Community Spotlight

Braxton Critcher talks about the works of Embrace Grace in the community!

In this Community Spotlight episode, Braxton talks with Sarah Keel about her faith-driven transition from Renew Clinic Knoxville to Spring to Life Recovery in Middle Tennessee. Sarah shares how God led her through an uncomfortable season of change, her calling as a ministry builder, and her passion for Christ-centered addiction recovery. The conversation dives into how churches can better understand addiction, support those in recovery, and create space for healing through a biblical and compassionate approach—especially as addiction continues to rise in communities.

In this Community Spotlight episode, Braxton sits down with Mark Abernathy from North Carolina Baptists on Mission to highlight the impact of the Appalachian Christmas Outreach. The conversation covers how churches across North Carolina partner together to serve families in Appalachia through winter essentials, backpacks, and the hope of the Gospel. Mark shares how the initiative has grown from 5,000 backpacks to nearly 25,000 in 2025, powerful stories of impact, and simple ways churches and individuals can get involved next year.

Community Spotlight with Braxton Critcher shines a light on Mission Christmas, a year-round outreach based in Statesville that’s been serving families across North Carolina for more than a decade. Braxton talks with Ben Loomis about how his wife Kate started Mission Christmas with a simple goal—to help kids in need—and how God has grown it far beyond what they imagined.

From providing Christmas gifts and school supplies to responding to disasters like Hurricane Helene, Mission Christmas is meeting real needs with compassion and humility. You’ll hear how local volunteers, donors, and community partners are helping make a difference—and how you can be part of what God is doing through this incredible ministry.

Find out more here: https://www.mission-christmas.com/ 

Braxton talks with Rachel Cox, who oversees Brazil and the Dominican Republic for One Vision International, a Knoxville-based ministry that meets practical needs—like medical care, education, and job skills—as a bridge to sharing the gospel. Rachel highlights their Christ-centered sewing program in the DR, which began with two volunteers teaching a small group of women basic skills and has grown into a full ministry where women study Scripture, earn income, and even serve widows in their community through handmade gifts. Around Christmas, these women create ornaments that One Vision sells in the U.S., with 100% of each purchase going directly back to the woman who made it. Rachel encourages listeners to get involved, support the artisans, and pray for upcoming mission work in 2026 as local believers continue sharing Jesus in their communities.

Braxton talks with Dr. Christopher Wilson, the new executive director of Bounty of Bethlehem in Hendersonville, a 43-year-old Christmas Day meal ministry that brings the whole community together to serve anyone in need. Christopher shares how he first got involved as a junior high student and how the love and unity he experienced back then drew him back to lead the ministry today. The event, hosted at the Salvation Army, involves hundreds of volunteers, a massive prep process, and thousands of meals—many delivered through Meals on Wheels—along with hundreds served in person. He highlights ongoing volunteer needs, the heart behind the program, and how deeply the Hendersonville community rallies together. Despite the huge responsibility, Christopher says he feels called by God to step into this role and carry the ministry forward.

Braxton talks with John Triplet from the Wilkes Ministry of Hope about how the ministry meets practical needs in Wilkes County while sharing the gospel. John describes their food outreach, financial assistance, baby closet, wood-cutting efforts, and their growing ramp-building ministry, all of which open doors for pointing people to Jesus. The episode focuses especially on their annual Toy Store, now in its 21st year, which serves over 1,600 children by providing gifts to parents and offering an opportunity to share the story of Jesus. John shares how God consistently provides, how lives are being changed—including multiple salvations each year—and how the ministry continues to expand through volunteers, community partnerships, and upcoming discipleship initiatives.

In this powerful episode of Community Spotlight, Braxton sits down with Earl and Nicole from Shepherds for Sheep Dogs, a ministry based in Lenoir, NC that provides professionally trained service dogs to disabled veterans and first responders. But these aren’t just dogs—they’re doorways to healing, reintegration, and Gospel conversations. Hear how this grassroots ministry went from a local need to a statewide impact, all while keeping Jesus at the center. Plus, find out how you or someone you know can apply or get involved.

In this Community Spotlight, Braxton sits down with Catherine and Jody from Focus Ministries in Knoxville and Powell, Tennessee — a Christ-centered nonprofit dedicated to walking alongside women during and after incarceration.

Jody shares her powerful story of a 27-year drug addiction, early arrests, and ultimately a life transformed by Jesus. Her experience fuels her passion to remind incarcerated women that their story isn’t over and that God can rewrite any chapter.

Catherine opens up about the wake-up call God gave her regarding marginalized communities. What started as a shift in how she saw homelessness turned into a calling to serve women who feel unseen, unloved, and stuck in cycles of trauma and low self-worth.

Together, they explain how Focus Ministries provides Bible studies, emotional healing, life-skills training, and a 9–12 month reentry home where women learn who they truly are in Christ. As lives change, faith grows, relationships heal, and hope takes root.

The episode also highlights how essential volunteers are to this mission — whether teaching a class, leading a study, watching The Chosen with the ladies, or simply showing up with the love of Jesus.

Listeners interested in supporting, volunteering, or learning more can visit FocusTN.org.

Braxton sits down with Sheriff Ricky Buchanan to break down how today’s scammers spoof legit numbers (even banks and sheriff’s offices), pressure victims to stay on the line, and demand payment via gift cards or cash drops. Hear real cases—from fake jury-duty warrants to an “FBI” impersonator who walked away with $25,000—and learn the non-negotiables: law enforcement will never take payment over the phone, never text for your ID or bank info, and will meet in person for real issues. Get practical tips to protect your family, including verification questions, call-back protocols, and a simple family code word to beat AI voice clones.