Jake And Friends

We're back baby. Parker Sanders is now the official Co-Host of the Jake and Friends Podcast!We catch up and talk about the importance of the Bible.

Tyler Vaughn and Parker Sanders join the show to talk about Pathology Apparel - a clothing company started by Tyler after his baseball days at Troy University were over.Tyler does not speak to William Teal anymore since William is an outright scam artist. Tyler has forgiven William in his heart, however. William is still not allowed back on the show until he repays each and every one of the Jake and Friends guests he defrauded using his plethora of shell companies.

Mr. Charles Phillips, aka Mr. Stav Nation, joins me today and is one of my good friends. We talked a lot about the importance of reading, watching fruitful television, and taking care of your personal finances.Charles is an amazing friend and could host his own podcast on his own.

Amy Kirby is the Special Needs Minister (Hand in Hand) at Shades Mountain Baptist Church. She is a rock star and incredibly selfless. I'm very thankful to serve in the Special Needs ministry at Shades and I'd recommend anyone serving in their local special needs ministry. If you don't have one, call Amy and figure out how to start your own!

The Horton's are just real people from an apparent real place who moved to Alabama and are pursuing Christ like never before. I'm thankful for their friendship!Jake and Haley open up about their upbringing, the path God chose for them to end up in Alabama and the differences in church cultures from across the country.

Kevin Johnson, Josh Clarke and Jacob Simmons battle to see who has what it takes to know more useless trivia.

Alla is back to talk about something she's grown to be very good at, especially as it relates to our marriage: forgiveness.Enjoy!

Carolyn Potter is the CEO of The WellHouse - a nonprofit that exists to honor God by rescuing and providing opportunities for restoration to female victims of human trafficking who have been sexually exploited.Carolyn is a rock star and has been with the WellHouse since 2014. She has over 25 years of experience in the child advocacy field with a Master's degree in Professional Counseling.

Kevin Naylor knew God was speaking to him when he told him to do something he'd never think to do; plant a church at UAB. I loved Kevin's story and I believe you will as well.Kevin is the Pastor of Vision and Teaching at Antioch Community Church in Birmingham.

Lisa Hogan is the Executive Director of Sav-A-Life Birmingham and I'm very excited I got to talk to her about her experience with this organization and the passion she has for standing in the front lines of women choosing life for their unborn children.Please don't skip this one! 

In 2007, God woke David Johnson in the middle of the night and gave him the words Give, Go, Ask, and Expect. David and three other men discussed the idea of starting a ministry that would pursue believers in the US that would partner with organizations to carry the message of Christ to the ends of the earth. Doulos Partners was created out of that dream and discussion.David Johnson is the Executive Director of Doulos Partners. You're going to love this one.

Janie Johnson is her own human. She is passionate about a lot of things, but when I asked her what she wanted to discuss she held Godly friendships near to her heart. I enjoyed hearing what Janie had to say and I think you will too!

Mark & Lynn Garnett join to talk about sexual sin and what scripture says about it. There's no sugarcoating any of this. Put your big boy/girl pants on. 

Will Sam three peat? Can newcomers Janie and Keith perform? Will Alla speak into the microphone? Only time will tell.

I've just wanted to share some things so you're encouraged!

Kat and Alla walk through the struggles, victories, pros and cons of being a mom who works in the field to one who works at home.I'm glad I tried to not give my opinions very much on this one because these ladies did great!

Brodie Croyle took over as the President & CEO of Big Oak Ranch in 2011 after his father had started it back in 1974. It's mission is to love on children and teenagers who have nowhere else to go. They love them by giving them a solid Christian home to grow up in and to break the cycle of generational waywardness from Jesus.Michael Miller is the Associate Minister to Middle School at Shades Mountain Baptist Church and grew up at Big Oak Ranch being apart of a host family. His unique perspective helps me see that my circumstances aren't nearly as difficult to navigate as I'd like to think.I was honored to have both of them on this podcast to share about how Jesus remains the King of the Universe and how every single person in it needs to know Him.

George Wright goes through the gauntlet of questions posed by me and some close friends. I literally ask him anything we want to know the answers to. I'd say he did great! You don't want to miss this one.George is the Senior Pastor at Shades Mountain Baptist Church and has been in ministry his entire adult life. I enjoyed George's company and his willingness to dive deep on some questions that I was hoping to get answered.

The Harrises (Harris-eez?) have been waiting for adoption for 2 years. Waiting can be difficult. They talk through the ups and the downs, the good and the bad. The thing that remains consistent? Jesus (obviously).I'm super thankful to know these amazing people. I think you'll enjoy getting to know them as well.

