Creating The Future with Brent Simpson

What if you're genuinely called by God—but you're serving in the wrong place? Too many Christians spend their lives wondering what God has called them to do. Others faithfully serve in roles that leave them frustrated, exhausted, or feeling like they don't belong. But what if discovering your calling isn't as complicated as we've made it? In this episode of Creating the Future, Dr. Brent Simpson and co-host Pastor Mike Braddock dive deeper into the biblical concept of APEST (the Fivefold Ministry) from Ephesians 4:11–16. God designed His Church with apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers—not so a select few could do all the ministry, but so God's people could be equipped to fulfill their calling. You weren't created just to attend church. You were created to make a difference! 🎙️ In This Episode, We Discuss: Discovering Your Calling: How do you recognize your God-given strengths and find your place in ministry? Understanding the Fivefold Ministry: What are apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers—and why does the Church need all five? Are You Serving in the Wrong Role? How can you tell the difference between normal ministry fatigue and serving outside your strengths? Finding Your Fit: Why the things that burden you, excite you, and consistently capture your attention may reveal something about your calling. Developing Your Calling: Why recognizing your strengths is only the beginning—and how to grow into what God has placed inside you. The Leadership Trap: Why pastors and ministry leaders must stop trying to do everything themselves and start developing others. Called but Not Ready: Why you don't have to have everything figured out before taking your first step. Overcoming Fear and Failure: How to move forward when insecurity, past mistakes, or feelings of inadequacy are holding you back. Your Next Step: Practical ways to explore your calling and begin serving with greater purpose. 📖 Key Scripture: Ephesians 4:11–16 Your calling isn't just about discovering what God put inside you. It's about developing it so God can work through you. You don't have to be a pastor to be called. You don't have to have a title to make a difference. And you don't have to be fully prepared to take your first step. God has given you something valuable, and the Church needs what you bring! The question isn't simply, "Has God called me?" The question is, "Am I willing to take my place?" 💬 Join the Conversation! Have you discovered where God has called you to serve? Or are you still trying to figure it out? Tell us in the comments! We'd love to hear your story. 👍 If this episode encouraged you, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to discover their God-given purpose! 🔗 Connect with Dr. Brent Simpson 🌐 Brent Simpson Ministries: https://www.brentsimpson.com ⛪ ARISE Church: https://www.myarisechurch.com 📸 Instagram — @DrBrentSimpson: https://www.instagram.com/drbrentsimpson 📘 Facebook — Dr. Brent Simpson: https://www.facebook.com/DrBrentSimpson/ ▶️ ARISE Church YouTube — @MyAriseChurch: https://www.youtube.com/@MyAriseChurch 🎧 Creating the Future Podcast: Listen on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you enjoy podcasts! https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/

What if the greatest obstacle to your future isn't something you need to learn—but something you need to unlearn? What got you here won't necessarily get you there. Welcome to Creating the Future with Dr. Brent Simpson, where we dive into stories, truths, and deep questions that help shape our faith, our families, and our future. In this episode, Dr. Brent Simpson and cohost Pastor Mike Braddock explore The Holy Art of Unlearning—why some of our greatest obstacles to growth aren't the things we don't know, but the things we've become convinced we already know. We all have assumptions, habits, traditions, and ways of thinking that shape how we see the world. Some have served us well. Others may be holding us back. And sometimes, the very things that made us successful in one season become obstacles to what God wants to accomplish in the next. In this episode, we explore: Why humility isn't just about being willing to learn, but also being willing to unlearn. How yesterday's success can become tomorrow's limitation. The difference between healthy conviction and dangerous dogmatism. Why leaders must sometimes stop being the hero and start developing others. How churches can mistakenly treat traditions and preferences as sacred. Why historic revivals have often challenged the assumptions of established religious institutions. How to recognize the difference between something that contradicts Scripture and something that simply contradicts our expectations. Powerful questions that can challenge our thinking, spark creativity, and open the door to personal and spiritual growth. From leadership and psychology to church history and spiritual revival, this conversation challenges us to reconsider what we think we know. God doesn't have to change for our understanding of God to need changing. Whether you're a pastor, business leader, parent, or simply someone who wants to keep growing, this episode is an invitation to become more curious, more humble, and more willing to change. Here's a question worth asking: What are you holding on to today that might be keeping you from becoming who God is calling you to be tomorrow? ✨ Connect with Dr. Brent: 💬 All Social Media: @DrBrentSimpson 🌐 Personal Website: https://www.brentsimpson.com 🏡 ARISE Church: https://www.myarisechurch.com 📺 ARISE Church YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyAriseChurch 🎙️ Listen to Creating the Future with Dr. Brent Simpson on Podbean or anywhere podcasts are found: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/ Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs the courage to rethink what they've always believed. Keep dreaming, keep building, and keep creating the future God designed for you to create!

