Real Life Mentoring

Chris and Christina talk about how to better understand people. As a mentor, as a mentee - in any relationship - tools will benefit your relationships. The better you understand someone, the more they feel known. Gaining understanding of those around you keep relationships growing toward health. Are there walls of protection surrounding some? What's the difference between reacting vs responding. I...

Healthy mentoring relationships call for giving authentic feedback. We’ve seen plenty of examples when we’ve personally received feedback that was critical or hurtful. Today Chris and Christina offer three helpful questions to ask yourself before offering healthy feedback to a mentee. As a mentor, ask yourself the following questions: Is my motive pure? What is my motive? Am I being honest in what...

Once again, the best way to learn how TO do something is by NOT doing it! Chris and Christina open up today's discussion about going beyond surface relationships and moving into deeper, more authentic ones. Find out some helpful tips that will take you into deeper places with your current relationships.

Really? We often learn what TO do by learning what NOT to do. Today Chris and Christina discuss some ways that relationships might be damaged. Find out what you can avoid to have healthy relationships.

Yes, you heard right. Today Chris and Christina will discuss the most common reasons people give for not mentoring. While they don't advocate the reasons, they are what they hear most. Find out what they are and how to overcome the objections to mentoring.

In today's episode, Chris and Christina take a look back - way back! When they were young adults, what did they need in a mentor? What could a mentor have done for them? How could a mentor given authentic value to them when they needed it most. They look back in order to help you look forward!

Today looks a little different as Christina leads you through a tool. Jesus on the Beach will help you engage your imagination with the word of God. In doing so, you will be given an invaluable tool not only for yourself but also for your mentee. You will walk away with a tool that uses God's word in a unique way.

As previously stated, there is an on-going list of characteristics that comprise a mentor. If you are currently mentoring, this podcast will give you more tools for your tool belt. If you are looking for a mentor, these characteristics will give you a guide as you seek out one.

In today's episode, Becki Sigmon returns for part two of her discussion with Chris and Christina. After walking through a breast cancer diagnosis, receiving treatment and struggling to find support, Becki talks about the nonprofit that helped her navigate the every changing reality of cancer. Project 31, a community by and for breast cancer survivors, was unspeakable support to her and so many oth...

In part three with Nate Brewer on the five fold ministry of the (C)hurch, today you will hear how all the gifts synergize into a beautiful expression of unity. What does it look like for a healthy balance of the gifts in a church body? What does it look like if the gifts are not fully utilized? Because Jesus perfectly modeled how the gifts should function in unison, today will inspire you to take...

Nate Brewer joins Chris and Christina today, continuing their conversation about the fivefold ministry of the church. They unpack Nate's book, The Pulse of Christ: A Fivefold Training Manual , by explaining each of the five spiritual gifts and the role they place in the church. The beauty of the gifts, these are transferable in all areas of your life to be used for God's kingdom. Nate leaves you w...

Micheal Gerecke returns today to discuss with Chris and Christina about ... P. B. and J. Not to be confused with peanut butter and jelly, P. B. and J. is a catch phrase that helps us to know how to shut tabs in our brain. This is so important to be aware of because our brains take in so much information it gets overwhelmed. Then what? P. B. and J. is a good place to start!

What do you do when normal life is threatened with crisis? Chris and Christina have a compelling story to tell through the interview with long-time friend, Becki Sigmon. Becki answers that question beautifully. You have to hold on to something. Find out what she held on to when a life-threatening illness, premature birth and breast cancer shook her foundation.

After reading an authentic memoir, both Chris and Christina discuss the importance of sharing your story. Let's ask this question first: what is your story? Christina says its your unique experience on the planet. So why share it? When we share our stories to those we mentor, we can relate on a level that deepens authenticity. Sharing our story helps us know others but also helps us be known by ot...

Chris and Christina continue their ongoing discussion exposing the healthy characteristics of good mentors. They will give great insight to three characteristics: A mentor sees potential in their mentee. A mentor uses their emotions wisely. A mentor follows through on what they say.

Chris and Christina have another meaningful conversation with Michael Gerecke about spiritual fitness. What is it? Why should we think about it? Micheal speaks to the wholistic approach to our spiritual health by developing an awareness to be intentional about building our ability to pursue God with good spiritual health. To find out more about the tool Michael mentioned, email him at: michaelg@fa...

Spiritual entrepreneur, mexican food lover, author and Kyrios founder Nate Brewer joins Chris and Christina today. What is Holy Discontent? Why doesn't the body of Christ look like the Head? How do we activate the whole church? Nate's passion for teaching about the five-fold ministry is a must for anyone desiring to pursue what it truly means to follow Christ. Based on Ephesians 4, Nates' no nonse...

Chris and Christina pick up where they left off with Kimberley Lee. They start off by talking about the death of her dear husband and the events that followed. One thing we know you are going to pick up on is the rock solid belief that Kimberley has in a rock solid God. You will walk away from this podcast with a deeper sense of how a loving God uses tragedy for His good ... and for ours.

Chris and Christina kick off season two of the Real Life Mentoring podcast by interviewing their long time friend Kimberley Lee. Long time friends who are now family of the heart is how Kimberley describes how God has knit the Elledge and Lee families together. Kimberley's story is the love story about a remarkable God in the midst of profound pain and profound blessing.

Today, Real Life Mentoring Podcast friend, Todd Vinson, interviews Chris in an indepth look at his story. As you hear Chris and Christina say often, there is power in your story. As Chris shares his story, some of the details are not enjoyable, they are painful, but they are powerful. You will gain some great insight into Chris’ past, hear how God has redeemed his story and understand why he does...

In a previous podcast, Chris and Christina introduced the topic of emotional intelligence by interviewing Phil Reynolds. Phil leads a consulting agency coaching executives, individuals, and teams to communicate better, work collaboratively, and deliver exceptional results. Today, they further develop the conversation giving plenty of examples of how to use healthy emotional intelligence for better...

Think you know Psalm 23? Is it a poem? Is it a funeral dirge? What is it all about? Chris and Christina share some new insight about an old passage.

Do you really want to change? Life is made of change that is either forced upon us or change that has been chosen. Change that is lasting requires a mindset shift and a mentor can be a positive support system when making a change. Some examples of change can be found in the six areas: mental, emotional, relational, professional/educational, spiritual, physical. Finally, they take a look at a signi...

Today Chris interviews Micheal Gerecke. Micheal lives in Coimbra, Portugal with his wife, Cristi, and their 3 kids. Believing that God wires people for community, Micheal and Cristi opened a cafe and community space called The Living Room ( livingroomcoimbra@gmail.com , Instagram: The Living Room).Not only does Micheal have a passion for seeing healthy communities being built, he also desires to s...

After over 30 years experience with investing in the lives of other people through mentoring, Chris and Christina have seen reoccurring themes. One of those themes is the idea of suffering in silence. Today they will unpack what things people suffer with and offer some reasons as to why they suffer. Finally, Christina will walk you through a process of finding help in the middle of your suffering....