First Person with Wayne Shepherd

Businessman John Wieland, author of Uncommon Threads, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his story of faith and the lessons he's learned about faith, family, and business.  (click for more) 

You'll find the book Uncommon Threads here.

John Wieland Program Notes:

Background & Business

• CEO of MH Equipment (material handling/forklift company in Illinois).
• President of His First Foundation.
• Took over MH Equipment in 1994 when it was nearly bankrupt; no entrepreneurial or mechanical background.
• Business grew during a strong economy; attributes success to God’s grace, not personal ability.
• Rejects the idea of “self-made men” – too many factors are beyond human control.

Faith Journey

• Grew up in church in Jerseyville, Illinois, but not a believer; thought attending church was “doing God a favor.”
• Encountered Scripture in college (Matthew 7 – narrow vs. wide gate) and realized he was outside God’s kingdom.
• Surrendered to Christ as a sophomore in college, influenced by Navigators ministry (discipleship & scripture memorization).

Family Story

• Married to Julie.
• Together they adopted four children (three daughters, one son).
   
  • Adoptions came through providential circumstances, often through a doctor friend. 
• Son Josiah is biracial, blind in one eye, and struggled with asthma as a child. Became a standout athlete in soccer and basketball.
• Lesson: God’s blessings shouldn’t be limited by our fears or expectations.

Abortion Experience

• In high school, got a girl pregnant and encouraged an abortion.
• Years later, reconnected for his book Uncommon Threads.
  • She recalled the trauma vividly: pain, emptiness, regret, counting the lost child as her oldest.
• Wieland was convicted of his selfishness.
• Story included in the book became a powerful pro-life testimony.
• Impact: one reader chose not to abort after reading his story; another reconciled with a former partner after decades.

Parenting Lessons

• Key principle: “Prepare the child for the road, don’t prepare the road for the child.”
• Don’t shield children from hardship; let challenges build character.
• Emphasize character over happiness (happiness = temporary “happenings”).
• When disciplining, do it for the child’s benefit, not as punishment or out of anger.
• His own failures as a youth made him more patient with his kids’ mistakes.

Book: Uncommon Threads

• Divided into themes of family, business, and faith.
• Transparent and vulnerable, sharing both failures and successes.
• Written to encourage reflection, movement, and growth in readers’ spiritual, family, and professional lives.

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Hal Habecker of Finishing Well Ministries, joins Wayne Shepherd to talk about encouraging seniors to actively pursue and fulfill God's calling. (click for more) 

Website:  https://www.finishingwellministries.org

Interview notes:

Background & Faith Journey

• Born in Hershey, PA, one of six children in a farming family.
• Came to Christ at age 6 in an independent Bible church.
• Early fascination with older people, shaped by the death of his childhood pastor.
• Active Christian leader in youth (campus life, Bible study).
• Studied at Taylor University; initially interested in politics inspired by Mark Hatfield.
• Mission trip to Haiti → encouraged to attend Dallas Theological Seminary.
• Married while in seminary; mentored by Howard Hendricks, who redirected him from politics to pastoral ministry.

Ministry Career

• Ordained at First Baptist Dallas under W.A. Criswell.
• Worked with physicians/dentists, leading to involvement with the Christian Medical Society (served as national director for 15 years).
• Pastored a Dallas church for 21 years.
• Founded Finishing Well Ministries about 10 years ago to encourage seniors to live purposefully for Christ.

Calling & Focus on Aging

• In his 50s became aware of how seniors often feel alienated or insignificant in culture and church.
• Passion to affirm the value of aging people in God’s plan.
• Inspired by Psalm 90:12 (“teach us to number our days”) and Robert Browning’s poem “Grow Old Along with Me.”
• Believes every decade can be the most influential, especially the later years.
• Emphasis: last words are lasting words – the legacy of one’s final years matters deeply.

Key Teachings – Seven Essentials for Living & Finishing Well

1. Never stop growing in knowledge of Christ.
2. Never stop building friendships—combat isolation.
3. Never stop loving others as Christ commands.
4. Never stop pouring into younger generations (multi-generational discipleship).
5. Never stop being available & eager for God’s next assignment.
6. Plan ahead for when you’re gone (legal, family, spiritual legacy).
7. Anticipate eternity with Christ; keep heaven in view.

Books/resources:

• What Does the Bible Teach About Growing Older
• Seven Essentials for Living Well and Finishing Well
• Aging with Purpose

Biblical Examples of Finishing Well (or Not)

• Joseph, Joshua, Daniel – faithful through hardship into old age.
• Hezekiah – strong early life but did not finish well after God extended his years.

Insights for Seniors & Churches

• Boomers = fastest-growing aging population; church must address their value.
• Current church culture often silos age groups, limiting multi-generational life.
• Seniors should dream, envision, and engage rather than assume they’re “done.”
• Legacy begins with personal growth and example, especially to children & grandchildren.
• Psalm 71:17–18 – call to declare God’s power to the next generations.
• Distance from family can be bridged through technology, but the example of life lived for Christ is the greatest gift to pass on.

