My guest for episode 114 is Dr. Stacy L. Spencer, Senior Pastor of New Direction Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, a multi-site congregation with church plants in Collierville, TN, and Idutywa, South Africa.

Take a listen as Dr. Spencer speaks of his humble beginnings in the 80's working in tobacco fields in rural Olmstead, Kentucky. He learned many life skills growing up but most of all empathy for others. As a student in high school, he was involved in a plethora of activities including football, track, band and speech. West Kentucky University was where he later attended college as a broadcast major pledging Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. It was his junior year when he received his calling from God. After graduation, he attended seminary school and later moved to Memphis, TN as a youth pastor with Mississippi Blvd Church. In 2001, Dr. Spencer stepped out on faith and began a radical church by the name of New Direction Christian Church that has grown rapidly going from 60 to 10,000 members in 10 years. Although those numbers have astronomically grown since then, Dr. Spencer has laid a fruitful foundation in the Hickory Hill area with Power Center CDC. This multi-million-dollar community model includes a middle school, performing arts center, wellness center, retail spaces and housing.

As we settle into a new normal with the ongoing threat of the coronavirus, Dr. Spencer shares his thoughts on how this virus relates to the Bible referencing Psalms 21 and a few others. He echoes the fact that God is getting our attention as we undergo a mass healing of sorts via self-quarantine. Dr. Spencer reminds us of the importance of Faith during these days. He also shares that although the doors of the church are physically closed, church is still in session. Enjoy.