Finding Meaning at Christmas: The Story of Chris Joslin

Chris Joslin has spent his life at the intersection of music, faith, and community. Growing up as a preacher’s kid, Chris discovered early on that bluegrass music wasn’t just a passion — it was part of his calling.

After nine years as Executive Director of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky, Chris played a pivotal role in shaping ROMP into the nationally recognized experience it is today. Now, he’s stepped into a new chapter with Mission Lazarus, where he oversees development and fundraising while continuing to live out his faith in bold, tangible ways.

In this episode, we talk about Owensboro roots, leadership lessons, faith in action, fatherhood, legacy, and what it means to follow a calling — even when it leads somewhere unexpected.

Learn more & connect:

• 🌍 Mission Lazarus: https://www.missionlazarus.org
  
  
• 📘 Chris Joslin on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/chris.joslin.351
• 🙏 The Prayer Stand Ministry: https://www.prayerstand.com
• The Prayer Stand on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prayerstand

Check out All Things Owensboro's Facebook!

It's been a great episode and I hope you share this with all your Owensboro friends! Thanks for the support and again, if you have questions or guests ideas, send a text!

Transcript

[00:00:00] Introduction and Welcome

[00:00:00] What's up everyone? Welcome to All Things Owensboro podcast, where an ordinary town makes extraordinary stories. I'm your host, Brad Winter, a professional of absolutely nothing but an enthusiast of good conversation, great stories and community ministry. 

[00:00:20] Celebrating Christmas at First Baptist Church

[00:00:20] At First Baptist Church Owensborough this Christmas season.

[00:00:24] We pause to celebrate the greatest gift ever given Jesus Christ. As Isaiah nine six reminds us for unto us, a child is born unto us. A son is given. His name shall be called Wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of Peace. Today's conversation flows from that truth that everything we do create and steward comes from him.

[00:00:50] Introducing Chris Joslin

[00:00:50] I'm honored to be joined by Chris Joslin, bluegrass musician, servant leader, and a man of deep faith who has spent his life investing in people, music and [00:01:00] ministry. Chris is stepping into a new season of a mission Lazarus and continues his work with the Prayer Stand Ministry, living out a simple Yes to where God leads.

[00:01:10] This is a conversation about Jesus calling obedience and community, and I'm grateful you're here with us. Merry Christmas Blue Bridge Crew. Let's get into it.

[00:01:25] Hey guys. Welcome back to All Things Owensborough. Hey, blue Bridge Crew. I just wanna say Merry Christmas. All right. Uh, we're so glad that you are joining us all throughout the year. We're, that's what we're most thankful for this year. Uh, you've been the best president that we could have asked for. I know it sounds cheesy.

[00:01:39] Uh, thank you for listening and, and we love to see what's gonna hold, uh, coming to New Year for this podcast and what we can do in the future. 

[00:01:45] Chris Joslin's Musical Journey

[00:01:45] But today, I have a really special guest going with me. I know I say that every week, but, uh, I've known Chris now for a few years and, uh, he's an awesome individual.

[00:01:53] Um, and, and he's done a lot of things for the community and the community. And, uh, he's gonna also do a, a surprise here at the end [00:02:00] of the episode, which I think you're gonna love. But Chris, you know, thanks for coming onto to the show. Brad, thanks. Yeah, I, I love the podcast and I love what you do and, um, and, um, and you're a good friend, so Yeah.

[00:02:11] Thanks for having me. This will be fun. Yeah, yeah, no problem. I, I'm excited, looking forward to this. And so, you know, a lot of people, uh, don't know this and that's okay. That's why we have people on tell their stories. 

[00:02:21] Growing Up in a Musical Family

[00:02:21] Uh, but you grew up as a preacher's kid in Tennessee, correct? I sure did, yeah. In the Nashville area.

[00:02:25] Okay. Yep. And so, so how did that experience shape your worldview, your faith, and eventually your connection to music? You know, it's interesting. My, my father was actually, uh, a worship pastor before he Oh, okay. He was surrendered to, to full-time ministry. And so growing up, everywhere we went, he was, uh, you know, kind of old school leading a choir and working up cantatas and Okay.

[00:02:47] Leading hymns at church. Mm-hmm. And just loved music and, um, and so. Uh, I think I naturally had a love for, for music and worship music really because of him. And, uh, but then he was, [00:03:00] uh, so he was a career Air Force guy. Okay. It was his day job. And so he got, um, our family got transferred to Middle Tennessee, to the Nashville area when I was maybe 10 or 11.

[00:03:09] And, um. And I have an older brother. My father said, well, well boys, everybody plays music in Nashville. You're gonna have to get your guitar or something. I went in one ear and out the other for me, but my brother, he got a guitar and started playing, so I wanted to, to follow in his footsteps, so mm-hmm. I ended up, it was kind of random, but somehow a banjo ended up in my hands and we just went down this whole hillbilly music road.

[00:03:33] Mm-hmm. And so, uh, and my father jumped in and started learning to play guitar as well, and bass and harmonica, so, mm-hmm. We grew up playing in church, so that, that certainly shaped things, but, but I think watching my, um. My father just live out, you know, his Christian walk. And I remember asking him one time, you know, after he'd been pastoring for some time, you know, as I was in, I was in graduate school and business school, we were talking about [00:04:00] key performance indicators and how do you measure success and mm-hmm.

[00:04:02] So, you know, cocky, you know, 25-year-old asked my father, you know, well, how do you measure success? You know, and, and pastoring a church. And he said something I'll never forget. He said, I measure it in faithfulness. Oh, wow. And so I've always appreciated that. And my father just retired a couple months ago at the age of 85 from Wow, pastoring.

[00:04:24] That's cool. So, um, he's just been an inspiration. He and my mom. Mm-hmm. Both. Mm-hmm. Not that, it's, not that my Christian walk has been a straight line 'cause it hasn't. Mm-hmm. But, um. But they certainly poured into me and my brother and I never forgot that and I came back to that eventually. Yeah. Thank God.

[00:04:44] And it's, it's really cool. Like, I think one of the cool things I heard out of what you were saying is that, uh, your dad jumped in and was learning guitar and harmonica. Like, it just shows you like, it doesn't matter what age you're at, if you wanna learn something, just put time and effort into it. Yeah.

[00:04:56] Make it work. And so that's really cool too. And then, yeah, your brother, [00:05:00] you're like, is he the one that kind of taught you the guitar or? He did. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's interesting too, looking back and I, and I'm sure there, there was, uh, it was intentional on my father's part, but mm-hmm. At a time when, you know, you become a teenager and you're trying to pull back from your parents mm-hmm.

[00:05:14] That's when I really got interested in music. And so the people I played music with were primarily my brother and my father. So at a time when most teenagers, young teenagers pull 'em back, I was kind of surgeon and spending a lot of time with my dad. Oh wow. And um. And that was, that was pretty, that was pretty special.

[00:05:33] Yeah. As a parent myself, like, I think that'd be cool. Like your teenage years, you know, like you said, kind of known for pulling away Yeah. You discovering yourself. But the fact that you and him grew stronger during that time is really cool. Yeah. So, and you're a musician, Brad. You, and, and if any, any musicians out there know that, that, uh, that when you're learning, and I saw this in my work with the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum.

[00:05:54] If you're learning to play music, you have to have people to play music with. Mm-hmm. And when it's your family, [00:06:00] it's great because it happens all the time and it happens spontaneously. It's almost constant and there's not, um. There's not any inhibitions because you know, your father, your brother, or your mother, whoever.

[00:06:13] Mm-hmm. They're not judging you on your skills and that kind of thing because mm-hmm. We were all just learning together. So I think that was just such a great environment to learn to play music. Mm-hmm. And to, and to, um, to draw our family closer. Yeah. And, um, so I just treasure, treasure that. Yeah. And it, it definitely impacted mm-hmm.

[00:06:31] Me, uh, my whole life and still today. Yeah. And not to chase rabbits, but I love the idea you said, like, you know, playing together. Mm-hmm. It's just like, just like the sport, like you improve by who you surround yourself with. Yeah. And if you surround yourself with better people in that, in that area mm-hmm.

[00:06:45] Like you're. Naturally progress because of that. Yeah. It's pretty cool. And some people struggle to find their community to enjoy playing music and learning to play, but mm-hmm. So, so if you have a family that does it, that's just, that's, that's, yeah. That's, that's pretty cool. A great environment. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:06:58] Yeah. We see a lot of that. Well, you [00:07:00] know, we talked a lot about music and mm-hmm. So was there a specific moment, uh, union music wasn't just something you enjoy, but it was definitely something that you could make a career? You can, you can follow and make a calling out of it.

[00:07:13] Mission Leisures is a faith-based ministry walking alongside communities in Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, and Appalachia. Their work focuses on long-term transformation through medical care, education, clean water, and the hope of the gospel. To learn more or get involved, visit mission lazarus.org. Um. 

[00:07:38] Career in Bluegrass Music

[00:07:38] You know, right after college, I, I connected with some young guys and, and we started, um, um, a band, kind of a progressive bluegrass band.

[00:07:47] Okay. You know, we were writing songs and made a few records. And the, the good thing about being in Nashville is that, um, you are around some of the best musicians on the planet. So if, you know, I was [00:08:00] inspired by playing in this band with these other guys my age, and they were really good. So that inspired me to work harder.

[00:08:05] But then that put me in a position too, to hang out with other musicians who were touring musicians and studio musicians. So, mm-hmm. I realized just how high the bar is. Mm-hmm. Um, then, but um, at the same time, um, uh, I realized too, it always. Had a sense of this, but never thought about it, that that music came pretty naturally to me.

[00:08:27] Mm-hmm. And so, um, but we've all seen this, whether it's music or athletics mm-hmm. You know, people might have some natural ability, but if you're not, uh, if you're not working hard to develop that mm-hmm. And if you're not hanging out with people that are like-minded, you know, then mm-hmm. Maybe it's potential, it's not realized.

