Mid-South Viewpoint // Bott Radio Network

Carl Carmody, CEO of Challenge Literature Fellowship and Editor of Challenge Newspaper travels to Memphis from Australia to tell their story. When Challenge newspaper started in 1978, they printed 5000 papers per month predominantly for Western Australia. The evangelistic newspaper gives readers the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ. Today, they produce the Challenge newspaper for 20 plus countries with approximately 4,000,000 papers. The newspaper is distributed into prison systems and is printed in Spanish.

Charles Billingsley has headlined more than 3,200 concerts, released 24 recordings as a solo artist, and seven #1 Inspirational radio hits. He’s performed thousands of shows from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center. He’ll be coming to Mid-America Chapel on April 27th for a concert benefiting Mid-America Seminary & College. Dr. Michael Spradlin, President of MABTS joins us in the studio as we talk with Charles Billingsley.

Dr. Bartholomew Orr, pastor of Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Southaven, MS. gives details on the upcoming 2023 Contending for the Faith Conference at Brown Church April 18-20, 2023.

Dr. Terry Tieman, pastor of Grace Celebration Lutheran Church in Cordova, TN provides details on the 2023 Transforming Churches Network Discipleship Conference. This conference is designed for to come and learn how to start a disciple making movement in your church and community. Dr. Terry Tieman also discusses the roots of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, how the work to help churches become more effective in reaching their communities with the Gospel began, results of research on effective mission movements and pilot projects that helped to shape their program, as well as some of the more surprising things that were pulled out of that research.

Betty Jo Cline RN, BS, Pastor’s wife, and nurse discusses a unique conference on April 21 – 22, for health care workers and pastors to discover how to develop relationships and a cohesiveness when treating people with mental illnesses. Betty also describes how mental illness has impacted her family personally through the struggle of her sister’s battle of bipolar disorder.

Today, it’s the 5th Friday! Which means, SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT is on the air!!!! Learn more from two of our fine advertisers, Sam Mullins with Automatic, Heating, Plumbing, & Air and Rod Marter with Senior Helpers.

Ray Jarrett, Executive Director of Unite KC, a grassroots movement with a faith-based strategy committed to racial healing and reconciliation. Ray came to Memphis to attend an event featuring Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis, called, “One Race, One Blood”.

Katrin Valencia of A Way-Out Ministries is joined by Hannah Fletcher of Eight Days of Hope. A Way-Out Ministries’ serves women looking to escape entrapment from human trafficking. Recently, they broke ground on a safe house building project. Eight Days of Hope, known for their disaster relief work is helping to build this new home with the help of volunteers from across the country.

The Mid-America Passion Play is March 30 – April 2, 2023, under the direction of Dr. James Whitmire. Dr. Whitmire shares details on this year’s production as well as reflects on 0ver forty years of bringing this dramatic presentation to stage.

Gayle Rogers Foster, daughter of the late Dr. Adrian Rogers talks about her love for sports, especially Atlanta Braves base, growing up in the home of Dr. Adrian and Joyce Rogers, , times she wished she wasn’t a pastor’s daughter, how her mom dealt with struggles and difficult times, her marriage to Mike Foster, mom of three boys, her father’s passing, remembering the life of Andy Horner, and her entrepreneurship interests. Gayle is the guest speaker at our first annual Bott Radio Network Pastors’ Wives Appreciation Luncheon, April 13, 2023.

Roger Lowther, founder, and director of Community Arts Tokyo, assisting church planting through the arts. Roger and his family have served in Japan with Mission to the World since 2005. He shares amazing stories of rebuilding lives and hope for Japanese families devastated by the tsunami and earthquake of 2011, the strongest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history. This month, March 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the devastating Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Roger shares about relief efforts and how music played an instrumental part in connecting to hopeless hearts. Roger was formerly organist at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN and was recently in Memphis speaking at First Evangelical Church.

Steve Coplon of MissionfieldUSA.com shares how the gospel revolutionized his life. We’ll discuss too, current gospel city excursions taking place in the Northeast and deep South, along with George Verwer’s life-long drive to engage the world with the Gospel. It all began when college student George Verwer and his two friends journeyed to Mexico to share Christ’s love in 1957, the response was overwhelming. These young men subsequently opened a Christian bookshop and launched Christian radio broadcasts there. As the friends expanded their reach to Europe, they proclaimed the great truth that God uses His people to reach the nations. Christians rose in response, and OM (Operation Mobilization) was born.

