Author: Rusty Martin

Trying to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slower to anger!

The One Truth by Jon Gordon: A Biblical Perspective on Finding Purpose and Connection

In the realm of personal development literature, few authors can inspire and motivate readers quite like Jon Gordon. His book “The One Truth” is no exception. Packed with wisdom and guidance, it delves into the essential aspects of life, reminding us of the power of faith, purpose, and connection. In this blog post, we will explore some main points from “The One Truth” by Jon Gordon and discuss the importance of connection in addressing mental health.

Point 1: The Power of Purpose

Jon Gordon emphasizes the significance of discovering one’s purpose in life. It’s a timeless concept that finds strong support in the Bible.

Bible Verse: Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

This verse reminds us that our plans may not always align with God’s purpose. It’s important to seek and follow the path He has set for us, as it is through our purpose that we find true fulfillment and meaning.

Point 2: Discovering the One Truth

In the context of “The One Truth,” it implies that there is a central guiding force in our lives, just as Jesus is for many Christians. The One Truth can be seen as the unchanging core of our existence, providing us with direction, purpose, and meaning.

Bible Verse: John 14:6 (NIV)  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This verse emphasizes that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

“The One Truth that guides our lives is like a North Star, unchanging and constant. It’s the source of our purpose and meaning.” This quote emphasizes the idea that we all have a guiding truth, a core principle or belief that helps us navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life.

Point 3: The Significance of Connection

One of the central themes in “The One Truth” is the power of connection with others. As human beings, we are social creatures, and relationships play a crucial role in our lives.

Bible Verse: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

This verse highlights the importance of companionship and mutual support. In life’s challenges and trials, having someone to lean on is invaluable. Connection with others can provide solace, strength, and a sense of belonging.

Highlight: Mental Health and Connection

Now, let’s turn our attention to the pressing mental health issue. In today’s fast-paced and often isolating world, many individuals struggle with their mental well-being. The Bible and Jon Gordon’s “The One Truth” both underscore the importance of connecting with others, especially in times of darkness.

Mental health can be an incredibly isolating experience, but the simple act of reaching out to a friend or family member can make a world of difference. As the Ecclesiastes Bible verses mentioned earlier suggest, having someone to help us up when we fall is essential for our mental and emotional well-being.

Connection can be a lifeline for those facing mental health challenges. It offers support, understanding, and the reminder that we are not alone in our struggles. It’s important to foster these connections, both within our faith communities and our broader social circles, to help combat the stigma surrounding mental illness and provide a safe space for healing.

In conclusion, “The One Truth” by Jon Gordon, guided by biblical principles, encourages us to discover our purpose, have faith, and prioritize meaningful connections. These three pillars not only enhance our quality of life but also play a crucial role in addressing mental illness. As we reach out to one another with love, compassion, and empathy, we take steps towards a more supportive and understanding world where mental health is nurtured and cherished.

Trusting the Disobedient God: Lessons from ‘A Disobedient God’ by Albert Tate”

What do you do with a God who goes “off script”?  What do you do with a God who doesn’t do your to-do list, I mean your “prayer list”? Albert Tate’s illuminating book, “Disobedient God: Trusting a God Who Goes Off Script,” is a journey of faith and trust in a God who often works in unexpected ways. In this blog post, we’ll explore four essential points from the book, each backed by relevant Bible verses, to help us understand how to trust a God who has a different script in mind. 

1. Being at God’s Table (Psalm 23)

Albert Tate highlights the importance of finding our place at God’s table. In Psalm 23, we see the beautiful imagery of God as our Shepherd, leading us beside still waters and preparing a table before us in the presence of our enemies. This verse illustrates that God is always with us, providing for our needs and guiding us even when life takes unexpected turns. Trusting a disobedient God means taking our seat at His table, knowing that His plan is the best one for us. We can have doubts.  We can sit at God’s table with them.  Jesus opens up God’s table for us.  We just need to bring God with us, and He WILL and WANTS to sit together with us.

2. Seeking the Lord’s Presence (Psalm 27:4 & Exodus 32:1)

Tate encourages us to seek the Lord’s presence, just as King David did in Psalm 27:4: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” This verse reminds us to prioritize seeking God above all else. In contrast, Exodus 32:1 shows the consequences of not seeking the Lord when the Israelites made a golden calf. Seeking God’s guidance and presence is vital for discerning His script for our lives.