[00:08:45] And so I was fortunate in my twenties, I, I kind of had all that. Mm-hmm. I was hanging out with great musicians. I was getting, the more musicians I was hanging out with, the more opportunities I had. Mm-hmm. And playing with pro level players. And so, um, Nashville [00:09:00] is a great, is a great place to have a day job and still, um, get pulled into legit projects.

[00:09:07] Mm-hmm. You know, which was a lot of fun. Yeah. That's really neat. And I know, like Nashville's definitely blown up over the last mm-hmm. 10 years. Mm-hmm. But, uh, when I was in college back in the mid two thousands, I remember we go there, me and my friends would go there for like a day trip. A fun little town.

[00:09:20] I mean, I say town, little Town. It was big still. Yeah. Um, but the fact that there's local musicians all over the place Yeah. Playing music. Mm-hmm. I mean, there's, you're not short on that. Yeah. We lived in New Orleans for a little bit and, uh, there's no shortness on, on musicians there either, so it's pretty cool.

[00:09:34] Yeah. Um, I, I love music. That whole scene in New Orleans is another podcast. You Oh yeah. It's so great. The music scene. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. That's so cool. Yeah. Um, and I have a lot of stories there, but mm-hmm. Love You said another podcast. Mm-hmm. 

[00:09:46] Leading the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame

[00:09:46] You know, you, you led the Bluegrass Music, uh, music Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro for nine years.

[00:09:52] Mm-hmm. So, uh, what's the experience or project you were most proudest of, uh, while working there for nine years? Yeah. Um, [00:10:00] yeah. That was, uh, you know, even, even taking that job to lead the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum was, was, was really a God thing. 'cause it was kind of a left turn in my, in my career.

[00:10:11] Okay. I felt kinda like, um. Billbo Baggins, you know, I was pretty happy in the Shire down there in Franklin, Tennessee, and Yep. Assumed I would never leave. But, um, you know, if you're a bluegrass musician, if that's your thing, if you're really into it, this, you know, leading the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum, that's, that's the destination, you know, that's the best job really in the, in the industry in my opinion.

[00:10:35] And so, um, so, um, thankfully I have a supportive wife and, and we came up here and it's been a great adventure, you know? Mm-hmm. And, and in some ways it came very naturally to me because, again, I've spent a lifetime in bluegrass as an amateur, but I, I know the history, I know the players past, present those who are emerging, so.

[00:10:58] Mm-hmm. Um, [00:11:00] so it was, it was just a real natural for me in that, um, natural, almost like playing music, because. It seemed like it came natural for me in that environment at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum, just to think entrepreneurially. But when I had an idea, it seemed like I had so much knowledge of the landscape that a pathway to realize that idea emerged pretty quickly.

[00:11:22] Okay. Um, 'cause it's one thing to have a good idea, but then it's like, well, how do I, how am I gonna get that done? Yeah. You know? Mm-hmm. A couple of good examples. Um, I'd only been here a few years when, um. When, um, when I connected with some folks in Nashville who, um, who, um, public television, um, contracts with to do pledge specials.

[00:11:46] We've all seen these pledge specials. It's usually music. Mm-hmm. And then they'll come on and make a, a public radio pitch. Mm-hmm. And, um, and public radio had done one of these, uh, around bluegrass at the Raman Auditorium in the early two thousands. Oh wow. And, [00:12:00] uh, apparently they wanted to do another one.

[00:12:01] And so the production company's based in Nashville. Okay. And someone told 'em. Hey, you could do it at the Ryman, but did you know there's a place called the Bluegrass Music Capital of the world, just two hours north of Nashville called the, in the, there was a Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and museum. And so, um, there were a lot of reasons why that wouldn't come together.

[00:12:20] We're not a huge venue. Mm-hmm. Um, it's really expensive. We don't have a lot of built in production capability at the Hall of Fame. But, um, but I was able to pull together some partners and, you know, we filmed, we, you know, that that television special right here with a cavalcade, so to speak, of Okay. Of bluegrass stars.

[00:12:41] And so that was one of my. My objectives with the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum is to ensure that it, that it serves Owensboro well and represents Owensboro well. Mm-hmm. But, but, but really to be utter in the same breath as the country Music Hall of Fame. Oh yeah. Or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[00:12:58] Mm-hmm. Um, and for [00:13:00] this to be a destination and for it to be world class, so it's worth the trip. Yeah. Um, here. So getting things like, um, you know, national television mm-hmm. Special. Like that was a big deal. Um. Also, and good things kind of breed good things, you know? Yep. We had an opportunity to, um, uh, to take on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, which is magazine's been around since 1966, specifically serving the bluegrass genre.

[00:13:28] And, uh, it's founder passed away a few years ago and. Um, and, um, and we had an opportunity to, to take on that, um, that publication. Mm-hmm. Thankfully through my relationship with Jason Tanner at Tanner West again. Mm-hmm. All right. We're not a publishing, you know, this isn't what we do. Mm-hmm. Is there someone I can partner with?

[00:13:48] Mm-hmm. And so I already had that relationship, which made it very easy and quick mm-hmm. To be able to take on that magazine, not only take it on, it's distributed in all 50 states in about 17 [00:14:00] countries. Oh wow. But to also elevate that publication. Yeah. And on every cover it says a publication of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum, Owen Owensboro, Kentucky.

[00:14:10] Okay. So I felt that was another thing outside the city limits and the county line of Owensboro. Mm-hmm. And then, um, again, good things breed, good things. The. The, um, US Postal Service reached out a few years ago and said, Hey, we wanna do a bluegrass stamp. Oh, cool. And we generally have an event around the launch of these stamps.

[00:14:29] Mm-hmm. And we feel like this event needs to happen at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum. 'cause it sounds like you guys are the bluegrass music capital of the world. Mm-hmm. You know, we claimed it. Mm-hmm. But then you, you have to put teeth to that claim. Oh yeah. And live it out. Mm-hmm. And I think the postal service recognized that this is where you go if you're doing a bluegrass stamp.

[00:14:47] So we had a big event. Ricky Skaggs at a concert was part of the media around that. Mm-hmm. So those are just a few things I think I'm really proud of. Mm-hmm. Um, because, you know, my, my goal is to [00:15:00] put Owensboro in the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum on the map and the consciousness of people across the country and really around the world who love bluegrass music.

[00:15:09] That to, to. To, to just put a stake in the ground that there is a place, there's a physical place that you go to if you love this form of American music. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, that's really cool. Mm-hmm. And so, and I've been here for five years and I've been in there for concerts. I've been in there for tours.

[00:15:25] Mm-hmm. Uh, and it's, it's a really neat place. Yeah. And it's really cool. What, yeah. What it's come about. I know they used to be across the street. Mm-hmm. Uh, the, what is now the science museum. Mm-hmm. Uh, so to see. Uh, where it is at today. Yeah. And I think, okay. I've been in the science exam, it was in there.

[00:15:39] Mm-hmm. Uh, it's pretty cool to see the evolution of it and Yeah. It's phenomen you say, bringing in big names, you got romp and, and all kinds of things. We'll hit that up in just a minute, but Yeah. Yeah. Uh, you know, well let, let's set up now. 

[00:15:50] The Impact of Romp Festival

[00:15:50] So we, we talk about romp. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, that if you're from Owensville, you know that's gonna happen.

[00:15:55] Mm-hmm. Uh, it's kind of on your, I need to do this, this summer, kind of thing. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So [00:16:00] it's not just to become a festival, it's become an experience. Mm-hmm. Um, and so from your perspective, what makes Romp what it is today? Like what, what, what, when you think of Romp mm-hmm. What, what makes it, yeah. So Romp is a four day outdoor, you know, a music festival and mm-hmm.

[00:16:14] Yeah. We typically, um, when I say we, of course, I'm not at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum, but the, the Hall of Fame typically attracts people from over 40 states mm-hmm. And half dozen countries to romp. And, um, I think it's unique from a, from a music festival because. We're in a, we're in a really interesting era where, where music festivals, especially large ones, are beginning to consolidate and become a bit corporate with companies like Live Nation and others taking those over.

[00:16:43] Mm-hmm. And I can see that from a, from a, from a, um. From a, a, a business, um, approach because, you know, if, if, if you become a company that, that has 50 large festivals around the country, certain, then suddenly you have access to, to [00:17:00] national marketing dollars from Pepsi and Ford. And, and then you can begin to um, you can begin to, uh, to um, not just hire an artist for one festival, but then you can, can, um, create an agreement with them where they're gonna be playing 20 festivals and so you have buying power.

[00:17:20] Mm-hmm. Um, and, but the experience elevates too. But, but I do feel like for some people, you know, it might lose, um, the high touch, um, components of it. Mm-hmm. It feels a little corporate is really expensive. Mm-hmm. Um, and ROM has been able to avoid that. Continue to grow. Mm-hmm. But, but it's all basically produced by the staff of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum.

[00:17:45] So it's a beast. It's a huge event. Mm-hmm. And it's something that the Hall of Fame works on year round, but I think the fact that you get the, the artist and you get the experience that you would at a large festival, but it still has a high touch. Oh, yeah. 'cause [00:18:00] it's, you know, it's, it's, it's somewhat homegrown and honestly, I think it's because Owensboro is a really good host, you know?

[00:18:05] Mm-hmm. Owensboro is accessible. Yep. You know, it's friendly. Um, it's not gonna break the bank to come here. Um, and to bring your family, there's plenty of camping. So you have the opportunity to camp or mm-hmm. Stay downtown and we've got such a great downtown, so. Mm-hmm. I think it's just such a perfect mix, but to me, the secret sauce too, that's, that, that, that is, is, uh, ladle over all of that is the fact that romp is tied to an institution, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and museum.

