Interview: Jeremy Byrd - #011

Sometimes you meet men and it takes years for you to really learn who they are—because God has been busy making him into a new man. In this latest episode, I welcomed a man like that, Jeremy Byrd. 
He has been a teacher and a coach, but his most important roles are as a Godly man, a husband, a father, and a pillar in his community. And now, God is using him to impact others for Him through his work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:16

Hey y'all, welcome back to Miking Disciples. This is another episode where we get together to talk about how we can help men become disciples of Jesus. And so I just want to welcome you today. It's um I appreciate the fact that you're listening again and let us know if you have any comments or questions. Today I want to welcome in a guest, Jeremy Bird. Jeremy and I have known of each other for a while and have gotten to know each other a little better over the years. Uh I first met him when he was coaching baseball down at Frostproof here just south of Lake Wales, where our church is located. And um now we've uh interacted a little bit uh over the years. And so, but you're gonna love having him today and hearing more about him. He is a representative for Fellowship of Christian athletes here in this area, and we have him on to talk about that and to just talk about the impact that he's having on young men and young women as a as a uh coach for Christ. And so, Jeremy, welcome. It's good to have you today. Thank you so much. I'm happy to be here. Yeah, it's great to have you. So this is the first time you've been on a podcast, right? First time ever. So we're crossing that off your bucket list. So, all right, very good. Well, I appreciate you coming in and um looking forward to hearing more of your story. And that's kind of where I want to start. You know, I I want to just talk about, I know what you're doing now, which I definitely want you to talk more about what your work is with FCA and how that's going, and maybe if there's some stories that that you can share. Uh, but our families have gotten to know each other a little bit. You had taught at Lake Wells High School prior to this, and my wife was in a room kind of um caddy corner next to you and spoke very highly of you. So you and I have interacted a little bit, but have never spent time together one-on-one or with families. And um, but man, when I talk about Jeremy Byrd, people around this area just have a lot of respect for you and the kind of man you are and the work that you're doing and uh just how calm you are and the way that the Lord's using you. So really excited to hear more about that. Um, I first met you when um sorry, you were coaching down at Frostproof. My uh son was an athlete there and never played for you. He had tried out, but he went on to football and basketball instead. But he and I were talking the other day, he had gone through some stuff at his house and found a baseball, just random. And he said, I don't even know what was in what that was in there for, but it made me want to try to make a comeback. And so he's 32 years old, right? And so I said, Man, I would love to play catch with you. We haven't done that since he was like 12. Right. I don't know whose arm would hurt worse if we started playing catch, but we're gonna find out. So we were talking and making plans about getting our gloves out and just playing catch. And to this day, you know, I grew up playing baseball, um, played in high school, college, and we can talk about that if we want. But uh, so when I smell fresh cut grass, it just makes me want to go find my glove. That kid in me just comes alive. And uh that's why I'm wearing a Cincinnati Reds jersey now. It's kind of embarrassing to be a Reds fan, but it's a Johnny Benchwan who was my uh favorite player growing up and kind of got me into baseball. So uh man, tell me a little bit about who Jeremy Bird is.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

Well, first of all, the the introductions, it's uh super humbling. So uh I don't I don't know if I live up to all that, but thank you. Thank you uh so much for that. But um I tell you what, the um I think that little kid in this when it comes to when it comes to baseball, I don't know if it ever leaves us really. Um so and I'm getting the opportunity now to l uh kind of live that back out with uh with our youngest son, uh Griffin. He's a baseball player, so uh he loves being at the baseball park. And uh my older son, uh he's a golfer, but he's uh he's a big time sports guy, big baseball guy, and uh he loves to put the glove on and uh and play catch and uh swing the bat as well. So uh man, I have the opportunity to to kind of uh spend that time with them. Uh we're in that season of life now.

SPEAKER_01 4:12

That's great.

SPEAKER_00 4:13

So um so I don't I try not to take that for granted. I I try to soak that up. So because I know there's a time when you know they're gonna be gone and it is it's gonna be tough to get right.

SPEAKER_02 4:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:25

So uh so I'm just trying to to soak that up. But um, you asked who Jeremy Byrd is, uh man, I'm just uh man, I'm just a guy from from Frostbruh that grew up there. Uh grew up playing baseball, grew up playing football down there, uh, had the opportunity to play college baseball here at Weber International University. Okay, as a uh I was a catcher there for four years. And uh man, what a what an amazing opportunity uh just to um play ball there, build some friendships that are uh still strong today. Um so uh man, that was such a blessing. And and then from there, uh graduated, uh actually spent a short amount of time in the insurance industry uh before realizing, you know what, man, I I I miss being on the baseball field. So um took a shot at going back to my alma mater, going back to uh frostproof high school and had the opportunity at man, 22, 23 years old. I was super young, no coaching experience, but uh they took a shot and um they hired me to be the head baseball coach down there. And um man, I I I I learned a lot uh during my during my nine years there. Um at that time I was not a uh I was not a follower of Christ. So a lot of things uh I you know, I when I look back on that time, uh there was there's definitely a lot of things that I feel like could could have gone a little bit differently and I had uh and I had that foundation and I had that um you know that faith. Um so uh so that time happened and um uh went through went through divorce there towards the end of that time and uh took a took a little time, uh left Frostproof, um, joined the coaching staff of one of my good buddies down in uh Avon Park for a couple years. And um and honestly, it was it was during that time that that my life was was flipped upside down and turned around. And um I had a good buddy of mine back at Frostproof that even during my frost group days when he could kind of during that during the end of that time at Frostproof, right? I'm going through um going through the divorce and things with baseball are um not going well. It was um man, it was it was a tough time, right? I and uh and he could just tell like I I needed something, right? I needed something, and and uh and he was there and he kept inviting me to church, kept inviting me to church, kept inviting me to church, and um and every weekend it was uh I'm good. I yeah, I'm good, I'm good, you know.