3. Finding Our Worth in His Work (Luke 15)

In Luke 15, we find the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. These stories illustrate God’s relentless love and pursuit of us, regardless of our mistakes. The book emphasizes the importance of finding our worth in God’s work understanding that His grace and love are not dependent on our performance. Trusting a disobedient God involves recognizing that our value is rooted in His unwavering love and redemption.

4. Peace that Surpasses Understanding (Philippians 4:4-9)

Tate explores the idea that God provides a unique peace that doesn’t necessarily match our circumstances. Philippians 4:4-9 reinforces this concept: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Trusting a disobedient God means finding peace in His presence, even when our situation is uncertain or confusing.

Closing

In conclusion, “Disobedient God: Trusting a God Who Goes Off Script” by Albert Tate is a profound exploration of faith and trust in a God whose plans may not align with our own. Trusting in a disobedient God ultimately leads to a deeper, more profound relationship with the One who holds the script of our lives. Watch the video below to go deeper into this.

Discover the Power of “Hope in Mind”

The battle for our minds has never been more critical in a world of stress, negativity, and constant distractions. But fear not, for a powerful book can guide you on the path to victory: “Winning the War in Your Mind” by Craig Groeschel. This transformative read equips you with the spiritual armor you need to overcome life’s challenges, helping you to renew your mind and find lasting peace. Let’s explore three key points from this inspirational book, each supported by Biblical truth! This will be a great resource as we go through the “Hope in Mind” message series we are doing as a church.

1. Recognize the Battlefield of the Mind Craig reminds us that the mind is the battlefield where many of our life’s greatest struggles take place. Negative thoughts, anxiety, and self-doubt often wage war against our well-being. The Bible reinforces this idea in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Acknowledging the battle within is the first step toward winning it.

2. Guard Your Thoughts with God’s Truth. To win the war in your mind, you must arm yourself with the most potent weapon of all: God’s Word. The book emphasizes the importance of filling your mind with truth, positivity, and the promises of God. Philippians 4:8 reminds us, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” By aligning your thoughts with God’s truth, you can defeat the enemy’s lies.

3. Embrace Transformation through Renewal The journey to winning the war in your mind is not just about defense but also offense. Romans 12:2 encourages us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” We need to transform our minds by renewing our thoughts and beliefs according to God’s will. As you shed old thought patterns and embrace God’s wisdom, you’ll experience lasting change and growth.

By recognizing the battlefield of the mind, guarding your thoughts with God’s truth, and embracing transformation through renewal, you can conquer the storms of life and find lasting peace. Remember, you are not alone in this battle; God’s Word is your sword and shield. Start your journey today and let your mind become a sanctuary of faith, hope, and love. Take a listen to Chapter 1 in the video below.

Celebrating 30 Years of Being a Family for Everyone

Thirty years of blessings, laughter, and faith – that’s what we’re celebrating as we come together on this momentous occasion of Fellowship of the Parks’ 30th-year anniversary. Over the past three decades, we’ve grown, changed, and evolved, but one thing has remained constant: our church is a family for everyone.

Our Secret Sauce: People and Connection

The heart of our church, the secret sauce that makes us so special, is our people and the connections we build. We believe everyone who walks through our doors should feel like they’ve found a second home, a loving family. It’s about making connections that go beyond the superficial and into the spiritual.

Pastor Doug Walker: A Humble Leader with a Passion for the Gospel

At the helm of this incredible journey is our beloved Pastor Doug Walker. If there’s one word to describe him, it’s “humble.” Pastor Doug leads with his heart, driven by an unwavering passion for the Gospel of Jesus. He’s a guiding light, showing us the way with his faith, kindness, and love. Under his leadership, we’ve learned the true meaning of humility and the importance of living out our faith daily.

Compassion, Grace, and Humility: The Church Staff’s Mantra

But it’s not just Pastor Doug; it’s our entire church staff that makes us a family for everyone. They lead with compassion, grace, and humility, ensuring everyone feels valued, supported, and heard. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to create an environment where everyone can thrive, and they do so with boundless love.

