The "Pizza and Relationships" Episode
On this episode of Rough Drafts, we welcome Samuel Yocum to the studio (fresh off a heavy breakfast burrito from Janine’s). Samuel shares his journey from being a "theater kid" with big dreams to finding his calling in youth ministry.
We dive deep into what it looks like to grow up with "dual citizenship"—raised by parents fully committed to two different churches—and how that experience shaped Samuel’s ability to listen to others rather than just talk about them.
In this conversation, we cover:
The "Westgate" Rumor: A local story that perfectly illustrates why we need to stop assuming and start having real conversations across denominational lines.
The Ministry of Hanging Out: Why relationships are the only currency that matters in youth ministry (and why you can't disciple a kid you don't know).
Unity in Grief: Samuel shares a powerful story from his time at Freed-Hardeman about how tragedy stripped away social barriers and brought a campus together.
God Doesn't Care About the Honda: A liberating take on "calling"—why we stress too much about finding God’s "secret plan" for our jobs and geography, when He’s actually calling us to holiness.
The Only Love You Don’t Have to Compete For: Dealing with people-pleasing and finding peace in the non-competitive love of God.
Notable Quote: "If I never have any friends in life... if I never get a wife, if I never have a family... I have the love of God. And that is more than enough." — Samuel Yocum