SPEAKER_01 7:21

Um inside you're really not.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

Yeah, and inside I'm I'm really not, yeah. And and I'm down um probably, I guess it was during my first year at Avon Park, where um I just kind of woke up one day and I was like, you know what, man, I this ain't really going the way that I, you know, that I really hoped it could go, right? Um like I need something else, man. I I had I had support of friends, I had support of parents, but there was still just something that was missing. And um I don't know. I I don't know what it was, but I called my buddy up and I said, Hey, are you guys going to church tomorrow? And he said, Yeah, absolutely. And I said, I want to go. So I met him at his house that next morning. We drove to church together, uh, where they were going to church. And I man, I I walked in there and for the first time the gospel made sense.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

Nice.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

And um, I gave my life to Christ that day.

SPEAKER_01 8:26

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 8:27

And it was um man, my life's been it's been totally different ever since. So um it's really cool to to look back on that and and think about that time because there were some dark times in there, but uh when you look back on it, man, I I look back on it with um just a grateful heart. Just a grateful heart because um because I because I know now that uh even in you know some of those some of those tough times that that the Lord was still right there. Um and he was uh he was just he was just hanging on, hanging on to me.

SPEAKER_01 9:06

So that's great.

SPEAKER_00 9:08

Very thankful.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

And it's all because there was another man that just wouldn't take no for an answer. I mean he didn't push it probably. He just was there and kept talking and kept befriending you. Did you say that would have been like mid-twenties for you then? Yes, somewhere around there.

SPEAKER_00 9:23

Um so that was probably 11 years ago. So actually, no, that would have been my early 30s.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

Okay. Yeah, okay. My early 30s. All right. It's interesting, just when I was listening to you, um I I was I grew up in church. I don't know if you did, but I I grew up in church. Okay. I wasn't um serious about it, but I was about 23, 24. I had played ball at uh Palm Beach Atlantic. Weber didn't have a program back in the early 90s, but we would come over here to play Warner. Never wanted to live here. I've been here 21 years now, uh, and I don't ever see me leaving, but um I'm thankful for that. But after I got hurt after a couple years, um I was just kind of going to college then and I was married. We had a child who was uh one, that's the one that's 32 now, that's how long ago that was. But there was a time when I had to get serious about my faith. Am I gonna go all in with Jesus or am I just gonna continue to go back and forth? You know, when things are good, I'll I might do that a little while and I'll do the church thing every Sunday, but not diving in full, you know, head head head first. And um I had a a crisis point in my marriage and life, and that's kind of what helped me to get serious about it. And uh I never looked back, you know, God started to change things for me almost daily, and um I'm I'm really thankful for that. And our stories are what are important. That's the purpose of this podcast is to to just get people on here to tell their story about what their life was like before Jesus, uh what held what was happening when they met him, and what it's like now because of that. And uh you were talked about everything just kind of changing from that point on. Tell me a little bit about that. What happened after you got to know him?

SPEAKER_00 11:12

Well, so I you know, I think sometimes we we feel like there's just gonna be this great like earth shattering, you know, oh, and now I'm totally different type of thing. But it's definitely uh while things certainly change immediately, uh there's definitely a process that that really goes into it. And I think that for me, I would say um that that's that's very much true. There was there were some things that um the Lord immediately did in my life. Um there were some there were some things that that he immediately took away from me that um that definitely cleared the way for me to be able to uh kind of begin living living this type of life. Uh, but there were some things that was a little bit slower process that he, you know, he really had to do some work in my heart and um and eventually kind of, you know, uh kind of kind of rid me of, I guess if you will. But uh and there's and there's many things that he's still he's still working on. So let's not uh so let's not uh let's not let's not misunderstand that. But um I I I think the I so shortly after, so probably four, five, six months um after I had uh began going to church and uh and started following Christ and and really trying to figure out what that meant, um I met my now wife. I met Stephanie.

SPEAKER_02 12:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 12:44

And uh if I'm being honest, um she was a she was so instrumental in me understanding uh what it really meant to be a Christ follower.

SPEAKER_01 12:55

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 12:56

Um I know this is about men. Uh so uh who are married to women like that. That's right. Or want to be. That's right. Um, but yeah, so I mean, I I just remember, you know, as as we kind of began the um, you know, the relationship and the courtship and all that kind of stuff, uh, we had some real deep conversations and uh they were so uh they were so important. And I and I remember because she grew up in the church. Um her dad is um the uh traditional worship pastor at a local church here.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

So I know Dr. Dark.

SPEAKER_00 13:31

Yeah, yep. So um so I I just remember her saying, like, Sundays are for church. We we make plans around church on Sunday.

SPEAKER_02 13:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

There's um it we don't, you know, we don't make other plans and then if church fits in, but it was we do church on Sundays.

SPEAKER_01 13:50

Man, so if more people could just get that.

SPEAKER_00 13:53

Right.

SPEAKER_01 13:54

You know, I I I build the rest of my week around the time that I spend with God. That's right. What a difference that would make.

SPEAKER_00 14:01

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And and uh I think for me that really that really helped uh, I guess, kind of fix it in my mind, right? Like this is the priority, right? Like this isn't um this isn't the second option. This isn't the third option. Like we're going to church on Sundays, and that's and that's what we do. So um, but really at that time, um, there weren't really I wasn't really connected, right? I was going to church on Sundays, and um man, the the service was great, it was wonderful, but I wasn't really connected. Um so um our relationship, Stephanie and I's relationship really um started getting serious, and I was still going to church uh over in Winter Haven at a church over there. Um great place. And uh she was going to church here uh in Lake Wales locally, and uh she finally she just she invited me to to church with her, and uh and that's where we go to church now, but that was so instrumental because there were uh there were men there, right? There were men that understood exactly what we're talking about here today, that that men need men.

SPEAKER_01 15:16

That's right, right?

