Episode #11 - The Bristers

All right. We are excited to have two of

our guests here who have been here for a long time at Lifegate

now, you know, and they've been involved in in in my life for I

don't know since we moved Alabama, I want to say so we're

we're super excited to have brother Jason's sister Rachel

Brister here with us today all. Right, glad, glad to be here.

Looking forward to it here. With you guys.

Yeah, long time, long, long time.

We were very young when we first met you guys way back in Athens.

It's been a while. I can't remember exactly when at

Athens, when it was we met, but I know we've been here since I

think we were. We figured out 2007. 2007 or 8.

That's when we when we first come to last.

Year. So yeah.

So you guys were shorter than me and now you're way taller than

me. Well, crazy enough, you guys

were like my Sunday school teacher right at one point,

weren't you? Yes, for a small Claire's as

well, So it's pretty wild. I love seeing you guys growing

up and you know, seeing you as children and then now as adults

living for the Lord is just brings tears to my eyes truly.

That's awesome. So super excited to talk about

this. You know, kind of get to know

both of you better and a lot of people, you know, some of us

know part of your story, but you know, we really like to kind of

dive in and maybe get to know a little bit more about you and

know how God's worked in your life.

Who would like to kind of go 1st and and start talking a little

bit about your life? Flip a coin or why don't you go

ahead? Yeah, I can go ahead and start

it and just kind of give you a little background, a little bit

of a my, my testimony, where I'm from, how how I ended up, how I

ended up here. So originally I was from

Mississippi, so where I was born in Meridian, lived there for a

first six years or so in my life.

And actually my dad was a Baptist minister.

So growing up as APK in a Baptist household.

So I hear a lot of things you guys have talked about over the

years of being the PKS and like, you know, now when I I didn't

grow up in a church plant, it was an established church that I

grew up in, but always there at the church.

Same. Like, you know, there was a lot

of times cleaning the churches on Saturday and then I remember

my mom and dad with their typewriter putting together the

church bulletin to hand out each week, or maybe it was monthly,

I'm not sure. But I remember that since time

my dad, well, both my mom and dad worked full time jobs while

he was the preacher also. So, you know, before, I guess at

that age when before I started school, I was either at home

with my mom when she wasn't working or there were certain

times during the during the week I would actually go to work with

my dad. He drove a truck at the time for

like a, a plant nursery like here you say, the Bonnie Plant

Farms, that kind of thing. It was something similar to

that. So I got to spend quite a few

days with him, like on the road traveling all over Mississippi.

But but you know, had a great great childhood living there

Mississippi. Then about the time I right

before I turned 7, we moved to harvest.

My dad actually took a church at in harvest just down the road

here Harvest Baptist Church. And that is where actually first

got saved in the Baptist Church and was baptized in the name of

the father, Son and Holy Spirit at the time.

And you know that's that was life.

You know, that was, that's how I was raised, what, what, what I

was taught. So didn't know, didn't know any

different, didn't know any of anything else.

So we're there for a while and then eventually he took a church

in Ardmore and that's where I still am today.

But so I guess that was in 1992 when we moved to Ardmore.

And like I said, I've been there, been there ever since.

Ended up graduating school there, you know, attended church

there at First Baptist in Ardmore.

And, you know, everything was was great.

Like I said, just living what I thought was was right.

But I will say as I got older, kind of finishing high school,

you know, there was certain things that kind of stood out to

me at the time of, you know, I'd been saved.

I'd said a prayer and accepted Jesus in my life.

And I've been baptized before, but I don't know, just the

thought of once saved, always saved.

I don't know that just, you know, kind of kind of bother me

a little bit. You know, it's like, how can

this be? How can this be true?

You know, how can because you know, a lot of people I hung out

with and I'll say myself included, you know, you they're

on church on Sundays. But then during the week, maybe

you wasn't doing the things you should be doing, you know, I

mean nothing, nothing bad, you know, nothing awful, but it just

probably not where I needed to be.

But just the thought of, you know, hey, how can I do these

things but still believe, you know, once saved, always saved.

I don't know, just it bother me, but not enough, I'll say, not

enough that I was out looking for something else, you know.

But it wasn't long after high school when I met Rachel.

She was I was working at the grocery store or more.

And that's where I'm at Rachel. And to the I want to say,

contrary to the rumors that Cam and Colby have spread over the

years, I did not meet Rachel at a family reunion.

So that definitely, definitely not Yes, so, but, but yeah.

So I met Rachel and immediately she invited me to church with

her. This time I was going to 1st

Church in Athens. So I was like, yeah, of course.

So I went again, not really looking for anything at the

church. I was as as you've heard before

on these podcasts, this was Hadley.

I was also chasing a girl, you know, That's like church.

Yeah. Let's go, you know?

Sure. So well.

You did tell me you had to verify a few things with your

dad before you started chasing though.

Oh. Yes, that is true.

That is true. So so she'd been coming in the

store. All right, so and I kept

noticing she always hey, this girl, she's always got on these

skirts. What's?

So I went home and asked my dad. I was like, hey, just

interested. There's this girl that keeps

coming in the store, so I but she's always got on the skirt.

I mean, what, what do they believe?

What's their religion? And she said, well, you know, it

could be, could be Pentecostal, could be Holiness.

He named off a couple, you know, and well, I had a very important

question for him. I was like, what do you think?

She shaves her legs. No.

Why that why that was the question, I don't know.

But you know, I mean, I'm 1819 years old, you know, there's

priorities, right? So because that would that would

that might have been a deal breaker.

I don't know. So, but he said he actually, he

kind of laughed. He said, he said, well, son, I

don't know, You'll have to go find out for yourself, I guess,

you know. So anyway, I took a chance and

here we are. So, you know, I guess that

answers that question. But so that's.

Funny. Yeah.

Thank goodness. Right, yes.

So I guess that's that's kind of a good point right there.

Kind of like the intersection. So what about you?

How did you grow up? You know, Sister Rachel, what

was your experience? My childhood was really a good

childhood, but my parents, I've always been Apostolic

Pentecostal. My parents actually were Baptist

up until the point when I think about two years before I was

born, they said they started feeling a hunger kind of like

Jason said that there's something more out there, you

know, and just got a hunger and started searching and

researching things and studying the Bible and asking questions.

And they were going to their pastor and different people that

they trusted and saying, what is this about the Holy Ghost?

You know what, what is speaking in tongues and what I'm reading

this, it says, you know, be baptized in Jesus name.

And they were, you know, trying to just, they just felt the

hunger to learn and get draw closer to God.

And they said some people couldn't answer their questions

and actually even told them they weren't welcome and their church

if they kept pursuing that line of thought, you know, And so mom

and dad said they started trying to find other churches and they

started praying and searching at home and actually got the Holy

Ghost in their living room. Oh, wow, yes.

After multiple, multiple days of praying and reading the Bible

and studying and I had others coming over, some of their

family members were coming over. And so my oldest brother and

sister, Angie and Tony were young at that time.

And mom and dad said, we were so caught up in the spirit of God.

People would walk in our house and just say, whoa, what's going

on? You know, it's so strong.

And she said, I guess we neglected the kids because Angie

asked him, Mom, are we ever going to eat again?

They were just so caught up in in the presence of the Lord, you

know, And so that's a good memory to have.

But once they came to receive the Holy Ghost and got baptized

and came to know the fullness, like my dad was just a mom too.

We're just on fire. And just so thankful, I think to

have found the truth that you know, myself growing up in it,

you might, I might take it for granted sometimes how wonderful

it is to know the Lord and, and to know the truth.

You know, that that I just feel deep down in my soul that this

is the way to live and him coming to it, you know, later

and having experienced a different life, I think he just

had a really strong appreciation for it, you know, and mom too.

And they were just wonderful parents.

You know, dad was an entrepreneur, you know, he had

several businesses and just a very strong man of faith.

And, you know, I just always saw his Bible, him reading his Bible

and highlighting his Bible actually have one of his Bibles.

That's awesome that before he died, I said mom said, what is

there anything you want that made it kind of write down?

She's making a list, you know, because that's just how she was.

And I said I really want one of daddy's Bibles.

That's that's the one thing I want and she made sure I got 1

and. No, you're pretty fun.

It's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's really a strong statement

of who he was, you know, as a person, the impact he had on

your family, the impact he had on you.

And that's, that's, it's admirable.

So that we all trying to hold up, right?

We're all trying to hold that banner forward that each of us.

I mean, I want to, I want to be that for whoever comes after me,

you know what I mean? I want to be that person who

holds that banner up that that my kids know that, you know,

that whatever comes next, you know that, you know, you're a

person of faith. I'm sure you guys feel that same

way. You know, most definitely you,

you, you feel like, do you feel like that, like that you, that's

something that drives you. You want to be that person for

your family and your kids. Most definitely.

And, you know, I feel like I can't live up to, you know, what

he was. But I am striving to and, you

know, trying to be that example. And I hope one day my kids ask

for my Bible. You know, that would be a deep

honor if that happened. But yeah, they were both just

wonderful and just great examples, you know, not perfect

by any means, you know, but I'm just very, very thankful to have

had such wonderful parents for sure.

And so I guess growing up you, you kind of talked about that.

I guess you grew up. Did it?

Did you, did you, did you feel like when you're growing up that

the faith was yours or did you feel like the faith was your

parents whenever you're growing up?

Does that make sense what I'm asking?

Yes, it most definitely does. And I would say both.

You know, there had to come a point of time when I did take

full ownership of it myself. But yeah, when you're a kid,

you're just kind of doing what your parents tell you.

And dad preached, he was not a pastor, but he did preach.

And we've got some of his preaching on, on tape.

We actually tried to get it off cassette tape, didn't we,

recently? And try to save it into a better

format. Easier format to to access, you

know. That's really cool.

Yeah, and it's so good that so awesome to be able to hear his,

you know, messages now. So thankful for that kind of

thing. I know you guys are going to

really appreciate that about your dad.

Absolutely. As time goes on, yeah.

But so growing up in in the church, I went to camp every

year. So I was going to just share,

you know, when I came to know the Lord personally, but we

would always go to Alabama youth Camp.

And so it was in 1991. I was 9.

Almost. No, it's 10, yeah, 10 years old

in June, June 10th that I received the gift of the Holy

Ghost. And you know, it wasn't AI kind

of was just expecting to receive it sometime, you know?

So just that different church services, you go to the front

and pray and everything. And that night I remember, I

mean, I can remember it plain as day.

Like I thought I really, really want the Holy Ghost.

I was a little shy and so I kind of found just a little corner

over on the side. I didn't tell anybody or

anything. I just went over to a wall,

actually just over, over on the side of the church, the right

side of the church. And I just started repenting and

asking God to give me the gift of the Holy Ghost.

And I'll tell you, man, he did. I had no doubts, you know, and

like I said, there was nobody around me at at the point, but

when I came to and there was a crowd of people around

worshipping, you know, so I just kind of lost myself and the

beautiful presence of the Lord as a 10 year old, you know?

So I truly know without a shadow of a doubt that God can touch

children, it can touch adults and touch anyone of any age.

But the way I describe it was I felt like I had a light bulb

somehow inside my head, and I had to be glowing.

Like, I knew I was glowing. I think I even looked in the

mirror to check. But I almost couldn't go to

sleep, you know, I remember calling my mom and dad

afterwards and sharing the news, and they're crying and

rejoicing, you know? And I was just like, kept

speaking in tongues all throughout the evening back into

our dorm room, you know, just didn't want to stop.

Yeah, you really got a hold of the Lord.

I really did. And it's just, it's just so

good. There's nothing like it.

Absolutely. Do you, do you, did you kind of

hold on to that through your teenage years or did you ever

have like that, those moments of doubt, I guess, or did you just

kind of hold on to that throughout?

Well, like, like you say, nobody is perfect, certainly.

But I never wanted to walk away from the Lord.

Never. I made and still don't, you

know? Yeah, He's so good to me.

I just can't imagine living any other way, you know?

He's so good and you go through hard times that I don't know how

people that go through tough times make it without, you know,

the Lord's strength. Absolutely.

Because I know I couldn't. And you can attest to that too,

Hun. Right.

Right. Absolutely.

It's the only thing that'll bring you through.

But yeah. And so, you know, I guess we go

through that and we, you know, kind of get you through the

teenage years and that's where you meet Jason.

Right, that's what you were asking me.

Yes. So the teenage years, I, I

witnessed a lot of people in my youth group and just

acquaintances going through some tough time.

I'm talking drugs. We had some people that come in

that were recovering drug addicts in our youth group,

young people and you know, they were good witnesses to those

that are we're going through that type thing.

They, I feel like they really helped a lot of people stay away

from that life. But but that was kind of almost

feel like more common or maybe I've just gotten old and I don't

see it as much. But yeah, it's pretty common.

People were messing around and that kind of thing and, and

trying to live that kind of lifestyle.

But I never wanted to and didn't ever try to go that route.

You know, I just thought my daddy would kill me for one.

Didn't want to disappoint him, but just didn't have a desire to

do that. You know, I, I feel like most my

whole life I've wanted to please the Lord, even though I know I

messed up. I've tried to be quick to

repeat, you know, and, and make sure, cuz just like my dad, I

feel like God, you know, it's my father also.

And I don't want to disappoint him, you know, either.

But sure enough, yeah, I was 17 as I was going in L&S to shop

because my mom would send us down there every day to get

groceries. Was there any other grocery

store? No, no, no, there was not.

That was the only one. And when I would go in to shop,

I had noticed there was a nice looking guy, dark hair and blue

eyes. I didn't know his name, but I

thought, you know, he's good looking.

I just, you know, like all teenagers, you know, this is

somebody's cute, right? And so one day, probably for a

few weeks, I'd walk into the store and I'd hear over the

loudspeaker Jason come to the front.

And I thought. I had people working for me.

See you. Might you might share what you

did? Had my had my eyes, my scalps

out. You know, it's like so she come

in. Smart man, don't leave it up to

chance. That's.

Right. Hey, if she comes in, you'll

call me so. So that's awesome, yeah.

Yeah, it was so strange to come in, Jason, come to the front.

So, you know, I was just shopping.

Well, of course, guys, this day I went in, I had been helping my

grandmother with a yard sale and I felt like it looked horrible.

You know, I was in my I've been up at 5:00 AM working this yard

sale and they sent me down there to get baking soda.

I think. I'm not even sure what we were

doing with it. But so I'm shopping and all of a

sudden the cashier comes walking up to me and says, hey, do you

know Jason Brister? I said, no, ma'am, I don't.

And she said, well, he, he thinks you're cute and he wants

to meet you. And I said, well, I don't know

who he is. You know, it's just kind of like

what I was. I was so shocked, I didn't know

what to do, you know? And she said, wait a minute, I'm

just going to go get him. And I was thinking, what?

Not today. Today of all days.

Yeah. And so sure enough, she can walk

him back a few minutes later with Jason by her side.

And I was like, oh, it's a pretty blue eyed guy.

Hey, there you go. Pretty blue eyed.

Guy, that's right. And the rest may be.

History, I don't know if you have a take on that.

No, that's. That was good.

I told her that I would. I was going to wait till she

come up to the front to to talk to her.

And she was like, no, you won't, you won't do it.

So I'm just going to go back there and do it now.

So. So I'm glad she did.

Yeah, I met. She turned out by the time she

got up there, I don't know, but. Got to take a shot and.

So you started kind of going to church with her then, like you

said I did? Yep.

Yep, Probably within the next week or two.

Yeah. After I met her, talked a little

bit, and then, yeah, she had invited me to church

immediately. So I was like, yeah, again.

Yeah, yeah, That's where she wants to go.

Let's go, you know? So, so I went and I'll tell you

the first time I went, it was. I remember coming home.

Like thinking, Oh my gosh, these people are crazy.

What are they doing? I imagine.

Service was a little different than service was a little

different. You know I'm.

Used to, you know, the head nods, the occasional Amiens, you

know, and if you raise your hand, it's because you want

somebody to call on you, you know, it's like like in class or

something. So, so yeah, it was totally

different experience. So, so it took me a while to get

to get used to it cuz we get, I started going to his own Sunday

nights. I still go to my church on

Sunday mornings and I go with her on Sunday nights.

And so it took AI mean it took months to, to kind of get

comfortable and, you know, comfortable with the service

and, and, and the worship and, and that kind of thing because

it was just so different, so opposite from what I was used

to. But, you know, the more the more

I went and the more I was hearing, you know, it was, it

kind of made me start thinking more about the what I was

looking, what I was looking for, the thoughts I was having about

once saved, always saved. You know, is this, that's all

you got to do. You know, I'm saved.

So go do whatever I want to now kind of things which I didn't

didn't believe, but but the more I got, the more I attended with

her, the more I got into it. You know, then I started going

on Sunday mornings and Sunday nights and I kept hearing this.

Acts 2 message, you know, so I'm like, so all right, I got to, I

hear it. I see what everybody's doing.

Let me try to start studying this on my own.

And so I start looking, I'm seeing the gifts of the Spirit

and, and this, these things. And so I, I asked my dad about

it, you know, and he's, you know, has the, well, you know,

it's some people have gifts of that, you know.

Well, it turns out that when he was a child, he actually went to

a Pentecostal church, but he, he prayed for the Holy Ghost, but

never, never received it. And as he grew older, you know,

kind of went towards the, the Baptist faith.

But so he had, he had an understanding of it.

And you knew what I was talking about.

And so the more, you know, I kept going with her, the more I

kept studying. And I know I've told Rachel this

and a few of them. But as I was studying at my

parents house one night, I was in the Acts, I was reading and

it's the only time this has ever happened.

But I promise there was a spirit that come in that bedroom with

me. I was reading and also like the

room got like like so hot, you know, like I mean I just start

like sweating I feel, but you're sweating, but you have chills at

the same time. And it's just like you can tell

there's something there with me. You know, this first time I've

ever experienced that. I'm like 19 years old, maybe 20.

Something like that scared me to death.

So what do I do? Shut my Bible?

Go to sleep, right? You know, try to go to sleep

because I'm like, Oh my gosh, what is this?

So there is no doubt in my mind that night that that was the

devil. He knew I was on to something.

Maybe I was just going to figure something out and he was there

to shut. It down and he.

Did he succeeded that night? But.

Later on. He ended up he lost in the end,

you know, but thank you, Jesus, yes, but yeah, kept.

Going to. Church and like I said, studying

and eventually it's about a year later I think I was having Bible

studies with her family and with brother Mullins, her dad, and he

was showing me some stuff in the Bible and it just it started

making sense or makes sense. So then it's one Sunday night at

the at the old church in Athens. I don't know if y'all know Barry

Tate, if y'all remember him. He he was right there with me

and I give him a lot of credit still to this day.

He hadn't talked to him in a while, but he was right there

with me praying and praying and praying and yeah, finally,

finally had a breakthrough. Got the Holy Ghost that night

and I think it's about a a week later actually, her dad actually

baptized me. Oh, wow, that's awesome at first

church because I think Brother Kraft was out of town or

something. But but yes, that's so that's a

great memory for me, not only getting the Holy Ghost, but then

having her dad be the one to baptize me.

So yeah, that's really cool. Great, great.

Time. Great memory.

So yeah, that is really. Awesome.

I didn't know that at all. Yeah, that's really cool.

That's really cool. When I think of you guys, I

think of family. Honestly, you guys are for one

shining examples of parents. What I try to be everyday and

fail a whole lot because you know, well, my kids are a lot, a

lot worse than yours. That's the difference, you know,

But on on the note of family, you both have had great examples

of parents that have put a lot into your life.

And I think something I'd want to ask you guys is.

That that has. Carried y'all into adulthood

where you are have such a a landmark of faith and an example

of how to parent people then how do you turn around and channel

that into your voice? You know, as you're getting them

to grow up. And that's that's not even just

for our listeners, but for me as can as a as a parent seeking

advice, but you probably. Agree with me that we're sitting

over here thinking, is he talking about us?

Yeah, I don't know. About this great parenting thing

that's like we're just. You know, all you see is your

faults and failures, right? Right.

Yeah, But no, as far as parenting, that is probably the

most difficult thing you'll ever do, in my opinion, but the most

rewarding thing also. Would you agree, Hon?

Yes. Yeah.

I. Think, I mean, yeah, definitely.

There's times when you'll get a question and you don't know the

answer, you don't even know how to answer or to be something so

off the wall that you look at each other and like you do your

eyes, you know, you'll roll your eyes or make some, make some

motion to each other. That's like, OK, this is

something we got to. We'll figure this out, you know,

and, and have to let you know, but.

Yeah, but lots of. Prayer for sure.

And then my dad and mom, when we were kids, they used to pay us

to read the Bible. Oh wow.

I don't know if I've ever shared.

That with you guys. But yeah, Dad and mom thought it

was so important that and we didn't have a lot of money when

I was a kid, so it was very important to them.

But they would pay us. I think it was a penny or $0.10.

It wasn't much at all. For each chapter we read must

have been $0.10. And we had the chart where you

read the Bible through in a year.

And so I actually have an old one that I found back from 1990,

three, 1994. So I had to be, I brought it to

show y'all. I had to be 13 and 14 when I was

doing this bread chart. And so that's something we've

tried to have our boys do as well.

They get up in the morning and of course they have audio now,

but they'll listen along to the Bible course when they couldn't

read. That worked out great too, but

they're both, they're 14 and 10 now, so they can read now, but

they would success. Yeah, don't.

Talk about our Alabama education.

But they do get up and they're reading the Bible through and I

think this might be their maybe even the third year to do that.

So they do that. They both have, you know, some

devotion books that they'll that they'll do on their own.

And we've been trying to do the Bible study.

We're actually in the middle of the Bible study.

Which one is it exploring God's Word?

Exploring God's word that we're going through with.

Them currently, and we don't have a schedule for it.

It's just like, OK, we got some time here.

Let's let's spend a little time on this.

And, you know, they're taking notes and doing things, but I

feel like they also just have a hunger for the Lord.

And I think that's just their prayer that maybe that's been,

you know, something. But and, and I, I would give

credit to pastor and sister Penton and also Lexi and the

other people that have spoken in their life, Seth and others, you

know, as they've grown up, because I know it's not just all

of us for sure, other family members that have spoken in

their lives. But, but I think they really do

have a desire to serve the Lord. They've both been filled with

the Holy Ghost and both of them have been baptized.

And I would say that's the best days of our life, wouldn't you

agree? Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, that's.

The that's that's the reward, you know, that that you were

talking about is knowing that they're both, let's say, walking

in the truth, you know so. And, and you know, we've told

him you're going to mess up, you're going to fail, Try your

best to be quick to repent, because you know, the longer you

stay in that situation, the harder it is to get out.

My sister Mary's, I have to give her a quote.

She always says sin will take you farther than you want to go

and it'll keep you longer than you think it would.

You know, that's her quote. And the boys, they're just the

joy of our, of our life. And we, I tell them on a regular

basis, you know, I just want us to always be close.

I want you guys to know if y'all mess up, you know, come to us,

you know, we'll forgive you and help you work through the

things, but just, you know, encouraging them to pray.

We do pray as a family every day together, some on the way to

school, just I mean, even here tonight we were like y'all pray

for us. We're nervous, but both of them

will just break into prayer. And you know, I forgot to

mention spark. That has been a huge influence

on Jude. Awesome, huge.

I mean he, you know, we'll get up.

He's planning to do a little sermonette, you know, and his

teacher said that Amber and Gabriel said that he asked if he

could, you know, speak. Oh, really?

That's awesome. Yeah, so he wrote.

He wrote a little message all about love and is prepared to

give that to the rest of the Spark kids.

And then Mason also just writes Bible studies.

He and his cousin Liam have a group they call M&L Bible Study.

And it's the most precious thing.

We will be at a family gathering.

I'm talking about Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Whatever anytime we get. Together you'll walk in there

and those two will be up preaching to the other cousins

having. Church.

I love it. They're having church.

They're singing, That's so cool. You know, they're they're.

Actually really worshipping. Yeah, amazing.

And I'm so thankful, like you said, for family.

It's, it's, you can live for the Lord on your own, but wow, isn't

it much easier when you got family and friends that

encourage you and help you live that this life.

It really is. But yes, they're just the best

things that have ever happened to us.

So thankful for them, but it's a lot of failing and repenting.

And we we asked them to forgive us.

I think that's important. Modeling repentance.

Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, when we're

praying together at night, we repent in front of them, you

know, so that they can. You really can't teach.

Humility a different way, right? Unless you're showing it right.

Exactly and. When I messed up with them,

which I do, you know, and lose my temper occasionally.

And I, I will go back and apologize, you know, and say,

you know, maybe you were in the wrong, but I was also in the

wrong in the way that I handled this.

And, you know, I'm sorry. I love you.

My love will never change for you.

But I wish I would have handled it differently.

And let's try to move forward and correct the problem, you

know, without any, you know, anger and things.

But yeah, being a parent is, is, is tough, but so wonderful.

Most definitely. And thank you guys for that

because like even the you, you guys are so intentional with

everything you do. And I mean, it's cool you

saying, oh, we, we failed and asked them for forgiveness and

all. And that's a part of it.

I've, I've learned, especially even with just my boys.

But I think for myself, what I'm going to take from that is the

intentionality that you are putting forward to get involved

with the word of God at the church and then the community of

it. So much so that their family

reunions, preaching and having church, which is awesome, you

know, Oh, Bible quiz. And I will get Bible quiz and.

Shout out to Bible Quiz. And go into just starting.

That. So we're excited about that.

Yeah, yeah. Goodness, I think.

That's one of the best things that that you can do for your

kid. So I'll ask you.

So you received the Holy Ghost and got baptized and yeah after

that how long was it you thinking to like y'all got

married I guess after that so. That was that was in 19 August

of 99 when I got the Holy Ghost, and then it was three years

later, August of 2002, when we got married also.

Yeah, from start to finish. We kind of date met and dated

for about four years before we got married.

We were both in college and so we were trying to finish that up

before we got married. Even though we ended up getting

married. You had one semester left, one

semester left. Of of school, yeah.

And I will. Say that I had been taught all

my life not to marry someone that doesn't believe you know,

not to be unequally yoked together.

And I do think that's important. I would encourage all of our

young people to find someone that, you know, believes like

you. With that said, it's so strange.

When I met Jason, I instantly thought something is different

about this guy, you know, And I truly think it was just a love

for for God. He really had a love for God.

And, and he was like you said, not certain that he had the

fullness, you know, in his life already because he, he said he

felt like he was, you know, looking for something else.

And maybe, maybe I could just tell that, but I kept kind of

arguing with myself like, well, Lord, I really feel something

for this guy. But I know I might not should,

because we're not exactly believing the same, you know,

and, but I think I, we were in the minority, not the majority.

You know, you have to be careful.

I, I even tell our boys right now that whoever you marry,

that's going to be one of the most important decisions besides

coming to the Lord and deciding to serve the Lord.

But who you marry is going to be your next important decision.

It's going to shape everything in your life, certainly.

But it was. It was his character, right?

Though the fact that you you could tell he was actively

seeking the Lord, that makes a difference and in the decision

you made at the time, right? Because we can all.

We can all tell. I mean, everybody's.

The eyes never really give it away whenever someone's not

really paying attention, you know what I mean?

Like people can fake actions, but they can't fake or like a

love for Jesus, you know what I mean?

That is very true. Kim and and I think we had

conversations. Do you remember this?

I remember a conversation saying, well, you know, we can

date and everything, but I'm not gonna marry somebody that

doesn't have the Holy Ghost, right?

Yeah, I. Remember that you had you.

Had a plan laid out. Yeah, she already had it.

So she was intentional. She was intentional.

Way back then, it's not just what the kids you know, but so

but. As you guys, when did you guys

decide, hey, I don't want to just be though like a like AI

don't want to just do nothing though, You know what I mean?

I don't want to I don't want to be here and not like be a part

of what's going on. I know that led to like Sunday

school environment, like First off, after you guys got married,

right? So yeah, I actually started.

Teaching Sunday school when I was 15.

Yeah. So it was Gwen Craft.

You guys know Robin and Gwen Craft?

She was such a blessing to me. And she's like, hey, I think you

could teach Sunday. So I think you would be a good

Sunday school teacher. And she got me in there and

pretty much mentored me, kind of showed me what to do and

everything. And then eventually let me take

over. And I'm still teaching Sunday

school to this day. You know, so that's been what,

nearly 430 years, something like that.

And I, you know, I love children and just, I'm thankful to be

able to help in that vicinity. So yeah, we, we want to help

where we can. And we've been through different

stages and different chapters of our lives and things like that.

You know, Jason helps out with the media a lot, and I feel like

he's talented in that area. Yeah.

So I remember when, yeah, when I first started going to church

with her, she was, she was teaching Sunday school.

And then there eventually after I I got the Holy Ghost and was

there for a while. This at Athens.

I think I actually was was helping you.

We started together. Started teaching.

Started. Teaching together.

And. Then yeah, so that.

Was so it was big. And then I guess after we moved

here, we were after a little while, we got involved with

children's church and LED that for a little while here.

Yeah, I think it. Worked out good.

I was like, serious trying to pound in the truth and Jason's

over here cracking jokes. That's.

Right. But he helped me loosen up a

little bit, you know, And today, yeah, we need to have fun with

this, too. But yeah, we made a good team.

And I feel like we still make a good team in most avenues that

we go in. I we kind of touched on it a

little bit, but what is it like whenever you what is it?

What does it kind of go through whenever you see people you've

kind of poured a portion of your life into at least and you see

them grow up and them dedicate their lives to God.

What is that feeling like for for each of you?

You know what I mean? Even for brother Jason may not

do Sunday school anymore, but to know you made an impact on

certain people's lives and to see that is that do you consider

that like a a rewarding experience?

I guess yeah, it I mean. It's definitely rewarding, you

know, I mean, you, you see it and it's like, oh, you're so

proud of them. And it's like, OK, yeah, I did

help way back with maybe I taught them in Sunday school or,

or, or had some influence on them at some point, you know,

but but more it's just just proud for them, you know, not

not a good job to me. I helped mold this person or

hopefully said something that helped them in their, in their

life. But you know, whoever it was

that helped them, you know, it's, it's yes, it's definitely

for sure. You know, there's lots of hands.

That that helped helped with that for sure.

And that's like we said, so thankful for our kids as well.

All those people pouring into US.

I mean, there's so many people that pour into our children and

I guess we're just grateful and thankful to have an opportunity

to pour into some people. But we still he and I both just

like you don't you feel like you don't do enough.

You feel like I don't think I really made a difference.

You know, somebody makes a comment.

Brooke said something the other day, but boasting about

remembering me as her teacher. And I was like, oh, she did.

I I mean, I, I can't believe she even remembered me, you know?

So maybe we have more influence on people than we realize, but

it doesn't feel like you do sometimes, you know?

Well, you know, I think. And I think some people hold

themselves out of being involved and hold themselves out for me

from being apart because they get too worried about how much

it will take out of them or even just like, even even that

they're not worthy. But you guys can say

unintentionally, just by just by being, you know, by loving God,

by being there, being an example, you can have, you know,

consequences that you didn't even realize you were having.

Is that accurate? Oh yeah.

And you know, that can go both ways.

You know, as a Christian, some people expect you to be perfect

and never make any mistakes. But we're all human folks,

right? But I really do I will get upset

emotional if I get to thinking about, oh, you were not on your

best that day. I wonder who you affect.

You know, if who who that you touch negatively and you just

have to say, God, please forgive me and please help me to move

forward. Please help those people forget

the way I acted or what I said or something like that.

Because, yeah, you can't expect to be perfect.

Jesus was the only perfect, you know, person.

But we got to strive to try to, you know, manifest the fruits of

the Spirit. Like, like, he's his example.

But wow, yeah. I can't dwell on my failures too

much. Gosh, but.

Even so, you would encourage somebody to get involved with

Sunday school or be involved in that?

It's a rewarding experience for that, wouldn't you say?

Oh yes, one. 100% yes, I I get sidetracked when you ask me a

question. Sorry about that.

But yes, most definitely when you say, you know, like you guys

and just all the different ones that that you saw as kids living

for the Lord, it's the best it's one of the best feelings.

You know, like I told you, my children are my whole world.

So. But I feel like the kids in

Sunday school are your children, you know, like maybe your nieces

and nephews or something. No, you do have a love for them

and just a genuine, just happiness to see them serving

the Lord for sure. Yeah.

And I think. You know, you can get involved

in so many ways. I know one thing your dad always

says is everyone's a minister. So it's not just the ones that

are up on on stage preaching or singing or leading, you know,

it's Sunday school. It's, you know, who's cleaning

the church this week. I mean, there's so many ways to

be involved that again, you're just you're doing it, you know,

as a ministry that you can help out in.

But again, who's watching you again, that you don't even

realize that notice that. Oh yeah, they were up for doing

this. They didn't have to be doing

that. So I mean, and that's for

everybody, you know, they again, not just not just some about us,

I mean, it's there's so many ways you can be involved.

You know you don't have to be the one in upfront beating, you

know so and you. Do get a feeling once you've

done something for the Lord, whether it's like cleaning the

church or teaching Sunday school, any of that, like I

think the Lord confirms that, you know, thank you, my child.

Or or you know, like you do feel a sense of words like we all

need purpose in our lives or we're just floating around like

what am I here for kind of thing.

And that's something we try to tell our boys to your purpose

here, you know, in this life is to love God, to serve God, to

try to help others get to heaven.

That's your main purpose and the other things that you're going

to do that's going to fill your earthly time.

But you know, this, the main purpose is you get into heaven

and trying to help someone else get to heaven.

And so we're trying to instill in them the purpose, 'cause I

think a lot of kids and, and even adults sometimes don't know

their purpose. Why are we here?

You know, that's a very good point.

So you guys, you guys moved from Athens over there.

It was at the time especially a considerably larger church than

than than we were at the time whenever you moved in.

Well, you say 07080708. Yeah, I mean, it was.

A very It was Castle Dr., Yeah. Castle Dr. it was.

A very small congregation, I don't know what, 30s, maybe

somewhere in there, 40. I'll tell you when.

The whole family, it was pretty almost doubled, doubled the

attendance movie. I don't know, it was very small

at the time, but yes, that was a great.

Time over there, I love having a large church, but the small

church was was so nice. We were all so closely knit

together. There's nothing like it, you

know, Bible studies, you know, just hanging out at one

another's houses and things. And you want to expand for sure.

And so it's so thankful to see the church grow like it has

grown and developed new relationships and things.

It's been wonderful to be a part of.

Absolutely. So from your perspective, from

both of your perspective, you know what, I guess especially

that time because you know, you can't really depend on other

people to kind of do the work whenever there's only a few

people, it really is the you guys know that well.

The community, but. You know what I'm saying?

Like whenever, whenever, especially in a smaller church.

So you can't really hideaway, you know what I mean in that

way. But what kind of, I guess just

what, what kind of encouragement would would you give to people

to that that, that your involvement matters and that

that kind of thing, especially from your experience from Castle

Drive over, you know what I mean?

Well, like we said, the blessing, when you get involved,

you're going to feel it. You know the Lord is going to

confirm to you that yes, you did the right thing by being

involved. So I would encourage everyone to

find some, you know some part what cleaning the church or just

teaching Sunday school. Any of that is going to be very

rewarding. The Lord's going to bless you

for it. I truly believe that.

I know he has us over over the years.

Would you add anything to that as far as encouraging others?

No, I think you're. I think you're exactly right.

Just yeah, find find your niche, find your space.

Where, you know, where something's needed, you know,

and and, you know, go to pasture, you know, pastors, I

mean, pastors opened ideas and looking looking for for those

ministers that he talks about. So.

So yeah, I think yeah, definitely just.

Yeah. Like, like Rachel said, just get

involved. And I mean, yeah, it can be you

won't regret it. I mean, it can be nervous and

can be trying at times, you know, if but God's always there,

he's always with you and he will reward you for for your efforts.

So absolutely. And that's, I mean, just that,

just that model of faithfulness, this is, is something we've kind

of highlight. And that's not me trying to just

because you guys are on here with us, but you know, your

faithfulness has has grown inside of the church.

Every the church is a collective whole that we all grow together.

And so especially early on, each of your handprints are on that.

And obviously Brother Mullins as well, and, and the many people

who are who, who, who kind of got together to, to, to, to work

in the church together. It's, it's it's impressive to

see how God uses us all together.

Yeah. And you?

Know you talked about that the impact we leave on people and

everything and I-11 thing I wanted to share.

I know when we first moved here money was pretty tight too.

Dad always made sure you know we didn't notice too much and he

did a good job of that. Made us excited about Wendy's

like you mentioned the other day dads are good at.

That they are. They are.

And and he did a really good job of that, him and mom both of

putting things in the right perspective.

But I remember something that's even to this day touched my life

about your dad specifically. It was Christmas, I think O 5

and we were going to Athens at the time and dad really didn't

have money for nothing. OK And Christmas is coming up

and everything. And we talked and brother

Mullins, I remember him coming up to us and was like hey boys,

what do y'all want for Christmas, you know, and all

this we was telling them whatever you know, oh we want

power Ranger, we will rescue here.

And then we said we want bikes and all.

And Long story short, because I could, I could wax on it there,

but we ended up getting bikes for Christmas.

OK, that was awesome. Got a little Mongoose bike with

the pegs and all. I was so great, loved it.

And I was like, Santa's real, you know, because this wasn't,

this wasn't supposed to be happening.

And then several years later after you guys had had started

coming to the church and everything, Dad had shared to me

how much that touched him because they really didn't have

money going then. And it was brother Mullins who

he just gave him money and was like, hey, go buy those boys

bikes and shoot. I rode on that joker for at

least 567 arms on that thing. Yeah.

Broken arm on it. Life lessons, you know?

Well, I. Appreciate you sharing that.

Dad, I feel like was very generous, but we usually didn't

know about it because he tried to be Incognito and, you know,

we might find out somehow, you know, through a slip of tongue.

But he really wanted to bless people.

The Lord had blessed him, but he was in that same position not

many years before. Just like y'all.

He said he couldn't buy. He didn't have enough money to

buy a gallon of milk and he had six kids.

Well, 5:00 at the time, I guess when he was telling this story

and he said a man came up to him and gave him money and enough to

go get some groceries. And I think when you experience

that, you want to pay that forward, you know, And so I

think that's what he tried to do and he was just naturally

generous and and it really kind hearted man.

So thank you for hearing that. And then you.

See it with you guys. I'm sorry, interrupting you

there, but that humility, like, you know, Bible says, don't let

your, your left hand know what your right hand is doing and

all, and it's not to broadcast anything.

And you guys are similar. Like you've talked yourself down

so much about like, oh, you don't think you leave an impact

on people, but you do. And, and a lot of it, I think,

is through showing the fruit of the spirit the way you guys do.

We love that. I love it so much.

And again, like with the parents, the parenting, you guys

are people I generally look up to on the daily.

I'm like, what would Jason and Rachel do?

And yelling at the kids or smacking them in the face is

probably not it. And so that, that saved my

children a lot of times, But I, I love that about you guys.

You display the fruit of the spirit all the time.

You guys are meek, patient, kind.

And I, I'm not, I'm loud and I'm not just a lot of times, but I

try to be that more and more. And I, I, it, it can't be

overstated the, the lives you touch when you don't even know

it, you know, just by walking a Christian life.

And so for one, thank you guys. I, I appreciate that and keep up

the good work. You know, that's what I was

thinking of. Gosh, I've got to step up my

game. I know it's like you put

pressure. On us now it's like, yeah.

So exactly. I.

Really appreciate those kind more words more than you say

don't feel like they're deserved, but we sure appreciate

it yeah, I mean the. Generosity, like Kobe was

talking, the generosity of men like like your father and also

my uncle Eric really made an impact of my life.

Just the amount of times that that that they would show show

God that way. It really it's inspirational.

Honestly, that's like, I want to change my outlook on life

because if they were able to, to, to do those things and God

was still able to use them, that, that, that it'll change

your whole perspective. And so like, and, and so these

stories, I mean, in a lot of ways, these stories need to be

told though, you know what I mean?

And that's not to that's not to boast anybody up, but to show

people that you can be transformational evil, even

living a life that people may not see from the pulpit.

You know what I mean? Yes, I agree.

And and talking about stories that need to be told, there was

one thing I was thinking that I definitely wanted to share.

So is this a good time to share it?

Yeah. Great time.

So I, when I was about, I don't even actually know what age I

was, but I would guess to be around, you know, 12 or so.

And it was just a testimony of God's healing power.

So all my life, you know, grow grown up.

God can heal and work miracles and things like that.

And I didn't see a ton of that. I heard a bunch of people

testify when they come to church and everything.

And I've always thought, yeah, I want to experience a miracle,

Lord, you know. And so anyway, this was just a

mundane, regular day at home. We were all getting ready to eat

supper. Everybody, most everybody was

sitting at the table. I was finishing up the last few

minutes. Mom had us helping in the

kitchen when we were a little bitty.

I was on a stool making biscuits probably at 8 years old, which

is a good thing. But this particular day I was, I

just swapped my hand across the stove to to get some crumbs or

something off and just burnt my hand and I was hurting so bad

and was crying. I go over to the sink and my

family didn't even know it. They were sitting down like I

said doing their own thing and I was running water on it And I

was like, God, you know, I just said a very simple prayer.

I was like, Lord, I know you're a healer.

My hand is hurting so bad. I know you could heal me right

now. God, don't ask you to heal me.

I want you to know my hand stopped hurting instantly.

Thank you Jesus, that's. Awesome.

Oh, and I. Told God, I said, if you heal

me, I'm going to go stand up in that chair at the dining room

table and I'm going to tell everybody.

And my brother was there. He wasn't serving the Lord, you

know, either. And when it happened, I said,

well, OK Lord, I guess I got to follow up, you know, and I'm not

one like this is like the only time something like that

happened to me. But I did, I went over and got

up on the chair. I said, can I interrupt y'all

for a minute? And tears coming down my face.

I said I just burnt my hand. I said, see, it's still white

and it was hurting. I was crying, I said, and I

asked God to heal me and he healed me instantly.

And, you know, my brother's face was like, what?

And yeah, everybody then they started rejoicing with me and

everything. But, you know, that seems so

simple that you maybe start doubting what was it really

burnt? I know without a shadow of a

doubt it was. And so that made me a true

believer in, in God's healing power and miracles that can be

done. Even though it was just a small,

you know, a small thing, it meant a lot to me.

And I think God did that to help increase my faith maybe, and

just to show me his power and everything.

And, you know, I know people don't get healed when we pray

and you know, that's a whole different, you know, story for a

different day. But we still, my thought is just

to cling to the Lord. His ways are not our ways.

You know, this is our earthly home.

We're just traveling through, you know, and we're we just

we're make trying to make it to heaven.

And the things that happened here, like his ways are not our

ways. And so I just trust him and

believe in him, you know, that he's got our best interests at

heart, you know? Absolutely.

Oh, I was going to say, obviously you 2, both are, are

are examples of how God can bless your life, obviously, and

how God can sustain you. But we all, no matter what, go

through difficult times in our life.

Like all of us are guaranteed at some point to face

disappointment, to face the circumstance where we really

feel tried. And as it kind of alluded to

earlier, I don't know how people make it through without knowing,

having the dependability of God or knowing that he's president

in a real way. Has there been a time in your

lives where you really felt like you needed God in some way and

you felt like he came through for you?

Yeah. Yeah, I can go.

First, I think the hardest time in my life was the loss of my

dad, which that's been 1213 years ago now.

And I don't know, he's to me didn't have the beliefs, same

beliefs that I did. But still, it was just the

greatest man that I knew and he was wonderful.

Yeah. I know.

And he supported you. Even after you he supported.

Me that was something I was scared, scared to even mention

it to him. You know, my mom and dad just

just, you know, here they are preaching one thing and one of

their sons over here doing something different, you know,

but but yes, he, both of them 100% supported me and, you know,

couldn't have asked for anything better from them.

But yeah, that was very, very trying time, you know, just the

questions of of why, you know, how can this, how can you take

him, you know? And so, yeah, that was very,

very difficult time. Definitely had to lean on God a

lot during that time. You know, luckily I had a

amazing wife here with me in a time Mason was about 1.

So that that helped as well. You know, that to have to have

them that I could could lean on and talk to you.

But yeah, we both. Agreed that having a baby helped

us through that time because children bring joy regardless of

what's going on in your life. You know, they're just a source

of joy. And so he really.

Mason was about one when your dad passed.

And I think it would have been a lot harder if we didn't have

any. Right?

Yeah, for your mom too, because she loved on the grandbaby.

I think it helped her get through it too.

Yeah, right. So yeah, he his.

Dad was a wonderful, wonderful man.

He was one that was at the nursing home multiple times a

week, you know, bringing joy, singing, bringing joy to those

elderly people. They love for him to come.

He was at the hospital all the time.

This was once he became a full time pastor, You know, he spent

his time doing things like that. And I respected and admired him

greatly. And I heard him preach many

times, too. And he was a really good

preacher, too. Yeah.

We love and miss him. We're thankful to have still

have your mom. She's the only one living of the

of our parents currently. So I would agree that that was

the hardest time that I've been through one of them.

I'll back up just a little bit. I had a a youth member, a friend

that committed suicide back when we were kids, probably at like

15. And that was hard, you know, and

now he was, he had kind of, you know, he was kind of sometimes

in and out, we caught backsliding and coming in, you

know, but but he knew, you know, he knew the Lord and everything

and we didn't know why he he chose to do that.

Like many people that have, you know, struggled with some with

those issues, but that was very difficult.

I remember laying in the bed thinking, I can't get up and go

to church. It happened like on a Saturday

night and they had pastor and everyone he called and told the

youth group, you know, and my dad, I remember coming up there

and praying with me and saying it's going to be best to go to

church because I said, I don't want to go to church.

I just want to stay home. And I was so upset at the time.

But of course he was wise and he knew that being in the House of

God would help you more than anything.

That was a difficult time for myself and our whole youth group

to overcome, But the Lord helped us through that and the the

people in the church helped us through that as well.

And then, you know, other difficult times.

I had people that I knew involved in drugs and things

that really wrecked their lives and some around and and many

times like you, like you said, Jason, you just think, why is

this happening? Lord, you know, come and swoop

down and just make it all right. But you know, he gives us he

gives us a choice. You know, we all have to choose

good or evil and and so that was a very difficult time, but God

did help me to get through that. I just continued to pray for

them, you know, and many of them have have changed and come to

the Lord. There's still some that are not,

but you know, I'm just going to continue praying for them that

they will come back eventually. But then lastly is the three

things that stood out to me were that the suicide and the drugs

and things I saw the youth involved in and some family and

then my parents passing away, which was both in 2021 and one

in May. Dad passed in May, May 8th of

2021 and then mom six months later, November 15th of 2021.

And you just don't know like what it's like till you know

what it's like not to have your parent, you know, specifically

remembering nobody will love me like my parents, you know?

And so, but God did reveal to me during that time that I'm your

father and I love you more than your dad.

And that was the one thing that I came away with was God's love

for me. I just felt like he wrapped me

up in his arms and just helped me through that time.

It wasn't a fast time. I mean, probably two or three

years. You say I'm getting emotional

now, but before I can even talk about them without just, you

know, losing it. And I still miss them so much.

Like he misses his dad to this day.

We miss him so much. They were just such a everyday

presence in our lives, you know, but so thankful for the grace of

God and so thankful for His love and His comfort and His word

that comforts us. Really, that was the only thing,

I don't think. I don't know how I would have

made it through without him. So yeah, he's definitely a help

and so kind of a. Common theme between you though,

what, what kind of I guess encouragement would you give to

those maybe who are facing grief in their life?

You know what I mean? That you can turn to that maybe

there's, there's an uplifting moment for you that you guys can

speak to and say God can be there for you and take you out

of grief. You know what I mean?

Personal experience really speaks volumes, doesn't it?

Yes. Yeah.

It does. And I think, you know, once

you're there in that moment, you know, when it seems like all

hope is lost, you know, it's like, here's the greatest man

ever knew and now he's gone, you know.

But like she said, there's somebody there that loves you

even more than that person did, which is maybe hard to believe,

but but it is true. And, you know, you've got to

lean on him. You've got to pray to him, talk

to him, seek him out, you know, seek his, his wisdom, his

guidance because, you know, we don't know why these things

happen. You know, that bad things happen

to good people, you know, all the time.

And I don't know, without, without having him there to, to

reach out to and to lean on. Yeah.

I'm not sure how. How you can make it?

Through I think I think you've got to you've got to have that

belief and that faith so yeah, I agree I.

Remember apologizing to you. Of course I grieved when his dad

passed. I loved him.

He was so good to me. But then when my parents passed,

I said, honey, I don't. I didn't realize how bad it

hurt, and I'm sorry that I didn't realize at the time when

your dad passed what you must have been going through.

You know, I do remember apologizing to him because that

empathy is a little different than sympathy, right?

And so I guess maybe every experience in our lives, I feel

like God can let us, can use us to help someone.

Like we did have a miscarriage back when we were trying to get

pregnant with Mason and the Lord helped us through that.

I guess I should have added that to my list of of things that was

very difficult. It was early on in the pregnancy

though. But I know that sister Penton

had me talk to a couple ladies that had a miscarriage and I

could just share how God helped me through that time.

You know, I don't understand God, but I'm trusting you, you

know, that kind of faith and and leaning on him.

So I definitely think the trials we go through can be used to

help others. So someone that else that loses

a parent, you know, if they want to talk to me, I can share how

the Lord help to me. But you know, even saying it

here on this podcast, he will help you through and there's

nowhere else you can go for this kind of help.

It's a different kind of help. That's that's the.

Beauty of of God and also his congregation, right?

Because it's not just him who helps, but he puts his spirit

inside of us so that we can go be those people that help for

sure. So.

Yeah, and your parents? You know, our pastors are just

so loving and kind. You know, they have been a huge

help too, in helping you get through difficult times.

I told your dad one time, I said, you're just so kind.

And he kind of was like trying to say, no, you know, that's not

my personality. You know, I'm, I'm green and I,

I have to work at being that way.

And I said, well, you got me food because I think you're,

you're pretty awesome. You know, so is your wife, but

we sure do appreciate the influence that they've had on us

and and all the others in the congregation.

We've got a wonderful congregation of people that's

ready to help in a time of need. You know, so thankful for that

support. We do and that that.

Matters a whole lot, that is. It's funny because grief's a lot

of what sent me away from God at 1st and then grief is

ultimately, I think what brought me back, you know, and it, it's,

it's good having that community, people that believe and trust in

God. And like you said, the hardest

part of it and navigate and I think is that faith in his will,

you know, because if we have it our way, nobody's going to die.

You know, we're nobody's going to get sick.

We're we ain't going to have issues And, and I think through

all of life, things happen for a reason.

And I can see in my life where negative things have happened

that from the outside, it's, it's bad, but then what it's

it's transformed into my life and a lot of people in my

family, their life, there's always a purpose to it.

And I think that trust, trust in his will, that's that's a vital

part of that. And then also coming back to

the, the fold for us, like y'all said with the community, we

really do have a good community here and I'm grateful to be a

part. And for me with the boys, I, I

really want them growing up in an area like that where your

boys are huge role models to my boys because they're around the

same age and everything, you know, that's why we're taking

y'all on as role models for us. We're like, well, they're doing

OK. And then my kids want to be like

them, so got to figure out, feel the weight of that pressure.

On me, you know Exactly. Yeah.

So. Don't mess up, definitely don't

go by body else man come. On don't go by.

Mason, a sports car nothing when he's 16 OK then my boys are

going to be like all right, dad, you saw what Jason did well, we.

Know like you. Said God's plans don't stop

here, and that's life and life more abundantly, right?

So we're reunited with him and we're reunited together.

It's it's all going to be worth it one day.

That's right. No day of rejoicing.

That's right. So thank, thank you guys so much

for sharing with us and and sharing on this podcast.

Just it's everybody's story needs to be told because God has

dealt with us all in unique ways.

So thank you guys for being willing to be an open with us.

All right, all right. Well, we are.

Honored. Yeah.

Thank. Thank you.

For asking us and also just props to all of y'all Johnny

too, just for putting this together because capturing these

stories from I mean, not just us, but you know, from from Pop

and Mac and Seth and your dad and Brian brother Lacombe.

I mean, it's it's awesome to this is all all.

Johnny, he's not here, so we can we can talk him up.

This is all Johnny. Good job, Johnny, you're doing.

Johnny. And Cameron, they're the ones

that orchestrated this. And then they asked me to come

on because I, I talk more than them.

So that's, that's really it on the involvement side.

But honestly, they I love it. I wanted to be a part because it

did sound like such a great idea.

And I think it can grow our community.

And then hopefully those stories can go out even to further

places And some what is what is the word of the Lord say we're

saved by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.

And I think sharing this testimony and being vulnerable

even because a lot of times, like when we're talking to

people, sometimes we'll put that guard up and a lot of people

ain't going to get on a mic and then be to share intimate

details about their life and where God's brought them.

And I think that's important and something good can come from it.

So thank you guys for, for one, being vulnerable and being open

with us that that that means a lot.

And hopefully that goes out and touches some lives.

Well, it's always important. For us to remember what God's

done for us. And sometimes if I don't go back

and re examine it, I'll forget to be honest with you.

You know what I mean? And that's you see that

throughout the Bible where people just forget how good he

actually has been every step of the way.

And now, so it's important for other people to see how good

he's been to you because they know that they can rest in his

hand. So yes, testimonies are.

Important. And thank you both.

Once again, we appreciate you. Thank you.