Transforming Lives

We're so grateful for your listenership and hope that the Transforming Lives Podcast is an encouragement to you each week. Please enjoy this special edition on rest. We look forward to connecting with you again in August 2026. Connect with us!

Rich and Cherry Smith are graduates of Dayton Christian School and Cedarville University . Before entering full-time ministry, Rich spent 30 years as a business and finance executive, while Cherry worked for many years in Christian education. Their daughters, Bailey and Bradee, were raised in Christian schools and graduated from Grace College, a foundation the Smiths credit with preparing their fa...

Kent Austell lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife, Jenni, and their three daughters. A former collegiate track and field athlete, Kent holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Biomechanics, a master’s in Business Administration, a master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration, and is currently a PhD candidate at Columbia International University . After 16 years in education...

Billy Hutchinson (M.Div., Christian Apologetics) is the Director of Colson Educators at the Colson Center. Before joining the Colson Center, he spent over a decade in Christian education as both a classroom teacher and an administrator, focusing on academic excellence, digital education, and the worldview formation of teachers and students. He is passionate about equipping others to engage and sha...

Chad Dirkse is in his third year as Head of School at Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS) in Severn, Maryland. Before joining AACS, he served for 14 years as President of Chattanooga Christian School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and for five years as Superintendent of Westminster Christian School in Illinois. Across more than three decades in Christian education, Chad has served in a wide range o...

Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the President, US, for Cardus . A public scholar and organizational strategist, Lynn joined Cardus after two decades of executive leadership in non-profits and educational institutions. Lynn holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University , and a diploma in strategy and innovation from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School ....

Becky Hansard serves as the head of school at Silverdale Baptist Academy , a PreK-12 school in Chattanooga, TN. She has been in this role for over 25 years and has been instrumental in the school's leadership for nearly its entire 26-year history, guiding the institution from its early years to its current status with approximately 1,300 students. She is a graduate of the University of Tennes...

Dr. S. L. (“Doc”) Sherrill founded North Raleigh Christian Academy in 1996, serving as its only Superintendent for 22 years and assisting Dr. Kevin Mathes for 2 years. He stepped down in 2018, honored as Superintendent Emeritus. Under his leadership, NRCA grew to 1478 students, over 1400 for 12 years, and now nearly 1600 under Dr. Mathes. Doc’s 55-year Christian education career began in 1971 as Y...

Stephanie Shafer is the CEO and Head of School at NorthStar Academy , a global online Christian school serving students in grades 4 through 12 in over 80 countries. She is passionate about helping students be known, supported, and launched with purpose, integrating faith, learning, and real-world impact. Stephanie has been part of the NorthStar community for over 16 years and now leads the school...

Paul Matthews is a third-generation educator on a mission to bless others through education. He serves as the Head of History and Christian Studies at Calvin Christian School in Tasmania, Australia, and is also a Fellow at Baylor University . Paul works with schools and organisations across Australia and North America, helping leaders and teachers navigate AI wisely through training, speaking, and...

Dr. Kevin Brown began serving as Asbury University’s 18th president on July 1, 2019, bringing to the role a deep commitment to Christ-centered higher education, academic excellence, and faithful institutional stewardship. His leadership reflects both a long-standing connection to the Asbury community and a clear vision for guiding the University in a rapidly changing cultural and educational envir...

Maggie Novak is a 2004 alumna of Covenant Christian High School and a 2008 graduate of Gordon College (Wenham, MA). She later also pursued both associate’s and bachelor's degrees in nursing. Maggie began her career as a fellow in the office of then-Governor Mitch Daniels, where she developed a passion for delivering health and social supports. For the past decade, she has been working as a pu...

This is Mike’s 13th year working at Covenant Christian High School and eighth year as department head. He grew up in Northern Kentucky and went to undergrad at Cincinnati Christian University. Then he went on to do a dual Master's at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA. He has been married to his wife, Kim, for 17 years, and they have two kids, Leo and Remy, who are 12 a...

David Pfeifer A Hendricks County native, David returned to his roots after a successful collegiate career. A graduate of Tri-West ('09), where he played both soccer and basketball, David went on to play and coach soccer at Taylor University while earning his degree in Exercise Science. It was during his time at Taylor that he first connected with the academic advising team at CCHS, a providen...

Mike Allen is an organizational leader who is passionate about culture, communication, and connection. Having worked in education for over 20 years and in educational administration for over a decade, Mike's ultimate vision for his leadership is to help other leaders move their people and organizations forward...positively. He currently serves as the Superintendent of Evansville Christian Sch...

Mark and Betsy met at Covenant Christian High School, where they began dating during their sophomore year and graduated in 2012. From the very beginning, their relationship has been grounded in a shared love for Christ and a desire to follow Him faithfully.  Following their time at Covenant, Betsy attended Olivet Nazarene University, where she completed nursing school and was a three-time All-Amer...

Keith Ogorek, president of the Author Learning Center , brings a unique perspective to communications, having worked simultaneously in ministry and the marketplace for virtually his whole career. Using his experience as a marketing and communications professional for banks, as an ad agency creative director, and at the world’s leading self-publishing company, he has worked with several ministries...

Naomi Oliver is the Director of Academics at the Wheaton Group of Schools and one of the Directors at Changing Destiny . She holds a master’s degree in literature, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and an MBA, and is currently undertaking the Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services qualification in the UK. With over 13 years of experience in education across...

Kelly M. Kapic holds the Honorary Chair of Theology and Culture at Covenant College , where he has taught since 2001. With a PhD in Systematic and Historical Theology from King’s College, University of London, Kapic has authored or edited over fifteen books. His newest book, "You Were Never Meant to Do It All: A 40-Day Devotional on the Goodness of Being Human" (Brazos 2025), was based o...

Mallory (Huff) Puckett is a 2013 Covenant Christian High School alumna. She attended Purdue University to study industrial engineering but now finds herself in a full-time technology sales role. While at Purdue, she met her husband, Ethan, and they have been married for eight years. In that short time, they became adoptive and biological parents to four children, ages thirteen to two. She claims t...

Amanda graduated from Covenant in 2009. She then attended Franklin College, where she double majored in Psychology and Spanish. Finally, she earned her MA from Indiana Wesleyan University, with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy.  Initially, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after college. Her first job was with Indiana First Steps, a company that provides developmental therapy for young c...

Follow the Transforming Live podcast! Check out the recommended books from our Transforming Lives guests. Connect with us!

Jacob and Mia McCall are missionaries at Freedom International Ministries in the Dominican Republic ( itisforfreedom.com ). Freedom's primary ministry is a Christian school just outside of one of the largest sugar cane plantations on the island, providing Christian education to a population of underserved Haitian immigrant students and local Dominican students. The heartbeat of the ministry i...

Rachel Shaughnessy is enthusiastic about intentional, Christ-centered community through Christ-centered education. She is a witness, along with two of her siblings, to how Covenant prepares students for an excellent Christian college education. Christian education has the opportunity to provide a unique lens to everyday responsibilities: our studies, work, and habits are redeemed through Christ. B...

Abby Andrietsch is CEO at St. Augustine Preparatory Academy (“Aug Prep”), a K4-12 Christian school on Milwaukee’s south side founded in 2017. Serving over 2,350 students today, Aug Prep’s vision is to develop its students to be leaders of tomorrow known by their strength of character, courage, intellect, impactful contributions, and their faith. Aug Prep is launching a second K4-12 campus on Milwa...