Transformed & Transformational

What does it look like to "be transformed by the renewing of our minds"? How do we live intentionally for Kingdom impact? Join co-hosts Heather Brown and Keane Fine every Friday to learn from our guests about how we can grow in Christ and impact the world. This show is brought to you by TeachBeyond, an international Christian mission organization focused on transformational Christ-centered education serving individuals and communities.

Preparing for Serving at Camp | Bonus Episode with Sheila Krahn (Ep. 225) 08/07/2026

Preparing for a Move | Bonus Episode with Ken Haywood (Ep. 224) 07/31/2026

Preparing for a New School Year | Bonus Episode (Ep. 223) 07/24/2026

The Myth That God Only Uses the Strong | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 222) 05/22/2026

Adventurous Surrender | Calling Story with Noah Rendall (Ep. 221) 05/15/2026

Ending the School Year with Perspective and Rest | Teacher’s Desk with TeachBeyond and Guests (Ep. 220) 05/08/2026

A Third of Us: What It Takes to Reach the Unreached | Zoom In with Dr. Marvin Newell (Ep. 219) 05/01/2026

A Third of Us: What It Takes to Reach the Unreached | Zoom In with Dr. Marvin Newell (Ep. 219) 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! “There are about 9.2 billion people in the world today, and of those, about a third of them have yet to have access to the gospel.” “A third of humanity has yet to have a clear presentation of the gospel.” Matthew 28:18-20 “The core of what we’re to do is to make disciples of the nations.” “The sending role is as important as the going role.” Mark 16:15 “People who have these three ‘nos’ - no church, no Bible, and no [Christian] individual around them - are the ones that we’re focusing on when it comes to the unreached.” “90% of the unreached people groups in the world are found within that [10/40] window of darkness, of no gospel access.” Luke 24:47 “We do have a specific message that the world needs.” John 20:21 “It takes human beings to share the gospel in a way that other human beings will truly understand it.” Acts 1:8 “We’re to be proclaiming the gospel both here and near and over there all at the same time.” “The three big movements that we’re living in in our day and age are globalization, international migration, and urbanization.” “We shouldn’t see this task that we have as impossible. We need to know that God is preparing hearts ahead of us as we take the gospel to these people groups.” “We are commanded to take the gospel [...] to all the world to every creature, so we see that as our task and we don’t lose heart.” “It’s up for us to keep passing the baton on and keep the movement going that Jesus gave two thousand years ago to the twelve apostles.” What’s changing our lives: Keane: Using old technology to create something new Heather: A surprise visit to her brother’s family Marv: Playing pickleball Weekly Spotlight: Positions in the 10/40 Window We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/41107645

The Myth of Doing for God | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 218) 04/24/2026

The Myth of Doing for God | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 218) 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 “When I’m doing something ‘for,’ do I picture that as I’m doing God a favor or I’m actually bringing something to God that maybe He can’t do without me?” Jeremiah 31:3 “The thought of me doing something ‘for’ God [is] because I’m questioning whether His love really is unfailing.” Hebrews 13:5 Mark 12:41-43 by Henri Nouwen “Caregiving, tithing, parenting, mentoring someone, gifts of time and helps are beautiful ways of doing ‘for’ God that become these tangible embodied expressions of His love when they are done as an act of worship.” James 2 Ephesians 2:8-9 Ephesians 1:3-4 “Before I was capable of doing anything, before the creation of the world, God chose me, God chose to love me, God chose to love us.” Colossians 3:23 “God is simply bigger than my understanding of Him. He is both grace and truth. He has fully paid for my salvation as the spotless Lamb of God, and He calls me to take up His cross and follow Him at exactly the same time.” “God said, ‘I want you to bring your tithes into the storehouse.’ So they’re doing what God said, but it’s a completely different story being told in worship or not worship.” “God does not demand that we do things ‘for’ Him – He’s more than capable of anything that needs to be accomplished, in this universe and beyond – but, we see from the beginning of creation, God invites us to partner with Him in this flourishing that is His design. He wants our love, which also means that He wants our highest allegiance.” April Reflection: Does how I’m feeling about God as I serve Him align with who He is, what He has revealed about Himself, and the witness of Scripture and the Holy Spirit? What’s changing our lives: Keane: Playing Frisbee with his sons Heather: Following the Artemis II space mission Brian: Anticipating a vacation Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/41000060

