Praise God For God

Episode 6 - Wes Searcy on Authenticity, Patience, and the Quiet Work of God

Wes Searcy has spent his life serving the local church and investing in the next generation of leaders. While attending Louisiana Tech University, Wes began his ministry journey through student ministry roles across Arkansas and Louisiana, serving as a Summer Student Ministry Intern at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith, AR, and later as a Part-Time Student Minister at Cedar Crest Baptist Church in West Monroe, LA. Following college, Wes continued to serve students in a variety of church contexts, including roles at First Baptist Church Dallas, West Conroe Baptist Church, and Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall (later Rowlett), where he experienced a formative season of ministry alongside trusted leaders and mentors. Wes went on to serve as Student Minister at Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, FL, and Riverside Baptist Church in Denver, CO. He later stepped into executive leadership as Executive Pastor and Next Gen Pastor at Trinity Church in Lubbock, TX, overseeing ministries from nursery through college while also leading the high school ministry. He eventually served as Associate Pastor at Valley Creek Church, contributing to small groups, assimilation, discipleship, leadership development, and pastoral care. In addition to his local church leadership, Wes co-founded NEXT Worldwide, a church-planting and student leadership development missions organization, where he served as Executive Director for 14 years. Through a season of prayer and discernment, NEXT Worldwide joined East-West Ministries in 2019, becoming its Next Generation arm. Today, Wes serves in Mobilization Strategy Leadership with East-West Ministries, continuing his passion for missions, leadership development, and equipping the next generation to follow Jesus faithfully.

Episode 5 - Pastor Kevin Evans on a Life Shaped by Humility and Dependence on God

Kevin and Lisa Evans were married in 1982 and have four adult children and nine grandchildren. In 1992, after serving for five years as a youth pastor, their home church commissioned them to move from Lubbock, Texas, to Flower Mound, Texas, to plant Valley Creek Church, where Kevin served as lead pastor for 18 years. In 2010, Kevin was commissioned by Valley Creek to go to China, where he focused on discipleship and urban church planting. In 2018, he and Lisa returned to the United States, where they continue to serve the people of China, Vietnam, and other Asian nations. In 2019, they joined Citizens’ Church in Plano, Texas, where Kevin was soon invited to serve as an elder. As Citizens’ Church grew in its vision to plant churches, Kevin, Lisa, and a team from the church were commissioned and sent in September 2022 to plant Mission House Church, with the mission of making Christ and His gospel better known throughout the North Texas region. Mission House Church reaches not only local neighbors but also immigrant communities in the region, particularly among Chinese, Indian, and Afghan populations. The church has since multiplied into two house churches. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University, a Master of Divinity from Regent University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of three books: A Walk with God, A Change of Heart, and A Life with Purpose.

Episode 4 - Pastor Scott Coy on living a life modeled after 1 Thessalonians 2:8

For more than 56 years, Scott Coy has poured his life into discipling men with a steady, Christ-centered faithfulness. In the early 1970s, he was the first man to disciple my father-in-law, Pastor Steve Hardin, planting seeds of gospel conviction that still bear fruit in generations of ministry today. Scott is a man deeply serious about engaging the gospel within a rapidly changing culture, always seeking to help others see how fully and personally God loves them. His ministry journey has taken him through 17 years with Young Life, 26 years of shepherding as a founding elder at Watermark, and years of chaplaincy in the marketplace after leading companies himself. His influence has stretched across mission fields worldwide, from Ukraine and Vietnam to Africa and Cuba. Scott embodies a lifetime of quiet obedience, steadfast discipleship, and a heart anchored in the good news of Jesus. His story invites us to follow Christ with humility, perseverance, and a deep love for people.

Episode 3 - Pastor Adam Griffin on being Quietly Faithful in Ministry for the Long Haul

I’m honored today to be joined by one of my favorite people, My Pastor,  Adam Griffin, Lead Pastor of Eastside Community Church. Adam has been serving in vocational ministry for over 22 years. He began as Director of Youth Ministry at Lamb of God Lutheran in Flower Mound, Texas, for six years. After that season, Adam spent three years as a public educator at Flower Mound High School and Hebron High School—while still heavily volunteering in ministry throughout that time. His heart for discipleship and the church never stopped, even while serving in the classroom. In 2011, he joined The Village Church Northway as the NextGen Minister, then went on to serve as Spiritual Formation Pastor for five years. In 2018, following God’s clear leading, he planted Eastside Community Church, where he is currently serving and has faithfully served for the last seven years as Lead Pastor. Adam is married to Chelsea, and together they have three amazing sons: Oscar, Gus, and Theodore. Adam is the co-author, alongside Matt Chandler, of Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home Through Time, Moments, and Milestones. He is also the author of When Wrong Seems Right: A Kids Bible Study on Making Good Choices, The Boy Who Was Bold, What Will You Teach Me?, and more. Adam hosts The Family Discipleship Podcast and regularly contributes articles and speaks on family discipleship, spiritual formation, racial reconciliation, parenting, and the sanctity of life around the country.

Episode 2 - Robert Reid on Life in Ministry

Robert Reid has been serving in various ministry capacities for the last 14 years. He started serving as a Dorm Director at Cedarville University and oversaw the discipleship of a residence of 288 men. Following his completion of his master's degree from Liberty University, he joined the staff of City Church International as the Worship Pastor, where he served for 4 years. Following that season of ministry, Robert felt called to pursue a ministry career in care and counseling, and that led him to his current role here at Eastside Community Church, where he has led the Care and Counsel ministry for the last 5 years Robert is married to Rebecca, and they have 4 incredible boys: Elias, Malachi, Josiah, Gideon