All Things New Podcast

From Atheism to Christ: A Veteran’s Journey Through War, Addiction, and Grace | Ryan Smith

Former atheist, Iraq War veteran, and recovering alcoholic Ryan Smith shares a raw, powerful testimony of redemption, faith, and transformation through Jesus Christ.
In this episode of All Things New Podcast, Ryan opens up about growing up as a pastor’s kid, rejecting Christianity, battling addiction, serving two combat tours in Iraq, and ultimately being radically saved by Christ. This Veterans Day conversation dives deep into identity, pride, unity in the body of Christ, recovery, missions, and what it truly means to follow Jesus beyond religion.
🔥 Episode Highlights:
From militant atheism to saving faith in Jesus Christ
Growing up as a pastor’s son and rebelling against church culture
Alcohol addiction, suicidal darkness, and God’s relentless grace
Two combat tours in Iraq and powerful near-death moments
Brotherhood in the military vs. the body of Christ
Why theology should never divide believers
Recovery, idols, and surrendering alcohol to Christ
Missions in Mexico and Cuba and the power of underground churches
Veterans Day reflections and honoring those who served
“Once you’ve tasted God, you don’t want sardines anymore.”
This episode is a must-listen for veterans, those in recovery, believers wrestling with faith, and anyone searching for authentic Christianity rooted in grace, unity, and truth.
📖 “Behold, I am making all things new.” — Revelation 21:5

From Prison to Purpose: Brad Hancock’s Testimony of Redemption, Obedience, and the Power of Jesus

Brad Hancock shares a raw, unfiltered testimony of addiction, gang life, prison, and a radical encounter with Jesus Christ that changed everything. From nearly losing his life to discovering true freedom behind prison walls, Brad’s story is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond redemption.
In this episode of the All Things New Podcast, Brad opens up about growing up in Gulfport, Mississippi, losing his parents at a young age, falling into drugs and incarceration, and how the Lord met him at the lowest point—transforming fear into faith and chaos into calling. Now serving at Gateway Rescue Mission, Brad walks daily with men seeking restoration and new life in Christ.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone impacted by addiction, incarceration, recovery ministry, or simply needing hope that God still makes all things new.
Key Topics Covered:
Growing up in broken environments
Addiction and gang affiliation
Life inside Mississippi prisons
A near-death encounter that led to surrender
Finding Jesus in prison
Obedience in the face of fear
Redemption through Christ alone
Ministry at Gateway Rescue Mission
Celebrate Recovery and discipleship
God’s grace for the forgotten and incarcerated
📖 “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

A Life of Purpose: How Jesus Restored Chris Turner Through The Church

Chris Turner shares a powerful testimony of restoration—how Jesus brought him from a painful, institutionalized childhood and seasons of homelessness into a life of purpose, service, and joy.This conversation is a reminder that God heals, the Church helps, and love truly changes lives.
In this episode of the All Things New Podcast, we sit down with Chris Turner to hear how God has worked through faith, community, and obedience to transform his life. Chris opens up about growing up in DHS custody, navigating broken relationships, struggling with addiction, and how a real relationship with Jesus began changing everything in 2019.
We talk about the power of Celebrate Recovery, learning humility before God, serving faithfully in the local church, and stepping out in boldness to pray for people in everyday places. Chris also shares how meaningful relationships within the Church helped meet real needs—and how God often uses those moments to bless both the giver and the receiver.
Topics covered in this conversation:
Growing up institutionalized and the long-term impact it had
Homelessness, addiction, and survival
Finding faith and purpose through Jesus Christ
Celebrate Recovery and spiritual accountability
Praying for strangers and living out faith daily
The Church stepping in with real, practical support
Looking ahead to future ministry opportunities and missions
Scripture referenced:
Revelation 21:5
James 5:13
Matthew 28 (The Great Commission)
Ministry & Episode CTAIf this episode encouraged you, please follow or subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a comment or review. Your support helps this message reach more people who need encouragement and restoration.
Contact – All Things New MinistryEmail: allthingsnewinc@gmail.comAubrey Pridgen: (601) 940-7495Scott Walters: (601) 278-4816

