Transformed & Transformational

Have you ever held back because you didn't feel ready enough for God to use you? In the Season 6 finale, hosts Keane Fine and Heather Brown talk with Brian Delamont, Executive Vice President of TeachBeyond, to close out the series on myths that shape how we live out our faith. Walking through Biblical characters from Moses and Gideon to Paul and the disciples, they trace the ways that God empowers...

The adventure came after the surrender, not before. Noah is a Resident Assistant at Black Forest Academy in Germany, and his path there ran straight through a calling he really didn't want to say yes to. Noah traces the journey from an international upbringing through a defining study abroad experience to a moment of reluctant obedience, and what he found waiting on the other side. "Their parents...

It's our annual episode with practical suggestions and heartfelt encouragement for the end of the school year! You'll hear themes of ending with intention, prioritizing rest, and keeping the gospel at the center. Listen in for words of wisdom from several Season 6 guests and TeachBeyond members. Dr. David I. Smith: "The way that we end things actually says a lot about our values." Rio Handley: "Al...

About three billion people — a third of everyone alive today — still don't have access to the gospel. Dr. Marvin Newell unpacks five Great Commission passages and how we can take the gospel to those who still haven't heard the good news. Listen in to learn about the 10/40 Window, the International Day for the Unreached, and more! A Third of Us: What It Takes to Reach the Unreached "There are about...

Does God want me to do things 'for' Him? In this Spiritual Formation conversation, Brian Delamont unpacks the myth that our service somehow benefits God or earns His approval. More than acts of service or obligation, it's about the heart. Brian offers a question to guide our reflection this month as we consider our motivations and perspectives of God. Isaiah 41:10 Deuteronomy 11:18-21 John 10:27 "...

What does it look like to fully embrace the local church and global missions -- not as competing callings, but as one? Duarte Casmarrinha, National Director of TeachBeyond Portugal and local church pastor, has spent his life finding out. In this conversation, Duarte shares how camps became a thread woven through his entire ministry life, why he sees education as the greatest open door for the gosp...

Paulo Jobim returns to explore what neuroscience reveals about transformational education and why it affirms what Christian educators have always believed — from the way teachers' and students' brains synchronize during genuine connection, to the role of emotional intelligence and novelty in learning. This conversation will give teachers both a richer vocabulary for what they already practice and...

In this important conversation, David Durance shares what it means to reach the nations through education. He shares why this moment in history calls for fresh obedience, renewed imagination, and a deeper awareness of how God is already at work around the world. As more people than ever remain unreached, this episode explores why education is not secondary to mission, but one of the most powerful...

As Brian Delamont returns for the monthly Spiritual Formation episode, Heather introduces the colloquial term "main character energy" as a cultural myth to unpack. Brian, Heather, and Keane walk through Scripture from Jonah to Jesus to Peter, exploring the importance of keeping a Kingdom perspective. Jonah 4:9-11 "He gives us agency, and yet He also offers us a much better story." Matthew 11:28-30...

Studying abroad and serving missionally can go hand in hand! From the vibrancy of Ecuadorian dancing to the incense of Buddhist temples, TeachBeyond members share how their study abroad experiences exposed them to missions and helped them discern a calling to pursue teaching overseas. Zeke and Abby studied abroad with Living and Learning International Nichole student taught abroad with STAGE (Inte...

Hear from global storyteller Christopher O'Shaughnessy about the power of storytelling to build connection, shape identity, and help people navigate life across cultures. From the role of humor in bringing people together to the deeper work of putting words to our internal experiences, Chris shares practical insights into how stories create bridges between people.  Learn more about Chris O'Shaughn...

From the process of data collection to the impact of women in the church to stories of conversions in West Asia, hear from social scientist Dr. Gina Zurlo about the current state and important trends in world Christianity. Whether you love numbers or are brand new to demography, there is something to learn from this conversation about the World Christian Database, and Dr. Zurlo's passion is contag...

Are you naturally a rule-follower, or do you tend to balk at rules? Brian Delamont joins co-hosts Keane and Heather for a conversation about how God's commands are given in the context of relationship and for our flourishing. "We're created by God to be flourishing and to be in relationship with Him. If we go back to God's original creation, if we go to the garden, in His perfect design God gives...

