Youth Worker On Fire Podcast

Greg Larson is a 6'8" pitcher. He played basketball but he thrived in baseball. Lake Brantley High School, GatorNation UF, then to the pros with the Red Sox. Now Greg is in his home area of Seminole County, northern suburbs of Orlando, Florida. He is the head coach for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FCA, for Seminole County Schools. He raises his own salary to do the work he is passionate about. Listen up Youth Worker Nation! There is value mentoring for you here!

Doug speaks with Juliet Oppong-Amoako and Reverend Abdoulaye Sangho from Trans World Radio in Africa (TWR). Their organization uses media to reach Africa for Christ. Speaking fluently in more than 60 languages and dialects, their outreach in Africa engages millions in more than 40 countries. Together with international partners, local churches and other ministries, TWR provides relevant programming, discipleship resources and dedicated workers to spread hope to individuals and communities around the globe. Whether using high-powered radio to reach people, streaming content to Internet users and mobile phones or visiting face-to-face with listeners, TWR leaves a lasting spiritual footprint. Trans World Radio P.O. Box 4232, Kempton Park, 1620, South Africa https://twrafrica.org+ 27 11 974 2885   

This week, Doug speaks with Zoro the Drummer. Zoro is an internationally renowned rock star, motivational speaker and author. He has toured and recorded with Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, The New Edition, Jody Watley, Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire, Sean Lennon, Lisa Marie Presley, Lincoln Brewster, Phil Keaggy and many others.  He shares with Doug what his life was like growing up fatherless as one of 7 children and how he brings encouragement and hope to others. Zoro also talks about the impact the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America had on his life.   http://ZoroTheDrummer.com  http://http://www.zoroministries.org

Serena Parkinson Burrows was one of my students in student ministry.  At 18 years of age she became one of my best volunteers. Discipled by my wife Colleen and another volunteer, Karen Mielke, Serena volunteered and passed on her knowledge to middle school girls while organizing our programs for more than 10 years. She is the wife of a professional drummer, Jason Burrows, and raises their two little girls. She is to this day a surfer as she was raised to be by her Florida parents and her little first born girl wants to follow suit. Serena's story will help you to treat your volunteers like gold and what you should do and how you should protect your volunteers.

Eustis, Florida, Mayor Robert Morin is a motivator and a man who just loves people. After meeting his son who is a senior in high school, Cesar, I can see that not only does he love people but his family loves him. When your high school son says great things about you, something right is happening at home. Robert was in Army intelligence, and also received a masters degree in public administration which qualifies him to manage city government. What's in it for me, youth worker nation? This man has worked with DCF and has seen the best of the best families and youth workers and the worst of the worst. This is one confident man who has a vision for a city.

When you lead and teach students, I tell people to treat them well and with kindness because some day they may sign your checks, be a professional that helps you or marry your children. This middle school boy grew up and became my pastor. Brooks Braswell was a leader in school and people followed. He has never stopped leading and changing people's lives with a simple message, The Good News that God Loves You through Jesus Christ! He wanted to be a professional comedian and in a way he still is. With every sermon he makes us laugh while driving home a message that I and others won't forget. He and his lovely wife, Jamie, have 5 girls and 1 boy. He is proud to be raised a country boy. A Bible teaching mom, a huntin', fishin' dad and a professional tennis playing brother. Brooks embraced all of that and did it all and carried it to draw others and hold their attention. You will laugh and take notes with this episode.

Coach Clark Blake sits down with a group of past students, some from 40 years ago, as they share memories of pivotal moments in their high school years. From playing football under Coach Blake's leadership, his crazy classroom antics, to being a part of the original students involved in the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes program on the Eustis High School campus.

Terrence Demps II is a senior at Eustis High School this year, graduating May 2017. He is a good guy and a compassionate guy who has the heart of a lion. He's an athlete, a runner for the track team. Hear what he says about the four-man relay and that final leg. He's a weightlifter who can bench twice his own weight. He is an international! His father is from the USA and his mother was born in Barbados where Terrence spends time with relatives. He is an FCA leader who meets his class mates once a week at 6:30AM. He is an AP Honor Student. Listen to his wise positive attitude far beyond his age.

*Bryson Tuttle 2nd & 3rd Baseman LSSC. His mom works for Hallmark and his dad works for the US Navy. *Jay Prather - Short Stop and 2nd Baseman. Mom is a police officer. *These 2 college athletes are much more than athletes. They are young men who are making marks of kindness and achieving academic and spiritual goals.  Take aways: 1. Winning because you try one more time. 2. Blinded families and getting along. 3. How faith is a key to balance and where to find it.

College baseball is a whole other level for those who have never played in college before. It's not like travel ball, it's not like high school baseball. Everybody's at a whole new level. And everybody is a competitor. Everybody is determined to win. Tucker and Quinn are the pitchers for the baseball team at Lake Sumter State College. I am their chaplain and these guys have a great attitude about life. If you're on the coaching level, FCA level, professor or parent of an athlete, you want to listen to these guys' stories.

