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This week, on a special edition of The Calling, host Denna Hornby is joined by a round table of pastors from the community to discuss the tornadoes that impacted Putnam County on the morning of Tuesday, March 3, and to ask the question of, "Where is God when disaster strikes?" Join Christian Smith from First Cumberland Presbyterian, Michael McLaughlin First Presbyterian Church in Cookeville, Andrew Smith on staff at Tennessee Tech University and from Blue Spring Presbyterian Church, Albert Willis from Algood United Methodist Church, and Lanita Monroe from Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church as they offer words of hope for those impacted by the tornadoes. Lite Rock 95.9

Albert Willis grew up in Tylertown, Mississippi where he helped deliver furniture for his parents' hardware and furniture store. As a very inquisitive child, he found himself getting in trouble on a fairly regular basis. Through these troubles, he learned forgiveness, and the power of confession from those he had offended through his trouble making. He slowly, but surely, began to work out his salvation by embracing his love of singing, which allowed him to travel the world with various Christian music groups. He joins Denna Hornby to share some of the moments that led him to follow the call to ministry where he is now the pastor of Algood United Methodist Church. Lite Rock 95.9

Pastor Robert Owens, Ph. D, and his wife First Lady Dana Owens began to feel the call to ministry while in college together, and eventually went from studying engineering and other fields of study to taking the steps together to go into ministry. Their journey following this calling would eventually lead them back to Cookeville where they founded Kainos Church in 2015. They join Denna Hornby to discuss their spiritual journey together, and how they tie it into their home and family life. Lite Rock 95.9

Ken Wallace originally planned to become a sports writer when he attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia where he grew up. As he was trying to figure out where his faith was in life, he made an adult commitment to Christ at the end of his freshman year. Through this commitment he gradually began to feel the call to ministry, and would end up preaching his first sermon at the age of 21 after being asked to do so by his preacher at the time. He joins Denna Hornby to share the story of his calling, and how it has led him to becoming the pastor of Sparta First United Methodist Church. Lite Rock 95.9

Reverend Nick Turner grew up riding horses in Holly Springs in Overton County. His time joining a youth group began as a way to hang out with friends and play volleyball, but would eventually lead to him finding God. He discovered that he was able to step in front of the crowd and lead in worship, especially when it came to teaching children the word of God. He joins Denna Hornby to share the story of his calling, and how it has led him to becoming pastor of Monterey First Assembly Of God. Lite Rock 95.9

Ted Stepp grew up in rural Eastern Kentucky before moving away - both to a new location, and away from the Lord due to being in a different environment, and succumbing to peer pressure at the time. It wasn't until the age of 18 that he finally understood his call to ministry, and made the decision to come back to the Lord with the love and support of his wife Emily. They join Denna Hornby to share their journey, and how its led them to work together in ministry where Ted is now pastor of Monterey Wesleyan Church. Lite Rock 95.9

Louis Davis has spent the past several years of his life as a loving father of 7 daughters at home, and as associate pastor of Crossville First United Methodist Church. Unsure of where to go in life, he suddenly felt compelled to enter the ministry at the age of 15. He joins Denna Hornby to discuss his life both at home with his family, and with the family that he has through the church, as well as the new live journals that members of his church are taking part in. Lite Rock 95.9

Reverend Christian Smith grew up in Murfreesboro, one of five sons of a minister. He always had a good church background growing up, but never considered going into ministry until his teenage years. Around the age of 15, he asked God for a sign, and should one appear, he would devote himself to ministry. That Sunday, he was asked to preach a service for a Youth Sunday at his church at the time, and it was then that he surrendered himself to ministry. He would then become ordained for the first time at the age of 19, and eventually would begin to travel while pastoring at various churches. He joins Denna Hornby to share his journey which has led him to Cookeville where he is now the pastor of Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Lite Rock 95.9

Growing up in Nashville, Reverend Krislyn Durham was the granddaughter of a preacher, and attended the same school that was her church. She originally would go on to attend Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville to pursue a degree in education with the intent to become a teacher, but she began to feel a call to ministry at the age of 19. All it took was one question of whether or not she had considered going into ministry for her to realize what her true calling in life was. She joins Denna Hornby to discuss her call to ministry which has led her to becoming pastor of First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro. Lite Rock 95.9

Dr. Jason Groe grew up as the grandson of a pastor in Murfreesboro. Despite not growing up directly in a preacher's family, he always felt the call to ministry from a very young age. At the age of 14 he became the interim pastor of a church in Woodbury when the pastor would not be able to make it to sermons due to his occupation, and by the age of 16 he was called pastor of the church. He joins Dena Hornby to discuss his call to ministry, and the steps he took that led him to becoming Senior Pastor of Poplar Grove Baptist Church in Cookeville. Lite Rock 95.9

