Southern Soul Chats

In this first part of Holding On While Letting Go, Courtney and Phil Collins open up their story from the beginning—how they met, the life they built together, and the family they love deeply.
We hear about their children, the joys of parenting, and their son Lucas, whose life would ultimately shape their hearts and purpose in ways they never expected. This conversation lays the foundation of who they were as a family before loss entered their story.
We also begin to see how God’s presence was woven through their everyday life long before grief ever came.
This is a story of love, family, and faith—before everything changed.

**This episode contains a conversation around the loss of a child and includes some details surrounding grief and death. We share this with care and respect, and we encourage listeners to proceed with gentleness if this is a sensitive topic for you.**

Biblical Rooting: 
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Show Resources:
(Please note: We may share links to external resources for your convenience. However, this does not imply full endorsement of the entire site, author, or organization. The views expressed may differ from our own.)
Your Support Matters:
This podcast is a branch of Stepping Forward Ministries, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using the unwavering truths of God’s Word to teach, equip, and empower people to step forward in their relationship with Christ. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is through this podcast! To learn more about us, visit www.steppingfwd.org.
Want to connect, support, or take a step of faith? Whether you have a story to share, want to sponsor our podcast, support the mission, or learn how to follow Jesus—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s put faith into action together!
👉 Click here to connect with us. Don’t forget to add us on your social media accounts! You can find us at @steppingfwdministries across all platforms!
Disclaimer:
Southern Soul Chats and Stepping Forward Ministries are not a church, pastoral authority, or licensed counseling service. While we aim to equip and encourage you through biblical truth and personal testimonies, all content shared is for spiritual encouragement and educational purposes only. By listening, you acknowledge that you engage with this content voluntarily and accept full responsibility for how you apply it in your life.
Psalm 34:18

In this episode of our Stories of Faith summer series, Miranda sits down with Dr. Michael Stroope from Baylor University’s Truett Seminary for a conversation about faith, formation, and learning to walk with God.
From raising a family overseas and navigating uncertainty, to discovering the spiritual rhythm of slowing down and making space for God, Dr. Stroope shares how walking became more than physical movement—it became a way of encountering the presence of God.
Together, they explore:
spiritual formation

slowing down in a busy world

walking pilgrimages and prayer

learning obedience when life feels unclear

and what it truly means to walk with God daily

If you’ve ever felt exhausted from striving or distant from God in the middle of busyness, this conversation is an invitation to slow down and walk with Him again.
Biblical Rooting: 
“Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”
Show Resources:
Writers and books that inspire Dr. Stroope to walk …
Robert Mcfarlane, The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot, Penguin, 2013.
Arthur Paul Boers and Eugene Peterson, The Way is Made by Walking: A Pilgrimage Along the Camino de Santiago, IVP, 2003.
Jeffrey Bloechi, ed, Pilgrimage as Spiritual Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Wayfarers, and Guides, Fortress Press, 2022.
Antonia Malchik, A Walking Life: Reclaiming Our Health and Our Freedom—One Step at a Time, Da Capo Press, 2019.
Torbjorn Ekelund, In Praise of Paths: Walking through Time and Nature, Greystone Books, 2020
(Please note: We may share links to external resources for your convenience. However, this does not imply full endorsement of the entire site, author, or organization. The views expressed may differ from our own.)
Your Support Matters:
This podcast is a branch of Stepping Forward Ministries, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using the unwavering truths of God’s Word to teach, equip, and empower people to step forward in their relationship with Christ. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is through this podcast! To learn more about us, visit www.steppingfwd.org.
Want to connect, support, or take a step of faith? Whether you have a story to share, want to sponsor our podcast, support the mission, or learn how to follow Jesus—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s put faith into action together!
👉 Click here to connect with us. Don’t forget to add us on your social media accounts! You can find us at @steppingfwdministries across all platforms!
Disclaimer:
Southern Soul Chats and Stepping Forward Ministries are not a church, pastoral authority, or licensed counseling service. While we aim to equip and encourage you through biblical truth and personal testimonies, all content shared is for spiritual encouragement and educational purposes only. By listening, you acknowledge that you engage with this content voluntarily and accept full responsibility for how you apply it in your life.

