About the Episode In the latest Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews pastor Tyler Burns about his commitment to being a local pastor and how in bearing witness to the pain of his people there comes a newfound power in his sermons. Tyler breaks down his prep for his Q Conference talk and shares a plethora of mentors, pastors and authors who have helped him shape and form a talk. What Tyler shares about his prep process is information you can immediately implement in your own talk creation process. Who is Tyler Burns? Tyler Burns is the President of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective (thewitnessbcc.com), Host of the Pass the Mic Podcast with Jemar Tisby and the Lead Pastor of New Dimensions Christian Center. Tyler is married to Mylena and they have two beautiful kids and live in Pensacola, FL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

About the Episode In the latest Craft & Character episode Steve Carter interviews Spiritual Directors Bill & Kristi Gaultiere about the soul journey every pastor and follower goes on to experience more intimacy with Christ. Bill & Kristi run www.soulshepherding.com and have a heart to help people discover the pathway towards emotional honesty, spiritual maturity and how to handle those dark nights of the soul. Bill & Kristi also work with pastors around taking a sabbath break and how to best structure that so your heart, mind and soul can experience true replenishment. Who are Bill and Kristi Gaultiere? Bill is a psychologist (PhD; PSY12036 in CA) and ordained pastor, specializing in ministry to pastors. He and Kristi are the authors of Journey of the Soul, which was #1 on Amazon in Christian Counseling. He was personally mentored for many years by Dallas Willard and Ray Ortlund Sr. His earlier book Your Best Life in Jesus’ Easy Yoke tells the story of his spiritual renewal from anxious living and burnout and introduces the message and way of Soul Shepherding. As a Spiritual Formation Pastor, he has served in a mega-church and a church plant. He’s also trained over 1,000 lay counselors and taught courses in Christian psychology and spirituality at the graduate school level. He and Kristi train pastors and other men and women in ministry in their Soul Shepherding Institute and Spiritual Direction certificate program. Bill has been speaking in churches and conferences since 1987 and especially enjoys speaking with Kristi. You can listen to their weekly Soul Talks podcast or read their weekly Soul Shepherding blog. Kristi is a psychotherapist (Psy.D.; LPC4 and MFT29887 in CA) and spiritual director for women in ministry and pastors’ wives. She co-leads Soul Shepherding with Bill. She was personally mentored by Jane Willard and Dr. Jan Stoop. As a pastor’s wife, mother, and ministry professional, Kristi offers empathy and wisdom from her experience personally and as a therapist who has spent many thousands of hours caring for people. Kristi enjoys speaking, training, teaching, consulting, counseling, and retreat leading with Bill, as well as recording their weekly Soul Talks podcast.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest Craft & Character podcast episode Steve Carter interviews Westgate Lead Teaching Pastor and Analog Church author Jay Kim about his sermon prep process. Jay is hands down one of the most thoughtful communicators on and off the stage. The process that Jay uses is deeply inspired by his story, his love for music and learning the spiritual gift of lingering. Too often we rush an idea; but Jay will help you see how sitting with an idea and truly lingering on a verse or theme can bring about deep revelation. Jay also talks about his award-winning book Analog Church - a must-read for any church leader. Jay serves as lead pastor of teaching at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley area of California and teacher-in-residence at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, CA. He is also on the leadership team at The ReGeneration Project, where he co-hosts The ReGeneration Podcast. Some of his written work has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Relevant, Missio Alliance, Outreach, and Pastor Resources. Jay is the author of Analog Church (InterVarsity Press, 2020). Analog Church discusses the many challenges and opportunities churches face in the digital age, offering a new and hopeful way forward. My next book, tentatively titled Analog Christian, will be released in 2022. I’m also a contributing author to Before You Lose Your Faith (The Gospel Coalition, 2021) and The Upside Down Kingdom Study Bible (Zondervan, 2023). Jay and his wife, along with their two young kids, call the Silicon Valley area of California home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest Craft & Character Podcast episode, Steve Carter interviews Ben Kirby - author and creator of the PreachersNSneakers Instagram account. Steve and Ben talk openly about the pressure of image management, the power that can come from the pulpit, and what truly motivates what we wear, post on social media, and communicate. Ben opens up about what led him to start the account, the criticism he received, and what he ultimately hopes it will accomplish - especially for pastors. Ben’s love for Christ and the Church is apparent in this episode and it’s a must-listen for any preacher. Ben Kirby is the creator of the viral social media sensation PreachersNSneakers, an Instagram account that caused an uproar across the globe after showing the values of designer clothing preachers were wearing on stage. Along with growing from zero to hundreds of thousands of followers in just a few weeks, his work has been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wallstreet Journal, Buzzfeed, Fox News, Complex, and many more. He also hosts a popular podcast with the ultra-creative name, The PreachersNSneakers Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest Craft & Character