If you’ve ever wrestled with self-doubt, burnout, or uncertainty in your calling, you’re not alone.

In this empowering episode, Lisa J. Allen, author of Your Confidence Compass, joins Melissa Mashburn to unpack how women of faith can move from self-doubt to self-leadership by understanding the intersection of confidence, calling, and capacity.
With over two decades of ministry leadership and coaching experience, Lisa shares practical tools for recognizing God’s voice, managing capacity, and leading with unshakable confidence — even in seasons of uncertainty.

Key Takeaways

1. Confidence is built through clarity, not perfection. You don’t have to have it all figured out to step forward in faith.
   
2. Your calling is connected to your capacity. Knowing your limits is part of stewarding your leadership well.
   
3. Self-leadership starts with identity in Christ. True confidence flows from who God says you are, not what you do.

• Download Stop Playing Small: You Were Made For More → https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/stop-playing-small
  
• Connect with Lisa J. Allen → https://ljallencoaching.com
  
• Learn more about the Ministry Chick Network → https://ministrychick.com

Leadership doesn’t stop when life gets uncertain — but how we lead often has to shift.

In this special episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Erin Pickering interviews Melissa Mashburn in a deeply honest conversation about leading through an unexpected season of health challenges, shifting capacity, and trusting God when plans change.

This episode isn’t about a diagnosis — it’s about discipleship, leadership resilience, faith maturity, and what it looks like to stay anchored when life feels unpredictable.

If you’re a woman of faith navigating ministry leadership, personal transition, burnout, health challenges, or simply a season where clarity feels harder to find, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

You’ll hear real talk about:

• Leading faithfully in uncertain seasons
• Redefining productivity without losing purpose
• Staying spiritually grounded when capacity shifts
• Why community matters more than pushing harder
• How God often works most deeply in the unknown

This is an invitation to breathe, refocus, and remember:
You don’t have to lead alone.
 And uncertainty doesn’t cancel calling.

⭐ Key Takeaways

• Leadership through uncertainty requires alignment, not hustle
• Faith grows deeper when outcomes aren’t guaranteed
• Support systems are essential, not optional
• Calling isn’t paused by hard seasons — it’s often refined in them

✨ Join the Ministry Chick Network Membership
 Because leadership is healthier — and more impactful — in community. https://www.ministrychick.com/for-you

✨ Free Guide: Stop Playing Small — You Were Made for More A reflection resource to help you reconnect with calling and next steps. https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/stop-playing-smallhttps://3.basecamp.com/5639793/buckets/43155627/documents/9194969227#

✨ Learn more about Ministry Chick Network
 Practical coaching, community, and leadership development for women of faith. https://ministrychick.com

What does it look like to lead with the Spirit in every season of ministry? In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Christy Gibas, Lead Pastor of The Table Church, who brings over two decades of ministry leadership experience and a passion for evangelism, formation, and multiplication.

Christy shares her journey from senior sales manager to pastor, the role of the Spirit in leadership, and how leaders can embrace formation and multiplication in ways that create lasting Kingdom impact.

Key Takeaways:

• Why leadership must flow from living by the Spirit
• How spiritual formation shapes leaders for long-term ministry
• Practical ways to lead with multiplication and evangelism in mind

Resources & Links:

• Download your free Clarity Journal → https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/clarity-journal
• Connect with Christy Gibas → table.org
• Learn more about the Ministry Chick Network → https://www.ministrychick.com/
  

Download your free Clarity Journal (perfect for women ready to lead more Spirit-led in their ministry). https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/clarity-journal

What does it look like to grow in confidence and purpose as a woman in ministry? In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Andrea Coli— Executive Director of Lead Bold and Teaching Pastor at CrossWinds Church in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Andrea shares her own leadership journey, how she has discerned God’s call in challenging spaces, and what has helped her grow in resilience and joy. She also talks about the heart behind Lead Bold, a ministry she leads to support and activate women pastors, and how her own experiences shaped its creation.

Key Takeaways:

• How to find clarity in your calling when spaces don’t always affirm women pastors
• Practical ways to cultivate confidence and resilience in ministry
• Why purpose flows from identity in Christ, not role or title
  
  Resources & Links:
  
  • Download your free Clarity Journal → https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/clarity-journal
    
  • Connect with Andrea Coli → leadbold.org | Instagram & Facebook @leadbold
    
  • Learn more about the Ministry Chick Network → https://www.ministrychick.com/
    

  Download your free Clarity Journal (perfect for women who want to walk in clarity, confidence, and purpose). https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/clarity-journal

Leadership isn’t just an assignment — it’s a journey with Christ that looks different in every season. In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn talks with Dr. Tiffany Smith, a missiologist, strategist, and writer with a passion for multiplying disciples, developing leaders, and expanding the Kingdom.