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Pastor and author George Koch joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation about his life experiences and his book, Bullies, Parasites, and Slaves.  (click for more) 

More about George's book:  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bullies+parasites+and+slaves&crid=3HRAB41FIEJ9R&sprefix=Bullies%2Caps%2C117&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ranker_3_7

Interview Summary:

George Koch’s Background
Career began in tech: co-founded a software company in the early 1980s to manage corporate investment portfolios.
Developed what may have been the first English-language query application on a relational database; early connection with Oracle when it was a small company.
Faith Journey
Childhood: raised in a fundamentalist church, strongly impacted by the song Jesus Loves the Little Children.
Struggled with the church but held onto the truth that Jesus loves everyone.
Civil rights era shaped his views—volunteered in Chicago inner-city project, gained firsthand experience of cultural differences and shared humanity.
Adult years: left faith for a period.
Re-engaged when he and his wife sought a community for raising moral children—had a powerful Holy Spirit encounter in church and became believers.
Later called into full-time ministry (his mother and wife had anticipated this long before).
Ministry & Writing
Books include Healing Prayer, What We Believe and Why, and Bullies, Parasites, and Slaves.
Writing blends theology with practical application.
Latest Book – Bullies, Parasites, and Slaves
Goal: present biblical truth in language accessible to non-believers, atheists, or those of other faiths.
Uses cultural parallels like a missionary learning local language.
Key themes drawn from Jesus’ teaching, especially the Golden Rule and the Good Samaritan.
Message: Replace exploitation with mutual care; treat others as you would want to be treated.

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A beloved professor at Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Bill Thrasher, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his own faith story and teaching on prayer.   (click for more)

For more about prayer: www.VictoriousPraying.com

Interview Notes – Dr. Bill Thrasher

Theme: Spiritual formation, prayer, and the Christian life

Background:

• Dr. Bill Thrasher is a longtime professor at Moody Bible Institute.
• Passionate about prayer and the spiritual disciplines.
• Emphasizes the importance of a personal relationship with God over mere religious activity.

Key Topics:

1. Spiritual Formation:
   • Formation is more than just head knowledge; it’s about transformation into Christlikeness.
2.  Spiritual formation includes both the inward and outward life. 
3. Prayer: Prayer is central to Thrasher’s teaching and personal life.
4.  Encourages believers to see prayer not as a duty but a delight.
5.  Advocates for honest, heart-level conversations with God.
6. The Role of Weakness:
   • Emphasizes that God uses weakness to shape dependence on Him. 
7. Weakness is not a disqualifier but a platform for experiencing God’s grace.
8. Practical Advice for Believers:
   • Cultivate a rhythm of prayer and time in the Word. 
9. Use journals, prayer lists, and Scripture meditation to stay engaged.
10.  Be patient with spiritual growth—it’s a lifelong journey.
11. God’s Sovereignty and Faithfulness:
    God's faithfulness is a constant theme.
12.  Encourages trust in God even when prayers seem unanswered.
13.  Encouragement to Ministry Leaders: 
14. Ministry must flow from one’s personal walk with God.
15.  Avoid burnout by remaining anchored in prayer and spiritual disciplines.

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Former NBA star Mike Newlin talks with Wayne Shepherd about his basketball career and his long commitment to his relationship with Jesus Christ.  (click for more)

Background & Basketball Career

• Mike Newlin was a standout NBA guard, scoring over 12,000 points.
• Drafted by the San Diego Rockets, who became the Houston Rockets one week later.
• Known for his discipline—trained 6–8 hours a day in high school.
• Believes time, not talent, is the key to success.
• Described his entrance into the NBA as the "easiest thing" he'd ever done because it was the logical result of consistent hard work.

Conversion to Christianity

• Became a Christian at age 27, just before an NBA season.
• Was at the peak of his career, considered a top guard in the league.
• Transition was costly: after his conversion, a coach benched him for three years, claiming he didn't trust believers.
• Struggled emotionally and spiritually with the fallout—it took 40 years to fully process the pain of that loss.

Spiritual Growth & Life After NBA

• Studied Bible doctrine daily for nearly 50 years.
• Learned Greek, Hebrew, and Latin; currently still in seminary.
• Sees life as preparation for the Judgment Seat of Christ.
• Believes salvation is by grace through faith alone, distinguishing it from his Catholic upbringing.

Core Beliefs

• One moment of faith—even the equivalent of a "quark" (billionth of a billionth of a grain of sand)—can determine one's eternal destiny.
• Feels called to write as a ministry using his background as a hook to reach others.
• Stresses the importance of nibbling at the Word of God daily.
• Encourages others to pursue God's plan actively: “Today is what matters.”

Life Lessons

• Suffered in silence under benching but later wished he had confronted the situation more maturely.
• Believes God tests us in the area we care most about.
• Thinks Christianity shouldn't make us passive—he had to learn to balance faith and human relationship dynamics.
• Emphasizes personal study of Scripture over relying on others for spiritual growth.

