The Journey Parent Podcast

Guest: Jan Jeffcoat, PCA LS Principal, Plano campus If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. We had a great conversation with Jan Jeffcoat, PCA’s Lower School Principal, about her family’s journey to PCA and how God provided through the generosity of PCA families who financially supported PCA’s Sponsor-A-Lion program to help families afford Kingdom Education at PCA. As God called the Jeffcoats to PCA, countless families gave sacrificially which provided the necessary funds so their daughters Jennifer and Jillian could attend PCA. At the same time, Jim and Jan reexamined their own personal finances and found additional ways to better steward their finances to help make the transition to PCA possible. And look at the result - both girls not only graduated from PCA, but Jan and Jillian returned to PCA and have been employed by the school. Jillian (formerly Jeffcoat, now Bryant) is the Dean of Students for the Upper School at the Plano campus. And Jan Jeffcoat went from a PreK aide to a Lower School teacher and now currently serves as the principal for the Lower School at the Plano campus. Thank you to all those families who have given in the past and continue to support PCA’s Sponsor-A-Lion program that benefits current and future PCA families.

Guests: Eddie Jimenez (PCA Band Director, Plano campus), Eli Taylor (Class of ‘25, Plano campus), Tatum Samuels (Class of ‘25, Plano campus), Harper Glenn (Class of ‘27, North campus), David Madison (Class of ‘25, Plano campus), Shay Planas (Class of ‘26, Plano campus), Kaylee Smith (Class of ‘27, Plano campus) If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. In this episode, we have an opportunity to hear PCA faculty and students share some amazing stories of God at work in and through their lives from local missions to locations around the world! Minimester is a unique and amazing opportunity for our entire community to be used by and see God at work - and, what I’ve witnessed over the past 20+ years, it is amazing to see how God uses these incredible opportunities to deepen (or begin) the faith journey of our students!

Guest: Linda Paulk, President & CEO, Sky Ranch Christian camps If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. What a great conversation with Linda Paulk, President & CEO of Sky Ranch Christian camps - we talked about everything - their summer overnight camps and day camps, their family camps, their leadership training programs, their parent/child weekend get-aways, and much, much more! With locations in TX, OK, and CO, Sky Ranch is a ministry force training kids and families with a Biblical worldview and doing it with excellence for 70 years! PCA is so proud to be a ministry partner with Sky Ranch and we look forward to continuing this fruitful partnership for years to come!

Guest: Kenzie Venus, Director of Development Events and Annual Funds For questions about the Zig, you can email Kenzie at [email protected] If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Parents, this year “The ZIG” (the Zig Ziglar Servant Leadership Awards Banquet) will be at The Gaylord Texas on Sunday evening, April 27th. This venue is different from the past few years, so we wanted to make sure that you knew everything about where/when/why so that you can make plans now to attend. While the location is different, the purpose of the evening is the same - to raise resources that go to help families with financial needs - I know you agree with me that everyone should have access to a Christ-centered education for their children and over the years, our PCA community has been tremendously generous giving to help others attend PCA. So, take a listen - make sure you know where you’re doing, when to be there, WHAT to wear (yes, it’s “evening wear” this year - suit/tie for the guys, elegant and stylish for the ladies). Look to park in The Gaylord Resort and Convention Center CONVENTION parking (not the hotel) - and there will be valet and garage parking available. NOW is the time to purchase a table and invite friends who can support this incredible mission. Visit zigziglaraward.org to learn more and secure your table.

Guest: Ryan Bangert, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives & Special Counsel to the President for Alliance Defending Freedom If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Updates on a few important Free Speech/Freedom of Religion cases: Adam Smith-Connor, UK case dealing with an Army veteran who was arrested for a silent prayer offered outside an abortion facility. The charges are certainly absurd, but it does demonstrate the lengths to which the government can go and will go to protect abortion rights. Vice President J.D. Vance mentioned this case in his comments a few weeks ago talking about the importance of defending free speech rights. Jack Phillips, Colorado baker sued for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding recently had a major victory at the Colorado Supreme Court following his third lawsuit to try and force him to violate his conscience, this time it was to try to force him to bake a cake for a gender transition. This article in the New York Post from 2023 revealed that thousands of public schools actually have a policy in place to keep a student’s gender transition a secret from parents. ADF has filed several cases against these school districts on behalf of parents who have a right to know about their child. To keep up with these and other important issues, visit Alliance Defending Freedom’s website at adflegal.org Ryan recommends that you pray for the strength and integrity of the church to continue to stand on God’s Word as the Truth and not compromise on these critical issues.

Guests: Carter Morris, President & CEO, and Drew Herndon, Distribution and Services Manager for GraceBridge If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. It is a privilege to let you know about the incredible work of GraceBridge and The Master Cares, two organizations dedicated to the ministry of the Gospel by serving the needs of their communities - as they say on their website: two missions, one vision. Here in the North Texas area, you’ll see GraceBridge serve with food banks and resale stores as well as a variety of work and employment training programs. The Master Cares is an international program based in Uganda, Africa and includes an ACSI-accredited Christian school, vocational training, medical services and water wells.