Tiffany shares what it means to lead from a place of intimacy with Christ, why a growth mindset is essential for women in ministry, and how resilience and agility help leaders thrive in a constantly changing world.

Key Takeaways:

• Why intimacy with Christ is the foundation for every leader
• How to embrace a growth mindset and lean into self-development
• Practical ways to lead with resilience and agility in changing seasons
  

Resources & Links:

Resources & Links:
* Download your free Clarity Journal → https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/clarity-journal
* Connect with Dr. Tiffany Smith → missionalmayhem.com
* Learn more about the Ministry Chick Network → https://www.ministrychick.com/

*Download your free Clarity Journal* It's perfect for women like you who are ready to find clarity and strength in their calling without burning out.

How can churches care well for people without burning out their leaders? In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn talks with Laura Howe, registered social worker, founder of Hope Made Strong, and host of the Church Mental Health Summit.

With more than 15 years of experience in mental health, addictions, and community care, Laura shares practical and faith-based strategies to equip church leaders to navigate compassion fatigue, create sustainable care ministries, and support mental health in ways that foster belonging, hope, and healing.

Key Takeaways:

• The church’s role in supporting mental health
• How leaders can recognize and recover from burnout and compassion fatigue
• Practical strategies for building sustainable care ministries

Resources & Links:

• Download your free Clarity Journal → https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/clarity-journal
• Connect with Laura Howe → hopemadestrong.org
• Learn more about the Ministry Chick Network → https://www.ministrychick.com/

Download your free Clarity Journal (perfect for women like you who are ready to find clarity and strength in their calling without burning out).

What does it mean to live fully called — confident in your gifts, yet dependent on God’s wisdom and guidance? In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Sue Ferguson, co-director and content creator for Exponential Women Next, a church planter, and a longtime encourager of women leaders.

Sue shares her passion for helping women recognize that they are called, embrace their gifts, and trust God with the next opportunity. From her journey of planting and leading at Community Christian Church to her current investment in the next generation of women leaders, Sue offers wisdom, encouragement, and practical insight for women who want to say yes with boldness.

Key Takeaways:

• Why women can trust that they are called and qualified
• How to lean into both gifting and God’s guidance
• The power of saying yes to the next opportunity

Resources & Links:

• Download your free Clarity Journal → https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/clarity-journal.
• Connect with Sue Ferguson → exponential.org/women-next
• Learn more about the Ministry Chick Network → https://www.ministrychick.com/

Cultivating Wholeness: Enneagram, Self-Compassion, and Spiritual Formation (with Bonni Mace)

Healthy leadership starts with wholeness. But too often, women in ministry lead from exhaustion, insecurity, or fear. In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Bonni Mace — certified Enneagram coach, spiritual companion, writer, and retreat leader.

Bonni shares how compassionate self-awareness leads to wholeness, how the Enneagram can serve as a tool for growth, and why Christian spiritual formation and self-compassion are vital practices for every leader. This conversation will encourage you to embrace your God-given identity and lead from a place of health.

Key Takeaways:

• Why self-compassion and spiritual formation matter for leaders
• How the Enneagram can help leaders grow in health and empathy
• Practical rhythms for cultivating wholeness and resilience

Resources & Links:

• Download your free Clarity Journal → https://member.ministrychick.com/courses/clarity-journal
  
• Connect with Bonni Mace → bonnimace.com | Free reflection questions | @bonnimace | facebook.com/bonnimacellc
  
• Learn more about the Ministry Chick Network → https://www.ministrychick.com/

What if the unfinished parts of your story are where God is doing His most important work? In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn talks with Bible teacher, writer, and seminary student Rachael Wade about the power of the “in-process” story.

Rachael shares how she’s learned to step into God-given assignments even before they feel complete, the importance of friendship and community, and what it looks like to create your own table when one isn’t offered. Her insights will encourage you to trust God’s faithfulness right

Christmas at Ministry Chick hits different.
This special holiday episode pulls back the curtain on the real conversations women in ministry are having when the microphones are on and the armor is off.

The women of the Ministry Chick Network gather to reflect on a year marked by growth, grit, surrender, and God’s undeniable faithfulness. They talk honestly about what 2025 stretched, what it healed, and what it revealed—personally, spiritually, and vocationally. No highlight reels. No fluff. Just real voices naming where they got stuck, how coaching helped them rewrite limiting narratives, and why community isn’t optional for women carrying ministry weight.

You’ll hear stories of breakthrough, moments of holy surrender, and practical wisdom on balancing yes and no without burning everything to the ground. The conversation also looks ahead to 2026 with hope, prayer, and a clear commitment to building stronger support systems for women in ministry who are tired of doing this alone.

This episode is part encouragement, part recalibration, and part permission slip to stop carrying what was never yours to hold. If you’re closing out the year exhausted, hopeful, curious, or quietly wondering what God is doing next—this one’s for you.