Podcast appearances and mentions of christian creatives

Healing Through Laughter: Dave Ebert on Comedy, Faith, and Overcoming Trauma In this episode, Diana rebroadcasts the interview of the late Dave Ebert, who passed away unexpectedly July 2, 2024. He discusses his journey from struggling with depression and contemplating suicide to becoming a renowned improv coach, pastor, and comedian. Dave, who founded Gifts for Glory Ministries, shares his early love for entertaining, the personal struggles he faced, and how faith and comedy became his tools for healing and helping others. He also explores his work with the Salt and Light Coalition, helping survivors of sex trafficking through improv, which aids in their communication skills and self-esteem. The episode delves into the importance of connection, trust, and the transformative power of laughter in overcoming trauma and finding hope. We hope you enjoy hearing Dave's legacy and timeless advice.  You will hear the second interview of Dave and his wife's missionary work next episode. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:47 Meet Your Host, Diana 01:34 Introducing Dave Ebert 02:51 Dave's Childhood and Early Love for Comedy 03:45 Struggles with Family and Faith 07:30 Turning Point: Finding Faith and Purpose 10:57 Battling Depression and Suicidal Thoughts 21:04 The Power of Presence and Support 24:25 A New Beginning in Chicago 26:32 Starting a Faith-Based Improv Team 27:32 Creating Clean Comedy for All Ages 29:10 Using Comedy as a Ministry Tool 31:50 Connecting with Salt and Light Coalition 33:12 Teaching Improv to Trafficking Survivors 36:20 Stories of Transformation Through Improv 44:18 Current Projects and Online Improv Shows 47:16 Offering Support and Contact Information 50:47 Final Thoughts and Podcast Information   Website: https://dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/   Dave Ebert  [00:00:00] Special thanks to 7 5 3 Academy for sponsoring this episode. No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, they've got you covered. They specialize in helping you exceed your health and fitness goals, whether that is losing body fat, gaining muscle, or nutritional coaching to match your fitness levels. They do it all with a written guarantee for results so you don't waste time and money on a program that doesn't exceed your goals. There are martial arts programs. Specialize in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. They take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Sign up for your free class now. It's 7 5 3 academy.com. Find the link in the show notes. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, [00:01:00] Diana . She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Hello everyone. Thanks for joining us today. You know, I've been telling you there are many paths and tools for healing and comedy is one of them. I think you'll enjoy our podcast today, friends. Our guest, Dave Ebert is the founder of Gifts for Glory Ministries. Dave is an improv coach, speaker, pastor, actor, and improv performer with his wife Bobby, residing in Chicago, Illinois. Gifts for Glory is ready to provide high quality, clean family friendly entertainment and professional [00:02:00] improv coaching to survivors of sex trafficking. Hey, welcome to the show Dave. Hey, thanks so much for having me. I'm, uh, really looking forward to having our conversation. Your bio is so impressive. I had trouble. Uh, shortening it for the intro. I'm sorry, I, I try to provide enough information, but, uh, I, I could have probably shortened it, but maybe it's because I'm a pastor. I just like to embellish and go on for a long, long period of time. So we're gonna fill in the blanks here and throughout our time together, and I can't wait to hear some good jokes. We will. We'll see what comes up. I'm an improviser, so nothing's ever planned. So if there's a moment of funny, yeah, I just give God the credit and if there's not, it's just, I don't know. We'll see. So tell us about your childhood. Were you always funny or into comedy? I really [00:03:00] was, uh, one of the earliest pictures of me other than, you know, baby pictures, uh, was a old Polaroid of, uh, me flexing, like I was in a bodybuilding contest because we we're at the city pool. There was an actual, like a swimsuit or bodybuilding competition going on on the other side. And my parents and their friends were just there at the pool and I was like, no, they're not gonna get the attention. I'm gonna get the attention. So there's this picture of me flexing my little chubby 2-year-old arms and it was like, I, I love to entertain and I love the attention and trying to, uh, get people an opportunity to laugh. So yeah, pretty much my entire life, um. Uh, I, I just liked it. I enjoyed, and I lived off of people's laughter. Now, did you experience any trauma in your life? There were, um, there wasn't any like one singular event, like a, a massive. You know, tragedy. But my dad was in Vietnam. He was in the [00:04:00] Vietnam War, and he got in contact with that chemical agent Orange that, uh, I've heard about. And, uh, that just ravaged his body. You know, when he hit 30, he was, you know, a healthy, strong 30-year-old guy working in the trades, and he was disabled by the time he was. 37, 38, um, from heart attacks, from just loss of, uh, dexterity in his hands and uh, and losing his ability to even walk. And it was all, uh, just complications and, and complications from the agent Orange. And so we were living in Chicago at that. You know, when I was first born and then when he'd had his third heart attack, we had to move out of the city and get away from the fast pace of Chicago and went down to Virginia where it's a lot slower lifestyle, a little bit easier for him to handle that kind of stress. But over the next 20 or so years as his health failed, there were a lot of conflicts in the home [00:05:00] between he and mom, between he and myself, and, um, so it was. It wasn't a tragic event, it was just this long period of watching my dad lose his ability to do the things that men do, like work with their hands, play with their son, hang out with their son, things like that. And, uh, you're not able to handle that because we really didn't have a strong faith. Base. So there was nothing kind of anchoring us in that storm. Mm-hmm. And so it was over, you know, two decades that, you know, there's just a lot of little traumas. Little fights, uh, big fights and, and things like that. We said we were Christian and we went to church. Um. Uh, fairly regularly, uh, mostly for holidays and potlucks. Uh, but um, we, uh, we said we were Christian, but it kind of [00:06:00] only existed from 11 to 12 on, on Sundays. Uh, we lived decently. We weren't out killing people. We weren't doing drugs and like that, but, um, but we weren't really like practicing. We didn't say, you know, grace at meals. We didn't pray together. We, I don't think I ever saw an either of my parents actually open a Bible. So we were kind of Christians in name only. Um, we had the, the membership card went to the meetings, but we didn't actually do a lot of practicing outside of church. So kinda like Chris and dumb. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Kind of, kind of creases with a little bit more regular attendance because the church I grew up in, uh, or at least as a kid, they had a lot of potlucks. It, it was almost like the one way to guarantee people would come. It was like, yeah, we're gonna have a potluck to celebrate this this weekend. And I love the potlucks because there's always at least five to sometimes six, uh, different varieties of mac and cheese, and that's my favorite. Favorite. Yes. [00:07:00] Yes. Mac and cheese. Yes. Mashed potatoes. Mm-hmm. Mashed potatoes, uh, all sorts of desserts. And, uh, for your, your listeners, they won't know this, but if they see, you know, my headshot or whatnot, I, I'm not a small individual and I will put the blame firmly on that church. Where all the potlucks, oh, they fed me, but not spiritually. Oh. That's funny. So when did you meet the Lord for real? Well, my story's kind of unique or maybe it's not. Um, but for me it depends on what your personal theology is to interpret it. I. Going into my sixth grade year, uh, that, that summer before my sixth grade year, I went to a summer camp and I, uh, went, you know, we had devotions each night at a campfire. And I remember on Thursday night, the day before, the night before we're leaving. [00:08:00] Something at the devotion spoke to me and I said, on my way by myself, said That little sinners prayer of Jesus coming to my heart. I want to make you Lord. Um, and you know, I remember the prayer, I remember walking up that gravel driveway up towards the cabin. And, but like I said, it kind of hinted at there wasn't a lot of discipleship for young believers at my church. So. It was like, oh, I accepted Christ. What does that mean? What do I do with it? And so from that year. For many years after, I never really got truly discipled to understand what it meant to be a Christ follower. And through my depression and the, you know, just some of the choices I made, I kind of walked away from that. So if you believe that you can walk away from salvation, then you could say that I walked away from it. Uh, some believe once saved, always saved. So you can either choose that summer or you can look to, uh, January, 2013 when. Uh, [00:09:00] still wrestling, depression, still looking for purpose in life. I was walking to work, uh, on a Saturday morning and. There were these two kids from a local Bible college out there looking for people to witness to, uh, they had the, uh, tract, which, uh, for anybody that doesn't know tract is a small graphic novel that, uh, kind of tells the gospel story. And, um, so they were out there and there's really no reason for them to be there 'cause it wasn't a very populated area. Um, so there really wouldn't be a lot of people out there on a Saturday morning. So it was obviously a divine appointment. They gave me the track and they offered to pray for me, but I didn't, you know, I kind of blew them off. Said, yeah, I'm a Christian, I'm saved. Yeah, I'm good, but I gotta get to work. But because they were there, they passed out the track and because of a lot of stuff that was leading up to that moment, it was like, okay, God, I'm ready to submit. I'm, I'm ready. So that night I, uh, opened up my, uh, Rick Warren, purpose Driven Life. I started reading [00:10:00] my, uh, dollar General, uh, king James version Bible got all the way through Deuteronomy before. I was like, I need something simpler. Uh, yeah. But, uh, yeah. Um, those two kids, I don't know if I'll ever see them again, at least not in this life, but they were kind of the straw that broke the camel's back to where I made the decision because I was still wrestling with depression and I was literally at this place where I was on top of, I, I described it as I was on a peak of a mountaintop where. I was still considering, you know, taking my life so I could either go left and just take my life and, and end it once and for all, or I could go right and give my life and fully submit to God. And that was kind of the moment that kind of clenched it for me to take that step towards God and really for the first time, pursue a relationship with him. So that was in, uh, January of, uh, 2013. So let's unpack the. Part where you talked about you wanted to end [00:11:00] your life. What happened there? It was a, a culmination of a lot of things. I, I had a lot of dreams and ideals of what life should look like, and this started in, uh, junior high and high school. Um, and then, uh, you know, combine that with, uh, this struggle with my relationship with my dad. Um, you know, not ever quite being good enough because he always had, sometimes these. Surreal expectations and, and when I didn't meet them, I felt like a failure and, you know, just all these different things. Um, it just added up to one night. I remember, um, I was pursuing this, this young lady to date her in high school and you know, for the first time I was like, this might be the one that I actually get her to date me. And then, um. Afternoon, after I talked to her in the morning, I saw her walking, holding hands with somebody else, and that was. [00:12:00] Kind of the straw that broke the camel's back the other way, uh, to where I entered into that depression. And, uh, it just kept getting deeper. The more my dad and I fought, the more my mom and dad fought. You know, it just got deeper and through, um, my junior year, senior year high school, all through college, after college for many years, uh, through my first marriage, you know, just. That voice was always in the back of my head, you're not worthy. Um, no one's gonna truly love you. Um, might as well end the pain now. And so I just, I really wrestled with the idea of suicide. There were times that I was ready to do it, but I cursed myself for being too weak or too afraid to commit. But looking back, it was that, as the Bible calls it, the still small voice. That was, you know, just kind of coaxing me to don't give in just yet. Don't give in just yet. So looking back, obviously God was [00:13:00] there with me the entire time. It's just I didn't realize who that voice was or why I was not able to fully take that next step. It was because God was there trying to yank and pull me back from the edge. Wow. I'm sure a lot of our listeners can relate to, um, the things that you're saying right now about wanting to end it all. Now, did you cover up your depression, your feelings? Did anybody else know about that? I covered it. Um, as I mentioned, I love to entertain people, make people laugh. So it started off very, when I was very young. It was just this pure thing of enjoying the laughter and enjoying giving that gift to people. But when I entered the Depression, it became a defense mechanism where I would keep people from seeing what I was feeling and also try to prevent them from feeling the darkness I felt. If I could do that, if I could make somebody laugh, if I could [00:14:00] entertain somebody, if I could make somebody feel better, then I was able to justify living for the next week or the next day or what have you. And so comedy or making people laugh was where I found my worth and my value. And if I went too far and I offended somebody, if I hurt somebody's feelings, uh, or if I said something that just kind of embarrassed me. It went into the spiral where it was like, see, even the one thing you count on for value you fail at. And so it would spiral me and it was like, man, I just, I need to drive my truck off this cliff, or I need to, um, do this or that other thing to myself just, and I always wanted to leave it as an ac, you know, make it look like it was an accident. Um, whenever I really contemplated, uh, suicide because I didn't want the embarrassment. I didn't want people to judge me and say things about me, and I also didn't want the judgment to follow my [00:15:00] parents or anybody else because I didn't want them to be punished for what I was going through. So I always tried to make it or plan out to look like an accident. Um, one night I in particular, I remember driving home late at night through the mountain roads. It was maybe three or four in the morning, and I just was at this breaking point and I prayed. I said, God, if you don't want me to do this, gimme a sign. Do something. And if you think about Pure Flix movies or a Hallmark movie, you know, you think in that moment, all of a sudden the sky opens and the lights shines, and the angels come down. And, but in that moment, it felt like it got darker. It almost, it felt like, like God actually got quieter. Than, than I felt he had been. And so I got mad and I got angry at God. And I, I think I probably said a few curse words at him and, and said, you know, whatever. And I got mad and I drove [00:16:00] home. But here's the, the thing about it, I drove home. I didn't drive to the left off that cliff and. I, I say that that was a moment where God knew what I needed. It's not conventional, it's not what you would expect, but it's what I needed. 