[00:18:34] So it goes much deeper than just a music experience. It's like that's an outgrowth of all the work Yeah. At the Hall of Fame. And I think people mm-hmm people sense that, that there's something special about Yeah. About the festival because there's something special about this place, Owensborough in the Hall of Fame.

[00:18:49] Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I know people. Wait year round to go back to it and Yeah. Uh, and we went out there, I went out there two years ago. Mm-hmm. Um, or was it three maybe when Dirk Dirk's Penley came in Yeah. [00:19:00] A couple years ago, and it was, that was my first time and it was pretty cool. Yeah. It was a really cool experience.

[00:19:03] Yeah. So you get the RVs and you got the, the little shops and villages. Yeah. And you have the Yeah. The food trucks and the kids having area to learn instruments and I mean, Dirks is a good example of that. I mean mm-hmm. One of my jobs leading the Hall of Fame and Romp was talent buying for, you know, the theater and for romp and mm-hmm.

[00:19:20] Um, you know, one, once you get to that upper echelon, like mainstream artists, like a Dirks Bentley mm-hmm. It gets more complicated because again, you know, he's affiliated with Live Nation too, and he's got a big team around him, and so it's not so easy to, to get to, to Dirks and, you know, he's way past playing festivals like ours.

[00:19:39] Oh yeah. Mm-hmm. But, um, but you know. At his core. He, he loves bluegrass. When he first moved to Nashville, before he had a record deal, before he was a big deal, he was hanging out at a place called the Station in, in Nashville that just plays only bluegrass. So, oh, okay. He made his whole community, were, were the bluegrass musicians.

[00:19:57] And so now that he's, his [00:20:00] career has taken off and sustained for 20 years, he's remained friends with collaborators with those bluegrass musicians. So he's drawn to Bluegrass. And when he was in town, um, several years ago, he popped into the Hall of Fame. Okay. So it shows you that he was, you know, he was here for something else, but he popped in and, um, and so thankfully I was able to, um, to talk with his manager and, um, and the stars just sort of lined up for him to, to play the festival.

[00:20:29] But again, that's one of those, there, there's sort of, um. An X factor, I think with romp in the Hall of Fame that, yeah, even artists, I mean it's, they're running a business so they're not, you know, they're not gonna do any huge favors, but at the same time. They feel like, Hey, this, this is important, this is different.

[00:20:46] Mm-hmm. And, and I wanna be a part of it if I can, if I can. Yeah. Given all my other commitments, you know, and Dirks fell into that category and was mm-hmm. You know, it was great to work with. Yeah. No, that's been really cool. And I know you had the traditional bluegrass to come out. Mm-hmm. And like [00:21:00] even last year.

[00:21:01] Yeah. Winona Judd. And that was a big deal of her being in town. And so that's really cool. So Yeah. You know, we, we, we named some big musicians and bluegrass brothers more. Mm-hmm. Like I only listen to a bunch of brothers. Oh yeah. Uh, there's some others out there. Yeah. Um, but, you know, do you have any personal favorite rot moments?

[00:21:16] Like. Is there a memory of meeting a blue guys artist that really stuck with you? Is there like a moment that happened where, like, looking back, like in the moment it wasn't fun, but looking back I'm glad it happened. Yeah, yeah. What are some of those? Well, um, it's, it's always great just from, from in general.

[00:21:32] It's, it's great to look out from the stage and see this town really rallying around an event, having a shared experience. Mm-hmm. You know, 'cause I have a lot of pride in this town too. Yeah. So I think, I think romp is just one of many things here in Owensboro that, that those of us who do life here every day can be proud of that, Hey, this is unique.

[00:21:53] Mm-hmm. And people, people travel here for this 'cause they wanna be a part of it. Um, so I love [00:22:00] that on a Saturday night, you know, when there are 10,000 people out there, the festival field, oh, you got feedback and mm-hmm. It's awesome. Um, I think it was maybe my second or third year and this, this is just, this is totally self-serving moment, but mm-hmm.

[00:22:15] Um. But I guess it was my second or third year, um, old Crow Medicine show was high, was headlining Oh, okay. Romp. And, um, and I had a little bit of a relationship with Catch C Core, the, the defacto leader of, of Old Crow. And, um, and I, I've got a friend out in, um, in Oklahoma, Muskogee, he passed away in 2020, but he used to live in Nashville and we used to play a lot of music together.

[00:22:47] But he moved back to, to, to Oklahoma and was, was leading the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Okay. So, um, and they started a festival and they had old [00:23:00] Crow and their festivals, maybe a month and a half before Romp. Mm-hmm. And he posted on. On Facebook of him on stage with Old Crow Medicine Show right next to Catch CCO playing his banjo.

[00:23:14] Oh wow. His name's Jim Blair. And I was like, oh my goodness. So I took a screenshot of that and I emailed it to Catch CCO and I said, Hey, my buddy Jim Blair is never gonna let me let it down. Mm-hmm. If I don't hop up there and play a song with you guys at Romp mm-hmm. Man, wouldn't you know it, he wrote back and said, let's see what you got.

[00:23:34] Joslyn. Oh, wow. And so that year, that's pretty cool. You know, about halfway through the set, Uhhuh, I felt like a rock star. Mm-hmm. But halfway through the set, you know, he, he brought me out and Okay. And we played, uh, city of New Orleans. I got to play banjo with Old Crow Medicine Show. Hey, there you go.

[00:23:49] That's pretty cool. Yeah. Wagon wheel, you know, it's, yeah. It was awesome. Mm-hmm. So he was super gracious for doing that, so That's really cool. Yeah. Yeah. And that was all within like a month and a half notice? Or was that Yeah, it [00:24:00] was short notice. Oh, wow. Yeah, it was short notice. Yeah. Um, but um, you know, and in some ways too, like I said, I think it was my.

[00:24:07] Second romp, but my first ro I didn't really know what was going on. I was just kind of mm-hmm. Like trying to soak it all in. Yeah. So it was pr probably my second full romp. But, you know, in some ways too, I think it, it, it probably helped with, I wasn't doing it totally for look at me moment. Yeah. But I think it did help with, with some credibility that Yeah.

[00:24:25] That Hey, the guy running the Hall of Fame actually plays too. He knows who he's talking about. Yeah. Plays to the point that Old Crow says, yeah, man, jump in on this one. Yeah. Um, yeah. So that, that was a fun, yeah, that was a fun moment. That's really cool. And I know you got the chair the stage with quite a few people over the years too, so that's really neat.

[00:24:40] Yeah. Yeah. And so, you know, we talked about Owensboro, we talked about how they really support Romp. They're, they're proud of it. Mm-hmm. You know, Owens Pearl's a very proud town. Mm-hmm. And so for you, like coming from being an outsider coming in mm-hmm. 

[00:24:52] Owensboro Community and Connections

[00:24:52] Just like me, uh, for, but what, but for you, like what makes Owensboro Owensboro for you?

[00:24:56] Yeah. Well, one of the things I love from [00:25:00] Owensboro, and of course I came from Nashville, where, um, Nashville's changed even so much since we left 10 years ago. Mm-hmm. You know, and everybody's from somewhere else in Nashville. Mm-hmm. That's the thing. In fact, that's the, that's the chief icebreaker. So where are you from mm-hmm.

[00:25:14] When you're in Nashville. Mm-hmm. Because everybody's from somewhere else. But I love Owensboro. Um, it's changing in that not everybody's from here 'cause people are moving here, you know? Mm-hmm. Um, but one of the things I really love about Owensboro is how everything is so connected. Mm-hmm. You know, it's like, um, you know, I love that.

[00:25:35] Um, I love that, um, you know, that I have the mayor and the judge executives. Cell phone number in my, in my phone, you know, and I can reach out to 'em anytime, even though I'm, you know, even now that I'm not with the Hall of Fame. Mm-hmm. I love the fact that my Sunday school teacher is also over the Economic Development corporation here locally.

[00:25:56] Oh yeah. You know, it's like, it's like things are just so [00:26:00] integrated. Mm-hmm. You know, in so many different ways. Friendships and how things are connected and relationships and, um, and different institutions. And I think, um, I don't know that that's something you just don't get in other towns. I haven't lived in other, a lot of other smaller towns, but, um, but you don't see that in other, other, other larger cities that I've lived in.

[00:26:22] And it could be that I came here leading the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum, which was at the time was a little high profile just from the sense of, you know. It was being constructed Right. You know, in prime real estate right downtown and mm-hmm. You know, the city, you know, decided to, to sort of rally around this claim as the bluegrass music capital of the world.

[00:26:42] So that put me in touch with a lot of people very quickly. Mm-hmm. Um, but, um. I don't know. It was just a really easy transition. Mm-hmm. I don't know why I thought I would never leave Middle Tennessee. Um, because it's just been a, a good transition up here and it's all about the [00:27:00]relationships. Yeah. Yeah. No, I would agree, for sure.

[00:27:02] Mm-hmm. Um, and so, you know, you talk about. Relationships talked about your time at the Hall of Fame with Rom, uh, what leadership lessons did you learn through your time at the Hall of Fame, uh, in Rom that still shaped you today? I mean, I know you're not too far removed from Hall of Fame Rom, but yeah.

[00:27:16] What are some lessons that that Rom and Hall of Fame really taught you? Yeah, well, I think, I think it, it taught me, and thankfully it, it, it played into something that's probably pretty natural in terms of my temperament, my personality bent, and just how I view life as this, just how important relationships are.

[00:27:32] Mm-hmm. And I'm not talking strategic relationships, but just how important it is to invest, um, in an authentic manner with people, you know? Oh, yeah. I'm naturally interested in people's story just like you are. I mean, obviously you've got a podcast, but I've seen you operate just in general. Mm-hmm. I'm naturally interested in what makes people tick.

