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.

In this episode of the Ministry Chick Network, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Tammy Kelly—leader, consultant, and all-around ministry powerhouse.

Together they trace Tammy’s rise from volunteer to executive pastor, unpack how spiritual gifts shape confident leadership, and get real about the challenges women face in ministry spaces. It’s an honest, hope-filled conversation about calling, collaboration, and stepping boldly into the roles God’s already prepared. Whether you’re leading in the spotlight or behind the scenes, this episode gives you encouragement, clarity, and the reminder that you’re not meant to lead alone.

Waiting seasons can feel like you're stuck at a red light with your engine revving…but sometimes that’s exactly where God builds the muscle you’re going to need later. In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Riverside sits in the host chair as Melissa Mashburn talks with Tonya Annis — powerhouse leader, international speaker, and 1825 Ministry Director at The Church of Eleven22.

Tonya brings over twenty years of next-gen ministry wisdom, and she dives into the raw, real side of waiting seasons: the frustration, the refining, and the surprising confidence that grows when you keep obeying even when nothing seems to be moving.

If you’ve ever wondered “Why is this taking so long?” or “Is anything happening behind the scenes?” — this conversation is your sign to stay in the story.

Key Takeaways:
• Why waiting isn’t wasted in your calling
• How perseverance becomes confidence for leaders
• Practical ways to trust God’s timing when ministry feels uncertain