How Chase's exhortation brings joy, hope, and glue to retreats.

Picture this: a back porch in the middle of Wyoming, a river whispering in the background, a fire crackling, and Chase — sometimes gnawing on a late-night steak — holding space for men to show up, be real, and be known. That’s the setting for this conversation, and it’s where Chase’s gift of exhortation truly shines.

Chase has the gift of exhortation — basically the art of encouragement, community-building, and bringing light into dark places. He leads with optimism, remembers names, makes eye contact, and creates a vibe where new staff and guests feel welcome and safe within minutes. He’s the kind of leader who’ll wash dishes, sing with the crew, and turn mundane moments into connection points.

We get into how that gift builds culture: silly nightly rituals that somehow builds trust, table time that turns into sacred conversation, and father‑son weekends that actually change relationships. Chase sets up prompts that invite honest sharing and holds the table as a holy space — not to fix people, but to let the Holy Spirit do redeemptive work through real talk.

Of course, there’s nuance. The same optimism that makes Chase magnetic can make tough conversations uncomfortable. He admits exhorters often avoid confrontation, and that learning to correct with love has been a big growth edge. The good news? That correction, when done out of care, deepens trust and produces fruit — and Chase is learning to lean into that hard balance.

If you’re wondering about your own gift or feeling on the fence, Chase’s takeaway is simple: name it, own it, and steward it. When you know who you are — not the world’s label but the one you believe God gave you — you can lead with more clarity and impact. For anyone who’s ever wished to make a kingdom-sized difference through simple kindness, a little optimism, and brave honesty, this chat is a warm reminder that small things (a smile, a song, a question at the table) change lives.

So pour a coffee, sit by the virtual fire, and listen to how a guy from Wyoming turned encouragement into a calling — and how you might do the same, wherever you are.

Teaching: How Small Lessons Change Lives

Hi friends. David joins us to explain the teaching gift. He can turn everyday moments into chances to help people grow. Whether he’s coaching someone through washing dishes or walking a person through how to use a computer, his joy comes from seeing that lightbulb click.

David’s teaching isn’t about a stage or a degree — it’s about presence. He’s a goofy, optimistic guy who believes every small interaction matters. For years he worked in social work and job coaching, helping people with a wide range of abilities find dignity and purpose in entry-level jobs. That humility — treating even the tiniest skill as important — is what makes his teaching so powerful.

With humility comes the most important trait of a teacher gift, teachability. David stresses the overlooked quality of being malleable, and models it himself. 

Two words he keeps coming back to: humble and patient. When you teach from a place of pride, people shut down. When you teach from a place of love and curiosity, you create space for real growth. David prefers to lead people to answers rather than hand them the keys, and he finds more joy in their discovery than in proving he’s right.

Parenting has given him a new arena to practice his gift — tiny human beings require endless patience, and watching his son learn has deepened his appreciation for being present. He’s also learning that your job doesn’t have to look like your gift; you can use your gift anywhere, even in unexpected blue-collar roles, as long as you’re present and intentional.

So if you’re starting to sense a teaching gift in yourself, don’t overcomplicate it. Meet people where they are, be humble, stay curious, and enjoy the slow, steady work of planting seeds. Sometimes the smallest lessons — how to wash a dish, how to click a mouse, how to say you’re sorry — are the ones that change lives.

I hope David’s stories leave you encouraged to teach in your own way. Teaching is simple, but it’s sacred, and you don’t have to be anyone but yourself to do it well.

Inside a Servant’s Mind: How Jessie Sees and Fixes the World.

Hi friends. Jessie is someone whose spiritual gifting is to see needs and quietly fix them. This episode feels like sitting across from a friend who always asks, “How can I help?” and then actually does it. Jessie walks us through what it’s like to be action-oriented, detail-driven, and deeply satisfied when a messy room, a school intervention, or an event setup becomes a place of peace and order.

You’ll hear real-life moments: the joy of spotting who needs a chair or glass, the energy of moving all day to make things right, and the quiet fatigue that comes at night when the list never fully stops. There’s warmth in how Jessie describes serving students, volunteering with youth, and even taking a part-time event job just because it’s fun and purposeful. You also get honest truths about tension — how frustration can turn into bitterness when others don’t see what you see, and how learning to pause and prioritize relationships has been essential.

If you’re a servant (or love one), Jesse’s advice lands like a hug: be curious about how others are wired, give yourself permission to rest, and remember the joy in how your service blesses people. Practical recharge tips include creating a calm environment, asking for help, and celebrating completion — not for the compliment, but for the difference it makes in people’s lives.

