The LDHR Podcast

In this episode, host Beth talks with Wilma Tan about growing a thriving global community despite distance—emphasizing shared purpose, intentional connection, and using digital spaces to belong across cultures and time zones. They offer practical tips like praying before reaching out, asking open questions, staying intentional with follow‑ups, and listening well, and highlight benefits such...

Mike Maney and the host explore why people are drawn to caring roles in ministry, the emotional weight and hidden costs of carrying others' stories, and how serving can become an unhealthy part of identity. They offer practical steps for tending your own soil—establishing rhythms, setting healthy boundaries, receiving care, and finding safe people to process with—to help caregivers thr...

In the first episode of the Healthy Soil series, counselor Brian Boecker and host Beth explore the roots of loneliness and the deep human longing to be seen, known, and connected. They discuss biblical examples, practical steps for leaders and missionaries to build mutual relationships and healthy team rhythms, and how Jesus meets us in our ache while inviting us toward renewal and flourishing. &n...

Have you ever wondered what helps people not just survive in ministry, but truly flourish over the long haul? Just as healthy plants need healthy soil to take root, grow, and bear fruit, people need nourishing environments, relationships, teams, and rhythms that support their well-being. This episode explores loneliness, the hidden cost of caring for others, the power of community, creating health...

In this LDHR Podcast episode, Beth interviews Ben Sparkman about BPMT (Building Powerful Ministry Teams) — a practical model for teams to choose cooperation and achieve exceptional results. Ben explains the six components (common purpose, clear roles, accepted leadership, effective processes, solid relationships, and excellent communication) and how they help teams grow, especially across cu...

Barbara Culwell shares her journey with Cru and her work as a strengths coach, explaining how CliftonStrengths and the CoreClarity framework help people recognize their gifts, deepen their sense of purpose, and serve more effectively in ministry. She offers practical steps for listeners: take the CliftonStrengths assessment, revisit your top five, consider coaching to unpack results, and intention...

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast, where ministry leaders grow together. In this episode, Gina Butz discusses why moving beyond surface snapshots to examine our stories matters for leadership and spiritual growth. She shares practical tools—like life maps, journaling worksheets, attachment insight, LEAF coaching, and transformational prayer—and emphasizes emotional self-awareness, community,...

In this episode, Roger Osbaldiston (35 years with Cru, now leading a church network in New Zealand) introduces Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius — a simple, practical framework of six “geniuses” (Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanize, Enablement, Tenacity) across ideation, activation, and implementation to help teams work together better. Listeners will learn how Workin...

On this LDHR Podcast episode Beth interviews Dennis Metcalf about the Career Path Planning tool — a God-centered process to help ministry workers discern calling, clarify strengths, and plan growth. Dennis explains the three-part Career Pathway Map (Know, Discern, Grow) and the Five E’s of development (Expose, Equip, Experience, Evaluate, Environment). The episode emphasizes listening...

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast, where ministry leaders grow together. This episode explores the Myers‑Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) as a tool for self‑awareness and healthy leadership. Steve Morgan shares his personal journey, explains the four preference pairs of MBTI, and illustrates how understanding type can improve personal growth, team dynamics, and stress management. Listeners will learn practi...

On this LDHR Podcast episode, three Birkman experts—Erin Layne, Cy Farmer, and Mark McGowan—introduce the Birkman Method and explain how it measures underlying needs, interests, usual behaviors, and stress reactions using a four-color framework (red, green, blue, yellow). They discuss how the tool reveals invisible needs, accelerates team formation, and offers a strengths-based, biblic...

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast with guest Terry Morgan. In this episode, we explore the Embracing Feedback course, why feedback matters, and practical ways to give and receive it. Terry shares the origin of 30 Days of Feedback, lessons on using questions and heart-centered approaches, and tips for building feedback-rich, cross-cultural teams. Learn simple steps you can try this week to strengthen pos...