SPEAKER_00 15:17

That men need men. And um that was that was kind of uh that's when things really kind of clicked for me, right? That um that that Christ following men, like there's there's some real dudes out there and that are that are living this life. I mean, it's not um, you know, it's not the you know, the I I guess the the faint of heart and the the soft hearted, the soft-minded, but like there's some real dudes out here that are that are doing this, that are living this life. And um, you know, that and I it sometimes I I think that can be a little bit of a misconception, right? That um that that it's not like menly men out there doing this thing. And um, man, there were there were some guys there that were that were doing it and uh and that weren't afraid to kind of kind of let me in and um and really see how they see how they live, see how they led their family, uh, see how they they live this life in the community. And and for me, that was that was huge.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

That's amazing. You know, and that's really what discipleship is all about. Right. Um and it's that one person becomes a disciple, one man, and then he's discipling others, and you you needed that, and probably didn't even know what you needed when you started in this life of faith. But you know, the great thing is I've seen you over these years then, um, when when you talk to people in this community about who Jeremy Burr is, one of the things they mentioned is the kind of godly man you are. You know, and that's amazing. You're but you're one of those guys now that there are some probably other men that are going, man, I I'm looking for that. And so if you there there are men listening to that that they're kind of, yeah, they follow Jesus, but they were like you and I were, right? Just kind of uh in the background, and they're maybe they're at a place in their life right now where they're thinking about what would my life look like if if I started to get serious about my faith. And I don't even know how to do that. What are some steps that you would tell them about how to move into that deeper walk with Jesus?

SPEAKER_00 17:32

Yeah, so um that's a great question. Um, I think my my my first thought is um is a couple verses out of John 15, uh, where Jesus is talking about being connected to the vine.

SPEAKER_02 17:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:48

Right? And uh and I just want to share with you this is uh this is John 15, 5. Uh, and this is this these are the red letters. This is Jesus. He says, I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing. That's it. You can do nothing. I mean, think about that. I mean, if you if you if you are wanting to change your life, it's not you. You you are not going to change your life. There's no there's no amount of willpower that you are going to uh be able to put forth um that that will change your life. I mean, it it's it's the gospel, right? Like we we didn't do anything for this salvation, we didn't do anything um for for Jesus to be on the Christ uh on the cross except except for be sinners, right? So that's the big role we played. That's right, right? Um But we can't do anything apart uh apart from Christ. And and we are when we are uh when we are attached to the vine, um he's going to bear fruit in us. Yeah and and people are going to see that, right? So um so that would be the first thing that I would say is like you have to be connected to the vine. You have to be um you have to be locked in with him. And uh, and then I would share with you um another verse out of there, um, John 15, 8, that says, uh, by this my father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. When we bear that fruit, people know it, people see that change in our lives. Um, and then that's where the disciples, making disciples, making disciples, that's where that, um, that's where that kind of starts. So um, so for me, that would be step one, be connected to divine. Um, uh what what does that look like? I think that means you're going to church. I I think that that means you're in your word daily. Um, I think that, you know, for me, I have to listen to I have to listen to worship music all the time because um this is weird, but um country music sometimes, man, it takes me back to yeah, uh it takes me back to some times where where I wasn't living.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

Right.

SPEAKER_00 20:14

Um, I wasn't living this life.

SPEAKER_01 20:17

Um for you that's country. For me, that's metal bands. So yeah, it's the same con same thing though.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Yeah, and and it's weird how those things happen, right? Because there, you know, there are those connections there. So, um, so I mean I think those are some things that that help us be connected to divine. Um the second thing is this I I would say is uh you need men. You need men. Absolutely. Um I think about in uh Luke 5 with the uh with the paralytic man uh who had he had some brothers that were uh that were trying to get him to Jesus. They had um these men had enough faith to take their paralyzed friend uh to Jesus because they knew that Jesus was uh was the answer. We they knew that Jesus was his only hope. And um the crowd was so big they had to climb on the roof and pull back the tiles and uh and lower him into this place because they had such faith in Christ that uh that they that Christ would be able to help their friend and you need men like that.

SPEAKER_02 21:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:26

You need men. We you know, I I I think the term we hear on we you'll you you've probably heard this before. You need mat carriers, right? You need you need guys that are gonna be willing. That's good. Whenever whenever you whenever you feel like you can't do it yourself, you you've gotta have some dudes out there that are willing to uh just kind of pick you up and and and carry you, uh carry you along the way. Because there's going to be times like that in your life where where you're struggling, where you're down, uh and you just need men right and and and even when things are going well we still need those men right because um because there's nothing like accountability um even even when things are going well there's nothing like accountability there's nothing like having men beside you that are that are living this this this Christ life you know to to walk alongside you right because um and give these men permission to to get in your business and say hey yes um hey man the way I heard you talk to your wife the other day that ain't it yeah you know uh that ain't it it we've gotta we've got to do a little bit better right hey the way that you're you're getting involved with hey man you're working a little bit too much you're not really leading your family the way um that that God would call you to lead your family right now you know so so you've got to give these men permission um and and sometimes it may sting sometimes it may sting but man we we need men we need men in our lives that are they're willing to do those types of things so I would agree with you uh so I meet with a couple of guys every week uh we've met probably every Wednesday if we can for the past like 17 years.

SPEAKER_01 23:22

Um now I spent six years in the nonprofit world and was volunteering here at church so it was a little harder to get together then but um we still checked in with each other and just this week Wednesday I sat down with them started explaining something going on in my life and both of those guys were like yeah you need to put some other safety barrier some boundaries in that area um that it's not bad but down the road that could could come back to get you um and and put you in a bad situation and and I heard that and I received that because we've spent so much time together and we build trust together so when they do um challenge me on something I'm listening. So what would you say so guys aren't going to walk into a church on Sunday with a big sign that says I need other men in my life um but we know that they do. So what suggestions would you make? Those are amazing parts that we've got to be connected to Christ and other men. Absolutely and I love that John 15 passage because that's where he talks about when you bear that fruit it will be fruit that will last. That's right. So this is something that's gonna go on the rest of your life as long as you stay connected as long as you remain and abide in him. But then you know how how does a man Dave who's just listening to this somewhere how does he find that what what does he have to do to go about finding the kind of connection that you and I have experienced and are experiencing and that he needs in his life?

