Road To Redemption
Road To Redemption
Colby Anderson and Scott Boeckman's Journey to Freedom
Can offense be a tool of the enemy to keep us from spiritual growth? Join us on this episode of Road to Redemption as we explore this intriguing notion. Our guest, Scott Boeckman, shares his transformative journey from being mentored by Pastor Jeremy Nennig in Fort Walton Beach FL to leading his own Freedom group in Santa Rosa Beach. Scott's story is one of authenticity, relationship-building, and embracing one's identity as a child of God. Discover how his leadership through men's ministry not only transformed the life of todays co-host Colby Anderson, but also impacted his entire family's lineage deeply.
Ever felt like walking away from a group due to a hurtful comment? We recount a personal story of how remembering the teachings from the Freedom curriculum on offense helped us stay, leading to profound spiritual growth. Scott delves into the significance of small groups for accountability, vulnerability, and spiritual healing. Hear about the incredible ripple effects these groups have on individuals and communities, and how supportive spouses play a crucial role in these spiritual journeys. This episode underscores the essential role of small groups in overcoming past hurts and living in the freedom God intends.
Finally, we reflect on the power of obedience and leadership within Destiny Worship men’s groups throughout Northwest Florida. Scott shares a heartfelt prayer for those feeling lost and without purpose, offering hope and true freedom through a relationship with Jesus. This episode is a testament to the life-changing impact of faith in Christ, freedom, and fellowship. Be inspired by the incredible stories of transformation and the undeniable influence of obedient leadership in fostering spiritual growth. Connect with us and share your thoughts as we continue on this Road to Redemption together.
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Welcome to Road to Redemption, a show sharing powerful life testimonies, giving hope to those on their own road to redemption.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to Road to Redemption. My name is Colby Anderson. I'm here today. I'm going to be a co-host to my man, john Martin, who is your main host. You guys hear him most of the time, john. I think it's our first time in here together as host, co-host.
Speaker 3:Maybe. So yeah, that's so exciting. I'm so excited for this show today with your friend, scott, who we've all heard so much about, and I finally get to meet you, scott. I'm so excited.
Speaker 4:I'm excited as well. I appreciate you guys having me on here and giving me the opportunity, and to God be the glory above all else.
Speaker 2:Amen, brother. So I'll do a brief introduction, if I can make it brief. Sometimes it gets long-winded when I introduce Scott, but Scott Beckman is a dear friend of mine. Those of you who have been saved and call Jesus Lord of your life, you probably remember the person who you know. If we can give a salvation down here on earth to somebody and say it's that guy that spoke to me and invited me to church, or it's that guy who prayed over me and I received Christ, scott Beckman is my guy. That's the guy that ultimately led me to Christ through my wife grabbing him and shaking him and saying you got to talk to my husband. He's not living for the Lord at this point in his life. And she did.
Speaker 2:And, scott, you came in and invited me in to a men's ministry, a men's group that you were doing here at the church, and it radically changed my life. So you know you've heard it before I've thanked you a thousand times, but it's just an honor to have you here in the room and to be able to just say, man, thank you. You know, if it wasn't for you to be bold to start a men's group, to pick up the phone and call somebody that you never knew, you've never had a conversation with and invite them into what you were doing. My life has been forever changed and my kids' lives have been forever changed. My wife the lineage is behind me, so I knew the introduction wouldn't be short, but, scott, welcome.
Speaker 4:Thanks for having me and kudos to our wives out there, you know that are pushing us. My wife was the same way, you know, and thanks to them, you know, here we are, you know. So, just again grateful to be on and, man, you've been awesome and I couldn't have found a better friend, friend and mentee, you know, and brother in Christ, and just a guy that I could pass the torch on to kind of when I moved out, you know, to be the glory, and God does get the glory for all things.
Speaker 2:But God uses vessels down here on earth to to promote the gospel, to invite people to love on people the way that that Christ loves us. And you do that. You did that so well and you did that for me. So so just a brief back story is you know, I, you were in a men's group over in Fort Walton Beach and you were doing a curriculum called Freedom. And as we come into these groups, once the groups get a little bit bigger, we go out and we multiply.
Speaker 2:So you left a group in Fort Walton, you came out to Santa Rosa Beach and at that point there wasn't a whole lot of within our church here at Destiny Worship Center. At that time there wasn't a lot of men's groups meeting. I'm sure there were some here and there, but not like there is today. And I know that you started the first freedom group out here that I remember, and there may have been one or two that were going on, but as far as the one that kind of we all come from, you started that one here and I remember it was you and three other guys, brad Young, tracy Priest or two other guys, so three total, and Brad Young had opened his house. And so tell me a little bit about that and how, that you know what God put on your heart to start that and what brought you out here to Santa Rosa Beach area?
