Faith, Work & Rest

In this episode, Gavin Linderman shares his passion for mystery, authentic relationships, and reimagining the boundaries between church, business, and community. He discusses his work with Banquet, a business dedicated to revitalizing neighborhoods by fostering “kingdom ecosystems” that blend entrepreneurship, art, and spiritual life. Gavin explores the importance of breaking negative narratives in communities, supporting artists as missionaries, and embracing the unknown—using Bigfoot as a metaphor for curiosity and the spiritual realm. The conversation also touches on the value of reconnecting with mortality, transforming everyday spaces into sanctuaries, and practical ways listeners can bring light and meaning to their own communities. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on living out faith beyond traditional walls.

Explore Gavin’s work with Banquet: https://www.projectbanquet.com/saymore

Discover Axiom: https://axiomchurchaz.com/

Learn about the Surge Network: https://www.surgenetwork.com/

In this special episode, co-hosts Teena and Jim kick off the new season with a unique twist: instead of interviewing a guest, they dive into a reflective exercise designed to help them—and listeners—learn to delight in the often-overlooked aspects of life. Drawing from Jim’s creative practice, they each choose something they typically resist or undervalue (for Teena, restoring order at home; for Jim, baseball) and walk through a six-step process to cultivate appreciation and gratitude.

The conversation is rich with personal stories, honest struggles, and thoughtful insights about attention, creativity, and the hidden gifts in everyday routines. Along the way, Teena and Jim explore how their perspectives have been shaped by past experiences, how they see echoes of the divine in mundane tasks, and how embracing new disciplines can lead to deeper joy and connection.

Watch this episode on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U19mMC9jwE&t=36s

Here is the exercise for you to try out! Let us know what you choose and how it goes.

Learning to Delight in God’s World (Especially the Overlooked Parts)

There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world, that is not intended to make us rejoice. - John Calvin

There are many aspects of God’s world that we often overlook or even resist delighting in. But with intentionality and attentiveness, we can cultivate a deep appreciation and gratitude toward God, even for the things we typically ignore or don’t typically value.

Here are six practices to help you cultivate delight in God’s gifts and see the overlooked goodness in God’s world:

1. See it through the eyes of someone who loves it. Borrow someone else’s affection for and let their appreciation awaken your own curiosity.

2. Learn its context. Explore its history, purpose, or ecosystem. Understanding often unlocks awe.

3. Truly experience it. Don’t just observe it from afar. Step into it. Try it. Engage your senses.

4. Prayerfully Contemplate. Pay attention to the intricacies of it, who is impacted by it, and hidden brilliance within your things. Let that detail lead you into worship and thanksgiving.

5. Examine your story about it. What’s your personal narrative around this thing? Identify the ways your personal narratives prevent you from seeing the hidden goodness. Even if there are some truly broken aspects of your “thing,” God’s grace is always at work and there are likely stories of people who are resisting that evil. Or it’s merely a good aspect of God’s world that has been twisted and is not being used the way God wants it.

6. Look for the echoes of God. What does this thing reflect about God? Where is His beauty, order, or creativity, or providence hidden inside?

Shownotes:

In our final episode of our series, “We Belong,” Teena sits down with Kaylah and Andy to talk about how the stories we bring to life can be the source of God’s hope in the world. They explore the power of Christians supporting one another on the entrepreneurial journey, the beauty of stories told that echo hope and redemption, and the awe-inspiring faithfulness of God to weave our lives in ways we could never imagine.

Explore Kaylah Rasmussen’s 2D-Animation work: https://thewindstudio.com/

And connect online: Patreon: kaylahr (patreon.com/kaylahr)

X: @TheWindAnimateS

Discover Infuse Tucson: http://infusetucson.com/about

Follow Andy’s Journey of friendship rekindled: @2000milestowrigley

And explore Surge Network: www.surgenetwork.com and the Global Faith and Work Initiative: www.globalfaithandwork.com

Gary is a believer, husband, father, and the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Major League Dad. Gary has worked with fathers and families in many capacities for almost two decades. His story with his father has helped build and support the fathers he serves through Major League Dad. His focus is on fathers in low-socioeconomic areas to strengthen the family unit and propel those fathers to lead in the home and community.

Website: https://www.majorleaguedad.org/

Watch this conversation on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvM2tIUtv0o

Learn more about the Surge Network: https://www.surgenetwork.com/

Discover the work of the Global Faith and Work Initiative: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Episode Summary:

In this conversation, Gary Freeman wades into deep waters, starting with an honest reflection on the terrifying reality of becoming a father. Teena and Gary continue into greater depths as they navigate conversations around what is truly required to champion the fullness of life for families- with special attention to fathers on the margins of society. This conversation does not shy away from tensions, but leans into the gray spaces that our polarized conversations often refuse to touch. This episode is an invitation for us all to consider what belonging to the family of God means for how we can create and embrace belonging- through our everyday work and rest- for those often left out of the conversation.

