As 2023 is drawing to a close, Chris and Sammy come together today to share reflections on the last year and the many guests who are being the difference right where they are, and discuss how you, the listener, can be a difference, too!

In this episode, Chris and Sammy share their top ten ways you can make a difference right where you are. Bring holiday cheer to those around you by surprising a neighbor with a gift or act of service, plan a mission trip for 2024 with your friends or family, volunteer locally, take intentional time to bless populations often isolated in this season, sponsor a child, trade ornaments with someone you love, or gift an experience to someone in your life. Being the difference doesn’t have to be expensive and, in some cases, it doesn’t cost anything but time; you can ask intentional questions, hold stories well, or share an episode of your favorite podcast to someone you love. We can make the spaces around us kinder, more beautiful, and significantly more intentional when we take these easy steps toward another human. 

Links to learn more:

To donate tickets to events for a gifted experience:

https://www.mostvaluablekids.org/

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Azubike Kalu is a husband, father, former tutor, and current Director of Back2Back Nigeria. His journey with the ministry began with tutoring, and over time, he became captain of a children’s home, then an assistant director, and now he leads an entire staff team in providing holistic care to vulnerable populations in his own home-country.

In this episode, Azubike shares who mentored him well in his younger years, the lessons he’s collected from his many roles within Back2Back, and what keeps him up at night. Hear what Azu returns to on the hardest days, why a trauma-informed Back2Back school was so important for the families of Nigeria, and what has been made possible in the lives of kids and families because that school now exists.

Links to learn more:

Learn more about Back2Back Ministries

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In the midst of headlines of war, civil unrest, embattled opinions and election news the world can quickly become overwhelming. How can we be the difference when headlines feel so heavy? Sammy and Chris dive into this question and discuss ways they each navigate the call to be the difference even when the world feels overwhelming. 

In this episode, Sammy and Chris share the ways they each navigate the constant influx of news we all experience each day. Hear the questions Chris asks himself before engaging with a difficult topic, how we can approach every situation through the lens of the gospel and when the kindest thing to do for ourselves and others is to take a step back. 

Links to learn more:

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On October 11th, many people joined Back2Back staff in-person and virtually at the annual A Night of Hope. It was a night for many to recall just how many different people are being the difference in the lives of those around them. It was a night filled with conversation, emotion, and story. A special part of the evening was hearing directly from Beth Guckenberger, Back2Back Co-Executive Director, about what it means to stay. The ripple effects of her talk have been poignant and life giving for each of us.

In this episode, Beth will dive into the question she is asked most often - what makes you wanna stay? Hear about what Beth means when she says she has steel in her spine, what 65% of our conversations are based on, and how the story of Rahab, a story of Beth’s family, and a story about a young woman in Nigeria are connected. Today, take a moment to listen and be reminded that the story isn’t over yet.

Links to learn more:

Listen & watch the full program from A Night of Hope

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Rick and Lisa Bursey are husband and wife, mom and dad to two boys, and officially the new Site Directors for Back2Back’s ninth global site in Linares, Mexico! Originally from Ontario, Canada, the Burseys have long served children and said yes to every big and small moment God has extended an invitation. In 2008, they quit their jobs, sold their belongings, and moved two hours south of Monterrey, Mexico to a small town called Linares. Today, they are excited for the future of the Linares site and all it will provide for the children they serve.

In this episode, Rick and Lisa share the three words they’d use to describe their life in Canada, how saying yes was like building muscle over time, and why they believe comfort can breed discomfort. Hear how Lisa responded when God put hungry, sad, or withdrawn people in front of her, how one of Rick’s worst moments led to the opening of Possibilities House, and why patience and perseverance are words, and attitudes, they live by.

Join Rick and Lisa at A Night of Hope!

RSVP Here

Links to learn more:

Learn about Possibilities House

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Today, Sammy and Chris welcome back Beth Guckenberger! Beth is the Co-Executive Director of Back2Back Ministries, an author, speaker, wife, and mom. Today, she is sharing about her newest children’s book! 

In this episode, Beth shares about a conversation she still remembers having with her mom in the third grade and how it still impacts her today. Hear how Beth defines spiritual warfare, how to frame conversations around it with children, and why a children’s book moves those conversations forward for all of us. 

Links to learn more:

Order your copy of The Heart Who Wanted to be Whole today!

Join Back2Back Staff on October 11th for A Night of Hope! 

Learn more about Back2Back Ministries

Follow Beth on Social Media:

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Happy September! This month, Sammy and Chris are discussing all things books! How their love of reading began, why reading leaves a lasting impact, and how they have each seen it make a difference in the lives of the children they love and serve. 

In this episode, Sammy shares an article from Child Mind Institute, why it says we should all be reading to the children in our lives, and the many benefits story offers each of us. Hear how Chris has seen reading change behavior, connection, and conversation between children and teens, how Back2Back is engaging with literacy and education around the world, and what equity and access look like when it comes to books. You also get to hear all about Beth Guckenberger’s new book and why it’s so special. 

Links to learn more:

Learn more about Back2Back Ministries

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To read the full article Sammy mentions:

Why is it Important to Read to Your Child?

To order your copy of Beth’s new children’s book:

The Heart Who Wanted to be Whole

Michael Sickles is former college athlete, a father and leader of the Juvenile Justice Initiative and Youth Development at Back2Back Cincinnati. He is known for his voice, both the sound of it and the way he uses it to advocate for access to hope for every youth in Cincinnati. 

In this episode, Michael shares how he learned to get back up when he tripped over obstacles in his path, how those experiences shaped his character and the ways he knew God was there all along. Hear why he believes hope can transform a life, why he cares about justice and what the high school version of himself would think about his life today. 

Links to learn more:

Listen to Episode 61 to learn more about The Juvenile Justice Initiative at Back2Back Cincinnati

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Continuing the theme of justice and the hope that is possible when we choose to be the difference, Chris and Sammy share their reflections on  the TBRI Trauma-Informed Courts Podcast. Join them as they dive into a conversation on the exponential impact of small changes and the ways these changes can make a difference in our everyday lives. 

In this episode, Chris and Sammy discuss specific strategies courtrooms around the country have begun to implement. Hear how we can all can empower individuals to feel safe, regulated and calm in even the most stressful of situations. 

Links to learn more:

TBRI® & Trauma-Informed Courts

All Rise: For the Good of the Children Documentary

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Michelle Clifton earned her PhD in social ethics at Loyola University Chicago and has worked in higher education for twenty years. Michelle’s passion is interrupting the US’s over-reliance on incarceration, finding creative alternatives, such as equitable and accessible education or restorative justice solutions, through collaboration with those most impacted. In 2018, she founded the “School of Restorative Arts,” an MA program in Illinois’ prisons serving over 100 incarcerated men and women at Stateville and Logan Correctional Centers. She currently serves as founding director of prison education at Lewis University launching BA programs in professional studies in Illinois prisons.

In this episode, Michelle shares how she felt the first time she entered a prison classroom, how she processes the hard stories she experiences, and the moment she knew this would be her life’s work. Hear her describe the joy of a graduation ceremony inside a prison, why she calls herself an abolitionist, and the dream she has to see decarceration and liberation in the state of Illinois. 

Links to learn more:

Watch this TED TALK by Michelle

Follow Michelle on Twitter & Instagram

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