Speaker 4:Absolutely, yeah. So Pastor Jeremy was my mentor and that's who I was doing the group with at Fort Walton and he, he just showed me a model of of small groups and this isn't like a special formula that's going to work every time, but he showed me, you know, just to be authentic um, love on people, care about people, and it it worked, you know. And so um, I, I, I journeyed with him, did small groups with him for a year and all the other guys there, um and just felt led to start closer home. I was living at Freeport at the time, so I was driving about an hour um there, going straight from work to there, and then we would hang out, kind of, you know, relationship build, as we'd call it after the group, and then drive home and get home like 1130 at night, you know. But my wife was all right with it because you know she knew it was, it was healthy, it was doing good. But so I felt led to to branch off and start one a little closer to home and just felt the calling to to do it around that area.
Speaker 4:And um had some guys interested and yeah, like you said there were some other freedom groups um, before, but I think just the uh, just loving on people and showing people that you care about them and building those relationships was the big thing. Freedom is an amazing curriculum. It's very scripturally intense, which I love, but it sounds like it's an addiction-type small group. It's really about just getting back to the basics and realizing that you're a child of God and you're free. You know, you don't have to carry that sin around with you, you don't have to carry that guilt and shame and just yeah, you're free.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, I remember walking in the first night, John, when I joined Scott's group, and I remember walking in and thinking what in the world is this? This isn't what I'm used to. And because we went in that first night, I know it was a night where we always have our testimonies and talk about things, and things were shared in that group that night that I was going through, that you were going through at the time and a lot of the other guys I think there was about 17 of us in the room at the time and it just was different, you know. And so, as I've journeyed with Scott, scott left. He says all right, I'm passing the torch to you. And John, as you know, I've come around that You've seen me after I had been doing it for a while, but it was a scary thing to do and we just built our house and then moved into that and we opened it up there.
Speaker 2:But there is something about and if you know me, you know I'm passionate about same passion that Scott shares is men coming together outside of the four walls of the church. We need to come together. The book of Acts talks about that we. The book of Acts is the book in the Bible that shows how the church grew. And so if you want to look at the model of the church and how the church should grow, and it's the same, we know, it's the same in biblical times as it is today.
Speaker 2:They met at the temple courts and they met from house to house and so you know, in the body of Christ you do not see that like like I think you should, here in our area you do, because it's come such a culture to us, right, but I hear so many people. It's like we, we didn't do this back home. We didn't do small groups or men's groups. If we did, it wasn't like this and one guy would have one every once in a while. But it's a culture and that's why I think one of the reasons our church has flourished the way that it has is because our pastors and our leaders push us into doing life outside of these four walls, absolutely.
Speaker 3:Well, the enemy of our soul does not want us in these small groups, because that's where we get to be vulnerable and the light comes out. And one of the things I think I remember, colby, from your story is you went to a small group and it seems like maybe you even were like almost didn't go back, or you know. So some of that you know, I think when you talk about is is going to a small group and giving it, you know, a commitment. Not, you know to go and be committed to it, because the enemy does not want to see you stay in that group. There might be a guy, might say something in there or something that might offend you or something you'd be like oh, I'm not going back to that. So I think you might talk to that a little bit in your experience.
Speaker 2:Yes. So I was in your group, scott at the time, and one of our friends, and of course we don't mention names. He said something that really offended me. I felt like it was almost a shot at me and it could have been, I don't know, Never did find out and I don't care. But we had just learned about offense. We were talking about offense in the freedom curriculum that night and how the enemy, satan, uses offense. So if somebody says something, it offends us and we just say, well, I'm not going back anymore, I'm not going to be a part of that. Look, that guy did this to me or did that to me. We are going to be offended. Jesus Christ says that in the red letters in the Bible you will be offended. It's what you do with that offense that's going to keep you on the right path or change your path entirely. So, john, you're absolutely right. About week five or week six. We had learned about that.
Speaker 2:Somebody said something that night. They sent something out on a little app that we use, groupme, and they didn't name me, but I felt like it was directed toward me. I came home, I told Rachel. I said, if this is how this is, I don't want to be in this, like this isn't for me. I've got friends, I don't need these people. But the Holy Spirit in me said that's offense. So I went back, looked at the Freedom curriculum. I'm like I am offended and I don't want to change what I'm doing. I decided to go back and from that moment my life changed. I mean, I am who I am today because I stuck with it and I stayed in that group. I allowed these men to hold me accountable, to start surrendering things that I never thought that I would surrender in my life, because I didn't take offense to something. Maybe that's a word for somebody who's listening is don't let offense stop you from being in God's will, because it will. There's another book called the Bait of Satan. That's the second curriculum we did.
Speaker 2:That's right, that's right and it talks about offense, and that's all John Bevere talks about on that specific book is how Satan uses that to take us off the path that God has for us.