Today we’re going to open the audio vault archives and hear an interview that first aired in 2016 with Dr. Kevin Jackson of Grace Baptist Church in Grenada, MS. Dr. Jackson is still pastoring, preaching from God’s word, and equipping his people to do the work of the ministry in and around the greater Grenada community. The content for today’s show was aired on our weekly Pastors Forum program, that I also host each Sunday at 12:45 and 7:00 pm.

Hassan Saleem from Kids Across America shares about creating an environment for urban youth who come to camp like they may have never experienced, the importance and need for counselors, and the priority of presenting the gospel to each camper. Since the first camp in 1991, KAA builds Christian leaders by encouraging, equipping, and empowering urban youth and their mentors through camping and education.

Pastor Jim Fleming discusses his book, “Shepherdology 101: From Shepherdless Sheep to Flourishing Flocks”. Jim talks about 10. Jim talks about key points Jesus Christ, our model Shepherd, emphasized about shepherding people before He departed earth, understanding accountability and its function among leadership, and he looks at the staggering statics from Barna, reporting 42% of pastors considered leaving the ministry in 2022. Pastor Jim is currently the interim pastor at First Evangelical Church in Memphis, TN, serving with Interim Pastor Ministries.

Crickett Keeth and Christy Bicknell from First Evangelical Church Women’s Ministry discuss the make-up of a biblically based women’s outreach and reflect on Crickett’s tenure, as she passes the torch to Kristy to lead the way after 17 ½ years serving as the director. They talk about pitfalls to avoid, their primary goal, helping women stay scripturally intact through the seasons of life, and to live confidently in their identity with Christ. Crickett is also the author of Moody Press, Before the Throne- Finding Strength through Prayer in Difficult Times, an eight-week Bible Study. Additionally, she’s written, One Bended Knee, Praying Like Prophets, and Warriors & Kings.

Retired Methodist Pastor Bill Hart and Director of MissionfieldUSA.com Steve Coplon will help us look at the events unfolding on the Asbury Campus. Bill and Steve recently returned from Wilmore, Kentucky and share their experience. Pastor Bill Hart is an alumnus of Asbury Seminary and was a student in 1970, the last time a revival broke out on the campus at Asbury and sweep across America.

Pastor Hal Hall and his wife, Renee give eye-witness accounts of their time in Wilmore, Kentucky on the campus of Asbury Seminary where students and others across the country have gathered to pray and worship God around the clock since FEB 8, 2023. Pastor Hall is lead Pastor at Sandtown United Methodist Church, Philadelphia, MS, and alumni of Asbury Seminary.

A cafeteria style program!!! We’ve got info on local events, Diana Abbott joins us with listener responses and information on out Pastor’s Wives Appreciation Luncheon, Pastor Shun Abram of Binghampton Community Church and Director of Send Relief Memphis Ministry Center provides ministry updates, and Kathy Hunt, friend of the MId-America Passion Play shares details on this year’s event.

Troy Simmons, retired K-9 Officer with Shelby County Sherriff’s Dept shares his story of serving our community for 33 years. Troy talks about the special relationship between his K-9 officer partner on the job and at home with the family.

More than 17,000 people were killed and tens of thousands injured when earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, Hurricane Ian is reported as the deadliest hurricane to strike the state of Florida since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, and who can forget Hurricane Katrina in 2005? Dr. Joe Carson, Central Outreach Director at The Life Church is our guest offering details for the free 2-day disaster response roundtable for churches, FEB 21-22.

Bishop Vincent Mathews, Jr., Senior Pastor of Tabernacle Church and President of the Church of God In Christ World Missions, overseeing the growth of the work of God in 112 countries worldwide, shares his family’s story of living in South Africa, as missionaries. When the Matthews family arrived, some ten years after “Apartheid”, there were still residual effects that created problems in the townships, even in all black townships. Bishop Matthews also recalls growing up in Michigan where he had a negative racial encounter that caused him to hate white people and follow the writings of Malcom X. It was through Vincent’s fathers’ example, a Ford factory worker, who was a Christ follower sharing the gospel with all races of people and inviting white people into their home. This display of genuine love for people caused Vincent to examine the course of destruction his life was heading. Bishop Matthews is bringing Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis to his church, March 12th to present biblical truth and scientific proof that God created only one race.

