Faith, Work & Rest Initiative Podcast

Shownotes: In our final episode of our series, “We Belong,” Teena sits down with Kaylah and Andy to talk about how the stories we bring to life can be the source of God’s hope in the world. They explore the power of Christians supporting one another on the entrepreneurial journey, the beauty of stories told that echo hope and redemption, and the awe-inspiring faithfulness of God to weave our lives in ways we could never imagine. Explore Kaylah Rasmussen’s 2D-Animation work: https://thewindstudio.com/ Discover Infuse Tucson: http://infusetucson.com/about Follow Andy’s Journey of friendship rekindled: @2000milestowrigley And explore Surge Network: surgenetwork.com and globalfaithandwork.com

Gary is a believer, husband, father, and the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Major League Dad. Gary has worked with fathers and families in many capacities for almost two decades. His story with his father has helped build and support the fathers he serves through Major League Dad. His focus is on fathers in low-socioeconomic areas to strengthen the family unit and propel those fathers to lead in the home and community. Website: https://www.majorleaguedad.org/ Episode Summary: In this conversation, Gary Freeman wades into deep waters, starting with an honest reflection on the terrifying reality of becoming a father. Teena and Gary continue into greater depths as they navigate conversations around what is truly required to champion the fullness of life for families- with special attention to fathers on the margins of society. This conversation does not shy away from tensions, but leans into the gray spaces that our polarized conversations often refuse to touch. This episode is a

Teena is joined by Esau McCaulley, PhD and John Onwuchekwa, DMin to talk about the narratives that shape our life and faith and the power of narrative in hospitality, business and theology. John shares his journey with Portrait coffee and then into his time curating conversations around grief and hope, connected with his book, We Go On. Esau opens up his story with Reading while Black and the shift into writing a much more personal narrative, How Far to the Promised Land. They also chat about their favorite coffee beans, Esau’s new church plant and the elusive nature of “success”. Watch this conversation on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShHjeH27DZ0&t=3678s Explore more from Esau McCaulley: https://esaumccaulley.com/ Explore more from John Onwuchekwa: https://www.johno.co/ Discover the Global Faith and Work Initiative here: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/ Learn more about the Surge Network here: https://www.surgenetwork.com/ 00:00 Introduction to the Series 01:24 Meet the Guests

In this episode, Eric Goss shares his profound journey of following the Spirit into new territories of his life and vocation. From his beginnings at the Naval Academy through his time at Amazon and into nearly facing bankruptcy while building a Christian Children's media company, Eric discusses the importance of carefully listening to God and to those he works alongside. When he introduces us to Minno Kids, he emphasizes the critical yet often overlooked need for investing in children's spiritual education and family formation. Through personal highs and lows, Eric reveals how his deep reliance on God's guidance and collaboration with others has shaped his approach to creating impactful content that communicates the gospel to young hearts and minds. Discover Minno Kids: www.gominno.com Learn more about the Surge Netwokr: www.surgenetwork.com Explore the Global Faith & Work Initiative: www.globalfaithandwork.com Timeline 00:00 - Introduction 02:20 - Discerning God's call 07:52 - Getting into Children

Episode Summary: Melissa Peak joins the podcast to discuss her vocational journey from delivering newspapers in Canada to leading significant roles at Amazon Web Services and now serving at the digital consultancy firm, Servant. Melissa shares how faith, leadership, and innovative thinking have woven through her career and personal life, including unconventional family decisions alongside her husband. She delves into Servant's mission to support the global church in the digital era, ensuring impactful use of technology for kingdom work. She closes with a powerful example of how Servant is aiding Every Mother's Advocate to scale their preventive approach in foster care across nine states. This episode continues our series on belonging through embracing the tensions of belonging to this generation. In a changing world with conflicting expectations and new tools emerging by the minute, how do we navigate belonging to this current moment as Christians? Melissa offers an example rooted in humility, prayer and th

Teena Dare talks with Lauren Clark, co-founder of Tamarisk Community, as she shares her journey in creating belonging for young adults aging out of the foster care system in her community. Lauren always knew she wanted to work with kids in vulnerable situations, but it wasn't until she was faced with the realities of kiddos in social services in her own backyard that she found clarity for her next steps. And then the ones after that. This Spring Series is about the radical nature of belonging within the family of God. Lauren leads the way into the next few months by introducing some of the devastating realities that young people face when they enter adulthood without having a family to belong to. But she offers hope- the hope of a shared table, the hope that can show through the cracks of trauma as employers and communities become more informed and saturated in grace. Lauren also beautifully describes the way she has found Jesus in these low places and discovered an unmatched intimacy as she seeks to serve t

In the final episode of this season of the podcast, Alistair Chiu and an anonymous Christian leader give us an inside look at how faith and work movements are being developed in the places they live. When it comes to developing movements like the ones described in this podcast, we can be tempted to assume that a “one size fits all” model will work. However, we are reminded in this episode of the need for faithful contextualization to meet the needs and questions of the city we are seeking to reach. As workers across the city press into integrating faith and work, the light of Christ within us will begin shining in the darkest of places. But cultivating these kind of movements will take a high level of adaptability, working with people that are different from us, and a deep desire to have alignment with co-laborers not as a prerequisite to relationship but as a by-product. And through all of this effort and strategy, we entrust ourselves to the One who will one day reign as King in our cities as it is in heave

