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  • Episode 3 - Faith, Community, and Leadership: Inside Ark Ministry with Mayor Stuart

    Episode 3 - Faith, Community, and Leadership: Inside Ark Ministry with Mayor Stuart
    May 5 2026
    In this episode of Arkcast, host Derrick Bennett is joined by the Mayor of Panama City Beach, Stuart, for a deep dive into the intersection of faith, public service, and local ministry. Broadcasting live from The Pour, a nonprofit coffee shop located at 12902 Front Beach Road, they explore the mission of Ark, a Christian organization providing transitional housing and support to those in need for over a decade.


    Mayor Stuart shares his personal journey from a software engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area to leading Panama City Beach. He discusses how witnessing the extreme homelessness in California sparked a calling to help, eventually leading him to volunteer with Arc’s ministry. The conversation highlights:
    • The Heart of Ark: Seeing Christ in the "least of these" through both spiritual accompaniment and practical aid, such as helping residents find jobs and obtain driver’s licenses.
    • Success Stories: Reflections on former residents like Cody, who transitioned from experiencing a hard time to becoming a local leader and pastor.
    • Faith in Politics: How the Mayor applies biblical principles of "accompaniment" and "customer service" to lead with patience and grace, especially when addressing frustrated constituents.
    • Community Safety: A discussion on balancing business needs with family safety during Spring Break and the positive ramifications for the city.
    • The Faith Festival: A preview of the upcoming event on October 24th at Aaron Bessant Park, designed to foster Christian unity among local congregations.
    Whether you are interested in local governance, community outreach, or finding a balance between physical and spiritual works of mercy, this episode offers a grounded look at making a tangible impact in Northwest Florida.
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    48 Min.
  • Episode 2 - Life at The Pour: Transitional Housing, Faith, and the "Small Snapshot of Heaven"

    Episode 2 - Life at The Pour: Transitional Housing, Faith, and the "Small Snapshot of Heaven"
    Apr 28 2026
    In this episode of the Arkcast, we go behind the scenes at The Pour, a unique coffee shop and transitional housing ministry located on Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach, Florida. Guest Corey Truitt, an elder in the United Methodist Church and Director of Resident Life at The Ark, joins the conversation to share his journey from Mississippi to Florida and his passion for holistic healing.

    The discussion dives deep into the "smorgasbord" of daily life at the ministry, where white-collar professionals and the unhoused coexist in a space Corey describes as a "small snapshot of heaven".

    Listeners will learn about:
    • The Two Arms of The Ark: How the ministry balances a hospitality arm (offering free meals, showers, and AC) with a residential arm focused on long-term stability.
    • The Path to Sustainability: The strict standards for residency, including being clean and sober and maintaining full-time employment to help individuals become spiritually healthy and productive.
    • Success and Redemption: Challenging national statistics with a local success rate estimated between 40-50% through mentorship and spiritual growth.
    • Church at The Pour: An accessible, 30-minute midweek service held directly in the coffee shop that bridges the gap between the sacred and the everyday.
    • Community Impact: How local churches are repurposing Sunday school rooms for transitional housing to create a "village" of support for those in need.
    Whether discussing the "OG" residents who have graduated the program or the "vibe" that draws international tourists into their mission, this episode highlights how The Ark operates without federal funding to maintain the freedom to heal lives through faith and community.
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    27 Min.
  • Episode 1 - All Things Ark: Faith, Fellowship, and Fresh Starts

    Episode 1 - All Things Ark: Faith, Fellowship, and Fresh Starts
    Apr 21 2026
    In this inaugural episode of The Arkcast, host Derrick Bennett is joined by Rob Raines, an associate pastor and former assistant director, to pull back the curtain on The Ark Ministry in Panama City Beach. What began 40 years ago as "Noah's Ark," a Methodist retreat center, has evolved over the last 12 years into a vibrant Christ-based transitional housing program dedicated to tackling local homelessness.
    Derrick and Rob share the "secret sauce" behind their ministry's success, which balances strict accountability with radical grace. They discuss:
    • The Mission of Housing: Managing roughly 140 beds across men's, women's, and single-parent family units.
    • The "Front Door": The Pour, a local coffee shop that serves as the community's primary connection point to the ministry.
    • Holistic Support: How the ministry assists residents with financial training, parenting classes, dental care, and even the logistics of securing vehicles for work.
    • Leadership from Within: Their unique model of empowering residents to take on management roles and mentor one another.
    • The Faith Festival: A look back at their successful community music festival and a preview of the upcoming event on October 24th at Aaron Bessant Park to raise funds for their "compassion closet".
    Through stories of "road-worn" musicians finding their rhythm again and the messy, beautiful reality of building a "family" out of strangers, this episode highlights how The Ark serves as the hands and feet of Jesus on the Emerald Coast.
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    40 Min.