Kevin Briggins grew up in the inner city of Birmingham, Alabama. He joined the military, drifted far from the Lord in Panama City and Germany, and then felt something leave that he'd never lost before. Years later, he'd read about it in an RC Sproul book: the dark night of the soul. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Kevin takes us through his upbringing, the moment God pulled him back, how he met his wife (and shared the gospel on their second date), and what happened when the ideology of critical theory tore through his church. As the first and only black elder in a multiethnic congregation, Kevin had a front-row seat to something most people only argued about on Twitter — and he couldn't stay quiet. Kevin is a former intelligence analyst, the Managing Director of the Center for Biblical Unity, co-host of Informed Takes and Off Code podcasts, and an elder at his local church in Auburn, AL. 🔗 Center for Biblical Unity — centerforbiblicalunity.com https://substack.com/@kevinbriggins  ⁨@KevinBriggins⁩   ⁨@InformedTakes⁩   ⁨@OffCodePodcast⁩  00:00:00 Intro 00:03:27 First birth — growing up in Birmingham's inner city 00:09:30 Second birth — walking the aisle at 9 years old 00:13:12 Joining the military & drifting from the Lord 00:16:54 The dark night of the soul — feeling like God had left 00:20:01 The means of grace — why community matters 00:29:06 How Kevin met his wife & shared the gospel on date two 00:36:22 Dating advice — intentional dating, marriage, and leading 00:46:27 Ephesians marriage — leading like Christ, not like a CEO 00:52:12 Becoming an elder & the church that tore apart 00:58:29 What critical theory does to the church — a graceless Christianity 01:11:45 Providence — how a collapsed house deal brought Kevin to Auburn 01:14:34 Speaking out — from a Facebook post to a national conversation 01:18:06 Closing — what has God entrusted to Kevin Briggins?

Yancy Carpenter grew up poor in Dothan, Alabama — fatherless, rebellious, and by his senior year of high school, convinced the best thing he could do for his family was end his own life. What happened instead, alone in the back room of a men's clothing store on the circle in Dothan, changed the entire trajectory of his life. In this conversation, Yancy takes us from the wiregrass to the mission fields of Uganda and the mud churches of South Sudan. He walks us through 20 years climbing the corporate ladder at Sysco, 15 years of unexplained infertility, failed adoption attempts, a miscarriage, and what it was like to finally hold Emily and Jack in a Dallas County courtroom — and then, at 40 years old, to find out Joy was pregnant on Mother's Day. He talks about what it means to leave a salary, insurance, and a pension behind when God calls you somewhere that can't match any of it — and how a tornado in Beauregard, Alabama became the unlikely provision that kept Four Corners Ministry's thrift stores running. This is a story about obedience over outcome, the cost of leaving comfort, and what it looks like to be entrusted with life itself. Learn more about Four Corners Ministry: https://www.fourcorners.org/ Timestamps: 0:00:00 – Welcome & Blayne's absence (family first in action) 0:00:45 – Introducing Yancy Carpenter & Four Corners Ministry 0:02:06 – First birth: growing up poor in Dothan, AL 0:04:17 – A mother who loved Jesus and worked multiple jobs 0:05:35 – The three lies that nearly destroyed him 0:13:37 – The rant that became a prayer — and what happened next 0:27:56 – God's plan through Sysco: favor he didn't deserve 0:38:32 – Two Sudanese men in a Sunday school class change everything 0:41:06 – Guatemala, Lupita, and a Smarty that crushed him 0:48:14 – "These are not your hands" — South Sudan, 2010 1:03:11 – Leaving Sysco for Four Corners: do you trust me to provide? 1:07:27 – Joy's breast cancer and Psalm 103 1:18:00 – Fifteen years of infertility and wrestling with God 1:24:26 – The miscarriage, and learning he was enough 1:25:19 – The adoption journey: Lifeline, a profile never circulated, and a phone call in New Orleans 1:32:24 – Emily, Jack, and the birth certificate that made him weep 1:35:07 – Julia — born at 40, on Mother's Day 1:38:48 – Family worship and stacking wood 1:43:57 – What God has entrusted him with