Acknowledging our Media and Worship Teams

On our anniversary Sunday, we witnessed something truly extraordinary. Our media and worship teams, who consistently bring their best every week, went above and beyond. The centerpiece of the celebration was a captivating video montage that traced the church’s history and laid out a vision for the future. Set to the soul-stirring tune of “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship, it was a tear-jerking, awe-inspiring experience.

This extraordinary effort by our media and worship teams reminds us of the dedication and passion that fuels our church. Their creative expression brought our history to life, showing how far we’ve come and where we’re headed next.

From Humble Beginnings to a Bright Future

Fellowship of the Parks began with humble beginnings in a home in Park Glen with just 11 people. But look at us now, standing tall with five campuses and an ever-growing family. And the best part is, we’re not done yet! Our mission to be a family for everyone continues to evolve and grow. As we celebrate our 30th year, we look forward to the many more years of blessings, laughter, and faith that lie ahead.

As we commemorate this milestone, we do so with hearts full of gratitude and a clear vision for the future. With God’s grace, our remarkable people, and a commitment to being a family for everyone, we are excited to see what the next 30 years will bring. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey, and here’s to the road ahead.

James

As a team, we recently did the Book of James Bible devotional taught by Francis Chan.  It was pretty incredible. Each one had a 7-12 minute video taught by Francis Chan where he would breakdown the chapter and verses of James into small chunks.

I appreciate Francis’ ability to communicate with such passion and conviction.  Every day each video was in a different location throughout San Francisco. A small detail that I picked up on was each location had a small application to the scripture.  The music was very good as well. It would help emphasize the moment in the video. From the production angle, I really could appreciate the details in the planning of wanting everything to matter and relate.

The study itself was great all 12 days.  I wanted to highlight day three where it highlighted and talked about James 1:19-27.  The passage opens up with James 1:19 which is a verse I have clung to personally for about two years now.  Honestly, I have clung to this verse because I was terrible at the warning it gave. “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”  Side note:  I even have the screenshot of this verse on my phone home screen!  That is how much I need to be reminded of this daily.

Anger, James says, does not produce Godly righteousness.  Listening, with patience and perseverance, allows us to receive “with meekness” the word of God.  James is writing to religious people, which I believe, without a doubt, still relates to us Christians today!  James is pushing them (us) to take the next step. Don’t be just listeners of the Word, but doers. Let our faith show up in our actions!  A lot of the book of James is that we put some feet to our words to live what we say we believe.

Today, everyone has something to say.  There is just not a lot of action compared to the amount of words being said…  May we all be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Easter & KNOW-IT-ALLS

Easter 2019

So we have blown past Easter!  We had incredible Easter services across all of our campuses this year.  As a church, we had over 6k in attendance for the first time ever! Our media team just killed it all weekend.  We added service times to help with attendance. Everyone had great team attitudes and led well. In Grapevine, we had Jerry, Tab, Paul, David, Lyndon, Randy, Michael, Steve, & Allison serving on our team.  In North Ft. Worth, we had Jen, Jenn, Tony, Tank, Jim, Hannah, Brenda, Chris, Noah, Wade, Ben, Madison, Bart, Elizabeth, Lindsea, & Katelyn. In Haslet, we had Crystal, Brett, Jason, George, Pedro, Arvin, Todd, Brian, Robert, Susan, Derek, Kelly, & Matt.  In Justin, we had Eddie, Tim, Hudson, & Steve! I can’t say thank you enough to our teams.

In service, we opened with the song “Ain’t No Grave.” We presented lyrics a little differently using some pre-made slides to give it a different feel.  We had a great message that shared how the resurrection of Christ was the most pivotal moment in history! Watch a clip of the message, here!  We had a great offering video, featuring Tim Brown. Just me talking about it won’t do it justice so you will just have to watch it! The video was edited by Michael Ashmead.  We ended the service with “Death was Arrested” and we produced a lyric video to go with the song.  It was created by Ryan Slaughter. I’m thankful for our church and each person that had a part in making Easter great at FOTP!!

