First Person with Wayne Shepherd

Christian comedian Phil Callaway joins Wayne Shepherd to reflect on his life and calling to communicate the Gospel through humor. (Click for more information).

A Word from Wayne:
Phil Callaway once told his mother that when he grew up he want to be a comedian. His mother answered that he couldn't do both. That gives you some idea of this week's conversation on FIRST PERSON as Phil joins me to talk about his life and calling as a Christian comedian, author, speaker, husband, father, and grandfather.

Phil is known worldwide for his humorous look at life - especially the hard parts. He's the best-selling author of  27 bookson family, comedy, life and golf. These include Laughing Matters, I Used to Have Answers…Now I Have Kids, Under Par, Making Life Rich Without Any Money, and Family Squeeze. He hosts the daily radio program LAUGH AGAIN which is broadcast across North America, the UK, and English-speaking Africa. Phil's writings have been translated into languages like Polish, Chinese, Spanish, German, Dutch, Indonesian, and English (one of which he speaks fluently!)

Next Week:  James and Sharon Ward

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Babbie Mason, an award winning Christian singer-songwriter, author, conference speaker and TV host, tells Wayne Shepherd her story, including an early Motown aspiration.

A WORD FROM WAYNE:
Babbie Mason is a gifted singer-songwriter, author, conference speaker, and TV host and her name is synonymous with creative excellence in the Christian community. She is the recipient of two Dove Awards and inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

In this week's FIRST PERSON conversation, you'l hear Babbie talk about her early life growing up in church where her father was the pastor and singing ever since she can remember. As a young person she aspired to be a Motown artist until God made her calling clear. Her humble beginnings paved the way for a ministry and career that have taken Babbie Mason and her music across the globe, to churches, conferences and corporate conventions, on television, radio, the silver screen, through her books and even an online radio station.

Her book, EACH ONE REACH ONE; Everyday Ways You Can Shine God's Light, is a USA Today best-seller and can be found here.

NEXT WEEK:  Phil Callaway

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Chicago's "Rooftop" pastor, Corey Brooks, invited Wayne Shepherd to visit Project Hood and see and hear the difference the Gospel message of hope is making in a tough neighborhood.

A Note From Wayne:
He serves a church in one of Chicago's most underserved neighborhoods. Pastor Corey Brooks invited me to see and hear the difference the Gospel is making through Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny). During the visit we sat down in the yet-to-be completed Community Center and talked about the vision to spiritually transform lives and uplift communities in the heart of Chicago.

Pastor Brooks, a visionary leader committed to eradicating violence and transforming lives in Chicago's South Side, is the Founder and Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church of Chicago and the CEO of Project H.O.O.D.  This ministry started through the vision of Pastor Brooks who believed in the power of education, mentorship, and community development to break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future.

He is known as the "Rooftop" pastor because of 100's of nights he has camped on the roof of the church to bring attention to the need and raise the necessary funds to fuel the vision. His is a story of not only vision, but persistent prayer and hard work.

NEXT WEEK:  Babbie Mason

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Dr. Rick Ostrander is Wayne Shepherd's guest to talk about the Christian Study Center at the University of Michigan which he leads and his calling to Christian scholarship.

A Note From Wayne:
On this week's edition of FIRST PERSON our guest is Dr. Rick Ostrander, Executive Director of the Christian Study Center at the University of Michigan. A Christian Study Center is a community of students and scholars animated by the ancient ideal of integrating faith, learning, and living. Such centers have emerged at many leading universities in the U.S. and Canada in recent decades. The Michigan Christian Study Center, launched in Fall 2022, joins this growing movement.

Also in the conversation, Dr. Ostrander will describe his own experience and calling to Christian scholarship. Experienced in higher Christian Education, he will apply the lessons he has learned to help both students and parents of prospective students sort out the important factors in following God's leading through education.

Rick Ostrander's book, Academically Speaking: Lessons from a Life in Christian Higher Education, can be found here.

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O.S. Hawkins joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation about one of America's great pastors and national evangelical leaders, the late W.A. Criswell of Dallas.

A Word from Wayne:
Recently in the news because of a devastating fire that destroyed its historic sanctuary, First Baptist Church in Dallas, TX was once famously led by Dr. W.A. Criswell. This week's FIRST PERSON takes you back in time to tell the story of Dr. Criswell's life and ministry as told by his close friend, Dr. O. S. Hawkins, himself one of Dr. Criswell's successors.

W.A. Criswell has been described as unquestionably the most prominent national evangelical leaders of his day. In our conversation, Dr. Hawkins tells the story of his mentor's life, but also addresses the three life regrets expressed personally by Dr. Criswell.

The biography is titled Criswell, His Life and Times and you can learn more about it by following this link.

This interview was recorded just a few days before the fire. Amazingly, the pulpit used by Dr. Criswell and others survived the fire. For updates on the fire and the church's recovery, follow this link.

NEXT WEEK:  Dr. Rick Ostrander

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Ed Cannon, President of the Far East Broadcasting Company, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his personal story of faith and career calling.

A Word from Wayne:
Faithful listeners of FIRST PERSON recognize the relationship between this program and the Far East Broadcasting Company. Without FEBC's support, we would not be able to bring our weekly interviews to the radio. But the relationship is far more than just professional. It is deeply personal because of my love and respect for both FEBC and its President,Ed Cannon. Ed can I have known each other and worked together for years longer than FIRST PERSON has existed.

So, I am pleased that this week we get to sit down for a conversation with Ed that tells his personal story of faith and career calling.  Ed is a former oil company executive and the Lord has used his business experience, coupled with his desire to proclaim the Gospel, to be an exemplary Christian leader. I think you'll enjoy hearing the backstory of Ed's life and testimony.

We also have a weekly FEBC podcast called UNTIL ALL HAVE HEARD where Ed and I tell some of the inside stories of FEBC's ministry. It can heard on most podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify-- and at FEBC.org.

NEXT WEEK:  O.S. Hawkins

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Joining Wayne Shepherd in conversation, Gregg Quiggle, author of BREAD AND BIBLES, talks about 19th century evangelist D.L. Moody and his focus on not only evangelism but social action as well which had both triumphs and failures. 

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Far East Broadcasting Company
P.O. Box 6020
Albert Lea, MN 56007

Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Joining Wayne Shepherd in conversation, Gregg Quiggle, author of BREAD AND BIBLES, talks about 19th century evangelist D.L. Moody and his focus on not only evangelism but social action as well which had both triumphs and failures. 

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
FEBC National Processing Center
Far East Broadcasting Company
P.O. Box 6020
Albert Lea, MN 56007

Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

The CEO of the large and successful Correct Craft company, Bill Yeargin, joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation his personal faith journey and how it has helped him lead over 2,000 employees and distributors in over 70 countries. 

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
FEBC National Processing Center
Far East Broadcasting Company
P.O. Box 6020
Albert Lea, MN 56007

Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Wayne Shepherd talks with Renod Bejjani who grew up in the Middle East and was persecuted as a child when sharing his Christian testimony. He later walked away from his faith until the Lord re-awakened his heart. 

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
FEBC National Processing Center
Far East Broadcasting Company
P.O. Box 6020
Albert Lea, MN 56007

Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!