'cause he knew I'd go mad or I would get mad, and he knew that he would have to take some barbs from me in that anger. But it was God laying himself down for me in that moment so that I would go home instead of, you know, take my life. And that's just another thing that I look back on and say, wow, God was there this whole time. Wow. I've never contemplated suicide myself. I've had some really dark times with my, abuse history. Mm-hmm. Now I've had depression before. Mm-hmm. But it wasn't so much that I needed to take medication. Um, it was just this cloud of darkness and like [00:17:00] sitting in a pit. Yeah. That you can't get out of and it's no amount of positive thinking is going to do it. Right. It just took a long time to crawl out of that. These brilliant people, you know, we're talking about comedy and the most brilliant comedian was Robin Williams. Sure. And he was so funny. And, yeah. When he took his own life after battling depression, um, I really mourned his death. 'cause Yeah. Yeah. It, and that's one of the things where it shows that fame, fortune, having everything at, at your fingertips, it's not a substitute for. Anything because you look at Rob Williams, you think about even, you know, they don't classify necessarily as a suicide. You look, but you look at somebody like Chris Farley, uh, John Belushi, um, the lifestyle that those two guys [00:18:00] chose and the way that they treated their bodies was kind of a long term suicide because they did not take care of their bodies. And I'm not talking about being heavy. I'm talking about the drugs, the drinking, the things like the partying. For hours upon hours on end, it was they were trying to fill something in their soul that they couldn't fill. Um, so for, and I don't say these things as judgment. Mm-hmm. I say these things as warnings. Um, heads up. If you see somebody that is trying to fill their life with partying, find the time when they're sober and talk to them. See if there's something going on. Uh, and like you look at somebody like Robin Williams. It's a very hard thing to know how to handle that because you don't know what his family life was like. Did he have somebody in his, in his corner that knew what he is wrestling with and they were just happened to be gone in an, in the instant that he was the weakest? Um, [00:19:00] for me, I think one of the, the biggest things is if you see somebody or know somebody that could potentially be similar to where Robin Williams was at. Pray and ask for God to show you how to reach them, um, and be willing to pursue it. Um, it's, no, no two depressions are the same because no two people are the same. There's no blanket there, a, b, c methodology that's going to, like, if I do these three or four things, I'm gonna pull my friend out of what they're at. Because there's different triggers, there's different experiences, there's different chemical imbalances in the mind. So don't ever feel like a failure if you try to help somebody and you can't see results. Because some people, it takes time, some people it takes the miracle of God flipping a switch and healing whatever chemical imbalance is in the mind. Um, so my advice is always just keep [00:20:00] pursuing, um, because. Eventually there's gonna be a breakthrough it because somebody that's in that mode is going to see that they're not gonna give up and that's going to fly directly in the face of so many of the inner voices or, or the self-talk of, I'm not worth it, nobody's gonna really care. Or I, I'm a burden. But when you're continually pursuing, you are speaking against all that and you're giving evidence against that case. And we all know, especially, uh, as Christians, that those voices are of the enemy. So they're all mm-hmm. Of the king of lies. Yes. And when you can step in and bring the truth and bring the light, the enemy has no footing left. So that's always my advice, is just to keep pursuing him. It's worth it. It's worth being able to pursue somebody and give them [00:21:00] a chance to hope and a chance to fight against the lies of the enemy. Um, I never know what to say to somebody that's struggling with depression. I'm always afraid that I'm gonna say the wrong thing. Right. Um, so those, those suggestions are really, valuable because. I don't wanna push them too far, but I want them to know that I care. So, yeah. And, and here's the thing, and this is something that I, whenever I talk to people, I, I try to take this burden off your shoulders. It's not your job to save them. It's not your job to rescue them. It's your job to be there and let God do the saving. It is not, it's not your job. So whatever words you say, whatever things you say, it's not gonna matter because it's not gonna be really remembered. The mistakes or, or the, the bad choice words or whatever you say that doesn't [00:22:00] work, quote unquote work, it's not gonna matter. What's gonna matter is that person that you're pursuing, that you're fighting for is gonna remember that you were there. They're gonna remember your presence, not so much your words. Now, there'll be some times where God will give you wisdom and they'll remember those words of wisdom, but for the most part, part, they're gonna remember that you were there. Just like when you go to a funeral and you talk to the people that are grieving, uh, whether it's the widow or the widower, or maybe it's, uh, the child that lost their parent, whatever the case may be. They don't remember the words that you said as you go in the line. They remember your face, they remember the, the calming touch on the shoulder, on the hands. They remember that you were there and it was, it is very much the same for somebody that's in the dark pit of, of depression. If you're there constantly showing them love, willing to let them have [00:23:00] what I call verbal diarrhea and just get whatever they're wrestling without. They're gonna remember that you were there and they're gonna remember that, and it's going be that evidence to say, Satan, shut up. Amen. You're not telling the truth. This person is here. They see me as valuable enough to fight through this. So you're lies of I'm not worthy. Nobody loves me, nobody will miss me. Those are lies straight from the pit of hell, and that's where you belong. That's right. Wow. No, that's, that's really helpful comparing it to, um, a funeral. 'cause, uh, I just lost my brother December 5th and, yeah, and some people, they don't know the right things to say and, but you're right. I remember that. They cared about me. But yes. The fact that they took time to say, I'm praying for you, or let us know if there's anything we can do to help you meant a lot. So I appreciate that [00:24:00] advice for sure. Let's switch over something a little funnier. Sure. Okay. Than a funeral. Um, so speaking of Robin Williams, he was a guest on. Whose line is it anyway, and it was my favorite episode ever. And you started a Christian version of that show. Tell me more about that. Absolutely. So when I, uh, rededicated my life to the Lord in January of 2013, I knew that performing and being on stage was my calling. God was going to. Keep me in front of people, keep me entertaining people, but he's changing and he changed the reason why, instead of trying to hide how I felt and hide myself, I was now gonna use comedy as a way to reveal who he is. And I had no real opportunities, uh, in Beckley, West Virginia. Nothing against West Virginia. Uh, [00:25:00] I have a lot of friends back there. I had a lot of great experiences, but it wasn't where God wanted me. And so I was like, so God, where do I go? Do I go to Roanoke, Virginia, which is about three hours west in, uh, west in, in west in Virginia. Excuse me. And, uh, that's where my mom lived. Do I just move in with her and start over? And it was kind of like. You could, but that's not really where you belong. So I kept, like reading Rick Warren's book, I kept reading the Bible and finally in a, in a conversation, my sister, who doesn't really have a relationship with the Lord, but he used her. She said, well, if you want to, you can move up here to Chicago in, in, uh, start over here. And I said, are you sure? 'cause she was going to college at the time and I would be moving in on staying on her couch in her studio apartment. And I was like, are you sure? She's like, yeah, if, if you need. A new, you know, new start. And so six weeks later I left, uh, [00:26:00] West Virginia, everything I could pack in my truck I brought up. And I started completely over in, um, in March of 2013. And it was shortly thereafter, I started pursuing acting opportunities and opportunities to be in front of people. A couple of mo short films I got into, I realized after accepting the part, I shouldn't have done this role. Uh, this will be something that if I ever become famous, will be one of those things that they play to, to tease you when you get like a lifetime achievement award. Oh, yeah. Um, and then through Craigslist I connected with a, a, a guy, um, named Ryan McChesney. And he and I, uh, discussed, you know, doing, uh, movies together or something like that, uh, faith-based, and we said, well, we both like improv. He had gone through the second 30. Second City, Chicago Conservatory. I had, um, done a few classes at Second City, but uh, most of my acting and performing training [00:27:00] came from eight years of, uh, pro wrestling in, uh, West Virginia and Virginia. Um, so we thought, well, what if we started a faith-based improv team? There's nothing like that in Chicago. And we thought that there was almost nothing like that in the rest of the world. So, uh, we decided to start trying to cast and we, uh, brought two more people on. And my church at that time was, uh, very, uh, gracious in allow, allowing us free reign to use a building for rehearsals or anything else we wanted to do. And so we just started, uh. Creating an improv team and for anybody that's not really familiar with improv, uh, uh, Diana, as you mentioned, uh, whose line is it anyway, is kind of the same kind of improv that we do where it's, uh, game base where they'll give us a game with a scenario and certain rules within that game to follow, and the rest we make up. We make up the characters. The dialogue is completely made up. And the idea is not to try to be funny, but just to [00:28:00] try to respond in the moment because that's where the funny's gonna come from, is that just that creative mind that we have. It's going to find things that are funny in our natural reactions. And so what we do is we just create scenarios. It's basically like. A more organized way to play, pretend. Uh, we create characters, voices, points of view. And so we, and we don't do it based on the Bible because we don't want to ever. Get careless and misrepresent the Bible or say something. Oh, okay. That's fair. Uh, we don't wanna ever come across as a Christian improv team that is, uh, disrespecting the Bible. So we just do clean comedy that's accessible for all ages, whether you're five or 105. Um, we want you to be able to come and enjoy and laugh. And, um, we kind of filter it through [00:29:00] Philippians four, eight, whatever's pure and lovely and praiseworthy. If it kind of fits along that, then, uh, then we're good. Um, and we just, um. We go out and use it as a ministry tool. Uh, either we open for a speaker and use laughter as a way to tear down some walls and, and make people comfortable enough that they can hear it. Mm-hmm. Or we just do pure comedy with the love and the joy of Christ and allow our presence and the fact that Christ is coming in with us to somehow reach them on a spiritual level to where they'll either ask us, why are you guys clean? Why don't you curse? Or Why don't you do innuendo or blue? Right. Or they track us down on social media and they're like, oh, they're Christian, and they're funny and they're creative. Maybe God is more than I thought he was. I'm not naturally funny. Um, my husband is, and that's the, the thing [00:30:00] is. You don't have to be funny to be good at improv, you just have to be willing to listen and respond naturally. 'cause most of what's funny in our improv at least, is that people recognize either weird quirks, uh, about themselves or about people that they know or they recognize weird characters that they're like, that's Samantha from work. Oh my gosh. Um, and, and it's that recognition of, of the human experience because. We are so much alike. There we're, we are all more alike than we are different. Mm-hmm. And when we share those experiences, we realize that we're not alone. That we're not this weird thing in the middle of the world that has no connection. When we get a room with people laughing together, even if none of them know each other. They connect, uh, on this really interesting level. When they laugh together, they don't feel alone in that room. And that's why comedy is so important and effective in [00:31:00] speaking and in ministry. If you can get, get them to laugh, there's a wall that comes down to where now they're able to receive, uh, some information or receive the word or receive the message. And, uh, you know, that's what we love to do is to either. Set the ground for, uh, the speaker to bring the word, or to just simply be a light in that room to where there's a question, why, why are they different? And, um, that's what we do now. Uh, we've been, uh, this team has been running since, uh, July of 2013. Um, we've had a lot of changes, a lot of turnover, but the, the mission has always been the same is to just use comedy to bring people closer to God. So you can, definitely use comedy to heal people in their pain. And you got connected with, salt and Light Coalition. So tell us more about that. Sure. Uh, Salton Lake Coalition [00:32:00] is an organization that works with, uh, women who have survived sex trafficking. Um, many of the women that they serve, uh, were sold into trafficking by their parents at a young age. So many of them either have a very short, if. Or maybe a non-existent childhood to, uh, draw from. So they're very stunted in ma many areas as far as emotions, uh, uh, especially the ability now to trust people. And so, and most of them obviously have been hurt. Used and abused by men. Mm-hmm. So the fact that me as a guy was asked to come in and serve the weight of that is not lost on me. But I also see absolutely see benefit because here is a man in a healthy relationship with his wife, who is in a healthy relationship with the Lord, who can come in and bring that. As a model for these women to show that it is possible that [00:33:00] not every single man is a creep that's going to hurt you. Right? So, and I, I value that ability to, and that opportunity to bring that example, uh, to them. And I teach improv as a way to improve their communication because, uh, many of them, like I said, had, are stunted either, um. Educationally, either they were, they had to drop outta school because they were doing what their handlers or pimp or whatever you wanna call 'em, were making them do. And so I go and help them improve communication. Uh. Find and develop their self-esteem. Because when you're learning improv and you're creating stuff together, you're starting to realize, wait, I have a voice. I have something to say, and the things that I say can be valuable, and that only helps to improve the self-esteem. So they start realizing that all the stuff that I've been through in the past is my past and all the work that I'm doing [00:34:00] now to get back on my feet and rebuild my life. I'm worth it because I have something to say. I have something to contribute. So we do that through improv and, and at the end of the day, they get an hour where they can laugh like kids either for the first time or laugh like kids again