Everyone tells you to get out and vote. But what if there are some very good reasons you shouldn't? What if the problem with American democracy isn't just how many people vote—but how little thought some people put into their decisions? In this provocative episode of Creating the Future, Dr. Brent Simpson challenges conventional thinking with 10 Reasons You Shouldn't Vote. From blind political loyalty and uninformed opinions to celebrity culture, fear-driven decisions, and making politics your religion, this conversation challenges us to reconsider what responsible voting really looks like. Plus, we're introducing Pastor Mike Braddock as the new cohost of Creating the Future! Mike joins Brent as they begin a new chapter of conversations exploring faith, culture, leadership, and the questions shaping our future. In this episode, we explore: Why having the right to vote doesn't eliminate the responsibility to think. The dangers of voting based on political party, race, popularity, or personality. How fear, hatred, and social media echo chambers influence political decisions. Why campaign promises should be evaluated by their real-world consequences. What happens when political allegiance becomes more important than personal convictions or faith. Why America needs more independent thinkers, not just more voters. This isn't an argument against democracy or the importance of voting. It's a challenge to become a more informed, independent, and thoughtful citizen. Because democracy gives everyone a voice. Wisdom teaches us what to do with it. Join the conversation: Which of these ten commandments do you think Americans most need to hear? Share your thoughts in the comments!   🔗 Connect with Dr. Brent Simpson  🌐 Personal Website: BrentSimpson.com ⛪ ARISE Church: MyAriseChurch.com 📸 Instagram: @DrBrentSimpson 📘 Facebook: Dr. Brent Simpson 📺 ARISE Church YouTube: @MyAriseChurch 🎙️ Creating the Future Podcast: Listen on Podbean Subscribe to Creating the Future with Dr. Brent Simpson for thought-provoking conversations about faith, philosophy, culture, leadership, and the future we're creating together.

What really happens behind the scenes in politics? And can you maintain your faith, integrity, and convictions while serving in government? In this episode of Creating the Future with Dr. Brent Simpson, I sit down with Florida State Representative Danny Alvarez for an honest and thought-provoking conversation about politics, leadership, faith, freedom, and the future of America. Danny brings a unique perspective to public service. As an attorney, U.S. Army veteran, husband, father of seven, and Florida legislator, he's experienced leadership from the battlefield to the courtroom to the halls of government. But what does he know about politics that the average American doesn't? We explore the realities of political life, the pressures politicians face, and the challenges of maintaining personal integrity in a deeply divided culture. We also discuss how Danny's family history, including his father's escape from communist Cuba, shaped his appreciation for American freedom and his commitment to public service. In this episode, we explore: 🇺🇸 What politicians understand about government that most Americans don't. ✝️ How Christian faith influences political leadership and difficult decisions. ⚖️ The difference between political compromise and compromising your convictions. 🏛️ Whether America's greatest challenges are political, cultural, or spiritual. ⛪ The role of the church in shaping culture and influencing society. 🔍 The threats to America's future that aren't getting enough attention. 🤝 What Republicans and Democrats could do differently to better serve Americans. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Danny's hopes and concerns for the country his seven children will inherit. This conversation goes beyond political parties, campaign slogans, and the headlines. It's about the people behind the policies, the convictions behind the decisions, and the responsibility we all share in shaping the future. Can we disagree politically without becoming enemies personally? Can leaders remain faithful to their convictions without losing their integrity? And what kind of America are we creating for the next generation? Whether you're deeply involved in politics or completely exhausted by it, this episode offers a perspective worth considering. 💬 Join the conversation: What's one thing you wish every politician understood about the American people? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔗 Connect & Learn More 🏛️ Florida House of Representatives: https://www.flhouse.gov/ 📸 Follow Danny Alvarez: https://www.instagram.com/dannyalvarezsr 🌐 Dr. Brent Simpson: https://BrentSimpson.com ⛪ ARISE Church: https://MyAriseChurch.com 📸 Follow Dr. Brent Simpson: https://www.instagram.com/drbrentsimpson/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrBrentSimpson/ 🎧 Creating the Future Podcast: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/ ▶️ ARISE Church YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyAriseChurch 🔔 Subscribe, like, and share! If you enjoy meaningful conversations about faith, leadership, culture, and the future, subscribe to Creating the Future and share this episode with someone who wants to think beyond the headlines. Keep dreaming, keep building, and keep creating the future God designed you for!

