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Ep 9 - A Conversation with Kevin & Rose Blash · This Is That: Believe Again

• Kevin and Rose: speak to every parent, every aunt, uncle, family member, friend, whoever you are. Be a light. Be a lighthouse for these young people to see what a godly example is. Be a believer in season and out of season. And we thank you and we break the hold of any demonic forces over families, over children, and over communities right now in Jesus' name, amen. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Welcome to This Is That Believe Again. I'm your host, Yvonne Denise, and today I have the joy of welcoming two very dear friends, Kevin and Rose Blash. Now Kevin and Rose are remarkable people of faith. They're educators, ministry leaders, visionaries, builders, with a tremendous heart for families, children, and the generations to come. And we've known each other for more than twenty-five years. And our Kevin and Rose: Thank Yvonne Denise Hicks: journey together began at a previous church where we served in various capacities, including supporting the regular and special services, children and youth ministry in a small Bible college. And since the founding of Releasing Heaven Ministries, they've been a core part of our leadership. And today they serve as ordained ministers and are our senior elders and But our relationship goes well beyond ministry. I've had the privilege of knowing their family, watching their children grow up, and just seeing firsthand their commitment to encouraging, equipping, and investing in others. several years ago I I wrote something about Kevin and Rhodes, and it remains true today. They are our anchors. And so they're a steady. deep rooted in the Lord and carry such a heart for people. And today we're going to talk about their journey, their faith, their family, their dreams for the generations, and what continues to give them hope. So Kevin and Rose, welcome. I'm so glad you're here. Kevin and Rose: Thank you. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Okay. So before we begin, I'm going to open us up in prayer, okay? Kevin and Rose: Okay. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Father, we desire that our conversation today would encourage people, give them hope. And stir them to dream again and believe. We yield our vessels to you, Lord Jesus. Communicate the dreams and testimonies you have given us. We bless Kevin and Rose today as they share. In your mighty name we pray. Amen. Amen. Kevin and Rose: Very good. Yvonne Denise Hicks: So it's been quite a journey, hasn't it? Kevin and Rose: Thank Yvonne Denise Hicks: before we get into all of we're doing today, I I'd love for our listeners to get to know you a little bit better. And so we'll start with how your individual stories began and then how you met. And so Kevin and Rose: Thank Yvonne Denise Hicks: so for for for both of you, you know, take your your time, you know, and take turns, but tell us a little bit about your beginnings. What was life growing up and and who had the greatest influence on you. Kevin and Rose: Ladies first. I I get to go first. I would say, let's see, I grew up in the Northwest, Washington state, part of a family of, have four other siblings, I had to count there. Our family has grown so much with nieces and nephews, wonderful parents who, they started their lives on the East Coast. and through military we ended up on the West Coast. And I would say one of the, the Lord reminded me that he showed me a picture of my mom who was, you know, mom, she was a wonderful woman. And this was a season where she was caregiving. She was taking care of my dad. And I just saw her sitting. She wasn't doing anything in particular, but. the words, you're made of strong stuff, just kind of came through my spirit. And I really took that as the Lord letting me know that my mom is a strong person. And that's a large part of where I get my strength from. And that strength, I feel like he was highlighting the core of her strength. And really the core was her relationship with the Lord. And I got wonderful qualities from my father as well. But that is something that I really feel like he was highlighting for me specifically just to know where that foundation is coming from. And I really appreciated that. So let's see, I would say that I think because again, just being a part of a church, as I was growing up, my parents did their part in terms of making sure that we all were, we all had the word of God and those stabilities, strong, stable family, I think those really did impact and really started. a lot of you know who I am. Yvonne Denise Hicks: That's awesome. What about you, Mr. Kevin? Kevin and Rose: I am the product of, I think they call them, these northern migrators. They came from the South, from South Carolina and Brunswick, and most of the family migrated to New York. So I grew up with a wonderful mother and father, a mother and grandmother as well, who made me look a little deeper into the things of my both my faith and my ethnicity to be proud of who I was. And I grew up a little differently than most of my fellow black males is that my friends tended to be more friends that were more, we call ourselves the UN. We were, laughs cause she's met them. Is that they're from all over. We had friends from a family from Scotland, a family from Italy. another family that, you know, can literally trace their roots back to Italy. I think the father and mother were the first generation migrants. We had friends that were Israeli. And then we had a couple of friends who were also black, but it wasn't just everybody was black in that group. And I think that helped me to understand how to interact with people in a much more diverse way, understanding their different cultures, even to the fact that where I was a Baptist, they were Catholic and Jewish, of course. And so I've gotten, I got a well-rounded education. Unfortunately, I was sneaky when I was younger. And as a result, while I was very good at deception, I will say that it's, and I think that helped me in the classroom and in the psychiatric field that I can, it says you can determine a con, a con can see another con. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Mm. Kevin and Rose: And there's some truth to that. I was also had gotten into the dark side of history, understanding what the Roman people had done or the Roman Empire had done to its enemies to instill fear. And unfortunately, that opened a thread to where I was being groomed and encouraged to become a hitman. And thankfully, the Lord with some men who saw where I was going, kind of yanked me out of that. Plus my grandmother's death shook me. And because I had made a promise to her, the Lord kept having that echo in my mind. And it was really hard to, I think Paul said, it's hard to kick against the prick. It's hard to kick against that inner witness. So what they had instilled in me through church, because you went to church every day. You wore your best for God. didn't slouch. So that was in there. It was just that the world was trying to pull it out. And I've seen now that as I'm older, I see why he wanted me there because if I would have stayed in that lifestyle, I probably wouldn't be talking to you right now. And there was so much the Lord has done for me throughout my life. I know you did ask about us, how we met. And