Transforming Mission Leadercast With Tim Bias & Sara Thomas

Holy Moments. You’ve experienced these moments.  Time stands still. You’re overcome with the presence of God. You might even question whether the moment is really happening. You’re standing on holy ground (ok, in this case, we were sitting, recording a podcast).  Holy moments can’t be crafted, predicted, or rehearsed. They simply unfold. And when they do, you experience a connection to a community that you haven’t experienced before. In episode 179 we experienced one of these moments - and we hope you will too. Listen and consider what has changed about church and community in the last 30-47 years (yes, 47 years, not 45 or 50 -lol). Explore the shift from “come to church” to “get out of doors” and how one of us first experienced God beyond the church walls.  Then consider how our aspirational values can confuse us and our inability to accurately assess diversity - if we are in majority, the tendency is to overestimate our diversity.  So where do we begin? Begin with the desire to learn and grow. Perhaps you’l

If you want to build community, or deepen community connections, join us for Episode 178 as we seek to model grace-filled, curious conversation about topics we can sidestep in our communities.  Episode 178 is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with April Casperson. April serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the West Ohio Conference. April shares grace-filled wisdom about community, relationships, and yes, diversity. Her role is to help people work better across difference.

If you’ve been a part of a community, you’ve likely experienced conflict within that community. Sometimes our differences are easy to explore together. At other times, the conflict leads to division. The challenges to leaders during these seasons are great.  But, if you’re willing to reimagine who God is inviting you to be, you just might experience the emergence of a new community. Our conversation this week with Chris Wiseman explores how he’s leading a congregation that experienced conflict by reimagining what it means to be a Christ-centered community. Conflict and division are complex topics. Today, you’ll hear Chris share how listening and conversation are essential to decision making.  You’ll also hear stories about different modes of communication facilitated community. No surprise, those modes of communication were NOT determined by the positional leader. Instead, the needs and abilities of the community guided their modes of communication.    Finally, Chris offers reminders for leaders about the imp

What is community? Community is about the inter-relatedness of people.  In other words, it starts with relationships. It’s about belonging to something larger than ourselves. Community helps people say, “I am a valued part of this body and have contributions to make”. When we see ourselves as a part of a community, we think about how we are related to Christ, people in the congregation, and the people who live near us in our geographic location.  3 Aspects of a Nurturing Community Connection Contribution Care Read more on the show notes pages at https://transformingmission.org/176 Know someone who would benefit from listening to this episode? Share it!

At the intersection of Jesus, accountability, and corporate life is our guest, Courtney Hilbert. Add Courtney’s passion for leading youth, writing Christian fiction, baking and you find a woman of integrity who embraces accountability in the workplace, church, and in the ministries she leads. If you’ve ever wondered how faith and corporate life integrate, Courtney provides stories and examples to guide the way. She shares how faith and church leadership impact her role in a marketing agency and pauses at a familiar acronym you may have forgotten about.  Continue reading... https://transformingmission.org/175  

Stories, history, current reality, and Scripture come together in this week’s conversation with Charles Boayue Jr. Charles is a District Superintendent in the Michigan Conference of the UMC and takes us on a leadership journey to point to the importance of accountability.  You’re invited to explore both the full picture and details that accompany accountability. In the context of pastoring a local church, Charles reminds us of the importance of the calling on the gifts of the whole community to help widen your perspective and provide feedback. Additionally, Charles highlights knowing your purpose (See Episodes 159 -162) as an essential element of mutual accountability. As you seek to understand God’s will, recognize the importance of listening and the wisdom of others. As you’ll hear, that’s where mistakes in accountability can happen.  Most of all enjoy the wisdom, grace, and stories Charles shares, inviting you on a journey of accountability that is filled with mercy, direction, and the goodness of God. Men

What’s your personal accountability practice? Not sure what we mean? Listen to Episode 173 with Jessica Moffatt and explore the intersection of courage and accountability. Jessica is a pastor and coach who helps teams listen for God’s voice to make faithful decisions.  First, we explore how humility, offering ourselves to God, and self-awareness contribute to courageous action. Jessica’s reminders about humility invite listeners to pause and consider the relationship between listening to God and courageous, faithful action.  Then we turn the corner and Jessica shares her personal accountability practices. You’ll hear specific questions Jessica asks herself and key life domains she explores every week. Jessica models how accountability can structure life and fuel relationships.  Our conversation ends with a reminder of trust being the foundation for team relationships and how Jessica’s personal accountability practices influence team accountability practices.    Questions to Consider Who are the two to three p