We discuss the tragic death of Tyre Nichols on January 7, 2023, after the brutal beating by five Memphis Police Officers. Our guests are Pastor James Kirkwood, retired Colonel with Memphis Police Department, and President of the Memphis Christian Pastors Network, David Jordan of Agape Child and Family Services, and Pastor Dan Henley of the Journey Church.

Cheyenne Dailey, Ringmaster with UniverSoul Circus is originally from Trinidad and is the circus’ first female ringmaster. Cheyenne got her start back home as a limbo fire dancer. She provides details, history, and stories about the circus entertainers who perform under the BIG TENT. UniverSoul Circus was founded in 1993 by Baltimore native and Atlanta resident Cedric Walker, a concert promoter who wanted to showcase multicultural talent. Performers in the circus are from various parts of the world including, Mongolia, Brazil, South Africa, and Caribbean Islands. Many of the performers come from multi-generational families of circus entertainers. These performers have developed their skills from a very early age, and some worked for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey prior to its closure in 2017.

Ephie Johnson, president and CEO of the Neighborhood Christian Center stops by to talk about Faith & Family Night at the Memphis Grizzlies vs. Toronto Raptors Sunday Feb 5th at FedEx Forum. Ephie will be leading a diverse collective of musicians that she’s organized as Bluff City Praise. The postgame event includes a faith-based Q&A with Grizzlies forward Jake LaRavia. Ephie’s mom, Dr. JoeAnn Ballard and her dad, Monroe, co-founded the Neighborhood Christian Center in 1978, as they worked as schoolteachers observing the poverty conditions facing many of the students entering their classrooms. The Neighborhood Christian Center’s services include tutoring, college assistance, adult education, job training, legal and financial counseling, clothing closets and food distribution.

Rachel Kendall discusses her newly released book, “Abide, side by side- Learning to draw closer to Jesus together in a world that’s wandering away.” Rachel shares how looking for our worth in the things of the world, rather than in Jesus, will eventually crumble leaving us empty and despairing. Her book is designed as a discipleship tool, where girls and women of all ages can meet and answer questions the book offers in order to build one another’s faith in Christ. There is also a video series that accompanies the book to be used in a class setting.

Pastor Ricky Floyd of the Pursuit of God Transformation Center stops by reflecting on recent birthday turning 56, how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s life and ministry has impacted his life, the honor of the “Pastor Ricky Floyd Avenue” dedication, impact of cocaine in the black community, and the church’s role dealing with Memphis Crime. Pastor Ricky also shares a new business the church has initiated, Regroup Upscale Thrift Boutique to address poverty concerns in the Frayer community of our city.

Denise Turner, Kallie Guinter, and Zeek Turner bring us up to date on the Unknown Child Foundation, raising funds for a memorial in remembrance of the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust. We’ll provide details on the NEVER FORGET Banquet that includes a Silent Auction with many great prizes like Memphis Grizzlies donation of a basketball signed by the team. One of few remaining Holocaust survivors Jack Cohen to share his story and Captain Roy Cash, nephew of Johnny Cash, performing his song made famous by Johnny (I still miss someone) as well as new lyrics written by Generation SC sponsor for the banquet.

Dr. Mitchel Godat from The Mid-South Mission of Mercy, a free, two-day dental clinic for under-served and under-insured people living in Memphis provides details for this year’s event January 20th & 21st, 2023 at Bellevue Baptist Church.

Ryan Abone, Young Adults Director of Mission Church in Memphis, TN discusses navigating our faith, as followers of Jesus Christ, in a post-Christian culture. Ryan also shares his thoughts on how to present the Gospel in a culturally relevant manner without compromising truth.

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.

Ruth Abigail Smith, Executive Director and Co-founder of AngelStreet shares how moving to Memphis helped to combine her passion for youth ministry with her passion for music. AngelStreet was created to develop and mentor girls as creative leaders through music. They believe all young women in Memphis deserve access to the arts and creative leadership opportunities.

