The StoryField

Meet Blessed Matai.  

He loves getting punched in the face. Be careful if you try though because he is a blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Stephenville locals will recognize Blessed as the owner and coach of Makhuwa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym serving over 100 kids/adults.   

He was born and raised in Maputo, Mozambique, Africa and first came to America with a small bag and $500 to play college basketball in Midland.

Blessed is a man of great faith- listen in today to hear how faithful God has been to him in his journey from Africa to Stephenville.  You will be encouraged.

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Meet Lee Ellis.  Founder and owner of at least four (4) companies in Fort Worth; including one of the largest real estate brokerages in Tarrant County.

Lee joined us for a short mini-cast covering one of the most helpful things they ever did in their 20+ years of business.   

If a business owner gets this correct, then everything will change.  So, what is it?

Thank you Lee for making time to teach and encourage and make our companies way better.

If you have any questions or feedback for Lee, email him at ([email protected]).

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Meet John Strappazon aka “Strap”.  

Strap grew up on the wrong side of the tracks outside of Chicago but found himself living with a friend’s family attending college 1,200 miles away.

He knew nothing about the gospel or faith; he had no interest at all in the Bible, but his life changed one Sunday morning when he heard from God “If you give your life to me, you will find what you are looking for”. 

Since then, he has been in ministry 40+ years; been chaplain for the Texas Tech Football Team; was used to help create Paradigm Bible Study which is still thriving in many locations; and has become a great disciple-maker. 

At one point, an English professor give him a “C minus minus minus “ on his final class portfolio and actually wrote the words “you still do not know how to write a paper”. Strap got the last laugh as he is now the author of two (2) books – Life’s Equipment Bag and Gear for the Game. 

Get them here-

Gear for the Game

Life's Equipment Bag 

Want some tips on how to live a life of discipleship?  Strap has you covered – listen in today.

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Meet Marlon Woods.  

Marlon has more followers on Instagram (80,000 followers) than Stephenville’s population.

Marlon’s name may sound familiar to you if you’ve ever heard of Les Mills International.  In fact, you can stream Marlon and let him lead you through some Body Combat and Body Pump through Les Mill’s massive online streaming workouts.

We covered a lot of ground during the interview including - 

·      Growing up with the great pressure to perform in sports as a child.

·      Serving in the military in Afghanistan.

·      Working on Capitol Hill and why he said ‘no” so many times to some dream jobs.

·      The deep struggle when opening a gym.

Marlon is the author of “The Only One in the Room”.  You can purchase it HERE.

Listen in today to soak up some encouragement from Marlon’s incredible story.  If anything, he would tell you that whatever the circumstance you are in just “walk through the door”. 

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Meet Darrel – our guest on The StoryField Podcast.

He should not be alive right now – except for a miracle. 

This is what Darrel heard from God immediately after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer:

“I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.  

Psalm 118:17”

Tune in today to hear his incredible story which included founding Southside City Church (Fort Worth) which was planted years ago to love and serve the Homeless and those with HIV and AIDS. 

Thank you Darrel for being so vulnerable and honest.  You will find encouragement in this episode.

Shine in the City

Email Darrel - [email protected] 

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The StoryField w/ Jeremy Davis.

Jeremy Davis apparently needs the desert seasons. 

He is a 3rd generation pastor’s kid but after an early divorce in his family he became far enough away from God he became “unchurched”.  

In college, the Lord found him; plugged him into a “random TV church” as he says jokingly where the pastor gave his weekly message on a screen.   Later, he became the Fort Worth campus pastor of that church (Life.Church) which now has 40 campuses and reaches 65,000 weekly.

Jeremy is the owner/founder of a staff training and development company.  He is obsessed with people’s unrealized potential, and he reminds us to remember – do not objectify your employees or people.  Learn to be empathetic because it is the greatest force in the entire universe.

Listen to Jeremy’s fascinating story today.  You will both learn and be encouraged. 

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Ross is a partner with Hotchkiss Insurance but there is way more to the story of his life. In fact, one episode did not do it justice. 

When trying to explain in writing what his life story is to date – “a series of pivotal moments” and “crushed identities” and “God’s goodness” is what comes to mind.

Ross Conner joined us for an authentic episode where we discussed many topics including-

• Divorce of parents
• Place kicking (or lack thereof) for Texas A&M
• Life changing mission trip
• A long drive to “get the girl”
• Adoption and large families
• Bankruptcy
• Listening Prayer 

If you need encouragement – you must listen in today.  Hope is found in Ross’s story.

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The Company of the Rock House: 

·      Has 500 employees; 

·      Is in 8 locations across Texas; and

·      Has provided life skills needs and training to adults with intellectual disabilities in Texas for over 40 years.

Rock House all began in 1978 when a letter came across Brad’s desk. 

Tune in today to see how the Rock House grew from humble beginnings in Stephenville to daily serving almost 500 families across Texas. 

When it officially opened in 1979 – individuals with mental retardation lived in state institutions, not in the community.  Rock House help change that by opening one of the first private group homes in Texas. 

Business leaders – you will not want to miss some of the secret ingredients that made Rock House so great.

Also, Brad gave us his secret as to how a business can get and keep enough employees to care for 500 people.  Here it is—

Matthew 9:37-38:  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Thank you, Brad, for giving us such an honest behind the scenes look at your story and God’s favor in your life and business.   

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He wakes up each day ready to “Attack the Day” but that wasn’t always the case...

Savion is the owner/founder of SDUB Fitness – Stephenville, Texas as well as –

• A fitness motivator
• Motivational speaker
• Author of – SDUB, the real meaning

Join us today to hear how Savion went from growing up in a fatherless home (raised by a superhero mom) to playing football at TSU to starting SDUB Fitness in a Garland, Texas park after seriously considering suicide.

This is a fascinating episode which will encourage and motivate you.  Like Savion says – “You only lose if you quit”.

He knows “Why” he exists, and it is clearly playing itself out.  Thanks Savion for the authentic conversation!

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“You look horrible.”   

As an act of concern, two people told Don that exact phrase in one day.  

Within the next week Don was diagnosed with leukemia and had already begun receiving his first chemo treatment.

The former golf course superintendent of one of America’s best golf courses- the Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas -- discusses his journey leading to working his dream job and the difficult years which followed.

Don is on the other side of 5 rounds of chemo; 63 days in the hospital; and 150 consecutive days of doctor’s visits.  

He is:

• A survivor; 
• Author of “Finish Your Race”; 
• A motivational speaker;  
• A business owner; and
• A major volunteer for NTX Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Oh – did we mention he has since completed 22 marathons.  

You will have no excuses once you listen to this episode; but you will be very encouraged.

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