Guest: Erin Williams, LPC, PCA US Counselor, Plano campus If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. This is week two of a great conversation with Erin Williams about the book Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic - and What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace. This book is a New York Times bestseller, but remember that it is written from the perspective of someone without a Biblical worldview. Wallace does raise some very profound and provocative questions that need to be answered, especially when the research says that 1 in 3 students may be impacted by what Wallace calls the “excessive pressure to achieve.” Praying that you find this conversation insightful and practical. It is broken down into two episodes - the first episode was released last week.

Guest: Erin Williams, LPC, PCA US Counselor, Plano campus If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Great conversation with Erin Williams about the book Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic - and What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace. This book is a New York Times bestseller, but remember that it is written from the perspective of someone without a Biblical worldview. Wallace does raise some very profound and provocative questions that need to be answered, especially when the research says that 1 in 3 students may be impacted by what Wallace calls the “excessive pressure to achieve.” Praying that you find this conversation insightful and practical. It is broken down into two episodes over this week and next.

Guest: Dr. O.S. Hawkins, PhD, Chancellor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, President Emeritus, GuideStone Financial Resources. If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. To learn more about Dr. Hawkins, you can visit his website at OSHawkins.com What an honor to sit down to record with Dr. O.S. Hawkins, the 2025 Zig Ziglar Servant Leadership Award recipient. Pastor and author of more than 50 books, Dr. Hawkins has been serving the Lord in a variety of capacities for years. The proceeds and royalties from his books in the “Code Series” benefit Mission: Dignity, a ministry of GuideStone started under Hawkins’ tenure that assists retired ministers and their widows who are in need. The Zig Ziglar banquet is coming up Sunday, April 27th and will be located at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, TX. Art reception opens at 5:00 pm and the dinner begins at 6:00 pm. Attire for the evening is “evening wear.”

Guest: The Honorable Matt Shaheen, Texas State Representative, District 66 If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. We had the opportunity to sit down and catch up with State Representative Matt Shaheen after he returned from the oral arguments at the Supreme Court on his bill (HB 1181) that requires age verification to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material on the Internet. The case involves some complex issues including digital privacy rights, states’ rights, the protection of minors, and the regulation of online content. To learn more about this bill and the Supreme Court case please read the Texas Policy Research article as well as the press release from the Texas Attorney General’s office on the Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton case. We also discussed several major initiatives that will be addressed and debated in the 2025 Texas Legislative Session including school choice (ESA, Educational Savings Accounts), gambling, gender ideology, and pro-life issues.

Guests: Sevyn Trogdon, Emerson Seal, and Elizabeth Teague, PCA sophomores at the Plano campus If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. In this episode, we spend a little time talking about their journey toward wisdom during their sophomore year at PCA and the events and activities that help keep them on the right track! The girls talk about activities like Freedom Weekend, the Texas Stomp, Minimester, the Zig Ziglar Servant Award banquet, and their journey with their academics and athletics. The girls are also excited about some of the upcoming opportunities like Beach Camp (June 8-13) and the Choir Mission Trip to the United Kingdom. So many outstanding resources, activities, and events to help students grow in their faith journey and their love for Jesus Christ!

Guest: Amanda Henderson, LS Counselor If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Enjoy this conversation with Amanda Henderson as we contemplate the future of learning and education. Mrs. Henderson is a favorite of students and faculty alike in the Lower School with her warmth and gentleness coupled with her stuffed animal puppets that provide a sense of security and humor. Mrs. Henderson is optimistic about the future of learning because she is confident that God is on His throne and in control - so no matter what the future holds, AI, VR, etc, she knows in whose hands the future lies.

Guest: Angie Gray, Chief Enrollment and Marketing Officer for PCA Re-enrollment opens January 15th and goes through the 31st for existing PCA families in good standing. After that time, available spots will be made available to students and families not currently enrolled at PCA for the following year. The small percentage increase in tuition is passed on to support the pay increase for PCA’s incredible faculty and staff as tuition accounts for around 70% of the entire PCA budget. Also, parents please take the time to fill out the re-enrollment questionnaire as your responses help PCA address areas of concern to our parents. Shout out to Holly Hamilton who is the new voice for The Journey’s intro and outro! Go Holly! If you have any questions about re-enrollment as a current PCA family or wish to learn more about enrolling your child(ren) at PCA in the future, please contact Angie Gray, Chief Enrollment and Marketing Officer at 972-930-4007 or via email at [email protected]

