Stories You've Missed

This Grand Parkway member shares accounts of God calling her to Himself and the mission field. You will hear stories of provision and leading of the Spirit. This is a lively and honest conversation about mission work in hard areas, finding love, and widowhood. You will be encouraged to hear how God cares for the single mom. You will get a glimpse of her work now and understand why we withhold her name. 

Lead pastor, Neil, responds to questions from a series of sermons ranging from Acts 15 and 16. We discuss how reckless sentiment avoids the truth and why we are allergic to being wrong.  Listen to understand how our assumptions in disagreements leave us with a smaller life than we were made for. You will hear an explanation of what to do with closed doors, who is responsible for your peace and joy,  and a warning from over-believing in yourself.  This episode closes with an encouragement to live an integrated life.

In this episode, we address points from our Sunday sermons in January through March. You will hear Neil expand on points such as,  Stop reading the Bible through the Lens of Your Kids. How Desires Change. Are you of the Faith or of the Preference? Tribulation is a Door to the Kingdom. 

Listen as Travis shares key parts of his life story. You will hear how he came to faith, was discipled, and his calling to ministry. Travis tells the roller coaster ride of working in ministry, working out of ministry, and then serving the church once again. He recounts what it was like to have a cancer diagnosis. You will hear how God does not just call a husband to a ministry role but reveals his call to a wife too.  

In this episode, Lead pastor, Neil McClendon, addresses questions from our advent sermons. How should we experience disappointment and hope? How does embracing Jesus' perfection help me embrace my imperfection?  What is the purpose of self-talk? How does God hate the sin and hate the sinner? What does God mean by "my face is toward you"?  

Listen as Kyle and Astrid share how the Spirit led them to Idaho to prepare for pastoral ministry. This is a lighthearted conversation with dozens of stories and lots of laughs. As a fairytale, their story would start, "Once upon a time, a Columbian and a Church dropout took a financial seminar. "

Listen as Neil addresses questions from sermons on Acts 9-12. How do I treat myself like someone I love?  What is the proper way to give and receive affirmation? How do we get Romans 8:28 wrong? Is God consistently healing us of our biggest need?

Listen as Wade shares how God moved him from a 20+ year career in health care to being the Executive Pastor at Grand Parkway. You will hear about his aspiration to be a college basketball coach and how God used a flier on a bulletin board to direct him to Houston. What does an EP do? How can God call someone to vocational ministry later in life? Listen to find out. 

In this episode, we address questions from 3 sermons on Acts chapter 8.  You will hear Neil explain, how we make the Kingdom about "no" and miss out on its "yes". In what ways can we experience the Holy Spirit as both subtle and practical? How do we stop thinking, "the sky is falling" and have the mindset that "the Kingdom is coming"?  What messages has God given us to convince us we can trust him? 

Jessy retells her experience of being led by the Spirit to this local church.  She shares how God grabbed hold of her heart and caused her to live for him.  You will hear how he spoke clearly and repeatedly in different ways. Jessy describes how being led by the Spirit is a little scary but a lot more thrilling. 

This is the third installment in a special series called Circling Back. In this format, we address a few points from recent sermons that our people have asked for further clarity or concepts we think need a deeper dive.In this episode, we address: What are agreements and why do they imprison us? Who is the first consequential person you experienced?  How important is emotional self-awareness? How does what we put our hope in have power over us? What does it look like to partake of the divine nature? 

This is the second in a special series called Circling Back. In this format, we address a few points from recent sermons that our people have asked for further clarity or concepts we think need a deeper dive.In this episode, we address: Does God speak to us in weird places? How should we understand and experience the favor of God? What happens when kids feel managed by their parents? How do we access what is really motivating our behavior? Why should we enjoy our life more than we do? 

Marcie shares her journey of being set apart for ministry and currently expressing that call as the Women's Pastor at Grand Parkway. You will hear about her coming to faith in Jesus and how that faith was challenged to mature in each life stage. She discusses how you can determine if you are called and clarify what you are set apart for.

This is the first of special episodes called Circling Back. In this format, we address a few points from recent sermons that our people have asked for further clarity or concepts we think need a deeper dive.In this episode, we address: How do we maintain the balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility? How does dying to self make us unkillable? What is the common desire to be God and how is not getting to be God a good thing? 