Clay Brooks: Taking the Gospel to the Nations

In this episode of the All Things New Podcast, Scott Walters sits down with missionary Clay Brooks, a man who has spent decades carrying the Gospel across borders and into some of the hardest places on earth.
Since 1987, Clay has devoted his life to full-time ministry—
Planting churches
Training and equipping house-church leaders
Sharing Christ with unreached people groups
Serving in places like Mexico, Russia, and Asia
Clay shares how God first called him to the mission field, what it means to live by faith instead of comfort, and how he’s watched the Lord transform hearts and communities in completely different cultures. From small house gatherings to remote villages, Clay has seen firsthand that Jesus is making all things new wherever the Gospel goes.
You’ll hear about:
How the Lord led Clay into full-time missionary work
Stories from the field—church planting, discipleship, and house churches
The challenges and joys of cross-cultural ministry
Why obedience to God’s call is worth any sacrifice
How believers here at home can partner with what God is doing among the nations
Revelation 21:5 – “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Whether you’re called to missions, praying about your next step of faith, or simply needing encouragement that God is still working in the world, this conversation will stir your heart and strengthen your trust in Jesus.
 
Ways to Donate to All Things New Ministry:
✉️ Write a check
💳 Debit or Credit Card
📲 PayPal: @allthingsnewinc
💸 Venmo: @All-Things-New-Ministry
Or simply text Scott Walters for Venmo info directly
All Things New Ministry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible and helps us bring the message of transformation through Christ to jails, recovery centers, and communities in need.

Redemption Road: From 6 Life Sentences in Supermax to Freedom in Christ (David Spicer’s Testimony)