SPEAKER_00 24:57

Yeah um so that's that's a great question right because um men are typically not the big talkers right we we kind of leave that to our wives and uh and I'm thankful for the way my life my wife loves to talk to other people because it helps open some doors for me for conversation. But um it does it does take some intentionality right it does take uh just letting down some barriers to to be able to be open to uh to having new friends you know um one of the things that I would uh encourage men to do is to serve nice find ways find ways within your church that you can serve um because if we're being honest um and I would say many churches um I don't want to use the word clicky but like people have their friends right people have their friends right and um and whenever new friends come along sometimes you know and and some of these friendships have been there for decades right so um so for someone to be kind of new to the party uh it can be hard to break in yeah you know um but um but I would just say find ways to serve you know um where where are other men serving within the church? Are they serving you know as in in the parking lot? Are they serving on the security team? Is there a is there a group of men that that goes out and uses their talents as you know with their hands and their tools to be able to you know go and and help help fix up people's houses you know that of of church you know of some of the people in the church that just don't have the means to do it right.

SPEAKER_02 26:48

Right.

SPEAKER_00 26:49

Um but I think it I think ultimately it comes down to recognizing like what are what are my talents and what am I good at and and where can I plug in where other men are being plugged in because I think that's where you're going to find um you're going to find you know those men and then those relationships can kind of start to to blossom. The other thing is is I would say is uh you got to get plugged in whether it's with like a Sunday school class uh if it's uh we we call them life connection groups at our at our s at our church um if it's um you know Bible studies you know midweek type of thing you know um just search those things out and be vulnerable right be be willing for things to feel a little bit awkward uh for a little while uh until until you get to learn and know people until you develop those relationships but um just keep going right just keep going keep putting yourself in those situations um just keep trying to break down those those uh those walls of of um of friendship yeah right and uh and just keep putting yourself there yeah I think you use a word it might be awkward a little bit but on the other side of that awkward comes that accountability and those real friendships that you were talking about so we do have to put ourselves out there and I loved what you said about serving and just getting around some others and we call that serve passionately here um and so it really comes down to what is it that you enjoy?

SPEAKER_01 28:27

What are your strengths? I'm not the kind of guy if you need something fixed at your house call me. Yeah me either um I'm thankful that I I have people like that we we half jokingly talk about our son-in-law who lives eight houses down from us and uh but he's amazing the dude can fix anything oh that's and I I told Hallie you picked a good one right there for no other reason but and uh and we love Brand you know but it you need that in your life you also need people who are gonna challenge you in other ways and so um who are gonna get you out of the house and spend time with you those kinds of things so it really comes down to that um you've mentioned a couple of times your wife Stephanie and so you guys got married how how long ago was that eight years?

SPEAKER_00 29:14

Oh I should have checked with you before you're on this you should have gave me we should have you should have included this I know it was a great day because Lana and I were there to celebrate with you.

SPEAKER_01 29:23

Uh we are uh we've been married for seven years seven okay that we're going on eight you're just looking forward to eight so much that I um so you talked about how instrumental she was and in your early faith and I'm sure that that has continued to help strengthen you spiritually and it just opens up conversations between you and your wife um over the years and man that's so important too to to be able to talk with your wife not just about um the game or your job but also about where you're at in your faith and what the Lord's showing you so when you have question con conversations like I was just reading in Luke 5 can you believe that these guys climbed on the roof and pulled back the tiles which by the way I read the other day they probably used a manure to help hold those together. So when you got some guys that are gonna literally dig through crap for you to get you to Jesus that's a big deal. You know so when you have those conversations with your wife and and um that's been amazing and you guys have how many kids? We have three three we have three yeah okay um and we've got double that right because we each had three before Lan and I got together and uh it it's been amazing to just uh because I know you guys are a blended family also and so we'll talk about that a little bit as you ha have been a a father and now in our house we don't I don't say oh I'm their stepdad I I'm just this is my daughter this is my son absolutely and I mean I don't ever try to take the place of their parent and Lana doesn't either but we just really work at having a relationship with our kids. Um and we joke about it because one is moving out today just he and his fiance bought a townhouse in our neighborhood um our our griffin and um they're getting married in October so that means we've got four others that are there are four kids of ours that live in the same neighborhood and uh it's it's awesome. Man Father's Day was a couple weeks ago we had a progressive dinner went to everybody's house and then finished up at Hallley's and Brent's and uh it's amazing we love it. But talk about how your relationship with your wife impacts your relationships with your kids.

SPEAKER_00 31:38

Yeah so um I tell you what she is um she's amazing first of all she's amazing she is um she's definitely uh she does a great job of of keeping me in check but at the same time man there is uh there is no one who encourages me uh the way that she encourages me um that's great and and uh she teaches me patience um not in the not in the way of you need patience to deal with her but like you know I see the way that um I see the way that that she just kind of carries herself and the way she teaches middle school she has to have patience right absolutely she's taught five six of our kids five of them so yeah yeah so um so I would just say the the way that uh man the the the grace that she has the you know the way that she just loves the kids um that that's really I mean that's really helped me. I I was uh I'm an only child and uh prior to uh this marriage I had been I had I had one son uh he was an only child so um so coming in that's really all that that I've ever experienced right so um so when we got uh so when we started dating and there were three kids that was um that was a that was a change right because now things get a little more energetic and a little more loud yeah and uh a little more emotion here and there right um but I I think the way that she's kind of uh showed me patience and showed uh love and showed grace in in uh in in the parenting of all of that um that's definitely been a a huge help for me and uh and and like you said um we don't we don't use the the step the step parent term or or anything like that if anything we use bonus right bonus bonus mom bonus dad sure um but at the end of the day you know hey this is my daughter this is my son exactly and um but I tell you um I mean you and Lana like you guys were instrumental in in in how we um really talked about and tried to to form our our family right because blended families um from what I understand can be really tough and um and and we've we've definitely had our challenges but but I tell you what um our family has come together um like only God could put our family together and we are we are so fortunate and so blessed we we talk about it often you know we talk about it often you have to yeah and and because it just puts us in this place of of thankfulness for um for God's love for his grace for his provision in the way that he's brought our family together like only he could do it that way.

