Women & Work: Stepping into Kingdom Productivity

Elyse Fitzpatrick is a nationally sought-after speaker and author of 25 books on daily living and the Christian life including Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women that she co-authored with Eric. Eric Schumacher is a pastor, songwriter, and author. He earned a Master of Divinity in Biblical and Theological Studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.    He and Elyse co-host the Worthy Podcast together, which we wholeheartedly recommend to our listeners.   In this episode, Elyse and Eric discuss:  Their different work backgrounds and what led them to writing their book, Worthy.  The lies that have caused harm to women in the church. The importance of looking at gender and gender relationships in light of the Gospel. The value and importance of the role of women throughout redemptive history.  The problem with having a narrow definition of calling and ministry for women in the church.  Encouragement for women who feel that their work isn’t valued or seen.  Resources mentioned:    Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women https://amzn.to/3IMt3AG   How I’m Learning to Honor Vocations of Women in My Congregation by Eric Schumacher  https://www.madetoflourish.org/resources/how-im-learning-to-honor-the-vocations-of-women-in-my-congregation    Worthy Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/worthy-celebrating-the-value-of-women/id1497732229   For more information on this episode and the ministry of Women & Work, visit womenwork.net/podcast. 

Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler are the cofounders of the Risen Motherhood ministry and cohosts of the Risen Motherhood Podcast.. They are also in the trenches of motherhood, right alongside their listeners.    Together, they have authored the book: "Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope For Everyday Moments.”   Laura and Emily are sisters-in-law and live with their families in central Iowa.   In this episode, Laura and Emily discuss: God’s vision for motherhood as a calling for women. How all women are called to spiritual mothering and mentoring other women. The reality of experiencing pride and guilt as a mother and how the Gospel frees us from both.  How motherhood reflects the image and character of God. Encouragement and advice for mothers who work outside the home when they feel like they are better at their job than being a mom.  The difference between biblical motherhood and the American idea of motherhood. How the ministry of Risen Motherhood started and how God has used it to encourage mothers.   Resources:  Risen Motherhood  Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments Click Here to Read Full Show Notes

Macy English is the Owner & Principal Consultant of English Media, where she helps businesses with all things sales & marketing. She is a lover of people, culture, marketing, and health, and she strives for all that matters in life. Macy and her husband, JT, live in Arvada, CO, with their two kids and love to travel.    In this episode, Macy discusses: How she balances being a pastor’s wife, mom, and business owner How she discovered her natural gifts and the path that led her to start her own business The importance of honing your strengths and not trying to do everything  Her favorite aspects of her job and how she helps businesses thrive  Seeking the Lord first when trying to make decisions about careers and jobs  The importance of knowing who God has called you to be, not just what He has called you to do How to respond with grace to those who don’t think mothers should work outside the home  Using the enneagram as a tool to grow and learn as a person Learn more about Women & Work at womenwork.net. 

Chelsea Patterson Sobolik serves as the Director of Public Policy with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in the Washington, D.C. office. Previously, she worked on Capitol Hill on pro-life policies, domestic and international religious freedom, adoption, and foster care issues.    Chelsea has been published at the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and others. She is the author of Longing for Motherhood – Holding onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness, and a forthcoming book on the topic of women and work.    She has a B.A. in International Relations from Liberty University and lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Michael.   In this episode, Chelsea discusses: – Her experience working on Capitol Hill and the path that led her to working for the ERLC  – Trusting and seeking the Lord when pursuing career opportunities – How all of our work matters to God and can make an impact for God’s Kingdom – Advocating for policies that help people flourish is a way to love our neighbor – Finding rest by reorienting our hearts and minds towards Christ and acknowledging that we are limited and need rest  – The various seasons of life women experience and the danger of comparing your season to someone else’s season – Her struggle with infertility and the path that led her and her husband to pursue adoption   Read more at womenwork.net/podcast.

Blair Linne is an author, speaker, actress, and Christian spoken word artist. She has appeared in numerous theater productions, commercials, and television shows including Days of Our Lives, Alias, Malcolm in the Middle, Boston Public, The Parkers and American Dreams, as well as her own Saturday morning show, SK8 (Skate) on NBC.   Blair has toured globally and is known as one of the originators of the Christian Spoken Word genre. At 13, she was one of the youngest contributors at The World Stage Anansi writer’s workshop. Since then, she has written poetry for Sprite, Neutrogena, NBC, and the Gospel Coalition. She has been featured on ABC’s Nightline, 102.3 KJLH, Revive Our Hearts, the Los Angeles Times, and several Christian Hip Hop albums. Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ through spoken word is her passion.   She lives with her husband Shai and their three children in Philadelphia. Blair serves in discipling women at Risen Christ Fellowship.   She is a contributing writer in the devotional His Testimonies, My Heritage, and her brand new book Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness just released October 1st of this year.   In this episode, Blair discusses: Her testimony and what it was like being a Christian while working as an actress What it was like making the decision to step away from her acting career How God uses her gift and love for spoken word poetry to share the gospel  Her experience growing up with a single mom and her inspiration for writing her book  How the church can minister to single moms and the fatherless    …and more!    Books mentioned:    Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness https://amzn.to/3lRYocL    His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God https://amzn.to/2YYctgl    When Light Meets Water: A Collection of Poetry https://amzn.to/3BW9GlM    The Perfection of Beauty  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kY9In41R1A  