because. And, and it, I don't say these things to brag on me. Mm-hmm. God put me in this position. There was, there's been several times where the women have, or a couple of the women have come in and you could see that they are literally carrying their world on their back. The burdens are there, the brow was furrowed. The, you could see in their eyes that they're waiting for somebody to say that one word so that they can explode on them. Mm-hmm. And part of what they have to do is they have to participate even if they're not feeling it. So they, they still get in the circle, they still participate in the games, and you can see literally. The, [00:35:00] that facade, crack and fall, you literally see them crack up and within five minutes of participating, the burden is gone. The, the fierceness in their eyes, the the anger or the frustration, or the hurt. It fades away. And they get to forget that and realize that there's hope, that there's something bigger than what they're wrestling with in that moment. And that has been such a huge blessing for me to be a part of that for the last couple of years. And, um, and like I said, it's, it's such a blessing to, to be a man in that position, to kind of be an ambassador, literally an ambassador for Christ, to show that it's okay to. To trust again. And I, and I love doing that. That is incredible. You know, I've had some training in sex trafficking, with Mending the Soul We have a program called Princess Lost. [00:36:00] Princess Found. Oh, okay. And I didn't know anything about sex trafficking before that, or at least I thought I did know. Mm-hmm. I, I thought of what the rest of the world thinks about, you know, prostitutes or sex workers, but it really, that training had opened my eyes. Do you have a story of one of those tough nuts that crack open with your comedy improv class? Yeah. Um. Specific, I can't mention names, obviously. No. Yeah. But, uh, the one lady I think of in particular, she's a single mom. She was, uh, sold by her mom into trafficking, for sex because her mom needed a. She needed a, a fix. And so she gets involved and then she gets traded, bought, and sold. Um, and the thing wa the thing that a lot of people don't realize is [00:37:00] people who are in that life, who are stuck, who are, who are trapped, they're not always stuck in some shady building off in the corner of, of the city, right? They're, they're still out walking around, they're going to the store, but. They're in such a way that they don't think they can escape and they don't know who they can trust. Mm-hmm. They don't know if the person that they're gonna talk to to say, Hey, I need help, is connected to this person that they're, that they're, uh, enslaved by. So they feel like they can't trust anybody. Even though that they're out walking around, they're, they're stuck. And they're also, many times they're forced to take drugs. Yes. So people will dismiss them when they see 'em. Like, oh, she's just a junkie. There are a lot of junkies, but there's also a lot of women and, and some men that are on drugs, either because they're trying to cope with what they're being forced to do, or it's part of what they're required to do in [00:38:00] order to survive. Um, and, and the, the, the pimps know that when they're on drugs and they're high people will dismiss them and won't really give them two looks. So all that to say is this, this young lady, she's, I think she's in her mid twenties now. Mm-hmm. Uh, single mom struggling to get her kids back because in, in the eyes of the court system, she's just a junkie. She, it, it doesn't matter why she was on drugs, it doesn't matter what caused her to be arrested for these different things. All that matters to them is that she, you know, you were high, you were on drugs, you have this in your system, you're not fit to be a mom. So she's trying to rebuild her life, trying to get her kids back and one day, I don't know, I don't know the details 'cause I don't really talk to get to know them much, just because they're trying. You don't wanna protect them. 'cause the fewer people that know the stories, know where they are, where they're [00:39:00] from, the better for them so that they can avoid getting. Found by the people that are looking for them. Mm-hmm. Because when a woman, escapes sex trafficking, that's property in the minds of the people that quote unquote own them. Yes. And they don't like to lose property because they're losing profit. So. You know, I know very little about them. I know their, I know their first name. I know a little bit about their story. Some of their stories come out as, you know, part of the improv, but she's trying to get her life back together. She comes in and she's the one that I always envision when I talk about the cracking up. She came in and I swear, I I, there was a moment where I was worried, it was like, is she gonna fly off on me if I say the wrong thing? 'cause she just looked angry at the world. Mm-hmm. And, uh, fortunately, and obviously they're not gonna leave me in the room alone, so there's a couple of the Salton light [00:40:00] volunteers there just to supervise and to coach and say, Hey, you need to go ahead and get in a circle and, and participate. You know, this is part of the program. And so. She came in, arms are crossed and she's just looking down at the ground. And so I just changed my plan and I opened up with, uh, a warmup that I knew everyone enjoyed. Um, and it's a silly game. It's called Bippity bippity bop. And, and so this game, uh, somebody's in the middle of the circle, they go around the circle and it's, it's a quick response game. I'll look at you and, and if I say Bippity bty bop, you just have to say the word bop before I get to bop. And then there's other layers to that game. So I start the game and say, all right, so we're gonna warm up with bip bippity bop. So I go around the circle and there are a couple times where like, as I'm going around the circle, I look at her like, I'm gonna give her the, you know, [00:41:00] the, the, uh, interaction. But then I go past and then I come back, and then I get her the first time it's like pip bop. She, you know, obviously wasn't ready 'cause she's not. Fully into it. So she goes, all right, un crosses her arms, walks in the circle, starts doing it, and as soon as she starts participating you, that's when it starts cracking up. And she starts laughing and, and having fun. And she became, she was two people. The first five minutes, she was one person. And then once she started to laugh, she was a completely different person. And it's like. God, this is why, this is why I'm here. And again, it's not, Hey, Dave Ebert's wonderful. You know, toot the horns. It's like, God put me in this position to use my testimony, my story to, and my experiences to try to help in the healing process of, of some women that desperately need healing and desperately need to know the love of [00:42:00] Jesus. I love that story. You know, the biggest thing I learned in, in my training that I went through was a lot of these women are in this predicament. At no fault of their own, they were mm-hmm. They were groomed or they were kidnapped, or they were, you know, trafficked by somebody that they trusted. Mm-hmm. Or they should have been able to trust and that these, these ladies and some gentlemen, by the way, are people. Valuable people, loved by God. They're not trash and not somebody that we throw away or toss aside, they are, they are children of God and they need Jesus too. Yeah. And, and these are all people that, and I, I don't like think, or in my heart, I don't believe that Jesus means this. In his language, but he's talking to us in our language when he talks about the least of these. Mm-hmm. Because he loves us and [00:43:00] God loves us equally. And there is no true least in God's kingdom. But I think it's, it's Jesus dumbing down the language so that we would understand. And that's why he is like what you do to the least of these you do to me. So yeah, there are people who. Are out there who are high on their own accord, doing their own thing, that are just throwing their lives away because they think it's fun. But you don't know until you know. So don't, I would just ask, never dismiss somebody because they look like a junkie. Mm-hmm. Or they look like they've made some bad choices. 'cause maybe they have, or maybe they're stuck in a situation. And I would always encourage, if nothing else, pray for them. Mm-hmm. And maybe in that prayer time, God's like, Hey, that that's somebody that needs you. But if you're willing to just dismiss everybody 'cause they look like they're scarred from injections or they, their face is broken out from different [00:44:00] things, if you just dismiss 'em automatically, then you're blocking God from reaching you to tell you, hey, they need your help, and God's just gonna have to find somebody else. And you're gonna miss the blessed opportunity to reach somebody that needs the love of Christ. Amen. What are you up to now? You have any new projects in the works coming down the pike? When you said, what are you up to now? I was gonna say six foot two. Um, yeah. Right now, uh, because of, uh, the global thing that's going on and I'm in Illinois, so. Theaters aren't open. We're not doing much as far as the comedy. Um, you know, so everybody's kind of focusing on their family. One of the things I have been doing is connecting with other Christian improvisers and, uh, we're, uh, doing. Semi, uh, maybe once a month. Uh, comedy shows where we just get together and we've never practiced before. We've never rehearsed, but we're gonna [00:45:00] put out, uh, some shows where people can just watch online, watch us improvise and participate. Uh, those, uh, will broadcast live on my Facebook page, and I'll advertise those that you know about a week in advance once we get people able to commit to a date. Um. And the, our first one that we did, we had somebody from West Virginia, somebody from Arkansas, two people from Texas, and Oh, had one person, uh, from Ohio, I believe. So we had like a conglomerate of people from all over the, the nation coming in. Uh, we've never practiced before, but we did improv and. Improv and Christianity are so much alike because to do good improv and to be a good Christian, quote unquote good Christian, you need humility. You need to be willing to support the other person, and you need to be willing to love the other person so that they're successful. Um, so when you come into an improv stage as a Christian [00:46:00] improviser. I mean, you've got all the tools just built in. And so we go, we perform online, we're willing to support each other and it makes it really fun. Now, the way we do it, we don't have crowd, you know, reaction, but because we're together, we kind of know what's funny and we're like, okay, this is, you know, we can laugh at each other. And, uh, just really a lot of fun. It's nothing like the real improv of being on stage and no. Intimate experience, but it's a good substitute. It, it's a good gap filler until we can get past all of what's going on. Yeah. Saw your, your post on, Christian Creatives are on the same group. Yeah. And I'm gonna see if I can try and watch that. That'll be fun. This has been great. I, I so appreciate you coming on the show today and putting up with the, uh, the Zoom demons earlier, and I know you don't do this for, [00:47:00] reward or pat's on the back, but. From me to you, thank you so much for what you do for the Lord and what you do for these ladies, because you are changing people's lives and making a difference. So thank you very much. Thank you. So tell the folks how they can connect with you if they wanna know more information about your ministry. Sure. Well, I actually have three primary things that I'm involved with. GIF for Glory is the kind of the umbrella over everything. Uh, you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook at gifts, the number four, glory. And uh, that's where my podcast is. That's, uh, kind of the over um. Corp corporate umbrella over, um, my personal, uh, speaking in improv coaching where you can find me at, real Dave Ebert. Um, there's actually another comedian who's also from the Midwest, uh, not a Christian, [00:48:00] uh, who's, his name is, uh, Dave or David Ebert. So, uh, so I beat him to the punch and I took the real Dave Ebert. Oh, glad you mentioned that. Um, which is hilarious. 'cause on Twitter I'll often get tagged in things that. I have nothing to do with Christianity or ministry, and it's like kind of embarrassing. Totally. And so I'll respond and I'll be like, Hey, I think you meant this guy. Um, but uh, thanks so much for the shout out. You don't want the credit for some dirty joke. Right, right. Yeah. I mean, I, I. Unfortunately, before Christ really took over my life there, I did say quite a few dirty jokes, especially in wrestling locking rooms. Um, but uh, that's washed by the blood and forgiven and mm-hmm. Um, but yeah. Uh, so at real, Dave Ebert is how you can find me. And there is one thing I do like to, uh, share on any every interview. Is, um, if there's somebody out there that hears this podcast and you're [00:49:00] somebody that's wrestling with depression or considering suicide, uh, my email box is open to you, uh, 24 hours a day. Uh, it goes directly to my phone, and this is an email address. I'll always keep active. So if in 2035 somebody picks up this podcast, that email will be available barring rapture. Um. Yeah, and I say that tongue in cheek, but, uh, if you're somebody that's wrestling, I really want to hear from you and wanna walk you through it. Uh, my email address is Dave at gifts, the number four glory.com. dave@giftsforglory.com. And, uh, I'm not gonna preach at you. I'm not gonna just copy and paste a bunch of scripture. I just want to hear what your story is and I wanna walk with you through it. I know that. In my depression. For me, I feel like had somebody had that option where I could talk to somebody that didn't know me, that didn't have preconceived ideas, that I'm, I would've been willing to just open up. And I'm [00:50:00] hoping that, uh, even one person, if you need that and you just, and I refer to it earlier, that verbal diarrhea, just like, let let it pour out. Uh, my dad was a military man. I was in wrestling for eight years. There's not a curse word I haven't heard. So if you need to curse in your email, don't feel like, oh, he's a pastor. I gotta edit. No, don't worry about that. Just tell me what you're want. A safe person, uh, yeah, and I wanna be there and I want to help in any way I can. If it's just listening and reading your email and just sending a few words back, that's what I wanna do. So that's open for you for, and if you're somebody that knows somebody that's not able to ask for help, uh, you know, contact me and I'll be happy to, uh, to do what I can. That is so awesome. Thank you so much for, for being a resource for, for the listeners, and I hope those that are listening will take advantage of that opportunity. And I love your podcast. [00:51:00] I listen to your podcast every week and you have some great guests on there. And we seem to agree on a lot of, um, things that I won't mention. I don't talk about politics on the show, but yeah. We seem to be on the same page on a lot of things. So thanks again for, for coming on the show tonight. Thank you so much. You as well. And, uh, I hope that, uh, uh, DSW Ministries takes off in the new year and that, uh, you meet every goal that, you've, that you've set forth. God bless you, Dave. Now I'll put all of his information in the show notes for everybody. You are never a victim when you choose to take action. Remember that friends, so we will see you all next week. God bless. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please [00:52:00] hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us at DSW Ministries dot org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.