In this episode, David Spicer sits down with All Things New to share one of the most shocking redemption stories we’ve ever recorded.
At 17 years old, David entered Mississippi’s Parchman prison. He talks about:
Growing up in extreme abuse and trauma at home
Joining gangs young because he craved a father’s love
Learning violence as survival inside Parchman, where “it’s kill or be killed”
Watching stabbings, riots, helicopters landing, guards abusing inmates, and being sent to “the hole” over and over
Being told he was not being rehabilitated — just warehoused
After serving 11 years and getting out at 28, David tried to work honest jobs. Every time background checks came back, he was fired — not for stealing, not for being late, just for having a record. That bitterness and desperation pushed him into bank robbery.
He explains:
How he robbed three banks in about a month
Why banks are trained to hand over the cash without fighting
How fast “easy money” disappears, and how paranoia steals your sleep
Getting arrested in New Orleans and entering the federal system
The sentence:David was hit with SIX life sentences plus 30 years for federal bank robbery. In federal time, “life” means you die there. There is no parole. He had nothing left to lose.
Violence followed him into the feds. He describes getting targeted, getting surrounded, and the prison mindset: “Don’t threaten me and don’t put your hands on me.” He explains how quickly things go lethal behind the fence — and the moment he almost killed another inmate… and why he believes God literally stopped his hand in mid-attack and kept that man alive. He calls that “prevenient grace.”
Because David was labeled dangerous, he was eventually shipped to Florence, Colorado. The ADX Supermax. “The Alcatraz of the Rockies.”
He spent 15 years there.
He walks us through Supermax life:
23+ hours a day in total isolation
No physical human contact
Food passed through a slot
Four steps from bed to shower, four steps back
“Recreation” in an outdoor cage the size of a dog run
Conversations through toilets because that’s the only way to talk to the next cell
He was housed near men like the Unabomber, the Oklahoma City bomber, cartel leaders, domestic terrorists, and international extremists. He talks about spiritual darkness in there… but also moments that stayed with him, like the shoe bomber refusing to even hand him a magazine with a woman on the cover — while also being willing to blow up a plane full of innocent people. That led to a powerful conversation about religion without love.
And then everything broke.
In 2012, while still in the Supermax, David learned his mother died — the one person who loved him unconditionally. He decided he was going to end his own life.
He describes that moment openly:
Feeling like there was no path forward
Believing there was nothing left but those four steps to the shower until he died
Planning exactly how he would do it and even practicing in the mirror
But right there, in a concrete box, he remembered the Lord’s Prayer that his mother made him pray as a child. He hit his knees and said, “God, I don’t even know if You’re real. But if You are, reveal Yourself to me.”
That prayer changed everything.
For the first time, he started reading the Bible — not fast, not like a book, but slowly. One chapter a day. Then two. He says God began to show him:
“You’re not past forgiveness.”
“I already knew all of this before you were born.”
“I chose people just like you all through Scripture.”He realized Jesus didn’t just save “good church people.” Jesus chose to enter the world through a bloodline that included a prostitute (Rahab). Jesus took the place of Barabbas — the violent criminal everyone had already given up on. Grace is for killers, addicts, thieves, gang leaders, the proud, the self-righteous… all of us.
David started tithing from inside prison.He started helping people.He started paying restitution.He even sent money to a widow who’d lost her husband.He earned his GED even though he believed he would die in prison.He said, “Obedience came before freedom.”
Then God did the impossible.
David says God literally gave him, in a dream and then again while awake, the exact words to file in a legal motion — even though he had no law training. He obeyed, wrote it out, and mailed it.
That motion led to:
A federal public defender in Jackson, Mississippi taking his case
A massive New York firm (Simpson Thacher & Bartlett) joining pro bono
Multiple attorneys fighting on his behalf
A federal judge reviewing his sentence and saying, “You were sentenced wrong. You’re not supposed to be in prison.”
Nine months later, the SAME JUDGE who originally gave David six life sentences plus 30 years ordered his immediate release.
Immediate.As in: “We have to have him off the compound by 5pm today.”
He walked out of federal Supermax custody after 22+ years behind bars. His first request? A piece of gum. He hadn’t even been allowed gum in 22 years.
Today:David is free.He’s married.He’s working.He’s driving a concrete truck in Nashville.And he’s coming back into jails, prisons, and schools to tell people the truth:“Nobody came for me. I’m going back in for them.”
Powerful themes in this episode:
Fatherhood, identity, and why the absence (or abuse) of a father marks generations
Trauma from childhood abuse and what that does to a kid’s brain
How prison is not built for restoration — it’s built for warehousing human beings
Why violence becomes normal… and why that’s not “strength,” it’s survival
The darkness of isolation and suicidal thinking
The moment he cried out to God
Grace, repentance, responsibility, obedience
What it really means that Jesus died for the worst of us, not the best of us
How God can take a man the system wrote off and turn him into a messenger of hope
Scripture referenced / woven in:
Revelation 21:5 — “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Romans 5:8 — “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 Peter 4 (be serious in prayer, love one another)
Proverbs about fathers and foundation
Train up a child (Proverbs 22:6)
“We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)
Resources mentioned in this episode:
All Things New Ministry (jail ministry, recovery, re-entry support)
Celebrate Recovery
Better Man men’s discipleship (Crossgates Baptist Church – men learning to be spiritual leaders in their homes)
Friends of Alcoholics (faith-based recovery)
Parchman Prison (Mississippi State Penitentiary)
ADX Florence “Supermax”
David’s books:
“Do You Remember? A Letter to Mommy – An Unborn Child Speaks” by David SpicerA pro-life appeal written from the voice of the unborn child. Available on Amazon.
“Redemption Road: From 6 Life Sentences to Freedom” by David SpicerFull life story from Parchman, to ADX Florence, to the miracle release.Currently available for pre-order through True Vine Publishing.
To book David to speak at your church, school, jail, prison, or recovery ministry:Email allthingsnewinc@gmail.com and we will connect you.
Ministry Contact / Next Steps:All Things New MinistryScott Walters: (601) 278-4816Aubrey Pridgen: (601) 940-7495Email: allthingsnewinc@gmail.com
If you need prayer, if you’re struggling with addiction, if you’re heading back out on parole and don’t know where to go — reach out. You are not alone. There IS a way out. There IS a way back.
Please support the work:
Follow and share the All Things New Podcast on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / YouTube
Leave a review (this helps people in dark places actually FIND this story)
Pray for David Spicer’s continued protection and for his brother Adam
“God didn’t just set me free from prison. He set me free from me.” – David Spicer
TagsUse all of these in Podbean tags (comma-separated exactly like this, no hashtags needed in Podbean tags field):
prison ministry, redemption testimony, six life sentences, supermax prison, ADX Florence, Parchman prison, Mississippi prison system, Christian testimony, fatherhood, trauma and abuse, suicide prevention, gang life, bank robbery testimony, Celebrate Recovery, reentry ministry, Friends of Alcoholics, All Things New Ministry, Scott Walters, Aubrey Pridgen, David Spicer, freedom in Christ, grace and forgiveness, second chances, jail ministry, pro life message, True Vine Publishing, Revelation 21:5
Why these:
“ADX Florence,” “Parchman,” “6 life sentences,” “redemption testimony,” “suicide prevention,” “reentry ministry” — these are very searchable phrases for people specifically looking for hope after incarceration or addiction.
Bullet-Point Summary / Transcript SummaryDrop this at the bottom of the description in Podbean for accessibility + SEO. It also helps people skim:
Episode Summary (Full Conversation Highlights):
David describes growing up in severe abuse, watching his father physically harm his mother and the kids, and how that trauma sent him to the streets looking for belonging.
He explains how gangs use fake “family” language to recruit fatherless boys.
At 17, he entered Parchman prison (Mississippi). He talks openly about riots, stabbings, guards abusing inmates, picking cotton, and how prison is about warehousing — not healing.
After 11 years, he was released, tried to work legally, kept getting fired because of his record, and eventually robbed three banks in about a month.
He was sentenced in federal court to six life sentences plus 30 years. In federal time, “life” means you are expected to die in custody.
He was eventually shipped to ADX Florence (federal Supermax), where he spent 15 years in near-total isolation, 23+ hours a day alone, no physical contact, four steps from bed to shower.
He talks about suicidal thoughts after his mother died in 2012 and the moment he dropped to his knees and prayed, “God, if You’re real, reveal Yourself.”
He began reading Scripture daily, slowly, and realized that grace is for “the worst of us,” not “the best of us.”
He started tithing, helping other inmates, and obeying God — even though he believed he would die in prison.
He says God gave him (word-for-word) a legal motion to file. That motion triggered multiple attorneys, including a major New York firm, to take his case.
Nine months later, the same judge who sentenced him ordered his IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
Today David is free, working, married, serving Jesus, and going back into jails and schools to reach men and women that everybody else has given up on.
He says: “Nobody came for me. So I’m going back in for them.”
If you think there’s no way back because of what you’ve done — listen to this story.Jesus still sets captives free.