SPEAKER_01 34:59

I hear that yep absolutely and you know we both experienced so you had one son I had three but man things change when you come into a picture with daughters around absolutely um you know there's just there there's a difference with with there with them and I have great relationships with Hallie and Collins um you know Hallie was going into her senior year when we got married and then she's off to college but then she came back here and she's on staff here at our church and is just just so genuine and real and loving. And uh we're excited because she's getting ready to have our first grandchild in October. Uh Bear is just going to be uh a blessing to our family. And then I got Collins you know and I I came in I she was like five when I came into the picture. And um so I've really spent a lot of a lot more time with her and but it's just been eye-opening in a good way to experience life a little differently through the eyes of daughters than it is through sons. You know sons like they'll fight each other and wrestle and rip things out of each other's hands you know when when one wants to play video games or I I don't want to watch I'll just take the remote you know and then you gotta like break up WWE right there. It's not that way with daughters even though I tell them all the time y'all fight like your sisters. Right. You know but there's a deep love there. And uh so life has just been really amazing for us as well. Have hard times, of course. And we had um lots of times early on we had to schedule family meetings where hey Tuesday night at seven everybody's home the guys that were doing sports were were back from practice and showered because nobody wants to sit around the table after they've been at practice all day and uh we would just talk about stuff. Hey this is happening we need y'all to to step up here in this area um and then everybody else got the chance to talk and what it really did was built this culture that's a bad word really it built this freedom for them to have conversations themselves. So now I find out you know a couple of them have lived away and now they move back and um they check on each other and they talk with each other at you know I'll say something oh yeah I was talking with Caleb about that you know and so it's just really amazing to to hear that. Hope that's happening with you as well and I I really recommend for any family to have those family meetings. You may have to schedule them and and that's okay. Don't feel like oh we're we're missing the boat here. No, because it really sets the tone for those ongoing conversations that are built on love and respect and I'm gonna work through this with you instead of pull away from you. All of those things so you know just I I hope that that that's something that you guys are building in as well and that other people are seeing and you know they're gonna grow up and start their own families. That's where we're at. And we want those things to continue in their family where they're working to build a healthy family relationship where the husband and the wife you know and he's loving her the way Christ loved the church and she's respecting him in the way she talks just like Ephesians 5 talks about because they've seen us model that and you know and then in the way that we're building them up in the training and instruction of the Lord that we yeah we can talk about the game last night we can talk about the book that somebody's reading but we can also talk about things spiritually that matter and um you know and when they're struggling they know that there's a safe place they can come to that Lana and I are there for them and with them. And um and I love that. You know that's the kind of discipleship that happens in our home and God calls you and I as men to be the ones that lead that. Does that mean that I say hey Tuesday night is family Bible study, be here maybe you might need to do that. Does it mean that you make decisions on um where you go where they're gonna go and what they watch or what uh social media they have on their phone? Yeah it's it's all of that. Does it mean that that you set boundaries about where they can drive and who can be in the car with them or who they can be in the car with all of that comes into play because it's our job as men to lead our families. That's right. And we're not lording that over them you know I'm not saying this is what you're going to do and I I'm the ruler of this dick lair. No it's you know you might need and you might need to talk direct to one of your kids or you might need to just put your arm around them and say hey we don't do that and only talk to you about why. You know so those are some things that that we've experienced um anything else you want to add about your marriage and family because that's really good stuff what you were saying.

SPEAKER_00 39:50

Yeah um yeah that's that's all great stuff that um that you have uh that you were you were talking about there and um I I guess what I would say is uh one of probably some of our favorite times Stephanie and I have some of our favorite times um our two oldest kids they're they're both 17 years old they're both going to be seniors this year um and uh they would both tell you um that's my best friend nice and um you know sometimes we That's amazing yeah sometimes we find out that um you know we've gone to bed they wake up tired the next day and we're like why are you tired and they're like oh we we were up to like two o'clock in the morning just talking you know um so um so so that type of thing is is um you know when we when we talk about um you know this this being a blessing and only God could do it like it's that sort of thing you know and um and we do have those times where um the four of us we don't we don't try to leave the younger one out but um a lot of times we start having conversations around what's going on in their life in school yeah with friends with sports with with all those types of things um after he's already gone to bed because there's something about ten o ten o'clock at night or eleven o'clock at night where all of a sudden teenagers like to talk you know and um and those have been and and Stephanie and I are tired right um but at the same time we're like man what a man that was awesome.

SPEAKER_01 41:32

You know that was a great time to talk because they just open up yeah and and they share their heart and um we get to hear the things that that uh that they're going through we get to hear the things that are on their heart we get to hear you know um what they want out of life you know so um man just I mean those are really amazing times um so you know don't um don't go to bed yeah stay up with them that's good you know when you got your kids talking to you and sharing with you you can get an extra cup of coffee or an energy drink the next day but that's a time that you really can spend with them. I I want to go to um a time you you guys probably had a a lot of conversations because here recently within the last couple of years you made a huge shift in your life uh you felt like God was calling you away from teaching and into working for FCA. Um tell me about that when God started to call you as you had those conversations and and are now in that um what tell me about that process what that's been like yeah so um you know it's I was trying to think just the other day um how did how did this whole journey actually start and I and I think that it started um with just a just a small Bible study.