Guests: Jason Spodnik, President and Head of School, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Parents, here is some wisdom from a guy who has been in the private Christian education world for many years: There is so much to learn, so don’t let pride get in the way as we look to steward the incredible gifts of our children for the greatest good of advancing the Kingdom! Parenting by Paul David Tripp is a great reminder that God fashions Himself as a parent so He can not only relate to us as parents, but He models the way for us in this amazing endeavor! God used Christian education to move Jason from Christianity as a religion to a relationship - such an incredible journey! More is “caught” than “taught” - how we interact with students is even more important than what we are “teaching” them in terms of curriculum - students will learn from how you say things, not just what you say… Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Amy Petrof, Kristin Dysart, and Gabe Boyd If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. We hope you enjoy this fun conversation with some PCA parents about their holiday traditions as they desire to keep Christ in the middle of Christmas! Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Dr. J’Aime Balogh, Jenitta Eskew, and Nena Graham If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Executive Functioning - are all of the cognitive skills necessary to regulate your thinking, feelings/emotions, and behaviors to reach a goal. Executive Functioning skills are necessary for all of the other cognitive functions - these are the primary functions that make up what we call “executive functioning”: Memory Attention Motor Skills Verbalizing Visualizing Completing Learning Tasks Executive functioning skills include Task initiation - starting and stopping tasks Response inhibition - keeping yourself from responding impulsively Focus - how to stay on task and not get distracted Time management - planning good use of your time and avoiding procrastination Working memory - holding information in your mind long enough to do something with it Flexibility - being able to shift ideas and plans Self-regulation - being able to reflect on your actions and make changes Emotional self-control - managing your emotions and reflecting on your emotions Task completion - sustaining levels of task and attention to complete a task Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Stephen Bryant, Chris Housewright, Mike Thornberry If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. First of all, just a reminder that Gladiator II is Rated R, which means that you’ll want to proceed with caution - a great place to learn more about why movies receive their ratings is either PluggedInOnline (from Focus on the Family) or MovieGuide. Next, it is wise to look for “lessons” from every source to use as teachable moments with your children so that they are not just “consumers” of entertainment, but are able to watch and listen with discernment. What messages are being extolled, what virtues are being promoted, and are these good, right, and true? Watch or listen to our conversation about Gladiator II to learn more about some of the things that we took away from the movie - and leave some comments on our YouTube page about what you learned as well. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Amy Petrof, Kristin Dysart, and Gabe Boyd If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Parents, you'll want to get this valuable resource that will equip you to have meaningful and age appropriate conversations with your children on a variety of important topics including human dignity, abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, technology, and politics. Authors Andrew Walker and his wife Christian do a great job of presenting a brief, but very informative, overview on these issues then give you some general biblical principles that you can introduce to your children depending on this age and maturity level - as they mature, the depth and complexity of the information you supply as well as the questions that you ask increases to match. Two important reminders after reading this book and having a wonderful conversation with Amy Petrof, Kristin Dysart, and Gabe Boyd - first, you want to make sure that you’re raising your children to see you as the “expert” on cultural issues - not because you are the first to introduce the subject to them or because you know all the latest information and lingo, but because you resource God’s Word as The Source of Truth on all issues - you need to know God’s Word and ground your conversations with your children in Scripture. Second, this book isn’t about gaining information so that you can win arguments and look smart, it’s about being able to present truth in a loving and winsome manner to those who are lost and hurting in need of God’s mercy and grace. Remember that as you engage with others on these controversial topics - the goal is to win people to Christ, not to your opinion. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Audrey Letcher, Chandler McGaha, Landon Murphy, and Campbell Panetti If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. What makes PCA so special? Listen to four “lifers” (seniors who have been at PCA since Kindergarten, and before!) talk about their incredible years at PCA - from Kindergarten Circus to Boosterthon Fun Run, Let George Do It to HOCO and Minimester and AP classes! But PCA is more than just academics, it’s about relationships - with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and with some really incredible faculty and staff who have poured truth into these students as they did life together at PCA. What a blessing each student is at PCA - these four seniors represent hundreds of others who have walked the halls of PCA as they have been equipped for their Kingdom calling. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guest: Erin Williams, LPC, PCA Upper School Counselor, Plano campus If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Many of us were raised to ignore or stuff our emotions, but research today suggests that we learn how to better identify our emotions so that we can learn from them. We “name” them so that we can “tame” them - and not be prisoners of our own feelings. In her book Untangle Your Emotions: Naming What You Feel and Knowing What to Do About It, author Jennie Allen encourages you to engage in meaningful conversations with others about your feelings - and when you’re listening to others, don’t just look to fix their problems, but really allow them to feel how they are feeling. We shouldn’t be ashamed or afraid of our feelings - but we also don’t need to allow our feelings to be the engine that drives our lives. Learning more about our emotions will help us learn more about ourselves, how God has designed us, and how we are to respond to the world around us in a way that honors God. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Ron Kelley, Sharayah Colter, Audrey Sol Loyola, Scott Turner If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. What were the top issues that voters identified as important as they went to the polls and what can we learn from those issues and the outcome of the election? Listen to this informative and fast-paced conversation with several informed friends about how we, as Christians, should be thinking about the days ahead now that the election is behind us. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Scott and Sharayah Colter, The Danbury Institute: A Coalition for Life and Liberty If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. This is the second of a two-week conversation with Scott and Sharayah Colter, founders of The Danbury Institute. This week we examine several of the current cultural issues, many of which have become important political issues as well. The Bible gives clear and effective principles that can be used as a frame/matrix by which to properly understand and evaluate these current cultural issues - which makes it imperative that we know our Bibles as we seek to understand our culture and speak truth and wisdom on the issues of our day! Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Scott and Sharayah Colter, The Danbury Institute: A Coalition for Life and Liberty If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. This will be a two-week conversation with Scott and Sharayah Colter, founders of The Danbury Institute. Week one will be a conversation about America’s Godly heritage - the influence of God’s Word on the Framers and the ideas that led to our Constitutional Republic. I asked Scott and Sharayah for additional resources that they would recommend for those wanting to take a deeper dive into this topic and they recommended resources from the following: Hillsdale College - which offers free online classes on the Constitution, Marxism/Socialism/Communism, American heritage, etc. WallBuilders - David Barton and his son Tim have some outstanding resources including America’s Godly Heritage (book, CD, or DVD) and The American Story series. Sharayah also encourages you to read the words of the Framers - George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and many others - go online and read some of their letters and speeches and learn more about this incredible period of world history from those who were there. I would also recommend reading The Federalist Papers, written by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison as well as the original text of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guest: Scott Turner, Associate Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church, former NFL player Reminder that early voting here in Texas begins October 21st and goes through November 1st and the General Election is Tuesday, November 5th. Voting is a very important and special honor as citizens of this country - and as citizens of heaven we should engage in all aspects seeking first the Kingdom of God and to glorify Him in all that we say and do - which means that we must both carry ourselves in a way that is civil and honorable while at the same time stand for what is right, true, and good! A couple of great resources you need to take into consideration are the following: The Law by Frederick Bastiat - a great account on the tension between government supplying the needs of people vs. people (the church, individuals) meeting the needs of others Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s 7 Core Principles of Conservativism - you need to know where you stand on these principles…and why. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guest: Scott Turner, Associate Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church, former NFL player If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Loved our time with Scott Turner learning how God used his early humble beginnings to teach him the value of hard work and serving others well. Enjoy this episode with Scott listening to him share how God orchestrated so many people, places, and things in his life to draw Scott closer and to deepen Scott’s faith journey. And, the good news is that at the end of this episode, there is more to come next week as we continue this conversation with Scott Turner and turn our attention to the importance of living out our faith in the political arena. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guest: Pastor Jack Graham, Prestonwood Baptist Church If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Twenty-seven years ago, Prestonwood was approached about allowing a new private, Christian school to use the Prestonwood name. About three years after PCA was launched, the school was struggling financially and might not have survived if the church hadn’t stepped in to support and really adopt the school as their own! Pastor Graham is also releasing a new book on November 5th called The Jesus Story - you can pre-order your copy on Amazon! Pastor Graham also shared some thoughts on the upcoming election and encouraged people to register to vote and vote biblical values at the ballot box! Finally, Pastor Graham shared some thoughts and perspectives about being a grandparent today and how special this opportunity is to live a legacy and pass on one’s faith from generation to generation. One great resource as an encouragement to grandparents is the latest book from Robert Wohlgemuth called Gun Lap: Staying in the Race with Purpose. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests in order: Reid Thornberry (PCA North senior), Steve Lee (11th grade Bible and Apologetics teacher, Plano campus), Hayden Fox (PCA Plano junior), Fabian Chong (11th and 12th grade physics teacher, Plano campus), Noelle Brenning (11th grade, Plano campus), Audrey Sol Loyola (2015 alumni), Freddy Gattelaro (2019 alumni), and Parker Panetti (2019 alumni), Kristen Smith (PCA Plano senior), Nami Adenle (PCA Plano senior), Sam Hitchcock (Director of Spiritual Formation, Oklahoma Christian School), Madi Franquiz (MS Breakout Session), Noah Brierley (Mainstage and Breakout Speaker), Coleman Bales (PCA North senior), Tim Barnett (Mainstage Speaker) If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. We interviewed a variety of students and adults to share their thoughts and perspectives from the Biblical Worldview Conference - who were their favorite speakers, most influential topics addressed, and their favorite breakout sessions - as well as what they learned and how they plan to put these truths into practice in their own lives. The Biblical Worldview Conference (BWC) was a resounding success with incredible speakers who talked about everything from TikTok evangelism to the reliability of the Gospels! Both the Plano and North campuses sent MS and US students to join 44 other Christian schools and over 4,000 registrants for this year’s conference. If you somehow missed this year’s BWC, you can look to purchase the entire conference - all mainstage and breakout sessions at prestonwoodworldview.org Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Allen Parr, host of The Beat, and Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director for the American Center for Law and Justice If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Allen Parr and Jordan Sekulow join nearly a dozen other outstanding speakers, authors, and