In this episode of Creating the Future with Dr. Brent Simpson, where we dive into stories, truths, and deep questions that help shape our faith, our families, and our future, I sit down with Florida State Representative, attorney, and U.S. Army veteran Danny Alvarez to discuss one of the most unsettling questions surrounding the death penalty: Even when someone deserves to die for their crimes, should we want to watch it happen? Nidal Hasan, the former Army major responsible for the horrific 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people, was sentenced to death. Now, plans for his execution by firing squad—and the possibility of broadcasting it to the public—raise profound questions about justice, revenge, human dignity, and the kind of society we're becoming. I'm not opposed to the death penalty. But I do wonder what happens to us when the death of another human being becomes something we want to watch. In this thought-provoking conversation, Danny and I explore the morality of firing squads, the psychological impact of witnessing real violence, the burden placed on those responsible for carrying out executions, and the troubling possibility that modern technology is turning punishment into entertainment. Have we become more civilized, or have we simply replaced the Roman Colosseum with a smartphone? We also wrestle with an important Christian tension: How do we uphold justice while remembering that even the most guilty human being was created in the image of God? Can we condemn evil without allowing our response to evil to diminish our own humanity? ⚖️ Justice can require the taking of a life without requiring us to take pleasure in it. This isn't simply a conversation about capital punishment. It's about human nature, our growing desensitization to violence, and the moral responsibility we have for what we choose to watch, celebrate, and consume. The question isn't just whether we have the right to execute someone. It's whether watching that execution makes us better—or less human. 💬 Join the conversation: Would you watch a public execution? Do you believe broadcasting an execution serves justice, or does it turn human suffering into entertainment? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔗 Connect & Learn More Follow Florida Rep. Danny Alvarez on Instagram: @dannyalvarezsr 🌐 Dr. Brent Simpson  ⛪ ARISE Church 📸 Follow Dr. Brent Simpson on Instagram 📘 Facebook 🎧 Creating the Future Podcast ▶️ ARISE Church YouTube 🔔 Subscribe, like, and share! If this conversation challenged your thinking, share it with someone who enjoys wrestling with life's difficult questions. Keep dreaming, keep building, and keep creating the future God designed you for!

What if the very thing you’re doing to feel more secure is actually making your life smaller? We all want control. We want to know our kids will turn out okay, our relationships will last, our plans will work, our health will hold up, and the future will unfold the way we expect. But there’s a paradox: the more certainty you demand, the fewer risks you can take. In this episode of Creating the Future, Dr. Brent Simpson explores the illusion of control—why our desire to control outcomes can actually be rooted in fear, why successful people may be especially susceptible to it, and how our need for certainty can keep us from stepping into the future God is calling us to create. We’ll talk about: Why having more control over the little things may make us less comfortable with uncertainty • The psychology behind the “illusion of control” • Why successful people can easily confuse influence with control • Abraham and what it means to have direction without knowing the destination • The difference between planning and presumption • Why insecure leadership can become controlling leadership • How control can quietly cost us peace, relationships, opportunities, creativity, and faith • The difference between responsibility and control • Two questions to ask when something in your life is creating anxiety You cannot create the future while demanding certainty about the future. There are things that are yours to do—and there are things that were never yours to control. Do what belongs to you. Then trust God with what doesn’t. ✨ Connect with Dr. Brent: 💬 All Social Media: @DrBrentSimpson 🌐 BrentSimpson.com https://www.brentsimpson.com 🏡 ARISE Church: https://www.myarisechurch.com 📺 ARISE Church YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyAriseChurch 🎙️ Listen to Creating the Future with Dr. Brent Simpson on Podbean or anywhere podcasts are found: https://creatingthefuture.podbean.com/ Don’t forget: Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to stop carrying what was never theirs to control. Keep dreaming, keep building, and keep creating the future God designed for you to create.

