Be the Difference

After wrestling with the idea of purpose, Terri and her husband, Phil, decided to make a change. Now foster parents and church planters in Port Macquarie, Australia, Terri and Phil have a newfound sense of purpose. In this week’s episode, Terri explains how over time, they realized they were the only ones drawing dividing lines between “life at work” and “life on mission.” We’ll also learn why it’...

David Gaines, CEO and Chief Visionary for La Terza Artisan Coffee Roasterie , is passionate about providing phenomenal coffee while positively impacting workers worldwide. As the Board Chair of the local chapter of the Social Enterprise Alliance , David has the opportunity to build into Cincinnati’s growing community of social impact businesses. In this week’s episode, David shares why he believes...

Chris Cox has been serving with Back2Back Ministries for 13 years. In 2018, Back2Back opened an 8th site focusing on vulnerable children, youth, and families in Cincinnati. Chris serves as the director there. Prior to launching this site, Chris served as director of One21 in an effort to resource emerging generations. The pursuit of equality and unity for all people drives Chris. He continues to t...

Two years ago, at just 24-years old, Megan Henderson said “yes” to God’s call to step into the role of single foster parent. Now a mom to four kids under the age of five, and a staff member at Venture Church in Harrisburg, NC, Megan lives out the church’s mission daily to be a community of people that strive to love loud, risk often, and hope always. In this week’s episode, Megan shares the moment...

Joey Taylor is the Director of Bespoken Live, a storytelling, story-listening, and mindfulness program designed to create safe space for people to find their voice together. With experience in interfaith engagement and community development in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Cincinnati, his commitment to story began when he was encouraged to develop youth programming in the face of political a...

Mashawn Rigmaiden is the co-founder of Strip Church Dayton and co-owner of Bangs Salon and Spa. She is convinced Jesus loves every person and the church can be a place that welcomes hard stories. Strip Church Dayton’s goal is to offer hope, healing, forgiveness, and freedom to the women and men in the adult entertainment industry. In this week’s episode, Mashawn shares how God intentionally uses h...

Ryan and April Berg are the co-founders of Aruna Project and live with their three children in Cincinnati, Ohio.  By providing empowerment through employment, the Aruna Project creates lifelong freedom marked by holistic care for victims of human trafficking.  Aruna Project’s products are crafted by skilled artisans who are finding their voice, experiencing independence, and growing with...

Anna Valdez is the Director of Programs at Fostering Hope in Austin, Texas. Anna trains and coordinates trauma informed efforts for volunteers, churches, foster parents, caregivers, and institutions, both locally and internationally. She served for five years with Back2Back Ministries in Monterrey, Mexico as a full time caregiver to teenage girls. Drawing from this learning and experience, Anna ha...

Fred Oduyoye lives in Cincinnati Ohio and is the Founder of Reachable Reconciliation, Inc. Fred draws on his nearly twenty years of experience bridging urban and suburban communities to create intentional spaces for conversation about race, diversity, and responsibility in a small group setting. The goal of Reachable Reconciliation is to move a community from where they are to new places of unders...

Claire Brown is an Ohio native living in eManzana, South Africa. In 2017, she founded Lydia’s Mission, a non-profit organization that empowers women in generational poverty and children in chronic food insecurity by addressing their physical needs, while embracing their hearts for Christ. Today Lydia’s Mission has 29 women working full time in the ministry and feeds over 1600 children five days a...

Brent is the founder and CEO of ARTE, whose mission is to simply connect communities and create a culturally competent dialogue through the arts. Brent’s work with Pieces Art Engagement reaches out to community and business organizations to help with diversity, equity, inclusion awareness, and training. After a 16-year career working locally for Ford Motor Company, he felt called to return to the...

Todd and Beth Guckenberger live with their family in Cincinnati and serve as the co-executive directors of Back2Back Ministries. After college graduation, the Guckenbergers packed up an Isuzu trooper and moved to Monterrey, Mexico where they lived for 15 years. Between biological, foster, and adopted children, they have raised eleven children. In this week’s episode, Todd and Beth share some of th...

The Be the Difference Podcast by Back2Back Ministries shares stories of everyday people who are being the difference in the lives of others. Hear what they’ve learned, obstacles they’ve overcome and why it’s worth it. bethedifference.back2back.org back2back.org