God First

Where do you find your identity when life does not go the way you planned? In this episode of the God First Podcast, Hope and Parker sit down with Scott O’Malley, Executive Director of Twelve Stones, for a conversation about identity, expectations, fear, and what it means to be rooted in Christ when life does not go the way we planned. Together, they talk through the pressure of living out differe...

In this episode of the God First Podcast, Parker and Hope recap some of the biggest things they’ve learned about prayer over the last several years — through suffering, uncertainty, healing, and walking through seasons that forced them to depend on God in a deeper way. From Thea’s diagnosis during pregnancy to long battles with health struggles, anxiety, and unanswered questions, they share how pr...

Maybe you’re like me and grew up praying, praying before meals, praying when people are really sick, praying for missionaries. … For Many decades of my life that is where it ended for me. You see, I really did not understand what happened when I prayed. If God is good and in control, why does he need my begging? Wouldn’t that be annoying to God if just keep asking him for something? Or what if I a...

If God is sovereign—fully in control of all things—why pray? Does prayer actually change anything, or is it just about changing us? In this episode, Parker and Hope sit down with Scott O’Malley from 12 Stones Counseling to wrestle with one of the most honest questions in the Christian life. Drawing from Paul Miller’s A Praying Life, they unpack how God’s sovereignty doesn’t make prayer pointless—i...

In this inspiring episode of the God First Podcast, Parker and Hope Perrien sit down with Mark Whitacre of Coca-Cola Consolidated, the nation’s largest Coca-Cola bottler, to explore what it means to live out faith in the workplace. Coca-Cola Consolidated’s mission begins with a bold declaration — “to honor God in all we do.” Mark unpacks how that mission shapes leadership, culture, and decision-ma...

Pride isn’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes it shows up quietly—in a critical spirit, in being easily offended, or in always needing affirmation. But Scripture calls us to something better: humility that reflects Christ. In this episode of the God First Podcast, Parker and Hope sit down with counselor Scott O’Malley to uncover: The subtle warning signs of pride we often overlook Practical, every...

What Is Pride? Pride is often called the root of all sin—yet it’s one of the hardest to recognize in ourselves. In this episode, we explore the deceptiveness of pride and ask the tough questions: If pride blinds us, how can we even know we’re proud? How dangerous is pride, really? And how do we pursue humility without falling into the trap of being proud of our own growth? We take an honest look a...

Sharing the gospel can feel intimidating. What if they ask a question I can’t answer? What if it gets awkward? What if I say the wrong thing? In this episode of the God First podcast, I sit down with Dr. Eric Russ, Pastor of Evangelism at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC, to get real about the fears and barriers that keep us silent—and the simple truths that can set us free to speak boldly....