32 | Patience and Perseverance | Rick & Lisa Bursey
Rick and Lisa Bursey are husband and wife, mom and dad to two boys, and officially the new Site Directors for Back2Back’s ninth global site in Linares, Mexico! Originally from Ontario, Canada, the Burseys have long served children and said yes to every big and small moment God has extended an invitation. In 2008, they quit their jobs, sold their belongings, and moved two hours south of Monterrey, Mexico to a small town called Linares. Today, they are excited for the future of the Linares site and all it will provide for the children they serve.
In this episode, Rick and Lisa share the three words they’d use to describe their life in Canada, how saying yes was like building muscle over time, and why they believe comfort can breed discomfort. Hear how Lisa responded when God put hungry, sad, or withdrawn people in front of her, how one of Rick’s worst moments led to the opening of Possibilities House, and why patience and perseverance are words, and attitudes, they live by.
Links to learn more:
Learn about Possibilities House
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Special thanks to COhatch Mason for providing podcast studio space.
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31 | The Power of Presence | Dynette Clark
Dynette Clark is a wife, a mother to three, and sees the best in everyone she meets. She is also the Executive Director of Building Blocks for Kids (BB4K), a Cincinnati-based organization with a vision to create community for all children, regardless of challenges, through support, resources, and scholarships. As a child, Dynette always wanted to babysit and long considered being a teacher before getting her degree in business. After having her first son, and attempting to return to work, she realized she wanted to be with her child and started an in-home daycare service. She later received certification for Montessori education and taught while her own children were in school. She and her husband were blessed with a third child, and shortly after he arrived, everything changed.
In this episode, Dynette shares about a baby girl named Sydney who was born in 1998, and how her story was the foundation for Building Blocks for Kids. Hear how Dynette believes our stories are changed when people are beside us, why community is the foundation of what Building Blocks for Kids does, and the one thing every child served through BB4K gives back.
Links to learn more:
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30.5 | Clips from the Cutting Room Floor | Kevin Schwieger
Welcome to Be the Difference: Clips from the Cutting Room Floor! In these bonus episodes, we turn the reins over to our amazing producer Mikeyy, to share with you some of his favorite conversations from previous episodes that didn’t quite make the final cut.
In this episode, Mikeyy shares a clip from Episode 30 with Kevin Schwieger. In this clip, Kevin shares a story about two brothers who found connection through nature, play, and God shining through the darkness.
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Links to Learn More:
Listen to Kevin’s Episode
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30 | Impossible Made Possible | Kevin Schwieger
Kevin Schwieger was born on the mission field and has served within ministry for over 30 years, from serving as a missionary to Marketplace Pastor at Grace Chapel. Two and a half years ago, Kevin discovered a new hiking trail and in his excitement to share about it, the vision for of Luke5Adventures was born. Luke5Adventures makes the impossible possible by gathering dedicated volunteers and special equipment to give outdoor experiences to people with disabilities. From Ohio to Colorado, Kevin and his team bring Luke 5 to life by helping everyone experience Jesus through nature, no matter their abilities.
In this episode, Kevin shares about how a conversation that never happened sparked curiosity and, ultimately, the founding of Luke5Adventures. He talks about “target versus tool,” how it applies to this work, and how God convicted him. Hear how God focused Kevin’s attention on a population of people that had before been “out of sight, out of mind,” and why he considers it “soul-quenching work” whenever they help provide a way to nature that was previously inaccessible.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Luke 5 Adventures
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Special thanks to COhatch Mason for providing podcast studio space.
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29.5 | Clips from the Cutting Room Floor | Troy Culbreth
Welcome to Be the Difference: Clips from the Cutting Room Floor! In these bonus episodes, we turn the reins over to our amazing producer Mikeyy, to share with you some of his favorite conversations from previous episodes that didn’t quite make the final cut.
In this episode, Mikeyy shares a clip from Episode 29 with Troy Culbreth. Troy shares about the power of music, the connection point that worship is to God, and Mikeyy reflects on where he has experienced God in music.
