An Interview with Dr. Tom Ascol

In this powerful episode of The Legacy Dads Podcast, host Dante interviews Dr. Tom Ascol, senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Florida, and president of Founders Ministry and Founders Seminary. With nearly four decades of pastoral leadership, Ascol shares deeply personal reflections on his upbringing—marked by a father with a traumatic past and a mother of deep faith—highlighting how God’s grace transformed his life from anger and self-righteousness into a life of humility, hope, and purpose. He candidly discusses early parenting mistakes, including embracing egalitarianism too rigidly and focusing on outward obedience over heart transformation, before course-correcting through biblical teaching and the influence of books like Ted Tripp’s Shepherding the Heart. Ascol emphasizes the importance of 'steel-spined' men—men of courage, intellectual depth, and unwavering commitment to truth—especially in the face of cultural decline and the 'feminization of the church.' He calls men to active, courageous leadership in their homes, churches, and communities, urging them not to be passive consumers but faithful builders of God’s kingdom. The conversation turns to the loss of his close friend and seminary co-founder, Vodí Bauckham, and how God’s timing and provision sustained the vision for Founders Seminary. Ascol concludes with a stirring call to faithfulness in any role, no matter how small, reminding listeners that their lives are part of God’s eternal story. The episode closes with a heartfelt prayer for the seminary’s needs and a vision for future generations to find spiritual markers in a darkening world.