What do youth sports reveal about us as dads? More than we might want to admit. In this conversation with Townsend Church Pastor and Upward Sports League Director Tim Sparrow, Kent and Lawson dig into the highs and lows of parenting on the sidelines. From yellow cards to halftime prayers, Tim shares how sports can be more than competition—they can be a training ground for humility, discipleship, and Christ-like leadership.
We touch on topics like:
- Why kids benefit when dads show up the right way
- How to handle your own failures and model repentance
- The connection between pride, parenting, and competition
Just a tease of some of Tim's wisdom: "When I feel ill-equipped because of my past experiences, I thank God for those experiences because that was him equipping me to be in the position that I'm in so that I can help people that are going through the same things." There's more where that come from in today's conversation with Tim. If you’ve ever lost your cool at a game or wondered how to keep Jesus at the center of all the busyness, this episode will encourage and challenge you to be a Father On Purpose.
Learn more about Upward Sports and their mission: https://www.upward.org/
Connect with Tim's Church in DE: https://www.tfwb.org/
We've launched video now! Check out the video version of this show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gfD9Dg4x0Bk
Listen Now:
Subscribe So You Don’t Miss a Show
Get new episodes delivered wherever you listen to podcasts.
Meet the Hosts
Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps dads become disciple-makers. After a twenty-year career as a business leader, he embarked on biblical fatherhood ministry projects. He’s authored four books. The most recent, Don’t Bench Yourself: How to Stay in the Game Even When You Want to Quit. He and his wife April have been married for three decades and they have five sons.
Lawson Brown married his high school sweetheart, and is a father of two adult daughters. He’s a business leader and a former (always!) Marine. He’s served as a small group leader, helped launch ministries and a church plant where he served as its Men’s Ministry leader. His faith journey has always been centered in a grounding from his wife, Audrey, and supported throughout by many men who’ve been brothers along the way. His family is nearing an empty nest phase and has recently relocated to the Florida Gulf Coast beaches area.
FEATURING GREAT GUESTS
Gary Chapman
Ken Blanchard
Chip Ingram
“I listen to the father on purpose podcast and you guys are amazing. Thank you for all you guys do and please keep it up. Us Fathers need this NOW more than ever.”
–Joel C.
“Thank you for the effort and time you put into leading us dads toward the Kingdom of God. I have learned and put to use so much by listening to the podcast.”
–Cole S.
RECENT PODCASTS
When it comes to your identity, do you ever feel the pull to let culture, career, or even past mistakes define who you are? The stakes are high, and not just for you, but for your kids too. This episode will begin a three-part series on Identity, and for today, we’ll start with the foundations we look to on our journey to find out what our identity truly is.
Together we’ll walk through six guiding principles, things like why the Bible must be our source, why God (not those around us or even ourselves) decides who we are, and how our words shape the way our children see themselves. You’ll be reminded that your identity is fixed, your character is (or at least should be!) growing, and your influence as a dad is more powerful than you may realize. This isn’t just theory. It’s biblical, it’s practical, and it’s the kind of conversation that can change the way you parent this week.
Listen Now:
"My greatest lesson in my entire life was that I'm not in control." Wise words from our wonderful guest today, Scott MacLellan. Do you ever feel the pressure to try and be your kids' savior? Like you're responsible for all of their choices, no matter how good or bad they might be? Scott learned the hard way that there's only one person that can fill that role, and it's not you and me. It's only Jesus. Today, Scott shows us what it means to let go of the reins and hand them over to Christ, without being passive or ditching your responsibility to lead your family.
Scott MacLellan has been a CEO for the last 25 years, leading multi-billion-dollar businesses and tens of thousands of employees. He’s written nine books, is the executive producer of an upcoming streaming series in development and has even worked as a celebrity bodyguard. His greatest story is tied to being a follower of Jesus Christ, married for over 40 years, a father of two daughters, and grandfather to three boys. You do not want to miss this episode. Let's dive in to a story of tragedy, fear, hopelessness, but ultimately, one of redemption.
Listen Now:
"You want your kids to see you as a safe space." That's just one of the gold nuggets you'll get from today's guest, Dr. Kim Kimberling. Dr. Kim is a treasure trove of wisdom, and we have the chance to soak some of that up in today's episode. Ever wondered how to parent kids in a culture ruled by social media and cancel culture, what it means to be intentional as a dad, or how to practically cultivate grace in your home? We get into that and much more. Dive in to our conversation with Dr. Kim and be encouraged, challenged, and inspired.
Listen Now:
What’s Your Mission as a Dad?
Being a godly dad is hard work. Challenges abound, and sometimes, we just need some ideas, encouragement, and a little laughter along the way. So, we created the Father On Purpose Podcast to have real, fun, and practical conversations about being dads. Fatherhood is awesome, sacred, and hard all at the same time. We don’t have all the answers, but together as dads, we’ll try to figure it out.
