45 | From Planting to Preaching | A Conversation on Leadership with Kelly & Steve Carr of Echo Church
Kelly and Steve Carr are husband and wife and Co-Founders of Echo Church in Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio. Steve formerly led the church, but in recent years, Kelly has stepped into the Lead Pastor role. Echo Church was founded in 2005 and is a body of believers united by common relationship with Jesus. They believe when we listen to what God is saying, we begin to see the world in a different light, and invite others to journey with them as they ask questions, seek Jesus, and work out their faith.
In this episode, Kelly and Steve share how they named their church, what Steve wanted to call it before Kelly stepped in with a different suggestion, and why they landed on Echo. Hear about why O’Charley’s and the produce department at Kroger were pivotal points in their lives and how Steve taking a sabbatical made room for Kelly to step into a lead pastor role.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Echo Church
Learn more about the Steve & Kelly
Read Steve’s bi-weekly thread for thinkers
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44 | Perseverance Through Community | A Conversation on Leadership with Michayla White of International Network of Children’s Ministry
Michayla White is a wife, mother, lover of Jesus, and Executive Director of International Network of Children’s Ministry (INCM). INCM exists to connect children’s ministry leaders to what they need – training, resources, and community. Michayla attributes her passion for children’s ministry and those who lead it to her mother, a volunteer children’s ministry director, and seeing her commitment to investing in children and seeing them as important to the family of God.
In this episode, Michayla defines children’s ministry and what INCM believes is the best possible curriculum for children’s ministry leaders to possess. Hear about her own challenges as a woman in leadership, how we can all make the future more equitable for women in leadership, and the questions that keep her up at night.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about International Network of Children’s Ministry
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43 | Voices of Leadership: Re-Imagining Roles | Chris, Sammy, & Beth Guckenberger
November is here! This means many things, but for the Be the Difference Podcast, it means a month of new guests who bring their own stories and experiences in being the difference. It also means we are highlighting a new topic: voices in leadership! To kick off, Sammy and Chris meet with special guest, Beth Guckenberger, and ask for her insight on women in leadership and why it matters.
Beth is co-executive Director of Back2Back Ministries, as well as an author and speaker who has long held leadership positions within the evangelical world. She is currently writing a new book about the very topic of women being used by God in leadership positions. In this episode, hear a little bit more about the heart behind this month’s topic, why Beth’s next book started as a secret between her and Jesus, and how her heart has grown and expanded on this topic. Hear two words of encouragement as we engage in this conversation and who Beth’s own examples of women in leadership are. And please join us throughout this month to hear from two other women who lead within their own spheres of influence and ministry, and how we can each support the women in our lives who are leading with grace and love.
Links to learn more:
Hear more from Beth at Reckless Faith
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42 | Everyone is Creative | A Conversation on the Power of Art and Creativity with Brad Wise of Boonrise, Leadercast, and Bespoken
Brad Wise is a husband, a father, a creative, and the founder of Boonrise – a video production company that exists to tell a better story through videos, experiences, and workshops that spark hope and action. Brad loves looking at things one way and asking if there’s a better or different way to do it; this intrigue and passion started in his adolescence when, instead of writing a paper on the effects of steroids, he asked to do a video instead. What began as a way to make his friends laugh and do work he actually enjoyed has turned into creating space and content where people can share and listen to each other’s stories. Brad shares, “When we tell our stories and we listen with kindness and imagination, something transcendent happens.”
In this episode, Brad shares his own definition of creativity and art, and how everyone can belong within that world. Hear about a woman named Joan he could listen to for hours and the story she shared that is one of his favorites, what exactly Boonrise means, and why Brad and his team chose it for their organization, and what is next for their team and why he is excited for what’s to come.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Boonrise
Learn more about Leadercast’s upcoming event Amplify
Learn more about Bespoken Live.
