How to Navigate Staff Conflict in Schools | Teacher’s Desk with Lori Neumann, Peter Sargent, and Nate Cook of GDQ International Christian School (Ep. 196)
Transformed & Transformational
Release Date: 11/14/2025
Study Abroad and Missions | Calling Story with Nichole DeBruin, Kylie Stancliffe, and Abby and Zeke Esteban (Ep. 213)
Transformed & Transformational
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 Nichole student taught abroad with “It gave me ‘family’ in another culture and another location, and I think people are [...] what you hold onto the most with study abroad.” - Zeke “That’s the difference [from] if you are just going on vacation or if you do a...
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Study Abroad and Missions | Calling Story with Nichole DeBruin, Kylie Stancliffe, and Abby and Zeke Esteban (Ep. 213)
Transformed & Transformational
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 Nichole student taught abroad with “It gave me ‘family’ in another culture and another location, and I think people are [...] what you hold onto the most with study abroad.” - Zeke “That’s the difference [from] if you are just going on vacation or if you do a...
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Stories That Shape Identity | Teacher’s Desk with Chris O'Shaughnessy (Ep. 212)
Transformed & Transformational
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. “Whether you’re intentionally saying it or whether people are unintentionally hearing it, there’s always some story in context.” “The more of your story you can refine, the more you’re opening up points of...
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Global Christian Database | Zoom In with Dr. Gina Zurlo (Ep. 211)
Transformed & Transformational
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 contagious! “I’m really committed to producing the highest quality, most comprehensive, reliable data that I possibly can because I know that people are using these data to help inform...
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The Myth of Rules Versus Relationship | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 210)
Transformed & Transformational
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 us guardrails.” - Brian “There’s a difference between blind or obligatory compliance and truly joyful obedience.” - Heather Genesis 2:16-17 Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “We become the...
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God’s Path to Prague | Calling Story with Baylor and Erin May (Ep. 209)
Transformed & Transformational
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 the Lord.” -Baylor “Looking back, it’s like a little light-up path we can see clearly, but we didn’t really see it starting out.” -Erin “The truth and the goodness of the gospel is...
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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...
info_outlineIt takes humility, intentionality, and the power of the Holy Spirit to create a workplace of trust and unity amongst school staff. Hear from members of the team at GDQ International Christian School in Albania about their experiences with navigating conflict.
- “We want to have the school be a safe place so that people can voice disagreements that they have and know that someone will listen to them.” -Lori
- “One thing that helps to resolve conflict is, on some level, to expect there to be at least different perspectives.” -Nate
- “Continue to build into relationships among the staff so when you have to come with things like that, it’s not just negative all the time, but you do have these trust banks to pull off of.” -Lori
- “You really do need to have a culture of unity in place to be able to handle things like this.” -Nate
- “Unless people see you acting in a way that is healthy in resolving conflict and in communicating, then any policy that you have, any professional development is useless.” Lori
- “You have to be able to say, ‘This is not against me. Same team!’” -Lori
- James 1:19
- “Something that is really helpful for me when I am offended is to remember how much God has forgiven me.” -Peter
- “We have to give glory to God for being our captain.” -Nate
What’s changing our lives:
- Keane: Finishing the entire Chronicles of Narnia series
- Heather: Autumn scenes on YouTube
- Nate: Using ChatGPT to wean off of coffee
- Peter: Hot cocoa with homework, fresh persimmons, and pumpkin pie
- Lori: Cozy blankets
Weekly Spotlight: GDQ International Christian School
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