Know-it-Alls

I’m probably going to talk about the book “Multipliers” until I’m blue in the face.  I just want to “try” and communicate what it has done for our team and me! This week in our team meeting we discussed chapter 4 “The Challenger.”  Part of having a Multiplier’s mindset is being a “CHALLENGER” vs a “KNOW-IT-ALL”. Know-it-alls assume their job is to know the most and to tell their organization what to do.  As a result, they limit the organization to achieve only what they themselves know. A Challenger sets a new course for an organization by provoking thinking, guiding discovery, and laying down a challenge.  As a result, they create organizations that deeply understand challenges and have the focus and energy to confront it.

Know-it-alls believe they are the expert on most subjects, and the organization is a means to putting their ideas in place.

Challengers believe people grow through challenges and want to be stretched.  There is a difference between giving someone more work and giving someone more challenging work.

We discussed that in our line of work/industry, the know-it-all attitude is king.  We need to combat that attitude. We need to take the role of more of a coaching model.  We need to give our people/teams the framework, boundaries, & a playbook. We will ask provocative questions to help guide discovery, lay down a challenge, and generate belief in what’s possible!  Then we turn them loose and let them go and do! With that, hopefully, our people/teams will be challenged to make it their own. From this, we will see great benefits and honestly a better product, for lack of a better word.  

41

So I’ve been a Dallas Mavs fan for a while now.  For that whole time there has been one guy on that team,  #41 Dirk. There are MANY things I can say about Dirk. There are three things that stand out the most to me.  #1. His humility is always so unassuming. This man changed the game for the “big man”. He could shoot, dribble, fade-away, and pick and pop like no other.  All these younger athletic big men are mimicking him. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. Get this, he never said ONE word about how great he was, rather it was always about the team.  

#2. His work ethic.  Dirk was a “gym rat,” always in the gym practicing and honing his craft.  He could have easily taken the easy way out due to the talent he had. He was driven and talented in today’s world, that is a rare breed.  He didn’t take the easy way out. No magic pills, but good old-fashioned hard work.

#3. He is a winner/champion.  There were some ups and downs for sure.  The Mav’s where in the playoffs almost every year with a chance to win it all.  I think about 2011 when the Mavs won the title. Mav’s were not favored to win that year.  One of the sports radio hosts labeled them “the one and done team,” meaning they would go to the first round and lose.  Well, they didn’t do that! Mostly because of Dirk’s will and drive. Basketball for sure is a team sport and it takes everyone doing their part to succeed.  Dirk was their servant leader, and they followed all the way to the top of the mountain. The Mav’s beat a “super” team led by the best player in the league, but in that June of 2011, Dirk was the better player.

As I said, there are many things to say about Dirk, like how he is off the court.  Watch this video. Uncle Dirk

You saw it this year, when Dirk is on road games, the opposing teams/fans give him mad love.  Spurs

All in all, what a great person.  I wish I knew him personally. I feel like I do after watching him play the past 21 seasons.  There is a lot I’ve taken from him and applied in my own life, including how I help lead our media teams.  Dirk goes against a lot of what this world is about. Because of his character, he stands out like a light, and it shows that doing the right thing goes a long way.

Diminisher vs Multiplier

I have never been much of a “reader”. And reading books has never been much in my game plan.  Even in school, I would never finish a required reading (sorry to all my teachers out there!).  Fast forward a few years after “conditioning” myself with sports radio and podcasts like Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast, Criag Groeschell Leadership Podcast, & The Brian Buffini Show (Real Estate). I’ve learned that I can listen to books and this has been a GAME CHANGER for me! Over the past two years or so I’ve completed 40 books!  Even some of the 40 I’ve listented to a second or even third time.

One of the books I’ve read, well listened to, is Multipliers, by Liz Wiseman. This book changed my perspective on leading.  Liz breaks us down into two groups: Diminishers or Multipliers. Basically, the Diminisher has an assumption that “People won’t figure it out without me.”  A multiplier has an assumption that “People are smart and will figure it out.”

Are you an accidental diminisher?  This can be tough for a leader to hear.  Let me tell you, this was me.  Accidental was completely correct because I had no idea I was actually causing more harm than overall good for the team I lead.  My personality is very direct, with a know-it-all attitude. I feel like I do care for my teams and have a good heart, but the actions I did in the moment didn’t necessarily say, “I cared”.   How might I, with the very best intentions, have a diminishing impact on the people I lead? Can people be hindered by our honest attempts to help, teach, coach, or lead by example?