Speaker 4:Absolutely. I think you know the thing he would really love is to get us distracted or think we don't need, you know, small group Because of what you've seen in your life, what I've seen in my life, you know, and all the multiple people who have gone to small group and it's changed their lives, like the devil doesn't want that, you know, and so he finds every way he can to get you offended, distracted, busy. You know all the things that keeps you from a small group. But I think that's where the healing is. I think that's where men thrive and they don't probably think that they need to be open with their feelings and open and show vulnerability and have accountability.
Speaker 4:I think us as men, we're kind of programmed like oh, I got this, you know I don't need other men need this, because the way we've been raised is hey, you don't talk about feelings, you don't cry, you don't show emotion. And I definitely cry, as everyone knows. Anyone that's ever met me knows that, but I think that's one of the shortest verses in the Bible Jesus wept. You know. There's so many things that I like to try to break down in those groups, you know, emotion being one, but just authenticity, I think, is the most important thing you know.
Speaker 3:One thing that comes to mind I want to ask y'all is right now the freedom small groups are being rolled out across the Emerald Coast, in Okaloosa County, Walton County and really other churches throughout the nation. What would you say is the biggest? Why someone that maybe hasn't gone through this should do it?
Speaker 4:Oh man, I mean, there's so many reasons, but I think the biggest thing is just to get you open to understanding that concept that we have all done things that we're not proud of, or we've all had things done to us that we're not proud of, and it's really just letting those things go and being able to walk in the freedom that God intended for us from the beginning. That's why he sent His Son, you know, so we don't have to carry that, and so that's my heart Freedom. I love freedom because of that, like we've all done things, and it's just getting rid of all that junk, to be honest, and then just walking out and holding your head high because you're a son, you're a daughter of God and you're saved and he's washed you white as snow and just move on, and it's time to start living for God and being proud of who you are and passing that on to others. And you know, going out and making disciples or creating disciples it doesn't say go out and find disciples. You know it says go out and find disciples. You know it says go out and make disciples and and I think it's hard to do that when you're living in shame and guilt.
Speaker 4:And so I think freedom just really opens you up to be able to be used by god, and part of the chapters and it talks about, you know, a vessel of honor, and that's what we get to be, and a lot of times, I know for me personally like I didn't feel very, very honorable.
Speaker 4:You know what I mean, and so freedom helps with that. It helps you get past all that junk to be able to walk and be a vessel of honor and be used. You know, because I've done some things in my life that I'm not proud of and I know God cleans me of that, but I've been able to help others in those areas. Because I'm free, I'm walking that out and I'm sharing my testimony, and by sharing your testimony you allow God to turn those things to good. If you don't share your testimony, you're robbing him of that opportunity, and so that freedom allows you to walk that out and help others who are either going through that same thing or might go through it in the future or went through it in the past, and so I know that was a long answer but I'm very passionate about I know you are.
Speaker 2:I know you are. That was great. I mean, he, he, he laid it out, you know, and and and freedom is is what freedom did for us. It kind of brought us all together. So freedom while it is, it's the most important curriculum we've done since we've been doing this, and there's a big conference at the end. The conference is absolutely incredible, but it's bringing people together. That's the main goal of what we do. Freedom is everything, but if we don't come together, if we came together and we didn't have freedom, like it's coming together of the church, of God's people coming together and talking about God.
Speaker 2:Because here's what happens, john, when I see you at church hey, john, how you doing, you got your wife and kids next to you. Good, call me. I'm good, yeah, everything's good Work, good, yeah, yeah, everything's. And we're running in different directions. We're grabbing the kids, we're doing this, we're doing that. And when I see you on Tuesday nights, I'm like John, what's going on, man, how can I pray for you? What are you going through? And you're like look man, you know, this has been a struggle this week, or this has been a struggle that I'm walking through right now. Can we, you know? Period, end of story. We're not called to catch each other passing. That's not what the Bible teaches, and so if you take that part out of it, you're missing, I would say, the majority of the way God's called us to do life down here on earth. We have to strengthen each other.
Speaker 3:And folks, if you're listening, go to your church and ask to be in a freedom group. Don't worry about the timing, just go do it. Most every church has it. And if they don't find out about starting one, and it's available for men, women, couples, I mean it is available and we can't just urge you enough If you haven't done Freedom, get in a Freedom group.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I would say definitely. Like Colby said, the relationship building is the key. We always focus on that night one. We don't ever go into the curriculum. We also build in things throughout the semester where we go and just have fun, you know, and relationship build and that's the key you know we could talk about. I always say we could talk about chocolate, ice cream and have a great time and just the fellowship you know is what's amazing. But if you focus on the relationship building, then that's really where freedom is unlocked. I would say.
