The Brown To Green Podcast

Join Lori and Lauren as they dive deep with the marvelous Monique Hicks. She begins her story in a dark and lonely place as the wife of an addict, but is now flourishing as a disciple-maker. Listen in as she shares her story of transformation, what it was like to disciple through COVID, and move to different local church after emerging from quarantine. Her story is another picture of the miracles the Lord does when we hear His voice and walk out what His commands.

This episode features the wonderful Le Thornton. She shares her story of traversing life and disciple-making as she navigated a personal health crisis. After a long 3 years (which  included being diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease, followed by brain surgery), she’s on the path to physical healing as she teaches other women how to find their spiritual healing in Jesus. Le is such a joy to talk to and her story is nothing short of miraculous.

Heath Hubbard calls in from Tokyo, Japan, to join Travis and Michael on this episode. He and his wife first visited Japan 12 years ago, became full-time missionaries 9 years ago, and 5 years ago they planted a church there. He describes the commonality of people coming to church for the first time who have never even heard the gospel before. He shares how they use an internship program as a pipeline to disciple people, and he offers encouraging stories of the kingdom moving in Japan.

Visit www.hopealive.jp to read more stories about what Heath and his team are doing in Tokyo.

Janice Manlove joins Lori and Lauren and shares stories about growing up in Texas and learning to walk with the Lord. Although she was baptized at age 12, she always felt there was something more she needed to do to be sure she was saved. A tragedy in her life would be the catalyst to move her toward submitting to Jesus as her Lord. She has since continually progressed in her relationship with the Lord and now disciples women in the words, ways and works of Jesus. So tune in and listen to the wise words of a lifelong teacher and learner.

From lying in his bed in Nashville with a gun to his head to leading worship every Sunday and bringing the word to the Lord’s people, Dustin Hunt’s story of redemption exhibits the phenomenal power of the Holy Spirit.  He sits down with Michael and Travis and shares what the Lord is doing in his marriage, his first pillar of faith, and why he prays in dark. So come along on this incredible journey through a true story of going from brown to green.

Danielle Standifer’s first time on the podcast just wasn’t enough, so we brought her back on a year later. She sits down again with Lori and Lauren and shares a pretty amazing story about connecting with family she never knew. We also get to check in on her growth as a leader of women disciples, and she even shares a little of her heart about being a single mother. Good stuff right here.

Join Lauren on this episode as she sits down in the studio with Mercy Kouri. Mercy grew up in Canada and forsook the standard college route, opting instead to attend Discipleship Training School (DTS) through an organization called Youth with a Mission (YWAM). This would take her to New Zealand where she met her now-husband, Aaron Kouri. Mercy discusses how learning to make disciples was an answered prayer for Aaron and her as they embarked on their new married life together. She shares the struggles of wanting to be savior to everyone around her, as well as the difficulties of discipling in a pandemic. Mercy is quiet, yet speaks with boldness, and you’ll be glad you listened.

Lori and Lauren kick off this season with the ever-so-wise CJ Powell, and the three of them dig into what it looks like to submit to husbands as is fitting in the Lord. CJ became a widow in 2018, after 49 years of marriage, so she has plenty of experience in this area. She came to know Jesus as a young lady and served Him her entire married life. Join these ladies as they share their wins and losses in this department.

Michael and Travis talk with Todd Nighswonger in this episode. Todd is the lead pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California. They discuss the “why” behind making disciples. Todd even turns the tables around and asks a few questions. Listen in as these guys talk about how to avoid getting lost in the “machinery” of making disciples, actions v. knowledge, and how to recognize a disciple of Christ. This episode is packed with goodness.

Lindsey Hartman, wife of previous guest, Kolby Hartman, joins Lori and Lauren in studio on this episode. Church has always been part of her life, but that hasn’t prevented suffering from being equally present. Several years ago, someone came into Lindsey’s life that would propel her into an intimate relationship with Christ through discipleship. Now a disciple maker herself, Lindsey shares the details of the peaks and valleys of this incredible life we live.

Kolby Hartman sits down with Michael and Travis to tell his story. He became a drug addict at 13, after innocently being introduced to narcotic pain relievers by a loved one when he had a sore shoulder after a baseball game. He would eventually meet his wife Lindsey, get married, and have a child. Yet he still held onto his addiction. But the Lord had other plans. He’s now over one year clean and leading a group of men to teach them the words, ways and works of Jesus. This is a beautiful story of reclaimed identity in Christ and redemption by His grace.

Lori and Lauren have a conversation with disciple-maker Trista Voos of Kansas City. She grew up going to church on Easter and Christmas. She joined a sorority at Kansas State and quickly found herself around several Christian sorority sisters. It would be one of these women that God would use to show Trista who Jesus was as they sat in a bar. She eventually joined a Bible study and started her own walk with the Lord. Trista has now been making disciples for nearly eight years. Also, this episode will probably make the blooper reel. Enjoy.

"Rest does not always equal restoration."

Michael and Travis sit down in the studio with David Brockman, husband of former guest, Jenny Brockman. David was arrested at 7:30am on his 18th birthday. This landed him a stay at Teen Challenge, where he wasn't known as David the addict, but instead, only as David the sinner. It would change his life. He would get married, get a job in the ministry, even living in a church parsonage. But at one point, his life became overwhelming, and the Lord asked him to walk away from something big - his job as a youth minister, which included his home. They made the move to Harrah with their four sons, and in a short time, landed at Harrah Church, much to his dismay. But it turned out beautifully. Listen to him tell his story.

Lori & Lauren welcome Lyndsey Hause in studio for this episode. She’s leading her first group of women disciples, teaching them the words, ways and works of Jesus. She talks about the “random” way she was introduced to making disciples. Then, holding back tears, she shares what it was like to start submitting to her husband in the manner called for in Ephesians 5:22. So much is packed in to this episode. You’ll be glad you listened!

Dakota Palomino was born in Denver. He spent his early life in an abusive home, which ended in divorce when he was 11. He moved to Oklahoma and found himself in church. He tried to earn the love of the Father by serving at church, beginning at an early age (13).  Eventually, however, he would leave the church as young adult, and “slap a Jesus sticker on his arm and do what the rest of the people do and do what he wants.”  Before his college days were over, he was drinking and doing drugs. One day, he had an encounter with the Lord that changed everything. This is the story of Dakota Palomino, disciple-maker.

Whitney Hill, granddaughter of former guest Bobbie Holbrook, joins Lori and Lauren on this episode. After being introduced to Christ at an early age, Whitney lived an on-again/off-again “church life.”  It wasn’t until she was introduced to a new way of “doing church” through disciple making that her relationship with Christ began to grow. In fact, it would be a year into being discipled before she would realize that her purpose in Christ wasn’t about her, but others - she was to give away what she knew about the Lord and His saving grace. As usual, you might observe a fallen tear or two, and, also common with the ladies, you’ll hear mention of the late, great Rachel Moix. Thanks for listening!

Jenny Brockman and her husband David have been in ministry for most of their lives. She joins Lori and Lauren in studio to chat about disciple-making while raising a family; moving from ministry burnout to serving again; and chasing down the late Rachel Moix to convince her to disciple her. This one might cause you to shed a tear, but it’s worth it.

David Hamlin joins Michael and Travis from his home in Bozeman, Montana. He’s a college student whose active in campus ministry while simultaneously discipling three men in the words, ways, and works of Jesus. David shares how he moved from “passive faith to purpose” and explains how followers of Jesus are always “on the clock.” David is a breath of fresh air, and you won’t regret your forty-five minutes of listening.

Kelly Schwartz joins Lori and Lauren today from Hannibal, Missouri. They discuss what the Lord taught them over the season of rest, and Kelly shares some of the challenges that come with being a disciple-maker who moves into a church body that isn’t familiar with the culture and language. A favorite take-away - Jesus “remodeled” her heart.

Tune in today to laugh, cry and gasp with the ladies.

Charlie Blair is a veteran disciple maker, and this episode should be called “The Learning Circle.” Seriously. He discusses with the guys at length the often unspoken details of the learning circle that can only be experienced. They also share stories of freedom that come from seeing men fully walk through a circle. Charlie Blair is a treasure trove of wisdom. You’ll definitely learn something from him.

Lori and Lauren have an open, honest and vulnerable conversation with the wonderful Bobbie Holbrook. She’s a 78-yr-old great-grandma who is making disciples of Jesus. She talks about how she felt “too old” when she was first invited into a disciple-making group. She gets a little teary when she talks about her late disciple-leader, Rachel Moix, and shares a little advice Rachel gave her that she still clings to. If you think there’s an age-limit to making disciples, listen to this disciple-maker change your mind. You’ll laugh and cry with the girls in this episode - and you won’t regret it.

Join Lauren and Lori as they grill the latest guest, Jennifer Toney. She’s a stay-at-home mom of three kids, who hails originally from Enid, OK. She and her family found their way to Harrah Church in 2018. She talks about the challenges of coming to know the Lord in college, during a time when nobody was around to come along beside her in her new journey with Christ. She navigated that journey alone for nearly twenty years. Then, almost immediately after finding her way to Harrah Church, she was approached by three different women who offered to disciple her to the words, ways and works of Jesus. This created a little anxiety, but because she listened to the Lord, it worked out perfectly. She also shares a little about how her marriage has changed through her obedience to the Lord. You’re gonna love Jennifer.

At just 17 years old, Nathan Kouri is the youngest guest to join us on the podcast. He entered into a discipling relationship when he was just 15 years old, and in a very short time he will don the hat of D-Group Leader himself. He talks about the differences between Student Disciples (Stu-D) at Harrah Church and his D-Group. You’ll even get a peak into what his parents thought when he told them he wanted to be discipled by someone other than them. Tune in and find out why Michael Farris calls Nathan a “Hope Dealer.”

Come along on a fun ride with our friend Danielle Standifer. She’s a single mom “beauty operator” who’s making disciples of Jesus. She tells us how the Lord sent a light (in the form of a woman) to her when she was in a deep, dark pit, and how that woman taught her to be a disciple of Jesus. Now she’s discipling a group of women in her home. So join Lauren and Lori as they laugh their way through this episode with Danielle. 

Morgan Greer was a vocational pastor living in Southern California when the Lord pressed him to learn more about planting churches. That landed him in Kansas City in 2014, where he met Josh Jackaway and Chris Moix, and this was his introduction to disciple making. He talks to Stanton and Travis about what it was like to be asked if he would stay up all night and pray with some men; his own struggles with his identity; and the challenges and joys of making disciples alongside his wife. He even gives some words of wisdom to those interested in planting churches. Give it a listen - you’ll be glad you did.

Ashley Murphy is a disciple-maker, a missionary, and a servant of the Most High God. Listen in as she talks to Lauren and Lori about what it’s like to become a disciple-maker, her mission trips to Ecuador, and what happened when she told the Lord she would never work in childcare again. Also, as a single woman, she touches on what it’s like to be married only to the Lord. Ashley is a treasure, and we absolutely loved having her as our guest in this episode.

Michael and Travis visit with Rick Rosas of Overland Park Community Church in Overland Park, KS. He shares about being addicted to video games, lust and anger, and how it would take several years after meeting a woman, now his wife, but in 2017, he fully accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. His transformation while being discipled by Pastor Jimmy Holbrook spurred on his wife’s fervor for the Lord, causing her to seek out someone to disciple her.

Rick also shares his experience leading men who are “older, more experienced Christians” and his take on the difference between a Bible Study and a disciple-making group. Surprise special guest Jeremy Griffin chimes in as well. This episode is packed with nuggets to take with you. It’s definitely a must-listen.

Alexis Crabtree and Lyndsey Johnston join us from their respective homes in Clarksville, TN. They discuss the struggles with introducing a disciple-making culture to their body at 180 Church, as well as the fruits of their obedience. Both share what it’s like to watch their husbands go first through the disciple-making process, and Lyndsey shares what it’s like to have a baby a week after her inaugural gathering with her first group of women. Join us as we touch the surface of what these two women are doing for the kingdom of God.

Michael and Travis sit down with Mike Morris from C3 Church in Shawnee, OK.  He talks about trusting men, loving your neighbor, and balancing full-time unpaid ministry with his "tent-making" job.  You'll also hear about how he maintains his relationship with the Father and what equipped him to lay down his life to make disciples of Jesus.  This episode is jam-packed with things of the Lord, including laughter and tears.  Don't miss this one!

In episode 6 of this season, Travis and Stanton talk with Luke Allard. Luke is being discipled by Chris Moix and is a husband, a father of 9 kids and a bi-vocational pastor. Luke shares his story about getting to a place in his walk where he finds what it looks like to be a mature spiritual leader in his home and in his church. We get to hear about his growth and transformation after years of following the traditional seeker sensitive model of doing church as Luke finds freedom and purpose in disciple making.

Emily is a Physical Therapist and a Disciple Maker. Listen in as she talks with Lauren and Lori about growing up in church and being active as a youth, then moving into adulthood where church was merely a social event, and finally, in 2017, moving into having her own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She even opens up about one of her biggest steps of obedience, which is pretty significant by the world’s standards. This episode doesn’t disappoint.

Lauren sits down with Annie Lawhon, who grew up loving Jesus. In 2018, she entered into a discipling relationship, and that would be the beginning of her transformation from people-pleaser to disciple-maker. Listen in as Annie describes the trials and freedoms in her walk with Jesus.

Lori and Lauren sit down with Kellie Lemen to hear about Kellie's journey in disciple making. Kellie has been making disciples for several years and was discipled by Rachel Moix. Kellie is a part of New City Church in Kansas City and shares about her journey to walking in spiritual maturity and her personal growth as a Kingdom minded disciple maker of Jesus.

The guys are back after a few months abide time and are sitting down with Kevin Daniels the former pastor of Harrah Church. Kevin has a unique perspective on disciple making and shares his transformation story. Please tune in to hear Kevin's story of transformation and word of encouragement to pastors in all situations that have a desire to make disciples who make disciples.