What if your calling was never meant to stay inside the walls of the church? In this episode of Creating the Future, Dr. Brent Simpson sits down with Laurie Skipper, author of The Seven Mountain Mandate: Taking Your Place of Influence, to explore what it looks like for believers to bring Kingdom influence into every area of culture. Together, they unpack the Seven Mountain Mandate, the difference between revival, awakening, and reformation, and why transforming individuals is only part of the Great Commission. Laurie also addresses common misconceptions about “taking the mountains” and explains why Kingdom influence should look less like control and more like servanthood and faithful influence. Whether your place of influence is in the church, business, education, government, media, entertainment, or somewhere else entirely, this conversation will challenge you to discover where God has positioned you and how you can make an impact right where you are. CONNECT WITH LAURIE SKIPPER Laurie Skipper Ministries Email: [email protected] Facebook: Laurie Skipper on Facebook YouTube: Prophetic Activation Youtube Recordings Blog: Time 4 Reform Blog: God's Simple Truths PURCHASE THE BOOK The Seven Mountain Mandate: Taking Your Place of Influence Purchase here! 🔗 Connect with Dr. Brent Simpson 🌐 Brent Simpson: www.BrentSimpson.com 🏡 ARISE Church: www.MyAriseChurch.com 📱 Instagram: @DrBrentSimpson 📘 Facebook: Dr. Brent Simpson on Facebook 🎙️ Creating the Future Podcast: Creating the Future Podcast

What if the words you speak are shaping more than you realize? In this episode of Creating the Future, Dr. Brent Simpson sits down with Dr. Shirley George, author of The Creative Power of Your Words: Minding What Holds the Power to Shape Your Destiny, for a powerful conversation about the connection between our thoughts, words, faith, and the direction of our lives. Dr. Shirley shares from her own journey of overcoming harmful words spoken over her, how to recognize and break agreement with negative words, and the important difference between biblical confession and manifestation. They also discuss speaking to the “mountains” in our lives, navigating faith when healing hasn’t happened yet, and being intentional about the words we speak over our families, relationships, and ourselves. If your vocabulary has become filled with fear, negativity, or limitations, this conversation is an invitation to renew your thinking, align your words with God’s truth, and begin speaking from a place of faith. Connect with Dr. Shirley George Above & Beyond Christian Counseling Instagram: Shirley_George16 Facebook: Shirley George PURCHASE THE BOOK The Creative Power of Your Words: Minding What Holds the Power to Shape Your Destiny Purchase HERE! 🔗 Connect with Dr. Brent Simpson 🌐 Brent Simpson: www.BrentSimpson.com 🏡 ARISE Church: www.MyAriseChurch.com 📱 Instagram: @DrBrentSimpson 📘 Facebook: Dr. Brent Simpson on Facebook 🎙️ Creating the Future Podcast: Creating the Future Podcast