What happens when everything in your life is working… and God asks you to walk away from it? In this episode of Entrusted, we sit down with Taylor Teel (Executive Director of Camp Maranook) to walk through a story marked by survival, success, surrender, and ultimately obedience. From a life-threatening diagnosis as a newborn to building a thriving career, and then taking a massive pay cut to step into ministry, Taylor’s story is a powerful reminder that God is not looking for comfort—He’s looking for obedience. This conversation hits on pride, legalism, identity, calling, and what it really looks like to depend fully on the Lord when the path forward doesn’t make sense. If you’ve ever wrestled with what God is calling you to do—or what it might cost—this one is for you. Camp Marannook is a Christ-centered residential summer camp in Lafayette, Alabama focused on helping students encounter the Gospel, grow in their faith, and be discipled in God’s Word. Through intentional teaching, community, and mentorship, Marannook exists to raise up the next generation to know and follow Christ. https://marannook.org/ Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:49 First Birth / Second Birth 00:16:45 Pride / Legalism 00:27:45 College Life 00:36:50 Dependent on God 00:38:45 Early Career Years 00:43:50 Primo 00:54:00 Getting Into Ministry 01:06:00 Wrestling With the Call 01:13:30 Taking the Leap of Faith 01:20:00 Stepping Into Ministry Life 01:27:30 When Everything Feels Like It’s Falling Apart 01:35:00 God’s Provision in Uncertainty 01:43:30 Building Something That Lasts 01:50:00 Trusting God Daily 01:55:00 What We’re Entrusted With 01:58:00 Closing

In this episode of Entrusted, we sit down with entrepreneur Jim Corman to walk through a life shaped by ambition, pressure, and ultimately surrender.

From building and selling companies to being told at 29 he might not survive the stress, Jim’s story takes a turn when faith becomes more than belief—it becomes the lens through which he makes every decision.

This conversation gets to the heart of what it means to live faithfully in the middle of business, success, and responsibility.

We talk about:

If you’re building a career, leading others, or trying to figure out what really matters—this one will challenge you.

00:00:00 Intro

Josh Wetzel was leading patrols in Kandahar, Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED on May 31, 2012 — losing both legs above the knee. But this episode isn't really about the explosion. It's about what came after: Walter Reed, a marriage quietly falling apart behind closed doors, survivors guilt, depression, and a Facebook ad for a gym that started putting things back together. Josh sits down with Blayne, Brock, and Ben to talk about everything from the battlefield to Iron Tribe Auburn to the founding of Forging the Warrior Family — a nonprofit giving veteran families access to community, fitness, and each other. This episode releases on Josh's 40th birthday. A fitting one. Forging the Warrior Family Foundation: https://www.forgingthewarriorfamily.com/ The Wetzel (April 18th @ Iron Tribe Auburn): https://wardamnwetzel.com/ Entrusted is a podcast about what you've been given and how you're stewarding it — all to the glory of God. New episodes every Monday. 🎙 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @entrustedpodcast 00:00:00 Welcome & Josh's 40th Birthday 00:01:13 What Is the Wetzel? Setting the Stage 00:01:31 Afghanistan: Kandahar, Mushan, and the IED Threat 00:04:48 Josh's First Deployment & Learning on the Job 00:07:14 Taking the Metal Detector Himself 00:10:11 The Big Battalion Mission, May 2012 00:11:21 The Day Before: A Soldier Loses Both Legs 00:12:03 May 31st: Josh Steps on the IED 00:16:00 Flying Through the Air — What It Actually Felt Like 00:17:36 His Medic, His Best Friend, and the Flip Joke 00:19:53 The Grape Fentanyl Lollipop 00:23:03 The Helicopter Ride & the Intraosseous Needle 00:25:30 Waking Up in Germany Three Days Later 00:28:18 His Wife Paige Gets the Call 00:30:08 Walter Reed: The Best Amputee Hospital in the World 00:33:21 Recovery Timeline: Prosthetics by Christmas 00:35:22 Faith: Fire Insurance, Falling Away, and Coming Back 00:37:30 How Different Soldiers Handle the Same Injury 00:39:38 Walter Reed Community and the Quadruple Amputees 00:43:32 Moving to Auburn, Leaving the Army, Losing Community 00:45:03 Behind Closed Doors: Depression, Separation, Running from God 00:45:54 The Iron Tribe Facebook Ad 00:46:38 Survivor's Guilt and His Alive Day 00:48:26 Meeting Austin at the Kroger Starbucks 00:50:31 Learning to Squat Again, Finding Confidence 00:51:32 Paige Shows Up at the Gym with a Gift Box 00:53:13 Doing the Wetzel for the First Time 00:54:01 Deciding to Fight for the Marriage 00:55:18 Bringing Paige to Iron Tribe 00:56:05 What Community Did That the Army Once Did 00:59:22 The ASBA Partnership and Raising $3,000 01:01:01 The Idea: Help the Whole Family, Not Just the Veteran 01:02:32 Founding Forging the Warrior Family 01:02:47 This Saturday: The Wetzel at Iron Tribe Auburn 01:05:41 How to Sign Up + Event Details 01:06:47 James 1 & Romans 8:28 — What This Story Is Really About 01:07:57 Closing

Most people have already given up on their New Year's resolutions by the time you're watching this. 

