Ordinary Celebrity

This episode features Dr. Terrence Ferguson and Dr. Vernard Hodges, veterinarians at Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital in Georgia. Dr. Ferguson and Dr. Hodges have been healing, helping and serving families and animals since 1999. In 2020, they were added to the lineup of National Geographic shows and which are available on Disney+. In this episode, the vets answer questions about dealing with celebrity, pivoting between patients and families on full days, maneuvering around their clinic with cameras and even Georgia (and Alabama) college football!  Notes/Links: Georgia’s Critter Fixers: Black vets go from HBCUs to Nat Geo Wild, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 18, 2021 The Stars of Nat Geo's Critter Fixers Want to Inspire the Next Generation of Black Veterinarians, Oprah Daily, June 29, 2021 The Vets of 'Critter Fixers' Are Back for a Third Season and to Inspire More Kids to Help Animals, People Magazine, February 4, 2022 It Takes a Village Foundation National Geographic site - Critter Fixers Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital website

This episode features author and artist Elle Luna. Elle published an article on Medium.com in 2014. After she hit "publish," she went to a birthday dinner with her father. She left her phone at home. Little did she that things blew up. In the next few months, her article, "The Crossroads of Should and Must" was shared over 5 million times on Twitter and read over 250,000 on Medium.com. It became a best-selling book in 2015. In this episode, we talk about "instant celebrity" and how it impacts a person and what she has done with her influence since.  Notes & Links: The Crossroads of Should and Must - Medium.com The Crossroads of Should and Must - Amazon.com Your Story Is Your Power by Elle Luna - Amazon.com

This episode features a collegiate ministry guru. David James served as the director of Arkansas Baptist Collegiate Ministries for over 30 years. His life and ministry spanned two centuries of college students, and his leadership style has been lauded by those who served with and under him. Listen and learn what observations David has about culture, college, and the mission of the church to reach the next generation! Show Notes: In the March 2021 episode of OC, we featured Jeremy Woodall and his Hike for Homes work from November of 2020. He is preparing to do it again in November 2022. Check out the hike and give to Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes & Ministries here. Arkansas Baptist College Ministry and Young Leaders

This episode features Dr. Jamie Sanchez, a faculty member of Biola University in California. She is the Program Director of the PhD in Intercultural Studies in the Graduate Department and is currently has research involved in Critical Refugee Studies.   Jamie is a dynamic thinker, leader and practitioner of Christian discipleship. You'll hear some of her thoughts on the pros and cons of individual and group discipleship. We also discussed the refugee crisis around the world and examined ways that the church can respond with help and grace.  Bonus: her take on Top Gun: Maverick and Jeff's hope to meet Tom Cruise. Show Links: Book Recommendation: Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics by Mark R. Glanville The 1951 Coffee Company NBC's Today Show feature of The 1951 Coffee Co

This episode features Emily Kraines, a single mother of two, who became a follower of Jesus Christ in college and soon after that met the man she would marry. You'll learn about Emily and Peter's dating life, the powerful example they set, and how a subsequent military training exercise took Peter's life and what lessons Emily has learned throughout.   Show Notes:  USAF Special Tactics Obit for Peter Kraines  Peter Kraines Video Testimony  Pararescueman killed in mountain rescue training accident - Air Force Times  Ceremony at Virginia Tech to add Peter's names to pylons  Six names added to Tech's War Memorial pylons - Richmond Times-Dispatch

Ryan Metz is a senior at Virginia Tech. He's majoring in mechanical engineering, and he's a pitcher for the Hokies baseball team. Listen in as he shares the insights and challenges he faces as a Christian student-athlete. Ryan also finds time for his own podcast - The Christian Athlete Paradox. LINKS: Ryan's athlete's page with hokiesports.com The Christian Athlete Paradox podcast

Jeremy Woodall is the Baptist campus minister at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. This is his fifth year in serving in his university hometown. This past fall as a way to make a difference during the pandemic, Jeremy hiked 223 miles on the Ouachita Trail, from Oklahoma to Arkansas, to raise money for children's homes and foster care. This is part of his story. Tune in and learn about the hike, doing ministry in a pandemic and who his celebrity crushes are. LINKS: Arkansas Baptist news story about Jeremy's hike Arkansas News Channel 11, KTHV story Video: Summary of the hike Instagram: Hiking4Homes YouTube: Hiking for Homes playlist If you would like to donate to Hiking for Homes, you can mail in a check to Arkansas Baptist Convention, RE: Hiking for Homes, 10 Remington Dr., Little Rock, AR 72204.

With more consecutive #1 hits than the Beatles, contemporary Christian music's Point of Grace has made history along the way. In this episode of Ordinary Celebrity, Jeff interviewed college classmates Denise Jones and Shelley Breen, two of the four founding members of the group. They cover everything from celebrity crushes to being in the music industry as it navigated the digital revolution.  Show Links: Point of Grace's website How You Live book (released October 2020) Ouachita Baptist University

This episode introduces you to Jeff's son, Sam Noble, who is on Young Life staff in North Carolina. This episode examines how Sam started a fantasy football podcast, got his nickname "Bear," and also how he and his Young Life team are doing youth ministry in the middle of a pandemic. His life is worthy of celebration, and not just because he's related to Jeff! Links: Sam and his cohosts fantasy football Twitter accounts: @samFFB - @alquizaFFB - @IanB_ffb MyFantasy Football podcast (Spotify) or search for it Sam on Twitter and Instagram: @TheNoblestBear Young Life in Rowan County, North Carolina

This episode features Mitch Bettis, President and Publisher of Arkansas Business Publishing Group — the award-winning digital marketing and media company founded in 1995. He has more than 30 years of experience in management and publishing. Mitch and I met just prior to our freshman year in college at Ouachita Baptist University, became best friends, prank collaborators and later business partners. Listen in and discover all the ways that Mitch is an ordinary celebrity. Show Links: Ouachita Baptist University AdVantage Advertising  Arkansas Business Publishing Group ArkansasBusiness.com "HIGH PROFILE: Niche publisher Mitch Bettis lives what he believes" - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette "Arkansas Business Owner Expands, Buys Fort Worth Media Company" - Arkansas Business "360 West acquired by Arkansas publisher" - Fort Worth Business Press

Jonathan Kabongo is a man of many dimensions. On full scholarship for basketball at Virginia Tech, he learned some disheartening news about his health at the end of his freshman year. Yet, he's not defined by sports. Listen in on this podcast to discover the man of faith, music and depth that makes him an ordinary celebrity. Show notes: Other podcasts/videos you can find Jonathan: UNCUT Blacksburg: The Road Back - video The Christian Athlete Paradox - podcast Follow Jonathan's music: Spotify YouTube The song played in the podcast is Reflection by Jonathan Kabongo.

Paul Robertson works in the data security industry. From owning a Christian bookstore owner (that had to shut down due to the internet and big box stores) to receiving an electrical engineering degree at the same time his daughter was in college to later deciding to pursue writing himself, Paul's life is bright. His five books are wonderful reads, though they are mostly unknown. Paul is most remarkable and worthy of celebrating. Paul's Books: The Road to Nowhere According to Their Deeds The Heir The Elegant Solution Dark in the City of Light I mentioned Ethan Smith’s Life Experienced podcast that featured Paul and Lisa. Here’s the link.

The launch episode of Ordinary Celebrity explains the concept, who's behind the mic, and invites you to help identify and participate in the adventure of celebrating the ordinary... in all of us. Links from the episode: Tom Cruise's presidential announcement video Tom Cruise's reaction to his supposed presidential announcement video