Open to God's Leading as a Family | Calling Story with Zoe and Chris Fletcher (Ep. 192)
Transformed & Transformational
Release Date: 10/17/2025
Genesis 1 in a Genesis 3 Classroom | Teacher’s Desk with Missy Takano and Kristi Schliep (Ep. 208)
Transformed & Transformational
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 carry this same bringing order from the raw materials, creating space where life can flourish, carrying out God’s rule and reign and intentions in the world for the blessing of...
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Lent and Missions | Zoom In with Nathan Sloan of Upstream Collective (Ep. 207)
Transformed & Transformational
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. “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 God’s people and 40 days in the wilderness for Jesus were preparation for the fulfilling of God’s promise, so when we’re fasting, we’re experiencing that wilderness so that when Easter comes, when Good Friday comes, it’s a celebration.”...
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The Myth of an Easy Life | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 206)
Transformed & Transformational
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 Father is with us.” “Life is not easy. There will be trouble. [...] However, take heart! I have overcome the world.” “You don’t give to get.” Malachi 3:10 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 2 Corinthians...
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The Birth of Open Schools Worldwide | Calling Story Part 2 with Alan McIlhenny (Ep. 205)
Transformed & Transformational
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: Four legs of the table of education are vision, people, materials, methods, with Christ at the center “[One of the biggest challenges] was finding the right people who understood the children that we were going to be working with.” “We need to take care of our volunteer tutors and help them because...
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When God Uses Every Chapter | Calling Story with Alan McIlhenny (Ep. 204)
Transformed & Transformational
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 holy enough.” “I’ve accepted a job in the Seychelles. Can you find out where we are going?” “I really need to take what I know about education and change it to work for a different...
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Faith and Disability: 10 Dimensions of Belonging | Teacher’s Desk with Erik Carter (Ep. 203)
Transformed & Transformational
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. “Disability is among us, and when we think about our schools and our congregations, we want to make sure that kids with disabilities are also with us as well.” “Every single person is created in the image of God with dignity and worth and gifts to share.” “Disability doesn’t diminish faith; it can often deepen faith.” “As a...
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What’s Your Story? | From the Archives with Tosca Nathan
Transformed & Transformational
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 a trajectory, and it’s full of meaningful events, defining moments, key relationships, trials and disappointments, dreams and aspirations, passions and discoveries.” “How coherent your...
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The Myth of Fleece Guidance | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Episode 202)
Transformed & Transformational
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.” Psalm 89:46-51 Isaiah 30:21 “I think everyone longs for this – for God to just tell us.” “My heart has to want to listen to God. There is a waiting posture. And then, my heart also...
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Moving the Family to Togo | A Calling Story with Chrischona and Koudjo Sodji (Ep. 201)
Transformed & Transformational
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 never dreamed up this job myself and the perfect fit, but God knows this.” - Chrischona “It was during those years of working with TeachBeyond that the vision for starting TeachBeyond...
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Christmas Around the World and in the Classroom | Our 200th Episode!
Transformed & Transformational
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: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond:
info_outlineZoe and Chris Fletcher share their inspiring story of serving at the International Christian School of Budapest – the impact of their school, Chris’s childhood that shaped his perspective on cross-cultural living, a powerful moment that led Zoe to move to Hungary, and how they aim to live open-handedly following the Lord.
- “This is the right place that God was guiding me to [...] and so this was the place that, in the end, it worked out. Doors were opening, and that’s where I ended up.” -Chris
- “Everything leading up to it was so obvious to everyone else, and to me, I was the last person to realize what was happening.” -Zoe
- “I know that this is God, and I know this needs to happen.” -Zoe
- “God has given us so many passports between us, and how can we maximize that for His glory?” -Zoe
- “Our citizenship is in heaven [...] When we’re not tied down to a specific [home], it actually frees us up to say yes to God and to obey Him wherever that is and to just be more tied to heaven than to earthly things.” -Zoe
- “Hungary is where God has us. He’ll let us know if it’s not.” -Zoe
- “Just because we’re here now and just because we don’t see that there’s any chance that we’re moving home in the foreseeable future doesn’t mean that we’re not going to or that God won’t send us somewhere.” -Zoe
- “I felt that call, and I was obedient. I just wanted to be obedient to God.” -Chris
- “God calls us to a radical life. [...] Don’t be afraid of living radically for God, whatever that would look like.” -Chris
- “The cost is great, but You are worth it [...] What does the cost look like now? How can I be bold?” -Zoe
- “It’s an immense privilege to be able to teach the kids of missionaries.” -Chris
- “I went into being a teacher because I knew that education happens everywhere in the world, and I was just wanting to go somewhere overseas. I think education reaches places, ministering to so many different nationalities and families.” -Chris
- International Christian Educators Conference
What’s changing our lives:
- Keane: Writing date of replacement on lightbulbs
- Heather: Asking myself the question, “What does ‘space’ look like now?”
- Chris: Making yogurt at home
- Zoe: Anticipating oldest daughter going to preschool
Weekly Spotlight: International Christian School of Budapest
We’d love to hear from you! podcast@teachbeyond.org
Podcast Website: https://teachbeyond.org/podcast
Learn about TeachBeyond: https://teachbeyond.org/