From Brotherhood to Brotherhood | The Powerful Redemption Story of Willie McClain

What happens when a man who once lived by hate becomes a man led by love? Today on The All Things New Podcast, Scott Walters sits down with Willie McClain, a former member of the Aryan Brotherhood who encountered Jesus Christ behind prison walls — and walked out a completely transformed man. From violence, addiction, and racism to a life of preaching hope in the neighborhoods of South Jackson, Willie’s story is living proof that no one is too far gone for God’s grace. In this powerful conversation, Scott and Willie talk about: 🔹 Breaking free from the prison of hate 🔹 The moment that changed everything inside his cell 🔹 How God called him to minister to the same streets he once feared 🔹 The daily walk of forgiveness, humility, and love If you’ve ever doubted that God can change a life — this episode will shake your heart and strengthen your faith. 📖 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 🎙️ Watch more episodes and learn about the ministry at: 👉 www.youtube.com/@HSP-PodCast 📩 For ministry inquiries: allthingsnewinc@gmail.com Ways to Donate to All Things New Ministry: ✉️ Write a check 💳 Debit or Credit Card 📲 PayPal: @allthingsnewinc 💸 Venmo: @All-Things-New-Ministry Or simply text Scott Walters for Venmo info directly All Things New Ministry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible and helps us bring the message of transformation through Christ to jails, recovery centers, and communities in need.

Travis Tom: From Addiction to Evangelist — Faith, Authority, and Everyday Witness

Evangelist Travis Tom (Mobile, AL) shares his powerful Roma Gypsy testimony—from addiction and brokenness to freedom in Jesus—and a call for the Church to be everyday witnesses. We talk boot-camp training with Christ for All Nations, missions in Mexico/Nigeria, Celebrate Recovery, and a simple prayer for salvation.
Extended show notes
Hosts: Aubrey Pridgen (with a pop-in from Scott Walters) and Damein “Power Digital Media.”
Guest: Travis Tom, evangelist from Mobile, Alabama.
Themes:
How Travis met Jesus and was delivered—then immediately began sharing the gospel.
The role of authority, accountability, and Scripture in avoiding relapse and burnout.
Why evangelism is for every believer (not just “the evangelist”)—“You will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8).
Missions perspective: humility, counting the cost, and why every Christian should try a mission trip (Mexico, Nigeria).
Celebrate Recovery at The Point Church and local outreach.
A clear gospel invitation and prayer for listeners who want to surrender to Christ.
Scriptures referenced
John 3:16 — Jesus is the center of the message.
Acts 1:8 — “You will be My witnesses.”
Ephesians 4:11–12 (5-fold gifts to equip the saints) & Ephesians 6 (spiritual readiness).
Psalm 91 — “Shelter of the Most High.”
Romans 2 — Our daily witness matters.
Isaiah 60:3 — Nations coming to His light.
Revelation 12:11 — “By the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.”
About the guest
Travis Tom is an evangelist trained through Christ for All Nations (Daniel Kolenda; legacy of Reinhard Bonnke). He carries a heart for street outreach, Celebrate Recovery, and international missions.
Timestamps (guide – no hard cuts)
00:00 — Intro & football banter → Jesus first
03:00 — How Aubrey met Travis; instant Holy-Spirit connection
10:00 — Evangelism boot camp & accountability
18:00 — “Witness vs. office”—why evangelism is for all believers
27:00 — Travis’s Roma Gypsy testimony & deliverance
45:00 — Family, humility, and living as an everyday witness
55:00 — Missions in Mexico (Reynosa/Sonora) & Nigeria
1:08:00 — Salvation prayer and next steps
Calls to Action
Need prayer or next steps? Email: allthingsnewinc@gmail.com
Connect with the ministry: Aubrey Pridgen: (601) 940-7495 • Scott Walters: (601) 278-4816
Listen/subscribe on Podbean, Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music.
Share this episode with someone who needs hope today.