Larry and Amanda Stephens are a force in this world. Two world changers that were changing this world before they met. They became best friends, fell in love and grew a family. They are major forces in CRU's world wide movement. How does their marriage survive such pressure. Find out now on YWOF - Youth Worker On Fire! Larry and Amanda mention a great book by Gary Chapman called The Five Love Languages.  

In part 2 of the interview with Fred Rohrdanz, he talks about some of the books that have influenced his life. Fred also shares a few studies that can help you on your spiritual journey.  So how many people did you know that their dad was college roommates and football teammates with Bear Bryant the famous Alabama "Bama" University football coach. Well, that would be our guest, Fred Rohrdanz. He was football QB at Middle Tennessee State. Met his future wife Suan there. Fred has headed up a Bible Study for men for many years which is larger than most churches on the East Coast of the USA. He has volunteered in student ministry. He has raised 2 sons and a daughter who have now made him a granddad. His connections to the college and pro sports world is far reaching and a great sales and marketing professional. Who is this super hero? Well, he's just a Bama boy who raised his family in Eustis, Florida right outside of Orlando. He considers himself to be just a normal small town guy. His friends and family know di

Youth Worker On Fire (YWOF) is produced by a team. Gabriella “Gabby” Templeton, David Whitty, Garrett “Bear” B. and teacher of Media Production at EHS, Mr. Mike Ligler. Mike has helped me with projects as I have volunteered for him and his media classes and school projects. For 2 years Mike asked me if there was a project his students could help me with and May of 2016 I said, “Yes I do.” We produced 18 interviews in 2 weeks. Launched in August 2016 and haven't stopped producing. See and hear what saying YES can produce. I have others on the team from other entertainment industry areas but this episode is about a teacher and his top of the scale production crew that makes something transpire out of nothing. This is not the easiest way to produce but I LOVE working with this crew of talented future professionals.

It's hard enough for college students just to take classes and excel in getting your degree. But these two lady athletes go far beyond excellence and getting a degree. They practice day after day, week after week, all school year long and more. They expend many hours representing Lake Sumter State College as softball players. Madison and Brie are a catcher and pitcher duo. They are college roommates. But who influenced them to go so far into this sports career? Listen to every word because you are going to be inspired and learn from valuable stories of their life journey. Listen up Youth Worker Nation.

Larry Stephens is a FORCE to follow and learn from in the area of college students. He is the CRU trainer, facilitator, fundraiser, motivator for thousands of leaders both volunteer and full time on 1,600 universities and colleges. He is a mentor to professional athletes, keynote speakers and around the world projects for CRU students. We will talk virtual film making and what it's like to be a husband to a wife who has impacted the Greek world on several campuses and the dad of 3 young boys (2 are twins) and a beautiful little girl. He looks calm and collected but there is a driving force behind that "together" persona that says, "World Changers Line Up Behind Me! Now Dive, Jump, Run...whatever it takes!" THIS IS VALUE PACKED! But you've got to listen to this soft spoken hurricane! A Texas boy now an Orlando, Florida man!

Inspiring Principal Nancy Velez is an A+ high school principal. She grew up hearing graduation as a child because she was so close to the school and loved it. She is passionate for students and families and it shows. Listen to her inspiring story.

Though his life seemed tragic as a middle schooler, Clark Blake's football coach gave him hope in the face of tragedy. Listen to this Marine Corp veteran, teacher, coach, dad, grandad and husband explain the life events that molded him as he gives his last recorded talk as a guest speaker for FCA at 6:30AM December 2013. This is the same high school he taught, coached, and mentored many students and adults for over 30 years. He is still speaking into lives a decade after his retirement because people ask him to. 1 man, 1 life, 1 city. And yet people tell his story around the world.

Part two of Leslie Shamrock Campione is so full of leadership and servitude that it's a must listen.  We will cover student groups at 6:30AM, student, staff and volunteer leadership.  And hold on to the end... Leslie will talk about an epidemic of high school seniors bound for homelessness and how to help stop this tragic occurrence.

Leslie made an impact on her high school by meeting with the coach and influencing over 200 other students to meet at 6:30 in the morning once a week on a school day. Leslie Shamrock Campione is a mom of two, a lawyer and county commissioner. She's a person of influence but also a person who's been positively impacted by a coach in high school. Listen to the great value in her story.

If you are working or volunteering with the public school system it does you good to know people who are at the top and who have been through as many things as you can experience with students and families. Bill Miller is the guy you want to talk to. He's the Assistant Superintendent to Lake County Schools in Florida. He is a dad and a husband. Bill has been a coach and baseball player and grew up in a pastors home in Pennsylvania. He loves the music of Bruce Springsteen, "The Boss!" He was a great principal from the middle school to the high school level and always brought his "A" Game. He was a personal friend to me as I would visit his campuses and would welcome me at all times. He was user-friendly to parents, teachers, coaches, students, community and faith based organizations.