In this episode, Ben, Brock, and Blayne get honest about what it actually looks like to try to build better habits, and how often we fall short. From budgeting to working out to being present at home, these are three guys figuring it out in real time, not experts with it all together.

Ben shares a framework from Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley that helped him think through his roles, his vision, and the small daily things that actually move the needle. The conversation drifts into fatherhood, marriage, the Sabbath, and one of the most convicting ideas in the episode — your family won't rise to your aspirations. They'll fall to your habits.

No formulas. Just honesty, some laughs, and a real challenge at the end.

📖 Habits of the Household – Justin Whitmel Earley

🎁 GIVEAWAY — We're giving away a copy of Lead Your Family by Jeff Applegate — a book on instilling vision, mission, and core values in your home. To enter: subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on Instagram & Twitter, like this video, and comment "Lead Your Family" on this video! 

👕 Primo Golf Apparel — use code ENTRUSTED for 15% off at primogolfapparel.com

CONNECT WITH US:

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 Intro & banter

00:02:48 Brock on New Year's goals & reflection

00:06:10 Brock's health habits & cutting soda

00:09:13 Building a family budget from scratch

00:17:29 What happens when you quit by March

00:19:42 Blayne's confession: money before habits

00:23:54 Core values matter more than resolutions

00:29:05 Giveaway — Lead Your Family by Jeff Applegate

00:32:00 Discipline, moderation & fighting sin as a Christian

00:34:29 The law of sowing and reaping

00:39:34 The Sabbath & the rhythms God built into life

00:41:38 Give work your best. Give your family the same.

00:51:22 Your family falls to your habits, not your aspirations

00:56:49 Follow me as I follow Christ

00:59:47 Closing challenge: memorize scripture

Hoffman Rhyne grew up in rural Alabama and came to Auburn University with a faith that was more cultural than real. What followed was a complete transformation—one that led him from nominal belief to a life spent on mission, including nearly two decades of ministry in China.

In this episode of Entrusted, Hoffman shares how learning to read the Bible reshaped his life, how cross-cultural missions exposed blind spots in his own heart, and what the global Church has to teach us about following Christ faithfully.

We also dive into unity in the Church, the dangers of consumerism in American Christianity, and how believers should approach disagreements with humility and conviction.

Today, Hoffman serves with Christ Our Redeemer Seminary in Auburn, Alabama—a seminary built in partnership with local churches to train and send Christlike leaders for God’s global mission. His work is centered on equipping ordinary believers, not just pastors, to understand the Bible, live faithfully, and take part in the mission of God.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow in your faith, understand Scripture more clearly, or live with greater purpose, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

https://www.christourredeemer.org

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

⸻

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:35 First birth/second birth

00:13:23 Definition and importance of expositional preaching

00:15:10 Impact of confession

00:19:50 Failure and trials as a part of Steven’s testimony

00:25:00 Struggle of people pleasing (Galatians 1:10)

00:28:10 Opening up about unhealthy body image struggles

00:31:24 How we speak MATTERS

00:35:47 What Steven would say to someone struggling with an eating/exercise disorder

00:37:20 Foundational years in early college

00:41:24 Not getting into Med School

00:47:15 Finally in Med School

00:48:58 Primo

00:49:52 What motivated Steven to pursue medicine

00:54:12 More pruning: No Match

00:57:40 God is Sovereign!!

01:02:41 Early career and raising children

01:07:00 The Lord can use circumstances to affirm decisions

01:11:34 The things of this world will not bring ultimate fulfillment

01:15:10 Fatherhood

01:19:40 Discipleship as a way of life (and a listener question)

01:24:45 Intercessory prayer

01:28:30 Comforting patients and families in sickness

01:32:20 Brock has healthcare questions

01:35:37 Wrap up questions

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:33 First Birth/Second Birth

00:16:00 Life in Law Enforcement

00:21:44 Mental health in law enforcement

00:27:08 Share your burdens with others

00:30:27 School resource officers

00:41:25 Johnathan’s advice after losing over One Hundred pounds

00:49:37 Primo

00:50:37 More learning for Johnathan

00:54:30 God’s faithfulness throughout his life and story

01:01:05 Leadership lessons

01:06:05 Brock’s FBI dreams and how to get out of a ticket (lol) + other law enforcement discussions

01:23:12 What are you entrusted with