Captives vs. Prisoners, Saved vs. Free — Finding True Freedom in Christ (w/ Pastor Dan Blacksher, Hope Fellowship)

Pastor Dan Blacksher shares a raw, hope-filled testimony—moving from “saved but not free” to true transformation in Christ. We unpack identity, relapse vs. renewal, and the “caterpillar → butterfly” life of Romans 12:2 and Isaiah 61. Practical tools, marketplace evangelism, and freedom for the incarcerated & addicted.
Full Show Notes
Guest: Pastor Dan Blacksher (Associate Pastor, Hope Fellowship)Hosts: Scott Walters & Aubrey PridgenTheme: Identity in Christ, renewing the mind, freedom vs. forgiveness, marketplace evangelism, recovery & re-entry ministry.
What you’ll hear
Dan’s salvation story and the “honeymoon season” of answered prayer → the harder season that forged maturity.
“Saved vs. Free”: why many live forgiven but not free—and how to close the gap.
The caterpillar/cocoon/butterfly picture of transformation (metamorphō — Romans 12:1–2).
Captives vs. prisoners (Isaiah 61; Luke 4:18): trauma, choice, and the road to freedom.
Walking out freedom from pornography, shame, and suicidal oppression—practical repentance that sticks.
Marketplace evangelism & excellence at work as worship and witness.
Stewardship, generosity, and why God multiplies seed to the sower.
Crossroads (women re-entry) and CPC Metro (pro-life support): real outcomes & how to help.
Prayer for personal freedom and for an awakening across our nation.
Key Scriptures Mentioned
Romans 12:1–2 (transformation / “metamorphō”)
Isaiah 61; Luke 4:18 (set captives & prisoners free; beauty for ashes)
Matthew 13 (parable of the soils)
1 Samuel 16:23 (David playing; relief from torment)
Romans 14:17 (kingdom: righteousness, peace, joy)
2 Kings 6–7 (siege → sudden turnaround)
Ephesians 1:3 (every spiritual blessing)
Proverbs 13:22 (inheritance to children’s children)
Ministries & Orgs Mentioned
Hope Fellowship (services: Sun 10:30 AM; Wed 6:30–7:30 PM)
Crossroads (women’s transitional homes; strong recidivism outcomes)
CPC Metro (empowering the choice for life)
Highlights & Takeaways
Identity drives behavior: stop calling yourself “a sinner saved by grace” and start living as a new creation in Christ.
Under pressure (the “goo stage”), choose forward—toward transformation—not back to old lies.
Obedience > outcomes: heaven celebrates faithfulness, not optics.
Excellence at work is evangelism: do everything as unto the Lord.
Practical repentance: confess, receive cleansing, thank God for restored fellowship, move forward—don’t worship the fear of the next failure.
Prayer Prompt “Lord, give me grace to go all-in—expose and uproot every lie I believe about You, myself, and my future. Move me from saved to free, and use me to rebuild what the enemy tried to destroy. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Calls to Action
Subscribe, rate, and share to help others find hope.
Need prayer or help? Email us or call.
If you serve in re-entry, recovery, or pro-life support and want to connect, reach out below.
Contact 
Email: allthingsnewinc@gmail.com
Aubrey Pridgen: (601) 940-7495
Scott Walters: (601) 278-4816