that's a fun... what will will shorten it so it's everybody will be falling asleep but we met a college with the hampton university when we got there was hampton institute is now university with a little bit of help from our friends we had had interest in each other but never acted on it and a few of our good mutual friend even to this day we hang out with each other from time to time helped us to have that first date and from there the rest is i can say history a lawyer really opened up some doors And we both have a love of both the psychological, educational, and family life. I unfortunately, I think I overwhelmed her on our first real date, I think after marriage by taking her to my family reunion, which were like 500 people. And Yvonne Denise Hicks: Wow. Kevin and Rose: they all wanted to meet her because the cousins that I was with were the generation that they saw growing up and fulfilling. the reason why they moved north. So anybody you brought in the family had to meet many other people. And at that time, many of my uncles and aunts were still alive and she passed the test. So it was a good thing. But that's really how we met. We met at Hampton and the Lord has helped keep the fire going from there. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Awesome, awesome. That that is amazing and I I've heard snippets of that Kevin and Rose: you Yvonne Denise Hicks: story along the way, but you know, Kevin, your family, you know, as I can hear, instilled some very strong values in you, faith, family, education, integrity, and responsibility. So how have those shaped your decisions in the way you approach life? Kevin and Rose: Well, the first thing, and no disrespect to anybody out there who is a follower of these people, when I was growing up, the talk show was a very popular thing. So they show you what they want you to see a male should be. But thankfully, I had male mentors who showed me what a man was according to God. And so some of my family, and I have to be honest, seeing somehow some of my male family acted, I wanted the opposite. And so that plus the education. The one thing I know about me is that the Lord really had to do this a work in me because when we got married and started having children, the Lord spoke to me and said, I need you to give up Sunday football for just a season. And I was like, excuse me, we can make it both happen. No, you can't because you don't really have all the tools yet. to understand how to be a good father and husband and still be pulled away every so often. And back then, I think there was like five or four days a week that there was a football game on if you wanted to be distracted. So the Lord showed me later on, like now you can look back and see what was going on. But that's one of things that he instilled upon me because one thing I will say, even though some of my family had challenges in how they dealt with things, there was always a thought, family is first, family is second, God is first. There was always a mutual respect, even those family members who fell off the wagon and may have had some other legal entanglements, I'll say, there was still, when you came to God's house, You showed respect, you were never disrespectful. And the elders in our community, meaning my aunts and uncles and other relatives that were alongside friends and family, you always called them Mr. And Mrs. You never tried to call them by their first name like your guys were buddies. So that really marked on me what should happen. Even to this day, I get weird looks because I'll hold the door or if I'm walking out of say a grocery store, I'll stop and let a young lady come in. And it actually takes a couple of them back. The older women are loving it, but the young women are like, why are you stopping there? So it, and I instilled that and I will instill that in our grandsons, but also I've instilled it in our son. Even Rochelle, our daughter has expectations of what a man should do when they're out and how it should work. Yvonne Denise Hicks: That's good. Kevin and Rose: So that has really multi-generationally has affected me knowing what. men should do and I'm even starting to do some of that in the community when I'm in when I meet with other young men in different environments and areas. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Man. So so Rose, what what first like stirred your your interest in working with children and families? Kevin and Rose: I would, I think that was definitely a God thing. I mean, have, I have teachers all over my family. And honestly, when I was a child looking at my mom teaching, was like, I never wondered that. I went the other direction. Well, tried. I tried to go the other direction and then, you know, went to grad school, not for education, and then wound up being a substitute teacher. So, really was searching for what the Lord would have me to do. he orchestrated situations and circumstances. So I ended up teaching, loving aspects of it, having problems with other aspects of it. so, you know, the seed was there. I didn't know it. But, he just began to nurture. And I did realize that I enjoyed, once I got in the classroom, enjoyed working with children and watching them go from being, you know, non-readers to readers, just watching that growth and enjoying, you know, who these little people were, these young people, and just kind of enjoying that aspect. And so that has... That has continued to grow and the Lord has continued to refine that in me. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah, yeah. I this is not my notes, but I just as you were speaking, I had you know, the kind of a flash memory of your taking living learning to Haiti. And I remember Kevin and Rose: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: that you know, S Snyder who was our our guide and everything, he was like, we can talk back to one another It was just Kevin and Rose: No. Yvonne Denise Hicks: the things that I I I feel that the Lord has had you highlight and see and notice, they've been very, very powerful. Not not just in the US but other other places. And so I I appreciate that. So you you've talked about your your time at at Hampton a little bit and you know how you you guys met. So that's been that's been great. And so w was there a particular experience or or or person there who helped change the direction of your life. I think you've you know, in the past have mentioned one or two people to me. anybody come to mind? Kevin and Rose: Well, I have to be honest about it. I guess we're friends to this day. Dr. Roland Carter, we were very fortunate to travel and I actually got to meet my relatives for the first time thanks to our traveling concert choir. He is our choir director, he was, or let me say he is much more than that because he's still alive. He really made us think and push against things like, for instance, for those who may know Hampton, Hampton has a green circle outside of a hall called Ogden Hall. And the lore on the campus was you never cut across that circle if you wanted to get out in four years. Because anybody that walked across Ogden Circle was going to be a super senior and be there for five or more years. And so he heard somebody say that in the middle of rehearsal. He was like, Do you actually know why that is? And he didn't, he didn't say what it was. Later, he talked to us individually, who asked questions