[00:27:54] In fact, that makes. A business relationship richer for me if I know, hey, what's your [00:28:00] background? Mm-hmm. So where are your kids? Do you have grandkids? Where'd you go to college? Where'd you grow up? I don't know. For whatever reason, I, I like to know those mm-hmm. Things because I just feel more connected with people and, and I'm convinced that, um.

[00:28:15] That, that helped me, um, at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum because, um, I was naturally investing well in, in relationships. Mm-hmm. Just, just because I like people and I want to know their story. Yeah. And so, um, so even those who aren't very interested in bluegrass or romp or, or maybe even on the surface initially didn't feel like, you know, bluegrass music could be much of an economic driver here.

[00:28:41] I think they were willing to listen and give it a shot just because they felt like, um, um, you know, they, they felt like they had a connection to me and they could trust me if I was telling them, if I was telling them something. Mm-hmm. You know, they were willing to at least listen and give it a shot.

[00:28:57] Yeah. And I, and I think relationships are [00:29:00] key, you know, and I mm-hmm. I even had other guests on where, you know, collaboration is leads to success, big, bigger success. Mm-hmm. Uh, people who are. Have a, a group thread with like, people in their, their business mm-hmm. Like few trucks or bakeries or mm-hmm. You know, and how they, they work together as a team, despite their being different businesses.

[00:29:18] And so yeah. Relationships are huge, I think. And, and I think people wanna be heard, um, and wanna be known and, um, well, you hit the nail in the head. Yeah. So like, wanting to know relationships, or relationships is where you get that from. Yeah. I think that's where, yeah. Relationships are important for sure.

[00:29:31] People wanna be pursued if they feel like you're authentic and Oh yeah. Trustworthy. Mm-hmm. You know, for, um, for sure. And yeah, I, I, I think you are, I think you're just so Right. You know, and as, as a Christ followers a Christian too. I mean, there's, you know, investing well in people is just, is just. Is just obedience too, you know?

[00:29:53] Mm-hmm. So it, it doesn't have to be strategic. I mean, it's, oh yeah. It's, it's not something that always quote [00:30:00] pays off from a business perspective if you're a Christian, because it's gonna pay off, you know, hopefully with the eternal consequences in terms of just being obedient and hopefully, you know, you've, you're, um, you're someone that, um, that people feel is trustworthy, not only with matters of business or their projects, but maybe even matters of life and eternity.

[00:30:23] Mm-hmm. You know? Yeah. And so, you know, there's, there's, um, there are a lot of reasons to invest well in, in people around you as a cross follower. Well, and, and again, not to go off into rap trail. Jesus met people where they were. Mm-hmm. Um, and so obviously as if you're a believer, you're listening to this, like, you know, that's it, it wasn't this rocket science.

[00:30:42] Mm-hmm. It wasn't a huge momentum where they were and was like, okay, like yeah, I'm gonna befriend you, I'm gonna get to know you mm-hmm. On a personal level. Yeah. Um, and so anyway, so it's just, it is just neat stuff. Yeah. Um, absolutely. You know, it's really cool 'cause it's the next question. I feel like everything we're talking about just leads to the next mm-hmm.

[00:30:57] Which is great. Yeah. You know, you're, you're not shy about your faith. Mm-hmm. You [00:31:00] do the for stand during Friday after five. Mm-hmm. Uh, you started doing Christian concerts on Friday nights for Friday after five. Yeah. At Blue, the Grass Museum on the lawn, which is really cool. Mm-hmm. Um, and so you're never shy about your faith, but where does this bonus come from and how has it carried you through different seasons of life?

[00:31:14] Faith and Evangelism

[00:31:14] I don't know that I've always been this bold, um, in, in my faith. Um, I think I was just, um, I think I was, um, I think I was, um. You know, trying to live my out my Christian faith best I could, but probably wasn't too bold, you know, it was kind of like, well, you know, we're in America. Everybody has access to this stuff, you know, so, you know, if people's life gets hard, get hard enough, then by process of elimination they'll end up with Christianity, you know, in the gospel.

[00:31:45] That's kind of how I felt for a long time. That's horrible. You know, that's not a good place to be, but it really, the journey kind of started and it has something to do with the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum, but I had a good friend that I met through the Hall of Fame, a fairly prominent [00:32:00] musician up in the northeast, in the Connecticut area, and, um, we got to be pretty good buddies.

[00:32:04] And, um, about six years ago he got a brain tumor and um, and he ended up, he ended up passing away from that. And I had never really cracked open. Manners of faith with him. 'cause whenever I saw him, we just had so much fun, you know, playing music and mm-hmm. Um, so we just focused on that. But, um, it wasn't until he was too sick to even come to the phone to talk when I was talking with his wife, that, um, that I discovered that he's an atheist.

[00:32:34] And, um, but then he passed away three days later, so I didn't have a chance to, to, to try to talk with him at, at all. Mm-hmm. And, um, and so damn Brad, that, that, that just hit me really hard, you know, not only that I lost a friend, but I believe in the truth of the Bible and that he perished in his sins. I'm like, man, I wasn't a very good [00:33:00] friend.

[00:33:01] But, but then I started struggling with, well, could I have, I mean, could I have, I mean, just think about it as a Christian, if, if somebody says, Hey, I'm dying. Gimme your best shot. What do you got about? Tell me about this Christianity thing. I was like, I don't know. Could I even really unpack it? Well? Mm-hmm.

[00:33:19] I know it's not a sales thing, but I mean, could I com unpack it well and answer tough questions? So that started me on a road of, well, okay, just like anything else in my life, like playing music, how do I learn to play a new instrument? Well, I get that instrument and I get some instruction, and I do it over and over and over, and I start asking questions of people who appear to be really good on that instrument.

[00:33:40] And I started hanging out with other musicians and mm-hmm. You know, I'll immerse myself like crazy and I've done that with harmonica or pedal steel guitar, you know, and all that kind of stuff. So I just kind of did that with. With, um, um, evangelism, personal evangelism. Well, what do people say about it out there?

[00:33:57] How do you share your faith? Mm-hmm. And what does that [00:34:00] look like? And, you know, can you do it, you know, publicly? And it was through all that, that I discovered something called the prayer stand, because one of the things that I discovered, Brad, was that there are a lot of materials out there that teach you what to say and apologetics, but they all lack the one thing I felt like I needed most, which was, how do you start the conversation?

[00:34:23] Mm-hmm. That's what I lacked, and I found it difficult to start the conversation. So the prayer stand is a, you know, it's a portable structure, it's eye catching, basically a big red stand that says prayer on it. Mm-hmm. And so, um, it's, it's really an inviting thing for people, um mm-hmm. To, uh, to share a prayer concern in public spaces.

[00:34:44] And so, you know. I found it so effective because I had all this head knowledge and I knew what to say and I'm, but, but I needed to get my reps in. I needed a way to just start having conversations with people. Mm-hmm. Not [00:35:00] trying to drag them across the depth, the, the finish line of salvation, but just have a conversation with them.

[00:35:05] What do you believe and why do you believe that? And let me share the gospel with you and get your thoughts and, um, uh, and, and, and so that the prayer stand was just a, a great, a great, uh, way for me to, to do that in public spaces. And it's, and it's proven so effective, um, because, you know, I, I kind of fell into that trap of like a lot of Christians that say, um, and, and I heard somebody say this just a few weeks ago at another church that I was visiting.

[00:35:37] Um, they said, well, you know, I, I think, I think you gotta let your life. You know, preach the sermon and when necessary use words. That's, that's something that people in the church like to say all the time. Oh, yeah. Yeah. But you know, the, the reality is you gotta use the words, you know, because how do people, how are people gonna know who to believe in if they haven't [00:36:00] heard the name of Jesus?

[00:36:01] How are they gonna hear if somebody doesn't tell it is what scripture says. And, um, and so I, I fell into that trap and then I fell into the trap of, um, of, um, well, you have to have a relationship with somebody before you can crack open the things of God and the gospel. Mm-hmm. And to me, both of those things, for me, I'm not speaking for anybody else.

[00:36:21] We're just an excuse to not do it. Essentially. Mm-hmm. Oh good. Well, you don't have to use words and you have to have a relationship. So, you know, if there's an opportunity that just organically emerges, I don't have to say anything because I don't have a relationship. You know? And then the other side of that coin is, well, you gotta be careful about sharing the gospel with people that are close to you because there's a lot at stake and you risk losing that relationship.

[00:36:46] Mm-hmm. I started thinking, wow, so you can't share the gospel with people you're close to. 'cause it's too risky. You can't share the gospel with people you don't know. 'cause you don't have a relationship. I'm like, who's left? Yeah. There's nobody left. And so, [00:37:00] um, so I've discovered by using this tool, the prayer stand, that you can share the gospel with people you don't know.

[00:37:05] Mm-hmm. And um, and they're open to having a conversation and, um, and you're planting that seed. And then I discovered too, that the more I do that, you know, the first 10 times rock or the next 10 were a little better. The next 10 or better. Well, you know, after several hundred times. It's, it's kind of a normalized thing for me, so mm-hmm.

[00:37:26] Now I'm a lot more comfortable even sharing it with people I do know. It doesn't feel risky, it's just a conversation. Yeah. You know, but I've had enough of those conversations that I feel pretty confident about where it's gonna go and how I'm gonna speak to it and mm-hmm. And, and you know, how, how, how, um.

[00:37:43] How much I should press something or, or not. Yeah. So, yeah. And like, like you said, like you said reps. Mm-hmm. Like, it's just anything else, like what if you're gonna do something like in order for me to get bigger on my bench press, oops, sorry. In order for me to audit that out. Mm-hmm. But in order to get, to get bigger on bench press, like I had to start somewhere and [00:38:00] continue on in order for that to grow.