00:00 Introduction to the Series

02:10 Brokenness and Redemption in Becoming a Father

07:24 The Beautiful Gift and Terrifying Responsibility of Children

12:58 Major League Dads

18:33 Supporting Men to Become Phenomenal Fathers

24:21 How Jesus Supported the Twelve

27:25 Growth in Ministry

32:41 From Local Pregnancy Centers to a National Organization

41:16 How Distance Breeds Self-Righteousness

46:09 How Different Industries Can Connect to This Topic

55:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Teena is joined by Esau McCaulley, PhD and John Onwuchekwa, DMin to talk about the narratives that shape our life and faith and the power of narrative in hospitality, business and theology. John shares his journey with Portrait coffee and then into his time curating conversations around grief and hope, connected with his book, We Go On. Esau opens up his story with Reading while Black and the shift into writing a much more personal narrative, How Far to the Promised Land. They also chat about their favorite coffee beans, Esau’s new church plant and the elusive nature of “success”.

Watch this conversation on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShHjeH27DZ0&t=3678s

Explore more from Esau McCaulley: https://esaumccaulley.com/

Explore more from John Onwuchekwa: https://www.johno.co/

Discover the Global Faith and Work Initiative here: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network here: https://www.surgenetwork.com/

00:00 Introduction to the Series

01:24 Meet the Guests: Dr. Esau McCauley and John Onwuchekwa

06:32 John's Coffee Business Journey

13:56 The Impact of Narrative on Business

22:45 Esau's Journey and Reflections on Ministry

34:39 The Provocative Nature of the Book

35:02 Unexpected Success and Public Attention

35:37 Navigating Fame and Personal Boundaries

37:05 Embracing the Impact of 'Reading While Black'

38:38 Family Dynamics and Hometown Recognition

40:03 Intentional Church Leadership

45:02 The Role of Liturgy in Personal Faith

47:03 Diverse Church Experiences

51:46 Writing and Touring: The Emotional Toll

01:03:57 The Power of Storytelling and Grief

01:07:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Erick Goss shares his profound journey of following the Spirit into new territories of his life and vocation. From his beginnings at the Naval Academy through his time at Amazon and into nearly facing bankruptcy while building a Christian Children's media company, Erick discusses the importance of carefully listening to God and to those he works alongside. When he introduces us to Minno Kids, he emphasizes the critical yet often overlooked need for investing in children's spiritual education and family formation. Through personal highs and lows, Eric reveals how his deep reliance on God's guidance and collaboration with others has shaped his approach to creating impactful content that communicates the gospel to young hearts and minds.

Discover Minno Kids: www.gominno.com

Find more about Erick here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickgoss/

Learn more about the Surge Network: www.surgenetwork.com

Explore the Global Faith & Work Initiative: www.globalfaithandwork.com

Timeline

00:00 - Introduction

02:20 - Discerning God's call

07:52 - Getting into Children's Media

11:50 - The Why Behind the What

16:07 - The Humility of Collaboration

18:25 - Navigating Power Dynamics in Collaboration

25:01 - Curiosity in Leadership

27:22 - Wisdom from the Mouths of Babes (And Everyone Else)

31:49 - Kingdom of God as Joy in the Workplace

33:54 - Flipping the Corporate Ladder

49:32 - Formation through Content

Episode Summary: Melissa Peak joins the podcast to discuss her vocational journey from delivering newspapers in Canada to leading significant roles at Amazon Web Services and now serving at the digital consultancy firm, Servant. Melissa shares how faith, leadership, and innovative thinking have woven through her career and personal life, including unconventional family decisions alongside her husband. She delves into Servant's mission to support the global church in the digital era, ensuring impactful use of technology for kingdom work. She closes with a powerful example of how Servant is aiding Every Mother's Advocate to scale their preventive approach in foster care across nine states.

This episode continues our series on belonging through embracing the tensions of belonging to this generation. In a changing world with conflicting expectations and new tools emerging by the minute, how do we navigate belonging to this current moment as Christians? Melissa offers an example rooted in humility, prayer and the conviction of personal calling.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:28 Melissa's Vocational Journey as a woman called to leadership

04:08 Being present to the journey- reflections and regrets

09:47 Balancing Career and Family- Unconventional decisions

15:41 Navigating Countercultural Choices

20:20 Faith and Leadership

23:55 Rediscovering the centrality of worship and prayer

27:48 Rejecting “mom guilt” and opportunities for independence

29:45 Technology as a tool

30:37 Servant's Mission and Impact

36:46 Collaborative Leadership in the Faith Ecosystem

42:29 Every Mother's Advocate: A Success Story

Discover more about the work of Servant: http://www.servant.io/about

Find out more about the Global Faith and Work Initiative: www.globalfaithandwork.com/

And the Surge Network: www.surgenetwork.com/

Watch this conversation on our youtube channel: https://youtu.be/KrTmFlNwmL8?si=2lSnTGXWoJnAOt_z

Teena Dare talks with Lauren Clark, co-founder of Tamarisk Community, as she shares her journey in creating belonging for young adults aging out of the foster care system in her community. Lauren always knew she wanted to work with kids in vulnerable situations, but it wasn't until she was faced with the realities of kiddos in social services in her own backyard that she found clarity for her next steps. And then the ones after that.