What does choosing joy really mean when you’re living through pain, pressure, or exhaustion? In this deeply personal solo episode, Choosing Joy host Deborah Joy Winans Williams sits down—not as an actress or celebrity, but as herself—to answer your questions, share her heart, and reflect on what joy looks like when it’s uncomfortable, spiritual, and hard-won. Deborah opens up about motherhood, mental health, faith, grief, self-worth, and how she learned (and is still learning) to choose joy daily—not just on stage, but in real life. From the lessons of her Winans family legacy to her girls' trip epiphany with Merle Dandridge to the quiet prayers that sustain her, this episode is a soulful, grounding invitation to go deeper. Whether you’re a woman of faith, an artist in progress, a mother in motion, or just someone trying to pour from a not-so-full cup—Deborah’s raw honesty and wisdom remind us that joy isn’t a mood... it’s a decision. Chapters 00:00 – What Choosing Joy Means to Me01:00 – Unpacking My Relationship with Joy03:00 – What Life Has Taught Me About Grace05:00 – The Power of Choosing Yourself07:00 – A Girls' Trip That Changed Everything09:00 – How My Faith Guides My Work11:00 – My Morning Routine of Gratitude13:00 – 6AM Prayer, Grandma Winans, and Simplicity15:00 – Staying Grounded in a Chaotic World17:00 – What My Family’s Legacy Taught Me19:00 – How My Uncle Bebe Changed My Perspective21:00 – Seeing People as Ministry23:00 – Navigating Motherhood, Germs & Balance25:00 – Rest, Vitamins, Vaseline & Olly Multis 27:00 – Playing Charity on Greenleaf29:00 – Grace for Imperfection & Finding Your Way31:00 – Advice for Young Women in Music & Acting33:00 – Final Reflections & Your Invitation to Joy #DeborahJoyWinansWilliams #ChoosingJoyPodcast #GreenleafCharity #BlackWomenInFaith #JoyIsAChoice #FaithAndMotherhood #ChristianWomenPodcast #WomenInEntertainment #HealingWithGod #SoulfulStorytellingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to submit an episode topic request? Text 'em here!If you've ever found yourself asking, “Am I being faithful…or just feeding the algorithm?” - then this episode is for you.Today, we're diving into the heart of a conversation so many Christians in business are afraid to say out loud: the pressure to perform online, the guilt when your content doesn't “do well,” and the subtle ways the social media algorithm can start to replace God's voice.I'm sharing real talk about what it looks like to build a social media presence that honors God...not just the grid. This isn't just about strategy (although I'll give you that too)...it's about heart posture, obedience, and showing up from a place of peace, not pressure.Inside this episode, you'll hear:Why “good content” alone isn't enough and what actually makes your message anointedThe truth about stewardship vs. striving when it comes to social media followers and growthThe "Three E's" that help you create content that connects deeplyHow to know when you're led by the Spirit...or lured by performanceWhy your follower count can be a part of your calling, not a scoreboard.Plus, an invitation to join the Burnout-Free Biz community, where we blend spirit-led marketing strategy with mental and emotional wellness for Christian Creatives. You don't have to burn out to build a business. You don't have to hustle to be holy. Let's take your online presence out of survival mode and into Spirit-led success.

