Advertise on podcast: Steeple People

On this episode of Steeple People, hosts Amy Jo Girardier and Michelle Dyer sit down with Dustin and Carolyn Denning from Brentwood Baptist's Woodbine campus. The Dennings share how God brought them together on the mission field in South Africa through one persistent prayer and one Facebook message, how Carolyn served mothers in Cape Town's hospitals and townships, and how an unexpected move home during COVID led to both of her parents coming to faith. Now a midwife and a stay-at-home dad in Nashville, they're living on mission right where God has placed them, starting each day with a simple prayer: "Lord, who do you want me to share with today?"

What happens when you finally become willing to say yes to God? In Season 2, Episode 2 of Steeple People, hosts Amy-Jo Girardier and Michelle Dyer sit down with Gini, who shares her journey from the darkest season of her life to freedom from alcoholism. Hear how she found God during treatment, why daily surrender became her lifeline, and how her yeses have led her into ministry with women in recovery, from local jails to weekly visits through Serve Local. It's a powerful reminder that no one is too far gone.

Season two of Steeple People kicks off with Buck and Laura Thompson, a Brentwood Baptist couple whose honest wrestling with Scripture led to Line by Line, a ministry that's helped participants grow in biblical literacy, one book of the Bible at a time. Hosts Amy Jo Girardier and Michelle Dyer sit down with Buck and Laura to talk about their move from Pennsylvania to Tennessee, how reading God's Word for the first time reshaped their marriage and parenting, and how a class project became a passion for teaching Scripture. It's a story about trust, patience, and what happens when you decide to actually open your Bible and ask, "What if this is true?"

What happens when you start losing your hearing as an adult—after a life filled with music, singing, and church as you’ve always known it? In this episode of Steeple People, Steph shares her story of adult hearing loss, discovering the deaf church, learning ASL, and finding deep community in a congregation where God’s Word is seen as much as it is “heard.” You’ll hear about the unique mission field of deaf ministry, the challenges of access in most churches, the joy of ASL worship, and why the name El Roi—“the God who sees”—means so much to those who have felt overlooked.

In this episode of Steeple People, we sit down with Adam Harper to share how God used Cul2vate, a Nashville farm ministry dedicated to growing food and growing people, to bring stability, community, and renewed purpose into his life. From early struggles and a long recovery journey to discovering meaningful work and discipleship at Cul2vate, this conversation highlights how God meets us in our brokenness and shapes us through everyday obedience, community, and service. If you want a grounded look at how Cul2vate supports both people and neighbors facing food insecurity, this episode offers an encouraging window into the ministry.

In this episode of Steeple People, we talk with John and Rene Cook, founders of Every Girl Counts Kenya, a ministry that provides secondary education and weekly discipleship for girls growing up in the slums of Nairobi. They share how a burden for adoption turned into a call to help many girls, how God used a short-term mission trip to open their eyes to global needs, and how He’s now using their business skills, processes, and everyday obedience to change futures. You’ll hear about girls who’ve come to Christ, parents who met Jesus through WhatsApp Bible stories, teen moms who were embraced instead of pushed aside, and what it’s like to worship with the global church in Kenya. If you’ve ever wondered whether God can use your ordinary life for something bigger, this conversation will encourage you to say “yes” to the next step He puts in front of you.

In this episode of Steeple People, Don Moen—beloved worship leader and songwriter—shares how God took him from writing ad jingles to leading worship around the world. With honesty and humor, Don reflects on the early days of his faith, his unexpected path into ministry, and the stories behind some of the most well-known worship songs of our generation. Whether you’re a creative, a worship leader, or simply someone walking in obedience, Don’s story will encourage you to trust God with your gifts and your calling.

What does it look like to give when your world is falling apart? In this episode of Steeple People, hosts Amy-Jo Girardier and Michele Dyer talk with Sarah Cooley, a member of the Church at West Franklin, about how her understanding of generosity was transformed through seasons of personal loss, single parenting, and financial uncertainty.     Sarah shares openly about how her journey through unexpected divorce led her to a deeper reliance on God—and how learning to live open-handedly with her finances became a powerful act of trust. Whether it was starting small, auto-giving by faith, or listening to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to increase her giving, Sarah’s story is a reminder that radical generosity isn’t about the size of the gift—it’s about the surrender of the heart.This episode offers encouragement for anyone wondering if obedience in the area of giving really matters. Spoiler: it does—and God always shows up.

In this episode of Steeple People, Joey Lankford shares how one moment of surrender sparked a global mission. From greenhouse farming in South Africa to starting Cul2Vate in Tennessee, his story is all about planting seeds of hope—through food, faith, and second chances. This is gospel work that gets its hands dirty.

On this inspiring episode of the Steeple People Podcast, hosts Amy-Jo Girardier and Michele Dyer sit down with Tim Brister, founder of Gospel Systems and the Haiti Collective, to dive into what it means to make your life available for God’s mission. Tim shares powerful stories of how God used heartbreak, unexpected disasters, and life’s detours to shape a calling that led from South Florida to Haiti and, eventually, to Spring Hill, Tennessee. You’ll hear about the harrowing rescue of orphans from gang violence in Haiti, the simple power of loving your actual neighbors, and how faithfulness often means unexpectedly reimagining your ministry and your definition of success. If you’ve ever wondered how your gifts, experiences, or even setbacks might be used in ways you never planned, this episode is packed with encouragement and real-life examples of God’s providence at work. Don’t miss Tim’s honest reflections and practical steps—plus a challenge to join in gospel conversations and live out your faith right where you are!

In this episode of Steeple People, Bob and Kelli Palmer share their powerful marriage restoration testimony—a raw, honest look at how God redeemed their lives and relationship in a miraculous way. From exploring Buddhism and Wicca to a midnight encounter with the book of Romans, their journey is a compelling reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Hear how faith transformed their marriage, restored their family, and ignited a passion to help other couples build strong, Christ-centered relationships.   🎧 Whether you're facing struggles in your marriage or just love hearing real-life stories of redemption, this conversation will leave you encouraged and inspired.

In the debut episode of the Steeple People Podcast, hosts Amy Jo Girardier and Michele Dyer introduce listeners to Tami Majtan, Executive Director of Scarlet Hope Nashville. Tami shares her remarkable story of stepping out in faith to minister to women in the adult entertainment industry—a journey that began with a clear calling from God and led her from Reno, Nevada, to Nashville, Tennessee. Through heartfelt conversation, Tami opens up about the challenges and transformative power of building genuine relationships with women working in local strip clubs, the importance of trauma-informed outreach, and the life-changing impact of seeing and loving people where they are. This episode is a powerful reminder of God’s ability to work through unexpected places and courageous obedience, and it highlights practical ways listeners can support Scarlet Hope through prayer, hospitality, and tangible acts of service. Tune in for an eye-opening testament of hope, redemption, and the everyday people living boldly on mission within the Brentwood Baptist church family.

Steeple People is a new podcast from Brentwood Baptist that highlights the incredible stories of faith within our own church family. Each episode features a personal conversation with someone who has experienced God’s faithfulness through seasons of challenge, healing, calling, and hope. These stories remind us that God is at work all around us—often in the lives of the people sitting right next to us.