There is no shortage of discussion among Christians about the need for the next generation of leaders inside the local church. Not only do we need more pastors, but we also need more men and women answering the call to vocational ministry at every level of church leadership. And while some hear the call to church leadership early in life and attend college for training, that is only one of the paths into ministry. Join Dr. D.J. Horton for a conversation with two pastors on his staff at Church at The Mill - Kyle Benefield, a former director of operations for Chick-fil-A, who is now an Associate Kids’ Pastor, and Will Shuler, a former football coach, who is now a Worship Pastor. Though they experienced success and enjoyment in their chosen secular fields, they could not ignore the Lord’s call to serve the church vocationally, and they are so glad they chose obedience to Him. From having honest conversations with their wives about making huge life changes to trusting that the Lord could use them and would provide for them, this episode will be an encouragement to anyone considering leaving a secular profession to enter into full-time service in the Kingdom.

In her early 20’s, Catherine Renfro received a phone call that she will never forget. In broken hopelessness, her brother, Barrett, called out with despair before taking his own life. She and her father rushed to his home only to find out that he was no longer with them. While suicide is an incredibly difficult and painful topic, Christians must not neglect to speak into subjects like this in tender, honest, and Jesus-centered ways. We invite you to join Pastor D.J. Horton as he talks with Catherine about her book, “Hope, Hurt, and Healing: Experiencing Jesus in the Wake of Suicide,” and the season of grief she and her family went through–a season that, sadly, hundreds of thousands of people endure every year in America. Even in the midst of anger, suffering, and guilt, Catherine shares that Christ never left her, and she is so grateful to be able to offer others the comfort He has offered her. Scars may last a lifetime, but Catherine’s life is a testimony of how God takes our hurt, heals our wounds, and offers us hope that we can go and share with others.

Are you frustrated in a place of singleness? Do you need godly wisdom when it comes to dating and marriage in this day and age? What should you even look for in a spouse? Don’t miss this encouraging and candid conversation between D.J. Horton and Ben Stuart, pastor of Passion City Church in Washington, DC, and author of “Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age.” In a world that can feel so disconnected, Ben shares how to navigate the four stages of a relational life and embrace the intentions and truths God has established for each one. Whatever season you are in, whether you’ve never dated or you are already married and want to know how to be a blessing to singles and young married couples, this episode has practical wisdom for you.

If you want to talk football, Bob Sanders is your man. He started coaching as a high school assistant in 1976 and went on to work with colleges and in the NFL, including serving as the Miami Dolphins’ linebackers coach, the Green Bay Packers’ defensive ends coach, followed by coaching roles with the Buffalo Bills, the Oakland Raiders, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This former NFL defensive coordinator has joined the App State Football staff as their senior defensive assistant, and now he’s sitting down with Dr. D.J. Horton to discuss his nearly 50 years of experience with football and how a relationship with Jesus has impacted him as a coach, husband, and father. Whether you are investing in young people through coaching, teaching, or other forms of ministry, or even if you simply love football, we hope you’ll listen and be encouraged by Bob’s career and his walk with Christ. 

One of the tenets of Christianity is that every human being is an image bearer of God, and every person has worth and dignity at the moment of conception. That means we should have a heart for the unborn, protecting life and ministering to those who end up in crisis pregnancies. Join Dr. D.J. Horton for a conversation with Alexia Newman, the Executive Director of Carolina Pregnancy Center. Alexia shares about how she got started 36 years ago with the pregnancy center and how the Lord has helped it grow. She and D.J. also talk about the love, support, and discipleship offered by the ministry to both mothers and fathers alike, as well as the challenges the ministry faces in our culture of death, and how we can be unified as believers when it comes to supporting moms and choosing life.

It makes an undeniable difference in our homes and churches when men fulfill their God-given roles. Of course, we don’t just need everyday men to step up and be biblical men; we also need them to lead other men to embrace their role as spiritual leaders. But how does that happen? Join Pastor D.J. Horton and Chuckie Stevens, author of “You Are the Man” and small group leader at Church at The Mill, for an encouraging message on calling men off the sidelines spiritually. They discuss the power, purpose, and practical steps of discipleship, as well as how God loves to call ordinary men to do extraordinary things. Because men are called to be more than just good dads and moral husbands, they’re called to be spiritual leaders.

How do you get people to trust you as a leader and actually have them want to be a part of what you’re doing? There is a difference between trying to lead through manipulation and coercion and leading by building momentum. Join Pastor D.J. Horton and Jarrett Stephens, Senior Pastor of Champion Forest in Northwest Houston, for a conversation geared to help you grow as a leader—whether you’re leading in a boardroom, a classroom, on the ballfield, or in a church. You will hear wisdom from their many combined years of experience, as well as insight from the journeys God used to shape them for their callings. Whether you have your sights set on future roles of leadership or you feel stuck where you’re currently leading, we believe this episode will be a great encouragement to you.

Someone once said that whoever wants the next generation the most will get them. This is a sobering thought, especially since we know that the enemy is real, and he wants to steal, kill, and destroy the futures of our children. So how do we best invest in the legacy of God in the next generation? How do we help them move beyond saying a prayer of salvation to living a life of faith in action? Join Dr. D.J Horton and Dr. Tripp Atkinson, Church at The Mill’s NextGen Pastor, for a conversation on how we battle for the hearts, minds, and futures of our children. They discuss some of the biggest struggles of this generation, as well as how we can encourage their spiritual formation.

The new year is upon us, and you are probably making resolutions surrounding areas like health and finances. But how are you planning for growth and change in your spiritual life? Join Pastor D.J. Horton and his guest, Andy Guastaferro, the newly appointed president of Blue Letter Bible, for a practical and encouraging conversation on how to grow in your love for Scripture and develop better Bible study habits as we head into 2026. Whether you are a long-time believer wanting to learn how to dig even deeper in God’s Word, a newer believer who feels like you don’t know where to start, or even a parent wondering how to encourage your children to dive into Scripture, this episode has something for you. 

One of the struggles in our churches is getting men to worship. The reasons can be many - pride, a struggle with surrender, embarrassment over a lack of singing skills, or just not seeing why it matters. But we were all created by God to worship Him through lifting our voices in song. So how do we get men to engage more fully? Join Pastor D.J. Horton and well-known worship artists Shane & Shane for this encouraging conversation. Shane Barnard and Shane Everett share their testimonies, as well as how the Lord birthed a love of worship in them, and how we can foster that love in our own lives. This isn’t about guilting you to worship so you can be a better Christian. Singing God’s Word is transformative, and the blessings of worship aren’t something you want to miss out on.