Courageous Conversations

Jason Ellis joins Matt Saunders (BCS HS Athletic Director) for an inspiring conversation about trusting God through uncertainty, leading with a purpose that goes beyond winning on the field, and pointing our student-athletes to something eternal.

Key Highlights:

• Comfort is the enemy of growth, and growth happens in the valley – not the mountaintop
• Building the Briarcrest Leadership Academy
• Fight, Finish, Faith — Matt breaks down the philosophy behind these three words now emphasized throughout our athletic department

Matt also recounted his experience coaching at Ole Miss under Ed Orgeron, his high school and youth football coaching experience, and how his experience in the world of corporate franchising led him back to a leadership role at BCS.

Japan: one of the most advanced nations on earth, yet less than 0.5% Christian. Some people there have never even heard the name Jesus.

Briarcrest alum Cameron Wright ('16) shares how high school Ecuador trips at BCS planted a seed that led him, his wife, and their kids to move across the world for the gospel.

🇯🇵 In this episode, learn why Japan has been called a "missionary graveyard" — and why Cameron was called to raise his family there for God's glory.

"There's sacrifices involved, but what God calls you to is worth it."

In the latest episode of Courageous Conversations, Houston Kelly (’23), shares how his faith, family, and Briarcrest experiences shaped his journey as a musician and his time on NBC’s The Voice.

Houston joined host Jason Ellis to discuss using a national platform to reflect Christ, showing kindness and grace in settings where faith may be unfamiliar, and learning to put God’s purpose above his own ambitions. He also shared how a challenging season in college taught him the importance of Christian community, accountability, and trusting God’s faithfulness, even when we make mistakes.

Listen and subscribe today on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube!

🎙️ New Episode - Launching Season Three of the Courageous Conversations Podcast!

In this edition, Jason sits down with Briarcrest mom Leah Walker for an encouraging conversation about faith, motherhood, community, and family discipleship.

Leah shares how God taught her to move from simply adding Jesus to a busy life to truly surrendering her life fully to Him—and how that led to deeper community, Bible study, intentional parenting, and serving others.

Topics include:

· Why busyness crowds out community

· Practical ways to disciple kids in everyday moments — car rides, family prayer, and modeling weakness as much as strength

· Why reading Scripture for yourself matters more than secondhand opinions about it

· Leah's encouragement for any parent feeling like they don't have time for the Lord: "Put your oxygen mask on first!"

🎧 Listen to the latest episode of Courageous Conversations on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube!

In this episode, Jason sits down with Garrett Vaughan (the second of three generations of Briarcrest Saints, and co-founder of BCS Dads in Fellowship) for a genuine conversation about faith, fatherhood, and friendship.

Garrett shares how drifting from a close-knit Christian community in college led to spiritual stagnation, while being surrounded by other believers in his current stage of life has kept him grounded as a husband and father.

Garrett and Jason discuss the importance of Christian men sharing struggles – spiritual and physical – and overcoming obstacles together. They also dive in on the importance of authenticity and consistency in marriage and parenthood.

Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify and YouTube today! 🎧

Want to be a part of BCS Dads in Fellowship? Learn more on our new website by visiting Current Parents > Parent Ministries.

#ChristianPodcast

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

David Nugent - a Briarcrest dad, Super Bowl champion, and business owner, joined the Courageous Conversations podcast to share a story of identity, burnout, and learning how (and when) to be still in God’s spirit.

David went from rooming with Tom Brady to collapsing in a weight room, finding God in the stillness of that defining, life-altering moment.

A self-described "all-in" personality, David kept saying yes until his body forced him to stop. Hear his courageous story about being diagnosed with a potentially fatal condition, his recovery, and his rejuvenation and restoration in Christ.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube today! #ChristianPodcast

What does it look like to chase success, attain the things you desired, and still feel completely empty? How does God restore us in those moments?

In this episode Jason Ellis sits down with Briarcrest's Director of Marketing, Chad Gilbert, who shares about his journey finding real peace and purpose after 20 years in Corporate America. Chad opens up about battling anxiety and depression at the height of his career, a turning point moment on an airplane, and what happened when he finally surrendered control to God.

They also dig into practical wisdom for parents navigating youth sports, intentional family time, and how to raise kids whose identity is rooted first in Christ, not their academic or athletic performance.

More from this episode:

· Why success without purpose always leaves you empty

· How to recognize when God is opening (or closing) a door

· Using "windshield time" to disciple your kids

· The power of gratitude in your darkest moments

· Advice for young adults just starting out in the "real world"

🎧 Listen and Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify and YouTube!

In this powerful episode of the Courageous Conversations podcast, Coach Gonzalez shares his journey from his upbringing growing up near the California-Mexico border to finding Christ at 15. After losing his mother at 17, he faced a choice: run from God or draw closer to Him.

His message to students: "It's okay not to be okay. It's just not okay to stay that way."

Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch the full episode on YouTube to hear how his surrender transformed tragedy into a testimony of God's faithfulness.

"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.