of him about it, but he would do things like that. He would challenge your thinking beyond just, okay, do you have the, the tenor part? Do you have the alto part? He did more than that. And we were blessed in our wedding that he actually came out to see at the Tacoma and he played for the wedding and made up a special song for us. that he played during the wedding itself. And I can't remember if it was at the beginning or at the end. But there have been several people at Hampton that have really impacted us. for me, he's the one that really stands out because he also gave me a job working with his company of, he publishes music. So I would have to go and gather the music and send it out through the mail. And he trusted me to enter his home and do other things. So once again, he was another big reason why And he would never, another big reason why I have what I call a father's spirit. When it comes to young people, I'm not overbearing, I hope, but I try to be there as the family allows me to be there. And that's what I took from him, because he would have the choir come to his house and have social times. He would do things for those who wanted to participate and actually have a relationship with him beyond just the academics that he was. that he was teaching. Yvonne Denise Hicks: That's huge. That's really huge and and and important. We need those mentors and those examples Kevin and Rose: Mm-hmm. Yvonne Denise Hicks: and I'd love that you've you do you carry that, you know, you carry that anointing that in terms of of things that I've seen in terms of, you know, your even your neighbors, th that type of thing. So, I there was a a note I think that you had in your bio about your your family heritage, about an an ancestor Who helped secure freedom for himself and his wife. Do you remember that? Yeah. D you wanna share just a little bit? Kevin and Rose: I do. Our family, I've become part of the family historian and some of the research. We did find out it wasn't my doing, I'm taking this from some of the hard work of other family members. We were able to trace our origins, if you will, back to a gentleman by the name of Philip. He eventually became Philip. He took the last name of Blash To this day, none of our family really knows how he picked that name. For those of you who may be historians know that freed slaves would look at something like bridges and they would say, okay, my last name is Bridges or they would take the last name of the owner. And so what we think is it was either a Jewish or German owner. Cause as far as I can do, I did a name search. You'll find Blaschenstein or Blaschenstern. So we think he truncated the last part and just took Blasch. But as far as we can trace it, he came over from India with a family and they settled in the Georgia area. He worked for several years, earned his freedom, and then bought his soon to be wife's freedom. And thereby both of them set free. And as last count, we haven't gotten all the branches back together, but he and his wife had 18 children. Of those 18 children, I think we've found seven branches of it. My branch, Blash, Curry branch, excuse me, I'm sorry, Blash, the Blash Ware branch tends to be the one that I know best. I'm now getting to know some of the other people that we have. Every two years or so have a family reunion and they're pretty large. And I haven't been to the largest one yet. think my mother went to that one. was over, I want to say 2000 people or more. at Yvonne Denise Hicks: Wow. Kevin and Rose: that one and that was one of the larger ones. But like I said, that was the thing that we hold on to. I really have taught that to our children. Our children even know it. Alan, our son and Rochelle, our daughter, also get to know some of the things. And I think if I can jump the gun here, I think there was one thing, can I share if that's wrong? There's a sense of pride on Rose's side as well of something that her great-grandfather, I think it is, did that once again, I believe a thing that she did as her master's thesis was that when you know your history, you tend to show more success. And I think that's one of the things that we're missing in not just Black America, but all America is that people don't know who they are. So they act out. what they think they should be. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. I agree. And history is so in important and Kevin and Rose: Mm-mm. Yvonne Denise Hicks: powerful, you know. that was one thing my dad said, you know, don't don't let anyone take your history and and Kevin and Rose: Uh-huh. Yvonne Denise Hicks: know your history and so that's kind of why it's sometimes I take those deep dives. How how about you, Rose? Did you wanna add add something? It sounded like you were looked like you were about to say something. Kevin and Rose: Just to echo the whole idea of family, it's funny because Kevin grew up attending family reunions and my family, didn't do that. But since my parents have passed, we've started to do that. So my siblings and Kevin and the kids, we've gotten together. several times over several years and just try to really nurture that family spirit. And that's one thing that I received also was the importance of family, relying on one another, even though you may fight like cats and dogs, Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kevin and Rose: there's still room for supporting one another. And sometimes you have, important to them from distance or, you know, but family is very important. And that was a key theme even in my thesis and the idea of history. And it really was family history. was looking at how Black boys in particular, what the success rate in school was when they knew their history and they were impacted by their their family, know, was family involved? And we see that, you know, so much today that it's so critical. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kevin and Rose: So that's why we're both, think, very big on family. And of course, at the head of the family, of course, is the Lord bringing all of that together and, you know, smoothing out the rough places. Yvonne Denise Hicks: That that's powerful 'cause because that's the Lord established that as the core, right? Of how we are, you know, to to be trained up and, you know, relate and and have a a a place and I I know that you do things to help when there's brokenness, you know. in in different things. So I the kind of the a good segue to kind of talk about, you know, just when when you began, you know, building your life together, you know, you know, what what kind of family as you were talking about did you hope to create and just you know, to talk about s you know, some of the v values and most intentional we talked about a couple, but if there's other things, that come to mind 'cause I know it's it's very in important and powerful area, but be with you guys and hear just the stories, you know, of just even how it extended beyond your your immediate family, but even to, you know, kinda corrale some of the neighborhood kids and things like that. So Kevin and Rose: The thing for us, I believe, you can correct me if I'm wrong, is that family has always been important to us and we don't take all the awards for our children's upbringing and how their outcome is. we were able to pick our village and with the people who were around us, we were able to help do