Mid-South Viewpoint // Bott Radio Network

Dirk Smith, Vice President of Eastern European Mission tells the story of EEM reaching people in war torn places like Ukraine with the hope found in God’s Word. What started in 1961 with a small band of missionaries smuggling Bibles into the Soviet Union is now publishing, printing, and distributing Bibles and Bible-based materials in 30+ countries and 20+ languages through a vast network of partner churches and organizations.

Gary & Winnie Whitmore share the ministry of TWR. Together, Gary & Winnie began their missionary service with TWR in 1979 having served on Guam, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States. The Whitmore’s share challenges to keeping your calling in focus, what they’ve enjoyed most, and current projects happening throughout the world. For more than 65 years, God has equipped TWR to lead people from doubt to decision to discipleship around the world, gaining access to 190 countries to share biblical truth in their “heart” languages.

Chad Holland, Senior Pastor King of Kings Community Jerusalem along with wife Rebecca and their four children left the United States ten years ago to move to Israel becoming Israeli citizens. Chad formerly served as the senior Leader of Brit Hadasha Messianic Jewish Synagogue in Memphis, TN. Chad discusses their ministry in Jerusalem, planting new congregations throughout Israel as well as other parts of the world, and being at war on several fronts with terrorists’ groups seeking Israel’s destruction.

Pastor Ben Wilkins of Grace Community Church shares details of their BBQ & Soul event scheduled for Saturday June 22 with special guest Jim VanSteenhouse, THE BEARMAN. Jim was violently attacked by a Grizzley Bear while hunting Moose in Canada.

Businessman and author, Barry Meguiar talks about his “Ignite Your Life” Bible Study “, a free resource that opens the door for every believer to defeat fear associated with the sharing of your faith. Barry is third-generation president of Meguiar’s Inc., which produces one of the top selling car waxes in America. His television show “Car Crazy” aired world-wide for many years on the Discovery Network. “Ignite With Barry Meguiar” radio features are heard daily on over eight hundred Christian radio stations.

About 1 in 4 children in the U.S. live without a father in the home. Children from single-parent families are twice as likely to suffer from mental health and behavioral problems. Kendall Qualls and Pastor Terrell Monger from the non-profit, Take Charge, will discuss the crisis of fatherlessness in our city.

Susie Lovato, Director of Outreach and Development with Memphis Coalition for Life, shares the multi-facets of their work in our city.

The 2024 Branson Summer Series, Show Four includes co-host Pam Yancey, President/CEO of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. Our guests include Kirk Elmquist, President of Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District, Shelia Dutton, mom of the “Duttons” competing on America's Got Talent, as well as, The Dutton Family Theater, and Kortney Neal from Sight-Sound Theatres, where the Bible comes to life! This is the fourth of four shows in our 2024 Branson Summer Series. Discover more about traveling to Branson at www.explorebranson.com.

The 2024 Branson Summer Series, Show Three includes co-host Pam Yancey, President/CEO of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. Our guests include Jason Hughes from the Hughes Brothers Theater, First Class Maid Jamie from the Titanic Museum Attraction, and Rick McEwen “Kenny Rogers” at Little Opry Theater. This is the third of four shows in our 2024 Branson Summer Series. Discover more about traveling to Branson at www.explorebranson.com.

On this edition of Sponsor Spotlight, we talk with Brent Nowlin of Bluff City Gutters. Locally owned and operated for over 20 years, Bluff City Gutters prides themselves on their promptness, honesty, affordable service, and finding solutions for homeowners needing gutter service. They offer a patented K-Guard system that Brent explains, beats out similar gutter protection systems. Next, we welcome Donna Roach, Executive Director at Hearthside Senior Living of Bartlett. The philosophy of Hearthside Senior Living evolved from a rich heritage of caring for people and caring about people. For over 50 years, the Foster family has provided a unique combination of health care for seniors, along with heartfelt hospitality. Finally, Jon Gambrell, President of Shield Environmental Services wraps up our show. Reports say that around 70% of U.S. homes contain a certain level of mold. Shield Environmental Services offers Air Duct Cleaning, mold removal, sanitizing and disinfecting, along with asbestos abatement, specialty cleaning, and UV protection services.

The 2024 Branson Summer Series, Show Two, includes co-host Pam Yancey, President/CEO of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. Our guests include Elvis from Legends in Concert, Billy Yates, award-winning/Grammy-nominated singer songwriter. Billy wrote “Rocking Chair” and “Choices” for country legend, George Jones. He performs his “Down Home Country Show” at the Grand Country Music Hall. Pam Yancey wraps up show two to help get the most for your family’s Branson vacation experience. This is the second of four shows in our 2024 Branson Summer Series. Discover more about traveling to Branson at www.explorebranson.com.