Changed at Camp, Changing Portugal | Calling Story with Duarte Casmarrinha (Ep. 217) 04/17/2026

Changed at Camp, Changing Portugal | Calling Story with Duarte Casmarrinha (Ep. 217) 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 gospel, and how his involvement with TeachBeyond has allowed him to extend his gifts in ways he never expected. “The brethren churches in Portugal were basically founded by British missionaries in the early 20th century, and that heritage is still very strong for us.” “I saw in Janz Team [TeachBeyond] a vision, mission, and also activities and events. I saw there a possibility to extend my gifts, my talents.” “I don’t remember a single summer since I was 12 years old when I wasn’t involved in a camp.” “TeachBeyond benefits to have so many people that are willing to be volunteers [...] and at the same time,in another way, we are helping the local church in areas - family, education - where a lot of churches don’t even have a strategy.” “Sometimes it takes time, but that’s how the Lord works.” “I would say that education, that is the open door, the biggest opportunity [...] to share the gospel, to share the love of Jesus.” “That’s what TeachBeyond does through the learning process, through the teaching process, being able to share the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.” “What I learned from the past, which I could share, I will pass the torch, so to speak, for the young generation.” What’s changing our lives: Keane: Reading longer children’s books is difficult to keep up with! Heather: Wearing hotel slippers Duarte: Reading leadership books and thinking about succession Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/40906615

Neuroscience and Transformational Education | Teacher’s Desk with Paulo Jobim (Ep. 216) 04/10/2026

Neuroscience and Transformational Education | Teacher’s Desk with Paulo Jobim (Ep. 216) 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 fresh encouragement that the work of Christian education is written into the way God made us. If you want to see your classroom through the lens of both Scripture and science, this is the episode for you. Listen to Paulo’s first episode, “Christ is living in me, and I live my life, but I can see reality through the eyes of Christ.” “We talk about Christ, but we live like Christ as well, and in the classroom, this is very important because this identification that the students have in teachers leads to credibility and intellectual humility.” “Emotional connection and knowing each other [...] neuroscience points out that these are very important in education.” “There is a kind of synchronization between school teachers’ brains when they are teaching or when they are interacting with students, and the students’ brains.” “Science and neuroscience especially are showing the effects on the brain, not reducing everything to brain activity, but showing what happens in the brains of people that are being transformed.” “God created our brain and the way we can be transformed.” “Emotional intelligence [...] is something that should be more connected to the teaching methodologies because it’s something that is good for kids.” “Introducing novelty in the classroom is a great tool to engage students, not only because it activates their brains and their attention will be focused [...] it triggers a reconsolidation process.” What’s changing our lives: Keane: Family vacation Heather: Finding a new route to the post office Paulo: Learning about neuroscience and Biblical counseling, as well as learning Spanish Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/40797135

Reaching the Nations through Education | Zoom in with David Durance (Ep. 215) 04/03/2026