SPEAKER_00 42:57

A buddy of mine that it that is on staff with um with with Fellowship of Christian athletes or was on staff at that time with Fellowship of Christian athletes it was me uh him and one other guy and we would meet at at McDonald's down in in frostproof at um I think like 6 30 in the morning, six o'clock in the morning and and and we would um we would we would open the Bible and we would we would um we would just study the word together and I think out of that just kind of blossomed um different opportunities where he he was like Jeremy like what do you think about coming with me? I'm going to talk to this team today uh at their practice. How about you come with me? Um just hang out. You know um and then I think that kind of turned into uh and really that Bible study like it it started with those two. They invited me the you know the other two uh They invited me in. Uh we were kind of the three of us for yeah, I mean, several months, and then this guy came in and then this guy came in, and then it, you know, the Bible study kind of started to grow. But um so then it would then it kind of turned into, hey Jeremy, like I can't be here this day. Can you can you kind of lead this for me? Um so I think that combination of things kind of led into this just kind of all of a sudden, hey, what do you think about just you? I need you to I need somebody to go down to this school and and talk to the baseball team down here. Uh, can you do that for me? Um, and I think that was kind of my introduction into um into Fellowship of Christian athletes. And then it was uh um and then it became I need you to can you do this school? Hey, you're at Lake Wells High School, you know, can you um can you lead the the on-campus huddle there and you know meet with this team and this team at at practice and and that sort of thing. So it all just kind of um it all happened kind of you know um slowly um but through all of that, uh probably so then I was I think I've been on staff for uh probably over two years. Okay. Um mostly yeah, mostly in a part-time role. Okay. Um but over the last year uh I just felt this um man, I felt this pull, I felt this calling to um to do this full time. And uh man, you wanna you wanna talk about scary. Uh sure. Um that's scary because I've been I've been a teacher for 19 years, uh 18 at the time. Um and I'm like, man, like I'm kinda on the other side of this whole this whole teaching thing. Uh God, what are you talking about?

SPEAKER_02 46:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:09

You know, like like I and and and I enjoy it, right? I enjoy being in a classroom with uh with students and um but just through a kind of a series of things where um I could just feel like my passion for being able to to go and speak with teams, being able to, you know, lead a Bible study, um with coaches. Um I could just feel like God really just kind of filling filling me, you know, through those things, I guess, and um, and really just kind of start feeling like okay, this is what I'm supposed to do full time. Um and then, you know, uh I'll I'll talk about her again, Stephanie. Like she was um she was super encouraging, right? Like never, never at any point was it like, no, what are you talking about? Yeah, like you just need to finish this teaching career and uh and be done with it and just keep doing this this on the side. It was okay, like if you if this is where you if what you're really feeling, like let's let's just continue to pray about this and then and and let's see. And uh man, she was so supportive. So um definitely couldn't have uh made this jump without her support.

SPEAKER_01 47:34

Yeah. So yeah, and I wouldn't recommend trying to do that, right?

SPEAKER_00 47:37

Absolutely not.

SPEAKER_01 47:38

Yeah, that's amazing, you know, and and I think it goes back to the kind of relationship you already had with her. Right. You know, because if that's not built on love and trust and respect and I'm making sure that I'm leading you as a man, um, she's gonna go, mmm, no. You know, you're like 10 years away from the drop, and you know, as a teacher or what whatever that time frame is, right? Um you got to finish this out. But you you said yes to a call where God was saying, No, I I've got something else for you, something different, something better, and I'm gonna provide for you in this process. And so um, man, you go into that, that's a huge step of faith. You know, by the way, it's interesting when I heard you talk about that, because I've never heard you tell that story um about how you just kind of went along and then he would have you talk, and then he would be saying you know, I can't I can't be there, can you go? And then you step into this role. That's kind of how I ended up here at high point. Um, we had left Baptist and Park Church in two in 2010. I didn't want any part of ministry, I was burned out. We just started coming to church here. I was working in a nonprofit world. I said, I don't want to teach anything, I don't want to lead anything, I just want to sit in church next to my wife for like the first time in 13 years because I was always preaching. And uh Bonnie Barker, our who's our executive pastor here now, was like, Yeah, yeah, no problem. You can take a break. And she turns to someone, does a true story, and she says, I'll give them three months. And then she started with, and I'm not saying she was trying to trick me, but then she was like, Hey, so-and-so can't leave Bible study tonight. Could you step in? And I remember telling my wife, my first wife, Kelly, this before she went on to be with the Lord, I said, Um, it's just one time. I'm just filling in this once. And she's like, Mm-hmm, yeah, yeah, sure. Uh, you're lying. Um, but she went along with it. She don't call me a liar, but she was like, Mm-hmm. One time, you know, and then one time led to can you just finish out this study? And then would you be interested in leading a study? And then would you be interested in leading our small groups and coordinating that, and then come on part-time, and then February I'll be here full-time 10 years. So hard to believe it, right? So it does happen where you start to get in, you kind of wade into this water, and you think you're just gonna sit there, you know, where your feet kind of sink into the sand, and but that's about it. But then you get knee deep and waist deep, and then you're in over your head. Right. And that's where God wants us to get. When we do that, that's when he does his best work. That's right. So I want to hear um what your life is like on a regular what do you do with FCA? What does your work week look like?

SPEAKER_00 50:22

Yeah. So um, so I I actually just want to take a step back uh here as well, um, and really kind of tell you the the scary art in in all of this stuff was um, you know, you you as a teacher, um, you know, you you come and and you plan lessons and you and you teach. Um when with Fellowship of Christian athletes, we're local missionaries. So the um through this whole process, God is has really taught me a lot about faithfulness because um this whole uh this whole ministry is um you know is is funded through um you know the generosity of donors, of people who uh see the um who who see the mission of of FCA, who believe in the mission of FCA, who believe in um in what we're doing. So um so that's kind of the part where um that was kind of the scary part in all of this is how do we how do we jump from um a career where you know that paycheck is there, sure, to um, okay, we've got to go out and raise these funds so that we can go out and do the ministry, so that we can actually, you know, obviously um be able to to raise support to to be able to live and pay our own bills and and that sort of thing. So um so I would say that through that whole process, um God taught me so much about faithfulness. Um it was uh it really turned into kind of a family thing because I would come home and the kids would want to hear about how the meeting went that I had with a potential donor. And nice uh and I would let them know, hey, today I've got I've got a meeting with you know with this donor or that donor. Um I didn't give them names, but I've got you know, I've got meetings with some potential donors today. Like I just I need you to pray for this. And and they would pray for it, right? And we would celebrate, you know, God's faithfulness when uh when someone would see the vision of of FCA and uh and partner with us. So um, so it really became a family thing, right? Where we could celebrate together. So that's amazing. Um so that was really uh so that was really a cool, yeah, uh, a cool opportunity for this to really be a family thing. So um so I wanted to say that um and I forgot your other question. So hit me with it again.