We're so excited to release some of our talks from Renaissance Australia this year on the Renaissance Podcast! Up first, join Cass Langton, as she shares at Renaissance Australia 2024. Cass Langton is a globally recognised story teller, worship pastor, innovative thinker, and creative influencer who is admired for her love of laughter, coffee, and meaningful conversations. Cass served as the Global Worship and Creative Pastor/Director at Hillsong Church for 16 years. She and her husband Rich are now empowering others in their worship and creativity through their new church thelocal.sydney and an online community of creatives called "the Hopeful Rhino" which exists to inspire and equip Christian Creatives working or volunteering in ministry, to live and lead their creative best. Head to RENAISSANCEMOVEMENT.ORG for more information about Renaissance.

Send us a Text Message.Ever feel like you're stuck in a cycle of inconsistency? One minute, you're on top of everything, and the next, it all falls apart. I've been there too! In this episode, we're getting real about why it's so hard to stay consistent and why all the hustle in the world isn't cutting it. But here's the good news—God's got the answer! Tune in as we dive into how you can lean on God to finally get consistent in life, business, and everything in between. Let's do this, together...with God leading the way. Ready to build a burnout-free successful life and business that honors both God and your mental health? Access your FREE 7-day trial of hands-on coaching with me, digital courses, and an engaging community of other like-minded Christian Creatives: https://community.burnoutfreebiz.com/checkout/the-burnout-free-business-coaching-and-community-hub-monthly-membershipWant to watch the video version of this episode? https://youtu.be/ZKbBiSvHfCE?si=2eLT_5LxBdqzBErW

Welcome to week three of January 2024 I'm very excited today because we are country hopping to chat with our guest Ms. Karen Deloach, whom we find sitting in Germany for this conversation, although her base is South Carolina, in the US.  Karen is an award-winning artist and art teacher, author, minister, wife, mother, grandmother, and speaker/coach. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting/ drawing and an MA in Studio Art. Karen has written three art books: How to Draw, How to Paint as well as Art History & Appreciation, which are used in her college and online classes. Through her best-selling books, training courses, and sold-out LIVE events, Karen DeLoach has inspired hundreds of thousands of creative entrepreneurs and workplace executives worldwide to add FUN and imagination into the workplace.   Karen has proven that it doesn't matter your age, your skill level, or what your creative needs are...if you have the desire to add a little more creativity and imagination into your work life, and your leisure time, you too can have your spark lit with expert, personal training and accountability. As Karen says, she is on a mission to empower the artistic expression of Christian Creatives; to enable us to communicate with confidence, to release the spiritual anointing deep inside. and to get soul-healing through making and looking at art. Visit our website to access the guest links, episode notes and download the full transcript. Coaching 4 Companies

True or False? Visualization is a New Age practice that Christian creators should avoid. Join us as we explore the controversial topic and its potential for creative believers in their pursuit of God's vision. How can you use this practice effectively, and what happens when your visualization conflicts with God's vision? In this episode, you will discover:Why the right kind of visualizing for creative believers unlocks divine inspiration and innovation.How to navigate visualization with faith to amplify your creative potential.How to apply a biblical example of visualization that can revolutionize your creative process.How to apply practical visualization techniques to elevate your creative output.How to celebrate small wins while thinking big to fuel your creative journey.Support the showBUILD YOUR BEST CREATIVE LIFE WITH FREE RESOURCESSign up for our Creative Checkup Newsletter : get weekly tips, encouragement and exclusive updates to upgrade your creative life! HELP US HELP MORE CREATIVES Did you get value and inspiration from this podcast? You can help us do more by supporting us with just a few dollars a month! Tap HERE to pick an amount to support and get an honorary credit as a 'co-producer' of the podcast!

Now that they've all finally watched Barbie and Oppenheimer, the guys share their insight on what Christian Creatives can learn from blockbuster films and secular media. They also discuss the new copyright rules for AI art, try to understand how the resurgence of "dumb phones" correlates with cyber addiction, and breakdown the technical side of the pod. Episode Timestamps:2:44 - AI Art Can't Be Copyrighted, Federal Judge Rules17:11 - The Return of the Dumb Phones36:37 - How Does the Blackbar Podcast Work?52:34 - What can Church Creatives Learn from Barbenheimer?Join the Blackbar Discord to keep the conversation going:http://discord.blk.bar/

Those two letters - A.I. - have created an incredible groundswell of interest, excitement and concern in the creative community. For some, these rapidly evolving tools - including ChatGPT and other apps - represent the next great technological breakthrough. For others, these tools represent a threat to human creativity and thought because of their potential to mimic and replace real artists, writers and others in the entertainment and educational space. In this episode, we'll take on those fears and show you why, as a creative of faith and belief in God, you can rest easy and refuse to panic as these tools continue to gain traction in the culture. You'll understand your three God-given artistic gifts that no algorithm or program can replicate: Your ability to initiateYour ability to interpretYour ability to be inspired by God These three areas are proof that no matter how advanced A.I. becomes, there will always be a need for creatives who can tap into what it means to create as a unique artist. Support the show

Quote of The Day: "You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script" ~ Oprah Winfrey  Hosts: TOLA Omoniyi, Olufunke Aderogba

On this episode of the Momentum Ministry Partners Podcast, Eric Miller and Momentum Intern Caleb Mckee discuss Christian Creatives and their importance in today's culture and secular world. We would love nothing more than to be a resource for YOU and YOUR ministry! This episode is aimed at sparking some creative and healthy conversation for you and your ministry.  Check out www.buildmomentum.org to learn more about our organization and how we seek to partner with local churches in order to equip today's young Christian leaders for tomorrow's opportunities. Submit your questions via email to info@buildmomentum.org.  Follow Momentum Ministry Partners on: Instagram: @MomentumMinistryPartners Facebook:  @MomentumMinistryPartners YouTube: @MomentumMinistryPartners Subscribe and be sure to leave us your rating & review!

Jake Doberenz joins us this week to talk about his passion for Christian Creatives, and his work in education. For more information on Theophany Media visit: https://theophanymedia.com/ For more information on Jake Doberenz visit: https://jakedoberenz.com/ To sign up for Jake's newsletter visit: https://sendfox.com/JakeDoberenz For more information on Ministry Misfits visit: www.ministrymisfits.com To become a misfits patron visit ww.patreon.com/ministrymisfits Support the show

Jake Doberenz joins us this week to talk about his passion for Christian Creatives, and his work in education. For more information on Theophany Media visit: https://theophanymedia.com/ For more information on Jake Doberenz visit: https://jakedoberenz.com/ To sign up for Jake's newsletter visit: https://sendfox.com/JakeDoberenz For more information on Ministry Misfits visit: www.ministrymisfits.com To become a misfits patron visit ww.patreon.com/ministrymisfits Support the show