We all have accidental diminisher moments.  Five ways we can be diminishers;

The Gatekeeper:  Hoards resources and underutilizes talent.

The Tyrant:  Creates a tense environment that suppresses people’s thinking and capability.

The Know-It-All:  Gives directives that showcase how much they know.

The Decision Maker:  Makes centralized, abrupt decisions that confuse the organization.

The Micromanager:  Drives results through their personal involvement.

This was me to the “T”…  Honestly, very hard for me to hear and see.  To my core, I want people to be on the same team and to succeed/win.  I wanted to change and needed to change!  I wanted to be a genius maker that brought out the intelligence in others.  I wanted to build collective and viral intelligence in my organization.  I wanted to be a Multiplier!

Five ways to be a Multiplier;

The Talent Finder:  Attracts talented people & uses them at their highest point of contribution.

The Liberator:  Creates an intense environment that requires people’s best thinking and work.

The Challenger:  Defines an opportunity that causes people to stretch.

The Community Builder:  Drives sound decisions by constructing decision-making forms.

The Investor:  Gives other people ownership for results and invests in their success.

The author, Liz, has a lot of good research in the book, and one of the things she measured was the results of a Diminisher versus a Multiplier led team. Diminishers get about 40% of the effort of a team/person. A Multiplier is able to get 2.3 times more of what a team/person is able to give normally. That’s huge productivity.  We always think we need to hire more people, but in contrast, we need to get more out of what we have. Or, in my case, find people sitting on the sidelines! And use them to their full potential. One thing in doing this I’ve had to learn is they will make mistakes(duh, we all do!). My response to those mistakes are key. I need to let them fail and then coach them up. Letting them fail is super hard for me. My reaction, most of the time, is to jump in and fix it which doesn’t help them grow.

Now, I don’t have this completely figured out but I do feel like our team has great momentum now.  I can truly say this was a stepping stone into the momentum. There is a lot more beneficial information in this book. I highly recommend it!

Multipliers, by Liz Wiseman

Stage Design & Install

Being on staff at FOTP for 12 years I’ve seen a lot of changes.  Going from a single site church to multisite church, being one of them.  Within my first four years we grew to 3 campuses. During that time I had the privilege of growing and learning how to lead teams and design systems at each of our campuses. There have been many opportunities to learn and experience growing pains. I don’t think a lot of people in our own church know that our team have designed and installed (with LOTS of help) each of our auditoriums.

North Ft. Worth / Keller Campus

My first major learning experience came when we expanded our auditorium at our Keller/North Ft. Campus.  We expanded from about 300 seats to about 550. It involved the stage being pushed back/ recessed, adding a stereo sound system with digital Yamaha M7 console with in-ear monitors, and adding, LED color lighting and upgraded projectors.

In 2013 we opened a new larger auditorium (which would later become our North auditorium) at our Keller/N. Ft Worth Campus.  This auditorium has been my biggest project to date. It can seat about 1100 people. The big component was being able to do IMAG (Image magnification).  This also help spearhead us to being able to do an online campus. It was a fun project that a lot of was mimicked our Grapevine campus from a stage designed & media room.

In early 2018 (January) we redesigned our “old” auditorium (which would be renamed as the South Auditorium) in Keller/N. Ft. Worth Campus.  We added some video LED (pixel bars) and robotic cameras, and the ability to record and produce our services.

Grapevine Campus

With our Grapevine launch we had to be portable so I designed a sound system (parts of this system still being used now at our Justin Campus!).  It had to be easy to set up and be tech-ed by volunteers. We had a three screen / projector set up with the content being driven by ProPresenter.  We would have to set up and tear down for about 4 years.

In 2012 our Grapevine campus was able to purchase land and build a building.  So I got to design our auditorium. This was a HUGE learning experience for me.  All the way from designing infrastructure (conduit), lighting, audio, video & media room(where video is in a separate room).  We had some late nights, and ate a lot of pizza!