apologists, at the 2024 Biblical Worldview Conference held at Prestonwood Baptist Church September 22-24. To register visit prestonwoodworldview.org and don’t forget that the parent code for $10 off your registration is PCAParent24. To watch and listen to Allen Parr, visit his YouTube page The Beat. To connect with and learn more about the work of Jordan Sekulow, visit the website for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Dan Panetti, PCA Director of Parent Engagement & Ministry (interviewed by PCA sophomore Sevyn Trogdon) If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Parents, we are celebrating 20 years of Biblical worldview training and transformation with this year’s Biblical Worldview Conference! From humble beginnings, the BWC has grown into the world’s largest and leading Biblical worldview conference for students. In this episode you’ll learn more about how the conference began and some interesting behind-the-scenes stories. But more than just the history and significance of BWC, this podcast will hopefully inspire you to attend this year’s conference in person or via the live stream option. To learn more about this year’s BWC and to register, check out the Biblical Worldview Conference - dates this year are September 22nd - 24th. And don’t forget that the parent code for $10 off your registration is PCAParent24. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Megan Rogers, PCA Senior Director of Development & Stewardship, and Kenzie Venus, Director of Development Events If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. North Texas Giving Day (NTGD) has begun! From now until September 19, you can give to the PCA Fund that helps provide that margin of excellence funding specific projects that make our school even better! Funds designated for the North Campus will be used for North Campus projects and funds designated for the Plano Campus will be used for Plano Campus projects. The goals for the two campuses are as follows: North Campus - goal of $80K, with a stretch goal of $100K Plano Campus - goal of $553K, with a stretch goal of $700K To donate, visit the NTGD/PCA page and make a donation - make sure you put what campus you’re on and what grades your children are in. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Maddie McDonald (PCA Plano senior), Kellen O’Brien (PCA Plano junior), Naomi Livings (PCA Plano sophomore), Madison Kirby-Birdwell (PCA Plano freshman), and Ryan Newsome, PCA Plano Spiritual Development Director If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Both the North and Plano campuses took their US students on retreat to Sky Ranch this past week. We had the opportunity to sit down with students from the Plano campus at their retreat as well as with the new Director of Spiritual Development Ryan Newsome to record some comments about why they felt a spiritual retreat was an important component of the PCA DNA and why, as students, they felt like this time away from school and with their classmates was essential to building community and meaningful relationships. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Stephen Bryant (PCA dad, coach, SLi Director), Mike Thornberry (PCA North dad), Aaron Ulmer (PCA alumni, Class of 2007), Chris Housewright (PCA dad) If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. The Forge is the latest movie from the incredible Christian movie producers the Kendrick Brothers (Alex, Stephen, and Shannon), who brought Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, and War Room to the big screens. This new movie is about the process of making a man - and it’s a powerful story of prayer, forgiveness, redemption, and salvation! The Forge opens in theaters across the country on Friday, August 23, 2024. In the movie, Joshua Moore (older man, business owner) asks a younger Isaiah some important questions that cause Isaiah to pause and evaluate his life and future - here are those questions: 5 years from now, where do you want to be? What ways do you want to grow in the next year? What kind of man do you want to be? What do you want people to think when they see you coming? The Forge isn’t a “self-help” movie about making better decisions - Isaiah surrenders his life to Christ and as he begins to follow Jesus, his life and decisions are radically changed! The Forge also highlights the importance of walking in community - surrounded by others to hold us accountable and encourage us on our journey! Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guest: Dr. Mike Goddard, PCA Superintendent If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. This year’s theme comes out of the Book of Joshua, specifically Joshua 1:9, which reads: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” As Joshua was standing at the precipice of something new, exciting, and definitely nerve-racking, God reminded him to be strong and courageous. What new adventure lies in front of you and your family this year - what is God doing in and through your life that you’ll need to rely on Him and His strength to make it through? Remember that great trials and tribulations produce great faith in a great God. J.K. Gressett is credited with saying, “God prepares great men for great tasks by great trials.” The Book of Joshua begins with this charge to “be strong and courageous” and ends with Joshua reminding the nation of Israel that “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Parents, you have a choice to make this year - whom will you serve - the gods of our age (convenience, comfort, competition) or the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Jillian Bryant, Plano US Dean of Students, and Erin Williams, Plano US Counselor If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. PCA’s New “Internet Enabled Device” Policy Basically, PCA is going to be a “cell phone free” environment Much of the rationale for this decision is encapsulated in the research presented in Jonathan Haidt’s latest book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental IllnessHaidt writes about four foundational harms from a phone-based childhood:Social deprivation Sleep deprivation Attention fragmentation Addiction Haidt also gives four foundational reforms:No smartphones before high school No social media before age 16 Phone-free schools Bring unstructured “play” back for children If you would like to review more of Haidt’s research, check out The Anxious Generation Research Website that goes beyond the book. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Jillian Bryant, Plano US Dean of Students, and Erin Williams, Plano US Counselor If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Dress code Greater emphasis on enforcement and understanding Modesty Five Lies book by Rosaria Butterfield:A godly woman is a modest woman. A modest woman does not bring attention to herself but instead gives glory to God. In Modesty: More than a Change of Clothes, Martha Peace and Kent Keller define modesty as “an inner beauty of the heart motivated by a love for God that seeks His glory through purity and humility; it often reveals itself in words, actions, expressions, and clothes.” Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Julie West, Senior Food Services Director, and Vinny Tellini, Executive Chef, with Sage Dining Services If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Both Chef Julie West and Chef Vinny Tellini are “seasoned” veterans making the dining experience for PCA students something wonderful! Sage desires to be part of the PCA community - a meal is a chance to connect with others and Sage does a great job of making the food service at PCA special, unique, healthy, and delicious! Sage takes into account the variety of allergies that students might be sensitive to as well as what are the favorites for the students. The menus are planned with great care taking into consideration what is best for the students and what the students will enjoy. As a parent, you can see what is available for your students on the Touch of Sage app - you can see the weekly menu, you can rate specific menu items, you can filter based on allergies, and you can contact Chef Julie or Chef Vinny to share your thoughts, compliments, or concerns. If you would like to email Chef Julie West directly, her email address is [email protected]. Parents, you are also always welcome to purchase a lunch pass and go eat with your child. Please see Susan at the LS front desk or Sarah at the MS/US front desk for more information. Remember when your child says that they “don’t like” something - make sure you encourage them to try it first before they decide that they don’t like it! At this time, the Sage dining experience is only available at the Plano campus, but consideration is being given to adding Sage dining to the North campus when time and space permit. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Anna May, Sharayah Colter, Marchelle Michel If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Some Resource Recommendations for Parents: Godly people! You need to get plugged into a solid, Christ-centered, Bible-teaching church and “LifeGroup” filled with individuals who are doing life looking to know God and make Him known - and do life together with them! God’s Word! Before you dive into other outstanding resources, you need to dive into God’s Word - there is only one book that is living and active. Jeremiah 6:16 reminds us to ask for the ancient paths - the way of the Lord is well worn by the travels of believers before us - walk in those ways! JC Ryle - great author - some of his works include Thoughts for Young Men and Holiness. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - written by a professed atheist, Haidt’s research into the negative effects of screen time on our kids is a valuable read for parents today. Atomic Habits by James Clear. How to make those small, 1% changes that over time become powerful habits in your life. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster - great resource for spiritual growth and maturity. Marriage on the Rock by Jimmy Evans Al Mohler’s The Briefing podcast. Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield. The Indwelling Life of Christ by Major Ian Thomas Again, parents, we are working on a Resource Page - so if you have some suggestions or recommendations, please email me at [email protected] - love to hear from you! Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Anna May, Sharayah Colter, Marchelle Michel If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Parents, we are creating a RESOURCE PAGE to help direct you to outstanding resources - and I’d love to get your favorite resources listed on there as well. Please email me at [email protected] to share your favorite books, videos, CDs, podcasts, etc…stayed tuned for more information. While we mentioned dozens of resources in this podcast, here are a few highlights: The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls by MJ Thomas Adventures in Odyssey Audio Chronicles of Naria by CS Lewis book set The Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen Taylor The Priest with Dirty Clothes by RC Sproul Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guest: Russ Crosson, chief mission officer and senior partner of Blue Trust (Ron Blue Institute), and author of Your Life…Well Spent: The Eternal Rewards of Investing Yourself and Your Money in Your Family If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page. Russ - I manage my money to have more LIFE, not just more money! Russ - you need to know the difference between PROSPERITY (wealth/money/material possessions) and POSTERITY (children/legacy/generations to come). The Principle of Time Replacement: How to Add Posterity Time to Our Schedules “Time-saving” devices - we spend more time working in pursuit of more money or to buy more possessions that require time to use and maintain. As a result, the typical full-time employee’s work week has expanded from forty to nearly fifty-seven hours. When you make spending decisions, ask, “How will this expense affect our entire family?” Principle of Replacement - the addition of new time commitments to my schedule usually involves a trade-off between work and posterity timeOnly say yes if the activity can replace something else that’s already in your schedule that doesn’t detract from your posterity time A New Understanding of Work #5 - Only change vocations to better fulfill your purpose and maximize your time flexibility - not to make more money #7 - If you’re in a career that is currently generating sufficient income, carefully evaluate additional time spent to earn more income, especially if your children are young. Remember, your children’s first ten years are the most critical A Good Name is Better Than Riches: Building Our Posterity’s Social Capital Must take the time to train our children More money doesn’t mean better lives…or better children Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Jane Matthews, Julie Hildebrand, and Gabe Boyd For video of this podcast, check out PCA’s YouTube page. In this episode, we look at the latest Inside Out 2 movie which adds additional emotions to young Riley as she turns 13 and enters puberty. In addition to Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust, Riley now gets Anxiety, Envy, Ennui (Boredom in French), and Embarrassment. As with the first Inside Out movie, this film is filled with excellent content for meaningful conversations with your children. The situations are powerful and the changes and challenges that Riley faces are moving. We hope that our discussion helps you, as a Christian parent, engage with mediums like mainstream movies in a significant way with your family. Our discussions of Inside Out 1 and 2 are not an endorsement of the movies, their content or message, but a realization of the powerful influence of movies in our culture and an opportunity to present you with insights about how to utilize these resources to equip your family from a Biblical worldview. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Jane Matthews, Julie Hildebrand, and Gabe Boyd For video of this podcast, check out PCA’s YouTube page. We started our discussion with the first Inside Out, which was released in 2015. This movie from Pixar looks at the various emotions that make up our personality - for the movie, they chose Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust. From a parenting perspective, the movie is filled with excellent content for meaningful conversations with your children. The situations are powerful and the changes and challenges that Riley faces are moving. We hope that our discussion helps you, as a Christian parent, engage with mediums like mainstream movies in a significant way with your family. Our discussion of Inside Out is not an endorsement of the movie, its content or message, but a realization of the powerful influence of movies in our culture and an opportunity to present you with insights about how to utilize these resources to equip your family from a Biblical worldview. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Holly Hamilton, Sandy Leydig, and Joel Gordon For video of this podcast, check out PCA’s YouTube page. Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind, and Soul By George Barna Section ONE - The Importance of Children Section TWO - The Four Principles of a Disciple Section THREE - Families and Churches in Partnership Section Three - Families and Churches in Partnership Working together, parents and their faith community can be a dynamic and potent force for the kingdom of God, leading to transformed lives among the young people in the church’s families. Chapter 8 - Parents Must Manage Media Exposure Exposure to media is the MOST significant shaper of a person’s worldview Parents consciously fill the role of media gatekeeper Large doses of media consumption change the configuration and capacity of the brain - for the worseAcceptance of parental authority drops Four M’s of Media ManagementMonitor media use Minimize media use Moralize media content Model media standards Chapter 9 - Where is the Local Church? Churches, like most service-based organizations, are responsive to the expressed needs and desires of their user base. Face it, parents do not clamor for real discipleship experiences for their children, and churches have not done much to push back on that blind spot. The most effective churches provide:Teach parents to understand and own the role of spiritual mentor to their child Offer support and assistance needed for parents to fight the spiritual war that surrounds their children Good churches look to PARTNER with parents… A WORD about Christian schools…Public schools are no friend to Christ A Bible-based Christian school can be an enormous help to a parent who is striving to raise a spiritual champion and partnering with parents in seeking to defeat the prevailing culture that dismisses biblical truths and lifestyles Chapter 10 - Fight for Your Children You must MODEL for them the life of a spiritual warrior… Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Holly Hamilton, Sandy Leydig, and Joel Gordon For video of this podcast, check out PCA’s YouTube page. Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind, and Soul By George Barna Section ONE - The Importance of Children Section TWO - The Four Principles of a Disciple Section THREE - Families and Churches in Partnership Section Two - The Four Practices of a Disciple Making a life-defining commitment to be a disciple of Jesus Accepting the biblical principles and commands that lead to becoming a disciple Adopting the lifestyle of a disciple - obedience through application of beliefs Inviting personal accountability and stability - through assessing what matters, reinforcing growth, and celebrating disciplehood Chapter 4 - Disciple-Making Practice #1 Being a genuine disciple starts with obedience. Why obey His teachings? Because He has provided them so that we may flourish in life. Obedience therefore demands knowledge of Scripture A different way of describing a disciple is someone who thinks like Jesus, which enables them to act like Jesus, producing someone who therefore lives like Jesus. Spiritual Commitments:Serving Christ Building a solid relationship Investing personal resources Implementing a solid plan Using proven practices Chapter 5 - Disciple-Making Practice #2 Biblically speaking, discipling a child is meant to be done by the child’s parents How WORLDVIEW developsExperimental process Imitating their parents List of DIFFERENT/COMPETING worldviews…94% of adults have a syncretistic worldview - a blending of views from two or more of the comprehensive worldview systems Chapter 6 - Disciple-Making Practice #3 An equally important undertaking is to promote the fledgling disciple fully, and passionately integrating those beliefs into a Christlike lifestyle.The expansive impact of those attributes is an example of why discipling someone is not a quick process. Spiritual fruit begins with evidence of personal transformation Chapter 7 - Disciple-Making Practice #4 Accountability system Find a spiritual mentor Must be taught the importance of consistent SELF-EVALUATION Introduce young followers to the still, small voice of the Lord… Measurement toolsWorldview Assessments Spiritual Gifts Personal Strengths Personality Attributes Spiritual Growth and Maturity Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Holly Hamilton, Sandy Leydig, and Joel Gordon Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind, and Soul By George Barna Section ONE - The Importance of Children Section TWO - The Four Principles of a Disciple Section THREE - Families and Churches in Partnership Section One - The Importance of Children Chapter 1 - Making the Most of Your Life Most young adults (54%) admit they often feel anxious, depressed, or unsafe The Great Commitment is your promise to God that you will apply yourself to carrying out those challenges - with His authority, in His power, and for His glory Parents have PRIMARY responsibility for the total well-being of their children - education, discipline, protection - but the most vital aspect of their development is spiritual formation. Chapter 2 - Realigning Our Course Trajectory Many embrace the label of “spiritual but not religious” LESS than 1% of thirteen- and fourteen-year-old Americans have a biblical worldview Parenting Tactics Prioritizing spiritual development Establishing inflexible Bible-based priorities and boundaries Discipling each child Influencing the choice of their friends CONSISTENCY is the single, most important attribute… Chapter 3 - Disciple-Making, Yes-But Why Disciple Children? Who has the greatest impact/influence on our kids - the arts and entertainment media industry…Act of repetition Peer acceptance Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Len Munsil, President, and Dr. Jeffrey Green, VP of Academic Affairs and chief academic officer, at Arizona Christian University (ACU) Transforming Culture with Truth In Transforming Culture with Truth, Arizona Christian University President Len Munsil explains how the principles and values that built Western Civilization are under assault, and how a decaying and divided culture can be transformed through biblical truth. In this second edition, Munsil applies his incisive analysis to the most pressing cultural issues we face as a nation, and offers both hope and practical wisdom to the next generation of Christian leaders as they seek to advance God’s Kingdom in an increasingly hostile culture. Worldview training and development address concepts of personal spiritual development as well as how our faith intersects with culture! Recommended resource: Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind, and Soul by George Barna Parents, don’t get discouraged in the training of your children - parenting is hard work…it’s a journey, a marathon, not a sprint…stay faithful and prayerful - and look to partner with solid Biblical institutions like PCA and ACU. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Shannon Lichty, Trudy Reed, Jillian Bryant, PCA’s FPS State 1st and 2nd Place teams Twenty-five years ago, Shannon Lichty brought the FPS program to PCA. Along with several others who have invested in making this program a resounding success, Shannon has invested her heart and energies into countless PCA students both in the classroom and through FPS. To learn more about PCA’s FPS program, check out this page on the PCA website. To learn more about FPS in general, check out: Future Problem Solving Program International Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guest: Giovanni Capriglione, Texas State Representative, District 98 Barna’s research has shown that nearly 3/4th (72%) of parents are worried about or concerned with AI’s impact on their children - but also that only 17% have actually taken steps to learn more about AI - so, basically parents are afraid and under-informed One concern expressed about AI is the potential likelihood of decreased social connection, adding to the epidemic of loneliness and isolation this generation is already facing AI is more complex than “if/then” commands - it is a system that can be trained to use data for specific purposes Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Rep. Capriglione’s bill (HB 2060) into law creating the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council that will study the use of AI in state government AI collects data points - the average person has at least 100,000 data points collected on them - which means that AI can know you better than you know yourself! Digital privacy laws are being passed so that people can begin to see the information that has been collected about them. The best way to protect yourself is to reduce the amount of information that AI can collect on you - be aware of this Social media has one goal - to make sure you don’t put your phone down - the more you scroll, the more data that is being collected about you! Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guests: Emerson Seal, Elizabeth Teague, and Sevyn Trogdon (PCA Freshmen, Class of 2027) Sevyn’s dad runs a discipleship ministry called Kingdom Focus Coaching. The girls share their thoughts about some of the more memorable moments at PCA Lower School including: the Kindergarten Circus, sea animal project, transportation day, Invention Convention, Let George Do It, and the Boosterthon Fun Run! Their favorite part of school was definitely their teachers! Things that their parents did to help them grow in their faith: Going on ministry service projects and opportunities with their parents and actually seeing God at work Leading by example - living out your faith so that your kids can see that it is truly important to you and your family - has such a significant impact on your children Kingdom Education is the working together of the church, the home, and the school working in concert to train up a child in the way they should go - and “church” isn’t just a Sunday morning activity, but being involved in a variety of opportunities including PSO for sports, MidWeek on Wednesday evenings, student choir, etc. For more information, check out the Prestonwood Student Ministry page and the Prestonwood Student Worship page. Helping your kids navigate “friendships” and building quality relationships by being a good friend and surrounding yourself with godly individuals who can challenge you to be the best person you can be. Also, remember to maintain good relationships with non-Christians to be a light and encouragement pointing them to Christ! Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guest: Kristin Dysart, M.Ed., MS and US Guidance Counselor, PCA North PCA isn’t just a “college prep” educational institution - the Biblical worldview and academic rigor of PCA is designed to equip students for success in life, which includes college for those who desire to attend. Kristin references a Christianity Today article that differentiates between the “price” of a college education and the “cost” - which dives into the cost of young people being indoctrinated in a worldview that is contrary to solid and orthodox Biblical teaching. In the article, Dr. Henderson points to a “strong link between a young person’s choice of a college and their short-term and long-term commitment to Christian faith.” Here is a summary of that article. To learn more about Hope College’s “Hope Forward” initiative featured on Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast, click here. What should parents instill in their children as they mature on their journey at PCA - here are some recommendations: Allow your children to fail and to learn from their mistakes Stain your children with the Word of God Ground your children’s identity in Christ A connection to you as a parent is more important to your child’s development than connections to their peers Train your children to be responsible for their actions Be intentional about the conversations you’re having with your children. Good resource as you consider where your son/daughter should attend college: Where You God Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania by Frank Bruni Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!

Guest: Matt Shaheen, Texas State Representative, District 66 State Representative Matt Shaheen led the efforts in the last legislative session to pass laws requiring age verification for access to “adult” [porn] websites (for more information, see House Bill 1181). The law requires that users verify that they are over 18 years old. A couple of months ago, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a challenge to the Texas age verification requirement. Responding to that decision, several porn sites have blocked all uses from Texas. Several other states are passing similar legislation in efforts to protect children from sexually explicit material. Common Sense Media released valuable research called “Teens and Pornography” which found that 73% of teens aged 13 to 17 who participated in the survey have watched pornography online and more than half (54%) reported that their first exposure to pornography occurred around the age of 13. The report also revealed that a majority of teens who indicated that they’ve viewed online pornography have been exposed to what has been labeled aggressive and/or violent forms of pornography. And remember that this year is a Presidential Election and the General Election is coming up this November. Christians Engaged is a wonderful organization to help you get informed and engaged as a Christian citizen in our great country. Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!