197: SOARing with Streets Ministries

Host Brandon Artiles sits down with the director and some of the cast from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever as they share about the Theatre Department's upcoming fall play. Listen as senior Cooper Gordon, junior Adelyn Fisher, 4th grade student Addie Jones and Director of Performing Arts Ms. Lynden Jones discuss their behind-the-scenes perspectives of this heartwarming show.    Performances run November 19, 20 & 21 at 7 pm plus one matinee performance at 2 pm on November 21. Buy your tickets at ecseagles.com.

ECS alumna Betsy Cashman '96 returns to her alma mater to serve as Mental Health Counselor for students in grades 7-12 on the Shelby Farms campus. Listen as she shares about her new role, how she engages with students and discusses common issues teens struggle with today. 

In this episode, Brandon Artiles interviews two Eagle Club leadership team members, Kinsey McCutchen and Sheley Taras, as they share how The Eagle Club supports ECS Athletics. This newly launched parent-driven organization provides vital logistical and financial support to ECS sports program, student-athletes and families. Join the Eagle Club today at https://www.ecseagles.com/athletics/eagleclub

Listen as Fine Arts Department Chair David Butler '97 shares how he was inspired to create the artwork symbolizing this year's theme of UNASHAMED. He points out the hidden pictures and their meaning and how they reflect the year's theme and Bible verse.

Head of School Scott Hauss shares the inspiration behind the 2026-2027 school theme, UNASHAMED, from Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

In this session, we will investigate some of the most frequently asked questions in the classroom. We'll attempt more than merely to answer these questions. We'll explore the motivations, hopes, and desires that fuel these frequently asked questions.

The ECS community is excited to welcome our new varsity head football coach Ben Johnson. Coach Johnson joins the podcast to share why coaching at a place with such a rich football tradition is a special opportunity for him and his family. He also discusses how football shaped him and how he desires to go beyond X's and O's to use sports as a tool for ministry.

Class of 2013's Brent Rooker has some special titles: two-time MLB All-Star, MLB Silver Slugger Award, National and SEC Baseball Player of the Year (2017), etc. However, Christ-follower, husband and father are titles he cherishes the most. In this episode, he recaps what he shared with students in chapel about being a gospel-driven man and how that guides him in leading his family well. He also shares how his faith helped him persevere through challenges to ascend to the high level he is performing at today.

Executive Director of Streets Ministries Eric Ballentine was a special guest on campus recently to share with students how Jesus changed him from living a life of recklessness to pursuing a life of righteousness. He also shared how Streets Ministries demonstrates love to underserved youth throughout Memphis and how ECS students can empower their mission during our SOAR Day of Service, February 4, 2026.

Vallie Collins was one of 155 passengers on U.S. Airways flight 1549, which made an emergency landing on the Hudson River in 2009. Everyone survived. In addition to our podcast, Collins recently spoke to ECS students and women in our community about what God has revealed to her about how to live following the event that brought her so close to death.