Rough Drafts: How God Writes His Love in Our Stories

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!

History isn’t just dates and dead people—it’s the story of how we got here. 🌍
This week on Rough Drafts, I’m talking to my old friend Zack Martin. We discuss everything from our college antics to the serious theology of why history matters. We cover why "unprecedented" times usually aren't, why we need to read the Bible with the "dead," and yes... why Zack read obituaries for fun in the first grade.
If you think history is boring, this episode might just change your mind. Listen now! 🎧

The "Pizza and Relationships" Episode
On this episode of Rough Drafts, we welcome Samuel Yocum to the studio (fresh off a heavy breakfast burrito from Janine’s). Samuel shares his journey from being a "theater kid" with big dreams to finding his calling in youth ministry.
We dive deep into what it looks like to grow up with "dual citizenship"—raised by parents fully committed to two different churches—and how that experience shaped Samuel’s ability to listen to others rather than just talk about them.
In this conversation, we cover:
The "Westgate" Rumor: A local story that perfectly illustrates why we need to stop assuming and start having real conversations across denominational lines.
The Ministry of Hanging Out: Why relationships are the only currency that matters in youth ministry (and why you can't disciple a kid you don't know).
Unity in Grief: Samuel shares a powerful story from his time at Freed-Hardeman about how tragedy stripped away social barriers and brought a campus together.
God Doesn't Care About the Honda: A liberating take on "calling"—why we stress too much about finding God’s "secret plan" for our jobs and geography, when He’s actually calling us to holiness.
The Only Love You Don’t Have to Compete For: Dealing with people-pleasing and finding peace in the non-competitive love of God.
Notable Quote: "If I never have any friends in life... if I never get a wife, if I never have a family... I have the love of God. And that is more than enough." — Samuel Yocum

My favorite daughter joins us for this week's special Kid's Rough Drafts. Katie tells all the cool things about life in WBES and some of her favorite Bible stories, too.

This week's episode is a special episode, honoring a friend who passed away in 2018. 
Juanita Woodson was a Burns Church staple. In this episode, you'll hear a special interview conducted by Charlie Dauphin where she tells of her life, family, and faith. She talks about making her own toys from clay, some memorable childhood spankings, and love at first sight.