The ECS community is excited to welcome our new varsity head football coach Ben Johnson. Coach Johnson joins the podcast to share why coaching at a place with such a rich football tradition is a special opportunity for him and his family. He also discusses how football shaped him and how he desires to go beyond X's and O's to use sports as a tool for ministry.

Class of 2013's Brent Rooker has some special titles: two-time MLB All-Star, MLB Silver Slugger Award, National and SEC Baseball Player of the Year (2017), etc. However, Christ-follower, husband and father are titles he cherishes the most. In this episode, he recaps what he shared with students in chapel about being a gospel-driven man and how that guides him in leading his family well. He also shares how his faith helped him persevere through challenges to ascend to the high level he is performing at today.

Executive Director of Streets Ministries Eric Ballentine was a special guest on campus recently to share with students how Jesus changed him from living a life of recklessness to pursuing a life of righteousness. He also shared how Streets Ministries demonstrates love to underserved youth throughout Memphis and how ECS students can empower their mission during our SOAR Day of Service, February 4, 2026.

Vallie Collins was one of 155 passengers on U.S. Airways flight 1549, which made an emergency landing on the Hudson River in 2009. Everyone survived. In addition to our podcast, Collins recently spoke to ECS students and women in our community about what God has revealed to her about how to live following the event that brought her so close to death.

ECS cross country runners join the Equip Podcast for a victory lap celebrating their recent boys and girls region championship triumphs this fall season. Seniors Chase Ellingsworth and Griggs Robinson, 8th grader Anderson Cummins (individual Girls Region Champion), and coach David Boyd share what made this team so special.

As we celebrate 60 years in 2025 we have highlighted people in our community who are the essence of ECS. Paul and Nicole Vander Zwaag are some of those people. Paul as an alumnus (class of 1988), and both as teachers and parents of two alumni, hear about their special journey and how God has used and blessed them.

Two developers with a heart for revitalizing Memphis, especially downtown, recently spoke to ECS seniors to share about their careers. Current ECS dad and class of 1995 alumnus Stuart Harris and Downtown Memphis Commission's Coleman Armes also made time for the Equip podcast to discuss how our city's youth and future leaders can start playing a role in reimagining Memphis.

ECS senior kindergarten teacher assistant Rachel Powell shares what inspired her to create a coloring book that helps children understand the Good News of Jesus, from Creation to Christ's return!

Celebrate Rachel's work by ordering some copies today at this link - https://tinyurl.com/2xvf38dr

ECS senior Bible teacher and Director of Curriculum Alignment and Worldview John Grant joins the podcast to discuss his new book, The Ideal King: Jesus in Light of the Mosaic Ideal.

Pick up a copy today on Amazon - https://tinyurl.com/r8jbpx62

ECS Senior Addison Abney, class of 2026, has started a movement aimed at encouraging her peers through small acts and messages of kindness. She also shares with us how she has embraced student leadership roles that have allowed her to serve ECS and her community.

See what Addison is up to by visiting these links -

https://www.dripco.org/ & https://tinyurl.com/hvpsdkrv

First Evangelical Church Senior Pastor Pace McKee visited our student chapel recently to inspire students to seek biblical wisdom. Drawing on his former experience as a youth pastor, he explores how today's culture challenges young people in discerning moral good.