We’re kicking off our 2024 Branson Summer Series, Show One, with co-host Pam Yancey, President/CEO of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau with our guests, Magician, Dustin Tavella, 2021 winner of America's Got Talent, Tony Turner, tenor vocalist with Pierce Arrow quartet, and Shelia Baeten from Pink Jeep Tours. This is the first of four shows in our 2024 Branson Summer Series. Discover more about traveling to Branson at www.explorebranson.com.

The mission of the Israeli Defense Force is every ground, aerial and naval operational activity and exercise we conduct is first and foremost carried out for the sake of defending the State of Israel and its civilians. IDF (Israeli Defense Solider) Mati tells his story of defending his homeland, Israel, since the October 7th, 2023, terrorists’ attacks by Hamas. Mati, one of nine siblings, and his family were gathered to celebrate a special Jewish holiday when the surprise attacks occurred during the early morning hours. Mati speaks of the resilience of not only the IDF, but Israeli citizens longing for the release of the 133 hostages still captive by Hamas. He reflects on the importance of staying focused when the media often misrepresents accurate accounts of the events as they actually occurred.

According to Safe Home's 2024 Crime Rates in US Cities Report, Memphis now sits at 43 murders per 100,000 people. A rate that has now been passed by both Baltimore and Detroit. In concern for the chaotic crime increase in the city, Pastor Virgil Perry of New Testament Baptist Church share’s his heart behind, God’s Forgiveness Events, a series of gospel outreaches in collaboration of churches throughout the community.

Anatole Williams, Executive Director of Heartland Adult Teen Challenge shares the steps that men trapped in addiction must take to find freedom without the chains of addiction. Thirty-two years ago, Anatole found himself living in a drug house trapped in addiction. His mother, a New Orleans Police Officer, never stopped praying or sharing with her son the only sure way of escape. Today, Anatole, a career Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy is using his experience out of addiction to help the men at Heartland Adult Teen Challenge overcome their addiction lifestyles.

Jerry and Kate Angelo, Founders and Directors of Vanguard Marriage and Family Advocates, and the ministry of Marriage Awakening. We’ll discuss keys for making marriage work. We discuss improving a troubled marriage without the cooperation of your spouse, why prayer so important in marriage, and taking your marriage temperature each day to better understand your spouse. Kate is also a bestselling Romantic Suspense author and Publishers Weekly Bestselling author.

Pastor Greg Davis, former lead pastor at Cornerstone Church in Southaven and author of Standing Strong in the Storm catches up with host Byron Tyler at the NRB 2024 International Christian Media Convention at the Gaylord Opry land Hotel in Nashville, TN. They discuss the surge of life’s unexpected storms. Greg’s family has persevered through a 30-year season of intense storms and life-threatening health crises that have affected each member of their family including, eight years of infertility, six open-heart surgeries, a near-fatal autoimmune disease, brain cancer, a near-fatal heart attack and a brain aneurysm. Pastor Greg also shares about his travels to Thailand where his ministry supports a children’s home.

Hostility and violence against churches in America is at an all-time high. Pastor Derrick Anderson, Executive Pastor and Eric Williams, Chief Operating Officer at Brown Baptist Church discuss the Protecting the Flock, Church Safety & Security Seminar planned for church staff and lay members to participate. This seminar provides the latest protection techniques from an expert security panel. According to a recent Family Research Council report, there were more than 430 incidents in 2023—more than double the number in 2022. That’s an 800% increase in incidents since 2018 and an average of 39 attacks every month. America’s churches aren’t just witnessing hostility and violence at a higher rate. The report suggests the attacks are increasingly more violent and more personal.

Dr. Frank Anderson joins us on this National Day of Prayer to discuss the importance of prayer in times of darkness, difficulty and discouraging times. Dr. Anderson is the Stephen Olford Chair of Expository Preaching & Associate Professor of Ministry and Missions at Union University in Jackson, TN. He is also Director at the Center for Racial Reconciliation.

