In this episode, Pastor Addison sits down with Josh March—military service member, chaplain assistant, and leader of Empowered Fitness Ministry—to explore how faith and military service can work hand in hand.

Josh shares his powerful journey from the fitness world to the Air National Guard, how God used basic training to reignite his faith, and what it's like to minister on the front lines.

Whether you're considering military service or simply curious about how God calls people into unexpected spaces, this conversation offers honest insights and practical encouragement.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why Josh felt compelled to serve in the military after 9/11
• How basic training unexpectedly reignited his relationship with God
• What a chaplain assistant does—and why it matters
• The story behind Josh’s call to seminary and pastoral training
• Why military service can be seen as an act of love from a Christian perspective
• Practical advice for those considering military service, including how to explore options wisely
• The unique spiritual needs of servicemembers and how the church can be present for them

Key Quotes

• "Military service is an act of love. You're literally saying, 'I'm willing to take that risk so others don't have to.'" – Josh March
• "Basic training stripped everything away—but I had my Bible and a cross from my grandfather. That grounded me." – Josh March
• "Someone has to be there in those hard moments. As Christians, we can be a presence of hope and peace." – Josh March
• "I told God, 'You have to make it abundantly clear.' A week later, the education benefits changed—and I knew." – Josh March
• "Before you talk to a recruiter, talk to someone who’s served. You’ll get the real story without pressure." – Josh March

Ways to Get Involved / Resources Mentioned

• Empowered Fitness Ministry at Grace Community Church — efm.church
• Liberty University — Seminary education mentioned by Josh - www.liberty.edu/

About the Know and Follow Podcast

The Know and Follow podcast is a production of Grace Community Church of Willow Street, located at 212 Peach Bottom Road in Willow Street, Pennsylvania.

Join us for weekend services on Saturdays at 6pm, Sundays at 8am, 9:15am, and 11am.

Learn more at gccws.net.

Episode Summary:
In this moving episode, Pastor Addison Roberts sits down with Paul Hoffman, a missionary serving in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, alongside his wife and large adoptive family. Paul shares how their ministry, a children’s home for medically vulnerable and abandoned kids, grew from a personal adoption story into a Christ-centered mission of sacrificial love. Listeners will be both challenged and encouraged by Paul’s raw stories, missional insight, and unwavering faith. This is a conversation about the Gospel made visible through daily acts of service, resilience, and radical hospitality.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How a single adoption led to a life-altering ministry in Bolivia

• What everyday life looks like in a children’s home with 19 kids

• The reality of serving in a country with minimal social safety nets

• Why fostering is becoming the future model of their ministry

• What it means to embody the works of Jesus through practical care

• How American visitors—regardless of skill—can encourage global workers

• Ways the church can offer prayerful and tangible support to missionaries

Key Quotes:

"To Jesus, we all look like the kids we care for—helpless and needing grace." —Paul Hoffman

"Doing what Jesus does has enabled me to preach to people who never would have listened before." —Paul Hoffman

"We didn’t know the full path—God called us as we went along." —Paul Hoffman

"Sometimes people in the church ask, ‘Why aren’t you doing more in the tambourine ministry?’ instead of seeing the value in caring for disabled orphans." —Paul Hoffman

"Every time someone from the U.S. visits, it reminds our team that they are doing something that matters." —Paul Hoffman

Ways to Get Involved / Resources Mentioned:

Support & Stay Connected:

• Follow on Facebook: Casa de Los Osos

• To support financially: Reach out to Grace Community Church for partner info (a church in New Jersey processes donations)

• Prayer needs: healing for children like Jesús, strength for their team, and guidance as they transition to foster care models

• Short-term trip interest: Ideal for nurses, OTs, and anyone who loves children

About the Know and Follow Podcast:
The Know and Follow podcast is a production of Grace Community Church of Willow Street, located at 212 Peach Bottom Road in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. Join us for weekend services on Saturdays at 6pm, Sundays at 8am, 9:15am, and 11am. Learn more at gccws.net.

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Pastor Addison Roberts sits down with Maryanne O’Neil, a foster and kinship care parent from Grace Community Church, in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month. Maryanne shares how her family stepped into foster care unexpectedly but wholeheartedly, welcoming baby Chloe into their home. From the challenges of trauma-informed care to the deep joys of adoption, this conversation explores how Christians can embody the gospel by supporting vulnerable children—and those who care for them.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What kinship care is and how it fits into the foster care system

• How Maryanne’s family was called—unexpectedly—into foster care

• Why community support can make or break a foster parent’s experience

• Tangible ways you can support foster families, even if you can’t foster

• The emotional realities of saying goodbye to a foster child

• How foster care reflects the gospel's call to love the least of these

• Why being trauma-informed is essential for supporting children in care

Key Quotes:

“Foster care is not for everyone—but everyone can do something.” — Maryanne O’Neil
“She came to us on a rainy day with no hat, no socks, and a half can of formula. But God knew she was meant for us.” — Maryanne O’Neil
“If foster families don’t have support, they may only step forward once.” — Maryanne O’Neil
“There has never been an accidental adoption—every adoption is a choice, just like God chose us.” — Pastor Addison Roberts
“The impact you make on a child today can shape the rest of their life, even if you don’t see it right away.” — Maryanne O’Neil

Ways to Get Involved / Resources Mentioned:
Organizations & Services:

• COBYS Family Services – Local foster care and family support

• Bethany Christian Services – National foster/adoption ministry

• Foster Care Closet – Lancaster-area chapter launching soon

Practical Support Opportunities:

• Donate baby gear, cribs, or clothing

• Provide meals during transitions or illness

• Offer babysitting or a few hours of relief care

• Invite foster children into your holiday or family traditions

• Join or start a foster family support group at your church

• Receive trauma-informed care training to better serve families

About the Know and Follow Podcast:
The Know and Follow podcast is a production of Grace Community Church of Willow Street, located at 212 Peach Bottom Road in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. Join us for weekend services on Saturdays at 6pm, Sundays at 8am, 9:15am, and 11am.

Learn more at gccws.net.