Tell Me More

Come meet Julie Hammer, the new children’s minister at First Baptist Arlington! She sat down with Dennis and Katy just 30 minutes after getting back from a Connect Texas retreat for children’s ministers, in her very first week on staff.Julie talks about growing up as a minister’s kid in Stephenville, when she came to faith in second grade, and when God called her to ministry at Hardin-Simmons. She also shares about the 18 years she spent at Columbus Avenue Baptist in Waco and the 12 years she spent at First Baptist Lewisville. You’ll hear how she met her husband, Clint, at her mailbox. She’d already built a house with a future family in mind. And you’ll find out why taking him to children’s camp sealed the deal.We also talk about what’s ahead for children’s ministry here. That includes bringing back Vacation Bible School (Take Flight, July 12–16), Julie’s take on Connect Camp, and why she thinks children’s ministry is really ministry to the whole family. The episode ends with a look at Engagement Month, the Lord’s Supper, and the sense of renewal at FBCA right now.Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, or visit fbca.org to learn more about First Baptist Arlington.

For the first time in a long while, all three hosts are in the studio together, and we’re kicking off Engagement Month at First Baptist Arlington.We start with Halloween: dinosaur costumes (and a brontosaurus still somewhere in the mail), an inmate-themed family lineup, childhood movie trauma, and 700 trick-or-treaters at one very Harry Potter house in Interlochen. Along the way, we talk about why Halloween is one of the best nights of the year to meet your neighbors.Then we turn to one of the most important churches in the Bible: the church at Antioch. Luke names dozens of people in Acts, but the people who first brought the gospel to Antioch are simply “some men from Cyprus and Cyrene.” We look at why they proclaimed Jesus as Lord (Kyrios) to a Gentile city used to bowing to Caesar, why Barnabas was the perfect person to send there, and how a small, unnamed group of believers became the launching point for the first intentional missionary movement in Christian history. That leads to the question at the heart of Engagement Month: what can one church do, or more humbly, what can God do with a group of people who say yes?

With Katy flying home from Rome, Luke sits down one-on-one with Dr. Dennis Wiles to catch up on a busy fall of travel to Canada and Assisi, Italy. Together they work through Acts 16 and the Macedonian call, and ask how a church holds onto its skill, strategy and systems while still depending on the leadership of the Holy Spirit.In this episodeFall recap: the evangelism sermon series, three guest evangelists, and eight weeks of churchwide Sunday school study in the book of Jonah.Acts 16 and the Macedonian call: the Spirit closes the way to Asia and Bithynia, Paul's vision at Troas, and the gospel crossing into Europe in the reverse direction of Alexander the Great.The Spirit gets us in the ballpark: Paul goes looking for a Macedonian man and a synagogue, and instead finds Lydia and a group of God-fearing women praying by the river.The bit players matter: Silas the prophet, Euodia and Syntyche, and John Mark's restoration after his split from Paul.Lessons from Canada and Europe: in post-Christian settings, church leaders describe a growing dependence on the Spirit, including stories of healing and of people flourishing in the middle of suffering.An organism, not just an organization: the complexity of ministry at First Baptist Arlington, from the Wade Building and printing company to the child development center, counseling center and global work.Discerning the Spirit's voice: Luke's "ABCs" for testing a sense of leading.Key takeawayGod gives us skill, strategy and systems, and we shouldn't abandon them. But we won't work our way into a new move of God on ability alone. Following the Spirit means being willing to be wrong, taking the risk anyway, and staying alert for when He calls us beyond our plans.The ABCs of discernmentWhen you sense the Spirit leading you to do something, ask:Affirming: Does it encourage or build up other people?Biblical: Will it help you or someone else love God and love neighbor more?Christ-like: Is this something Jesus would do?If the answer is no, check with someone wiser before acting.Mentioned in this episodeActs 16:6–15; Acts 15:36–41; Philippians 4:2–3; 2 Timothy 4:11Guest evangelists: Raphael Anzenberger, Ozzie Jones (Texas Baptists), Gary StidhamJonah study curriculum by Dennis Tucker (Truett Seminary)Commentators: Craig Keener, John Stott, Patrick SchreinerMissionaries: David Livingstone, William Carey, Adoniram JudsonMission partners: TMS Global, Canadian Baptist Ministries, Restore HopeTransforming the Bay with Christ (San Francisco)The ChosenSubscribe on your podcast app of choice or visit fbca.org to learn more.