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Colby Barrett, Executive Producer of the documentary, A Faith Under Siege, talks with Wayne Shepherd about Russian forces persecuting Ukrainian Christians. (click for more)

 A Faith Under Siege can be viewed on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E4gJWdsyAA&ab_channel=AFaithUnderSiege

The film is endorsed by Mission Eurasia. To read Faith Under Fire: Understanding and Responding to Religious Persecution, click here. 

🎙️ Interview Overview
•Host: Wayne Shepherd
•Guest: Colby Barrett – entrepreneur, filmmaker, former US Marine Corps captain, and peach orchard owner in Colorado.
•Topic: The documentary film A Faith Under Siege, covering the persecution of Christians in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.
 
📌 Key Points from Colby Barrett's Story
•Background:
oRaised in Western Colorado, not in a churchgoing family.
oCame to faith in the military; baptized in Japan.
oMarine Corps officer, later a successful businessman.
oOwns an organic peach orchard in Colorado.
•Call to Ukraine:
oInitially declined a friend’s invitation to join a humanitarian convoy to Ukraine.
oFelt a spiritual pull to learn more.
oResearch revealed shocking statistics of persecution (e.g., over 650 churches destroyed, 49 clergy killed, nearly 20,000 children abducted).
•Birth of the Documentary:
oFelt called by the Holy Spirit to document and raise awareness.
oAssembled a team including local Ukrainian film crews and worked with the Ukraine Freedom Project for access.
oTraveled 1,200 miles across the frontlines; faced real danger but felt God’s protection throughout.
 
🎥 About the Film: A Faith Under Siege
•Focus: Persecution of Protestant, Evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish faith communities in Ukraine.
•Distribution: Aired on CBN, Newsmax, TBN; available free on YouTube and faithundersiege.com.
•Support Resources: Church screening kits, discussion guides, and prayer guides are freely available.
 
💔 Key Findings Highlighted in the Film
•Faith Persecution:
oRussian forces deliberately targeted churches and clergy.
oExample: Pastor Britton’s church was taken over by Russian troops and converted into a cultural center.
•Propaganda Clarification:
oRussian claims that Ukraine is persecuting Christians are misleading.
oUkrainian laws targeted only churches tied to Moscow for national security reasons, not faith suppression.
•Child Abductions:
oNearly 20,000 Ukrainian children abducted to Russian “re-education” camps.
oIntended to erase Ukrainian identity and militarize the children.
oNGOs like Save Ukraine have rescued around 1,500 so far.
 
🙏 Spiritual Reflections
•Personal Impact:
oBarrett was deeply moved emotionally, especially when worshiping with Ukrainian believers.
oEncountered raw grief (e.g., a father who lost his wife and daughters to a missile attack).
•Call to Action for the Church:
oUnderstand that persecution is not about denominational lines but an assault on faith itself.
oAuthoritarian regimes (like Russia, North Korea, Iran) oppose Christianity because it challenges state control.
oChristians are urged to pray, raise awareness, screen the film in churches, and support aid or volunteer work.

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Mike Joens put his faith in Jesus Christ while in the Marines. He went on to become a successful animator and has now created a series for children. (click for more)

Mike's dream all along was to create an animated series for children that would teach God's Word. That happened with the production of Theo Presents, available on DVD here.

Key Interview Highlights

• Spiritual Transformation:
  Mike accepted Christ in 1972 while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. A divine intervention led him from a bar in Naples back to his barracks, where two fellow Marines shared the gospel with him.
• Early Christian Growth:
  After becoming a believer, Mike developed a deep hunger for Scripture, progressing from The Living Bible to a King James Version Thompson Chain Reference Bible, reading voraciously and studying theology.
• Call to Ministry:
  Though initially drawn to pulpit ministry, God redirected Mike to a different kind of calling—animation.
• Professional Background:
  Mike honed his craft at animation studios like Hanna-Barbera and Filmation, working on Fat Albert, Tarzan, and later McGee and Me and Adventures in Odyssey.
• The Birth of Theo:
  Inspired in 1978, Mike envisioned an animated series that taught children the truths of Scripture—doctrines like justification and sanctification—in engaging, humorous, and biblically faithful ways.
• About the Series:
  Theo includes 16 short episodes (approximately 10 minutes each) across five volumes. Each episode contains a strong theological message presented in a child-friendly format, accompanied by a guide for parents.
• Impact & Excellence:
  Parents and educators praise Theo for its clear biblical teaching and high production quality. Mike emphasizes that excellence in animation honors God and helps deliver timeless gospel truths.

            Next Week:  Colby Barrett; Ex.Producer of A Faith Under Seige

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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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. 

                                             NEXT WEEK:  Mike Joens

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Evangelist, teacher, and counselor Sammy Tippit talks with Wayne Shepherd about his decades of experience proclaiming the Gospel around the world. 

                                        NEXT WEEK:  Bill Yeargin

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Bill Hendricks, President of The Giftedness Center and the Executive Director for Christian Leadership at The Hendricks Center at Dallas Theological Seminary, talks with Wayne Shepherd about finding purpose through God's spiritual calling. 

                                           NEXT WEEK:  Sammy Tippit

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!