What do you need to do in order to have a great launch? Is there a formula for guaranteed success, or is it all just one big shot in the dark every time you launch?We're wrapping up our mini series on launching with a special episode. You'll hear a conversation between my friend Esther Littlefield and I all about how to have your best launch ever. You'll learn the3 essentials to having a successful launch... including one that you may have overlooked in the past. Oh, and be sure to stick around to the end of our conversation for a special time-sensitive announcement!Over the past 6 years, we've launched everything from coaching to services to freebies to courses and memberships... and we've had some launches that completely flopped, and others that flourished. After years of being behind the scenes of dozens of launches PLUS doing several of our own launches, we've learned that every successful launch must have 2 key components: A solid marketing strategy AND clear launch plan.That's why last summer, we created the Level Up Your Launch Method and taught it inside of a masterclass. But over the past year, we've talked with our community members and clients and we realized when you have to go through the launch process alone, it can be really tough. We realized that there's one more key ingredient, aside from a strategy and a plan, that will supercharge a launch: support.There are 3 main types of support that you could benefit from in your launch:1. A guide / coach / mentor2. Accountability3. Community / friends / biz bestiesWe've learned that anyone can develop a strategy and create their launch plan-especially if they use our Level Up Your Launch method. And you CAN have a successful launch on your own. BUT it's a whole lot more fun, and it's often more successful, when you do it with support.So now you know what you need in order to have your best launch ever. But we wanted to find a way to support you even more. We both have students and clients who are often looking for that added support to get their launch accomplished. So we have created Level up Your Launch LIVE -An 8 week guided experience to your best launch ever!Level Up Your Launch LIVE will help you:Feel confident that your offer and marketing strategy will appeal to your community (instead of launching something that might not be what your community needs)Be prepared and equipped to complete the tasks necessary to get your launch out the door (instead of randomly doing tasks that may or may not be important)Actually enjoy the launch process (instead of feeling lonely and confused)Learn more about what is included in Level Up Your Launch Live here.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

Are you facing a season of transition? It might a big one, like becoming an empty nester. Or a smaller one, like having kids out of school for the summer. If transitions and changes tend to bring anxiety and discomfort, tune in to Episode 66 of Just One Simple Thing, where you'll learn four ways to keep things moving forward when life takes you on a detour.Over the last couple of months, I have had three different clients reach out to me and ask for help navigating a life transition, from a time management standpoint.As I've worked with these ladies, I've noticed some patterns that seem to pop up as we are moving from one season to another. Transitions are a special kind of change. Most disruptive changes come up unexpectedly and without a lot of notice. But transitions happen over time and you usually know that they are coming.If we let thetransition sneak up on us, the effect is more like a sudden change. But if we take advantage of the advance notice, we can be more prepared and able to make a graceful transition.If you are going through a season of transition, here are few things to keep in mind:1. Adopt an attitude of blessing.2. Your new season may require a new schedule and priorities.3. You'll probably need some new processes and routines.4. Set aside time to evaluate how things are going.ACTION STEP:Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing to grab the Transition Check-in Worksheet and map out your transition plan. Transitions can be unsettling, but they can also be a blessing and the next step in God's plan for your ministry or business. If you need help creating your plan and someone to hold you accountable as you establish your new habits, let me know. I'd love to walk through it with you. We'll work out your new schedule and processes, and I'll check in with you every week to make sure you are working the plan. Let's hop on a free call and chat about it.RESOURCES:Build A Better WeekToolkit–My signature resource for developing your weekly plan with any to-do list or planner you are already using, or you can use the worksheets included in the ebook.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

Are you planning to go to a conference or in-person event soon? If you are an introvert like me (and I know that most of you are!), networking at in-person events can be nerve-wracking. Back in Episode 63, we covered my best tips for preparing for the conference. Here in Episode 65, you'll learn how to survive networking during the event, and what to do when you get home to extend the impact. Let's dive in!I'm getting excited about the conference I'm going to later this summer. I've already been doing some of the prep work that we talked about back in Episode 63. I have a list of people that I want to be sure and connect with, and I've recently been working to clarify my elevator pitch.I've got my mental attitude straight and I'm feeling equipped and prepared to have some great conversations, so now what? Here are some practical points to consider during the conference.1. Put serving others before your own awkwardness.2. Balance social time with alone time.3. Sit in the middle of the room.You survived the conference and now you are back at home. You may think you are safe now, but connecting continues after you get home. You probably collected a pile of business cards or digital connection cards along the way. Divide them into two piles: One pile for people that you met and just want to stay in touch with, and another pile for people who made a deeper impression on you... people who could be potential partners or clients.Even if you implement all of these tips, I'm not promising that networking time won't be awkward or uncomfortable. But with a little preparation and confidence inspired by your God-dream, you can make it through without throwing up in your purse. That's progress!ACTION STEPHead over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab your Conference Networking Cheat Sheet. Tuck it in your conference notebook and take a peek when you need some conversation starters or a little pep talk! You'll also find a handy Conference Planning Worksheet to keep all the important details at your fingertips.I'd love to know what conferences you are going to this summer. Maybe I'll see you there! Snap a screen shot of this episode, share it on your social media, and let us know where we can find you during this conference season. Be sure to tag me @doanewthing!RESOURCESThese posts have some other great tips on how to networkat a conference:10 Tips on Networking Like A Pro at a Conference8 Great Icebreakers for Your Next Networking Event-Meredith Lepore for Levo.com (the conversation about a "whatsit" in the Comments of this article is really interesting!)++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

Conference season is almost here and amidst all the preparation and arrangements, we sometimes forget about one of the most important parts of attending a conference .... networking.  It can also be the scariest part, especially if you are an introvert. In Episode 63 of Just One Simple Thing, you'll learn how to prepare for your next conference or in-person event, so it won't be quite so scary.I'm always excited to go to an in-person even, but when I get there, I remember why I used to avoid networking.Just the terms "networking" and "working the room" can bring to mind some negative connotations.And when you think of networking as what you can get out of it and how it can benefit you, then it is pretty cheesy.Think of it more as a way to make authentic connections with people who all have the same ultimate goal ... to bring a hurting world to the feet of Jesus. In fact, Jesus and his friends were great at making these kinds of connections themselves.As Christians, making connections comes more naturally than networking. But still, it takes some practice and a bit of thinking ahead to get truly comfortable with it.Let's start by separating some truth from some lies. These people are smarter/more experienced/more polished than me. Possibly TRUTH.I'm not good enough to be here. Big fat LIE.She has the same idea as me. Maybe TRUTH.Nobody wants to talk to me. LIE, for sure.Now let's get practical. Before going to the conference, there are some things you can do to make your networking time more comfortable.Connect on social media.Research the speakers and conference details.Practice your elevator speech.Have some conversation starters ready.ACTION STEPHead over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab your Conference Networking Cheat Sheet. Tuck it in your conference notebook and take a peek when you need some conversation starters or a little pep talk!I'd love to know what conferences you are going to this summer. Maybe I'll see you there! Snap a screen shot of this episode, share it on your social media, and share where we can find you during this conference season. Be sure to tag me @doanewthing!RESOURCESThese posts have some other great tips on how to network at a conference:10 Tips on Networking Like A Pro at a Conference8 Great Icebreakers for Your Next Networking Event-Meredith Lepore for Levo.com (the conversation about a "whats it" in the Comments of this article is really interesting.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

This is the story of my life as a creative soul–going all the way back to my childhood, my teenage years, the early years of college and marriage, and then into the wonderful and difficult and all-consuming seasons of motherhood (15 years and 8 children into it..). I share the things I truly needed as... Read More

The Idea Tornado. The swirl of ideas flying around in your head. You see one whiz by and before you can even reach out to grab it, here comes another one.It can be overwhelming and frustrating. Sometimes it's easier to eliminate some things and then look at the things that are left to see what bubbles up to the top. So let's weed out the things we don't need to do, to make room for the next right step.1. Use Your Purpose as a FilterI've talked before about how much I love Noah. He may have been the very first Project Manager. God gave Noah a very specific assignment and Noah got after it.  God told him to build an ark, and anything that did not contribute to that purpose didn't get any space on Noah's list.Before we can prioritize ideas, we haveto know what we'retrying to accomplish.2. Stop Making DecisionWe revisit too many decisions that have already been made. Noah had a blueprint for the ark from God, and he just got busy building it according to that plan.If some of those ideas swirling by are things you've already decided and have clear direction on, let them fly on by. Stop making decisions you have already made.3. Your Biggest Issue is Your Next Right StepOur biggest issues are often the most difficult to solve. Usually we focus on the easy little things, checking quantity off our to-do list instead of quality.  Noah had a mission to build an ark. It was hard work.  Noah was single-mindedly focused on building the ark.  What is the biggest issue you need to solve? The one thing that is blocking your path and preventing progress? It may seem like there are a lot of them, but if you look closely, you will likely find one thing that everything else hinges on.Genesis 6 and 7 says repeatedly that "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." And ultimately, that is how we find our next right step.ACTION STEPI want you to reach out and tell me what that biggest issue is that you need to solve. What was the one thing that caused your last launch to fail? Or your last project to not meet your expectations? See, I have a theory about what it is for most of you. I'll let you know in the next episode if I was right! And if I am, I have an easy formula to help you solve it. So find me on Instagram or Facebook @doanewthing and let me know. Then be sure to tune in to the next episode, and invite your Christian creative friends who need some help with their own goals, plans, and strategies.RESOURCESFor more help with defining your purpose, check out Episode 19 to find it at the intersection of your Why, your Who and your You.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

Looking for something to break up your work routine? It might help to get out of the house for a day and take a working staycation. I did this recently and it was my most productive day ever. In Episode 59, you'll learn four things that made the day so successful, and I'll share what I Iearned about myself and my work style during the day.I work best when I have a little distraction going on around me. The quiet stillness bores me and I end up wandering around the house to distract myself. Usually with a snack. So when someone gave me the idea of a one-day working staycation, I thought I'd give it a try, just for something different. The idea is that you go someplace nearby ... a coffee shop, restaurant, anything with a good wi-fi connection .... work for a while, then go to another place, giving yourself some variety throughout the day. I loved it!So I want to share with you four tips for turning a working staycation into one of your most productive days ever:1. Pick your spots carefully.2. Travel light.3. Plan your time.4. Mind your power.Here's what I learned on my working staycation:I am 10 times more productive when I have a little activity going on around me.McDonald's was my least favorite.By traveling light and staying close, the time between stopping and starting was only 30 -40 minutes.I consumed at LOT less calories than when I work at home.My working day around town reminded me of this Bible verse:Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. Titus 3:14 (NIV)I love how this verse tells me that being productive is something we must (and can) learn.ACTION STEPPlan your own working staycation. Snap some pictures around town as you work and post them on social media. Use the hashtag #justonesimplething and tag me @doanewthing so I can see all the work you are getting done! I can't wait to see if this idea works out as well for you as it did for me.RESOURCEHave you checked out the FAITH Journal? This gorgeous quarterly print magazine for Christian women is filled with articles, activities, reading plans, and recipes you can use all quarter long. The Spring edition “Grace” is available now. The Summer edition “Breathe” will have an article from me about planning a personal retreat, with more tips for combining working with resting.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