In this episode, Bijan Mirtolooi helps us explore how the city of London is experiencing spiritual renewal and religious curiosity giving Christians an incredible opportunity to winsomely declare good news. In his work as a pastor of Reality Church London and The London Project, Bijan has an ardent desire to equip ministry leaders and everyday disciples to see their work as an integral part of their discipleship to Jesus. Yet also to understand that from the first pages of Scripture, God is one who always pairs work with rest and invites us to the same. Would we pray alongside him to see the Church in London steward this incredible moment in history for the city to rejoice because Jesus has been put on display through the unified witness of God’s people. Resources related to this episode: Learn more about Bijan’s church Reality Church London: https://www.realitychurch.london/ Learn more about The London Project: https://thelondonproject.co.uk/ Learn more about Gotham Fellowship: https://www.faithandworkg

Our guest on the podcast today is Christel Ngnambi, the consultant CEO for Imago Dei, which is a network of professionals seeking to ask questions and seek answers to the biggest challenges of their industry and discover how Christianity might offer good news in that area of human life. In the episode, Christel showcases how the increasing secularization in francophone (french speaking) culture is ultimately not an obstacle to the Christian witness but a genuine opportunity. Yet, he suggests, there is power when Christians begin with the questions, concerns, and fears of the people and industries where they find themselves and then egnage those questions deeply with Scripture. In other words, as Christel says, we need to listen to the world around us as we engage the Word. Listen in as Christel shares tangible ways Imago Dei has provided pathways for non-Christians to experience a distinct, culturally relevant, and winsome Christian witness. Resources related to this episode: Learn more about Christel’

In this episode, we are privileged to hear Pastor Mila Palozzi share, with joy and vibrancy, how the gospel gives us a lens to see beauty everywhere in our city and through our work. She shares practical ways she has cultivated a faith and work perspective in her local church through a variety of avenues that hopefully will encourage and inspire you in your context. Mila challenges those in her culture- and us- to not see work as a necessary curse but rather to see work as the unique contribution we get to make for our city and ultimately for the Kingdom of God. We hope Mila’s gospel radiance inspires you to imagine afresh the city and work God has placed you in. Resources related to this episode: Learn more about Mila’s church: https://www.hopera.co/scopri-la-fede Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/ Learn more about the Surge Network https://www.surgenetwork.com Timestamps 00:00 Podcast Introduction 01:43 The work and life of Mila Palozzi as a p

In this episode, Teena is joined by Amma Amegashie who serves as the West Africa Operations Manager for City to City Africa. She currently leads the Purpose Beyond Paycheck cohort in Accra, Ghana. Amma loves the Lord, loves the city which she lives in, and hopes to see the city, its people and all the industries being renewed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. She lives in the city of Accra with her beloved husband, Selasi, and enjoys reading, listening to music and watching God's beautiful nature. What is clear from this conversation is that Amma resists any form of a truncated gospel that compartmentalizes the Christian life to a single day of the week. The cohort she leads works to imagine what a Kingdom presence might look and taste like in various spheres of society and work. Would you be encouraged by her words to us: “If your identity is truly in Christ Jesus, it doesn’t matter if you are the CEO or the least in rank. You don’t find your identity in any of this but you find your identity in Christ Je

In this podcast episode, Teena Dare gets to have a conversation with Marcelo Robles who lives in Buenos Aires and is a pastor, practitioner, and key participant in the movement of God in his city. What’s clear from the interview is that Marcelo captures the vision perfectly of seeing our everyday work and our understanding of our faith deeply integrated in all of life. But he didn’t always share this vision. Listen in as Marcelo unpacks how was able to deconstruct the false dichotomy of sacred and secular through his work at a university, in his ministry, through personal challenges, and a myriad of church planting experiences. The Church has much to learn from this faithful brother who encourages us to remember our one calling in the gospel with many occupational expressions. Resources related to this episode: More Info About Marcelo Robles and his ministry https://globaloutreach.org/giving/missionary-details/marcelo-robles About La Misión Church https://iplamision.org/sobre-nosotros/ About the RUE Uni

When it comes to the integration of faith and work, it is never generic but always specific to the context we are in. The conversations around faith and work in a white collar setting are going to be drastically different than the conversations and questions of those working at the margins. In this episode, Abraham Cho and Kimberly Deckel explore how tangible expressions of how faith and work have been integrated in their cities and churches. But what’s clear from the perspective of these two practitioners (Abraham and Kimberly) is that a missing link in the faith and work conversation is the necessity of having mutuality with those at the margins. Without genuine friendship with the overlooked and the poor, we will lack the necessary relational knowledge needed to steward our power effectively in industries and workplaces. Listen in as we imagine together in this podcast what flourishing for all might look like when the margins are centered. RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Learn more about City to City'