Now in 2019 we are expanding our Grapevine auditorium.  We are going from around 365 seats to about 550ish. This will involve a complete media refurbish, and adding a huge video component.  I’m very excited about how this will help us reach even more people with the Gospel through technology.

Haslet Campus

Our third campus was launched in Haslet in 2010 inside the Haslet Elementary School cafetria/gym.  This system was a little more involved. We had to be portable, but the teaching was done primary with video.  So this added a huge and very important component: we had a virtual pastor. Simulating a pastor on stage took some time to perfect  First, we would record a message on Thursday, and Saturday at our Keller campus. Then we would play it back in Haslet. The set up took about hour to set up sound and video.  We did not do any lighting.

Prior to our Easter launch in Haslet we did two “preview” services with about 80 people in attendance.  What followed on Easter Sunday was one of the coolest moments I’ve experienced at our church. Based on the “preview” services we were set up expecting about 80 people and instead God sent us 300!  We had pipe and drape set up to help “shape” the room and not make it feel like a cafeteria. We ended up having to tear down to give people a place to sit. It was a goosebump moment seeing God move like that.  Sometimes our dreams / expectations are too small.

Once we launched the school district came back and told us they would be remodeling over the summer and we would not have any A/C.  Being in Texas that was a HUGE problem… Through God’s provision we found land at our current Haslet Campus location. It had a house and barn on the property.  We were given a sprung structure from a church in California that would serve as our auditorium. Basically, a sprung is a big tent. This posed some issues for the media / production.  For instance, we couldn’t “fly” or hang things like screens or projectors because the sprung is ALWAYS moving. This is a huge issue so instead we ended up “ground stacking” everything.  “Ground stacking” is like it sounds, you put it on the floor and go up. Normally when things are installed they are “flown” down. My goal from day one was to create an experience where you didn’t feel like you were in a tent.  I believe we accomplished this. I don’t know how many times I heard people say inside, “where’s the tent?”

In Fall of 2018 we added a 650 seat auditorium at our Haslet campus,  This was really fun and I really felt like we found our groove with this project.  I really like how this place looks and sounds. Learning from all the other projects I implemented some things with the volunteers that really helped with them “owning” this project.

Justin Campus

In 2017 we launched our Justin Campus, which meets in Justin Elementary school.  We again had a portable set up. In complete hindsight, I know why God had me traveling doing production six years before being on staff at the church. To help prepare me for this.  This set up was even more involved than previous campuses. We have a two trailer set up!

Listen it sounds like a lot, and it IS!  I’m not sure how many people in my position whom has gotten to do this, and be trusted to do this…  For that I am very thankful for our church leadership, and my teams couldn’t literally do this with YOU!  I also want to thank my family they are very understanding while I’m doing these types of projects that take up a lot of my time. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Stories 2019

So, this past week we have been shooting our stories/testimonies that we will use this year in our services at FOTP. In most of our services, we have a story highlighting showing what God is doing through our people. In all the stories it has been incredible to hear what God is doing through our people and church! Thankful for their courage to share their stories, and can’t wait to see how God use them for his glory. If you would like to share your story, send us a message. We would love to hear it!

Producing these stories every week is very rewarding, yet a lot of work. It takes a little army to pull these off each week. With the shoot itself, we usually have 4-5 camera people and an interviewer. We didn’t always operate this way but as we have gotten a little better, more people wanted to be involved. In the way back machine, it was normally just me with maybe two cameras doing it all. Guess what? It wasn’t very good, but it was a start. I’ve always known how powerful videos can be. About the time we started doing them, I am Second came along and started a huge movement! They do great work. One video in particular that started this passion in me was a video by Newspring Church featuring Zac Smith.   Zac Smith responded in faith to the colon cancer that eventually killed him by being thankful to God, no matter what. It is very moving. It taught me a lot about my calling/purpose and the power of video can be used for the good.

I am very thankful for our team that makes this process A LOT better! The crew on the stories 2019 shoot: Ryan Slaughter, Matthew Martin, Jen Driskill, Arvin Carlisle, Michael Ashmead, Michael McGarry, Rachael Henderson, Nathan Tankersley. There have been many people help along the way like Dusty Jump, Randy Jones, John Fornero & others!