Lead Pastor, Neil McClendon, shares 6 keys to addressing your mental health after age 60. These factors are 1) Social Connection, 2) Meaningful Values, 3) Meaningful Work, 4) Childhood Trauma, 5) Physical Exertion, and 6) A Hopeful and Secure Future. This content was first shared at a recent gathering of The Varsity, our ministry for those 60 and older. Spoiler Alert: You don't have to wait until you are over 60 to address these areas. It's best if you don't delay. 

Dennis and Karen share about experiencing God's goodness through marriage after divorce. There was a single mom that needed to be rescued from a wasp infestation and was all too happy to let the single dad that moved in across the street and looked like Chuck Norris, help her out. You will hear how Dennis came to saving faith while dating Karen. They describe how blending two single-parent families is hard and hilarious. They are people who have been through the hell of divorce but are deeply grateful and happy. 

Youssef and Monica share how God has brought them to Himself, to each other, to the U.S., and to Houston. You will hear how they truly begin following God during their university years.  Their commitment to following Jesus led them on a difficult journey. They became refugees that cried out to a God who was once a refugee himself in their homeland. 

Stand and GiGi share how they have experienced God's goodness through some wonderful and impossibly hard things. You will hear how they met at a Bible college during the Jesus movement and how they had a front-row seat to glory in the illness and passing of their Daughter, Heidi. They are a couple who have joy from the comfort of God's sovereignty. 

Zach and Michelle share their experience of practicing hospitality with the neighbors on their street. What began as being friendly from their sidewalks and yard turned into hosting over 50 neighbors at their home for National Night Out. you will hear how a conviction to love their neighbors turned into these new friends loving on them. Listen and find out how God may be inviting you too to LIVE on the best street in Texas.

Retired Old Men Eating Out Somewhere (ROMEOS). Dennis Scott and Al Williams share about the work of the ROMEOS group at Grand Parkway. They discuss the group's origin and current work. You will hear how this gathering is as much about fellowship and true connection as it is about helping widows and the needy.  It is one of the most consistent ways this church demonstrates the core value of blessing. 

Tom and Kathleen share stories of the goodness of God they have experienced through nearly 6 decades together. You will hear how Kathleen's brother led Tom to Christ and years later Kathleen led Tom's mom to saving faith in Jesus. They have walked through deep hardships like infertility and cancer. Listen to them explain, "when you need to be rescued from something, that is when God shows off His goodness." 

George and Monica look back upon 32 years of marriage and reflect on God's goodness to them. They discuss what they learned about themselves and about God through parenting 10 kids. Listen to them share how being embedded in a local church was the primary way God cared for them and led them.

Listen to Dan and Marcia share their experience of God's kindness over 43 year of marriage. Their path traversed 3 contenants, cancer treatment, and a year of great sorrow. The explain how they learned to really talk deeply with one another after two decades. That skill was invaluable as hod led them through hard things.  Through it all they can see God was gracious and kind-the whole time.

How does God take a person who deeply believed they had nothing to offer to serve in missions and change them into a leading role in trips for years? Listen to Bert and Pat describe how God drew them into experiencing missions in Costa Rica. They share how God changed their view of themselves and of their role in His kingdom.  You will hear how through missions God changed Bert so much here reputation at work shifted from "dragon-lady" to being known for compassion and kindness. 

Jana retells some of the amazing things she has experienced God do through kids ministry. She shares something she wishes every parent would remember about their child.  Listen to hear what was kid's ministry like before it had a dedicated building and what Jana has learned about herself.

Neil shares the story of God's goodness toward Grand Parkway Baptist Church from a staff perspective. Listen to hear how God called him to pastor this congregation and how Marcie knew before he did.  He recounts in numerous stories how God revealed through the lay people what was in His heart for this congregation. God has been writing the story of Grand Partway to tell The Grand Story of the Gospel. 

Clyde shares the story of how he came to be the worship pastor at Grand Parkway. You will hear how a kid with a heart set on camp directing and missions was changed to be a pastor at a local church. When Clyde had clarity on what God was inviting him to do, the decision was simple. It was obedience. 