Trillia Newbell is an author and speaker, and currently works as an acquisitions editor for Moody Publishers. This comes after serving for 7 years as the Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention.    She is passionate about issues of faith, family, and diversity, and her writings on this topic have been published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Desiring God, True Woman, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and more.   Her most recently published book is a children’s book called: Creative God, Colorful Us and she’s also written God’s Very Good Idea for children as well.   In this episode, Trillia discusses:  How to transition to a new job or role and knowing when it’s time to make a transition Tips for being productive while working from home  Her passion for seeing diverse ethnicities valued and celebrated  The importance of hiring people based on their skills and not on skin color Personal experience as a black woman working in a predominantly white space    And more!

Amy Whitfield works as Executive Director of Communications at The Summit Church in Durham, NC. She came into this role after serving as the Associate Vice President for Convention Communications for the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Amy co-authored the book, SBC FAQs: A Ready Reference, with Keith Harper, and alongside Johnathan Howe, she hosts the SBC This Week podcast. She is on the steering team of the SBC Women’s Leadership Network and serves on the board of directors of Women & Work. Amy lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, Keith, and her 2 children, Mary and Drew.   In this episode, Amy discusses: – How women can use their gifts on the “front lines" of ministry  – The importance of showing up and taking opportunities – How she keeps the gospel at the center of her work in communications  – The importance of developing people skills and pursuing humility when growing as a leader – Her experience working in a complementarian setting while leading men on her team  – The value of having both men and women on the team and how The Summit is modeling this at their church  – How she and her husband navigate marriage and family when both have key leadership roles  …and, more!   Resources Mentioned: SBC FAQs: A Ready Reference The Church Needs More Deborahs

Ruth Chou Simons is a bestselling and award-winning author of several books —including GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, and Foundations. This month, she released her newest book When Strivings Cease. She is an artist, entrepreneur, and speaker, using each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people’s hearts. Through her online shop at GraceLaced.com and her social media community, Simons shares her journey of God’s grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys–their greatest adventure.   In this episode, Ruth discusses:   What it was like immigrating to the United States as a young child and how God used these circumstances to bring her family to faith  How God has used her gift of creativity and the arts in different seasons of her life  Being a mom to six boys and learning how to surrender to the Lord and experience His sustaining grace  How she uses her work and art to adorn the gospel The importance of beauty in art as we reflect Him as image bearers  What it looks like to steward the value of your gifts and work  How to keep the gospel at the center of your work    …and, more!  Books by Ruth: When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self Improvement with the Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace GraceLaced: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family

In this episode, we speak to Lauren Green McAfee, a speaker, writer, Ministry Investment Coordinator for Hobby Lobby. She is the author of Not What You Think: Why the Bible Might Be Nothing We Expected Yet Everything We Need and Only One Life: How a Woman’s Every Day Shapes an Eternal Legacy. Her grandfather founded Hobby Lobby and currently she works for their corporate office. Lauren and her husband Michael live in Oklahoma City and are the proud adoptive parents of their daughter Zion and soon-to-be-adopted son, known right now as E.   In this episode Lauren discusses: Her experience working for Hobby Lobby corporate The legacy of generosity passed down from her grandfather and how that shapes the vision of Hobby Lobby today How her family came up with the idea and founded the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC The Supreme Court experience that inspired her to pursue a PhD in Ethics and Public Policy  Their calling to pursue adoption and her struggle with infertility  God’s provision when their daughter was diagnosed with cancer  For more information on this episode, visit www.womenwork.net/podcast/. 

This week’s episode features Michelle Stratton, an attorney in Houston, TX whose practice focuses on complex civil, commercial, and white-collar criminal litigation and appeals.  Before entering private practice, Michelle served as law clerk to Associate Justice Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court of the United States and to Judge Edith Jones on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Michelle is married to Brandon, has 3 kids whom she homeschools part-time, and is a member at Christ Community Church in Houston.  In this episode, Michelle discusses:  – The path that led her to become a lawyer and how she images God through her work – Her God-given gifts and aptitudes that prepared her for the work God has given her as a lawyer – The value and importance of having wise mentors and people affirming gifts when choosing a career path  – Her experience working for the Supreme Court and how God used her time in DC to grow her and her husband’s faith – How she views her work in litigation as an instrument of God’s common grace towards mankind  – How she sees her role as wife, mom, and lawyer through a complementarian lens – The importance for all women to have community with one another, no matter if they are single, married, working full-time, part-time, or as a stay-at-home mom   Books Mentioned:  Perspectives on Your Child’s Education: Four Views  View the transcript to this episode here.