There’s no question that we’re called to love our neighbor but many of us feel like we’ve lost the art. We’re burnt-out, lacking motivation, or feeling overwhelmed with life. In this episode Brielle shares her own story and helps unpack why so many of us are feeling this strain. She invites us to join her on the journey of healing through being with God in ways that restore us to love just as we were made to. Resources related to this episode: Learn about the Daily Breadth App: https://dailybreadth.app/default Listen to Brielle’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-little-bit-unstoppable/id1620112094 Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: www.globalfaithandwork.com/ Learn more about the Surge Network here: www.surgenetwork.com/ This episode was produced by Abby Drachenberg and hosted by Teena Dare. Timestamps: Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest and Brielle Goheen: 0:00 How did physical and mental health struggles begin to reframe spirituality and vocation

What does it mean to see? Our understanding of this seemingly simple concept has evolved through the years and so has our sense of what it means to “see” God. In this episode, Dr. John DelHousaye talks about optical theory, the pure in heart seeing God, how truth relates to reality, and how all of this intersects with our daily rhythms of work and rest. Resources related to this episode: Follow Dr. DelHousaye on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdelhousaye?lang=en Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: www.globalfaithandwork.com/ Learn more about the Surge Network here: www.surgenetwork.com/ This episode was produced by Abby Drachenberg and hosted by Teena Dare. Timestamps: Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest and Dr. John DelHousaye 0:00 How can we know God through the Visio Dei? 1:19 What is a fuller understanding of the word truth? 11:08 How can work be a lens for us in our everyday lives? 17:37 Explaining the value of spending time in the Gospels 22:33 How we can conn

In this episode Bjorn Wagner and Teena Dare unpack the concept of habitus. The workplace is one of the subcultures that shape our habits which slowly train us to feel, think and act in certain ways. Björn invites us to grow in awareness of opportunities to be reformed into the likeness of Christ in our work and rest. Resources related to this episode: French sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Bourdieu Book: The Power of Habit https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+power+of+habit&qid=1679586785&sr=8-1 To connect with Björn, find him on Instagram at: bjoernlarswagner or email him at bjoernlwagner@gmail.com Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/ Learn more about the Surge Network here: https://www.surgenetwork.com/ This episode was produced by Abby Drachenberg, and hosted by Teena Dare. Timestamps Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest and Björn Wagner

In this episode we get to hear from both Missy Wallace and Blake Schwarz about two spiritual practices that help nourish their intimacy with God. Missy shares about her first (and ongoing) practice of taking “silent days” with God and how it carves out space to hear from and deeply commune with Him. Blake tells us about his weekly practice of fasting and how his understanding of its formative power has evolved through the years. Resources related to this episode: On practicing Silence: Article: https://redeemercitytocity.com/articles-stories/a-day-of-silence Central Commons: https://www.centralcommons.org/ Gotham Fellowship: https://www.faithandworkgotham.com/ On Fasting: Celebration of Discipline Book: https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Special-Anniversary-Spiritual/dp/0062803883/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TDWD8WVEV3L3&keywords=celebration+of+discipline+by+richard+foster&qid=1681417458&sprefix=celebration+of+discipl%2Caps%2C1110&sr=8-1 Practices of Love Book: https://www.amazon.com/Practices-Love-Spiritu

Many of us struggle to find the space to deeply engage with God. When we do, it is often removed from the rhythms of our everyday life. Denise Daniels offers us a vision for weaving spiritual disciplines right into the rhythms of our daily work and rest to help us live before the face of God. She draws from the insightful book that she co-authored, Working in the Presence of God, to present us with creative and timely ideas about how we can regularly connect with God throughout our workdays. Resources mentioned: Working in the Presence of God: Book https://www.amazon.com/Working-Presence-God-Spiritual-Practices/dp/1683072227/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MQ456MCT3ILC&keywords=working+in+the+presence+of+god+spiritual+practices+for+everyday+work&qid=1680044122&sprefix=working+in+the+pres%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1 Practices for Working in the Presence of God: Guided Journal https://www.amazon.com/Practices-Working-Presence-God-Journal/dp/1683074041/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1MQ456MCT3ILC&keywords=working+in+the+presence+of+god+spiritual

We are beginning a new 6-part series called Knowing God in Work & Rest. In a world saturated in consumerism that is always looking to extract something from us, we have a God who longs to be with us and wants us to enjoy being in his presence. Strahan Coleman shares a vision for beholding prayer that leads to a life saturated in the presence of God. He shares from his new book, Beholding, about his journey into a life of beholding and how it can powerfully reshape how we work and rest. Resources related to this episode: Strahan’s book: Beholding https://a.co/d/43HNEje Strahan’s website: Commoner’s Communion https://www.commonerscommunion.com/ Strahan's podcast: Commoner's Communion Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/commoners-communion-podcast/id1320670549 Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/ Learn more about the Surge Network here: https://www.surgenetwork.com/ Timestamps: Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest and Strahan Col

In this episode, Teena talks with Charity Maurer, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Pursue Whole, about her passion for business and living in the tension of pursuing this calling alongside motherhood. Websites mentioned in this episode: https://pursuewhole.com/