Shows
Give Love: Life on Death Row10. LegacyOn the final episode of Give Love, Jess recounts his first face-to-face meeting with Franklin, and a chorus of voices shares how Franklin's life and story have impacted them. Franklin closes with a stirring statement on legacy and invites listeners to connect with him at the following address:Franklin Davis 999585Polunsky Unit3872 FM 350 SouthLivingston, TX 773512024-12-1828 min
Give Love: Life on Death Row9. SupportRachel Gross founded Death Row Support Project more than 45 years ago, and now she's passing the leadership torch to her daughter Heidi. In many ways, the program has always been a family affair, and it's changed lives for thousands of inmates and those who correspond with them. Rachel and Heidi share about the origins of the project, how it's grown and where it's headed next. To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp2024-12-1133 min
Give Love: Life on Death Row8. FaithFranklin's faith has been put to the ultimate test on multiple occasions. In this episode, he openly shares how his views on spirituality, organized religion and the afterlife have evolved since he was sent to death row.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp2024-12-0429 min
Give Love: Life on Death Row7. AhmadAhmad is the only one of Franklin's five children to visit him in prison. A conversation with Ahmad and his girlfriend, Christal, reveals early memories of Franklin, what it's like to meet with him now, and whether Ahmad has been able to forgive his dad for everything that's transpired.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp2024-11-2723 min
Give Love: Life on Death Row6. TrialIt doesn't take long after officers knock on his door for Franklin to realize that his fate is sealed. In this episode, he walks us through the experience of being on trial for capital murder along with his first days on death row. To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp2024-11-2031 min
Give Love: Life on Death Row5. LindaLinda spends her retirement visiting dozens of prison inmates, housing parolees and co-hosting a radio show that provides crucial information to people on death row. Despite regular encounters with those in the prison system, her bond with Franklin has become extraordinarily special.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp2024-11-1328 min
Give Love: Life on Death Row4. WanderingAfter years of abandonment, loss and heartbreak, Franklin attempts to carve his own path in life as an adult. With no positive mentors or guardrails, his journey to seek peace and security results in chaos, homelessness and a cold act of vengeance that sends him to prison.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp2024-11-0630 min
Give Love: Life on Death Row3. TeenagerFranklin's teenage years bring fresh waves of violence, multiple rounds of foster care and an unusual family reunion with devastating news that will change his life forever. He also enters into his first serious relationship, which impacts all of his future forays into dating and intimacy. Advisory: This episode discusses sexual violence and other forms of physical abuse.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp2024-10-3028 min
Give Love: Life on Death Row2. ChildhoodThe conversation continues with Franklin Davis, an inmate on Texas death row for the past 11 years. Franklin is going to give us a glimpse into his childhood, and to call it rough would be an understatement. Advisory: Rape, murder, and other forms of violence will be addressed today, as they’re all pieces to the puzzle that is Franklin and the path his life has taken.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp2024-10-2126 min
Give Love: Life on Death Row1. ConnectedFranklin and Jess met 3 years ago thanks to the Death Row Support Project, a program that has connected thousands of inmates to writers around the world. More than 100 written and emailed exchanges later, Franklin and Jess have built a rich relationship. And now they get to discuss life via phone calls, thanks to new tablets being allowed on death row in Livingston, Texas. This story—Franklin’s story—is so much more than a murder case. It’s a story about life: his life, Jess' life, and how they’ve become intertwined in surprisingly beautiful ways. To learn more...2024-10-2128 min
COBCast - The Church of the Brethren PodcastVoices of Death Row Support Project: Jess HoffertAs founder Rachel Gross retires after 45 years of directing the Death Row Support Project, faithful penpals share stories of their relationships with people sentenced to death. In this episode, Rachel Gross and Anna Lisa Gross interview Jess Hoffert. Nancy Miner plays the piano. Check out this audio series through Messenger Radio, watch for upcoming written and video interviews, and join in the gratitude reception for Rachel at Annual Conference on July 5. Learn more about Death Row Support Project at https://www.brethren.org/drsp/2024-06-0322 min
Dunker Punks Podcast – Arlington Church of the Brethren#128: Preparing for Love Feast – Virtual Love Feast #3
Love Feast is one of the few sacred rituals practiced by Brethren and as the pandemic continues into a third year, this episode brings our third take on a Virtual Love Feast. Some congregations will be meeting in person on Maundy Thursday, so this year we focused on the preparation side of Love Feast in anticipation of Holy Week to do some “housekeeping of the heart” for ourselves and our communities. We are so thankful for the contributors who made this episode happen: Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey Lauren Seganos Cohen Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred Anna Lisa Gross Jacob Crouse Mycal Gresh Jess...2022-04-0900 minDunker Punks Podcast – Arlington Church of the BrethrenTaking the Bridge Less TraveledBen Bear returns, this time interviewing Jess Hoffert, who left his job in Iowa to volunteer with the Principe de Paz Church of the Brethren in Santa Ana, CA. Listen as he explains what helped him follow this call to leave his comfort zone and how the experience has been a transformative one for him.
FacebookLikeTwitterFollowSnapchatDunkerPunksPod2018-06-0934 minDunker Punks PodcastTaking the Bridge Less TraveledBen Bear returns, this time interviewing Jess Hoffert, who left his job in Iowa to volunteer with the Principe de Paz Church of the Brethren in Santa Ana, CA. Listen as he explains what helped him follow this call to leave his comfort zone and how the experience has been a transformative one for [...]2018-06-0934 min