Pastor Josh Watts on Hearing God, Sanctification, and Church 2:44

Pastor Josh Watts shares the incredible story behind his July 2025 kidney transplant—and the years of faith it took to get there. From “My sheep hear My voice” to trusting God through surgery, recovery, and church planting, Josh testifies to God’s faithfulness in weakness.
In this heartfelt conversation, we cover hearing God, standing on His promises, sanctification (the daily walk), unity among local ministries, and the birth of Church 2:44 (Acts 2:44). You’ll also hear the powerful donor story—how a young believer volunteered, a paired-donor match formed, and a stranger became a brother in Christ.
—
Show Notes / Highlights
Unity in our area’s ministries & the Ministry/Recovery Fests (context + gratitude)
Josh’s early encounter with God’s voice (“You’ll be nothing like your father”) and later prophetic confirmation at age 22 (John 10:27).
Diagnosis: polycystic kidney disease—the same illness that took his father at 47—and Josh’s raw, honest prayer before the Lord.
“Do you remember the promise?” — God’s reply in Josh’s shower of worship, shifting the focus from disease to the Healer. (2 Cor 12:9)
Five years at stage 4–5 kidney failure without dialysis; seven would-be donors; the paired-donor path; and an improbable 3-month match (June 24 call → July 17 surgery).
Donors & brothers: Nicholas Weeks (youth pastor) volunteers; Chase Patrick donates the actual kidney—two testimonies, one Father.
Lessons from the valley:
#1 God is faithful—stand on His promises (Genesis 15; John 11; 2 Tim 2:13).
#2 There’s a process to the promise—sanctification is daily cross-bearing (James 1; Luke 9:23; John 12:24; Romans 7).
Church 2:44 origin story—From living-room discipleship to launch: “All who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44).
Practical discipleship: deny self, carry the cross, follow Jesus; leaders make leaders, disciples make disciples.
Scriptures Mentioned
John 10:27; 1 John 1:9; Genesis 15; Genesis 3:15; John 11; John 12:24; Habakkuk 2; Romans 7; James 1; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Acts 2:44 (theme of the church).
 
Josh Watts, Church 2:44, Acts 2:44, kidney transplant testimony, polycystic kidney disease, living donor, paired donation, hearing God’s voice, sanctification, discipleship, God’s faithfulness, Jesus, testimony, recovery ministry, jail ministry, Mississippi ministries, unity in the church, prayer, grace, Romans 7, John 10:27
#Testimony, #KidneyTransplant, #HearingGod, #Sanctification, #Acts244, #JesusSaves, #FaithInTrials, #Discipleship, #RecoveryMinistry, #MississippiChurch, #AllThingsNewPodcast
 

Warriors for Christ: The Testimony of Dr. Kevin Cooper

In this powerful episode of the All Things New Podcast, Dr. Kevin Cooper shares his lifelong journey with Jesus—from being saved at age 8 in Pearl, Mississippi, to 20 years in youth ministry, and now pastoring Grace Crossing Baptist Church in Gluckstadt.
Kevin opens up about his calling to ministry, his years serving students, and the influence of mentors who shaped his faith. He shares deeply personal stories of losing his father at 19, navigating grief, and finding strength in Christ. Kevin also discusses his and his wife Pam’s experience with adoption from Kazakhstan, how God provided during their waiting season, and the blessings of raising three children.
Other highlights include his love for Christian music (from Rez Band to Striper), insights on reaching today’s youth, and his church’s commitment to ministering to families with special needs children through respite nights and community support.
This conversation is filled with wisdom, laughter, and encouragement—reminding us that God is faithful through every chapter of life.
📝 Show Notes
Guest: Dr. Kevin Cooper, pastor of Grace Crossing Baptist Church (Gluckstadt, MS).
Highlights:
Salvation testimony at 8 years old in Pearl, MS.
Calling to ministry, years as a youth pastor (Pedal Harvey, First Baptist Brandon).
Stories of faith mentors and accountability in his journey.
Reflections on grief after losing his father at 19.
Adoption story of daughter Shelby from Kazakhstan just after 9/11.
Raising three children: Shelby, Brecken, and Shelton.
His passion for Christian music and using culture to reach teens.
Commitment to special needs ministry, respite care, and accessibility through Grace Crossing.
Lessons from Central Hills Baptist Retreat and William Carey College.
Scriptures Referenced: Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Revelation 21:5, John 14:6, Matthew 5, Hebrews 10:25.
📌 Calls to Action
Share this testimony with someone walking through grief, adoption, or ministry calling.
Subscribe on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
Support Grace Crossing’s ministry to families with special needs—pray and get involved where you can.
Connect with All Things New Ministry:
📧 allthingsnewinc@gmail.com
📞 Aubrey Pridgen: (601) 940-7495
📞 Scott Walters: (601) 278-4816