Resources Website: hhs.texas.gov/mental-health-substance-use-resources

Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative Website: texassuicideprevention.org

Mental and Substance Use Disorders Treatment resource: findtreatment.gov

Collin County College Mental Health Resources (Counseling) for Students website: collin.edu/studentresources/counseling

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

I (Kevin) try not to weigh in on every topic that comes up. But, in light of yesterday's (March 20th) tragedy at Lamar High School in Arlington, TX, over a decade of student ministry experience, having a Master of Education, having served nearly 7 years as a teacher and administrator at a charter, and having a number of former students who currently attend Lamar (which is also my alma mater), this episode shares some insights on students today and ways that we can pray for and support Lamar, as well as our local schools.

To the faculty/staff, students, and families of Lamar High School, especially those directly affected, we are praying for you. VFND! (Viking Fight Never Dies)

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Lamar High School (Arlington, TX) PTA Facebook page: facebook.com/people/Lamar-High-School-PTA/100057659760934

McKinney ISD Partners in Education (Volunteer Opportunities): mckinneyisd.net/partners-in-education

Charlie "Tremendous" Jones (not Stephen Covey, as I misattributed) once said, "Five years from today, you will be the same person that you are today, except for the books you read and the people you meet." In a solo (non-guest) episode, I share some of the podcasts I'm currently listening to on a regular basis. I probably don't completely agree with any of them 100% of the time, but I find them worth investing my time in - and am glad to recommend them to you as well.

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Calvary Campus, Letcher, KY website: meridzo.org/calvary-campus

Lillian Hinds' article in Baptist Standard: baptiststandard.com/opinion/voices/when-and-how-god-called-me-to-preach

Pro Church Tools Show with Brady Shearer: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pro-church-tools-show-with-brady-shearer/id848673237

Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast: careynieuwhof.com/mypodcast

Tell Me More Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tell-me-more/id1560961716

At the Table with Patrick Lencioni Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-the-table-with-patrick-lencioni/id1474171732

The Working Genius with Patrick Lencioni Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-working-genius-podcast-with-patrick-lencioni/id1553105854

Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/andy-stanley-leadership-podcast/id290055666

Craft and Character (Steve Carter): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-character/id1514214001

Truth Over Tribe Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-over-tribe-christian-takes-on-culture-news-politics/id1580807177

The Holy Post Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holy-post/id591157388

Viral Jesus (Heather Thompson Day): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/viral-jesus/id1576591284

The Think Orange Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-think-orange-podcast/id1228596543

It Takes a Village Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/it-takes-a-village/id1647613175

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

Churches, and even some denominations, have split over the issue. One of the largest churches in America (Saddleback Church) was just ousted from the Southern Baptist Convention over it. In 1 Corinthians 14:34, Paul writes, "Women should remain silent in the churches..." Yet, in Galatians 3:28, Paul also writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." The topic of women in ministry is one that many churches are wrestling with.

Our guest Lillian Hinds, retired Senior Pastor of Meadow Oaks Baptist Church in Temple, TX, shares about her experience of receiving a calling from God on her life, working to figure out what that meant (having grown up in a tradition where being called to ministry as a woman typically meant being a missionary or marrying a pastor), attending seminary, and ultimately pastoring a church.

Lillian has multiple degrees, studied at Baptist Bible College, Southwest Missouri State, Tennessee Temple, and then UT Tyler, and has also earned a Master of Divinity from Truett Theological Seminary in 2008. She worked as an LPC (licensed counselor) for 25 years and has taught The Life and Work of the Pastor at Truett on multiple occasions. Prior to pastoring Meadow Oaks, she served as Music Minister at Bruceville Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, Evant, TX. While the number of female Baptist pastors in Texas is growing, there weren't many when Lillian began her tenure at Meadow Oaks. She has helped encourage and mentor a number of ministers (both women and men), and her daughter (Jacqueline Crow) is also living into a call to preach in her own life.

Lillian can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Truett Theological Seminary (a seminary which is affirming and supportive of women in ministry): baylor.edu/truett

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

From revivals and awakenings at Asbury, other college campuses, and even around the world coinciding with the release of the Jesus Revolution film to even the "He Gets Us" campaign, it's obvious that God is definitely at work doing SOMETHING. 

Our guest Terry Johnston, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church McGregor, TX, shares about his local community, including the SpaceX test site, Texas A&M's McGregor Research Center, and more, and also shares insightful perspectives on the ways that God is moving in this season and how we can critically evaluate things without just being critical.

Terry grew up in Paragould, AR, majored in Radio and Television at Arkansas State, and earned his Master of Divinity from Truett Theological Seminary. He has worked with Students, Children, and Senior Adults at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church outside of Cincinnati, served as Associate Pastor and then Senior Pastor of Trinity Memorial Baptist Church in Marlin, TX, and has served as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church McGregor, TX, since 2011. He approaches topics of faith from the perspective of a local pastor who has served his community for over a decade.

You can follow Terry on Twitter at @TerryWJohnston.

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

First Baptist Church McGregor website: fbcmcgregor.org

First Baptist Church McGregor Facebook: FirstBaptistMcGregor

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

We continue wrestling with the questions: "Does a church that tends to lean older in congregational age have a chance of reaching younger generations?" and "If so, how can they do that effectively?" In the second of a 2-part conversation, Brandon McCarroll discusses six core commitments a church must make if it wants to reach younger generations. As with the previous episode, many of the insights in this conversation are drawn from the book Growing Young by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin (see link below).

Brandon McCarroll is the Senior Pastor at Highland Baptist Church in Denton, TX, where he previously served as Student Pastor. He's a graduate of Baylor University and Truett Theological Seminary. Brandon can be reached at [email protected].

Links:

Community North Baptist Church website: communitynorthbc.org

Growing Young book: https://a.co/d/eSrqlei

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