What kind of projects do you have going on right now? Even very small projects have a way of growing legs and becoming more complicated and time consuming than you expected. In Episode 57 of Just One Simple Thing, you'll learn three principles for planning your projects well so you can reach your goals.We are going to dive into some of the practical aspects of project management, and as you might have guessed, it all centers around having a great plan. But you could be surprised to hear me say that creating a plan is also one of the biggest project management mistakes. At least, creating a plan too soon.Our projects need a little time to mature and develop before we can create a good plan.Let's dive in to the three things you need to create your project plan.1. You need time in your schedule for your most strategic projects or tasks.If I find that the schedule is too full, I I know I need to extend the timeline for my project, or take some other things off my plate.2. You need to break the project down into steps.Pull the steps into buckets to give them some structure.3. You need a timeline.In Episode 55, I talked about using sticky notes for interactive planning and this is the perfect application for that.ACTION STEPThe Planning Six-Pack is what I use personally and what I use with all of my coaching clients. It's a simple, flexible tool to create a road map that guides you from beginning to end. Head over to my free Facebook group, Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing, and grab your free copy!If these three tips for creating your project plans have been helpful, I'd love to hear from you! Leave a review, or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram@doanewthingRESOURCESThe Planning Six-Pack is part of my Build A Better Week planning toolkit. Learn more about the toolkit and get your copy here!++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

You know I love a good project and a good plan. But sometimes, we get caught up in checking off the tasks and lose sight of what God is trying to do. In Episode 56 of Just One Simple Thing, we'll learn to find God's purpose in our plans.Welcome, friends! I'm so glad to have you hanging out with me today as we talk about two of my favorite things ... projects and plans.In his book, Getting Things Done, David Allen defines a project as anything that takes more than one action to complete. So almost EVERYTHING is a project! Which makes my project manager heart so happy.Over the next few episodes, we'll talk about some tips and tools you can use to complete your projects. But before we do, let's talk about why it's so important to complete our projects well. Friend, God has a profound purpose for yourvery practical projects.Sometimes, he shows you that purpose before your start. Sometimes, you discover it along the way. And other times, you don't really understand what he is up to until long after the project is complete.God gave Noah a big project ... build an ark and repopulate the earth.God said to Noah, “I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.” Gen 6:18. For Noah, it was all about saving his family.Nehemiah thought God was sending him to rebuild a wall. But when he got there, Nehemiah found not only a broken wall, but a broken people.So as he was leading them to rebuild the wall, he was also leading them to rebuild their confidence and their identity as God's chosen people. And being the great leader that he was, Nehemiah was able to steward both parts of his projects well.Joseph had a big project ... save Egypt from a famine.Says in Gen. 41that he stored up so much grain, he stopped even trying to keep up with how much he had. Not only did he have enough grain to save Egypt from the famine, but he had enough for the surrounding countries as well.What if Joseph had only completed his project halfway? His brothers would not have come to Egypt to get grain, and they may never have reunited. Because Joseph executed his practical project well, God was able to complete his profound purpose.So as we get wrapped up in our projects, checking the boxes and closing out the Trello boards, let's keep our hearts and minds open to God's profound purpose. Even the smallest, most mundane two-step projects can be used in ways we can't imagine. So let's do them well.ACTION STEP:Look at the projects you have on your plate. Can you see God's profound purpose in them? Watch for the Lord to start revealing more about His purpose as you cross things off the list. Be sure to join me in the next episode when I'll share some tips for breaking your projects down into small steps so you can make a plan to get them done. You'll learn the process and the tools I use for all of my projects. So if you haven't already, follow the podcast where ever you listen so you don't miss a thing.RESOURCES: Learn more about Noah and his ark project in this blog post: Find Your Next Right Step to Build Your Ark Book Recommendation: Loyal Judas: “What If ...” Biblical Fiction by Lila Diller++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

What's your favorite office supply? I bet if I took a poll, sticky notes would be the runaway winner! So let's have a bit of fun and run through some creative ways to use sticky notes to organize and manage your ministry or business.We just finished up the Simplifying with Systems series and I hope you were able to create some new systems to save time and frustration. So I thought before we move on, we'd do something fun and maybe a little silly. No deep spiritual principle this week ... just celebrating our favorite office supply ... sticky notes.10 creative ways you can use sticky notes in your ministry or business.Mapping out a process or workflowTrack Discovery Call contactsCelebrate people who sign up for your course or programCreate your book outlineTabs in a bookUrgent RemindersBrainstormingAnnual planningKeep your focus in a work sessionInteractive PlanningACTION STEP:Go get you some sticky notes and start planning! Share on social media your favorite way to use sticky notes and tag me @doanewthing so I can share your great ideas!In the next episode, we'll celebrate the one year anniversary of Just One Simple Thing. If you haven't left an honest review yet, go ahead and do that ... it would be the very best anniversary present.RESOURCES:I have some pre-printed sticky notes that you can use to keep your focus during your work session. Visit this page to check them out!++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

Where do your ideas go to grow? Do you have a place where they can mature and develop while you are working on other things? What about your leads on potential clients? Are you cultivating those so your pipeline stays full? In this last episode of the Simplify With Systems series, we are going to look at two simple systems that have made a huge impact on my business ... the idea capture system, and the client lead followup system.There are some basic systems that every ministry or business needs to have .... Document filing, appointment scheduling, email management, and the like.But today, I want to cover a couple of systems that are not talked about as much, but have been a key part of managing and growing my business. Let's start with the Idea Capture System first, then touch on the client lead follow up system. Before we talk about how to develop a capture system, let's talk a bit more about why we need one.2 Corinthians 10:5 says:  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.Many of my ideas come from the lofty opinions of others ... what I could do, or should do, or think I ought to do because the ever-present they are doing it.Capturing the idea parks it in a place to rest while I pray and seek God.At first, you may feel like your capture system is a place where ideas go to die.But, you'll find it is really a place where ideas go to grow.Some things to consider when setting up your capture system.A space to capture - Set up a place where you can capture every idea as it comes to you.Your capture system is more than a list.A home for shiny objects.Create the habit - The more you use the system, the more it will naturally become the first place you go when inspiration strikes.Process, filter and prioritize - About once every three months or so, run through your  captured ideas.Keeping my head clear of all this extra information and activity gives me more capacity to focus on the things God has assigned me to do right now. Preserving the ideas in a place they can live and grow (or not) releases the guilty feelings that I'm not doing enough.Let's touch briefly on the client lead follow up system.When I make a connection with a potential new client, I add them to a list on my Clients Trello board ... close to the top if I want to follow up soon, or in the middle when I want to follow up in a few weeks.Each Sunday evening, when I do my planning for the next week, I send a quick email to the top 2 or 3 people on the list, referencing things we mentioned the last time we talked. Then I move them to the bottom of the list, and do 2 or 3 more the next week.I hope this series has helped you develop some simple systems that free you up to do the work you love most. In our next episode, we'll take a little break and do something a little silly, just for fun. I hope you'll join me!ACTION STEPWhich one of these two systems would make the biggest difference for you? Spend a little time this week setting it up so you can capture your big ideas AND your potential customers.RESOURCESMore Than Capable Momprenuer Podcast with Shannon Baker: The Business Systems Every Mompreneur NeedsBook Recommendation: ++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

This is the final production of a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose.

Creating New Things With God Starts With Seeing Yourself and Your Art in New Ways The Creator of galaxies, oceans, wildflowers, and stallions made you creative. He gave you an imagination. Eyes to see what has never been. A voice to speak things into existence. The reason why is astonishing. It's not so you'll get busy doing things for God. But so you'll pursue the very things you love with God. That is true creativity. And this is your invitation to experience it as never before. Allen Arnold—noted creativity author, coach, and speaker—has helped thousands with his teachings on co-creating with God. This book brings together his central insights on topics such as Imagination, Opposition, Questions, Wonder, and Expectancy. Each page features original quotes or timeless Scripture that, like waves, will wash over you, refresh you, and stir you to greater creativity. Your art wants to grow deeper, wilder, truer. It's just waiting for you to go first. It is a journey best taken one thought at a time. The goal isn't to get somewhere fast. But to become more fully you along the way. Listen in as I chat wth Allen Arnold, author and Christian creative adovcate on January 18th at 7 PM Eastern time. You can listen in at 646-668-8485. Download Stitcher, iHeartradio, Spotify, Edifi on your mobile device. Or, click on the link here: http://tobtr.com/s/12052701.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose. No matter the number of those you reach in your calling, it is important to know your inner core and begin to train and prepare them to be better replacement, should anything occur and you are unable to show up. Jesus, the wisest leader of all time, was not carried away by the crowd, but understood that He was only present for a short while. This made him tell His disciples at most points that He would not be with them for long. Practically putting them through trainings and teachings that would sustain them after He was gone. Let us become good stewards of our leadership and influence responsibility by creating systems of consistency within the work we do.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose. For Jesus, leadership and influence was not showbiz. It wasn;t to show He had powers, but on most days He completed the compassion cycle to meet their personal needs. He did this also at the sermon on the mount, as He gave spiritual food, He nourished them ohysically. We must work hard to create a balance with our leadership. Join Adesewa Greg-Ighodaro on today's podcast.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose. When God calls us to leadership and influence, He calls us to a maximised opportunity - to deliver the best of us in Him to our world. To be able to do this, we must leave our comfortable palaces and break the deceit of complacency. Jesus could not do much in Nazareth because of the perception of the people at home. Sometimes, your most favourite people can't see beyond the you they know, you will have to exit home to bring in God's harvest. Are you ready to go big or go home? Join Adesewa Greg-Ighodaro on today's podcast.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose. When we lead like Jesus, we learn how to seize moments and create opportunities out of them. We learn how to use our words not as those flaunting oratory skills or eloquence, but with wisdom established the rules of God according to biblical standards in our spheres of influence. In your leadership journey, don't just sit waiting for an opportunity, create opportunities to reach the people and bless them with the uniqueness of your calling.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose. It's Day 4 already and we are feeling the feedbacks. However, today we get to remind you that influence is expensive and until we transact with the Spirit, our depth of influence will be shallow. There is a price to pay. Take a listen already.

