Courageous Conversations

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

David Nugent - a Briarcrest dad, Super Bowl champion, and business owner, joined the Courageous Conversations podcast to share a story of identity, burnout, and learning how (and when) to be still in God’s spirit.

David went from rooming with Tom Brady to collapsing in a weight room, finding God in the stillness of that defining, life-altering moment.

A self-described "all-in" personality, David kept saying yes until his body forced him to stop. Hear his courageous story about being diagnosed with a potentially fatal condit...

What does it look like to chase success, attain the things you desired, and still feel completely empty? How does God restore us in those moments?

In this episode Jason Ellis sits down with Briarcrest's Director of Marketing, Chad Gilbert, who shares about his journey finding real peace and purpose after 20 years in Corporate America. Chad opens up about battling anxiety and depression at the height of his career, a turning point moment on an airplane, and what happened when he finally surrendered control to God.

They also dig into practical wisdom for parents navigating...

In this powerful episode of the Courageous Conversations podcast, Coach Gonzalez shares his journey from his upbringing growing up near the California-Mexico border to finding Christ at 15. After losing his mother at 17, he faced a choice: run from God or draw closer to Him.

His message to students: "It's okay not to be okay. It's just not okay to stay that way."

Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch the full episode on YouTube to hear how his surrender transformed tragedy into a testimony of God's faithfulness.

"Arise, go forth, and conquer."

That's the daily exhortation Dr. Edd Lawrence offers his students when they leave his classroom. But what does it really look like to “go forth and conquer” in today’s world?

Check out the latest episode of the Courageous Conversations podcast where Dr. Lawrence shares practical advice formed from decades of experience in parenting, teaching, and serving in the ministry.

Here are a few of the insights Dr. Lawrence shared, as only he can!

On Boundaries: Kids secretly want them—they provide safety and show love. They don...

What is the one thing that truly satisfies?

On the latest episode of Courageous Conversations, Jason is joined by special guest Trey Lawrence to discuss the freedom of surrendering to God’s grace and the truth that transformation comes not from what we do, but from what Christ has already done.

🎧 Tune in as we talk about finding faith, purpose, and what it means to glorify God in every season.

If you could step back in time and talk to your 17-year-old self, what would you say? In this episode of Courageous Conversations, BCS Strength and Conditioning Coach Sydney Ham reflects on her journey as a D1 soccer player and how her identity shifted from performance to purpose.

She opens up about the struggles of idolizing success, the highs and lows that came with tying her worth to her sport, and the freedom she found in seeing soccer as a way to glorify God rather than herself.

Sydney’s message is one every athlete—and anyo...

Why does God allow suffering? How do we balance grief and hope at the same time?

In this episode of the Courageous Conversations podcast, Jason Ellis is joined by guest Lauren Cocke as they consider some of life’s hardest questions—why tragedy and struggles happen, why burdens feel so heavy, and how to discover the unique hope Christ offers during hard times. Even when prayers feel unanswered, we live with confidence that the victory is already won! ✝️✨

Join host Jason Ellis and a panel of Briarcrest students and faculty members as they share their experiences from a summer mission trip to Ecuador! Hear their stories about how they found true peace and contentment by serving - and being served - on a summer mission trip.

Join host Jason Ellis as we kick off Season Two of the Courageous Conversations podcast. In this episode, a panel of students and faculty members share their experiences from a summer mission trip to Ethiopia! Hear their first-hand accounts about what surprised them most about the journey, as well as unexpected and unplanned ways God blessed their ministry experience.

Briarcrest’s third international mission cohort of the summer is currently serving with Jungle Kids for Christ in Ecuador! Hear from Jason Ellis and Tyler Salyer, Briarcrest High School Principal, about their experience serving in Ecuador last year in this week’s podcast. It was Mr. Salyer’s first week on the job at BCS, and within minutes of arriving the group experienced an earthquake.

God has empowered you with a specific gift to serve in the mission field!

The Courageous Conversations hosts are in Ethiopia this week serving with a Briarcrest short-term mission team! In this episode, Jason and Jonathan discuss the 15-month process planning this incredible service opportunity and how the Lord has ordained every step of the journey. You’ll also hear about some of the many benefits of serving the nations to grow God’s Kingdom, along with practical tips for how to serve in the mission field for the first time.

Summer is here! (So…now what do we do?)

For parents of school-aged children, the summer break presents an incredible opportunity to be a catalyst for intentional, Christ-centered conversations. Join Jason and Jonathan as they discuss best practices for parents and kids looking to unplug from digital distractions this summer.

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

It’s an age-old question that is not devoid of hope, because we serve a loving God! How we respond to bad times and the weight of suffering that is common to humanity defines our view of God and of ourselves. Our hosts dive into real-life examples of how God has brought them out of suffering and revealed His purpose for them through the process.

This week on the Courageous Conversations podcast, we’re diving into a listener-requested topic: How do we approach dating from a Bible-based perspective?

Jason and Jonathan break down how to navigate modern dating while staying rooted in Scripture — from setting clear intentions to having meaningful conversations that lead to a God-honoring, long-term relationship.

Tune in now on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify – and be sure to share with your friends!

Scriptural vs. Cultural. It's the sign many have seen along Houston Levee Road in front of Briarcrest. What is the meaning behind it? Join our hosts Jason Ellis and Sandra Longworth as they dive into what it means to use the Biblical worldview as our lens through which we do everything - including educating students, analyzing culture and equipping parents.

Christian worldviews are often the only ones excluded from allowable discourse in public school and university settings. This belief system has, in some ways, become an ideology unto itself. Jason and Jon discuss how to take on this challenge by engaging in Courageous Conversations, using the Bible as our guide, in this week's episode.

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Your college professor asks you to write a paper from an unbiblical perspective. Do you write the paper? On this episode, we discuss how Christians can navigate the sometimes treacherous academic landscape that exists at many universities today.

Does today's American Education system face an Identity Crisis? How does our identity shape our approach to everyday challenges as parents, students, and teachers? Join Jason and Jonathan on the latest episode of the Courageous Conversations podcast as they discuss how to shape a self-identity modeled after the Gospel of Christ.

In this week’s episode of the Courageous Conversations podcast, Jason is joined by Dr. LaWanda Schief. They discussed society’s changing views on the issue of sexual identity, and how to counter those newly emerging views with empathy and honesty filtered through the lens of Biblical truth.

Where do students derive their sense of self-worth? How do they define absolute authority in their lives? Dive in with our hosts as they take a critical look at utilizing a Christian worldview to establish Scriptural truth as our foundational authority in the classroom setting.

It often feels like we are raising kids in a totally different world than the one we grew up in. Where do we find our moral authority during confusing times? Join our hosts as they walk through what it looks like to approach difficult situations and conversations with grace, gentleness and respect.

College campuses are melting pots of both religious and secular worldviews. Join Jason and his guest, Jonathan Bernhardt, as they discuss how Christian students in college can embrace courageous conversations with those who challenge their faith.

The Gospel of Christ is for everyone, and the concepts of love, tolerance and justice have been re-branded and reimagined by our modern culture. How do we discern between Biblical love and the current portrayal of love in our society and popular culture? Dive in with Jason Ellis, Director of Student Ministries at Briarcrest Christian School, to understand the Biblical definition of these common concepts.

What exactly is "repressive tolerance"? What is the Biblical view and objective of tolerance? Find out that and more in the first episode of the Courageous Conversations podcast.