Corey's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Belief, Woo, Restorative, Harmony, Connectednes 

Corey Schmitt lives in San Marcos, Texas, where he leads Venture Ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people find and follow Jesus. Passionate about strengthening the Church, Corey enjoys identifying challenges facing ministries and working to build practical, Gospel-centered solutions. Beyond ministry, he has a deep appreciation for the outdoors—especially hunting and fishing—and loves inviting others to experience the beauty of God’s creation alongside him.

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You can learn about Venture Ministries here.

Jill's top 5 CliftonStrengths were: Harmony, Belief, Restorative, Empathy, Consistency 

Aryn's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Futuristic, Activator, Communication, Arranger and Woo

Jill Amend passed away  at 73 years old September 28, 2025 in Lufkin, Texas.  She grew up alongside her beloved older sister and younger brother. As the middle child, she shared a special bond with both, always protective and tenderhearted—even crying whenever her little brother was disciplined!

Jill was a beloved elementary school teacher, Mom to Preston, Aryn and Phillip and  Gigi to 7 grandchildren.   

Known as the “mother of the neighborhood,” Jill had a gift for welcoming others with warmth, kindness, and plenty of home-cooked meals. Her home was always open - filled with laughter, homemade pies that rivaled those of her mother and grandmother, and the joy of family and friends gathered around the table. Summers often meant cousins and family filling the house, and Jill always delighted in making her house a place where everyone felt at home

Aryn (her daugther) talks about the many endearing qualities of her mom Jill in this episode.  She Aryn is the founder and owner behind Oyster Creek Studios and Oyster Creek Collection, a vibrant lifestyle brand known for creating timeless, livable homes layered with color, character, and personality.

Aryn, her husband, and their two boys now reside in East Texas, where they love living among the piney woods and enjoying a slower pace of life outside the hustle and bustle of Houston. When she’s not designing beautiful homes or dreaming up new furniture pieces, Aryn loves hosting gatherings at her home, Creole Casa. You can usually find her treasure hunting through estate sales, antique malls, and thrift shops, always on the lookout for one of a kind finds, in between cheering her boys on from the sidelines at all their sports and activities.

Episode 89: Dreaming of And Creating Beautiful Spaces with Aryn Guillory

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Ken's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Strategic, Maximizer, Command, Relator and Arranger 

Ann's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Responsibility, Belief, Developer, Restorative & Empathy

Ken and Ann met as students at the University of Texas  and upon graduation they  marred joined staff with Cru staff and served in various countries  including living on the gospel frontier in East Asia  for 13 years.  Currently Ken  serves as Senior Vice President of Leadership Development at East-West, whose vision is making disciples of Jesus in the spiritually darkest nations. Ken is a co-founder of Indigitous, a ministry helping people in digital spaces reach their world. God’s calling has led Ken  to 60 nations, serving and strengthening Christ’s leaders. Ann has led in a ministry called God Tools and currently enjoys  her work in a local floral shop!  

They recently celebrated their 40th anniversary and love hiking, camping, cycling, and spending as much time as possible with their six grandchildren. They reside in Plano, Texas. 

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Sara's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Developer, Individualization, Belief, Postivity and Learner 

Dr. Worley has experience teaching from coast to coast. She became convinced that every student carries distinct strengths. Using research on multiple intelligences and learning preferences, she found a way to identify those strengths quickly and allow students to respond to academic content through their strongest creative abilities:

Her twenty year study on a project she created to discover students strengths, works!

After losing everything including 15 years of research and examples in a fire she decided it was time to write about this idea to pass on to more and more students. That became a win win for her and students, too.  Discover a way to uncover your strengths and the youth around you!  In this conversation you will hear Dr. Worley  share how using student strengths enriches lives , education and academic success.

Smartart4schools website    Smart Art Courses for Teachers: Free the till the end of October 2026 on Zoom.     EBOOK  Free  May6th - May 10th.   On Amazon Smart Art Dr. Sara Worley 

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Tracy's Top % CliftonStrengths are:  Positivity, Responsibility, Maximizer, Achiever and Discipline 

Tracy Curtis is a devoted wife and mother of five who lives in Omaha, Nebraska. As an event planner and active member of Coram Deo Church, she brings a heart for service into every area of her life. Tracy faithfully supports her family through hospitality and thoughtful organization, creating a warm and welcoming home. She loves staying active, exercising regularly, and being deeply involved in her children’s activities. Her life reflects a strong love for Jesus and a commitment to serving others well.

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Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell

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Shelby's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Empahty, Harmony, Relator, Developer and Positivity 

Shelby and her husband Erik live in Boston with their two year old Mila and precious golden retriever, Lou. Shelby is a pediatric physical therapist, but right now she stays at home with Mila as she continues to recover from her stem cell transplant and embrace her new life while navigating cancer remission. Erik just transitioned from being a military pilot to the reserves and he currently attends Harvard Business School where he is about to finish his first year. Shelby and Erik are so grateful to almost be out of the Boston winter and ready for some spring weather so they can get back to what they enjoy doing: being outside in the sunshine

You can follow her CaringBridge about her Cancer Journey here.. 

You can Join the Donor Registry here. 

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Michelle's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Restorative, Empathy, Belief, Developer and Responsibility   

Michelle lives in Natick (heavy a sound) Ma, a suburb of Boston where she currently serves on the People & Culture team with Cru. Caring for the ~50 campus and capacity staff in the New England states is her main focus, while also providing support in various ways to staff throughout the Northeast Geography.  

She’s been on staff with Cru for almost 35 years and has ministered to college students in St. Petersburg, Russia and Tallinn Estonia, at the University of Arkansas and on campuses in the Boston area.   In 2021 she made the switch full-time to staff care. 

She loves visiting National Parks and other beautiful locations with her husband and four adult kids and treasures any time when they are all together since they currently occupy 3 different time zones. An avid lover and sunshine and people-anytime those two things are combined she’s happy. 

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Erica's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Belief, Communication, Context, Responsibility and Restorative 

Erica brings a unique blend of life experience, faith, and heart to every stage of life. Transitioning from actuarial analyst to missionary wife, then 16 years homeschooling, and now a mom of amazing UT Austin College kiddos, she has learned to navigate life’s changes with confidence and grace. Guided by Belief, Responsibility, and a Restorative mindset, her love for God, people, and cats shapes how she approaches every challenge and opportunity.

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Karina's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Relator, Harmony, Empathy, Belief and Responsibility 

Karina Venable lives in Austin, Texas with her husband David and their three beautiful children, who are each gifts, given from the Father through adoption. Karina has been a teacher in various capacities throughout the years, including homeschooling her children for seven years. She loves to study scripture and write about what the Lord is teaching her, and she recently had the honor of co-authoring a Bible study on 1 Peter for Providence Church. Karina loves to read aloud good stories with her family and friends. Even more so, she loves to listen to the stories of loved ones, especially over delicious coffee. 

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Texas A&M's Bridge's Staff Team Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Learner, Connectedness, Includer, Communication & Woo

Barbara shares insights about a recent workshop for the Bridges Staff Team at Texas A&M.   Each person brings their unique strengths.  She talks about some of the insights she observed with the group of five .  

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