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41 | Art & Creativity: Cutting Room Floor | Mikeyy Evans
Check out this bonus episode of Be the Difference! Today, our faithful producer Mikeyy shares a teaser for episode 41 with Brad Wise, founder of Boonrise. Sammy asks Brad who fostered the creative spirit in him, and Brad’s response is a beautiful story of how his mom stepped in, let him experiment, and formed the storyteller that he is today.
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40 | Hosanna Revival | A Conversation on the Power of Art and Creativity with Katie Guiliano of Hosanna Revival
Katie Guiliano is an artist and the founder of Hosanna Revival, a company that exists to excite people about engaging in scripture by creating beautiful and intentional tools for their lives. Katie’s relationship with Jesus began after she graduated high school and truly flourished, along with her business idea, in Spain while reading her plain black covered, bilingual Bible. What started in a secret Etsy shop with just Katie in 2015 is now well-known globally and is made possible because of a team of 13 dedicated artists and business-minded people, plus two sweet dogs.
In this episode, Katie shares about the very humble beginnings of Hosanna Revival and what spurred her to create and build a business simultaneously. Hear why she and the Hosanna team pray over every product before it leaves their hands, how she believes art and creativity will always point us back to Jesus, and why she felt led to paint the cover of a Bible in the first place.
Links to learn more:
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39 | Art and Creativity: Beauty & Rebellion | Chris & Sammy
Welcome to season two of Be the Difference! It’s a new month, which means the Be the Difference Podcast is highlighting a new theme. In season two, Chris and Sammy will highlight one big question every month and dive into that question with our guests.
October is here, and we are focusing on one big question – how can we be the difference in others’ lives through art and creativity? Do you consider yourself creative? An artist? Is there a chance we’re all more artistic than we give ourselves credit for? Chris and Sammy answer this question for themselves, discuss how art draws us into community, and how it always unlocks something new within us.
This month, you will hear from two different special guests – Katie Guiliano and Brad Wise – two founders of creative endeavors who have designed their lives after being present through art. Join us this month as our co-hosts take part in creative, honest, vulnerable conversations about art, how it impacts the creator and those who engage with the creation.
Together, all around the world, we are highlighting those who are being the difference. Join us.
Links to learn more:
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38 | Presence Means Showing Up | A Foster Care & Adoption Conversation with Toni Steere of Legacy 68:5
Toni Steere is a mother, comes from a long line of women who “give their lives away,” and is the Director of Legacy 685 – an adoption, foster, and orphan care ministry within Houston’s First Baptist Church. Legacy 68:5 connects, equips, and sustains families and organizations locally and internationally with resources, education, and practical help.
In this episode, Toni shares about how her heart for Africa led her to Guatemala, what her 10-year old self would say about her life today, and how fasting and prayer changed everything. Hear how God used a young boy named Gus to teach Toni that attachment matters, and why mowing a field with a machete opened doors no human could close.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Legacy 685
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37 | Foster Care and Adoption: Cutting Room Floor | Mikeyy Evans
Check out this bonus episode of Be the Difference! Today, our faithful producer, Mikeyy Evans, shares a teaser for episode 38 with Toni Steere, whose work is all about walking alongside kids in difficult spaces. Sammy poses a question – “Why do you keep doing it?” And Toni’s response is just the motivation we all need to step into the gap for the vulnerable and to remember that Jesus trumps trauma.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Back2Back Ministries
Special thanks to COhatch Mason for providing podcast studio space.
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36 | Presence & Proximity | A Foster Care Conversation with Mike Wilson of MyLIFEspeaks
Mike Wilson is a husband, biological and adoptive father, and the Co-Founder of myLIFEspeaks – a non-profit organization whose vision is for every Haitian child to experience family. Mike and his wife, Missy, have never wanted to come in and “Americanize” the culture of Haiti. Rather, they celebrate the Haitian culture while investing in locals to lead others and together elevate the future of Haiti. They know true sustainability and change comes from within.
In this episode, Mike shares about where he was on January 12th, 2010 and how it was a moment he will never forget. Hear how God continually reminds him, “I’m still here,” about what keeps him up at night, and why he will always tell people not to give up on Haiti.
Links to learn more:
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