Is accountability a bad word? Short answer: NO!  It’s the fuel for productivity, engagement, and growth for leaders.  When there is clarity and responsibility, accountability becomes a positive force for change and growth. Why then, do so many of us despise accountability? When accountability is used in punitive ways, it often leads to shame and blame. Additionally, many people are attempting to hold people accountable without first providing the clarity and resources for people to be successful. This episode breaks down into three distinct parts. Listen to the whole episode, or jump to the part that’s most applicable to you right now. Accountability in life [1:23] Accountability in the church [15:27] Accountability in leadership [31:15] First, you’ll explore accountability in everyday life through examples from family life. You’ll learn why accountability is not a bad word and how to define accountability. Second, explore accountability in the church and what gets in the way. You’ll hear how to differentiate

What happens when you ask 15 leaders for their best wisdom on self-awareness?  You get stories, poignant reminders, examples, challenging circumstances, diverse perspectives, and enough wisdom to fill several volumes. Whether you choose to listen all at once or in several sessions, these leaders remind us how God is with us deepening our self-awareness.  As you take in the wisdom, grace, and humility of our guests on this week’s podcast, reflect on your own self-awareness. Many of these guests you’ve heard from on previous episodes. But some are new voices that we’ll feature in the coming weeks and months.  You’ll hear wisdom in four broad categories. First, we tackle wisdom around self-awareness as God-awareness. Then we turn to how other people help us grow in our self-awareness. We bridge to our final category with Amy Burgess as she invites us to explore how kinesthetic and spatial awareness impact self-awareness. You’ll have to listen to hear the unique role she plays with a professional sports team. Fin

In our conversation today, we’re talking with Barry Burns about leadership and self-awareness. As a pastor, District Superintendent, and Dean of the Cabinet, Barry offers us wide-angle and close-up views of how self-awareness comes into play in leadership. We explore the impacts of social media and seasons of ministry as well as how self-care and having grace for ourselves play into self-awareness.  You’ll hear us talk about how perceptions of social media posts can ignite unintentional fires and cause long-term harm to relationships. You’ll also hear how social media can be helpful.  Join Barry as he reflects on a time in ministry that 75 members of a congregation died over a two-year time span. He shares what he learned about himself, others, and the support he needed to make it through a time of compounding grief.  Barry shares wisdom about recognizing your blindspots and takes us on a journey into the importance of long-term relationships for deepening trust and transparency.  That conversation guides us

What is your first memory of becoming self-aware? How about your most recent memory?    The reality is, we are never finished growing in self-awareness.   In our conversation this week with Rae Lynn Schlief, we talk about self-awareness through different seasons of life and ministry. From the first moment of radical self-awareness in the midst of clinical pastoral education to approaching retirement, Rae Lynn shares stories that will inspire and challenge your life and leadership. We talk about what self-awareness is, how it serves you in leadership, and how to continue cultivating self-awareness through the different seasons of life. Through it all, grace abounds.  Rael Lynn invites you on a journey through stories. Lean in as she reflects with us about internal dialogue as well as external perceptions can deepen our self-awareness. Pause during moments in the conversation when we discuss vulnerability, triggers, and candor in prayer. Continue reading at https://transformingmission.org/169  

What is self-awareness for Christ-centered leaders? Our conversation with Curnell Graham offers you a way to experience self-awareness that you may not have considered. He turns self-awareness inside out and invites you to focus on God-awareness through his stories, life experience, and leadership. From acknowledging the barriers and -isms that attempt to divide us, to reflecting on the beautiful and challenging moments of pastoral ministry, you’ll encounter grace at every turn in this conversation. Continue Reading on the Show Notes Page

Find show notes for this episode at https://transformingmission.org/167 What is self-awareness? Tim and Sara highlight five aspects of self-awareness that are essential for leaders and in daily life.  Explore these five aspects and listen throughout the month of March to episodes highlighting how different leaders continue to deepen their self-awareness.  Five Aspects of Self-Awareness to Consider Identifying emotions - Can you name what you’re feeling and the thoughts associated with those feelings? Accurate self-perception - Do you know how your words and actions land on people? Recognizing strengths - What can you do better than anyone else? This isn’t a competition, but an awareness of your giftedness.  Possessing strong self-confidence - Does your ego balance itself out? You’re able to do things because you have an ego, but your ego gets checked with humility  Possessing self-efficacy - Can you exert control over your own motivation, behavior, and social environment? Questions to consider Which of the

