An Army of Normal Folks

31/12/2024

America is one of the most generous countries in the world and yet many of our worst problems aren't getting any better.

One of the greatest reasons why is the lack of return on investment analysis that is expected in the business world, but is pervasively absent in philanthropy.

Instead, what's often measured is how many people have been served vs. how well have they been served. Are their lives actually transformed?

Slingshot has conducted this analysis for 55 Memphis nonprofits, measuring their poverty-fighting impact for every dollar invested.

This empowers both nonprofits to improve their work and donors to fuel the most effective & transparent nonprofits that are willing to participate in such measurement.

And for An Army of Normal Folks, whether we're giving $10 or $1,000, if we're committed to data-driven generosity our gifts could have an even greater impact than a $1 million gift that's ineffective.

Together, the Army being committed to data-driven generosity can be truly transformative.

It's a mindset that can be helpful to all of us.... and there's also no reason why Slingshot's model couldn't be in every community.

Check out this week's episode: normalfolks.us/podcast/slingshot

30/12/2024

F***y Crosby became blind at 6 weeks old and went on to hold the record for the most number of songs written & most number of Presidents met!

Yet, she was a normal person who wasn't wealthy and during a cholera epidemic, while others fled New York City, she stayed behind and nursed the sick.

For our special series "An Army of Normal Dead Folks", Larry Reed tells the story of this remarkable woman.

Listen here: normalfolks.us/podcast/fanny

29/12/2024

28/12/2024

"I wrote a devotion for my church, including my Turkey experience.

Bill Courtney defines a "turkey person" as someone who visits a disadvantaged community only during holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving, hands out some food or gifts, and disappears until the following year. He describes this as someone who helps others primarily to feel good about themselves without genuinely caring about the people they are helping.

Last week, someone in the school where I teach emailed the staff and said you are invited to a Christmas celebration in a low-income community near our school, and we need help distributing some food and supplies to the neighbors. I did not think about it, and I just signed up. The event was really nice as the small church played games with the kids, the church members sang Christmas songs, and some children danced to music. Since I went with someone else, they had to leave early, so I had to depart before the event was over. As I was leaving, a local person from the church approached me and thanked me in English for coming. Her tone was nice, but I believe she wanted to say more. However, not to be greedy, she stopped at that one phrase.

The next day all I could think about was I AM A TURKEY.

Since this community is so close to my house, my wife and I have committed to walking around it often, observing, and figuring out how we can help them. We have no idea how we can help, but we are committed to showing up.

Today’s scripture describes a lawyer who tests Jesus on what is required to inherit eternal life. Jesus does not answer the question but gives the lawyer a couple more questions to consider, like, “What does the Law say?” and “How do you understand what the Law says?” The lawyer's response is impressive. In summary, the lawyer answers Jesus's questions by saying, love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself. Then Jesus agreed with his answer and said to the lawyer, “Do this, and you will live.”

Loving your neighbor is not an annual event, but being part of your neighbors' lives during good times and bad."

-Army member Ken Morris
Listen: normalfolks.us/podcast/iamaturkeyperson

26/12/2024

"My neighbor inspired Rocky"

One of Bob Muzikowski's countless hilarious stories!

This time about "The Bayonne Bomber".

Check out Bob's episode for more: normalfolks.us/podcast/bob

24/12/2024

Kensington is home to the largest open air drug market in America.

And two of its blocks have been named the most dangerous in the country.

Amidst the chaos is a man who knows chaos, Buddy Osborn.

Buddy is a former Golden Gloves boxer who bit his opponent’s ear, a union organizer who landed in prison, and an unlikely Pastor whose transformed life is transforming countless lives in the Philadelphia neighborhood.

Like most of our Army members, Buddy started by helping a few people with his passions and disciplines, in his case 5 young boys with boxing and the Gospel.

And 21 years later, The Rock Ministries has served over 11,000 kids through sports, arts, music, mentoring, Bible studies, and just about anything you can imagine.

Listen to Buddy’s powerful story on this week’s episode: https://www.normalfolks.us/podcast/buddy

23/12/2024

Imagine brain surgery in the 1980s.

And deciding to forgo anesthesia?!

That’s what Harriet Tubman chose to undergo, biting a bullet to deal with the pain.

It’s one of the wild stories from Harriet’s life that Real Heroes author Lawrence Reed shares on our special series, “An Army of Normal Dead Folks”.

Oh yeah… and how the runaway slave rescued over 100 slaves.

Listen here: normalfolks.us/podcast/harriet

21/12/2024

JT Olson adopted his 5th child, Grace.

And went on to found Both Hands whose own Army of nearly 145k normal folks in 45 states has raised $21 million to adopt 1,648 kids by serving 1,632 widows!

You’ll have listen to the episode to see how this makes any sense. 🤷

Listen here: normalfolks.us/podcast/jtolson

19/12/2024

When Prudence Crandall admitted a black student into her school in 1832, she created the first integrated classroom in America.

The townspeople from Canterbury, CT twice set her building on fire, poisoned their well, and 3 lawsuits were filed to stop her.

And yet Prudence persevered, which is why we're celebrating her on our special series "An Army of Normal Dead Folks".