[00:38:01] Um, it's really cool to even think like, you know, you know, even, even music, like you immerse yourself. Yeah. You got around people who know what they were doing. Like, and that helped you become a better musician. Absolutely. Just as somebody who shares the gospel, like mm-hmm. You gotta be around those people who are sharing the gospel, who are, uh, getting the reps in, you know, so that way you can feel prepared to go out there and show the gospel.

[00:38:21] Yeah. 'cause you know, at the end of the day, yes. Like. You might say, well, it's not all about the gospel. It is like mm-hmm. Especially as a believer, like that's our main goal is to Yeah. Go out and share the gospel with those around us, you know? Yeah. In different ways. And so, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. And so you talk about the prayer stand, you talk about how you've had opportunities to share the gospel.

[00:38:37] Mm-hmm. You might have attend awkward conversations. Mm-hmm. They make, get a little better, and then you're like, oh, this is, these were good conversations, you know, that, that's not guaranteed every time. Right. You set up the prayer stand. Right. But, you know, what are some, I guess, where'd the idea come from?

[00:38:49] I know, I know you said that that was an idea for you to get some reps in, but like mm-hmm. Like, I know you've, you like through contacting Prayer Stand Uhhuh and realize that you were the one over it. Like how did that come about? I know you have a little story on that in [00:39:00] Kentucky today, but Yeah. Been, the other thing is, is uh, like what, what's a surprising reaction you've gotten from the prayer stand?

[00:39:07] Yeah. Um, I, I will say one of the things, because I think one of the biggest fear of Christians is that, um, is that if you engage people about, um. About the things of God that, that you're gonna, you're gonna meet with hostility mm-hmm. Or people who want to argue with you. Um, I just haven't, I just haven't come across that.

[00:39:31] Mm-hmm. Brad, I really haven't, and I've activated the prayer stand in a lot of different places, not just Owensboro. Yeah. So. That's just, that's just, I wouldn't say it's a myth, but it's probably a less than 1% chance that mm-hmm. You know, um, but maybe even, I know you see, you know, a lot of people. Mm-hmm. Um, and so like, if they see you out there mm-hmm.

[00:39:53] Sitting by the prairie stand, like mm-hmm. 

[00:39:54] Unexpected Encounters at the Prayer Stand

[00:39:54] Has there been like a surprising story with, with maybe someone that, you know, that had just run across you out on an event or anything like that? Mm-hmm. I mean, it doesn't have to be like, it doesn't have to be like, reluctant to the gospel. Just Yeah. A story that you're like, man, like that just really surprised me how that went.

[00:40:08] You know, it's, it's funny how Satan works because in, in some ways, like the, I know the first time I went down to Friday after five, I thought about this. I actually thought about it the last time I went to Barbecue Fest. Okay. I started thinking, is it gonna be embarrassing when people I know see me out there and they look at me and say, what are you doing?

[00:40:27] Mm-hmm. Um, but, but I, what I've, what I really found is that, again, those people aren't saying, well, what are you doing? Mm-hmm. And maybe it comes back to timing. 

[00:40:42] Building Relationships Through Faith

[00:40:42] You know, I've invested well in these relationships. Oh yeah. So people know me and trust me outside of being on the street corner with a prayer stand.

[00:40:50] Mm-hmm. And so they're just like, Hey Chris, what's going on? Mm-hmm. Um, and it's a good, it's a good opportunity for me to catch up, but then to say, well, obviously I'm out here with a [00:41:00] prayer stand. Hey, we've never really talked about faith, man. What is your story? Did you grow up with any kind of faith tradition?

[00:41:05] So, I mean, it's been an opportunity for me to share Christ with people that, mm-hmm. I'm pretty good friends with that. I've never really talked about. That's with, that's cool. Yeah. Um, and that, that is, that is cool because again, the more you do it, the more it's just, you kind of normalize it. It's not a weird thing for me mm-hmm.

[00:41:25] To, to crack it open. Especially if I'm, if somebody says, Hey Chris, how's it going? And I'm standing next to a big structure that says prayer. Yeah. Eventually I'm gonna say, well, man, I'm out here with this prayer stand just loving on people in the name of Christ, you know, and hopefully sharing the gospel with them.

[00:41:40] What, what's your story? Mm-hmm. Did you grow up with a Christian background? Um, I don't know. God, God's really doing something with this little prayer stand. Yeah. I mean, I'm even thinking, like, and, and if you listen to this podcast, I don't think I've mentioned it before, but, you know, I, I'm connected with Apollo mm-hmm.

[00:41:55] And soa, you know. Yeah. SOA is the mm-hmm. The, and I need, he wants to come on. We just haven't worked [00:42:00] outta time to get him to come on, but Yeah. Yeah. Uh, you know, he has been someone I've gotten to know really well over the last mm-hmm. Year and a half, two years through working with the football team together.

[00:42:08] Mm-hmm. Um, but, you know, sort of that, that was, uh, like him and his faith journey mm-hmm. Uh, really came from you guys initiating conversation at the prayer stand with the college school. Yeah. And you, and you, you're still, and you didn't, you didn't just leave it there. Like you're still, you know, investing mm-hmm.

[00:42:22] Getting breakfast with him. You're Yeah. You're checking on him. You're hanging out with him. So it's not just like you just say, Hey, lemme pray for you. Then you leave it there. Like you're, you're continuing on those relationships Yeah. As well. Absolute. And that's been really cool to see. Yeah. And so, um, now I'll get, I'll get you the breakfast and lunch with store every mm-hmm.

[00:42:36] Month, so that's fun. Yeah. He's awesome. Yeah. Um, but again, yeah. And in fact on my phone, I've got a list a mile long of people that I've shared the gospel with prayer stand. I try to at least get their first name and I lift him up, you know, on a regular basis because I just planted the seed and I just pray that God reveals himself to them or sends someone else to talk to 'em.

[00:42:56] Mm-hmm. Um. And again, you've gotta, [00:43:00] you've gotta pursue people. Yeah. You know? Yeah. You gotta be intentional, right? So, I mean, part of my story Yeah. Is that, yeah. You just have to, you have to pursue people. Yeah. No, that makes sense. Uh, you know, so let, let's shift gears just a little bit. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Uh, so talk about faith.

[00:43:14] Joining Mission Lazarus

[00:43:14] But now, instead of being at the Hall of Fame, bluegrass Hall of Fame, uh, you're now with Mission Lazarus. Um, and I know a lot of who probably don't know what that is. Yeah. Um, and so what has been, like, why did you feel called to be a part of Missionize? Well, um, I think it was after I, I, um, my friend passed away from the brain tumor.

[00:43:30] Mm-hmm. And I started thinking about, um, I started thinking about, um, you know, my, my kids are, or, or now in their twenties and outta college, you know, I started thinking about their generation and how so many of them are unchurched. I started, um, I've got a friend who's over the Baptist Collegiate Mission at a university that shared Okay.

[00:43:50] Shared a book with me and, uh, a research What, which university, by the way? He's a University of Tennessee. Oh, okay. He shared a, he shared a, um, Rodney Norville is his name. Yeah. [00:44:00] But he shared a book, um, uh, basically a research project about why to, you know, reveal that 70 to 80% of kids who even grow up in church walk away at college age.

[00:44:11] Mm-hmm. And so it was a research project about, well, the ones who stay is there any. Commonality about why they stayed and mm-hmm. You know, there's no guarantees, but there's some things you can do to enhance the chances that they don't walk away. So, um, so I think all those things I just became so burden Brad with, with this generation and as a Christian, you know, I felt like I was, you know, I've got pretty good church attendance and read the Bible on a, I was reading the Bible on a regular basis and celebrating Christmas and Easter very pretty well.

[00:44:46] But I'm like, but my goodness, I know people who've died in their sins personally. And I know young people right now who are far from God that if they died today and God gave him justice, it wouldn't be [00:45:00] good. And I just, I just started thinking so much about the Kingdom of God and only personal evangelism.

[00:45:06] But um, but how am I using my time and just praying, started praying, Lord, you know, what do you want me? I'm in my dream job. I'm leading the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum. Can I just stay here and exercise Christian influence and call it a day? You know? Mm-hmm. I'm doing Christian concerts on the back lawn for goodness sake, you know?

[00:45:25] Yeah. Um, but, um. But, but just outta the blue, I got a call from a friend and it is gonna tie in. I know we, we might do some music at the end, it's gonna tie into that. But I had a friend that just called me outta the blue and said, Hey, I've got a, a buddy who leads a, a nonprofit called Mission Lazarus. And the work happens primarily in Honduras and Haiti, but he's looking for a development director.

[00:45:48] Would you want me to connect you guys? And so that's where that all started was just with, with a conversation and admission. 

[00:45:56] Mission Lazarus: A Holistic Approach

[00:45:56] Lazarus, it, it's, it's, it's, um. It's been around for about 25 years. Okay. And, um, very small US team. Most of the work happens in southern Honduras in a very rural poverty stricken region in southern Honduras.

[00:46:09] Mm-hmm. And in northeast Haiti, it's not linked to a specific denomination, very ecumenical with people from many different Protestant, evangelical churches involved. Mm-hmm. A lot of corporate partners too, and individual donors and partners. But, um, we have about 150 employees on the ground in Honduras and, and Haiti.

[00:46:28] And so it, it's really, uh, we have a lot of. Of, of, of, we partner a lot with service groups that come down and, and work on projects with us, whether it's churches or corporate, corporate groups. Okay. Um, so, uh, about 300 people each year go down to different groups and take on projects. But we have, um, 2K through 12 academies, about 400 students.

[00:46:52] Okay. Between Honduras and Haiti. Three vocational schools, two medical clinics, a children's home. It's, it's [00:47:00] actually eight buildings. It's a, a children's home in Honduras. Um. We have 10 evangelists on staff that are embedded in all these different areas. We have a whole construction team that does all the construction on our, on our sort of ranch or campus with our, our buildings, but also does, you know, um, suspension bridges and remote villages.

