MercyMed Free Clinic Opens in Sulphur Springs + Backward Discipleship with Dr. Ron Hunter Jr
Podcasts > The Bill Bunkley Show
Thursday, October 1, 2026
On this first day of October 2026, Bill Bunkley opens The Briefing live from Tampa with the inspiring dedication of MercyMed of Tampa, a brand-new free medical clinic in the underserved Sulphur Springs neighborhood. Serving as master of ceremonies, Bill shares the vision of Pastor Ken Witten (Idlewild Baptist Church emeritus), the history of the area—from indigenous healing springs and early 20th-century tourist destination with America’s first indoor arcade “mall,” to the landmark 1927 water tower—and how the clinic continues that legacy of healing for residents without insurance. He then sits down with Dr. Ron Hunter Jr., author of the new book Backward Discipleship, to confront the sobering reality that roughly two-thirds of church-raised kids walk away from their faith by young adulthood. They discuss shifting from short-term youth programs to intentional, long-term family discipleship rooted in Deuteronomy 6, practical tools like the “tennis ball” conversation method and “mad-glad-sad” check-ins, and the five key characteristics that help the one-third stay faithful. The show rounds out with political and current-events coverage: Vice President J.D. Vance’s midterm rally at Lakeland Linder International Airport, President Trump’s stop at the Peterbilt plant in Denton, Texas, growing concerns over possible Iranian links to the RAF Fairford airbase arrests and the Flydubai cockpit incident, and the successful SpaceX Crew-13 launch to the International Space Station aboard the Dragon spacecraft Grace.
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