Listen to Real Heroes author Larry Reed tell her powerful story: normalfolks.us/podcast/prudence

18/12/2024

When JT Olson asked a friend to sponsor him in a golf tournament for an adoption charity, the guy said “If you were working on a widow's house, I might sponsor you.

But you're just golfing. Nice cause, but not mine.”

The friend surely had in mind James 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion before God is this: to care for orphans and widows.”

And JT thought, helping two causes at once, really is a better way to raise money.

So when a member of his church needed $70,000 to adopt 3 kids, they helped a widow with home repairs one Saturday and paid for the whole thing.

Next thing you know, JT is launching a charity called Both Hands (one for the widow & one for the orphan).

And 16 years later, their own Army of nearly 145k normal folks in 45 states has raised $21 million to adopt 1,648 kids by serving 1,632 widows!

Listen to JT’s powerful story on this week’s episode: normalfolks.us/podcast/jtolson

13/12/2024

For more wisdom from Dakota Meyer, check out our episode with him on An Army of Normal Folks.

⬇️⬇️

normalfolks.us/podcast/dakota

10/12/2024

“Big Mike”, despite only being briefly married to Dakota Meyer’s mom, legally adopted him at birth and became his dad.

Big Mike was the first member of the Medal of Honor recipient’s own Army of Normal Folks who supported him and enabled him to be the man he is today.

And for our special series “Supporting Greatness”, Dakota celebrates his dad and even more of his unsung heroes!

Listen here for some powerful storytelling: https://www.normalfolks.us/podcast/dakota

09/12/2024

Today we’re kicking off a new special series called “An Army of Normal Dead Folks,” where we celebrate normal folks from history who served their fellow man!

Why limit ourselves to alive folks?! 🤪

With "Real Heroes" author Larry Reed, our first episode features abolitionist Thomas Clarkson.

Before talking to Larry, we had never heard of Clarkson.

And if you haven’t either, you’re in for a treat!

Listen here: https://link.chtbl.com/Clarkson

05/12/2024

An awesome old-fashioned letter from an Army member:

"Mr. Courtney,

My name is Will Geary & I was in the audience for the Bonhoeffer discussion with Todd Komarnicki.

First, I want to say how impactful the idea behind "An Army of Normal Folks" is.

We have all been so indoctrinated. into the idea of "Us. vs. Them" in all of our daily lives—whether that is politically, racially, religiously etc—that we have forgotten not only to be kind & courteous to all but that people with other life experiences are an important part of our own growth & development.

So keep up the good work, it is truly the only way to heal the divisions our media has created.

On to the discussion with Todd, I honestly don't know if I have ever been to a more impactful discussion.

Sincerely,

Will Geary"

03/12/2024

In 1989, Ole Miss football player Chucky Mullins’ devastating injury left him as a quadriplegic.

Some normal fraternity brothers from Ole Miss Sigma Nu approached him about starting a football game called “The Charity Bowl” that would raise money for those living with paralysis.

And Chucky enthusiastically endorsed it.

Since 1990, the Sigma Nu chapter’s own Army of Normal Folks has raised over $3.5 million!

It’s our first episode with college students and we had a blast talking to Jagger Mooneyham & Julian Knott about this year’s goal of raising $400,000.

And just wait until you meet the inspiring recipient, Hannah Johnston.

Listen here: link.chtbl.com/CharityBowl

02/12/2024

“I’m usually in tears after every episode of An Army of Normal Folks.

There's so much good taking place in the world and we wouldn’t be aware of it, if it wasn’t for people like you guys.

When places like Fox and CNN are putting out there so much awful stuff, we think that’s normal.

But it’s not.

Normal is what’s actually happening in our neighborhood and that’s what the podcast is highlighting.

And if there's one thing that I have really taken away from it is feeling like I’m a Turkey Person.

I love that Bill's always willing to call a spade a spade. I don't ever hear him take the easy way out of a conversation.

An Army of Normal Folks is a catalyst…. to do what many of us want to do, but just aren't sure how to do it.”

—Karri Buck
Somerville, Tennessee
Army member

26/11/2024

“Everyone always says ‘You’ve lost so much.’

But I’ve lost nothing.

God gave me a gift for 8 years with my daughter Samantha and 33 years with my wife Nicole.

They changed my life.

Who would I be today if I had experienced those two people in my life?”

Gilbert Hess on losing his 8-year-old daughter Samantha to leukemia and then his 49-year-old wife Nicole to COVID.

Instead of having a victim mindset about it, he’s honoring them with his dirt track racing car that he named “Nicole’s Dream”, which was to have a car that raises awareness for childhood cancer and funding to cure it.

In less than 2 years, this truly normal dude has raised $46k for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and other causes!

And we cannot wait for you to meet him on this week’s episode of the podcast:

Listen: link.chtbl.com/Gilbert

22/11/2024

Behind the Scenes: Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer & Oscar-winner Bill Courtney.

Dakota was in Memphis to keynote cityCURRENT's awesome breakfast and we got a chance to interview him for our “Supporting Greatness” series.

Can’t wait to share Dakota’s celebration of his own Army of Normal Folks who supported him and shaped his life.