[00:47:19] Oh wow. Okay. Um, to help people during the rainy season who are cut off from society. Um, also do clean water initiatives and latrines. And, um, so a lot of different projects. We have three for-profit businesses that focus on economic development from, um, a leather, leather working leather goods company and a coffee company.

[00:47:39] We have a coffee farm there that employs people. Mm-hmm. Um, and so it's just, it's a real holistic approach to ministry. We do all these things 'cause it, keep in mind, these folks where we work in Honduras and Haiti are just, you know, they're living on. You know, two, $3 a day, very poverty stricken, generational poverty, and [00:48:00] a lot of abuse and neglect and not, uh, much knowledge of, of the Bible in Christ.

[00:48:06] And so, you know, we, we focus on education, healthcare, and, and, um, and clean water initiatives and, and, and, um, things of that nature, economic development. So we can build trust, build relationships to ultimately chair, share Christ and share the gospel Yeah. With people. So that, that's really cool. And so, you know, like your role is, is development and, and you're pretty much fundraising.

[00:48:29] Mm-hmm. Yeah. In a sense. 

[00:48:30] Daily Life and Challenges in Mission Lazarus

[00:48:30] And so what does it look like day to day? Are you, mm-hmm. Are you on the road a lot? Are you, are you on the phone a lot? Mm-hmm. Is it going to location? What, what's that like for you? All the above. So I'm in Honduras and Haiti, some mainly, um, you know, with, with donors and stakeholders.

[00:48:46] Um, and, um, uh, I, I don't have any operational responsibility, but, um, but then I do travel a bit. You know, we have donors all around the country, a lot in Texas, a lot in Tennessee. Mm-hmm. These are individual donors, but also [00:49:00] we have quite a few corporate. Donors. These are faith friendly companies that, um, and oftentimes they'll create a, a foundation and then fund projects out of that.

[00:49:09] And then o other just Christian foundations. We have about 20 churches too, and they're scattered, scattered about. So it's not all, you know, just, just churches. But, you know, the, the biggest lump, um, are our foundations and, um, and individual donors. Okay. Uh, in churches. So I get to travel, uh, with them. I, um, you know, I, um, I develop, I'm kind of a, kind of a communications guy, so I develop.

[00:49:34] You know, print publications that go out mm-hmm. To our donors and prospective donors and, um, and, um, and also, you know, electronic newsletters. So communications. Yeah. Relationships and communications. Yeah. We do some fundraising activities. Mm-hmm. Some of it involves music. Um, we, uh, we usually have a, um, a, um.

[00:49:55] Uh, an event in, in Houston mm-hmm. And one in Nashville. [00:50:00] Okay. And, uh, and, um, my, uh, my boss, Jared Brown, grew up with a, with a guy, Zach Crowell, who is a songwriter and producer in Nashville, produces Jelly Roll, which is a whole Okay. Interesting story. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but, uh, so we'll do some songwriter events.

[00:50:17] Okay. You know, collaborating with him. Um, our last event in, um, in November in Houston had, um, Lyle Lovett. He's kind of a legendary Texas songwriter Okay. Guy, and so mm-hmm. Um, so really a lot of things and, and I am on the phone quite a bit too, you know. Yeah. Um, when I'm not traveling, just mm-hmm.

[00:50:35] Connecting with donors, keeping 'em up to date, you know, and getting to know them better and thinking about, um, initiatives or projects that they might want get involved with. Uh, yeah. Specifically. Yeah. Okay. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's really cool. And so, uh, you know, you've been here, I guess, about a year, year and a half, something like that.

[00:50:51] Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um, and so what's been your favorite part of the work? I know you've. Mentioned lots of different things, but what, well, what's your favorite part right now with Missionalized Dreams? Yeah. Well, like anything, when you [00:51:00] take on a, a new job there, there are things to learn. And so I've learned so much, especially about, um, about technology, you know, having to leverage a lot of technology platforms.

[00:51:11] Mm-hmm. Um, so I've, I've really just enjoyed the, the learning process. And then it's a whole, it's a whole new group of relationships. Mm-hmm. You know, of, of new people that I can get to know. And, and, um, and in fact, my boss recently changed my title from Director of Development to director of engagement.

[00:51:30] 'cause he said, that's really what you're do, you're trying to help people engage. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. And so. Um, so I enjoy doing that, you know, and I come, I, that, that comes very naturally to me. You know, 'cause, you know, we're not just looking, you know, simply looking for somebody's money. You know, we're looking for them to engage in, in the ministry.

[00:51:50] Certainly resources are important, but, you know, we want 'em to come down and get their hands dirty with us, or help coordinate a group or advocate, um, on [00:52:00] our behalf, um, with the people in the communities that we serve in Honduras and Haiti. So it's fun to, to help people engage with that, because especially when it comes to the developing world in a land far, far away, sometimes it's easier to think about where to engage in your own community, because you can lay eyes on it.

[00:52:16] But I think sometimes it's not always so easy to understand, well, what, what can I do in. Honduras or Haiti. Oh, yeah. You know, so, so helping people understand what the situation is there and, and what we've built from a long-term development standpoint in those two countries, and how they can be involved with that.

[00:52:33] I think suddenly, again, it comes down to, to trust and something tangible that they can, can be involved with, not just with their pocketbook, but you know, actually come down and, and, and help us advance some of these initiatives on the ground, you know, is, is a good thing. And it's, it's fun to help people do that.

[00:52:50] The prayer ministry is a simple but powerful way of meeting people right where they are through prayer and presence. Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer is [00:53:00]prayer. Learn more@prayerstand.com. Yeah. No, that's awesome. And so let's switch gears just a little bit. Mm-hmm. 

[00:53:07] Being a Girl Dad

[00:53:07] Uh, you know, I'm a, I'm a, I'm a dad daughter.

[00:53:10] Mm-hmm. Or sorry, I'm a girl dad too. Mm-hmm. Um, and so are you. And so, you know, being a dad, girl, dad comes with its own kind of joy. Mm-hmm. Uh, and challenges, but, but, but there's a lot of joy in it. Uh, so what's something your daughters have taught you That it's helped you change how you see the world?

[00:53:24] Yeah. Um, and it is different when you're, um, when you're a girl dad because, you know, I, I couldn't just go out and throw football and, you know, do, do all those act activities, so it's a little more subtle. But, um, but I think I realized early on that, that my, my kiddos, my girls, and I'm sure this goes, whether it's a guy or girl, but they just, you, you've got.

[00:53:49] It's sort of like, it's sort of like just being present, you know? Mm-hmm. And again, not just hanging around, but being deliberate. You know, we used to take a lot of walks, you know, [00:54:00]we got a puppy when the girls were little, you know, we rallied around that. We bought a little, um, pop-up camper, you know, we go camping even if it was just, you know, 30 minutes away from home.

[00:54:10] Oh yeah. You know, go on. Little adventures. But I think it's so important with your kids, especially daughters too, with their dad, is just to, to long these experiences and these memories so that when you're older. You know, and they grow up. They've got these things to, to anchor them and it, and it sort of binds you together, you know?

[00:54:31] And, um, and I really appreciate that. My oldest daughter just got married this past fall in September, and I don't know, a lot of those memories just started flooding back for me and her both, you know, just thinking about, about all that, even though we're not doing life together every day. 'cause she lives in Tallahassee, Florida, but, oh, yeah.

[00:54:48] Um, but there's something about, you know, you, you sort of shift from being a parent to being a good friend and a trusted advisor, you know, as they get older and as we get older. Yeah. And it's [00:55:00] been good. I mean mm-hmm. We're nine and six, so like Yeah. Lots of. Uh, learning and drama and all, and I know teenage years are coming up, but I mean, it's been, it is also been a lot of fun.

[00:55:09] Yeah. People like, so do you want a boy? And I'm like, ah, I don't know. I've kind of like gotten used to being a girl dad, you know? Yeah. I think it's been cool. Yeah. So, you know, we talk about your kids and, and reflecting back on the past on memories and mm-hmm. Whatnot, and we talked a lot about memories even in this podcast.

[00:55:24] Yeah. 

[00:55:24] Reflecting on Legacy and Faith

[00:55:24] But, uh, uh, when it comes down to your legacy, I always love to ask every guest this. Mm-hmm. Um, and it sounds a little, always sounds a little morbid, but talk about that dash, you know, that's the most important part of your tombstone, but mm-hmm. What do you want your legacy to be, both in bluegrass, your faith journey, your family?

[00:55:37] Like when people think Chris Joscelyn mm-hmm. What do you want people to think of? Yeah. Yeah, man, I go back to that word that my dad laid on me years ago. Faithfulness. Okay. You know, um, I mean, I wanna work hard and, you know, be intentional. Um, but you know how life is man. You get so, you know, you get [00:56:00] distracted.

[00:56:00] You go through seasons that, that seem dry or seasons of doubt. Not necessarily about faith, but, you know, am I spending my time wisely? Am I setting the right priorities here? Mm-hmm. Um, but, but being faithful, and for me, that looks like, um, that looks like this. This seems a little trite from a church standpoint, but, uh, I really do protect.

[00:56:24] You know, the first hour of my day. Um, and, and, um, in terms of reading scripture and, um, and praying out loud, you know, to God, because I just bring this to him every day, Lord, am I focusing on the right things? You know, am I doing the right things? Am I am, am I setting the right priorities? You know, am I chasing the right stuff?

[00:56:44] You know? And, uh, and as a Christian, I just believe that, uh, you know, if I try to keep my heart pure before the Lord and cry out to him and ask him, and just beg the Lord to speak into that, that, um, that he's not gonna let me wander around [00:57:00] in the desert for 40 years. He's gonna, he's gonna answer that. And sometimes I wish it were, you know, I could press the button, you know, and have the divine butler come running and tell me the answer, or open the door.

[00:57:12] Mm-hmm. Um, but even in the waiting, you know, I just, um, I just trust. God that there's purpose in that. So I want people to feel like I'm, I've invested in them well, and that I've been faithful to the Lord because that enables me to be faithful to the people around me. Yeah. No, that's great. Yeah. 

[00:57:30] Rapid-Fire Questions

[00:57:30] So, well, let's go into our 270 seconds of fame.

[00:57:33] So this one's a little bit more okay. Not, not so morbid, more fun, uh, but it's just real quick, uh, questions, uh, quick answers. Okay. How time is, I don't know if it's four and a half minutes or not, but are you ready? I'm ready. This is like speed round, right? It is. It's like speed round, right? So there's no right or wrong answer.

[00:57:48] There's not right or wrong answer. It is all with Chris Shalin. So, uh, coffee or sweet tea? Coffee. Okay. Uh, fa first instrument you ever played? Banjo. Banjo. Okay. Uh, favorite bluegrass. Tune to [00:58:00] play. Favorite bluegrass tune to play, A banjo tune, probably, uh, lonesome Road Blues. I'm going down to the road Feeling Man alone.

[00:58:09] I'm going down. Okay. That's how it goes. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Just, just in case you're curious. Okay. No, that was great. That was great. You don't wanna hear me sing? Um, what's your, what's your favorite? I know you just talk about one that you like to play mm-hmm. But which one that you like to listen to? Oh, my favorite bluegrass song I like to listen to probably Anything by Tony Rice.

[00:58:26] I don't know if you've ever heard of Tony. I haven't heard of him. Yeah. Tony Rice is, uh, basically Allison Krause's. Okay. Um, biggest influence. So this, this is the guy who kind of modernized bluegrass. Okay. You know, and, uh, yeah, I'll have check them out for sure. Yeah. Yeah. So, okay, so you had a, you have a jam session.

[00:58:43] It's your dream jam, jam session partner living or gone. Who would you wanna jam with? I definitely would like to, to to jam with Dale McCurry. You know, this guy's played romp and he's like, you know, he's the elder state statesman of bluegrass. Okay. I'd love to have a jam session with Dale McCurry. Yeah, [00:59:00] that'd be cool.

[00:59:00] Yeah. All right. Uh, what's the most underrated thing about Owensboro? The most underrated thing about Owensboro? I'd say it's the restaurants, you know? Okay. People think, ah, yeah, you run, but there're, there're a lot of, there are a lot of good places. Yeah. There's a lot of hole in the walls. Oh yeah. A bunch.

[00:59:16] Mm-hmm. Uh, all right, well talk about restaurants, uh, barbecue or Ew. Oh, barbecue. Barbecue. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I, I, I don't really care for barbecue. Mm-hmm. That's another subject. Yeah. Uh, what, what's, what's been your favorite romp headliner ever? My favorite romp headliner Ever. At least while you were at Bluegrass Dam?

[00:59:34] Yeah. Wow. That is a, that's such a tough question because we've had, we've had, so. Many great headliners, but, um, yeah, I would, I would have to say Marty Stewart. Okay. Yeah, he's, he's, he's just like the total package. Yeah. He is. Yeah. Uh, first concert you ever attended? Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam, Nashville, Tennessee.

[00:59:59] Interesting. Okay. [01:00:00] Yeah. So good. Yeah. He's a, he'd wound up being a believer later in his life. Yeah, he did. Yeah. That's pretty cool. Yeah. Uh, what's your go-to snack before you play? Before I play, I'm a sucker for peanuts. Okay. Peanuts, peanut butter. Anything related to peanuts. Oh, I love peanuts too. Yeah. Uh, what's a gospel hymn that always gets you There is a fountain filled with blood.

[01:00:22] All right. Drawn from Emanuel's veins. William Cooper, you know, that guy for a while was in a church with John Newton in a rural area in England, and so, oh, okay. You know John Newton used to Amazing grace writer. Yeah. He used to write hymns to accompany his sermons. 'cause you know, he had people in his congregation who were.

[01:00:40] We were literate. So he would compose a hymn to accompanist a sermon. I know that. So he kind of pulled, William Cooper was a poet, pretty well known poet at the time. Mm-hmm. But that's one of the songs he pinned, huh? Yeah. That's interesting. I really, on Flyway, that's one of my favorites. Yeah. Yeah. And there's, there's a bunch out there.

[01:00:55] Okay. Uh, what's your favorite Bible verse, Matthew 6 [01:01:00] 33. So seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's good. Uh, what's the best advice your dad ever gave you? Yeah, the best advice. Well, it's been a theme, right? Yeah. Faithfulness.

[01:01:13] Faithfulness. Yeah. Yeah. No, that works. Yeah. Uh, what is one word your daughters would use to describe you? Um,

[01:01:24] I know these are always fun. What would they use to describe me? Well, my, my kids can be kind of playful and, and fun, so. Mm-hmm. Um. Yeah, maybe that's it. Yeah. Playful, goofy, you know? Okay. Yeah. Sort of, you know, the dad joke thing. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's good. Uh, what is your favorite Owensboro Landmark? My favorite Owensboro Landmark.

[01:01:50] Mm-hmm. Boy, that's a good, that's a good question. What is my favorite Owensboro Landmark? What's your [01:02:00] favorite Owensboro Landmark? It's probably the Blue Bridge. Yeah. I, I use it on everything. 'cause I just, yeah. There's just something about it I just love. Yeah. It is pretty awesome now that it changes colors and all that too.

[01:02:10] Yeah. That's pretty cool too. Yeah. Probably that or just the river, the riverfront. Okay. You know? Yeah. Um, yeah. Owensboro is pretty unique that way. Yeah, I would agree with that. Yeah. When I have friends who come up here from Nashville, they're like, what in the world? Really? It's like this oasis, they've never heard of Owensboro, and then there's great city.

[01:02:26] Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. Mm-hmm. Um, what an instrument. I know you play a lot of instruments. But which instrument that you wish you could play? Well, you mentioned New Orleans before. Mm-hmm. My wife and I, uh, vacation New Orleans in 2019. Okay. And I came back thinking, man, these guys make trombones and clarinets and trumpets Sounds so awesome.

[01:02:48] They do. Yeah. So, yeah. Woodwind, brass instrument. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Uh, let's see. If you weren't doing music or ministry, 'cause now you're with Mission Leisures. Mm-hmm. Uh, what do you, what would you be doing? [01:03:00] I don't know. That sounded like a hard question for you. That's why I made that tone change, but yeah, I don't know.

[01:03:05] I'd probably be selling something. Okay. I don't know what I'd be selling something. Okay. All right. There you go. We got you something I could believe in, like donuts probably. Okay. Yeah. Uh, yeah. Donuts are good. Mm-hmm. Uh, if you see me, you know, I like the donuts. Got, I got two more questions for you. Okay.

[01:03:17] Uh, then the next one is, is who is the funniest person that you've experienced in bluegrass? The funniest person I've experienced in Bluegrass. Um. Yeah, that's, that's interesting. Um, there is a guy, he's, he's not, he, he might not be well known to some folks, but his name's Brian Simpson down in Nashville.

[01:03:39] Okay. Used to be with a group called Cadillac Sky. So they were big and bluegrass 20 years ago. But he's a songwriter. He's written a bunch of big hits mm-hmm. And still weaves in and out. Fact, he's gonna be at Romp this year Okay. With Uncle B's string band. And his name is Brian Simpson. This guy is the smartest, funniest, most outrageous guy I think I've ever met.

[01:03:59] Wow. And, [01:04:00] um, and, and I've, and I've been able to play a little bit of music with him too. So he's, he's great to have in the, in the band plays mandolin. Okay. Brian Simpson. Look for me, romp this year. Okay. Yeah. We can do that for sure. Mm-hmm. All right. And then the last question is, is what's the biggest way.

[01:04:14] Your faith shows up in daily life? The biggest way my faith shows up in daily life, um, well, I do, I mentioned it before. I think in, in, um, in just sort of my routine of read the Bible and praying out loud for me, it's important to pray out loud, not just to sort of think it. Um, but then I just, you know, I just try to live, live things out intentionally.

[01:04:39] And one of the ways I do that is just, is just being open when God brings things in my path. You know, whether it's just a casual lunch with someone who mentions something challenging in their life or something with their kids. Just be willing to pur pursue that. Okay. And, uh, and get involved with people.

[01:04:56] Mm-hmm. Um, and also, you know, like when I see [01:05:00] people, um. Um, on Facebook or I'd look at my little prayer list, you know, being intentional with, uh, with maybe just reaching out to folks. Sometimes it's just a quick text. Yeah. You know, a text to maybe three people this morning that, that happened to me. I was like, you know, I'm just gonna reach out.

[01:05:16] No big deal. Just, Hey, thinking about you. And I'd love to connect sometime. Yeah. When you're available. Yeah. That's really cool. Yeah. Well, you made it through it so you didn't fail. Not that you, there is a pass fail, but, uh, nicely done. Uh, so before we get to the musical section of this mm-hmm. Everyone with the surprises, you haven't caught it on yet, music.

[01:05:34] Um, but, but I always ask this one question, like, you know Yeah. People listen to these, I hope people listen to these episodes. They do according to stats. Mm-hmm. But you know, like if they would walk away from this episode, you're like, what is like one thing that you would wanna leave 'em with? Something encouraging, inspiring.

[01:05:50] Mm-hmm. Challenging. Like, what's, what's one thing you want them to walk away with? Yeah. Well, you know, since, since I'm, you know, since I'm, um, um, a Christian and, and try to live out my [01:06:00] faith, you know, I would encourage people to be. To be, um, really more intentional about, uh, about the worldview. I mean, this is, um, you know, this, this is a tough time.