Hear Myles McKee share his story of being a pastors kid growing up in Asheville, NC, pursuing football and having God reveal to him a need for the city of Birmingham.Myles is the City Pastor for Shades Mountain Baptist Church. He played collegiate football most recently for the UAB Blazers before their program was briefly terminated in 2014. He also founded A4ONE in Birmingham shortly after that.

Amanda Gilliam gets it. She's the hands and feet of Jesus and she is an inspiration to me for sharing Jesus with people who need to hear the good news.Amanda and I discuss what it looks like to share the gospel with someone you don't know and why it's important to not let those opportunities pass you by.

The O'Hara's are the Royal Family of ice cream in the state of Alabama. I enjoyed listening to their story about how they got started and where it's led them today. I also put their taste buds to the test as they try and pick their own ice cream out of a lineup.Special guest and the show's #1 sponsor William Teal makes his debut as well.

Sam is back to defend his title against former guests Kat Powell, Kevin Johnson and Russell Leonard. Enjoy!

Before Michael O'Neal left to go on his first mission trip as an adult, he was like most Christians. He loved Jesus, but never told anyone about Him. He didn't realize he was a baby Christian. After a his second or third mission trip, Michael became a fisher of men.Michael O'Neal is the Chairman of Reel Life International, a nonprofit that exists to cultivate a deep passion for the gospel through participation in local discipleship and short-term missions.

Parenting is hard and we all could use some help. People sent in their questions about parenting and Alla and I did our best not to butcher it!Taking practical advice backed with scripture, we hope you find this helpful.

Morgan makes another return with her husband Russell to discuss communication in marriage. I put them through the gauntlet in hopes that they'd answer each question openly and honestly and they delivered.Russell and Morgan are an excellent example of a biblical marriage and I hope to have them back on in the future to deep dive into other marriage related topics.

Lauren and Will are missionaries who have spend the last 8 years in eastern Asia. They were gracious enough to share their experiences and their heart for the lost with me and you.I'm encouraged by their willingness to leave behind a world of comfort to live in a place that doesn't care about them all that much on a grand scale. I'm encouraged that they share the gospel without shame. I hope you're encouraged too!

Lawrence Sheffield is the Founder of Manufacture Good (formerly Magic City Woodworks). They exist to offer 6 month apprenticeships for young men stuck in a rut. They train them in woodworking as well as in the way they carry themselves.Lawrence is a great guy and I'm thankful to have met him. Follow them on Instagram at manufacturegood or find them at manufacturegood.org.

Two of my favorite people open up to share their journey through infertility and how God has remained faithful, regardless of how many children He decides to give.Tyler has been on multiple episodes of the podcast up to this point and his wife Anna makes her debut. Both are great examples of sacrifice, not only in their marriage but as members of the body of Christ. I love them very deeply and am honored to be called their friends.

Jeff Bolger and Clay Fontenot share their salvation stories and how Campus Outreach played an impact in their lives. In a lot of ways Clay's story is similar to my own. I'd bet it's similar to a lot of peoples stories.Jeff was most recently the Director of Campus Outreach at the University of Alabama. Clay is a college student at the University of Alabama.Campus Outreach is a college ministry that has changed the lives of countless college students, including myself. It's a place where anyone and everyone is welcome.

What role do spiritual gifts play in the church? What are the spiritual gifts? Why does it matter?Blake Milner and I discuss just that. If anything, you'll enjoy hearing Blake put together sentences like a lawyer from your favorite cop drama would; with ease and elegance.Blake is an excellent husband, father, friend, and apparently lawyer (or so he tells me).

Some familiar faces return for the First Annual Inaugural Kickoff Jake and Friends Trivia Contest Bash!Lindy, Sam, Morgan & Tyler make their return to compete for a Dundie replica trophy that they will undoubtedly cherish forever.It's going to be a lot of fun.

Megan Smalley is the Queen, Founder, CEO & President of Scarlet & Gold, Ink & Thread Co., and Game Day by Scarlet & Gold. She is also an author, podcaster, wife and mom.Most importantly, she loves Jesus and she is the kind of person who won't bend for worldly pressure or back down in fear of losing followers.Listen to her story. It's worth the time.

Kendall Phillips started The Penny Story in hopes to spread awareness about human trafficking. Her prayer was simple "give the Penny Story a voice louder than mine".I'm thankful to have met Kendall. She is a fantastic human being. Her love for Jesus and love for her neighbors is evident from the moment you meet her and her family. My continuous goal in life is to meet people like her.

