Meet my church neighbor, Mary Jo Harvey who serves the Burns United Methodist Church just up the road from us. Mary tells about the surprising joys of ministry. She shares her real credentials: teaching preschool and raising daughters. She tells the story of a ministry where she walked beside a church in its final months...and of the moment when God really got her attention when she was 8 months pregnant. You don't want to miss it!

 

In a world that demands we define ourselves by our struggles or our labels, Syvanna offers a refreshing alternative: finding ultimate identity as a child of God. From debates about church camp dress codes to deep insights on how God heals the wounds we can’t even fully remember, this episode is a masterclass in progressive sanctification, choosing faith over feelings, and pulling over to "get gas" when you need it.

"Our success as a society is dependent on our reliance on one another. We've been hijacked by political extremism and algorithms, but that's not who we really are."

 

We're going political on this week's Rough Drafts--but not exactly how you'd expect. Matthew's college friend, Dr. Lauren Pinkston joins us to tell her story of evolving faith, life on the mission field, and her decision to pursue faithfulness in politics.

When a tornado ripped through Selmer, Tennessee, the Wood family lost almost everything material—but they walked away with what mattered most.

 

In this special episode of Rough Drafts, Matthew sits down for a unique two-part conversation. First, you'll hear from the youngest daughters, Abby and Morgen, as they share their memories of that chaotic night (featuring wardrobe issues and legendary fat cat named Ombre). Then, parents Wes and Amber react to their daughters' perspective and open up about the reality of survival mode, the differences in their memories, and the ways this story has changed their faith.

How do you transition from climbing the corporate ladder at Apple Computer to installing wheelchair ramps and overhead lifts? For Steve Weaver, the shift happened the morning his daughter Cassi was born.

 

In our latest episode, Steve shares how a traumatic birth launched both his faith journey and a 25-year career in home accessibility. He doesn't hold back—talking openly about the joys of raising a child with special needs, battling caregiver burnout and clinical depression, and a stunning recent update regarding his wife’s battle with Stage 4 cancer.

 

If you need a reminder that miracles happen in the middle of hard seasons, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Listen now!

"The only difference between me and them is that either no one was there to help them to not make that choice or mistake, or no one was there when they were in need of someone."

 

What happens when you transition from managing a Subway to coordinating programs inside a county jail? For Deputy Program Director Michelle "Shelly" Corlew, the job description hasn't actually changed that much—it's still all about customer service, listening to people's life stories, and serving them exactly where they are.

What does it mean to "be the church" when you're nowhere near a church building? This week, Matthew sits down with his friend Vance Hardin—school teacher, welding instructor, legendary camp cook, and a man who simply doesn't know how to say "no" to serving his community. Vance opens up about the powerful legacy of the resilient women who raised him, shares a life-changing lesson about feeding chickens on a Sunday morning, and discusses how a servant's heart can completely transform the trajectory of a struggling teenager's life. It’s a great conversation about faith in the ordinary, shooting it straight, and finding God exactly where you are.

"I don't feel comfortable doing up-in-front-of-people stuff... I don't mind cutting trees. I don't mind parking cars in the rain. I don't mind doing the work stuff."

 

That's pure Dennis Brunett--one of the best shepherds I've gotten to know. Dennis shares some crazy stories form the chemistry lab, his love for the Burns Church family, and why it is that the police got called about him at a nearby middle school. You don't want to miss it!

It's not every day you get to take the journey from bigfoot to Jesus, but that's exactly the journey Kaitlin's faith journey takes us on! Join us as we talk about the "Blurry" moments in the Bible and how community makes all the difference in times of struggle. You don't want to miss it!

What begins on a sharecropper's farm travels through universities, counseling centers, five continents of missions, and more than 50 years of ministry. That's Dr. Hinkle's story. You'll hear his faith and simple wisdom and be blessed!