SPEAKER_01 53:10

That was just yeah, I just think I wanted to hear about that that process of moving into FCA and what uh it was like I wanted to hear more than let's talk about what your work week is like now. Now that you've been doing this, yeah. What does that schedule look like?

SPEAKER_00 53:26

Yeah, so um the schedule's really interesting uh because uh it's not your typical uh nine to five situation, you know. Um there are um so we have uh our footprint is what we call South Ridge and Heartland. So that's kind of the footprint that I work in. So that that would include Eagle Lake, Winter Haven, Lake Wells, Babson Park, Frostproof, down into uh Northern Highlands County.

SPEAKER_02 53:56

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 53:56

Uh for me. So like Avon Park, right? Um, so so it looks like a lot of different things. There are uh and really we uh we have a footprint on uh on campuses from elementary school all the way up to college.

SPEAKER_02 54:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 54:12

Right? So um, so it's really just amazing to see what the ministry looks like at all all different levels. Um I I um I attend and and help out with uh with campus huddles, right? Which um are the athletes for the um for the entire student body. Um most of them are athletes, some of them are just people that that want to come and be a part of of uh of a body of Christ that's meeting on on a school campus, right? So um so I have the opportunity to be at uh high schools and middle schools um from Lake Region, All Saints, um, Lake Wales, Bach North, Bach South, um Weber International University.

SPEAKER_01 55:04

Because I've spoken at FCA and you guys go on a regular basis.

SPEAKER_00 55:07

So um and and that one, that one to me is um that one that one holds a special place right here. Yeah, man, that's home, right? That's right, that's right. So um, so uh so you know, those are on on different days, but then we have the opportunity to um to speak at uh at team practices, right, across the different sports. And and really what that comes down to, and this is it's so important, is it's how we develop relationships with coaches, right? Um, because coaches are the ones that are going to open the door and allow us to be uh to be at practice and to be able to share the gospel with their athletes because um at the end of the day, our world's changing and schools are starting to get a little, you know, some of them are becoming a little apprehensive about, you know, um the word being shared on campus, you know. Um and I and I don't necessarily think that it's it's um it's out of a we don't want that to happen, but what it could kind of open up from other people. Yeah, they're scared of the ramifications. Um so uh so we're so thankful for the relationships that we have with coaches to be able to uh to be on campus at at practices and that sort of thing. So um and then one of the things that I'll share that's that's relatively new um with what uh kind of the the direction the ministry's kind of taking for me is uh is FCA sports. And uh what FCA Sports is is it is the uh kind of the development of the league and club space. Okay. So um we had the opportunity uh last May to kind of partner with uh Ben Hill Griffin, Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Junior Elementary down in Frostproof. And we offered an afterschool flag football league down there. And uh it's kind of the first of its kind here in uh in our area. Um so it was kind of our kind of our test run uh when it came to this. And um when I tell you, uh just to see the way God kind of brought all that together and put put it put all the pieces in place for us there. Um, man, it was a lot of fun to see that. We had we opened up registration and at first it was kind of slow. I'm like, oh man, I man, what a what are we doing? What's happening, you know? Um, but then um we met on that first Wednesday. We had 40 kids out there. By by that Saturday, I think we had another like 15 signed up. And then that next Wednesday that we met in May, we were we were just over 60 kids out there. And um and we were able to have three different fields uh set up where we were able to put kids into age groups, and um, but it was it was so much fun because the kids would leave school and they would come running down from the school uh to meet us at the PE area. We would give them a snack, we would share the gospel with them, and then we would go uh kind of warm up, practice a little flag football. Um, and for many of these kids, they're learning a new sport. And and for some of them, we we don't know why they were there. Some of them want to play sports, some of them don't want to go home in the afternoon, right? Like um, so that's kind of the you know, the awareness that we get to have and the things that we kind of got to learn through some of these relationships. But um, but man, yeah, every week we're we're we're bringing in 60 kids and just sharing the gospel with them from kindergarten through fifth grade. And um we would meet kind of along the fence line uh where the parents were picking them up uh at the end, and and we would uh just kind of share a recap of the of the gospel presentation that we had given uh at the beginning so that all the parents could hear it, right? And we would encourage the parents, go home, ask, ask your kids questions today, you know. Um so so we're super encouraged by that. And that's that's kind of the direction that this ministry is kind of going for me. Okay. Is is the development of this and finding out where can we where can we have some of these other, you know, after school leagues. So um so FCA sports is is really one of the big things that um is is going to be kind of my daily uh daily path and and daily direction for uh for the remainder uh or or at least as we begin this next uh next school year.