Host Luke Stehr is joined by college minister Connor Toreallaba and Dr. Gary Stidham for a conversation about the gospel movements happening on college campuses across Texas and the country, and what every believer can learn from them. Gary has spent more than two decades in collegiate ministry, including 20 years leading the Baptist Student Ministry at UTA. Connor leads First Baptist Arlington’s college ministry. Together they talk about why students are more open to faith than they were a decade ago, how “reps” build confidence in sharing your faith, and a simple step-by-step way to start a gospel conversation with anyone.In this episodeA great time for college ministry. Gary says he knows of at least 10 campus ministries that have each seen more than 100 students profess faith in Christ in a single year. Ten years ago, he knew of none.Evangelize or fossilize. As culture becomes more post-Christian, churches and campus ministries are recovering a sense of urgency about sharing the gospel.Why reps matter. Contact evangelism means going out in pairs and talking with strangers. It gives students dozens of practice conversations in one semester, and that confidence carries over into conversations with roommates, coworkers, and family.Getting reps outside of college. Ideas include reviving “visitation”-style follow-up, gospel appointments over coffee, neighborhood cookouts, kids’ activities, and community events. Luke also suggests a simple prayer to pray everywhere you go: “God, what are you doing here, and how do I join in?”What counts as sharing the gospel? A spiritual conversation is valuable, but sharing the gospel means communicating the message of Jesus: he lived, died, rose again, and offers salvation, usually with an invitation to respond.Your story in one sentence. Have a full testimony, a 20-second version, and a one-sentence version, built on “Then… but God… now.”The holy relay race. One plants, another waters, and God gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). You have a part to play, but not the whole thing.The thresholds of faith. Most people come to Christ through a series of steps. For many, the first step is simply knowing one Christian they trust. That’s a good reason to “fly the Jesus flag early.”Building a witnessing culture. Connor’s approach is to lead by example, pray boldly, set clear expectations, talk about it often, and share stories.The SALTY methodGary’s step-by-step framework for gospel conversations:Start a conversation. A good opener is “What’s your spiritual background?”Ask questions, with permission, moving from general to personal.Listen to answers with genuine curiosity.Tell the good news, using a gospel summary you know well, such as Three Circles, the Romans Road, or the Bridge to Life.Yes or no: invite a response.Resources mentionedFree SALTY ebook at garystidham.comI Once Was Lost by Doug Schaupp and Don Everts (InterVarsity Press), the source of the “five thresholds” framework1 Peter 3:15, on sharing your hope with gentleness and respectFirst Baptist Arlington’s equipping brunchesTake a step this weekPray for opportunities. Write your one-sentence testimony. Ask one person, “What’s your spiritual background?”Learn more about First Baptist Arlington at fbca.org.

