Rough Drafts: How God Writes His Love in Our Stories

Matthew welcomes special guests Stephen and Julia Pate for a two-for-one conversation that spans the Dateline (literally, they're in Japan!). Stephen, a Navy Chaplain, and Julia, a Navy Pharmacist, share their incredible journey from the Bible Belt to a battleship, experiencing military life in Okinawa, Pearl Harbor, and beyond. They pull back the curtain on the scars and triumphs of local ministry, discussing the challenging process of faith deconstruction and how a crisis led them to a new, unexpected calling. Listen as they discuss the unique environment of a military chaplaincy—a "ministry of presence"—where questions often speak louder than sermons, and the clarity that comes from facing things that truly matter. Julia also shares her own inspiring path from reluctant military spouse to active-duty officer, proving that God establishes the work of our hands, no matter the assignment. Dive into this honest and moving episode about trusting God’s plan, even when it looks nothing like what you imagined. PS> The Pates need me to tell you that their views are their own, not necessarily those of the Department of Defense or its components. They don't represent the Pentagon or anything like that. Any reference to commercial products, services, and stuff, doesn't imply endorsement by the Government.

Get ready for an episode that proves the most ambitious endeavors start with the simplest of questions: "How hard could it be?" Meet Angela Moore, the self-proclaimed "Turkey in Chief" of the Given Gobble 5K, Dickson County's massive Thanksgiving Day race benefiting the local Help Center. What started as the dream of a few runners at church has mushroomed into an annual event that raises nearly $100,000! In this this week's episode, Angela opens up about "God Winks" and Eerie Coincidences: Hear the back-to-back stories of interesting numbers in the race...and a perfectly timed rainbow. Are you training for the race, or just looking for a good God story? Press play now to hear what God is up to in the extraordinary rough draft of Angela Moore! P.S. Need to sign up, volunteer, or sponsor? Find all the details and registration link for the Give n Gobble 5K at gg5k.org!

"I prayed every night for 32 weeks for a happy and healthy baby. And I got everything but that." What happens when a prayed-for joy becomes an unexpected trauma? In this deeply honest and vulnerable episode, Jessa Gossett shares the story of her daughter, Addie. An emergency C-section at 32 weeks brought Addie into the world, but the effects of an unknown CMV infection months before meant her life would last for only 25 hours. Jessa holds nothing back as she recounts the hospital chaos, the pain of leaving with empty arms, and the raw anger she felt toward a God she believed had abandoned her. This isn't just a story of loss; it's a powerful guide on how to show up for grieving parents, what not to say, and why the most important thing we can do is continue to speak the names of the children who were here, even for a short time. This is a difficult, but essential, conversation about grief, faith, and the 25 hours that changed everything. (Note: This episode contains frank discussion of infant loss and medical trauma.)

The 5.8 Centimeter Catalyst: From Wild Youth to Spiritual Wisdom Todd Steen was "10 foot tall and bulletproof" as a young man. As an adult, he became a relentless questioner, demanding to know why God allows things to happen. His perspective was shattered by an unexpected medical "cascade": a series of events starting with a sore shoulder that led to open-heart surgery that saved his life from a ticking time bomb. Join us as Todd walks us through the realization that the entire sequence was not a coincidence, but a divine intervention designed to teach him the most important lesson of his life: God's ways are higher than our ways.

Josh’s story began at the dentist's office and progressed through military service, PTSD, opioid addiction, and a DEA drug trafficking indictment. He shares the chilling story of hitting rock bottom, being "rescued, not arrested" through incarceration, and the pivotal moment in a Hope Center bedroom where the Holy Spirit changed everything. His message is clear: recovery is a byproduct of Jesus, and no life is too far gone for restoration. You're going to love his message!

Welcome back to Rough Drafts! In this week's story, Chazz Jackson opens up about how a simple postcard became a catalyst for change. He shares about his deep dive into Christian apologetics, and the challenges he encountered on his way back home.

Welcome to the first Rough Drafts of 2025! Today's guest is a church leadership guru and an all-around great guy. You get to hear from Bob Turner as he shares a few moments that changed his life forever.

**This is the last episode of 2024 - we'll take a two week hiatus and be back on January 7 for the new year!** Do you know Taylor Rhodes? If not, you should! In this week's episode, Taylor shares the twists and turns of his life and how God used them to bring about something really beautiful.

She's not boring! There's a lot in this episode, so you don't want to miss it. Join us as Brianna Ramseur shares from her God stories!

Ever wonder what a preacher does? So did we... This week, Thomas Southerland, Minister at Water Street Church of Christ in Charlotte, TN and Chris McCurley, Minister at Walnut Street Church of Christ in Dickson, TN join us for a conversation about our God stories in ministry. What's up with this weird job?

Guess what! Rough Drafts is coming back with a brand new episode next Tuesday. To get us back in the swing of things, we're re-releasing a favorite, our Thanksgiving 2023 episode where we hear not from 1 or 2 guests...but more than 20 who share moments of gratitude, buth small and large. Thanks for listening! We've got some great stories yet to come!

God likes to teach us lessons in unexpected places... It's amazing how often we end up "doing the work" when we're helping other people do the work...

Life doesn't come with an instruction manual. We make it up as we go! Susan shares her story from life in the FHU Bubble and more!

It's really cool when the story of God's people is part of the story of your whole life. That's the story you'll get today with Anita Fuson - a story that reminds us that God is still very much alive and at work in his world!

He could have been a shoe salesman...or an accountant...but he's ended up in ministry...for a long time! He's nearing retirement, so now is a good time to look back at some of the God stories along the way. Listen to Geoffrey Sikes, minister at the church of Christ at Trenton Crossing in Clarksville, TN as he shares his journey in ministry!

Since I've abused more than 70 guests....I guess turnabout is fair play. Today Monica Gossett and I swap seats...and she bullies me into telling parts of my story!

**Be sure to listen past the closing credits for a special ending!** This week, Chase Lewis shares his story! It's a story of a really scary time in life...and God's providence through it all!

This episode was a throwback for me...all the way back to 8th grade Bible at David Lipscomb Middle School. Today's guest is Mike McPherson - youth minister, coach, Bible teacher....he wears a lot of hats. You may have heard his story in the past about navigating depression...and navigating his wife's death to ALS. In our conversation today, he shares some of the...less-than-helpful...things that well-meaning people have said along the way. If you're in the Dickson area, Mike will be with us at Burns on Wednesday night at 4/24 to share Lisa's story. You don't want to miss it!

I met Tim Hines when we landed in Honduras last summer. Immediately, I knew he was going to be someone I wanted to know. He's got a fantastic sense of humor (that I'm still a little afraid of)...incredible faith... and a generous heart. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, either. You've heard great things from his son, Dalton, in a previous episode!

Big news from Burns Church! We welcome Chuck Ramseur to our staff as our new associate minister. In this episode recorded on day 1, you'll get to meet Chuck, hear his story, and how he ended up in ministry.