Bob Tiede, who has served for 54 years in Cru, shares how switching from directing to asking transformed his leadership. He explains the difference between diminishers and multipliers and why self-awareness and humility matter. Bob introduces a simple toolkit you can use immediately: four short questions, plus techniques for giving feedback, inviting ideas by asking "What might we do?", and helpin...

In this final Across the Ages episode, ministry leaders from four generations discuss development, retention, and separation across the staff life cycle. They explore what helps people feel seen, valued, and supported—from clear development pathways and creative leadership handovers to meaningful recognition, flexibility, and healthy offboarding practices. Listeners will hear practical steps and r...

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast series Across the Ages. In this episode, four panelists from different generations discuss the application and onboarding phases of the staff life cycle, comparing past and present practices and the expectations each generation brings. They highlight clear qualifications, timely and respectful communication, transparent application questions, meaningful interviews, effe...

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast episode of Across the Ages, where four panelists from different generations discuss the recruitment phase of staff life. They share personal stories about being seen, invited, and supported—highlighting how small acts of care and clear vision drew them into ministry. This episode explores the tension between personalization and professionalism, practical steps for bette...

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast. This episode focuses on coaching: a conversation with Karen Zando about moving people from where they are to where they want to be. Host Beth and guest Karen cover core coaching skills, especially listening and asking powerful questions, and show how they apply in relationships, both professionally and personally. The episode offers practical tips you can use right awa...

In this episode of the LDHR Podcast’s Renewed Leadership mini-series, Kourtney shares practical steps to realign your leadership purpose for the new year. She explains the soul line/goal line framework, the importance of values and community, and how reflection practices, such as journaling, mentorship, and regular rhythms (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly), keep leaders grounded. Listeners...

In this episode, coach Cristina Dragomir and host Beth explore designing sustainable rhythms for ministry leadership, focusing on patterns that sustain spiritual, emotional, and relational health rather than just yearly goals. They share practical coaching tools—accountability, reflective questions, simple place-changing practices, and habits—to help leaders slow down, reconnect with G...

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast’s Renewed Leadership mini-series with Maggie Bruehl. In this episode, Maggie shares the origins of LDHR, the shift to a global and collaborative HR mindset, and how HR evolved into leadership development. She reflects on servant leadership modeled by Christ, the importance of humility and presence, and practical ways leaders can pause to notice and celebrate where...

In this episode of the LDHR Podcast’s Renewed Leadership mini-series, Karen explores why pausing is essential for leaders and offers practical, easy-to-apply pauses—like breath prayers, deep breathing, short walks, and scheduled rhythms—to restore clarity, spiritual formation, and effective decision-making. Listen for guidance on modeling pause for your team, recognizing signs of...

In this episode, Mike Maney (LDHR Europe regional leader) explains why ministries need a trusted network of specialist caregivers—counselors, spiritual directors, and debriefers—to support staff well‑being, normalize help‑seeking, and prevent burnout. Practical guidance covers how to evaluate and vet providers, gather confidential feedback, communicate options to staff, overcome common...

In this episode of the LDHR podcast, Beth talks with Bong from Cru Philippines about Movement Care: organizational systems and relational practices that ensure staff are known, needed, and have a future. They discuss practical measures, such as clustering during crises, corporate health insurance, retirement funds, specialist referrals, in-house counselors, crisis management, leave policies, staff...

In this episode, Paul Cheesman from the Global LDHR team shares practical insights on leading virtual teams, including the relational challenges of not "reading the room," building trust across distances, and the importance of over-communication and follow-up. Paul discusses tech and tools (Zoom, Slack, Monday.com), the hybrid mindset of investing in occasional in-person time to build relational e...

In this episode of the LDHR podcast, Cecilia Tyoden, national LDHR leader for Nigeria, discusses the team-care component of the member care model through the biblical "one another" commands. She explains how love, forgiveness, encouragement, and mutual support shape healthy leadership and team dynamics. Cecilia shares practical habits—such as seeing staff as family, praying, checking in by p...