Our Summer Series continues as Dr. Brent Simpson sits down with one of the newest members of the ARISE pastoral team, Dr. Scott Pfingston, Global Ministries Pastor, for a conversation about revival, calling, missions, decades of ministry, and following God when His plans look different from your own. Dr. Scott grew up in church and was surrounded by the presence of God from an early age. Revival services were a regular part of his childhood, laying a spiritual foundation that would eventually shape the direction of his entire life. Growing up, Dr. Scott describes himself as the chill guy. He loved sports, loved the Lord, and was even voted "Sweetheart of the Year." But he also admits there was a rebellious streak in there—although, according to him, he wasn't very good at sinning. When Dr. Scott made the decision to fully return to the Lord, everything began to change. He was water baptized, baptized in the Holy Spirit, and answered God's call to Bible school in the fall of 1985. From Bible school, he went directly into ministry, beginning a journey of serving God that has now spanned more than four decades. After 41 years in ministry, Dr. Scott reflects on both the incredible moments and the difficult ones. One of the things that surprised him most was discovering that some of his deepest wounds could happen within the Church. He shares what God taught him through those seasons and the moments throughout his journey that have marked his life and ministry. For years, Dr. Scott thought God's plan was for him to become a full-time missionary in Asia. While his heart for the nations never changed, God's plan for how he would fulfill that calling looked different than he expected. His ministry has taken him around the world, including Nepal, which has become one of his favorite places. Dr. Scott shares the unexpected journey that eventually brought him to ARISE Church and what it means to now serve as our Global Ministries Pastor. He explains the heart behind global ministry, what it looks like to build relationships and strengthen ministries around the world, and why the Great Commission remains central to his calling. And after 41 years of ministry and traveling the world, there are still a few things you may not know about Dr. Scott. He's an artist—and apparently, there's also a story behind his less-than-perfect earlobes. From growing up in revival to answering God's call in 1985, traveling the world, walking through wounds, and discovering that God's plans can look very different from our own, Dr. Scott's story is a reminder that saying yes to God is a lifelong journey. We may not always know where He is taking us, but we can trust Him with every step.   Do you have a question for Dr. Scott? Email us at [email protected] 🔗 Connect with Dr. Brent Simpson 🌐 Brent Simpson: www.BrentSimpson.com 🏡 ARISE Church: www.MyAriseChurch.com 📱 Instagram: @DrBrentSimpson 📘 Facebook: Dr. Brent Simpson on Facebook 🎙️ Creating the Future Podcast: Creating the Future Podcast  

Our Summer Series continues as Dr. Brent Simpson sits down with Pastor Mike Braddock our ARISE South Lakeland Location Pastor for a conversation about faith, family, ministry, healing, and learning what it truly means to experience the presence of God. And before we get into the deeper parts of his story, we learn a few things about Pastor Mike, including his love for the TV show Bones, his musical side, and why this country boy might just have a food truck in his future. Born and raised in a rural area, Pastor Mike was affectionately known as "Little Michael." His parents had recently left the military when they found out they were expecting him, and much of his childhood was spent outside enjoying country life. But life changed after his parents divorced. Without his dad in the home, Pastor Mike had to grow up quickly. His family moved nearly every year, bringing seasons of transition and uncertainty that would ultimately become part of the story God was writing in his life. At 10 years old, Pastor Mike made a profession of faith, but his journey with God continued to deepen as he grew older. During his teenage years, life included football, joining a band, singing, playing music, and eventually experiencing an encounter with God that would change the direction of his future. Through a prophetic word, Pastor Mike began to recognize God's call on his life, eventually stepping into ministry in 2008. He shares how he met his wife at church, transitioned into a new church, moved into worship ministry, and eventually relocated to Virginia. After 15 years of full-time ministry, Pastor Mike opens up about one of the biggest misconceptions he had about ministry. Being surrounded by the things of God does not automatically mean you're personally experiencing the things of God. His story is a reminder of how important it is for pastors, leaders, and believers to protect their personal relationship with Jesus in the middle of serving others. Pastor Mike also shares one of the most unforgettable moments of his ministry. While preaching in a developing country, he witnessed an extraordinary moment of healing involving a man with a tumor in his throat. It's an experience that has stayed with him and strengthened his faith in the power of God. The conversation also gets personal as Pastor Mike talks about walking through church hurt, finding healing, and the journey that first brought him to ARISE Church. He shares where God led him next and the story of how he eventually returned to ARISE. Today, one of the things Pastor Mike values most about ARISE Church is its authenticity. He is passionate about discipleship, community, and helping people develop a genuine relationship with Jesus that goes beyond simply attending church. And there's another side of Pastor Mike you may not know. Along with being a talented musician and singer, he loves to cook and would love to have his own food truck one day. From the country boy everyone knew as "Little Michael" to more than a decade of full-time ministry, Pastor Mike's story is filled with unexpected turns, powerful encounters, healing, and restoration. His journey reminds us that ministry isn't simply about doing things for God. It's about continuing to know Him, experience Him, and allow Him to transform us along the way. Do you have a question for Pastor Mike Braddock? Email us at [email protected] 🔗 Connect with Dr. Brent Simpson 🌐 Brent Simpson: www.BrentSimpson.com 🏡 ARISE Church: www.MyAriseChurch.com 📱 Instagram: @DrBrentSimpson 📘 Facebook: Dr. Brent Simpson on Facebook 🎙️ Creating the Future Podcast: Creating the Future Podcast