Our Memphis Bott Radio Network staff hosted an appreciation drop-in Christmas party at our office. We randomly pulled some clients and ministry partners away from the catering table into the studio for this candid unplanned radio show. This is the second of two shows that includes Sherry MacKay of Agape Child and Family Services and Morning Host on Hallelujah FM, Donna Roach from Hearthside Senior Living Community in Bartlett, TN, Shelley Sumner of Life Choices of Memphis, Mike and Denise Hamby of Hamby’s Auto Concierge, and Leah Morse of All Things New.

Our Memphis Bott Radio Network staff hosted an appreciation drop-in Christmas party at our office. We randomly pulled some clients and ministry partners away from the catering table into the studio for this candid unplanned radio show. This is one of two shows that includes David Jordan of Agape Child and Family Services, James Kirkwood of The Memphis Christian Pastors Network, and Bobby Lewis from Love Worth Finding Ministries.

Are our traditions and celebration at Christmas time a true reflection of the miracle of Christ birth? Pastor and Bible teacher Ronnie Stevens unpacks the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ according to what took place. From the virgin birth to the shepherds in the fields, and the visit by the long traveling Magi, we’ll look at these events and discuss how this miracle birth is relevant to us today.

Veteran missionary Durk Meijer drops by to discuss oral Bible translation projects that’s bringing resources to oral communities across the globe.

On this episode, another two highlights from previous Christmas seasons that includes the first from remote location at Happy Glaze Donuts in Germantown TN with owner Rachel Davis and her husband Ryan. We talked about a unique partnership with Andrew Banker and his wife Savannah who are owners of 901 Roasted. One of the goals through their partnership is to plant churches in Mexico. Our show concludes by discovering the meaning of Hanukkah and how it points to the Messiah, as the Light of the World. Chad Holland who was formerly the congregation leader at Brit Hadassah, a messianic Jewish congregation, shared with us about the holiday with customs and traditions associated with the Jewish faith.

On this episode, two highlights from previous Christmas seasons that includes Pastor Ricky Floyd of Pursuit of God Church and former death role inmate, Sheila Jefferson. Pastor Ricky shares the benefits of the church engaging those incarcerated at Christmas time by ministering to their children through Angel Tree Ministries. Shelia shares the feelings of being separated from your children while incarcerated. The show wraps up with Pastor Mike DeLisle of Evangel Church discussing where we find our satisfaction during the Christmas season. Together, Pastor Mike and Byron look at the celebration of Christmas traditions while keeping a balance of the reality of Christ coming to earth as it relates to us today.

Many are experiencing darkness, not light and joy, during the Christmas season. Your darkness may be debt, divorce, depression, death, singleness, loneliness, infertility, or addiction. Pastor Wil Franco shares a word of hope no matter how dark things are in your life this Christmas. Wil is the Senior Pastor at Highpoint Church in Memphis, TN. This message was the first in a series called, Rescue Mission. This show originally aired during the Christmas season of 2019.

Pastor Effort Alexander of Grace Thru Faith Church. Effort recalls growing up in South Central Mississippi during segregation and how God led him to volunteer to be the first black student in an all-white high school. As a member of the school’s track team, Effort remembers waiting on the bus during away track meets, while fellow team members ate lunch inside the restaurant. His lunch was brought to him on the bus. The youngest of sixteen children, Effort learned how not to hate from his parents who taught him to follow Christ.

Dr. Gerson Garros Associate Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Cordova, TN shares his Brazilian heritage with plans to become an architect before following a call to study theology. Dr. Garros Pastored and was a Seminary Professor for 25 years before moving his family to the United States. He talks about what it’s like to be a church located in a multi-ethnic community and the importance of hearing people’s hurts to connect the Gospel to those needs. This has led the church to start a successful outreach through ESL. He also provides insight to building a church education program that’s designed to transform lives.

Mid-South View Point welcomes Dr. Charles Fowler, President of Carson-Newman University. Carson-Newman University was founded in 1851 for the purpose of providing a distinctively Christ-centered education in service to the Church and the marketplace. The University is in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee, attracting around 3,000 students to their undergraduate and graduate programs of study. Dr. Fowler, a Mississippi native, was formerly senior pastor of Germantown Baptist Church for nine years. Prior to serving in that position, he was Senior Vice President of University Relations at Union University in Jackson., TN. Dr Fowler has also taught at Union University, Mississippi State University, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. This episode was produced from the 2022 Summit: The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists at Bellevue Baptist Church.