Reaching the Nations through Education | Zoom in with David Durance (Ep. 215) 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 ways the gospel is being lived out and heard today. If you want to better understand the heart behind TeachBeyond’s calling, this episode is a great place to begin. “As we see different cultures and different people come together, yes, there’s so much that’s unique, but the similarities are actually shocking. It’s amazing to see how God is bringing us together around this new vision. It’s really exciting to be in this moment, seeing that around the world.” “To see what God’s doing around the world and to be a reteller of that story is critical [...] The story is better than I could have imagined.” “Today we have more people that have not heard the gospel than at any other point in history.” “How will this next generation most effectively hear the gospel? If more people today have not heard the gospel than any other point in history, we have to take a new approach. We have to think about this and ask the Lord, ‘Where are you moving?’” “We see the simple obedience of people who are willing to be the goers and be the hands and feet of Jesus, recognizing that’s actually how the gospel is going to be effectively heard fundamentally by people living it out and people seeing the gospel lived out in their context.” “God’s actually opening the doors in these places where it’s hard to go.” “Our heart for relevancy is one that led us to education.” “We’re seeing how God is specifically in this moment using education as a way in which the gospel can be heard.” “It’s this teaching-learning process that invites all to respond to Christ’s redemptive work in every aspect of life [...] It’s actually an invitation to an individual and community into a lifelong journey to becoming all that God intends.” “The Great Commission is the whole church bringing the whole gospel to the whole world.” “God is using, in this moment, education to spur on a future generation that cares about the Great Commission.” “If we want a future generation of followers of Jesus that care deeply about the Great Commission like we do today, then Christian education, transformational education needs to be at the heart of what the church is thinking about.” “We desire to join the work that God is already doing.” Hear the story of TeachBeyond Argentina from Marisol in “It is about this movement from all corners of the earth, seeking to reach their nation, so that the nations can be reached through education.” What’s changing our lives: Keane: New people joining the team and using ice breakers Heather: Worship music to reframe in the midst of stressful moments ( | ) David: Slow-release melatonin and preparing to speak seamlessly using using his Fold phone We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/40718865

The Myth of the Main Character | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 214) 03/27/2026

The Myth of the Main Character | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 214) 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 “Being the protagonist, being the main character, is exhausting because you have to fight the fight [...] and yet, God is saying, ‘I have a path for you that is lighter and easier than you could possibly imagine.’” Matthew 6:25-34 “It’s so much work trying to be king of the universe when there already is one who’s inviting me to actually just follow and come and rest and be.” “The story that is so all-consuming for me is all consuming for me in that moment, but that’s also not the whole story. God continues to write all of history. He has a plan; He has a purpose.” “We are temporal beings; we are here for a moment [...] This healthy awareness of my humanity, my fragility, is very much an antidote to our tendency to be the main character.” John 3:16 2 Peter 3:9 Luke 12:32 “When we pray ‘Your Kingdom come, Your will be done,’ that is a laying down of our main character-ness and an identification with the greater Kingdom that Jesus is bringing and will bring.” Acts 10 “When we collaborate with Him, that’s when we have this opportunity to see the body of Christ thrive and to see the fruits of the Spirit really become abundant.” “We will always pursue what we consider most important.” Matthew 6:21 “If we really see people, if we really value people, then we will cross whatever boundaries and borders and resource deficiencies that there may be in order to do what God is calling us to do, to see the treasure that He sees.” March Reflection: What do I really value? What really matters here? What am I treasuring, and is that what God treasures in the way that He treasures it? What’s changing our lives: Keane: Watching through a TV series Heather: Getting a thumb brace Brian: Rooibos tea Weekly Spotlight: and We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/40638465

Study Abroad and Missions | Calling Story with Nichole DeBruin, Kylie Stancliffe, and Abby and Zeke Esteban (Ep. 213) 03/20/2026

Study Abroad and Missions | Calling Story with Nichole DeBruin, Kylie Stancliffe, and Abby and Zeke Esteban (Ep. 213) 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 semester at sea and you’re bouncing around to all of these different places. With study abroad, you’re living somewhere, and that makes all of the difference in the world.” - Abby “God, open my eyes and break my heart for what breaks Yours; help me to see and speak into things as You see fit.” - Kylie “When I studied abroad, God really confirmed in my heart that yes, missions is something [He was] inviting me into.” - Kylie “Go in with an open mindset and hands open to what the Lord has for you overseas – and when you come back, what your next steps look like.” - Nichole “There’s going to be something that is difficult or inconvenient because you are not living in your home country and most likely not speaking your language. So, [lean] into that because I believe that that is where the Lord is going to grow you in that pressing. It feels hard, but then it turns into something beautiful and the Lord develops and grows you in a beautiful way.” - Nichole “I know that He’s with me and He sees me, even when people back home don’t or when people here don’t see what I’m feeling emotions towards back home, He ‘gets’ all my areas of life, all of the countries I’ve been to, He understands all of it.” - Nichole “This is uncomfortable, but I’m going to say yes and I’m going to do it [...] Be mindful of being open to the ‘yes’ and being open to what God has for you because some of the sweetest memories are in those moments.” - Abby “We want to see this place and really live here.” - Zeke “God has created all of these cultures that are so beautiful and so unique, and [we get] to experience them and see His heart for those people.” - Kylie “Where has God given gifts in this culture? Try to open your eyes to God’s heart for the world and for those people as you’re there, even in the things that are uncomfortable.” - Kylie Learn more about the schools where these members are serving! Nichole serves at Kylie serves at Abby and Zeke serve at What’s changing our lives: Keane: Having neighbor friends Heather: Abby: Getting a keyboard Zeke: book Kylie: Nichole: Reading The Chronicles of Narnia before bed instead of scrolling Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/40545665