Episode, Steve Carter interviews author Winn Collier about the life and legacy of Eugene Peterson. Winn unpacks stories from his latest book, A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson, Translator of The Message. The stories he shares detail how Eugene understood the calling to be a pastor, how his geography shaped his theology, how he fought to have his character lead the way, and what made Eugene such an important pastoral voice. Winn Collier was the founding pastor of All Souls Charlottesville. He now serves at Western Theological Seminary as Director of The Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination & Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Christian Imagination. He is also the director of the Genesis Project. Winn Collier received a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia where his work centered on the intersection of literary fiction and religion, particularly the sacramental landscape of Wendell Berry’s fictional town of Port William. Winn Collier is husband to the beautiful and graceful Miska Tolleson Collier and dad to Wyatt and Seth, who he says have, “pulled strands of love out of me that I didn’t know existed.” “I’m friend to a few misty-eyed men and a few courageous women. I prefer what’s slow over what’s efficient.  I’m weary of all the bullhorns. I’m partial to things that are worn and a bit ragged. I think truth is best told slant. I believe in hope.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews therapist and author Aundi Kolber about the importance of language and tone as a counselor or a preacher. Aundi unpacks the heart behind the message of Try Softer and discusses how pastors can return power to the congregation through their lives and sermons. Aundi’s deep, kind, and thoughtful voice provides insight on what to look for in a pastor and church community. Aundi Kolber is an author and licensed professional counselor in Castle Rock, CO.  Her work has been featured on Relevant, CT Women, The Huffington Post, The Mudroom, Happy Sonship, and Circling the Story. Aundi is a speaker and consultant for churches, mental health professionals, and organizations on topics including trauma recovery, healthy emotional processing, identity formation, and infertility. In 2020 she authored Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode--and into a Life of Connection and Joy. Aundi and her husband live in Colorado with their two children. Thanks to our sponsors: CDF Capital and Food For The Hungry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews Cross Point Church lead pastor Kevin Queen about the important role prayer plays in the preparation and delivery of a sermon. One of the keys Kevin brings to everyday life and the stage is his ability to walk in the Spirit, and talk about the Scriptures in practical and accessible ways while keeping an ear tuned to heaven. Kevin shares how living this way helps him in his sermon prep, in loving his family well, and in his role as lead pastor. Kevin Queen is a husband, father, pastor, and communicator. Born and raised in the Atlanta area, he’s a graduate of the University of Georgia, New Orleans Seminary, and Bethel Seminary. Before joining Cross Point’s staff in August 2017, Kevin served for 14 years on staff at 12Stone Church, a large multi-site church with 8 campuses in Metro Atlanta. During his last 10 years at 12Stone, he served as both a campus pastor and teaching pastor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter talks with Church of the City lead minister Darren Whitehead about identifying the traps that often take senior leaders down. Of the 14 transformational practices offered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, 11 of them deal with sex, money, or power. From there, Darren employs years of research to help us begin to identify the potential traps in our own lives. On the local church front, Darren reveals what the Church of the City is planning for Easter and how his team approaches telling the Resurrection story creatively each year. In 2013 when Darren and Brandy Whitehead and their small team founded Church of the City, they had a vision to plant a family of churches that live in the way of Jesus for the renewal of global cities. The team has now planted 6 congregations across Nashville and New York City. Originally from Australia, Darren has lived in the United States for over 20 years. He earned his Master’s in Ministry from Wesley Seminary and his Doctorate from Capital Seminary and Graduate School, with his dissertation focus on millennials and the future of the Western Church. He recently released his second book, Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship, co-authored with worship leader Chris Tomlin. Darren lives with his wife Brandy and their 3 daughters in Nashville, Tennessee.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews Mars Hill teaching pastor and author Ashlee Eiland about how she writes and rewrites each of her messages, fighting to find the perfect words. Ashlee is a gifted and accomplished author, and she shares her process of journaling, studying, and freewriting to capture the heart and essence of a talk. Ashlee exists to join God in His redemptive work here on earth. Her purpose is to help humanity build bridges back to the truth of who God is and between one another in redemptive, healing relationship. Her passions for Scripture, family, writing, elevating women in the Church, and the holy journey of adoption are core to who she is. Ashlee serves as formation and preaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI, and she is the author of Human(Kind): How Reclaiming Human Worth and Radical Kindness Will Bring Us Back Together. Ashlee and her husband Delwin have three kids, Brooklyn, Myles, and Journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Importance of Preparation with Danielle Strickland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices