Be Loved, Be Bold

For the last episode of the podcast (perhaps ever!), Mary Patton welcomes the current Reformed University Fellowship interns at Ole Miss, Caroline Dean and Walker Crow. Caroline and Walker share their testimonies, how they were led to do the RUF internship, and advice about life after college. They hope to encourage students that post-grad life brings challenges, but it is also fun! We hope you enjoy this episode, "Caroline Dean and Walker Crow: Life After College."

In this episode of the Be Loved, Be Bold podcast, Mary Patton hosts her friend and mentor Newell Simrall. A current member at Mary Patton's home church Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church, Mr. Simrall grew up on a small farm North of Vicksburg and moved to Jackson, MS after marrying his wife Sweyn in 1986. Having taught a number of Sunday school classes at Pear Orchard, Mr. Simrall is a great resource for students in learning more about the Bible and how to read it. In this podcast episode, he reminds students the value of the Bible being God's "inspired, inherent, infallible, perfect, holy" Word, and shares that boldness originates in knowing Jesus Christ better through it. We hope you enjoy this episode, "Newell Simrall: How to Read the Bible."

In this episode of Be Loved, Be Bold, Mary Patton welcomes her friend Sarah D'Amico, a senior civil engineering major from Niceville, Florida. Per student requests, Mary Patton and Sarah focus particularly on how students can experience the joy of the Lord when life is hard. For Sarah, life brought unexpected turmoil when her mom passed away during her junior year of college. Sarah encourages students by reminding them of the difference between joy and happiness. Because joy is a fulfillment from the Lord that comes directly from Him and from spending time with Him, she says, students can experience joy despite hardship. Sarah also shares two verses: Psalm 73:26 and Philippians 3:13. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we hope that it encourages you to give God your heart and your free time so that you also can experience His joy more deeply this new year.

For the last episode of the season, Mary Patton welcomes Mason Nichols, a sophomore Ole Miss baseball player from Jackson, MS. Mason shares his testimony, starting with his conversion at the age of eight, to God working through his time at Ole Miss as a student athlete, especially during the College World Series where he pitched in the championship game. Mason talks about the importance of having faith in all circumstances, through hard times and good times, and during the times inbetween. He attributes all of his successes thus far to the Lord, and encourages students with verses Jeremiah 29:11 ("For I know the plans, I have for you, says the Lord") and Hebrews 11:1 ("Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.")

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her friend Barnes Benton, a senior at Ole Miss from Hattiesburg, MS, to share his testimony and talk about the influence of corporate worship in his life. Barnes describes how he grew up in a musical family, with his parents singing in church and playing the piano at home. Because of their influence, Barnes and his brothers began to learn to play instruments, and Barnes began to lead worship at camp and in youth group. Today, Barnes plays guitar in the Reformed University Fellowship band every Wednesday night, and some Sunday nights, and he advises students that anyone can worship, whether they are musically talented or not. He also shares that worship can take a number of forms day to day, though corporate worship is important for the encouragement of the body of Christ.

This week, Mary Patton is joined by Phoebe Goodwin, a junior at the University of Mississippi from Roswell, GA. MP and Phoebe discuss Phoebe's journey coming to Ole Miss, as well as the surprises and difficulties of that journey along the way. They also spend time discussing Phoebe's recent month spent in South Asia, where she got to share the gospel alongside four of her good friends that she met at Greek Summit, a two-week long retreat at the beach that changed Phoebe's life for the better. Phoebe provides encouragement on answering the callings God has for your life, even when they don't always look like what you expected. We hope you are encouraged by her story!

In this episode, Mary Patton speaks with one of her closest college friends Ruth Emmon Tyson about the suffering Ruth Emmon has experienced in the last six years and God's overwhelming love amidst that suffering. Ruth Emmon shares advice on how to be a good friend to students who are experiencing hardships and provides some encouragement from the Word and the works of Elisabeth Elliot.

This week, Mary Patton welcomes Louisiana native and mother of four Mary Kathleen Sims to the podcast. Mary Patton and Mary Kathleen discuss the importance of church involvement during college years, and the importance of knowing older men and women to be influences during those years. A significant part of Mary Kathleen's faith story is her marriage with Daniel Sims. Mary Kathleen discusses her unexpected pregnancy outside of marriage after college, and advises young adults that it is sometimes better to marry young than to wait (I Corinthians 7:9). Besides church involvement, accountability, and marriage, Mary Kathleen also shares about her hobbies of painting, crafting, and thrifting. She shares about how the Lord brought the gift of art and creativity to her home during Covid, and how art is a gift that can be used to point others - especially young children - to the Lord. When it comes to being bold, Mary Kathleen's encouragement for students is to show boldness by being loving. She shares that you never really know what someone is walking through, so it is important to show the grace and kindness of Christ in all things.

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her childhood friend Russ Upton. Russ is a junior biochemistry major from Jackson, MS and the current chaplain of Sigma Chi at Ole Miss. During their conversation, Mary Patton and Russ discuss the process of sanctification in Russ's life during college, including his time abroad this past summer. Russ provides encouragement to students who struggle with their faith stories by reminding them of Philippians 1:6 which says, "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Russ encourages students to remember that God will enable them to be mirrors for Him, whether on their college campuses or in a new place across the world.

For the first episode of season 3, Mary Patton welcomes Ole Miss alum Olivia Thames. Following the publication of her blog article "To the new college freshman..." Olivia shares advice and encouragement for college students of every year, from freshmen to seniors. Olivia lives in Nashville with her husband Grant, where she writes for Lifeway and maintains her own personal blog, oliviathames.com.

For the last episode of this season, Mary Patton welcomes Kitty Hurdle to the podcast. For the past ten years, Kitty has served the campus ministry Cru with her husband Joel in Oxford, MS. Per listeners' requests, Kitty and Mary Patton talk about identity and confidence, false gods, and Kitty's own faith story. At the end of the episode, Kitty reads 2 Corinthians 5:17 as an encouragement to students which says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here."

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her friend Mary Claude Simons, a junior from New Orleans, Louisiana. During their conversation, MC and Mary Patton discuss MC's many avenues of service, including a mission trip to Africa after high school, The Reclaimed Project in Marks, Mississippi, a recent Young Life retreat, and the new student-led organization The Grove Retreat. When it comes to being a witness for Christ, MC says that there is no perfect time for a student to share his/her faith and that, with God's help, he/she can be bold by simply striking up a conversation with a friend and asking questions.

In this episode, Mary Patton interviews her sister Lila, who shares about serving as this year's Miss Dixie National for the Mississippi Dixie National Rodeo. Lila talks about trusting in the Lord throughout the process and what it looks like to let her light shine before others in a way that points them to the Lord. We hope you enjoy this episode!

No podcast last week- sorry guys! There will now be one episode posted every other week. In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes Ellie DuCharme and Lauren Fiedler to the podcast to talk about God's work in their lives during their time at Ole Miss. Now juniors, Ellie and Lauren discuss being able to look back on freshman year and see how God gave them just what they needed, especially in connecting them as roommates.

In this episode, Mary Patton interviews her friend Andrew Cofield, who shares his story about loss in high school and college. Andrew shares John 14:1-3 as an encouragement: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

Ole Miss baseball player Tim Elko describes his journey as a "crazy story," and yet at the same time, he holds a peace about Christ and His plans for his life. "I feel like my story last year was a huge part of why He had me stay here...to be able to have an experience like that to show others that God's always got you," Tim said. We hope you enjoy this episode and the story of how God gave Tim a peace amidst hardship to face trials without doubt, and ultimately with boldness.

For the first episode of the new season, Mary Patton welcomed her good friends Julia Gunner and Katie Morris to the podcast to discuss community and peer pressure. Both actively involved in their college churches and campus ministries, Julia and Katie have great advice for students trying to live Christ-like lives in college.

For the last episode of the podcast, Mary Patton spoke with her friend Alex Gibbs about the ways God has worked through the various leadership positions he's held over the past few years, both in high school and at Mississippi State. Alex shares about how sports reminded him of God's control over his life and how God's purposes are bigger than his own. He shares that he has lately been reminded that his worth is not defined by what he's achieved or accomplished, but by what Christ has done for Him by dying on a cross for his sins.

This week, Mary Patton welcomes sophomore Abby Church and junior Bradford Stewart. Abby and Bradford talk about the different ways God has given them opportunities to share His love at Ole Miss, such as through the student organization Clothed in Confidence and the upcoming student-led project The Grove Retreat. The girls also provide some insight into their deeply rooted friendship, which has blessed them as well as others on the Ole Miss campus.

This week, Mary Patton got to visit with Channing Foster, a senior soccer player at Ole Miss. Channing talks about how she learned to place her identity in Christ after a knee surgery and autoimmune disorder that rocked her world. By surrendering her everyday and ultimately her life to the Lord, Channing experienced the freedom to play soccer in a way that she never had before, giving her the confidence to be "bold as a lion."

More than his role as a football player, Elijah is vocal about his desire to be remembered for his faith and his love for the Lord. In this episode, he talks about how God has placed him "in the right place at the right time," allowing him to be a leader at Ole Miss both on and off the field. He talks about how, lately, he's felt closer to God than ever before, as he's "locked in" on getting to know Him and grow to be more like Him.

Welcome back! This week, Mary Patton interviewed Cade Slaughter, a good friend and the newly named Mr. Ole Miss. In this episode, Cade opens up about his faith and how God taught him at an early age to place his trust in Him, open his eyes to love people of all kinds, and step out in faith each day by putting on the armor of God (see Ephesians 6). Although life can be "more unexpected than expected," Cade recognizes that by placing his hope in the Lord, he can be a light for others no matter where he is in life.

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes Rachel Long to share how God has taught her to rest in Him in the seasons that she has been in. "Christ does not ask us to be busy, but to sit at his feet," she says.

This week, Mary Patton welcomes Ole Miss RUF campus minister Brian Sorgenfrei to share his story and talk about Covid-19's many impacts on college students. Brian discusses why it's important for us to be in relationships with others and how Covid-19 has impacted not only our connection with others, but our connection with Christ.

Let's talk Broadway! (And Jesus of course.) In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her friend and Broadway enthusiast Lawson Marchetti to the podcast. Lawson talks about the way God has used theater in his life, as well as how God has used the past few months during quarantine to draw Lawson to Himself. He also shares his other interests, such as herpetology, fishing, and nature, and how God has revealed Himself to Lawson as the greatest artist and storyteller.

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her friend Meagan Harkins to share some truth about prayer. She begins by sharing her thoughts on what prayer is and why it is essential to the Christian life. Then, Meagan answers a series of questions, including "Why pray if God already knows?" and "What if I feel like God isn't listening?" She also provides a couple of book recommendations, including The Inner Voice of Love: a Journey Through Anguish to Freedom.

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes one of her youth leaders from home, Wilson Van Hooser, to share his testimony. Wilson talks about how God is continually revealing the idols of his heart, giving him a greater love for the Lord, and teaching him to share that love with others. Wilson also shares how God has used youth ministry in his life over the past seven years and provides some advice for students living in a broken and difficult world.

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her friend Elizabeth Turner to talk about physical and spiritual health. She may or may not share some sweet potato recipes too!!! We hope you enjoy it.

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes two of her best friends from college, Jackson Dear and Abi-Leigh Doss, to share their testimonies and talk about God as creator.

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her dad Jamie Murphy to share his testimony and provide some encouragement for students walking with Christ.

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her friend Grace Gilbert to talk about God's provision in both good and hard times.