Should creatives make a big deal of New Year's Resolutions, or is it a waste of time? In this first episode of 2022, we'll discover that making a big deal of beginnings was actually God's idea. He put both your desire to begin things, and the ability to see the reward of repetition through passion and discipline. By putting these mindsets into practice, you'll put yourself in position for great success in 2022! Learn more about motivation and how God and Gigs can help you as a faith-focused creative by visiting godandgigs.com and checking out our resources! Free Resource for Artists Considering Going ProIf you are thinking about becoming a full-time artist, you've got to ask the right questions. So we've created a workbook to help you figure out what you need to know before making the leap. Go to GodandGigs.com/questions to get your free download of this powerful and practical resource, and take the next step toward your creative dreams!

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose. In this episode, you'll find two major thing you should do as a Kingdom influencer when you are faced with the most daring situations. These are the things Jesus did. You'll also find two truths that would change how you view challenges forever. Take a listen already.

This is a 15 Day challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose. Today, you'll learn how Jesus cut His losses. Did not exert His influence to get desired result but understood the market and chose to restrategise to have more impact.

This is a 15 Days challenge for MINISTRY LEADERS, CHRISTIAN CREATIVES & CHURCH COMMUNICATORS. In this podcast series, you'll learn how to posture for legacy influence and build powerfully in purpose. This is the first installment from the challenge and here you'll learn how Jesus used time and timings perfectly in His leadership style.

In this episode, Whitney sits down with award-winning filmmaker, producer, podcaster, author, and her homegirl, Shivawn Mitchell of SAM Studios, to talk about creativity and telling good stories. Shivawn shares how she decided to take a leap of faith to pursue a career in film and the mindsets she had to release in order to truly lean into her creative calling. She also shares why she produces the way she does and how we, as Christian creatives, have the freedom to tell the stories that matter to us and stories that are as layered as we all are. "We diminish our value because we don't recognize that our stories exude the light. We're shining the light in the darkness, and that doesn't have to be super deep." - Shivawn Mitchell  To pick up Shivawn's Toolkit for Christian Creatives or to purchase her latest book, visit her website! Also, Connect with Shivawn on Instagram: @shiwvawnmitchell To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpod Website: www.honortogod.com Merch: https://www.honortogod.com/shop-1 If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen.

This upcoming Sunday is the first week of Advent 2021! In honor of that, we will be chatting through the themes of Advent each week and this week begins with HOPE. Kris Camealy is a wife and a mom, author, speaker, and Founder and Director of Refine, the Retreat. She has an advent devotional book called Come Lord Jesus: The Weight of Waiting. She has a particular passion for the first week's theme of HOPE so she excitedly agreed to speak with us this week. We talk about why hope is important, why it is associated with the Advent season and how we can both celebrate and observe hope through out this week and the rest of Advent.Show NotesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/journeyofruth)

Jake Doberenz joins us again! Today we talk about Theophany Media, Christian Creatives, "Born to Create", and much more! We ask what role creativity can play in the whole Church. How can creativity and imagination help us to better maintain the unity of all believers? . See our whole reading list here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fCffbWx3GNt3nJtUSwlby4iJaupjoIxvQWmU1vV-N8o/edit?usp=sharing . Subscribe to our show: https://the-whole-church-podcast.captivate.fm/listen (https://the-whole-church-podcast.captivate.fm/listen) . Rate us & leave a review: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-whole-church-podcast-104837 (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-whole-church-podcast-104837) . Sign up for our newsletter: thewholechurch@gmail.com . Follow us on Social: facebook.com/thewholechurchpodcast Twitter @thewholechurch Instagram @wholechurchpodcast . Make a one-time donation: Cashapp $wholechurch . Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/thewholechurchpodcast

Welcome to first ever Rebels & Renegades Podcast. We explore the unique experience of Christian Creatives. Join us as we delve into the often contentious relationship between creatives and the Church. Our mission is to reconcile the true human creative experience, into the Divine Culture of Christianity.

Establishing a consistent brand is an important part of growing any kind of ministry or business. In our series on Success Foundations, let's look at how to build a God-honoring presence that delivers on a promise.As Christian creatives, we all say we want our business or ministry to glorify God. But we spend a lot of time getting all the fonts and colors on our website to match, and being sure we have exactly the same profile picture across our social media to draw attention. It feels so self-centered, and it can be if our focus is on ourselves. Your brand is your promise. You do not choose your brand. You earn it. Not many people in the Bible made God more famous and earned their brand than David. As a shepherd and a harpist, as a warrior and a king, he brought honor and attention to God. God uses a good reputation to open ministry and business opportunities to us. A first step to building a good reputation is being an active, supportive member of the online Christian community. You have to deliver on your promise. When King Saul needed someone to take on a big challenge, David delivered on the promise of his brand. David made some astounding claims. The young man who spent his time tending sheep claimed to be able to take down a battle-hardened warrior that dwarfed him in size. The powerful combination of experience, faith and reputation are the same key components of building a Presence that makes God famous today. God changes lives when you make Him famous. David's experience and reputation may have helped him get the opportunity to fight Goliath, but when that opportunity put him center stage, it was not about anything he had done. It was all about God.  After David took Goliath down with a stone and cut off his head, the enemy fled. And the men of Israel destroyed them. God gave them the courage to do what they couldn't do before.  As we make God famous through our ministries and businesses, we give people the opportunity to do what they couldn't do before. The courage to change. The hope to overcome obstacles. The power to step out in faith. The grace to weather a storm. Your brand isn't measured by numbers. In an environment where downloads equal legitimacy and email lists determine worth, the expectations can be crushing. David knew a thing about those expectations. When he returned from the battle where he killed Goliath, the people were cheering and chanting in the streets. But David was keenly aware that his purpose was to be king.ACTION STEP: As you establish yourself online, what is the promise you are making to your audience? Is that reflected by the reputation you're earning? Or have you gotten distracted by all the trappings of branding, and lost sight of your brand? Visit my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do a New Thing for a worksheet to help you process these questions.RESOURCES: More Than A Blog: Success Foundations –A six-module self-guided course to assess five key areas of your ministry or business, and discover a defined purpose, a clear path forward and the steps needed to reach your goals. Book Recommendation: Let.It.Go: How to Stop Running the Show and Start Walking in Faith by Karen Ehman++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

Tanner Olson and Taylor Jarman talk about grape, emotions, normalizing crying, and hope.Taylor shares what he recently read in Scripture, while Tanner goes off on multiple tangents that are far less important than the Word of God. This episode was recorded on May 27, 2021. Submit mailbag questions (and the things you've Googled!) to writtentospeak@gmail.com To become a Patron and support the mission of Written to Speak, visit www.patreon.com/writtentospeak.Visit writtentospeak.com to read, shop, or watch.Use code PODCAST20 to get 20% off your order. Buy As You Go today on Amazon! Writtentospeak.comTanner OlsonInstagram (Tanner)Spotify (Tanner)iTunes (Tanner)Taylor JarmanInstagram (Taylor)Spotify (Taylor)iTunes (Taylor)Support the show (http://www.writtentospeak.com/podcast)

Walk with me as we discuss a reasoning that will help put your better self in the driver's seat of your life so you can make better decisions.*A couple of things have changed since this episode was recorded. The Encouragist Society is now Encouraged: A hope-centered Sisterhood for Christian Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Visionaries. Founded upon Proverbs 31:17 AMP It is a community focused helping you prioritize your spiritual, mental, and physical growth so you can show up strong and complete all your God-given assignments  It's opening  February 2021. You can sign-up for the waitlist here >>> http://bit.ly/3qrmjiVProverbs 31:17 AMPShe equips herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] And makes her arms strong.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sashaledawn)

Tanner Olson and Taylor Jarman discuss the start of 2021 and answer a question from a listener. And as always, we confess what we recently Googled. Submit mailbag questions (and the things you've Googled!) to writtentospeak@gmail.com Listen to Taylor Jarman's latest EP on SpotifyTanner OlsonInstagram (Tanner)Spotify (Tanner)iTunes (Tanner)Taylor JarmanInstagram (Taylor)Spotify (Taylor)iTunes (Taylor)Music by Taylor JarmanArtwork by Taylor WismerSupport the show (http://www.writtentospeak.com/podcast)

Tanner Olson and Taylor Jarman talk about grace, the current state of America, and the Year of Jubilee. Plus, we confess what we recently Googled. Submit mailbag questions (and the things you've Googled!) to writtentospeak@gmail.com To become a Patron and support the mission of Written to Speak, visit www.patreon.com/writtentospeak.Visit writtentospeak.com to read, shop, or watch.Use code PODCAST20 to get 20% off your order. Buy As You Go today on Amazon! Writtentospeak.comTanner OlsonInstagram (Tanner)Spotify (Tanner)iTunes (Tanner)Taylor JarmanInstagram(Taylor)Spotify (Taylor)iTunes (Taylor) Music by Chase ReihmannSupport the show (http://www.writtentospeak.com/podcast)