Dr. Dennis Wiles is back from Canada, and he joins Michael and Ashley Berryhill to talk about what he learned. He joined a pilot mission trip through the Ascent Movement, hosted by Canadian Baptist Ministries. The trip took the team from the Greater Toronto Area to Montreal and Quebec, where they saw how churches are sharing the gospel in one of the most multicultural places in the world.From there, the conversation turns to evangelism here at home. Dr. Wiles shares two divine appointments: a server at a busy restaurant who asked for prayer, and a Hindu seatmate on a flight from Africa who wanted to add a statue of Jesus to his home altar. These stories show how simply being available can open doors for the gospel. The episode closes with a call to pray, because every great movement of God has begun with a praying church.In This EpisodeAn overview of the Ascent Movement’s pilot trip to Canada with Canadian Baptist Ministries, TMS Global, and Restore HopeVisiting Tyndale University during the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s English New TestamentWhy “multi” isn’t the same as “inter”: multicultural vs. intercultural, multigenerational vs. intergenerationalNew research from Canada: younger generations aren’t so much secular as pluralistic, and they’re more open to spiritual conversationsWhy the gospel doesn’t need cultural or political power to prop it upWilliam Carey and the “unusual, mysterious partnership” between God’s power and our availabilityTwo divine appointments: a restaurant server and an airplane seatmateEvangelism as a continuum: being one link in the chain, not just the person “closing the deal”Becoming “come and see” people, like the Samaritan womanPrayer as the “secret sauce” behind every revival and awakeningKey TakeawaysThe power of the gospel doesn’t depend on us, but it does have to be shared.Busyness is one of the biggest reasons we walk right past divine appointments.Try praying for “the one”: ask God each day to put one person in your path.You don’t need a playbook or to have every answer. Just say, “Yes, Lord, I’m available.”Praying together with other believers creates accountability, and lets the whole church celebrate when God moves.Scripture Referenced1 Peter 3:15John 4 (the Samaritan woman)The prayer life of the early church in ActsThis Week’s Prayer “Father, help me to be sensitive to your leadership in my everyday life.”Join Us The Table meets Wednesdays at 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall for worship, prayer, and a devotional led by Dr. Wiles, plus light bites. Pick up a copy of the weekly prayer guide, and find more at fbca.org.Hosts & GuestsMichael, Minister of WorshipAshley Berryhill, Minister of Discipleship EngagementDr. Dennis Wiles, Senior Pastor

Katy Reed Hodges sits down with two of First Baptist Arlington's youngest and newest staff members for an all-women episode of Tell Me More. Tatum Scully is a UTA senior and our new college associate. Jaylin Harris is the first resident in the church's new Global Residency. Jaylin grew up in a tiny village in the Oklahoma Panhandle, where her graduating class of 18 was the biggest in school. A DNOW weekend with the ministry Glowing Heart pointed her toward UTA and eventually to First Baptist Arlington. Tatum is from San Antonio, where a full scholarship settled her college choice and a mission trip to Denver sparked a calling toward church planting. Both describe following God one step at a time without seeing the whole map. Katy notes that the whole church is learning to walk that way in a changing ministry landscape.The conversation turns to the friendship between Tatum and Jaylin, who went from fellow freshmen to roommates. They talk about making room for honest conflict and carrying each other through seasons of discernment and support raising. From there, they talk candidly about their generation: scared and lonely, longing to be known but afraid of it, quick to spot anything inauthentic, and all in once they see the heart behind something. Drawing on Oza's sermon from John 4, where Jesus offered "connection before correction," they make the case for letting people belong before they believe. Their advice for reaching Gen Z is simple. Open your home, set the table, don't worry about the dishes in the sink, and invite someone to dinner.

In this episode of Tell Me More, Dr. Wiles and Luke sit down with Raphel Anzenberger, executive director of the French Baptist Union of Canada, to explore evangelism, Scripture engagement, and what the kingdom of God is doing in a highly secular context.--Watch the sermon Here: https://youtu.be/sXMS1CN62pIListen to the Sermon here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/55bf5818Download the Sermon Notes from Raphel: https://www.fbca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/7-signs-of-John-method.pdfRaphel begins by sharing his background—from growing up in Strasbourg, to mission work in Chad, to partnering with Christian communities across Europe and now serving in Quebec. He helps listeners understand how French-speaking Canada represents an under-evangelized environment, and why the church there is learning to communicate the gospel with clarity and courage in a culture where faith is often challenged, misunderstood, or dismissed.A major focus of the conversation is Raphel's approach to reaching people who believe they already know what Christianity is—yet have not encountered its claims through the primary sources. Drawing from his sermon on John’s Gospel and the “Seven Signs”, he explains how beginning with the person and words of Jesus can reframe people’s assumptions—especially when the gospel confronts secular narratives at their foundation.The episode also highlights themes of “flourishing” in community life, the importance of faithfulness in minority contexts, and the upside-down nature of the kingdom—where real spiritual fruit often grows not through cultural power, but through service, urgency, and Jesus-centered discipleship.Whether you’re asking “How do we do evangelism in a secular age?” or “How do we cultivate a living, Scripture-shaped church?” this conversation offers practical insight, biblical grounding, and encouraging perspective for the journey ahead.