SPEAKER_01 59:56

So you guys are looking to try to do that more locally than the FCA sports part.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:02

Uh yeah, yeah. So yep, FCA sports. And we've also had the opportunity to uh partner with another local church to uh to help run their sports leagues as well. So uh so we're super excited about that opportunity uh and the partnership that that will create. So um, yeah, so FCA sports, that's a I think that's a thing that you'll you're gonna start seeing a lot more of in this area.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:28

Okay. You know, we have a school here at Providence Academy at the church, and so I was just making myself a note to follow up with them to let them know about this because we have they do some flag football. They were in a unit, this was last school year, not this past one, but um they asked me, hey, would you play quarterback uh for flag football, you know? And so every Tuesday morning I was getting here and being all-time quarterback, right? And I man, I loved it. I loved it. Um but it gave me a chance to build relationships with these young guys too. And you know, now they're they're in middle school, and so I'm seeing them um they're in that awkward stage, right? Like they're they're about to they look like men, but there's still some some uh parts where they're not, and and but we're helping them learn what kind of man they should become, right? You know, and discipleship can happen in any and in every way if you look for it. So that's tremendous. I'm glad you talked about that. Um anything else you want to say about FTA? You're two years into this, right? And you're what going on like you're the end of your first year full time. Um what is what's a story that you remember about this happened and this encounter? Don't use names, obviously, and you know that, but um what did God do one time? Just tell us that. Yeah, so or can you tell it just one to one story?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:51

Yeah, I mean, uh so I think every time that we um that we have a camp, every time that we have a clinic, uh, every time that we go out to play flag football after school, um we we may not truly know the the seeds that we're uh having the opportunity to plant, right? We don't know who um we don't know what kind of ground those those seeds are are are falling on. Um But um I think one one one maybe one story that that kind of stands out to me is um we were at a we were at the the a huddle here at Lake Wells High School and Um we uh we we have a great leadership team there and a great student leadership team. Uh we have great sponsors there uh as well. So um so that that on campus huddle is um it it's great. And uh but we we met one day and um I don't I don't remember who the speaker was, I don't remember you know what the topic was. I don't I don't I I don't remember, but um what I remember is a kid come up at the end and uh you could tell he was uh he was a little little shy, I guess, uh in talking and and maybe he didn't really know exactly what he was trying to to say, but um he he just said um Mr. Bird, I I just want you to know like I'm so thankful for FCA. And I'm so thankful for FCA because no one else in my family is a believer. Not my mom, not my dad. I've got two or three brothers, I think he said. Um he's like they don't they don't get it. He's like, but but I get to come to school, I get to come to FCA, and I can have a place where I can come together with other people that that think like me and believe like me. Um and and this is a space that I look forward to to being a part of uh each week. So that's great. Um so yeah, so that's one of those things that that's really uh man, it it it just hit home for me, right? Because, you know, sometimes we're we're kind of in and out of the school, and um, you know, those huddles, they're you know, those times can be short, you know. So um so to have a a kid just feel feel you know the need to come up and and and kind of express that, that was that was that was awesome.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:33

Oh, I love that. I love that. And that's that's really what the kind of reaction, the kind of input that you're trying to get every time, right? And um you can't like measure that. You know, you can't say, oh, every six times we should have this encounter, or any, you know, and there's certain certainly something about goals, but what that kind of thing, I'm sure you like walked out of there on cloud nine. Uh I'm sure when you went home and told your family about that story about FDA, that was a big moment for you guys. Um, but it's amazing how God's using you, and it all happens because a man like you says yes. It all happens because a man like you, who's going through something of your own years ago, says yes to Jesus. And then you start getting around other people that are helping you, and then you start talking with this lady, and you end up marrying her, and you continue to talk about who Jesus is in your marriage, and you've got some men that you're sitting around the table at McDonald's talking about the word and the Lord, and and then you start feeling this pull, this call. Um, and God's saying, Will you say yes again? And you did. And now because of that, he's putting you in environments and arenas and teams and huddles where you're talking to people about him every day. And it's around sports, like how cool is that, you know? Um kind of like dream job thing, you know. For me, and um you mean I have to go to work and go to another game or go to another practice? That's that's awesome, right? Um, but you're getting the opportunity to to impact the lives of men and women and help train them spiritually. You know, I remember when I was in high school, way I graduated in 1990, like long ago. Um, I went to FCA one time in the three years I was there. Um kind of ashamed to admit that, you know, but that's where my life was. Um I went to more rock concerts than FCA, and that's sad. But uh when I looked now, you know, thank God for people who were leading those huddles for a time. Lana led the one at the high school here. And um, you know, so I I got to see that. And but you guys are doing such a great work, and I just uh commend you for the work you're doing every day. I don't even know what you've got in store. It sounds like with the FCA sports, you're not even really sure where this is going, but God is sure of it. That's right. He knows exactly where he's taking you and the the plans that he has for you and how he's gonna use you. So I hope that um this has been encouraging to you to kind of look back over your life, and I really appreciate you coming in to share with me today and our listeners. And um, that's really what we're trying to do is talk to men about following Jesus and what that's like. And when you say yes to him and you start following him, how is that going to change the trajectory of your life and the direction that it goes and how he uses you to bring other people to him? Again, that's what Miking Disciples is all about, helping men become disciples of Jesus. And so I I appreciate you coming in today, man. Thanks so much for for being here. It's been amazing to catch up with you and hear more about who you are and what God is using. So uh thanks so much.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:52

Uh thanks for having me. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:54

We'll have to have you back on a couple years down the road and hear about FCA sports and other things. So uh we're gonna be praying for you as you do this, and and I know God's gonna keep using you. So anything you need, just let me know, okay? Sure will. Uh, if there's something you want to come on and talk about, like as that's going, let me know. We'll get you back in. All right. Perfect. So um thanks so much again for being here. Well, that's all the time we have today. Again, I want to thank Jeremy for being here and sharing his story. I hope something he said resonated with you, made you take a look at your own heart in life and where you're at in your walk. I hope that because of what he said, you're willing and wanting to get connected to the savior, connected to that vine. And when you do that, that you're gonna get around some other men, like he talked about, and that's gonna bring about some fruit in your life. And then God's gonna start using you to speak into the lives of others. I'd love to hear questions or comments from you. If you have those, if you want to reach out to me, the link is in the show bio. Uh, but we would love to hear from you and just continue to keep joining us, and we'll be back again soon, and we'll talk to you later, where we're trying to make every man into a disciple of Jesus. So thanks so much for joining us today. Thanks for joining us today for this latest episode of Miking Disciples. If you have any comments or questions, I would love to get for you to go to the comments or questions link that's found in the description of the episode. And I really would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for joining us today. We'll talk to you later.