Kat Powell is the first person I knew of outside of ministry who was actively practicing resting one day out of the week. I asked her questions like why? What made her and her husband Austin start? What are some great tips for getting started?Kat and Austin are two amazing human beings and selfless individuals. They're the kind of people who you say "I need more people like them in my life".

Parker & Kayla Sanders open up about their dating relationship and how their son was born at 27 weeks. How God walked them through that season in their life and what they're doing now.The Sanders are two of my favorite people on Earth. Parker has been my best friend since childhood and he was my best man at my wedding. The Sanders without question faithfully serve Jesus and don't compromise their faith for anything the world has to offer.

Cedar Creative is a production company based in Birmingham, AL and specializes in storytelling. Kevin and Ethan both have 10+ years of experience in videography, film editing, and all the other buzz words that I don't readily know.Ethan and Kevin are great guys and remind me of me and my best friends in a lot of ways. They seem to work well together and love experimenting with new ways to convey human emotion with storytelling.

Bigtime is an interdenominational ministry in Birmingham, AL dedicated to discipling students through Bible studies, retreats, mission trips, and intentional relationships that grow passionate followers of Jesus.Zach is a passionate guy and he's passionate about serving Jesus. There's no greater compliment. I had a lot of fun hanging out with him am stoked he's investing his time and energy into the younger generation.

My wife Alla and I open up about our struggles with fear and anxiety and what scripture says about it.

Jacob Simmons is the Pastor at Hope Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He also has previously been on staff at churches in London, Hendersonville, Tennessee, Chicago, and also at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham.I enjoyed hearing Jacob's story about how Hope Community Church went through their church adoption process and the importance of church revitalization throughout the US and other parts of the world.Jacob is also a husband, father, and improv comic.

Derek Irons is the head baseball coach for Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Derek was also my former head coach at Charles Henderson High School where he won back to back state championships during 2013 and 2014 in the 4A Division. I've yet to meet anyone to have a negative thing to say about Derek. He is a man of God and a great husband and father. He's also 40.

Chad Cossiboom is the Executive Pastor at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. I had fun listening to Chad's job roles and responsibilities as an Executive Pastor and got to ask him real questions about overall church leadership.Chad is the kind of man that people gravitate towards. He is an exceptional listener, a great leader, and most importantly loves Jesus. You can't go wrong with those things. 

Andrew Stanley (American Version) is a standup comedian who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. I enjoyed hearing his story of how he left the corporate world with a cushy desk job to pursue his passion of making people laugh for money.After meeting Andrew, I can tell you that he was extremely generous and kind towards me. I hope to meet more people like him in my lifetime.

By the time Jordan Cox was 26 when he had been let go from two jobs and was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. If you meet him now, you'd never guess it. He carries himself with a unique sense of peace and purpose.  I'm honored to have him on the show!Jordan is the Director of Communications at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL.

Clint Free, the pride of Brantley, AL, is the Director of Common Ground Troy, a nonprofit after school and summer program for boys to help them academically and spiritually. Clint is always smiling, always serving, and always loving Jesus. To quote my father "they don't make them like that everyday".

ATTENTION: This is a fun episode that has almost nothing to do with the overall theme or direction of this podcast. My wife said I should warn people.Tyler Schnell and I run through 16 sauces March Madness style to see which one rules them all, while simultaneously answering questions that real people asked, 100% without fabrication. I can guarantee that I did not make these up.Tyler is a loyal friend. He is an excellent example of a husband and a father. He will also call you out for wearing the same shirt too many times.

Wade Honeycutt is like an onion. The more layers you peel back, the more surprised you are that there's still more to the story. He is a great story teller and an even better friend.Wade is a husband, father, business owner, entrepreneur, and can allegedly run 2 miles in 10 minutes. 

Alla and Morgan struggle bus through who's still together on the Bachelor/Bachelorette & Bachelor in Paradise. We also discuss how to children (girls in our case) how to find worth in Christ instead of a rose.

Sam Wilson is arguably the most humble and kind man I've met to this point in my life. He's an Auburn University graduate, a deacon at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, and a great friend.Sam and I discuss alcohol within the Church. Specifically, what scripture says and how it's viewed among the Church body.

Dr. Charlie Schlappi, M.D. and Elizabeth Schlappi, NP sit down and discuss their journey through the foster care system. Charlie is a legitimate doctor of the pediatric nature and Elizabeth is a nurse practitioner. Both work for Children's Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham.