For the last episode of the podcast (perhaps ever!), Mary Patton welcomes the current Reformed University Fellowship interns at Ole Miss, Caroline Dean and Walker Crow. Caroline and Walker share their testimonies, how they were led to do the RUF internship, and advice about life after college. They hope to encourage students that post-grad life brings challenges, but it is also fun! We hope you enjoy this episode, "Caroline Dean and Walker Crow: Life After College."

In this episode of the Be Loved, Be Bold podcast, Mary Patton hosts her friend and mentor Newell Simrall. A current member at Mary Patton's home church Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church, Mr. Simrall grew up on a small farm North of Vicksburg and moved to Jackson, MS after marrying his wife Sweyn in 1986. Having taught a number of Sunday school classes at Pear Orchard, Mr. Simrall is a great resource for students in learning more about the Bible and how to read it. In this podcast episode, he reminds students the value of the Bible being God's "inspired, inherent, infallible, perfect, holy" Word, and shares that boldness originates in knowing Jesus Christ better through it. We hope you enjoy this episode, "Newell Simrall: How to Read the Bible." 

In this episode of Be Loved, Be Bold, Mary Patton welcomes her friend Sarah D'Amico, a senior civil engineering major from Niceville, Florida. Per student requests, Mary Patton and Sarah focus particularly on how students can experience the joy of the Lord when life is hard. For Sarah, life brought unexpected turmoil when her mom passed away during her junior year of college. Sarah encourages students by reminding them of the difference between joy and happiness. Because joy is a fulfillment from the Lord that comes directly from Him and from spending time with Him, she says, students can experience joy despite hardship. Sarah also shares two verses: Psalm 73:26 and Philippians 3:13. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we hope that it encourages you to give God your heart and your free time so that you also can experience His joy more deeply this new year.

For the last episode of the season, Mary Patton welcomes Mason Nichols, a sophomore Ole Miss baseball player from Jackson, MS. Mason shares his testimony, starting with his conversion at the age of eight, to God working through his time at Ole Miss as a student athlete, especially during the College World Series where he pitched in the championship game.  Mason talks about the importance of having faith in all circumstances, through hard times and good times, and during the times inbetween. He attributes all of his successes thus far to the Lord, and encourages students with verses Jeremiah 29:11 ("For I know the plans, I have for you, says the Lord") and Hebrews 11:1 ("Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.")

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her friend Barnes Benton, a senior at Ole Miss from Hattiesburg, MS, to share his testimony and talk about the influence of corporate worship in his life. Barnes describes how he grew up in a musical family, with his parents singing in church and playing the piano at home. Because of their influence, Barnes and his brothers began to learn to play instruments, and Barnes began to lead worship at camp and in youth group. Today, Barnes plays guitar in the Reformed University Fellowship band every Wednesday night, and some Sunday nights, and he advises students that anyone can worship, whether they are musically talented or not. He also shares that worship can take a number of forms day to day, though corporate worship is important for the encouragement of the body of Christ. 

This week, Mary Patton is joined by Phoebe Goodwin, a junior at the University of Mississippi from Roswell, GA. MP and Phoebe discuss Phoebe's journey coming to Ole Miss, as well as the surprises and difficulties of that journey along the way. They also spend time discussing Phoebe's recent month spent in South Asia, where she got to share the gospel alongside four of her good friends that she met at Greek Summit, a two-week long retreat at the beach that changed Phoebe's life for the better. Phoebe provides encouragement on answering the callings God has for your life, even when they don't always look like what you expected. We hope you are encouraged by her story!

In this episode, Mary Patton speaks with one of her closest college friends Ruth Emmon Tyson about the suffering Ruth Emmon has experienced in the last six years and God's overwhelming love amidst that suffering. Ruth Emmon shares advice on how to be a good friend to students who are experiencing hardships and provides some encouragement from the Word and the works of Elisabeth Elliot. 

This week, Mary Patton welcomes Louisiana native and mother of four Mary Kathleen Sims to the podcast. Mary Patton and Mary Kathleen discuss the importance of church involvement during college years, and the importance of knowing older men and women to be influences during those years.  A significant part of Mary Kathleen's faith story is her marriage with Daniel Sims. Mary Kathleen discusses her unexpected pregnancy outside of marriage after college, and advises young adults that it is sometimes better to marry young than to wait (I Corinthians 7:9).  Besides church involvement, accountability, and marriage, Mary Kathleen also shares about her hobbies of painting, crafting, and thrifting. She shares about how the Lord brought the gift of art and creativity to her home during Covid, and how art is a gift that can be used to point others - especially young children - to the Lord.  When it comes to being bold, Mary Kathleen's encouragement for students is to show boldness by being loving. She shares that you never really know what someone is walking through, so it is important to show the grace and kindness of Christ in all things. 

In this episode, Mary Patton welcomes her childhood friend Russ Upton. Russ is a junior biochemistry major from Jackson, MS and the current chaplain of Sigma Chi at Ole Miss. During their conversation, Mary Patton and Russ discuss the process of sanctification in Russ's life during college, including his time abroad this past summer. Russ provides encouragement to students who struggle with their faith stories by reminding them of Philippians 1:6 which says, "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Russ encourages students to remember that God will enable them to be mirrors for Him, whether on their college campuses or in a new place across the world.

For the first episode of season 3, Mary Patton welcomes Ole Miss alum Olivia Thames. Following the publication of her blog article "To the new college freshman..." Olivia shares advice and encouragement for college students of every year, from freshmen to seniors. Olivia lives in Nashville with her husband Grant, where she writes for Lifeway and maintains her own personal blog, oliviathames.com.