Grace, Grit & Hope

Sim Bates: A 900-mile Run to Stop Trafficking

Ultramarathoner Simeon Bates joins Grace, Grit & Hope to share the story behind his extraordinary 900‑mile run for justice. Determined to support Freedom Firm's mission to end child sex trafficking in India, Sim ran 30 miles a day for 30 days across Kentucky's Red River Gorge. His faith fueled him through the pain, helping raise $100,000 for an organization that has rescued over 1,000 survivors. Sim's journey is a reminder that one person's courage can spark real change. This episode will move you.

The Doom Scrollin' Blues

Join Paschal and Kevin as they trade their dignity for a Wi-Fi signal in this hilariously honest dive into our doom-scrolling insanity. From coffee shops filled with silent phone zombies to students walking on campus while staring into devices, they poke fun at themselves and our nation's collective trance by featuring Kevin's original song:"The Doom Scrollin' Blues." This episode is a front-porch intervention for our screen-obsessed nation. Break the spell, interrupt the trance, and have a good, hard laugh about the inescapable conclusion: we've all gone bonkers from screens, mobile phones and 24/7 negative news.

Michael Johnathon: Calling Us Home to the Front Porch Again

Folksinger Michael Johnathon tells his life story and calls us to reclaim the soul of American music: the spirit of the front porch. He reflects on Pete Seeger's belief that the audience is the true star and warns that today's world of commercial music has lost its soul. From his Walden‑like years in Mousie, KY to founding WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, he champions community, simplicity and the power of shared songs. He contrasts the inclusive front‑porch stage with the isolating commercial stage. He celebrates the brilliance of WoodSongs Kids and reminds us that love — not money — is the greatest transaction of the arts. His message is clear: America needs our front‑porch soul restored.

True Grit: Resilience to Outlast Every Life Storm

Paschal Baute has spent nearly a century forging grit. A 96‑year‑old veteran who served with four branches of the military, he is also a former monk, retired psychologist, and author of 50 books on resilience and hope. He has survived cancer, adapted to blindness, and recently endured the loss of his wife of 57 years. From childhood bullying to boxing in Guam, from military school to catastrophic disability, Paschal reveals how to choose courage over despair. This conversation is a masterclass about grit from a man who has spent his entire life drawing upon it.

Paul Prather: Grace Changes Everything

Paul Prather revisits the 90-minute vision in 1980 that upended his understanding of God—a Damascus experience in which he saw that God is in control of everything, and that His deepest desire is to bless people, not to condemn. Pastor Paul's experience echoes Jesus and St. Paul: whose teachings stressed forgiveness, love and grace—not judgment or measuring others. Grace, Prather argues, is the true center of the faith with God's love and mercy accepting us exactly as we are. This frees us from sin consciousness and changes everything. His kingdom is not a distant promise; it's here now, whenever and wherever we share His unmerited love. Prather's message is beautifully simple: lighten your grip. God already has you. To listen to Paul Prather's recent sermons on grace, go to: https://www.youtube.com/@bethesdachurchmountsterlin7545/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@bethesdachurchmountsterlin7545/videos]