"Arise, go forth, and conquer."

That's the daily exhortation Dr. Edd Lawrence offers his students when they leave his classroom. But what does it really look like to “go forth and conquer” in today’s world?

Check out the latest episode of the Courageous Conversations podcast where Dr. Lawrence shares practical advice formed from decades of experience in parenting, teaching, and serving in the ministry.

Here are a few of the insights Dr. Lawrence shared, as only he can!

On Boundaries: Kids secretly want them—they provide safety and show love. They don’t know how much they need them…until they know how much they really need them.

On Consistency: Parenting is all about intentionality. Training up a child in they way they should go means you're creating appetites for good things: faith, integrity, hard work.

On the Gospel: At the end of the day, we're all sinners in need of a Savior - parents and kids alike. Good parenting begins with intentionality but is grounded in humility.

From curfews to character, “seeds planted in seasons of struggle”, this conversation is full of truth, encouragement, and lived wisdom.

If you're a parent, teacher, or anyone investing in the next generation, you don't want to miss this.

Listen now on the Courageous Conversations Podcast!

What is the one thing that truly satisfies?

On the latest episode of Courageous Conversations, Jason is joined by special guest Trey Lawrence to discuss the freedom of surrendering to God’s grace and the truth that transformation comes not from what we do, but from what Christ has already done.

🎧 Tune in as we talk about finding faith, purpose, and what it means to glorify God in every season.

If you could step back in time and talk to your 17-year-old self, what would you say? In this episode of Courageous Conversations, BCS Strength and Conditioning Coach Sydney Ham reflects on her journey as a D1 soccer player and how her identity shifted from performance to purpose.

She opens up about the struggles of idolizing success, the highs and lows that came with tying her worth to her sport, and the freedom she found in seeing soccer as a way to glorify God rather than herself.

Sydney’s message is one every athlete—and anyone chasing achievement—needs to hear: “Your sport is temporary. Your faith is eternal.”

Why does God allow suffering? How do we balance grief and hope at the same time?

In this episode of the Courageous Conversations podcast, Jason Ellis is joined by guest Lauren Cocke as they consider some of life’s hardest questions—why tragedy and struggles happen, why burdens feel so heavy, and how to discover the unique hope Christ offers during hard times. Even when prayers feel unanswered, we live with confidence that the victory is already won! ✝️✨

Join host Jason Ellis and a panel of Briarcrest students and faculty members as they share their experiences from a summer mission trip to Ecuador! Hear their stories about how they found true peace and contentment by serving - and being served - on a summer mission trip.

Join host Jason Ellis as we kick off Season Two of the Courageous Conversations podcast. In this episode, a panel of students and faculty members share their experiences from a summer mission trip to Ethiopia! Hear their first-hand accounts about what surprised them most about the journey, as well as unexpected and unplanned ways God blessed their ministry experience.

Briarcrest’s third international mission cohort of the summer is currently serving with Jungle Kids for Christ in Ecuador! Hear from Jason Ellis and Tyler Salyer, Briarcrest High School Principal, about their experience serving in Ecuador last year in this week’s podcast. It was Mr. Salyer’s first week on the job at BCS, and within minutes of arriving the group experienced an earthquake.

God has empowered you with a specific gift to serve in the mission field!

The Courageous Conversations hosts are in Ethiopia this week serving with a Briarcrest short-term mission team! In this episode, Jason and Jonathan discuss the 15-month process planning this incredible service opportunity and how the Lord has ordained every step of the journey. You’ll also hear about some of the many benefits of serving the nations to grow God’s Kingdom, along with practical tips for how to serve in the mission field for the first time.

Summer is here! (So…now what do we do?)

For parents of school-aged children, the summer break presents an incredible opportunity to be a catalyst for intentional, Christ-centered conversations. Join Jason and Jonathan as they discuss best practices for parents and kids looking to unplug from digital distractions this summer.

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

It’s an age-old question that is not devoid of hope, because we serve a loving God! How we respond to bad times and the weight of suffering that is common to humanity defines our view of God and of ourselves. Our hosts dive into real-life examples of how God has brought them out of suffering and revealed His purpose for them through the process.