things. For instance, they had some challenges when they were in college with certain aspects of things that had come out politically and socially. And several of our, I like to call them uncles and aunts and cousins kind of bambed them. And I'm not talking biological. These are spiritual relatives like from churches that we've been with and people we have relationship with say, what are you doing? What are you talking about? And they challenged them and they were able to say that because if anybody is a parent, the first thing you know is that some parents' voices for children sound like Charlie Brown's teacher. Womp, womp, womp, womp, womp. it's okay, they have no idea what I'm going through. But I think for us, way back when we started our life together in Delaware, we had the idea that we were going to have a very strong family. We were blessed that the Lord allowed us to have a boy and a girl. So I like to tell people we were replaced in the earth now. So, but at the same point, it actually gave us a chance to pull in some other friends because our kids were growing up. We got a chance to influence other lives and even be there for some families in crisis. and I know that, several times people have come into our home and said, it just seems like I could fall asleep in here. It's just, there's such peace. And I really credit a lot of that with Rose, in that she'll be humming or singing around the house or that she'll help because I am the pit bull in the backyard. I am, I do get a little hot headed and I'm working in the Lord is working with me. Rose is actually a very calming influence on me. And on, I think everybody she comes in contact with. And as a result, I believe that if you want to call it fire and ice mixture of us allows us to have a very safe home, but at the same time, a very structured and calm home. We try not to have static baths of electricity running through our home. If we have a disagreement, we try to settle it as quickly as possible and see where we need to go with it. And I think that's the key for our almost 38 years of marriage. Just that we we allow, we are a three strand cord with God through Jesus being our binding strand. And so if something happens, we tend to look at it through his lens versus am I right or wrong? Cause you can be right all day long, but wrong in some other aspects of how it's going on through misunderstandings. And so I think that's the things and do we have misunderstanding? Yes, we're human. We do have misunderstanding. I'm sure sometimes if she could, would take it back to my head. at the same... Wait, you're laughing, really? But at the same time, Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kevin and Rose: she has a way of making me understand, you might want to rethink what you just said. And hopefully I have that same influence on her. But at the same point, there's, I think, some things that have to be looked at for that. And I think you have to look at people through the lens they bring you. Many of the kids that came here had a lot of stuff going on in their lives. And we found out later, we didn't try to solve them. We just pointed them to either the services they needed or let them know we're always here if you just want to get away. And I think that served us well. You can add. I would add that when it comes to, when it came to family, a lot of laughter was kind of important. wanted to, I would say I had fun growing up for the most part. And I look back on our lives as with our children, you know, we had those moments, but there's a lot of laughter, you know, just enjoying just simple things. But that fun, that laughter, that joy is just such a God, it's a gift from the Lord. And that was one thing that I cherish. I don't know that I really knew and understood and like planned that. There were so many things that as a young couple raising children, we have the wisdom of our parents, but they're just some things you just not gonna learn unless you ask the Lord, how do I deal with this? How do I deal with that? And even I can see where he knew, okay, we were planning to do this for XYZ, but it turned out to be beneficial for ABC. Had no idea that ABC was gonna happen, but the Lord knew. And so I really just cherish that. you know, there were, there was definitely, we knew that the Lord was a part of our relationship as a couple and a family, but there were so many specifics that, you know, we had no idea what was gonna happen or how to deal with even, you know, something would pop up health-wise. And it's like, Lord, this doesn't look good. What do we do? And because we prayed and he would handle things. So I just am grateful to him for that. And can I add one thing? The one thing Yvonne Denise Hicks: Absolutely. Yeah. Kevin and Rose: I did learn that God and I have to also say some of the. believer-based ministries that are out there helped me to hone this was that I felt as the father I needed to have a boys day out and a girls or a daughter date time. I know it sounds weird, it works out. Is that the Lord got me and several other men together when Alan was younger and we would go out and play with football, basketball. But the one thing we did, we all incorporated and all the fathers agreed to was if a conflict developed during the boys during that time, the game stops, we sit down and we talk about what just happened so that they have conflict resolution skills. And that really worked out well. After the first two games, we never had another conflict. I think the boys caught on that if they try to play like they're anybody else, the men around them are gonna stop the game and we're gonna work through this. And until we're sure and we actually made them shake hands and understand each other's point of view. didn't have to agree, but they had to come to a place of consensus. And with my daughter, I wanted her to see how a man is supposed to treat a young woman. hopefully she saw a lot of that, how I treated her mother and things I do. Because even to this day, she has some of my alertness when she's out in public. And that I believe the other part of it is that she's gonna make sure that she doesn't get a, excuse me for saying chicken, but a chicken-headed man that doesn't understand how to honor God, protect her, and love her the way God would want him to. And so, and I think she also is worried she's gonna bring him home to me and what I might say, so. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah, I I I have a question along y you know, I am glad you added those things 'cause I remember the stories of, you know, the kids with basketball or, football Kevin and Rose: Mm-hmm. Yvonne Denise Hicks: and and and playing. What are some of the things that you want to encourage families to consider that worked for you? Like, you know, every family's y you know, got some unique things, but, you know, I think about your faith and so did you have like reading time, scripture time, worship time with the kids growing up? You know, can you just share a little bit about that to kind of encourage people? Kevin and Rose: Well, can just mention that those definitely times of worship, prayer, all of that, and it was incorporated into the day. So it wasn't necessarily something complicated. You know, we would be doing the dishes and singing and or I did homeschool for a little bit and we would be doing, little, if it was scripture or something, you know, I would have the children just with me, you know, doing a particular task, but it was just kind of weaving scripture, weaving, just really allowing the Holy Spirit to come in and be a part of the day or the part of whatever we're doing. And I guess a word of encouragement that I would give parents now is to really be thoughtful when it comes to the use of screens, be watchful, look for those things that are more hands-on, more craft, more outside, sports, those types of things. because it's so much, it's healthier. We got to see our kids grow up before cell phones and then kind of see the progression that and how just screens in general can be, you just gotta be really mindful. Look at what you're choosing in terms of what you're watching. There are some wonderful things. that parents and families can enjoy together. And just again, be watchful for that. it's simple things, but those simple things can be so enriching and memory producing. Our kids, both of them, say, you know, that they felt like they had really good childhoods. And that blesses us. And it was very simple. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Yeah. And and and your your your kids are amazing. So so I wanted to you know, the kind of the the heart of of of some of the things that you're you're doing now. And I I and I I d did want to touch on you know something that I observed and might may or may not be a part of what you're you know currently doing now but I I remember you two were in charge of the kids praise in the park and a a a project at the you know Imagine On you know library type thing and I I that was just very a powerful time and I and it I I can't remember whether it was in the COVID season or tipping on on that but I remember we did a prayer walk event around that area and I these young young men right they chase Kevin Dell, Mr. Blash, Mr Blash, Mr. Blash and I was like, They're not ducking, they're not, they're running after him. And just that whole th th that spoke to me volumes in terms of h who you are in their lives and that it's real, right? That they would, you know, in front of their other friends, right, you know, be chasing after, you know, their their their teacher, their one of their the educators and so I I just, Kevin and Rose: Thank Yvonne Denise Hicks: I I just you know, I know that you've spent decades in in in helping children and and things like that. So so what what has these experiences, you know, whether it's ministry or in in classroom, what Kevin and Rose: Thank Yvonne Denise Hicks: has it taught you about what children really need? Kevin and Rose: You want to get off? You go. Always throwing me out there first. The thing that we have, both of us agree to this, both with education and psychology or mental health, is that children need walls. They need to know that the walls don't move. In other words, they're static. That if I do this, then my mother, a father or a parent, whoever it is, a guardian, is going to... it's going to do this. In other words, if I, they tell me to be home by a certain time I'm not home, I lose a privilege or whatever you, whatever your decision is. But there is a consequence for not following the directions. And when kids know that they won't test you as readily as somebody who today it's like sit down, you know, the only way I can describe it without really getting into nuts and bolts of it is Everybody's been in the store where the parent says, if you don't sit down, I'm gonna get you. You don't sit down. And five minutes later, they're still saying it. Well, the child has already learned that the parent's not serious with the consequence. But that child, that apparent looks at them after they did something wrong and you see them grab the cart and walk aside it. There has been a consequence that has stuck in that child's mind that lets him know that, or her know that that wall has, I'm about to breach it or I'm about to go across that line. and I don't want to be embarrassed out here or I don't want to have any other issues. So I'm going to go ahead and comply because she just gave me the look or the voice. One of the things I use when I was in education as part of my security detail in schools was the kids knew I was serious if I dropped my voice in octave. Like I talk like this now, but I say, get over here. Mr. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Mm-hmm. Kevin and Rose: Blash is coming to get you. And we know as teachers, proximity to an issue tends to squash the issue. In other words, if a kid's fooling around and then they know they should be listening to lesson, if you go stand behind them, they become very attentive all of a sudden because they don't want to get caught. And what the Lord has opened up for me is for a while I was doing it on Facebook. Now I'm doing it on YouTube and other social media is a thing called a father's heart to you. Also, I'm encouraging my men and even women hopefully over the age of 60 that get out of this Western mentality of retirement. I'm in the era in my life, I call it refirement, meaning that the things that I wanted to do as a young man, I'm gonna start doing now. Both Rose and I are into health and wellness very heavily right now. She actually brought me kicking and screaming into it because she had a very healthy lifestyle when we met. and help me get some of the triggering food, I'll call them, out of my life. And not totally, I still eat some things I probably shouldn't, but at the same time, I have a healthier diet for my body to grow on. And that's another thing that we're doing is we're talking about, and I'll give those sites to you so you can put them in, is dreaming after 60. We're dreaming again after 60, meaning going back for those dreams that you had, those God-sized visions. and not letting them dry and drop off. think we in the Western culture has gotten into this mindset. Once I get to a certain age, I'm a dried up prune and I just need to sit over here in the corner when God's saying, I have so much more for you to do because many times I find the generations will listen to the person that's a couple of generations ahead of them and sometimes have a respect for that versus, the mom and pop generation that they're too close and they think they don't understand some things. Now, I didn't grow up during the 60s. I was born then, and I grew up in the 70s. But you could tell somebody about some of the things that you experienced in the 60s and 70s, and they're like, really? That happened? Now you got their attention. I like to say even in the education system, if you're a believer, you don't have to leave your faith at the door. You can take it into every institution you go into. You may not be able to initiate it. But there'll be a situation, for instance, 9-11, when it happened, I was working in the psychiatric field as a case manager for troubled youth. Well, they were very troubled. And I would tell them things like, I'm not too worried about it. But you're not, Mr. Bill. And then I would be able to give them the reason why I'm not in fear. And they would take that. And many of them would ask me another question. Once again, it's a form of discipleship that is not. is led by the student. The big thing now in education is student-led initiatives. And so this is a student-driven initiative that they want to know more. So those are some of the things that I see. How about you? I don't know if you need to rephrase your question for me. Yvonne Denise Hicks: So I was just i talking about you know, the w the the challenges with children and just helping them to move forward. You know, be And and and what I'm hearing is that, if if if you hold on to your dream, you can you can help your chil child along with that and to to learn and to grow and you know, have that discipline. So I I've lost my question also, Rose. So if there's Yes, please. Kevin and Rose: Can I help? Well, I mean, the one thing is she said she homeschools. That's become a very prominent thing. And you're doing something with that online, aren't you? Yes. was referring to a couple of tools that I've developed. that they're designed to really assist homeschool parents, really any parent, but specifically homeschool is what I was leaning into. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kevin and Rose: I have also in the past actually tutored online and one of the reasons, I also tutor face to face. One of the reasons that I chose to do that, I spent time in the classroom and that was really, beneficial and a blessing, but there were just some things that the Lord wouldn't allow me to let go in terms of this needs to be corrected. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kevin and Rose: really what we can do to nurture our kids, nurture those dreams that they have, helping them discover who they are, what the Lord has dropped into them. There's sometimes a typical school situation doesn't really allow for that. you've got to do, X, Y, Z, and it's, it's, can be pretty regimented and, not so much nurturing. So that's one thing that the Lord is opening up. And I guess, you know, continuing to nurture in me is that desire to help our kids know who they are and know who the Lord is. because he's given them such gifts and talents and There's not a whole lot. There's not as we need more in terms of how do we help nurture these kids into who they really are. There are a lot of things that are out there that are kind of artificial and that they don't really pull out what that particular gift is in that child. And for parents as well, they need support. We had supports, we had family, had the Holy Spirit and knowing how to lean on those supports is critical. There's so many things that the enemy wants to push on families in general to squash that, to squash the beauty of family and the strength in family. So it's our opportunity now, as Kevin's mentioning, we've got that, we are We're refired to help nurture those things that the Lord has put in families. There's a lot of things that need answering, a lot of problems in the world, of course, that need adjustment. And our families are going to be the answer. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. And and we do have like your links to the reading app. I've actually been on that help it helped you as a a tester there. So just powerful tools. I there, you know, we we have the link to you. You're you do encouragement over Daystar, Facebook, some videos there. There there's a link there for that as well. And just, you know, even how people can engage with you, right? Find your website, find, you know, get on your calendar, right? Th those type of things. Kevin and Rose: Thank Yvonne Denise Hicks: all of that it is in the show notes. folks so you definitely want to take a look at that and we have Kevin's the the dreaming again after sixty and and just just really just powerful tools. I I just know your your heart and your dedication to children and it's been alarming for me to to see s the st statistics. Like I've gone to a couple of school board meetings and Kevin and Rose: Mm-hmm. Yvonne Denise Hicks: our our kids here in Buncombe County they're they're failing. You know, they're s C level, you know, or even, you know, grades behind and it's just we have to all get involved, whether it's through Kevin and Rose: Thank Yvonne Denise Hicks: prayer, volunteering, I'd love that you still are on fire for for kids and Kevin and Rose: Thank you. Yvonne Denise Hicks: in in all of that. So and and I didn't get a a chance. I think I kinda skipped over it, but I you know, speaking of kids, I know your your your grandkids kind of popped into my h Kevin and Rose: Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: head. So w what has that been like to kind of see the next generation beyond your your kids and and see them growing up. What what what is your hope, you know, for them? How how has that been and all of that? Kevin and Rose: I think for me it is. there's more of an urgency to see what the Lord would have me to do or what my role is because I, you you see things as parents, but as I mentioning this to you earlier, as a grandparent, it's like, things are even more, they're amplified just in terms of what they need, what they're facing, what children are facing. how the message is that our children, our young children, as well as our parents get that are not necessarily very healthy. And so there's, I guess, the blessing of being a grandparent is being able to see, this really needs to be addressed and it needs to be addressed now. Things have slipped in and snuck in. Things we couldn't even imagine. the way that parenting, the messages that parents get that they've got to be the friends of the kids and things that are really not. are not beneficial to our kids. I know my mom and my dad, I was very close to my mom, but I realized that she was not, we weren't buddies as I was growing up. Of course the relationship changes as I became an adult, but my mom and dad were the authority and they were the ones that put their foot down and said yes, no. There was no, there was, they weren't fuzzy about that at all. They weren't apologetic. And now it's kind of like, well, you know, be your kid's friend and let's just, you know, make sure that, that everything's all nice and soft and don't hold them responsible. It's like, no, that doesn't benefit them at all. And they will appreciate that. that line and that boundary. really, children don't know how to tell you, I need you to be the boundary. I need you to be the fence and Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Yeah. Kevin and Rose: make sure the fence is stable and not movable. They're not gonna Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Yeah. Kevin and Rose: tell you that, but we need to know that as parents and of course, not any kind of harsh way, but a very definite way so that They don't have any question about what right and wrong is. And that's a form of love. And Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah it's Kevin and Rose: not doing that really cripples children so that they're unable to manage their own emotions. And that's going to impact them dearly. So that's, guess, that grandparenting, the grandparenting role has made things even more urgent for me. Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yes. Yeah. And and speaking of those those offences, I remember I think I was in grad school and I came across a study that that compared kids without offense of you know, Kevin and Rose: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: and and with offense, right? So without offense all the kids were huddled. together Kevin and Rose: Okay. Yvonne Denise Hicks: and and didn't really engage, but when there was a fence, people the kids would play all the way up to the fence, right? There there was more freedom, more interaction. It's it's just really, really powerful. And Kevin and Rose: Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: I wanted to I know we're, you know, kind of winding down on on a little bit of of time and stuff like that. So I j I just k wanted to flesh out a little bit too, Kevin about your dreaming after sixty and and dream again after sixty and and the things that you see in terms of legacy and and what whatever you want to to share, Kevin and Rose: Okay. Yvonne Denise Hicks: about that because I think it's really important, and I've seen different posts and things like that and encouraging the people who are seventy, eighty, you know, like get involved, Kevin and Rose: Mm-hmm. Yvonne Denise Hicks: get engaged. It's you know, it's it's it's not like so so just share about your what you're doing and and and things like that and w we'll we'll have you guys d take a moment to also, share some some things about what what's happening with Rochelle and all that. So Kevin and Rose: Well, I think you said it the best right there is that I think we have to get out of our mindset that it's time to just party and forget everything else. Have your fun. But there's other things like for me, I'm enjoying the political climate right now. And when I say I enjoy it, one of my nicknames is Conflict Kevin. And so I enjoy engaging with people with the facts, not emotions, with the facts. And the one thing I enjoy seeing now is when people really talk to somebody who understands their history, that for instance, and not to get too political on this, but the Black family has been more conservative than it's ever been back in historical evidence than it is now. But many people don't know that. Many people don't know that, you know, that there was a lot of things going on out there. in my era that we now understand was foolishness and we can relay that to the next generation. One of our pastors said, you don't have to reinvent the wheel if it's already invented, just invent a better car. And so that's where I am with it is that I don't think you need to sit on the sidelines. No, I'm not saying don't enjoy your seasoned and veteran years, but give back to your community. One of the things I'm hoping to do is continue what we're talking about is reaching out to both young men and young women. The reason I say young men, first of all, is because if I'm reaching out to young women, there has to be a woman there with me. And I will just say that to any male out there, do not do that by yourself. That's a setup. And I think you would do better to have somebody there with you. But from young men, we can go into those things and let them talk about it. The years I've had in the education field, I've had several young men who come up to me and we've even talked about the military in terms of that's an option for them because you know there there's a lot of things that people are not taking advantage of and as the elder statesman, I would encourage anybody, even if you don't have children, you're one of the villagers in their village. Help people raise their kids. And once again, just like the Holy Spirit, he's a gentleman. He asked. permission to join, but he's always available to you when you're ready to be taught. So going forward, I would say with what I'm looking at is to continue working with the community as the community allows me to, because I see from my time working with substance abusing people, when they're ready, they make greater strides than when you force them to do something. that means that the person who's ready to hear it, now I plant the seed no matter what. I'll scatter it, as my grandmother used to say, I'll scatter it on what they call a turn-row, which nothing really grows on, but there will be something that will grow there, it just may not be as healthy as what's in the field. So I would say if you feel the tug of God on your shirt, arm, whatever. get out there and say something. You don't have to get in a conflict situation. All you have to do is say, really? Can you explain that to me? And then give them the facts and then walk away. Nobody says you have to win the argument. And I think that's where the Lord is getting to me too is plant the seed, walk away, let me water it. Yvonne Denise Hicks: That's good, that's good. Yes. So I I wanted to to that's awesome, K Kevin. I I I I wanted to be before we left, so all of those links like your your dreaming again after sixty and the father's heart to you and all of that, that a father's heart to you is it's gonna be in the show notes so that people can can follow you and be engaged in that conversation to be encouraged. particularly you know, folks over sixty, over seventy, you know, that type of thing. Be be involved and and and help restore as we said, th things were a a a lot different in the forties Kevin and Rose: Mm-hmm. Yvonne Denise Hicks: and fif you know, there there's you can see it in the attire that people Kevin and Rose: me. Yvonne Denise Hicks: were you know, wore, there, you know, had the hats and the suits and, you know, the just Kevin and Rose: Mm-hmm. Yvonne Denise Hicks: all all that that all of that and, you know, d the economy and things like that where both parents didn't have to work outside the home. some Kevin and Rose: Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: some options, you know, there and and that type of thing. So it's important we're coming into that season. The Lord Lord is bl going to bless us and so we Kevin and Rose: Mm-hmm. Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: need to make good use of of what he's providing. And so I I wanted to spend the a few minutes before I have you guys pray for us, but I wanted to tell you know, have you share about Rochelle and and Naraway and the things that she's doing there. We're we're gonna have that like in the show notes as well. So just whatever you feel led to share, it's you know, I just marvel just of how your children today, you're you mention, Alan, he's at West Point, right? And Kevin and Rose: Uh-huh. Yvonne Denise Hicks: that whole process, that he went through there and I you know, just I remember him from worshiping, you know, all Kevin and Rose: Yeah Yvonne Denise Hicks: night, right, to like just i that does something, you know, the the family life and worship and prayer and just community of people around the your village, right? The village that you chose for Kevin and Rose: You love it? Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: them and all that. And and likewise for Rochelle. She's a a wonderful young lady and doing a lot of different things. So I wanted you to share so that people can connect with what she's doing and all of that. And we've got some there'll be links in the show notes so people can, you know, go see. Kevin and Rose: Yes, yeah. I would encourage if you're anywhere near Charlotte or, you know, even the surrounding area, she's part of the Christian Dinner Theater, Narrow Way Productions. And the one of the, the story is awesome because when she was in high school, she lost some of her teachers, drama and dance. And so we began looking for what was going to replace it because that's so much apart. That was something that was prophesied over her in terms of art and creativity. The Lord opened up narrow way to her and through that, because it is a Christian dinner theater, the productions are Christian based, magnifying the Lord. And one of the... the last one that she did that has really impacted, I think, all of us. It's called Not Just Another Love Story. And it's taking biblical stories and putting them in modern times. And the beauty of that is that it allows people to connect with those scriptural stories. What that did for Rochelle is that it brought, it enabled her to minister in a very unique way. And honestly, when we got here to Charlotte, I think we heard about it, but we didn't know anything about Narrow Way until she started, you know, actually performing. And it's such a blessing because it does actually impact the community. The thing that I really noticed was The Lord opened up that door for her and it allowed her to minister to others. It allowed her to do kind of some soul searching, deep, you know, looking even at her own life and her own relationship with the Lord. So it is it's much more than, you know, a night out or a performance, it's really the Lord using her to spread the gospel in a unique way. And I'm grateful for that because the timing was amazing. As things were closing up for her, know, it's like there was one door that offered her creativity that closed, but then another one opened up. It's something that I could never have, I would never have thought that that would be such an impact. But so much so that she did it for, you know, throughout high school. And then when she went to college and was working, know, that kind of, you know, subsided for a while. But she missed it so much that she's adjusted her life where she's able to get back into it. and be a part of Narrow Way and just a blessing to the community. Definitely if you're around Christmas time, I would encourage folks to come and see and just allow the Lord to minister and encourage and to see the real Christmas story. That's actually starting up very soon. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. And and that's so important, the arts and Kevin and Rose: Yes. Yvonne Denise Hicks: you know, drama, painting, you know, acting, singing, Kevin and Rose: more. Yvonne Denise Hicks: w virtual it's so important. It just stimulates and activates so much in us and even, you know, whether we participate or we're watching, and and Kevin and Rose: Right. Yvonne Denise Hicks: participating that that way. It's it's beautiful. It's just really powerful. So I and there there'll be you know notes there. So I I just want to to have you guys, you know, kind of pray for us with a closing prayer and then I'll come back with some final r remarks and and then we'll sign off. So absolutely. Kevin and Rose: Can I mention one other thing that I need to mention? You had asked what in terms of what kind of impacted me as I was in education. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah. Kevin and Rose: For both Alan and Rochelle, they both got a word from the Lord. Alan's was all about leadership. And this was when middle school or even before. So leadership was definitely something that was mantling my son with. And then the creativity was something that he had mantled my daughter with. And it's interesting because you get those words sometimes and you don't necessarily see how it plays out. But all that to say, That's another example of what the Lord does. We get the privilege of nurturing those things. And we would pray and keep that word in our heart. We didn't necessarily know specifics what to do. Like I said, didn't know about Narrow Way when they were growing up. And then as far as my son being in the military, was for a mama, that was like taking my breath away for a minute. Really? That was that was, you the Lord. And that brought comfort and peace because I know that that was the Lord's leading. So he does partner with parents as as as we allow him to. And that's, you know, definitely. So that's a word of encouragement for parents. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Yeah, that's huge. That's huge. So you guys, thank you so much for, you know, being here and just you know, I I want you to pray and then you know, I'll just kinda close us out afterwards. But if you could pray for us, it'd be powerful. Kevin and Rose: So Father, we just thank you. Thank you so much. even for this ministry for your bonds, ministry for the podcast, Lord, we thank you that we can believe again. And we do. We take what you have given us. I just pray this for... all of our parents and educators and those in the corporate world to know that the Lord is leading and guiding, that He is speaking and giving that direction. And I thank you, Father God, that you are showing each one of us how to quiet ourselves, to listen to you, and to have the courage to think outside the box, which Sometimes that's required of us, but it's a journey and we're grateful to be on it. And I just bless those that are listening to this podcast and we're thankful to be a part of it. we just bless those that are hearing and sharing. And Father God, we speak to and release those folks who are not parents but are part of a family. We thank you that you're blessing them, giving them the words of encouragement, wisdom on how to interact with families, how to build families, because basically they're part of that family. We thank you, Lord God, that men and women are rising up and are tired of being second-class citizens, are tired of not being an affirmation of your word. We just thank you right now that you're raising up the generations, not just one, but all the generations to declare your voice so that the rocks won't have to cry out. We thank you that we will cry out in your place. Lord, give us the witty inventions. Give us the wisdom. Give us the ways to do things like you gave to Solomon. All he asked for you for was wisdom. And because he sought you out, you were the one. that brought in the increase in his life, both financially and other ways, well, God. So we thank you right now that we speak to every parent, every aunt, uncle, family member, friend, whoever you are. Be a light. Be a lighthouse for these young people to see what a godly example is. Be a believer in season and out of season. And we thank you and we break the hold of any demonic forces over families, over children, and over communities right now in Jesus' name, amen. Yvonne Denise Hicks: Amen. Amen. Amen. So Kevin and Rose, thank you again for sharing your hearts and your your journey with us. and one of the things I I hope everyone takes away from this conversation is that each of us has something to contribute. And every generation has a part to play. And the Kevin and Rose: Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: investments we make in people can continue bearing fruit long after we've made them. And so I'm Kevin and Rose: Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: so for grateful for your friendship and your faithfulness and there's so many ways you continue to, you know, invest in families and children in the generations to come. And so, and to everyone watching or listening, I hope you've been encouraged to keep dreaming, keep building, keep believing God Kevin and Rose: Yeah. Yvonne Denise Hicks: for what he's placed in your heart. Until next time, look again, dream again, hope again, believe again. Kevin and Rose: Yeah.