Study Abroad and Missions | Calling Story with Nichole DeBruin, Kylie Stancliffe, and Abby and Zeke Esteban (Ep. 213) 03/20/2026

Stories That Shape Identity | Teacher’s Desk with Chris O'Shaughnessy (Ep. 212) 03/13/2026

Global Christian Database | Zoom In with Dr. Gina Zurlo (Ep. 211) 03/06/2026

The Myth of Rules Versus Relationship | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 210) 02/27/2026

The Myth of Rules Versus Relationship | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 210) 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 rulemakers rather than actually living in the good things that God has for us.” - Brian Romans 2:1 “If in following the commands that God has given us, we are portraying a life that is boring or [...] condemning of others, then we’re not actually perpetuating the reality of who God is and our relationship with Him.” - Heather Romans 2:14 “God’s kindness is intended to lead us to repentance. Do we show that to other people, or do we show contempt for the way that God shows kindness to those people compared to how He shows kindness to us?” - Keane Titus 2:11-13 “We do say ‘no’ to some things because by saying ‘no’ to those things, it helps us to live the way that God wants us to live right here, right now, in this present age. Yet, we also know we are waiting for more.” - Brian “God is calling me deeper into knowing Him, and part of knowing Him is obeying Him.” - Heather Luke 11:37-46 John 14:15-18 “Jesus is asking the Father to send the very power and insight and discernment and understanding we need to keep His commands by sending His Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us into all truth.” - Brian “What is actually so distinct about the rules that God gives [...] is that they are about relationship.” - Heather “We’re not just made to follow these rules; these rules were made in order to help us.” - Keane Galatians 5:22-23 Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “What He wants us to do is what He knows is for our good, and that is to be infused with His Word.” - Brian Deuteronomy 5:12-13 February Reflection: How do I see God when I think about rule-following - disappointment or lenience? How do I see myself in relationship to God - earning God’s favor or leaning on His grace? What’s changing our lives: Keane: Using more features of Heather: Hosting hygge activities Brian: Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/40247560

God’s Path to Prague | Calling Story with Baylor and Erin May (Ep. 209) 02/20/2026

Genesis 1 in a Genesis 3 Classroom | Teacher’s Desk with Missy Takano and Kristi Schliep (Ep. 208) 02/13/2026

Genesis 1 in a Genesis 3 Classroom | Teacher’s Desk with Missy Takano and Kristi Schliep (Ep. 208) 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 others.” -Missy “Humanity rebelled and that brought fracturing and brokenness into the created design, but it didn’t undo the created design and it didn’t undo the invitation to good work.” -Missy “Sometimes we get caught up in viewing kids through the lens of Genesis 3, rather than remembering the original design.” -Kristi “It matters that we acknowledge that our students are touched by the brokenness of the world, but that’s not the full story.” -Kristi “My job is to be faithful to cultivate the ground, and I’m going to have to trust that that season of fruitfulness may not be in the timing that I anticipate.” -Kristi “When we acknowledge that God is the source of all things and He has invited us to participate, it’s such a fun tension to live in because He is going to provide - He’s going to provide all that we need, He’s going to be the one to cultivate Genesis 1 in that classroom - and He invites us to participate.” -Kristi “When students know that you are delighting in them, they will absolutely join you and engage.” -Kristi “Recognizing our need for rest helps us to continue persisting in that Genesis 1 perspective.” -Missy “[You] get to announce that the King is here in the way that [you] live in your classroom, and that’s holy work.” -Kristi “You’re not alone. Your work is good. It’s holy and sacred work. The students are the images of God. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters indwells you, so you are empowered for the work that God has called you to.” -Missy Listen to Missy and Kristi on the ! What’s changing our lives: Keane: Writing postcards Heather: Flowers in winter Missy: Taco salad Kristi: Reading through the Bible in a year and teaching an adult Sunday school class Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/40095905