This Spring Series is about the radical nature of belonging within the family of God. Lauren leads the way into the next few months by introducing some of the devastating realities that young people face when they enter adulthood without having a family to belong to. But she offers hope- the hope of a shared table, the hope that can show through the cracks of trauma as employers and communities become more informed and saturated in grace. Lauren also beautifully describes the way she has found Jesus in these low places and discovered an unmatched intimacy as she seeks to serve the very ones that Jesus came to love.

00:00 Introduction to Series and Episode

03:04 The Beginning of a Calling

04:03 Discovering a Passion for Foster Care

05:30 From Education to Social Work

07:06 Starting a Ministry for Foster Families

08:57 Launching Tamarisk

11:03 The Power of a Long Car Ride

14:24 Leaders Who Have Lived it

22:15 Closer to Suffering, Closer to Jesus

23:39 The Importance of Empathy and Trauma-Informed Care

31:58 Big Dreams for the Future

Link to Resources:

You can find Tamarisk Community on Instagram @tamarisk.community

Or online at tamarisk.community

Find out more about the Global Faith and Work Initiative: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

And the Surge Network: https://www.surgenetwork.com/

Watch our conversation on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK1oXZyZLwg

In the final episode of this season of the podcast, Alistair Chiu, along with two other Christian leaders, give us an inside look at how faith and work movements are being developed in the places they live. When it comes to developing movements like the ones described in this podcast, we can be tempted to assume that a “one size fits all” model will work. However, we are reminded in this episode of the need for faithful contextualization to meet the needs and questions of the city we are seeking to reach. As workers across the city press into integrating faith and work, the light of Christ within us will begin shining in the darkest of places. But cultivating these kind of movements will take a high level of adaptability, working with people that are different from us, and a deep desire to have alignment with co-laborers not as a prerequisite to relationship but as a by-product. And through all of this effort and strategy, we entrust ourselves to the One who will one day reign as King in our cities as it is in heaven.

This marks the end of our journey of hearing global expressions of faith in work and rest. If you haven’t listened to all of the previous episodes and guests, please check them out.

Resources related to this episode:

Learn more about City to City Asia Pacific:

https://citytocityasiapacific.com/

Learn more about Alistair Chiu’s church:

https://www.newcitychurchhk.com/

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative:

https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network

https://www.surgenetwork.com

TIME STAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Podcast

2:09 Where Alistair is living and how he got there

6:47 How did the work culture in Hong Kong shape your ministry there?

9:26 Did you find that the faith and work resources fit well within Hong Kong?

14:49 What was birthed with recognizing the gap in the faith and work materials for the Hong Kong context?

17:50 Stories of people working through the faith and work cohort

23:59 Where do you see God reflected in the city of Hong Kong and how can we pray for the city?

27:22 Introducing two more Global Faith and Work Leaders

31:23 How the marketplace is central to the ecosystem of God’s work in the world

32:38 How scaffolding relates to supporting movements in various cities

37:00 Best practices for starting faith and work movements in cities

40:41 What creating faith and work movements have taught them about working with others

47:05 What practices have you developed to work with different people than you and live out the gospel?

In this episode, Bijan Mirtolooi helps us explore how the city of London is experiencing spiritual renewal and religious curiosity giving Christians an incredible opportunity to winsomely declare good news. In his work as a pastor of Reality Church London and The London Project, Bijan has an ardent desire to equip ministry leaders and everyday disciples to see their work as an integral part of their discipleship to Jesus. Yet also to understand that from the first pages of Scripture, God is one who always pairs work with rest and invites us to the same. Would we pray alongside him to see the Church in London steward this incredible moment in history for the city to rejoice because Jesus has been put on display through the unified witness of God’s people.

Resources related to this episode:

Learn more about Bijan’s church Reality Church London:

https://www.realitychurch.london/

Learn more about The London Project:

https://thelondonproject.co.uk/

Learn more about Gotham Fellowship:

https://www.faithandworkgotham.com/

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative:

https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network

https://www.surgenetwork.com

Timestamps (Edited Timing)

00:00 Introduction

01:09 How Bijan and his family decided to move to London

4:40 Stories of how London is growing in openness to religion and spirituality

11:42 What is the London Project and how it is facilitating a faith and work movement

15:36 How Lesslie Newbigin in the 1970s encouraged churches to equip every member of their Church when it comes to their daily work

18:39 How Bijan has seen people live creatively and faithfully in their industries

22:14 How rest is integral to discipleship

28:50 Where do you see God uniquely put on display in London and how can we pray for London?