Reverend Lanita Monroe grew up in Nashville, the youngest of three girls, to a pastor father and a Christian educating mother. Due to her father's career, church was like a second home to her, and if the doors were open, she and her family were there. At first, she never thought she would join the clergy because of how shy and scared she was, and due to the fact that she was more than happy working behind the scenes as a part time church secretary. But much like others before her, she felt and pursued the call to ministry with the support of her children. She joins Denna Hornby to share her experiences in ministry that led her to becoming Senior Pastor of Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church. Lite Rock 95.9

Dr. Jerry Huffman grew up in Kentucky, the son of a Baptist preacher. He came from a family of pastors and missionaries, and as a teenager, he didn't want to be like everyone else in his profession. During college, he began to feel a call to ministry, but it wasn't until he began receiving requests from other pastors, some he didn't know, who all said that God put it on them to ask him to come and preach for them that he truly felt his call to ministry. He joins Denna Hornby to share his experiences pastoring in Texas for 11 years, Kentucky, and now Tennessee where he is senior pastor of Monterey First Baptist Church. Lite Rock 95.9

Steven Lee grew up in Waverly, TN coming from a long line of ministers. His paternal grandparents were traveling evangelists for the Church of God of Prophecy, and his father eventually felt the call to ministry later in his life when Steven was just a baby. Ever since he was a young teenager, Steven always felt a fascination with reading the Bible and attending Sunday service - even keeping track of how many times he has had to miss Sunday service in his entire life. He joins Denna Hornby to discuss how a Sunday school teacher helped him fall in love with reading scripture, and inspired him to follow his call to ministry where he is now senior pastor of Crossville First United Methodist Church. Lite Rock 95.9

Mike Waldrop grew up in Georgia where he loved to play sports as a kid before growing up and joining the Air Force. He felt the call to go into ministry, and joined the Baptist Student Union in college, but his obligations and responsibilities with the Air Force took him on a different path in life. Years later, during times where he felt spiritual deprivation, he would attend a retreat where he felt the call to ministry once again. Join Denna Hornby as she learns more about one of the newest ministers in the Upper Cumberland area where he is now pastor of Livingston United Methodist Fellowship. Lite Rock 95.9

Reverend Rick Frazier had a great childhood growing up in Nashville with a family that was very active and involved in church. Ever since he was a young boy, he could sense a call to ministry that persisted all the way through high school. He would go on to further his education, and end up graduating from Emmanuel Bible College in Nashville. He joins Denna Hornby to discuss how his calling has led him to now be pastor of both Lancaster United Methodist Church, and Brush Creek United Methodist Church. Lite Rock 95.9

Knoxville native and UT graduate Michael McLaughlin found work in Kentucky in the mental health field where he and his wife started attending First Presbyterian Church in Somerset, KY. What began as helping out with the youth Sunday school led to Michael becoming involved with more and more church activities - such as choir. In 2005, he would go on to attend Columbia Theological Seminar before being called to serve at several churches in Tennessee and Mississippi. Now, Reverend Michael McLaughlin serves as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Cookeville. He joins Denna Hornby this week to share the story of his calling. Lite Rock 95.9

Tim Dunavant went from having a church filled life growing up in a small town to living in Nashville where his family stopped going to church, and all things religious fell to the wayside. At the age of 17, he began experimenting with alcohol and drugs, which led to a trouble filled life in his 20s where he found himself in jail 30 times before redemption found him. He joins Denna Hornby to share his story about how he finally agreed to read the Bible in jail, and found out a lot about not only God, but about himself and who he wanted to become as a person. Through this experience, he found his calling, and is now pastor of Smith Memorial United Methodist Church in Jackson County and Gainesboro United Methodist Church in Gainesboro. Lite Rock 95.9

John Purdue grew up in the college town of Lexington, Kentucky where he could ride his bike right into the campus of the University of Kentucky, and most of his neighbors were professors. Inspired by his experiences at church camp growing up, God led him to eventually make the switch from a career in banking to following the call to ministry. He joins Denna Hornby to share his story, and how he made the move from Kentucky to becoming the Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church of McMinnville. Lite Rock 95.9

Born and raised in Cookeville, Mark Gaw made the decision to not go into his family's real estate business due to a lack of passion. Leading music in church was where his passion lied, and he spent 11 years as an Associate Pastor in Music. With the word of God becoming his passion over leading music, those 11 years helped prepare him for his true calling - to be a preacher. He joins Denna Hornby to share his life's journey in faith that has led him to become the Senior Pastor of Washington Avenue Baptist Church in Cookeville since 1999. Lite Rock 95.9

Buddy Johnson is the son of a preacher who, despite being inspired by his father's storytelling and preaching abilities growing up, remained adamant that he would not follow in his father's footsteps and go into ministry. One day he realized that the ministry was his calling, and would go on to earn degrees in bible and New Testament from Lipscomb University and Freed-Hardeman University, respectively. He joins Denna Hornby to talk about his loving family, and to share the story of his calling which has led him to be Minister of Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ in Cookeville. Lite Rock 95.9