What does it look like to share your faith in everyday life? In this episode of Tell Me More from First Baptist Arlington, Dennis Wiles, Katy Reed Hodges, and Luke talk about evangelism, the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15, and why stories reach people in ways arguments often can't. Along the way they swap fishing stories (including a knife-in-the-mouth rescue under a boat), share highlights from Truett Seminary's women in ministry conference and a mission trip to Montreal with the French Baptist Union, and give practical tips for starting spiritual conversations. You'll hear how a simple daily prayer, "Lord, put the one person in front of me today," is changing how church members see their neighbors, servers, and coworkers. Whether you're new to faith or looking for fresh ways to share the gospel, this conversation will encourage you to go looking for the one.

What does it really mean for a church to flourish? In this episode of Tell Me More, the team sits down with Curt Grice, marking 32 years on staff at First Baptist Church Arlington, to unpack how a study-leave prayer for direction turned into a years-long journey with the Global Flourishing Study, a landmark research partnership between Harvard, Baylor, and Gallup surveying over 200,000 people across 22 countries.Curt and his Dennis trace the story from its roots in the Psalm 1 imagery of deep roots, strong trunks, and fruitful branches, through First Baptist  Arlington's own congregational survey of nearly 1,300 adults, to the surprising, humbling results: strong scores in prayer, scripture, and worship, but real room to grow in evangelism and daily Bible reading. They talk candidly about how those findings reshaped the church's 2026 ministry priorities, from a renewed evangelism series to a daily devotional now reaching 800+ subscribers.The conversation closes with a preview of an international gathering of "flourishing" pilot churches near Assisi, Italy, bringing together California Pentecostals, German Lutherans, and Italian Catholics for a shared retreat on what it means to flourish as the people of God — evidence, they say, of a new, global, post-denominational move of the Spirit.In this episode:The origin story of First Baptist Arlington's connection to the Harvard/Baylor Global Flourishing StudyKey survey results on prayer, scripture engagement, worship, and evangelismWhy daily Bible reading and evangelism became 2026 ministry focus areasA look ahead to the international flourishing retreat in Montefalco, ItalyHow Psalm 1 shapes the church's vision of spiritual flourishingTell Me More is a podcast from First Baptist Arlington. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app or visit fbca.org to learn more.

It's back-to-school season at First Baptist Arlington, and there's a lot to catch up on. Kasey Fagan joins the podcast to share highlights from Family Getaway at Riverbend, including a dad teaching his son the drums during worship, volunteers keeping things running, and the sweet chaos of families making memories together. Dr. Wiles recaps a whirlwind stretch that took him from teaching a doctoral seminar at Truett Seminary to an Auburn-Baylor football game in Atlanta, plus a look back at the outpouring of love from his 25th anniversary celebration at First Baptist Arlington. The conversation then turns to what's ahead: midweek programming kicks back into gear with returning favorites like Bible Heroes for preschoolers and new rotations for elementary kids, and the fall sermon series "Gone Fishing" launches its focus on evangelism. Dr. Wiles shares his own (admittedly limited) fishing skills as a jumping-off point for the series, and previews the lineup of guest speakers, Rafael Anzenberger, Oza Jones, and Gary Stidham, who'll each bring a different perspective on sharing the love of Jesus in the weeks he's traveling.A little bit of everything: family, faith, fly fishing, and a full calendar heading into fall.