Psalm 84:5

In this episode of Southern Soul Chats summer series, Stories of Faith, Ariel Fernand shares her journey of combining faith and creativity, exploring how God calls us to use our gifts in film and media to tell stories that inspire, challenge, and uplift. From navigating the entertainment industry with integrity to pursuing projects that honor God, Ariel offers a unique perspective on following God’s call while staying rooted in faith.
Listeners will gain insight into how purpose and creativity intersect, how to discern God’s direction in their careers, and the courage it takes to answer the call to serve Him through storytelling.
Biblical Rooting: 
Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Show Resources:
http://www.easternskytheatre.org
(Please note: We may share links to external resources for your convenience. However, this does not imply full endorsement of the entire site, author, or organization. The views expressed may differ from our own.)
Your Support Matters:
This podcast is a branch of Stepping Forward Ministries, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using the unwavering truths of God’s Word to teach, equip, and empower people to step forward in their relationship with Christ. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is through this podcast! To learn more about us, visit www.steppingfwd.org.
Want to connect, support, or take a step of faith? Whether you have a story to share, want to sponsor our podcast, support the mission, or learn how to follow Jesus—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s put faith into action together!
👉 Click here to connect with us. Don’t forget to add us on your social media accounts! You can find us at @steppingfwdministries across all platforms!
Disclaimer:
Southern Soul Chats and Stepping Forward Ministries are not a church, pastoral authority, or licensed counseling service. While we aim to equip and encourage you through biblical truth and personal testimonies, all content shared is for spiritual encouragement and educational purposes only. By listening, you acknowledge that you engage with this content voluntarily and accept full responsibility for how you apply it in your life.

What happens when God takes deep pain and turns it into lasting purpose?In this powerful Stories of Faith episode, we sit down with Anita Carman, founder of Inspire Women, to hear how God used loss, surrender, and trust to shape a life—and a ministry—that has impacted thousands of women around the world.Anita shares her personal testimony, including the heartbreaking loss of her mother, the prayer that changed the trajectory of her life, and how God called her to build a nonprofit rooted in hope, leadership, and restoration. We also talk candidly about trusting God with provision, obedience, and finances as she stepped out in faith—connecting directly to our recent season on money and trust.And just when the story feels complete, God opens a new door. Anita gives us a glimpse into her next chapter—a film being developed to tell her story and amplify God’s redemptive power in a new way.This episode is a reminder that faith doesn’t end with one “yes.” God continues to invite us forward—step by step—into what He’s still writing.If you’ve ever wondered whether God can redeem your story, provide in the unknown, or call you into something new—this conversation is for you.Biblical Rooting: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”— Psalm 37:5Show Resources:https://inspirewomen.org/about-us/(Please note: We may share links to external resources for your convenience. However, this does not imply full endorsement of the entire site, author, or organization. The views expressed may differ from our own.)Your Support Matters:This podcast is a branch of Stepping Forward Ministries, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using the unwavering truths of God’s Word to teach, equip, and empower people to step forward in their relationship with Christ. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is through this podcast! To learn more about us, visit www.steppingfwd.org.Want to connect, support, or take a step of faith? Whether you have a story to share, want to sponsor our podcast, support the mission, or learn how to follow Jesus—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s put faith into action together!👉 Click here to connect with us. Don’t forget to add us on your social media accounts! You can find us at @steppingfwdministries across all platforms!Disclaimer:Southern Soul Chats and Stepping Forward Ministries are not a church, pastoral authority, or licensed counseling service. While we aim to equip and encourage you through biblical truth and personal testimonies, all content shared is for spiritual encouragement and educational purposes only. By listening, you acknowledge that you engage with this content voluntarily and accept full responsibility for how you apply it in your life.

In this powerful Part 2 episode of Southern Soul Chats, the story continues with Ben Bland as he goes deeper into his journey of faith, transformation, and the ongoing work of God in his life.
Ben continues to share how the grace of God not only changed his identity but continues to shape how he lives, walks out obedience, and proclaims the gospel today. As his story unfolds, we see that surrender is not a one-time moment but a daily walk of trusting Jesus with every step.
This conversation builds on his testimony from Part 1, showing how God continues to refine, lead, and use Ben to point others to Christ around the world. His life is a reminder that God’s grace doesn’t just rescue us—it keeps transforming us.
Join us for the continuation of Ben’s story and be encouraged that God is still writing redemption into every surrendered life.
Biblical Rooting: 
Psalm 40:2 “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
Show Resources:
Follow Ben Bland’s journey on Facebook at Ben Bland.
(Please note: We may share links to external resources for your convenience. However, this does not imply full endorsement of the entire site, author, or organization. The views expressed may differ from our own.)
Your Support Matters:
This podcast is a branch of Stepping Forward Ministries, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using the unwavering truths of God’s Word to teach, equip, and empower people to step forward in their relationship with Christ. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is through this podcast! To learn more about us, visit www.steppingfwd.org.
Want to connect, support, or take a step of faith? Whether you have a story to share, want to sponsor our podcast, support the mission, or learn how to follow Jesus—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s put faith into action together!
👉 Click here to connect with us. Don’t forget to add us on your social media accounts! You can find us at @steppingfwdministries across all platforms!
Disclaimer:
Southern Soul Chats and Stepping Forward Ministries are not a church, pastoral authority, or licensed counseling service. While we aim to equip and encourage you through biblical truth and personal testimonies, all content shared is for spiritual encouragement and educational purposes only. By listening, you acknowledge that you engage with this content voluntarily and accept full responsibility for how you apply it in your life.