This conversation also explores marriage dynamics (spoiler: exhorter spouse meets checklist-loving servant) and how patience, grace, and a sense of humor keep things steady. It’s a gentle reminder that servanthood modeled after Jesus can be beautiful and sustainable when you protect your joy and the people in your life.

Stay for the closing prayer — Jessie prays for clarity, humility, and that servants would find joy in serving others without losing themselves. It’s the kind of episode that leaves you feeling seen and ready to serve a little more wisely.

Fire in the Bones: Amanda Discovers Her Prophet Gift.

Meet Amanda: a mom of seven (yes, seven!), a new book-writer, and someone who discovered a prophet gift she never expected. She and her husband even accidentally named their kids alphabetically, which is just the kind of sweet, quirky detail that makes her story feel so real and relatable.

She first found Navigate at a leader retreat and was shocked to realize “prophet” fit her — not the street-preacher stereotype she’d pictured, but a calling that explained why she cares so deeply about truth, values, and calling out the status quo. Reading the traits and even the shadow side gave everything a sense of clarity and freedom.

Amanda talks about that “fire in the bones” (hello Jeremiah) — the feeling that she must speak up. Learning when and how to speak that truth well has been huge: prayer first, discernment about who needs to hear it, and accepting that not everyone will like what she says. That’s been freeing and humbling at the same time.

She’s been working on offering herself grace — prophets often replay mistakes and are super hard on themselves — and learning to receive kind words without arguing with them. She shared a tender moment about crying when someone noticed her feelings, which reminded her (and us) that prophets are deeply human under that strong exterior.

Amanda loves words of truth — enter the post-it notes: little snippets she collects and shares that let people choose the truth they need to hear. She also told the hilarious/heartwarming story of turning a bingo night into a fundraiser, and how leadership and friendship helped that idea thrive. Gifts really do complement each other.

Her advice to other prophets is simple and powerful: embrace your gift. Don’t squash the burden God’s put on you — yes, it’s risky and sometimes lonely, but there are people who need what you have to say. If you won’t say it, He’ll use someone else — so lean in, speak truth with prayer, and keep practicing grace for yourself.

Want to find Amanda or her book? Find "Real Through Random" on Facebook or search Amanda Popp — she’s easy to find and full of real-life wisdom and warmth.

Finding Mercy: From Heartache to Hope.

Hi friends. In this episode Joyel sits down with her dear friend Carrie, a mom, nonprofit marketing director, and a beautiful example of the gift of Mercy. We wander through her story from losing her mom as a child (and the tender letter she left), to discovering Mercy in the Navigate class, to the ways she now shows up for people in her new role at First Five Fox Valley and the family resource center she helps build.

We talk about the sweet and messy parts of being Mercy: how Carrie’s texts and storytelling literally make people feel seen, how she learned to slow down and listen, and even a season when carrying others’ pain showed up physically (yes — hair loss, and then healing after learning to “rinse” and hand things to God). She shares the joy she finds in tending people’s hearts, and the ache she feels when she isn’t using her gift — which is why she recently chose a role that lets her live Mercy daily.

We laugh about board-room dynamics (Mercy meeting the prophet-and-leader personalities), celebrate seeing men and teens embrace tenderness (including Carrie’s son), and swap practical advice: lean into your gift, find other Mercy people to lean on, give yourself permission and boundaries, and look for ways to use mercy where it brings life. Carrie’s highest value? Reflecting joy — even in hard places — and meeting people right where they are.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re too emotional or if your gentleness is a strength, this episode is a warm, honest invitation to embrace that gift. Carrie’s story is a reminder that when we own who we are — and let God carry the rest — we can bring deep healing and beautiful joy to the people around us.

Carrying the Leader's Backpack: Jordyn's Journey to God-Guided Leadership.

Hey friends — in this episode we sit down with Jordyn, a 25-year-old with a leader gift who walked us through how she discovered her charisma through the Navigate course and how she’s learning to steward it. She thought she might be a giver or servant at first, but the course helped her see the leader gift in a whole new light.

Jordyn talks honestly about the weight and responsibility of leadership — the backpack she wears feels comfortable but heavy at times — and how she balances confidence with humility by staying submitted to the Lord. She uses the Moses story to describe her own sense of unworthiness and how obedience and faith have been more important than having it all figured out.

We get practical real-life moments: managing people older than her at a job, navigating resistance when folks don’t want to be led, and the temptation to go it alone. Jordyn’s go-to practices are simple but powerful — ask for feedback, bring decisions to prayer, delegate, let others in, and remember that criticism often isn’t personal but a reaction to what’s being led through you.