[01:06:11] I mean, it's a great time because of social media and streaming. We have so much information Oh, yeah. At our fingertips. But what that means too is that we have a lot of competing worldviews that are, that are, um, that are trying to influence us. And, um, and I would encourage people, of course, if you're a Christian, just lean into that.

[01:06:30] Be more intentional with your faith if you're not. Um, I would encourage you to, um, investigate the claims of Christ and decide for yourself, but don't let somebody else decide that for you. Mm-hmm. You know, go ahead and dig in. Um, especially with the Bible. I mean, the Bible's the bestselling book of all time.

[01:06:50] Mm-hmm. I mean, if you, uh, if you consider yourself well read and you haven't read the Bible. You owe it to yourself, even just intellectually. [01:07:00] Mm-hmm. To dig in and, and read the Bible. Yeah. And especially in the gospels, which are the eye witness accounts of, of Jesus and his claims to be God in the flesh, you know, and, and saying that, you know, this, society will tell us that there many ways to God or that God doesn't exist, so you do you and I'll do me.

[01:07:19] But you know, that, uh, is contradictory with what Jesus claimed in the gospels. He said, I'm the way, the truth and the life. So when I talk to people about faith and Christianity, you know, it's not my point of view. I'm sharing, it's not my opinion, I'm sharing, but it's. Objective truth from the creator of the universe.

[01:07:39] And I'm not, uh, saying that anyone should, should invest in that and believe in that and put their faith in Jesus, because I do. I'm just encouraging them to investigate it for themselves. Mm-hmm. And, um, and either accept him or reject him, but, you know, intellectually owe it to yourself to have a good reason to reject Christ.

[01:07:58] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's good stuff. Mm-hmm. [01:08:00]

[01:08:00] Live Music Performance

[01:08:00] So, well, you know, before you wrap up, you know, you are a musician and I thought it'd be cool to try to do some music live mm-hmm. On our podcast. And so, uh, what do you got for us today and what do you, what do you playing for us today? What instrument? Yeah, A song.

[01:08:14] Well, I'm playing guitar mm-hmm. Today and, um, I, um, I thought we might do a, a Christmas related song. Okay. And this song, I love this song because I mentioned earlier that when I transitioned from the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Museum, a place I thought I would never leave. Um, um, it was all because I got a call from a friend in Nashville named Charlie Redmond.

[01:08:37] Charlie works for. A nonprofit in Nashville called Show Hope. Okay. Show Hope provides, um, um, grants for families that want to adopt internationally. And, uh, it was started by Stephen Curtis Chapman and his wife. Okay. Because they've adopted, you know, I think three, I [01:09:00] think they have Yeah. Kids from China.

[01:09:02] And, um, so when I was in Nashville, I used to volunteer some for that organization, mainly playing music because my youngest daughter, Allison, is adopted from China. Okay. And so I got to know Charlie along the way and I would put together bluegrass bands for donor events occasionally and mm-hmm. Uh, for Charlie for Show Hope and, um, and uh, even got to play with Stephen Curtis Chapman a couple of times.

[01:09:25] He did a bluegrass record for Cracker Barrel back in, in that season. And so, okay. We ended up, um, playing portions of that record at a few of these events too. But fast forward about three or four years ago, um, Steven Curtis, um, booked him to play a Christmas show at the Hall of Fame. Mm-hmm. And Charlie Bin, my buddy was on the bus because it turns out the Christmas show was tied to show Hope.

[01:09:50] Oh, cool. Okay. Uh, to the, and I didn't even know that until they showed up that day for the, for the, uh, for the date. And so I reconnected with, uh, with Charlie and it was on the heels of [01:10:00] that, that mine. My boss now Jared Brown, who also knows Charlie mm-hmm. Called Charlie and just a few months after that and said, Hey, I'm looking for a development guy.

[01:10:09] Do you know anybody? Yeah. And Charlie said, man, I might let me make a phone call. So, so there's a little bit of a connection to Yeah. To Steven Curtis Chapman. Yeah. That's really cool. And he has a, um. He has a great Christmas record, um, if you've never checked it out, but one of his songs, no, he is from Paducah, grew up in Paducah.

[01:10:33] Okay. Steven's a pretty good bluegrass musician, which made it easy for us to, um, to do some songs from that bluegrass record he did for Cracker Barrel. Mm-hmm. And he's a great player. And, um, this isn't a bluegrass song, but it's a Christmas song and it's about Kentucky. Okay. So let's do it. Yeah. Um, this is called Christmas in Kentucky,

[01:10:58] and Brad, feel free to sing along. You [01:11:00] said you're not a good singer. Oh yeah. But feel free to sing along if you like. Okay. It is your show, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll try, I'll see what I can do. For those of you who don't know, Brad is a great musician. He is a percussionist and, um, and he, he has a really good sense of groove and timing and does a great job with that.

[01:11:17] Well, I appreciate it, Chris. Yeah. Standing at the window, watching for the head of lights coming up the driveway for another Christmas in Kentucky and praying that the weatherman and final little snow somewhere sending it down our way for another Christmas in Kentucky. And it was everything to me, hand in hand with my family.

[01:11:48] Round the globe of the Christmas tree. Sing. Enjoy to the world 'cause it's Christmas in Kentucky, this Christmas in la. And in the desperate [01:12:00] streets of India and the African planes call, listen, and you'll hear the angels here, the news, glory to God in the highest and on this earth, God is with us because wherever.

[01:12:33] Driving down the back roads. I'm rolling through the memories, going back to my hometown for another Christmas in Kentucky. So many things have changed. So much has come and gone away, but through it, all the love remains. That brings us back for this Christmas in Kentucky, just like the guiding star brought the Wiseman from [01:13:00] afar anywhere in the world we're, God will us home because it's Christmas in Kentucky.

[01:13:09] It's Christmas in Tennessee, in the snow north and the sunny south, the Midwest and the Middle East. Holy and you'll hear the angels believe the news. Glory to God in the. This Earth, God is with us. Wherever we're everywhere is,

[01:13:37] is

[01:13:41] creation. All creation.

[01:13:50] Christmas joy to the oh, it's Christmas everywhere. [01:14:00] Every village and every town and anywhere a heart God came to give his gift to can be found. Hold the Son. You'll hear the angels believe the news. Glory to God and on this earth, God.

[01:14:41] And that was awesome Chris. Uh, thank you so much for, for playing a Scriptures song. And yeah, again, thanks for coming on. It's been really cool to hear about your journey as not just a, a hall of fame, the guy who's over the Hall of fame, but you know, your life growing up with your family, and then also even Mission Lazarus.

[01:14:57] Final Thoughts and Christmas Wishes

[01:14:57] Um, and so all that stuff will be in the show notes. [01:15:00] Uh, you'll have a link to Mission Lazarus. You'll have, you'll have a link to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Uh, we'll get, make sure you're taken care of. Uh, but again, Chris, thanks for coming on. It's been awesome. Uh, I enjoyed the live music personally, uh, 'cause I'm a musician and I do enjoy music.

[01:15:13] And so thank you for that. And then also two, you know, if you're listening to this one again, blue Bridge Crew, as I like to call you guys. Merry Christmas, uh, and we hope that you remember the reason for the season. Mm-hmm. Um, and I know you might think I'm sounding preachy right now, but again, uh, Christ came down like God loved us so much that he came down in the form of a human.

[01:15:32] And Jesus was born on Christmas, uh, and then ultimately died for our sins. Uh, something that we deserved, that we deserved, that he took on himself. And so, yeah. Uh, what a powerful way to to end this episode. And, uh, it's Christmas in Kentucky. It's Christmas in la. It's Christmas in Tennessee. It's Christmas everywhere.

[01:15:50] Um, and, and honestly, if you're listening to this, keep the faith, love your people and maybe you keep a little bluegrass in your step. All right? So, bro, Merry Christmas and, uh, we love you guys, and we'll see you next year. [01:16:00] From our church family to yours, we'd love to celebrate Christmas with you at First Baptist Church.

[01:16:06] Owensboro. Join us for one of our Christmas Eve services on December 24th at four or 5:30 PM No pressure, no perfect outfits required. Just a warm place to slow down. And celebrate the hope of Christmas. Merry Christmas Owensboro.

[01:16:26] If you enjoyed this episode, go ahead and subscribe. Give us a five star review and share with your friends. Again, Merry Christmas Bluebridge crew. We're thankful for you.

[01:16:56] 00:00 Introduction and Welcome

[01:16:58] 00:20 Celebrating Christmas at [01:17:00] First Baptist Church

[01:17:00] 00:50 Introducing Chris Joslin

[01:17:02] 01:45 Chris Joslin's Musical Journey

[01:17:04] 02:21 Growing Up in a Musical Family

[01:17:07] 07:38 Career in Bluegrass Music

[01:17:09] 09:46 Leading the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame

[01:17:12] 15:50 The Impact of Romp Festival

[01:17:14] 24:52 Owensboro Community and Connections

[01:17:16] 31:14 Faith and Evangelism

[01:17:18] 39:54 Unexpected Encounters at the Prayer Stand

[01:17:21] 40:42 Building Relationships Through Faith

[01:17:23] 43:14 Joining Mission Lazarus

[01:17:24] 45:56 Mission Lazarus: A Holistic Approach

[01:17:27] 48:30 Daily Life and Challenges in Mission Lazarus

[01:17:30] 53:07 Being a Girl Dad

[01:17:32] 55:24 Reflecting on Legacy and Faith

[01:17:34] 57:30 Rapid-Fire Questions

[01:17:36] 01:08:00 Live Music Performance

[01:17:37] 01:14:57 Final Thoughts and Christmas Wishes