Hitch up your horses and head to the rodeo, as Pastor Lynn Holmes from Houston Levee Cowboy Church gives details on their upcoming rodeo. There’s mutton bustin’ along barrel racing, team roping, steer wrestling, and bucking bulls & broncos. It’s a family fun gathering with their new expanded sitting under a covered arena. Pastor Lynn Holmes also shares how the cowboy church is one of the fastest growing churches in America as well as how they reach the equine culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Troy Miller, President & CEO of National Religious Broadcasters discusses the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023” that’s making its way through Congress. This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. (AM broadcast stations are often used to deliver emergency alerts and news and entertainment programming; some newer vehicles do not include AM equipment.) NAB spokesman, Alex Siciliano stated, “AM radio is continuing to reach a vast audience of 82 million listeners each month, and they’ve been very engaged in telling Congress how important this medium is to them in light of the threat by vehicle makers to remove AM from vehicles,”

John Summerville with TWR discusses their worldwide and diverse outreach that started in 1954, using media to take God's Word to all nations, tongues, and tribes. Today’s episode was produced at the 2024 International Christian Media Convention in Nashville, TN.

We stand at a crossroads, a pivot point in our nation’s story. The future of America depends on our response today. Pastor Allen Jackson of World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, TN shares his heart behind the “Lead with Faith” Culture & Christianity Conference April 26th -27th 2024 at World Outreach Church. Speakers include Kaleigh McEnany, Brandon Tatum, Allie B. Stuckey, Kirk Cameron, and Eric Metaxas. For tickets and details visit www.leadwithfaith.church.

Radio and Media veterans, Tom Mann and Danni Synot share their personal brave conversation. Tom, originally from Memphis, was one of the voices on-air when Bott Radio Network first came to Memphis. Tom has decades of experience in Television, radio media production and now podcasting. Currently, Tom is the afternoon radio show host on WBVN 104.5 FM in Southern Illinois. He also hosts and produces the award-winning Emergency FD Storyline podcast and is co-host of Brave Conversations with Danni Synot produced by AccessMore. Danni Synot, from Australia, is the Founder and CEO of Australian Charity Brave Enough and host of Brave Conversations Podcast, with Tom Mann. Danni is also the host of Brave to Go Devotionals, which airs on radio stations nationally across Australia and on Good TV. “Brave Conversations” is a podcast featuring stories of those who have experienced Jesus Christ through life’s trials and hardships.

Carl Carmody from Challenge Literature Fellowship in Australia shares the vision of Challenge, the Good News Paper, to clearly communicate Jesus Christ and His plan of salvation for mankind to all people. Challenge is a bi-monthly paper that includes testimonies of lives changed by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is written in an easy-to-read manner purposely for the non-Christian. What makes Challenge unique is that it is written specifically for the person on the street that may never enter a church. Besides testimonies, Challenge includes articles on good health, science, better marriages, parenting, and sports, as well as games for children and recipes for homemakers.

From the 2024 Christian Media Convention in Nashville TN., we talk with Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, Chairman and Pastoral Director of its Rachel's Vineyard project, and the President of the National Pro-Life Religious Council. In November of 2022, he was defrocked by the Vatican for prioritizing his Pro-Life efforts. Father Frank posted on X, “Hi friends… So, in every profession, including the priesthood, if you defend the #unborn, you will be treated like them! The only difference is that when we are “aborted,” we continue to speak, loud and clear.” Father Frank graduated as valedictorian of his high school class and enrolled at Don Bosco College, a Salesian major seminary in Newton, New Jersey. After leaving the Salesian Order, he joined the Archdiocese of New York.

At 12 years old her family home was bombed by civil rights opponents, while her family was inside their home. Her Uncle Martin was assassination here in Memphis on this day on April 4, 1968. In 1969, her father, A. D. King, was found dead. On today’s Mid-South View Point we talk with Dr. Alveda King, at this year’s 2024 Christian Media Convention in Nashville. Dr. Alveda King is a former state representative for the 28th District in the Georgia House of Representatives, where she created and passed the “Right Turn on Red after Stop” bill, among other legislation in her state.

We travel to Camp Conquest, close to 80-acre property that’s designed specifically for individuals with special needs and disabilities, located in Millington, TN. It’s a summer camp where a person confined to a wheelchair their whole life can go down a 600' zipline. It’s a place where God can do and does extraordinary things through people, regardless of their disability, age, health, or diagnosis. Camp Conquest founder, Mark Price is joined by Jamie Owings (Engagement Director) and Allina Howell (Ambassador)

Pastor Sawyer Meyers of Beautiful Lutheran Church in Olive Branch, MS, discusses the significance of the Gospel, Christ death on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. For Christians, Good Friday is an important day of the year because it celebrates the most momentous weekend in the history of the world. In light of the third day that followed Christ death by crucifixion, it’s clearer to see why the day is called, “Good Friday”, He bodily arose from the grave confirming His right to redeem those from sins eternal punishment. John 5:24, Jesus said, ““Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

On this edition of Sponsor Spotlight, our guests includes Dale Wells, Director of Admissions and Head Football Coach at Fayette Academy and Attorney David Peel along with Crash the Law Dog from Peel Law Firm.