Baylor and Erin May tell the story of how growing up overseas, meeting in college, and trusting the Lord with each step has led to international adoption, raising their family overseas, and investing in the global community in Prague. "We just decided [that] we're going to go as far as we can until we know it's either going to work or not going to work, and it did, and that was confirmation from t...

What would it look like to reimagine our teaching as good work and see our students as made in God's image? Dive into Scripture and practical discussion with Kristi Schliep and Missy Takano, staff members at Black Forest Academy in Germany. "What God did at creation, He invited His people to then partner in that same kind of work." -Kristi "Human good work is like God's good work; it's intended to...

In anticipation of the upcoming season of Lent, we consider how the practices of fasting and lament can remind us of our humanity and orient our hearts toward the lost. Lent and Missions: A 40-Day Devotional The Upstream Collective "This physical need reminds me how much I need the Lord. So, it's not just the removal of something; it's a taking in of something." "Forty years in the wilderness for...

Should I expect to have an easy life following Jesus? Being a Christian does not mean comfort or ease, as culture would define it. Brian Delamont, Executive Vice President of TeachBeyond, unpacks Scriptural truths about blessing, contentment, and abundance from a Kingdom perspective. Deuteronomy 28 Psalm 136 Matthew 20:18-19 John 16:32-33 "When we face difficulties, when life is not easy, the Fath...

This week, hear the rest of the story from Alan McIlhenny, one of the co-founders of Open Schools Worldwide, with the mission to design and deliver life-changing learning to bring hope to marginalized children in developing countries worldwide.  Listen to Part 1 of the story here: Episode 204 Four legs of the table of education are vision, people, materials, methods, with Christ at the center "[On...

Alan McIlhenny shares the story of following the Lord to the Seychelles, Nepal, and all over the world to bring quality education and the hope of the gospel. Through twists and turns, God was faithful to direct their steps and provide for their needs in miraculous ways. "I grew up reading stories of missionaries. I never thought I could be a missionary [...] I didn't think I was good enough or hol...

Dr. Erik Carter shares from his research and personal experience about how Christian faith informs perspectives on disability. He unpacks 10 dimensions of belonging in community spaces, including schools and churches, along with actionable next steps. Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing "Disability is among us, and when we think about our schools and our congregations, we want to make sur...

Kicking off 2026, we're bringing back a favorite from the archives! Enjoy this 2024 conversation exploring how to connect with your own personal story. What's your story, and why does that matter? Long-time educator Tosca Nathan shares about the significance of knowing your story and connecting to God's bigger story, especially as teachers. "Like any story, our life stories have a path, they have...

Have you ever found yourself laying out a fleece like Gideon, hoping God will make the way clear? Brian Delamont returns to the podcast for a thoughtful conversation about how God speaks to us and how we can posture ourselves to listen. Judges 6 "The problem isn't with God, it's that we're not listening to what He has already told us, and we're asking Him the wrong questions because of that." Psal...

Hear the story of how a missionary kid from Austria met someone from a village in Togo, what it has been like to move their family from Chicago to Togo, and how God has given them a vision for transformational education in West Africa. "Once we got married, we sensed that we had been called to serve but at the same time, we didn't really know what role we would be playing." - Koudjo "I could have...

Tune in to hear about Christmas celebrations in different cultures and classrooms around the globe!  What's changing our lives: Keane: Playing board games Heather: Volunteering with Foster Love Project Weekly Spotlight: Go Beyond We'd love to hear from you! podcast@teachbeyond.org Podcast Website: https://teachbeyond.org/podcast Learn about TeachBeyond: https://teachbeyond.org/

Why do I always feel awkward sharing my faith? What could it look like to have intentional spiritual conversations? Author Kevin King shares about the power of living authentically and letting the Lord lead. Living Out Loud  by Kevin King Deuteronomy 6 Luke 10 "Living out loud is not living obnoxiously." "If you're not awkward about your spirituality, they won't feel awkward about it." Matthew 10:...