How did a Bible study in a home become a community of believers that occupy 4 buildings on 15 acres of property? Hear Tommy Hamor and Wade Burgess share about the difficulties and rescue God has brought this church through. 

Cynthia Buchanan and Nancy Treesh share their experience of God's kindness through widowhood. The death of a spouse, while devastating, is not the end of one's life. The ladies describe how God opened doors to consequential living that they never planned for. Hear them explain how God is good, he is smart, and he is enough. 

Ed and Jane share about God's grace through key moments in their marriage. You will hear how singing a church solo can impress a girl and how marriage can be like two best friends that always have each other's back. They also reveal their secret to a 6-decade marriage. 

Cynthia and Barb discuss the ministry Hands to Bless, which creates handmade items to love others.  They share their experience of finding meaningful ministry, a surprising friendship, and unimagined goodness from God in this stage of life.  Listen to them describe the spiritual work God does through creating and why they can say,  "while I am quilting putting pieces of fabric together God is putting the pieces of me back together." 

Dave and Barb reflect on acts of God's grace to them through 44 years of marriage. You'll hear about their "one-week" engagement and their first year spent apart. Though their 4 decades together were rarely easy, they would change very little. They experienced a God who never gave up on them and never stopped pursuing them. Because of that love, they never gave up on each other. 

Gary and Desiree recount the grace they received from God after the death of their 17 year old daughter, Bailey.  They continue to endure one of the most difficult events in life, and are still standing. Their experience of grief, though different from each other, is fixed on the same source of help. You will hear about the many ways God assured them that He sees their pain and is in control. In particular, God used the local church to walk with the Coopers through this valley of the shadow of death. 

Butch and Amy share their experience of grace from God in the ongoing trial of ocular melanoma. Butch was diagnosed 12 years ago and by grace, survives today. Butch still has eye cancer and the future is not promised. Actually, we all share an uncertain earthly future. Their experience may give you courage to face the unknown. 

The Peschel's retell their experience of grace from God in the process of adopting Bella into their family. Listen to this incredible account of God working out dozens of details and sustaining the Peschel's even when they could not see it. They describe what it was like to walk with God while they, "held their breath for a year." 

Nicole shares the process God led her through that united her training in geology with a longing for the Gospel to be available to unreached peoples.  She recounts her experience that God's plans are always more than we can see in the moment and can be trusted. 

Jenny recounts acts of God's grace that resulting in moving her family half way across the US from Delaware to Grand Parkway Baptist. In His kindness, God gives us what we need to trust Him and follow His leading. 

Nicole shares how God was gracious in the ways he changed her heart from being a geologist to being a mom. 

Ed and Peggy share tales of God's grace to them over 62 years of marriage. They grew up in a time when young people were entrusted with hard things (like running a farm as a teenager). 

Guest: Al and Nancy Williams retell the story of God's goodness through their experience of adoption.  You will be touched by the comedy of how unprepared they were to bring their first baby home. You will be moved to hear about their writing a letter to a teenage girl to be a safe haven for her unborn baby. 

Debi shares how her decades long experience of reading the Bible shifted from a task, a discipline, or a chore to deeply experiencing God's presence. 

Al & Nancy share accounts of God's grace in over 40 years of marriage. Meeting in a work van-pool, God has taught them some keys to a flourishing marriage that lasts over four decades. 

Derek retells an account of God changing him from longing for the glory of the spotlight to thriving in a supporting role. 

Jana retells how God moved her from working as a classroom teacher to working in ministry. 

David retells his experience of God's goodness in leading him to his vocation. 

Jana McKee recounts a season in life when prayer moved from from dull to discouraged to dead. She shares her struggle with God and infertility. You will hear her experience of God's grace that lead her back to a vibrant prayerlife. 

David shares about God's grace in parenting children with special needs. What the world says is loss the Lord says is glory.

Kyla shares the details of God moving her from a career as a pharmacist to a new passion teaching high school students. The tale has twists that were unexpected and at first glance discouraging. In the end, it becomes clear that all along God was working for his glory and her good. 

Derek retells God's work of shifting his hope from trying to do everything "right" to trusting one who makes everything right. 

Blake Hardcastle introduces you to the Stories You Missed Podcast.