The FBC Durant Podcast

Today we are reflecting on the previous four episodes of this podcast, a series we're calling "Friends & Family", which guides us through a sequence of major life events that many of us go through — friendship, singleness/dating, parenting, and marriage. We've intentionally met with specific people for each of these chapters of life to gather insight and learn how to pursue these milestones in a walk with Christ. We hope and pray you're encouraged by these episodes and our recapping of them as you abide in Christ in whatever life stage you're currently in.Q&A: Submit Questions for Season Finalehttps://fbcdurant.org/q-amp-a-night-with-the-fbc-durant-podcast-teamWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirst

Lead Pastor Garry McNeill and his wife, Heather McNeill, join us to share their story together and have a conversation about marriage. "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7Q&A:Submit Questions for Season FinaleWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirstChapters:0:00 Intro.0:46 The Not So Newlywed Game.13:15 Garry & Heather's story.22:43 The transition to marriage.28:00 How has faith influenced your marriage?34:53 Roles in marriage.44:31 Marriage counsel advice.54:53 Outro.

Today we speak with Calvin Palmer on the topic of raising children. Calvin is a father to 12 kids in which many of them have grown up in our church over the years. Raising children is a blessing from the Lord that many of us get the responsibility of nurturing in life. Parenting is not an easy task but a beautiful model of faithfulness. Instructing, disciplining with love, and providing care (spiritually and physically) are all traits that our Heavenly Father uses with us. If you're a parent, we hope this episode is an encouragment to you. If you're not a parent, we hope this episode still provides spiritual guidance that is helpful for whatever journey of life the Lord has you on.Q&A:Submit Questions for Season FinaleWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirstChapters:0:00 Intro.0:47 First takes.4:20 How have you pursued raising kids with a biblical worldview?5:49 The Palmer family.8:42 Raising kids in the home.14:04 How has your faith encouraged your parenting?16:20 Practical methods to lift up Christ in the home.25:20 Becoming sanctified in Christ as a parent.31:34 How has parenting strengthened your faith?38:22 Encouragement.42:52 Outro.

To continue through a series of friends and family related topics, we discuss navigating the waters of a dating relationship, along with being single. Will and Alisa Sandmann, who have recently gotten married, are here to share their experience and what things they have learned throughout their singleness and dating life. While the Bible doesn't explicitly mention "dating" as we know it in today's cultrue, it provides timeless principles focused on purity, intentionality, and godly character. Whether you are single, dating, or married, God's will for your life is that you follow Him throughout any of these life stages wholeheartedly.Chapters:0:00 Intro.0:43 First takes.5:24 Will & Alisa's story.13:50 How did the Lord use your singleness?25:48 What was dating llike?39:20 When & how do you know this is the person to marry?47:10 Singleness & dating encouragement.55:15 Outro.Q&A:Submit Questions for Season FinaleWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirst

Today we have Sarah's friend Tonnie Scott, also known as Garret's wife, join the show to talk about friendship. Having good friends is important in life. Our relationships with others is a blessing from the Lord. Scripture speaks on the support, encourgement, conduct, and love we can share with one another. In this episode we share our own experiences and the things we've discovering about building friendships in our own lives. If you are feeling lonesome or having a difficult time constructing soul care into your life, we encourage you to join a LIFE Group and/or a Journey Group or simply reach out to someone you know who can be there for you. We hope and pray this episode is helpful to you in this lifelong journey of loving one another as Christ loved the church.Chapters:0:00 Intro.1:00 First takes.7:52 The seasons of friendship.16:05 The downsides of isolation & the need for relationships.21:18 How did God intend for us to pursue friendships?31:39 Our friendship evolution.34:09 Choosing love in friendships.40:54 Outro.Q&A:Submit Questions for Season FinaleWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirst

Welcome to 2026! We just celebrated the many salvations and baptisms we had over the past year and reflect on what the Lord has done in our lives and in our church. Garrett, Sarah, and Cole discuss what entertainment they partaked in this year and discuss their annuall highs and lows. Looking into the new year, we are excited to press on towards the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14). Be in prayer about how you can serve the Lord this year.Chapters:0:00 Intro.0:36 First takes.9:23 Reflecting on 2025.20:58 How did we grow this year?27:16 Goals.35:32 Outro.Q&A:Submit Questions for Season FinaleWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirst

Serve Durant is a multi-church outreach network in Durant, Oklahoma. We are not just churches IN a city, we are the Church FOR our city. It is the desire of our heart to see the body of Christ in our city come together to not just be churches in Durant, but FOR Durant. We do this by partnering with city government, civil services, and benevolent organizations to accomplish as many service projects as we can. Serve Durant leader Larra Richardson shares about the local mission initiative with us and how you can be involved. Text ‘SERVE’ to (833)-341-0745 to receive notifications when there are opportunities to serve! Visit the Serve Durant Facebook page to stay connected with all Serve Durant updates and conversations.Chapters:0:00 Intro.0:52 First takes.7:35 Larra's story.13:40 What is Serve Durant?18:19 What does Scripture say about serving?27:00 How can you be involved with Serve Durant?31:58 Results of Serve Durant projects.33:24 Outro.Q&A:Submit Questions for Season FinaleWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirst

The Pregnancy Center of Bryan County (PCBC) Director, Hannah Searles, and Client Advocate, Pattye Green, join us to share about the PCBC located at 308 N. 2nd Ave. in Durant, OK. The PCBC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides evidence-based medical information and support to women and families navigating unexpected or unsupported pregnancies. Founded in 1999, the PCBC has been serving the community for over 25 years. The PCBC is one of our local mission partnerships at FBC which gives us the opportunity to support this ministry in various ways. Hannah and Pattye share about this ministry and how you can be a part of this misison. No matter what circumstances bring you through the PCBC doors, the staff is there to listen, answer questions, offer free and confidential services, and support you every step of the way. This episode is helpful for anyone, not just women, to become educated on pregnancy options and get the answers you need. Visit the PCBC website below to learn more or schedule a free consultation today.https://www.pregnancycenterdurant.comhttps://www.facebook.com/pregnancycenterbchttps://www.instagram.com/pcbc_durantChapters:0:00 Intro.0:45 Pattye & Hannah's stories.4:50 All about the PCBC.12:39 What drives you?16:20 How can we help the PCBC?23:32 What has God taught you through this experience?28:06 What is your approach to abortion-minded clients?32:05 Encouragement.34:15 Reaching out to the PCBC.35:56 Outro.Q&A:Submit Questions for Season FinaleWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirst

In this Thanksgiving special, Garrett, Cory, and Sarah sit down for a fun and meaningful holiday catch-up. The trio dives deeply into the role of gratitude in battling anxiety, the importance of living in the present, and the powerful impact of J Groups and authentic community. We share personal stories on finding connection and navigating seasons of hardship, reminding everyone that thankfulness is more than a holiday practice—it’s a daily posture that shapes our spiritual lives.Follow our Instagram @fbcdurantpodcast for updates, extras, and a few hidden Easter eggs mentioned in this episode!Q&A:Submit Questions for Season FinaleWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirst

Trey Hedrick is the BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry) Director at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. BCM is a ministry of Oklahoma Baptists in which ministers on local campuses encourage, mentor, disciple, equip, and coach students during their college years. Oklahoma Baptists is the organization we chose to cooperate and collaborate with for ministry impact. This partnership allows local churches and college campuses to work together to reach the next generation. Every campus, every life. Southeastern's ministry started in 1943 as the Baptist Student Union with a hope of reaching college students with the Good News of Jesus while training them to follow and obey Him with their lives. In the more than 80 years since its inception, SE BCM has reached thousands of students with the gospel and raised-up disciples serving all over the state, country, and globe. Today, SE BCM continues to advance the gospel and equip students for a life of faithful service to Christ. A new building for doing ministry was recently dedicated on campus and it is where this recording takes place. Trey has served as the Director of SE BCM since 2015. Before coming on staff he was an alum of the ministry, graduating in 2011. His passion is to see students reached for the gospel and mobilized to a life of service to Christ and his church. Trey and his wife, Paige, have been married since 2012 and have four children (Abrah, Dean, Axton, and Arlo). Trey shares his testimony with us and we talk about college ministry. SE BCM's weekly worship experience happens on Thursday evenings and bible studies are happening throughout the week. SE BCM also serves free lunch on campus every Wednesday during the semester. If you'd like to know more about how to be involved, please visit the SE BCM website or contact us and we'll be here to help.https://www.sebcm.org/Chapters0:00 Intro.0:36 First takes.2:00 Trey's testimony.7:55 What's the significance of a ministry on a college campus?16:44 Figuring life out as a college student.19:22 The BCM building campaign & how we got here.26:50 SE BCM mission, vision, & schedule.35:38 Outro.Q&A:Submit Questions for Season FinaleWebsite:https://www.fbcdurant.orgInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/fbcduranthttps://www.instagram.com/fbcdurantpodcast?igsh=MWo1NTcxeDlienBkMw%3D%3DFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DurantFirst