Drayton McLane Jr. serves as chairman of the McLane Group and is the former CEO of the Houston Astros Baseball Club.

The grandson of a successful entrepreneur, Drayton experienced firsthand the hard work and dedication it takes to thrive in industry. He began developing his tireless work ethic at age 9 by working for his father at the family’s wholesale grocery business, the McLane Company. After completing college and graduate school, he returned to his family’s business and worked his way up from the night shift to president and CEO of the company, a position he held for 30 years.

During his tenure, he propelled the McLane Company into a multi-billion dollar company. Following the McLane Company’s merger with Walmart, Inc. in 1990, he became vice-chairman of Walmart while maintaining his position at the McLane Company.

Drayton later resigned from Walmart in order to devote more time to the McLane Group, a parent company consisting of family-owned companies operating throughout the world, which until Nov. 2011 included the Houston Astros where he served as Chairman and CEO. Drayton McLane completed his 19th season with the Astros in 2011 when he sold the team.

Kathryn Freeman is in her final year at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, where she is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. Freeman is the former director of public policy for Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission. She is a lawyer, advocate, writer and co-host of the Melanated Faith podcast.

Rhoda Gonzales comes from a ministry family. Her father, grandfather and great-grandfather were pastors. She is married to Vince Gonzales, pastor of North Dallas Family Church. Rhoda is a 30-year veteran of the retail advertising industry, most of those years with Neiman Marcus, where she is a production manager. The book of Proverbs is a foundation for her personal and professional life.

Rev. Cokiesha Bailey Robinson is a lover of God, a student of his word and an equipper of his people. She can be described as an encourager, servant-leader, author, mentor, daughter, wife, potential pusher, teacher, mouthpiece for the kingdom of God and an adventurous woman who lives in faith and never meets a stranger. She certainly enjoys living out her purpose purposefully.

She is a graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a graduate of Samford University, where she obtained a Master of Divinity degree from Beeson Divinity School and met her husband, Timothy Robinson. She is a member of the advisory board at Beeson and is a doctoral candidate at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary.

Robinson is the founder of Cross Spring Ministries and former staff member of Concord Church in Dallas, where she served as the director of growth. She also was the assistant pastor of Mt. Neboh Church in New York City.

Robinson recently was named associate dean of diversity and inclusion at Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind. She is a writer for Our Daily Bread, Voices Division and a contributing writer on other publishing projects in her free time. She is the co-author of two books and has contributed to seven books.

Her life passion is to share the gospel, to affirm and empower men and women in ministry and to serve as a bridge for racial reconcilers and seekers of justice, diversity and peace.

Her greatest joys come from time with family and time with students in this season of balancing ministry and responsibilities in higher education.

Jay Cox became an alcoholic and addict as a teenager growing up in a small town in West Texas. After moving to San Antonio, he ended up homeless. A Salvation Army minister in San Antonio helped Jay reconnect with his family living in Abilene. After moving there, he began attending Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, where he found a community and renewed life in Christ.

R.E. is an Arab Christian born and raised in Nazareth, Israel. R.E. graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a master’s degree in Islamic studies and works with Baptists in Texas as a cross-cultural mobilizer working to equip churches for effective cross-cultural ministry to people of Middle Eastern background and heritage. His full name and photo are withheld due to security issues.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The author’s bio was updated to clarify the scope of ministry.

Thank you for joining us for Season One of the ‘On the Way Podcast, a production of the Baptist Standard. Season Two of the podcast will launch on August 26th. We have several guests lined up, including the following:

• Katherine Freeman, the former director of public policy for the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission in Austin.
• Reverend Tamiko Jones, executive director of WMU of Texas.
• Rhoda Gonzales, advertising production manager with Neiman Marcus.
• Drayton McLane, former owner of the Houston Astros.

During the break, we hope you will keep in touch with us by signing up for our weekly newsletter. You can also give us feedback about the ‘On the Way’ podcast and offer suggestions for how we can make improvements wherever you listen to podcasts or by sending us a tweet or an email at info@baptiststandard.com.

Our mission is to inform, inspire and challenge people to live like Jesus. And our core commitments are historic Baptist principles, responsible journalism and the redeeming and reconciling work of Jesus Christ. You can join us in this work by making a tax-deductible donation.

We pray the grace and peace of Christ for you this summer.

John Barnard is a 46-year old skateboarder who loves Jesus. A Texan from day one, John and his family moved to Waco in 2016 to lead Middleman on a full-time basis after he served on church staff for 20 years. He listens to Lyle Lovett, takes cream in his coffee, and is crazy about his wife, Mandi. John wants to know if you’re going to finish that taco and/or how much do you want for that old car in your driveway.

Joshua Sharp received a Master of Divinity degree from Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. Joshua serves in various capacities at the First Baptist Church in Waco. He originally is from the Missouri Ozarks but spent several years of his childhood in Chihuahua, Mexico, where his parents served as missionaries. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and Christian studies from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., and aspires to pastoral ministry.

Amos Humphries is the senior pastor of Park Lake Drive Baptist Church in Waco. He grew up as a minister’s son in Downriver south of Detroit. Mariah Humphries is the assistant director for development and campaign communications at Baylor University. She grew up as a minister’s daughter in Albuquerque and is a member of the Mvskoke Nation.

Joshua Choquette has been a follower of Jesus since he was 27 and has been married to his wife Nicole for 12 years. They have 5 beautiful children. Joshua serves as a chaplain in the New York Air National Guard where he is a minister of the Gospel. He is a Texas Baptist endorsed chaplain.