Speaker 2:Yes. So, scott, where are you at now? What have you got going? I don't get to see you much. You've moved away to Tennessee. You're one of the few people that moves out of this area, but God's called you to Tennessee, moves out of this area, but God's called you to Tennessee. And so just tell us a little bit about what you have moving forward.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so real quick. About three years ago my wife felt like she got a word for Franklin, tennessee. We had to Google to see if it's an actual city. It turns out it is. We visited last December and we just felt we prayed very specific things and God answered every specific prayer to move out there. I've kind of been in a I would say, a development stage, like in the red room with the photographs back in the day, and just recently I felt God said to start men's groups back up, and so I'm planning on doing that. God gave me the word arise, and it's just for men to arise to the calling of being the spiritual leader. And so I'm excited about that, excited about what God has in store for us, and can't wait to see, um, see what, what people we have, you know, show up, cause, uh, we don't really have many connections there yet, but I know it's going to be amazing and I know God's going to move and I can't wait to see it.
Speaker 2:I love that because God's used you down here. Not only has he used you, but he's put you um and and helped you build up your. You know we all need to be built up in Christ, we all need to come from where we were having all you know walk through that freedom, to where we had some issues, things we were dealing with. But now we know who we are called in Christ Jesus, and then you are going and taking that out to the world and you're taking that out to a group of people in.
Speaker 2:Tennessee, and I know, I know it's going to be fruitful, because I know who you are and I know your passion to see men grow in Christ. You know, scott. Last thing, before we're kind of wrapping up, is I just want to say you know, the fruit of, of your obedience here in the panhandle of Florida is incredible. I mean it, florida is incredible. I mean it really is amazing, you know. So, for those that don't know, we've been running this. When Scott left, we continued this men's group and we do it today. So we're going on about seven and a half years at this point that we meet every single Tuesday and we just do exactly what we've always done and that's come together.
Speaker 2:But I've seen not only my life changed. I've seen men, um just who didn't know Christ, come to Christ and just be radically saved and changed and live for for God. But I've also seen ones that, uh, have walked with God for a long time and they came in and they're like what is this? You know this is incredible. And and so they start to walk and they're strengthened in came in and they're like what is this? You know this is incredible. And so they start to walk and they're strengthened in Christ and then they're strengthened in everybody around them. So I just want to tell you you've left a mark, and you left a mark because you were obedient to the calling that God had for you right there.
Speaker 2:I want to also give a shout out to Pastor Jeremy you know, and what he's done and starting that group over in Fort Walton, because it's amazing and this all came from our leaders in the church and and pastor Steve and pastor Steven and their vision, and so just um, so grateful to be surrounded by leaders like that. I'm grateful for you, scott Um, because you, you know, you, the Bible tells us you, you'll'll, you'll know a man by his fruit dude. The fruit is there, brother, and and I'm I'm just grateful for you. I love that you came in to see us. Do you have any last last words before we?
Speaker 4:yeah, man, I mean, I'm grateful for you, um, and all you've done and continued. You know, like um, pastor jeremy actually always said, um, um, find a replacement for yourself and then when you do that, god will promote you. And that's exactly what happened, and I knew that all the guys were in good hands here with you. And man, god be the glory. Like what an honor it is to be used by God. Like I always think this, like I feel like God gave me a revelation.
Speaker 4:It's like you can't say that about. Like hey, colby used me. No, that this like I feel like god gave me a revelation. It's like you can't say that about. Like hey, colby used me. Now, that sounds kind of weird. Or my wife used me kind of sounds weird. Or my brother used me. But when you say, man, god used me, like what an honor, um, and it's been an honor to to be used by god, and I can't wait to see what else he has in store for you and I and and this area and the nation, and I'm excited for what's to come. I just feel like there's fire coming.
Speaker 3:Scott, before we go, I just wanted to ask would you be willing to pray for us? Absolutely, anybody that might be listening. Maybe they feel lost or without purpose or not part of a group if you would just pray.
Speaker 4:Absolutely, lord. We thank you for today. God, we thank you for all you've done for us and will continue to do for us. God, we give you this day, we surrender to you, lord, for your will to be done. And, god, I hear the people that might be lost right now. I pray that they're hearing this Lord. Jesus said that you go and leave the 99 to find that one, lord. So if they're that one out there, god, I find I pray that you find them right now. Give, give them an, a, a feeling, an overwhelming sense right now, god, that you're with them. And God, only you can do whatever you you want to do, lord, and I just pray that you move on these people that feel like they're lost right now. I know that feeling. I've been there, god, and I know that you yearn for those to come to you. I pray that they seek your face, God, in the good times and the bad times, that they come to know you like we've known you, lord, like we know you. We ask these things in Jesus' mighty name, amen.
Speaker 1:Amen. You've been listening to Road to Redemption, sharing powerful life testimonies, giving hope to those on their own road to redemption. If you have any comments or questions, we would love to connect with you. You can reach out to us at destinyradiolive. Thank you for listening and we'll see you next week on Road to Redemption.