If you’re exploring a spiritual gift or wondering how to lead well, Jordyn encourages you to stay in the Word, take life one step at a time, and be obedient to what God is asking of you. Leadership isn’t about self-promoting; it’s about humble service, constant submission, and trusting that God will use your gift in ways bigger than you imagine.

Giver's Edge: Caleb’s Secrets to Faith, Family & Focus.

Friends, meet Caleb, a real estate guy whose story is equal parts hustle and heart. He grew up in church, found a real, life-changing faith in his 20s, and over the last several years has learned how to lean into the gift God gave him: the giver gift. What that looks like for Caleb is intentional stewardship of time, energy, and relationships — plus a whole lot of faith.

He used to juggle 17 businesses and learned the hard way that good ideas can become a trap if you don’t protect your time. The turning point was pruning: saying no to noise, focusing on the one company he’s called to steward, and letting trusted people run the others. The result? Freedom, creativity, and space for God to move in both his work and family life.

Caleb’s practical routines are simple and powerful — own your morning, give God the first hour, protect your family as the priority, and reserve your energy for big decisions. He’s disciplined about saying yes only when the reasons are solid and letting others handle details he doesn’t need to micromanage.

But don’t mistake his structure for coldness. Underneath the spreadsheets and plans is a deeply relational heart. Caleb shows up for people in their suffering, brings tangible help, and walks with them through grief. He believes faith is a driver for action — that audacious, contagious “we can do this now” confidence that rallies people to make things happen.

If you think you might be a giver, Caleb’s advice is to look back at your story: where have you naturally stewarded well? Lean into those strengths, learn other people’s gifts, and keep doing the interior work — the relationship, spiritual, and emotional work — that makes your giving sustainable and meaningful.

He wraps it all up with prayer: asking God to help givers steward their gift well and to keep Jesus at the center. It’s practical, personal, and hopeful — a reminder that leaning into who you are can ripple out to help others in ways you might never expect.

Exhorter's Heart: From Mountaintops to Valleys. Join us on Navigate My Gift as Garrett, an exhorter, pulls back the curtain on what it really feels like to live with this gift—the electrifying highs, the gut-punch lows, and the tender heart that fuels it all. From discovering his gift in high school to how it shaped relationships, marriage, and ministry, Garrett gets candid about what energizes him (connection, affirmation, shared experiences) and what derails him (shame, isolation, unexpressed tension). He talks about creative bursts, the speed of his ideas, and how his heart being "on" or "off" directly affects his presence and creativity. We dig into practical rhythms—leaning on the right people, choosing inner circles, leaning into prayer and solitude—and the power of naming shame and bringing it to the Lord. This episode is full of warmth, humor, vulnerability, and a powerful reminder of how empathy and encouragement can both lift and wound. Perfect for exhorters and anyone who loves or leads them, this conversation offers honest hope, tools for repair, and a prayerful send-off for those navigating their own highs and lows.

Joe: Teaching, Healing, and the Shepherd's Heart. Ben sits down with his dear friend Joe to unpack his path from military leader to compassionate counselor and teacher. Joe walks us through how his childhood, the structure of the military, and heading through recovery shaped a teaching gift that's equal parts theological insight and tender empathy. We dive into how scripture really lands when your mind and heart are both invited in — from Psalm 23's shepherd imagery to the messy, redemptive work of recovery. Expect storywork, practical wisdom for younger teachers, deep joys of pastoral counseling, and the gladness of giving what you've been given away. This conversation is warm, vulnerable, and full of hope — the kind that comes when someone has been held, healed, and now helps others do the same.

Learn more about Dignity Counseling Collective https://www.dignitycounselingcollective.com

Contact Joe [email protected]

The Hidden Power of Serving: Brian’s Journey Within the Teacher Profession as a Servant Gift.

Brian talks about discovering and living out his spiritual gift of service. We trace his path from thinking he was a teacher or leader to embracing servant-hearted ministry at school, church retreats, and in family life. Expect honest stories about hospitality, hands-on serving moments, and how serving builds relationships.

The conversation covers practical takeaways: how to discern your gift, the "shadow" side of serving (resentment and over-committing), setting healthy boundaries and intentional "yeses," the importance of rest, and the role of community and mentorship. Brian also reflects on masculinity and faith, and closes with a prayer for servants seeking clarity and renewal.

Brian also helps servants see beyond serving. As Brian said, "The gift will lead toward the way we are created to be in relationship." The servant gift does bless in the practical, but it leads to the relational as well. Both are so deeply  important.