Lent and Missions | Zoom In with Nathan Sloan of Upstream Collective (Ep. 207) 02/06/2026

The Myth of an Easy Life | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 206) 01/30/2026

The Myth of an Easy Life | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 206) 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 1:3-7 Genesis 2:15 “Being in God’s creation and working it, taking care of what God had given, is part of God’s original good plan for humanity. It’s not an easy life; it’s a good and meaningful life!” Genesis 3:16-19, 23 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “God knows that an easy life isn’t in our best interest [...] but an abundant life is in our best interest. It’s His blessing, His presence, and His Kingdom.” “Jesus does say that we will have trouble, but He is also with us in the trouble, so that’s how we can take heart - because He has overcome, He is greater, He is kinder than whatever discomfort we are facing.” Philippians 4:10-13 “It’s not easy all the time, and we know it won’t be, yet God is able to care for you, to bless you and to be with you, even when it’s tremendously difficult.” Join us for TeachBeyond’s 40 Days of Prayer: January Reflection: Am I longing for ease or what God really has for me? What’s changing our lives: Keane: Durham-opoly Heather: Great conversations and interviews with applicants Brian: Taking more time to breathe and reflecting on Scripture during TeachBeyond’s 40 Days of Prayer Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/39931415

The Birth of Open Schools Worldwide | Calling Story Part 2 with Alan McIlhenny (Ep. 205) 01/23/2026

The Birth of Open Schools Worldwide | Calling Story Part 2 with Alan McIlhenny (Ep. 205) 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 they’re being faced with awful situations that children should never have to face.” “When we are teaching the letter f, we talk about father, friends, and you can bring up discussions about friendship and the lack of fathers, which is common for so many of the kids.” “We play a lot of games and try to make the lessons fun.” “We called it Open Schools Worldwide because the need was worldwide.” “The need is worldwide, and God is good [...] We were dreaming big.” “We didn’t have to seek out growth. People came to us. The story spread.” “When Angie, our director [...] tells me that we have 14,800 kids enrolled now, it just brings tears to my eyes. It’s brilliant.” “Pray about it and ask the Lord to open the doors.” “I’ve always prayed that the Lord would open a door for something, and that if it was wrong, He would close the door and that I would accept the door closing. It’s easy to jump after things; it’s not so easy to say, ‘Well, maybe that’s not quite right.’” “I can’t do something on my own, but praying for the right people to join me has been a way to move forward.” “I was a very shy, retiring, quiet person, and if someone had said to me what was going to happen, I would not have in any way believed them.” What’s changing our lives: Keane: Color-coded calendar to notice trends Heather: Road tripping with her brother’s family Alan: Worshiping in a thousand-year-old building Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/39829760

When God Uses Every Chapter | Calling Story with Alan McIlhenny (Ep. 204) 01/16/2026

Faith and Disability: 10 Dimensions of Belonging | Teacher’s Desk with Erik Carter (Ep. 203) 01/09/2026

Faith and Disability: 10 Dimensions of Belonging | Teacher’s Desk with Erik Carter (Ep. 203) 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 Christian, our faith shapes how we see people with disabilities, not as people who are broken or challenged or who have deficits or deficiencies, or all those things that come to mind when the world thinks about disability, but as people who are gifted and image bearers and wonderfully made and beloved.” “Our faith calls us to respond differently, to be barrier breakers and diminishers of stigma.” “One in three families has at least one member that identifies as having a disability.” “Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and if we’re not encountering people with disabilities, we might want to think about broadening who we think about as our neighbor and with whom we pursue relationships.” The 10 Dimensions of Belonging: Present, invited, welcomed, known, accepted, supported, heard, befriended, needed, loved “Who do I know is in my community but isn’t part of this program or activity or school, and what is it that is standing in the way of that happening?” “That sense of ‘I don’t want to do it poorly’ leads us to not do anything at all.” “You can’t learn to do this well from a distance; you have to step into it and experience this and wrestle through it.” Reflection Questions: What are we doing really well? What could we do better to open up the experience of belonging? What should we prioritize next? “Those who the world so often overlooks are the ones who lead us back to what matters most.” “This sense of experience of belonging is a mutual benefit; we all flourish when those whom we presume are less capable and less valuable are actually centered in our communities.” What’s changing our lives: Keane: New software for website management Heather: Writing on mirror with chalk markers Erik: Learning to slow his pace Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/39664965