Links to learn more:
Listen to Troy’s Episode!
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29 | Cross Worship | Troy Culbreth
Troy Culbreth is husband to Sharmaine, father to Troy Jr, Kaleb, Riley, and Austin, and founder of Cross Worship Music. Cross Worship is a collective of worship leaders and musicians based out of Cincinnati, Ohio with a heart to reconcile the body of Christ across denominational and racial divides. They believe there is something special when we all come together, and the musicians capture that divine guidance and share it with their audience.
In this episode, Troy shares about how he went from a 12-year old boy who just wanted to be a basketball star to leading cross-cultural denominations in worship. He talks about the impact one song can have in a person’s life and why he believes the message doesn’t end when the melody does. Hear how God burdened Troy to do something about His people worshiping as one and what Troy sees for Cross Worship in the next nine years.
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Song Troy mentions (So Will I): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdIOaAvvOp8
Song Sammy Mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rUJ9A8oE9U
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28 | Dream Builders | LaMarqué Ward, Sr.
LaMarqué Ward, Sr is a husband, father, author, pastor, and former professional basketball player. In 2015, LaMarqué founded Dream Builders University (DBU) to educate young men and women about leadership skills. Since then, DBU has been a leader in providing professional development services for schools.
In this episode, LaMarqué shares about who inspired him as a young man, and why their combination of strength and compassion drew him in. He talks about how the words “I see gold in you” were the catalyst for finding his bigger purpose and why he’s always believed there’s more to the story. Hear how LaMarqué lives with Kingdom-mindedness, why being effective is key, and the one thing he says at the end of every talk or guest appearance.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Dream Builders University
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Special thanks to COhatch Mason for providing podcast studio space.
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27 | Open Doors & Red Carpets | Hope & Cheque Garcia
Hope and CheHope and Cheque Garcia have served with Back2Back Ministries for 13 years. They met on Monterrey’s campus, fell in love, and have been faithfully serving ever since. From co-captaining partnering children’s homes to now co-directing a brand new site, Hope and Cheque have a lot of experience when it comes to saying yes, even when they don’t know the where or how.
In this episode, Hope and Cheque share vulnerably about the hard in even the best of God’s stories, about how they each remember first meeting each other, and what brings them joy in their new home in the Dominican Republic. Hear how their transition from Monterrey to the D.R. started with the words open door and red carpets, why they waited so long to get a phone plan in Monterrey, and what they’ve learned in the last 13 years working in this “less than normal” job.
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26 | Weightless Anchor | Andrea Holtman
Andrea Holtman serves as the Director of Weightless Anchor, a hospitality home for women on the streets, often victims of sex trafficking and struggling with substance abuse. Adopted at birth in Liberty Township, Ohio, Andrea graduated college, got married, and had three children all in a 14-month span. Now in her 40’s, she is figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up.
In this episode, Andrea shares how a friend talking about Jesus like He was her brother and the book, Blue Like Jazz were pivotal moments in her story and why surrender is how she gets through every day. Hear how she answers when people ask her what she does for a living, how Weightless Anchor got its name, and why a woman snoring on the couch is the greatest gift.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Weightless Anchor
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Instagram | Facebook
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Special thanks to COhatch Mason for providing podcast studio space.
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Instagram | Facebook
25.5 | Clips from the Cutting Room Floor | Sammy Mathews
Welcome to Be the Difference: Clips from the Cutting Room Floor! In these bonus episodes, we turn the reins over to our amazing producer Mikeyy, to share with you some of his favorite conversations from previous episodes that didn’t quite make the final cut.
In this episode, Mikeyy shares two clips from Episode 25 with Sammy Mathews. We get to hear about about our role in someone else’s story, grieving saying goodbye, the tooth fairy, and what questions Mikeyy is asking himself after learning from Sammy.
Links to learn more:
Listen to Sammy’s episode!
Learn more about Back2Back Ministries
Learn more about Trauma Competent Care Training
Special thanks to COhatch Mason for providing podcast studio space.
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