Bishop Jerry Taylor of Holy City Church Of God In Christ and Bishop Clint Bryant of Gethsemane Garden Church Of God In Christ will discuss Unity for Souls Crusade, Thursday April 4th at The Historic Mason Temple. This date, on the 4th of April 1968, Martin Luther King was shot dead while standing on a balcony outside his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN. The Unity for Souls Crusade will be held at The Historic Mason Temple where Dr. King preached “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” in support of the striking sanitation workers on April 3, 1968

Marriage and Family Advocate, Jerry Angelo, co-founder, and director with wife Kate of the Marriage Awakening. We’ll discuss their efforts to honor, inspire, and empower marriages. Together, Jerry and Kate offer a grass roots strategy for strengthening marriages and families. Their goal is to empower faith-leaders and churches to be self-sufficient and balanced in Marriage Ministry by meeting the needs of their specific church in order to be sustainable in their communities. They also offer free resources for encouragement and wisdom for marriage including the 6-Minute Prayer and the State, County, and Pastor Marriage Proclamations, offered on the website www.marriageminute.org.

Nicole Stark, founder of Backyard Revival is joined by Pastor David Dirmann, lead pastor of Memphis Tabernacle Church to discuss, The King is Coming, a gathering of 10,000 young people from across the Mid-South for an encounter with Jesus Christ. This gathering assembles on Saturday March 23, 2024, at Autozone Park- Redbirds Stadium in downtown Memphis. It’s Backyard Revival’s goal to help the next generation of young adults to know they are loved by Christ, can be saved by faith in Christ, and disciple them in their new life in Christ. The Backyard Revival movement started in Anaheim California where young adults gathered to pray and seek God together in a backyard. An event was first organized at Angel Stadium that hosted 7,000+ young people. 1,100+ people have completed a discipleship course, One Encounter, 21 Backyard Revival crews were started to reach their backyard after Jesus and this generation. 10 young adults moved from California to Memphis to see God bring revival to our city.

Dr. Jim Whitmire and son Luke Whitmire share details of this year’s Mid-America Passion Play, presented by Crossroads Baptist Church and Love Worth Finding Ministries. A Passion Play is a dramatic retelling of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Mid-America Passion Play uses music and drama to share the truth of Jesus, His earthly ministry, and His redemptive work on the cross. Dr. Jim Whitmire is Instructor in Music & Worship at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and Minister of Music at Crossroads Baptist Church. For nearly four decades Jim has produced and directed the Memphis Passion Play, Jacksonville (Florida) Passion Play, Uruguay Passion Play, and now The Mid-America Passion Play. He was also former worship leader under the pastoral leadership of the late Dr. Adrian Rogers.

Adele Raemer of Kibutz Nirim tells her story on the horrific and terrifying morning of October 7th, 2023, when Hamas terrorist invaded Israel. Byron Tyler conducts this interview with Adele at the 2024 NRB Convention in Nashville, TN in the exhibition hall with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

Guest host, Amy Speropoulos, welcomes Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc. Executive Director, Cordell Walker. Alpha Omega Veterans Services helps to empower displaced and homeless veterans in the Mid-South with the tools, skills, and services they need for successful reintegration into society. They seek to reduce or eliminate the number of displaced and homeless veterans by empowering them to regain self-sufficiency through the provision of holistic, supportive, and rehabilitative services that promote their health, security, happiness, and usefulness in society.

Anglican Bishop John Rucyahana continues conversation about the madness of genocide his homeland of Rwanda underwent in 1994. Bishop John is one of Rwanda’s most effective leaders - promoting spiritual, economic, educational, healthcare, and environmental development. Trusting in the love and power of Jesus Christ to transform lives, he has faced overwhelming challenges with a spirit of love, humility, perseverance, unity, and reconciliation. God has performed miracles in Rwanda, and through Bishop John’s faith and leadership much more has been accomplished than anyone would have thought possible. This is part two of a two-part interview.

In 1994, as his country descended into the madness of genocide, Anglican Bishop John Rucyahana underwent the mind-numbing pain of having members of his church and family butchered. John refused to become a part of the systemic hatred. He founded the Sonrise Orphanage and School for children orphaned in the genocide, and he now leads reconciliation efforts between his own Tutsi people, the victims of this horrific massacre, and the perpetrators, the Hutus. His remarkable story is one that demands to be told. This is part one of a two-part interview.