Can you name your four most important relationships?  Yes, we’re really asking. Episode 166 is a conversation with Dennis Miller. Dennis serves as the District Superintendent of the Foothills District in the West Ohio Conference. As we conclude a month focused on relationships, Dennis reminds us of the essential relationships that nurture a leader’s soul. Listen in and pause to consider your essential relationships. If you’re wondering where we start the conversation, yes, we begin with your relationship with Jesus. Continue reading at https://transformingmission.org/podcast  

You may have heard someone utter the phrase, “the church would be great if it weren’t for the people. And while we can smile and shake our heads in understanding, people are the church.  People make up the body of Christ. So while people are complicated, relationships are at the center of the church. Our relationship with Jesus, our relationships with one another, and our relationships with the surrounding community is the fabric of the church.  Episode 165 with Joe Geary helps you explore the beautiful as well as messy aspects of relationships. Joe invites you to journey with him to explore stories that shape his life and relationships. Continue Reading at https://transformingmission.org/165  

Do you see yourself as a leader? Do you need to see yourself as a leader to be a leader? Perhaps you’ve never paused long enough to answer either of those questions. Perhaps you assume the first is true. Therefore, the second question has yet to emerge as a question you’d consider.  Or, perhaps you’ve only ever associated leadership with a title or a position. Push beyond the titles. We’re not asking about positional leadership. We’re inviting you to consider relational leadership. Relational leaders influence others through their presence, awareness, and emotional intelligence.  In our conversation with Amy Graham, we talk about how talents and gifts guide your leadership, the resistance to claiming the title of leader, and the power of relationships to influence others simply by being present.  Continue Reading...

If you’re missing specific relationships, there’s likely a good reason. The pandemic has removed one of the spaces we need relationships. As a result, we’ve spent more time with fewer people.  Yes, it’s for a very good reason. Yes, we’ll continue to do it as long as we have to. But, anyone else just want to go to a game, concert, or performance?  You’re not alone. Relationships matter. You’ve heard Tim and Sara say that over and over again.  But saying it doesn’t make it so. As we begin month 2, we’re focusing on the importance of relationships for courageous leaders. Relational leadership is essential to guiding one person as well as a group of people toward any goal.  But, have you ever stopped to think about the different types of relationships that exist in different spaces? That’s the focus of our conversation in Episode 163. Continue Reading Show Notes at https://transformingmission.org/podcast Look for Episode 163    

You can find show notes for this episode at https://transformingmission.org/podcast Episode 162 Is Your To-Do List Never Ending? What is on your list of competing demands? Maybe they don’t feel like demands. Maybe the things that keep you busy also energize you, empower you, and even fulfill your purpose. Whether you call them demands, invitations, tasks, or routines, there’s A LOT going on around you. You have people and circumstances in your life that want your attention.  There’s the nudge from a friend to stay on the call a little longer. And the pile of laundry that hasn’t folded itself in three days. You might have grocery shopping that needs to be done. And then, there are the meals that need to be prepared. Not to mention, who is going to clean up after the meal is prepared? I haven’t mentioned children, pets, or even work outside the home. Dare I bring up the challenges of a work-from-home-educate-from-home-do-all things-from-home life? No, this isn’t intended to raise your stress level.  So, please,

Find the full show notes on the episode page https://transformingmission.org/podcast Look for episode 161 The demands of ministry are ever-changing.  During a global pandemic and deep polarization in our country, it can feel like the demands are multiplying in front of you. At the very same time, you’re continuing to learn new ways of being in ministry and you’re caring for the health and safety of one another.  And that’s where remembering your purpose comes in. It’s also where you might feel like the only thing you need and the last thing you have is focus. Continue Reading...  

You can find show notes for this episode at https://transformingmission.org/160 While articulating your why can feel like a big question, it’s the fuel that propels leadership. Explore with Bill Lyle, Lead Pastor of Peace UMC in Pickerington, Ohio how starting with why has propelled his leadership.  What’s the Motivation Behind Your Purpose Bill offers insight about our starting with why that can’t be overlooked. Knowing your why is about motivation.  For example, if you say making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the church, community, and world is your purpose, why is this important to you? Does it start with your calling? Perhaps it is about being a follower of Jesus and understanding that disciples make disciples. In short, if you want to get to the heart of your why, explore your motivation.  Listen as Bill shares a story about assisting at his daughter’s swim team practice. His understanding of his why was central to not only to finding joy in the midst of helping but in understanding