After you get Turkey Stuffed!!! Join Byron Tyler and co-host Lynn Berry from Branson Lakes Area Chamber with the last in our series, Ozark Mountain Christmas in Branson. We’ll visit with Jerry Presley from Jerry Presley's God and Country Theaters Elvis Live. As second cousin to the late Elvis Presley, Jerry has been performing for over 50 years. Jerry reads a letter from Elvis and shares some memories too. Plan your Ozark Mountain Christmas in Branson by visiting www.explorebranson.com

Our Ozark Mountain Christmas in Branson series continues with episode four. Co-host Lynn Berry from Branson Lakes Area Chamber joins Byron Tyler as together they welcome, Jae McFerron from The Shepherd of the Hills, Valerie Coleman with The College of the Ozarks, Steve Hartley from Dick’s 5 & 10, and Chris Myer with Lights of Joy. Plan your Ozark Mountain Christmas in Branson by visiting www.explorebranson.com

At one time in his life Senior Chaplain Bill Potter was the most unlikely candidate to lead a successful prison ministry. Bill was on the run from God, moving halfway across the country to avoid working in the prison system. He felt he wasn’t good enough to serve inmates and described himself as “a rickety older meat cutter” that worked for A&P food stores for 17 ½ years. At 40 years old, Bill had a clear encounter with Jesus Christ at the Episcopal Church he was attending that was the beginning to his call to serve in the prison system. The Other Side of the Fence, bringing hope to the Lost, is the title of Senior Chaplain Bill Potter’s book, available on Amazon.

How about another Ozark Mountain Christmas in Branson experience? Here’s episode 003 with cohost Lynn Berry from Branson Lakes Area Chamber as we welcome, Pam Critchfield from the Grand Village Shops, Jason Hughes from the Hughes Brothers Theatre, and Shelia Baeten takes us on an adventure with Pink Jeeps Tours.

On this second episode of Ozark Mountain Christmas in Branson we’ll visit with Clay and Tina Cooper. Together, Clay and Tina own and manage the Clay Cooper Theatre where they perform song and dance routines with Clay Cooper’s Country Express, including a stage full of musicians, dancers, and comedic acts. Originally from Texas, Clay came to Branson at 16 years of age to perform with a kid’s band known as the Texas Goldminors. He addition to performing and operating a theatre, Clay is an elected City of Branson Alderman. This Mid-South View Point series is produced from our Bott Radio Network studios in Branson, Missouri. The programs are specifically designed to help you discover and a vacation travel destination to Branson with your family during the holidays.

It's an Ozark Mountain Christmas in Branson with this first in a series of Mid-South View Point radio shows from our Bott Radio Network studios in Branson, Missouri. This series is designed to help you discover and a vacation travel destination to Branson with your family during the holidays. On this episode we’ll talk with Lisa Rau from Silver Dollar City, Derek Zoo from Dolly Parton's Stampede, Monna Stafford about the Branson Christmas Coalition, and Doug Brewin from Legends in Concert Branson, Alan Jackson.

Retired, USMC First Lieutenant Patrick Cleburne McClary, III. Patrick “Clebe” McClary served as a platoon leader in the First Reconnaissance Battalion during Vietnam. After his unit was attacked by the Viet Cong, Clebe was seriously wounded, losing his left arm and left eye, yet he continued to lead his men. For his heroism and service, First Lieutenant Patrick Cleburne McClary received The Silver Star, The Bronze Star, Three Purple Hearts, The George Washington Medal of Freedom, and The American Legion Award to name a few.

Guest host Amy Speropoulos talks with Lionel Cable Head of School at New Hope Christian Academy to discuss Education Savings Accounts and an upcoming event for families and school leaders in Shelby County to learn more about ESA’s. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, in his first State of the State address before a joint session of the 111th Tennessee General Assembly on March 4, 2019, said, “Low-income students deserve the same opportunity as every other kid in this state, and we will need a bold plan that will help level the playing field.” The Chancery Count of Davidson County lifted the injunction on the Education Savings Account on July 13, 2022.