Kathy Armstrong from The Memphis-area Home Education Association provides insight for families considering home education. MHEA) is a membership based, Christian organization dedicated to serving home educators and students by advocating for home education freedoms, providing information and resources to active and prospective home education families, and connecting and encouraging the home education community.

Joe Urcavich, Senior Executive with Align Advisor, a retired pastor, and former chaplain for the Green Bay Packers, offers insight from his depth of experience with high profile and high-pressure situations, among leadership in the church and corporate world. Joe illustrates why authenticity is key to becoming a truly effective leader. Unresolved negative issues from the past may be driving many in leadership to prove their self-worth. Breaking these subconscious barriers can free the leader to becoming the best version of themselves, while maximizing their potential to lead.

Ronnie Collier Stevens, Associate Pastor of Harvest Church in Germantown, TN talks about his latest book, “From Jerusalem to Rome- A Year in the Book of Acts”. Ronnie provides meaningful insight in this new devotional walking readers through the book of Acts. This is the fourth book that he’s authored. Ronnie is a native of Atlanta Georgia, graduated from the University of Georgia, and Dallas Theological Seminary. Ronnie has his wife Jane have served as missionaries in Munich, Moscow, and Budapest. He formerly pastored the First Evangelical Church in Memphis, TN.

Guest Hosts Shelley Sumner and Rachel Davis are back with part two with their guests Alexis Brown and Karen McNeil, sharing practical ways to engage your State Representatives in a positive and polite way concerning issues and legislation that may be contrary to a Biblical worldview.

Guest Host Shelley Sumner is filling in for Byron Tyler and welcomes her Mom, Becky Deaux. Becky has greatly influenced Shelley’s life, including leading her to Christ as a little girl. Becky shares how her journey with Christ began as well as God’s faithfulness through a frightful road of breast cancer. As a grandma of 12 grandchildren, Becky as developed a weeklong time to study the Bible with the kids that she organizes each summer. This week has been labeled, “Grandma’s Bible Camp”.

Guest Hosts Shelley Sumner and Rachel Davis welcome Alexis Brown and Karen McNeil who share practical ways to engage your State Representatives in a positive and polite way concerning issues and legislation that may be contrary to a Biblical worldview.

Seventy-Five percent of pastors report being “extremely stressed” or “highly stressed.” Bishop Fredrick Gillam, Executive Pastor of Journey Church Memphis and Director of Clinical Services at Church Developers Network provides details on The Shepherds Care Symposium, a day of self-care for Pastors, Ministry Leaders, and Therapists/Counselors coming March 4th. The goal is for each attendee to leave the Symposium feeling refreshed, renewed, and revived.

Stacy Dodd, Certified Addiction Interventionist was once a homeless man addicted to drugs living in the woods. We'll discuss Stacy’s journey to being clean now for 23 years and the struggle of addiction for so many.

Master Barber Adam Cutshaw, wife Whitney, and their five children (ages 3-12) are taking the gospel of Jesus to all 95 counties in Tennessee, the four most extreme geographical points in the state, and conclude the 100th days at the state capitol. The gospel excursion is covered by open air gospel proclamation, one-on-one witnessing, Bible and tract distribution, prayer stand, and holding gospel signs. Adam is the owner and Master Barber of Cutshaw's Classic Barber Shop, in Tullahoma, TN.

Bishop Scott Jones of the Global Methodist Church talks about his departure from the United Methodist Church and the creation of a new denomination. Formerly, leader of the United Methodist’s Great Plains and Houston Episcopal Areas, Bishop Jones discusses the theological disagreements that have resulted in many Methodists’ departure from the denomination. He addresses the difficulty that pastors face moving out of a denomination having childhood roots and generational family history. He unpacks the new mission for the Global Methodist Church of forming disciples who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.

During the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr, was quoted as famously saying that “11 a.m. on Sunday mornings was the most segregated hour of American life.” Pastor Steve Jacobson and Pastor Preston Poindexter share how their congregations, one white and one black, merged as one church to serve the Raleigh/Frayser communities in Memphis with the Gospel.

Robert Ries founder of Jesus Wept International provides an update on work in Africa. A retired US Marine and FedEx employee, Bob and wife Glenda have invested their retirement years serving people in Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan. This includes a retreat and ministry outpost called, “God’s Garden”. Bob talks about Esther, a Godly Sudanese woman that has served as Land and Ministry Supervisor at God’s Garden, her adopting three girls, and a special request concerning the girls. The ministry also supports a school of 300 students nestled in a garbage waste area of Nairobi, Kenya.