What’s Your Story? | From the Archives with Tosca Nathan 01/02/2026

The Myth of Fleece Guidance | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Episode 202) 12/26/2025

Moving the Family to Togo | A Calling Story with Chrischona and Koudjo Sodji (Ep. 201) 12/19/2025

Moving the Family to Togo | A Calling Story with Chrischona and Koudjo Sodji (Ep. 201) 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 Togo really was born.” - Chrischona “I just heard story after story about how powerfully God was using education.” - Chrischona “There’s just something really special when there’s the family of God that comes together, focusing on God and letting Him work through what He’s given us, which is the tool of education.” - Chrischona “Maybe some of those practical things [that take a long time] are just reminders of having to wait on God.” - Chrischona “Depending on God is one of the things that is happening here.” - Koudjo “I pray He will continue to use our family here for His service, and that He will help us to trust Him and depend on Him and let Him lead us in every moment of our ministry here.” - Koudjo “We don’t have to have it all figured out [...] before we can actually be part of making that happen in other countries.” - Chrischona “My prayer is that God will continue to give us the space that we will be able to continue to do this sports ministry to be able to reach more kids in the community.” - Koudjo What’s changing our lives: Keane: Large monthly wall calendar for the kitchen Heather: Hosting a plaid-themed party Chrischona: Having two teachers at the school this year Koudjo: Changes to sports ministry Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/39463835

Christmas Around the World and in the Classroom | Our 200th Episode! 12/12/2025

Spiritual Conversations at Christmastime | Zoom In with Kevin King (Ep. 199) 12/05/2025

The Myth of Being Perfect | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 198) 11/28/2025

The Myth of Being Perfect | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 198) Are we really called to “be perfect”? Brian Delamont unpacks the meaning of “teleios” and how God’s own completeness becomes our refuge and righteousness. Matthew 5:48 Greek: teleios Colossians 1:28-29 “It’s the work of God Himself in Jesus on the cross and in His resurrection power, which enables us to be complete and filled with His Holy Spirit.” 2 Samuel 22:31 “God uses His perfection as a shield for those of us who come and take refuge in Him.” Deuteronomy 32:4 Hebrew: tāmîm “A perfect spotless lamb in the Old Testament points toward the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in the New Testament.” “Perfection is not something God has to work at; it’s something He is. It’s His nature.” “We come to take refuge in Him because we’re not perfect, and so it’s His righteousness, His completeness, His perfection that is applied to you and me by the complete work of Christ, and we are empowered to live in this completeness by the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 19:16-22 “The perfection that Jesus is asking [for] isn’t perfect behavior. That’s not what God ever demands from us because He knows we can’t deliver on it. The perfection Jesus is hoping to see is the perfection of complete commitment, to be fully devoted, to be all in.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Psalm 19 “The perfect God who made the universe and more, the One who reveals Himself in the Law and the Prophets, is the One who is so complete that He can be trusted all of the time. That’s perfection.” Hebrews 10:14 Romans 12:2 November Reflection: When you think about God and yourself in relationship with Him, do you see Him accepting or rejecting you? Is it based on who you are or what you can do for Him? What’s changing our lives: Keane: His kids enjoying swinging Heather: The launch of Brian: New pages in his refillable journal Weekly Spotlight: We’d love to hear from you! Podcast Website: Learn about TeachBeyond: /episode/index/show/transformedandtransformational/id/39175965

Transformed & Transformational

TOPICS