The Allender Center Podcast

"Can you be faithful with the small?" -Dr. Dan Allender As we enter a fall that is full of complexity, we're going to be having conversations over the next few weeks on the topic of marriage. Before we dive in, however, we want to emphasize that this is a series for everyone—whether you are single, about to be married, just married, or have been married for a long time. Today, you'll hear Dr. Dan Allender and his wife, Becky Allender, talk about the elements of disruption they have been experiencing in their own lives and marriage, what spending more time together exposes in their relationship, and what they continue to learn about one another during this season of deep change and growth. Resources: Purchase a bundle of our new marriage offerings, including our Marriage Conference, Marriage Online Course, and Date Nights for 15% off—only until October 10, 2020 Listen to a podcast episode with Dr. Steve Call, "Connection in Marriage During a Pandemic" Listen to the "Love and Courage in a Global Pandemic" podcast series Read the blog post "Dance with Me" by Robyn Whitaker

Today we're revisiting a conversation that Dr. Dan Allender had a few years ago with Dr. Chelle Stearns, Associate Professor of Theology at The Seattle School, exploring her ongoing work of developing a theology of abuse. She believes that as a theologian, an artist, and a witness of other artists, she is called—and we are called—to hold together immense sorrow and stunning beauty. Ultimately, Chelle invites us to wrestle with how we address trauma in view of the embodied life of Christ, and how this might change the way we tend to the stories of harm in our own lives and communities. Resources: Watch Dr. Chelle Stearns speak on 'Lament and Hope Through a Trauma-Informed Theology' at The Seattle School's Seventh Annual Stanley Grenz Lecture Watch Rachael Clinton speak at the 2019 Theology & Trauma Conference Read "Let the Lament Come" by Heather Stringer

This week, we're re-sharing the second half of a series Rachael Clinton Chen and Dr. Dan Allender recorded last year on the particulars of spiritual abuse. Throughout their conversation, you'll hear them discuss the effects that spiritual abuse has on our bodies, including dissociation and shame. Because spiritually abusive leaders rarely stop with mind control, they work to create a system in which they can control every aspect—including the bodies—of the people under their authority. Rachael and Dan also explore the long, slow movement of healing in the wake of abuse and the work of tending to small areas of growth, trusting that God is contending for us in the big areas. No matter how long it takes, how can we begin reclaiming our minds and moving back into our bodies? What are the small steps we can take on the long road to healing? As we attune to that which is beautiful and true, and to that which honors the dignity in who we were created to be, we may begin living into the hope that trauma, death, and spiritual abuse do not have to have the last word. Resources Read an article "Enigmas, Myths, and the Shame of the Strong Silent Type" by Beau Denton Read "Leading out of Healing" by Wendell Moss Read "When Shame is Deeper than Salvation" by Andrew Bauman

Last year, Rachael Clinton Chen and Dr. Dan Allender dove into a series on the dynamics of spiritual abuse and forms of trauma that can emerge in situations of spiritual abuse. This week, we're sharing with you their conversation about some of the particulars of spiritual abuse including mind control, dogmatism, suspicion, and loyalty. One of the first categories you'll hear them unpack is mind control, including the implications and consequences of abusive mind control which distorts desire for attunement in order to grow suspicion and mistrust. All of these systems and categories, however, are ultimately about control—structuring power and authority in such a way that spiritually abusive leaders have total control over the minds and bodies of those in their communities. Ultimately, though, Dan and Rachael invite us back to that which spiritual abuse most fundamentally sabotages: hope. Resources: Listen to an episode of the podcast where Dan and Rachael address listener questions about spiritual abuse. Read a blog post, "Dogma, Abuse, and Embodied Theology" Read a blog post, "Tuning in to the Unseen"

Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen welcome back former podcast guest Jimmy McGee, President and CEO of The Impact Movement, to have a conversation about the final two qualities of a well-lived story: curiosity and commitment. According to Dan, Jimmy is one of the most curious people (and voracious readers) that he knows. As they talk with one another about these two qualities of a well-lived story, you'll hear how Jimmy came to be so deeply curious and his commitments to wholeness and formation and to passing on the gifts that he has been given. Resources: Read Between the Dreaming and Coming True by Robert Benson Read Living Prayer and The Echo Within by Robert Benson Read Great Negroes, Past and Present by Russell L. Adams Read How to Be a Christian Without Being Religious by Fritz Ridenour Learn more about pioneer civil rights organizer C.T. Vivian

As our hosts, Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen, continue to explore the qualities of a well-lived story, they invite friend of The Allender Center Danielle Castielljo to engage the topic of courage. Danielle is a writer, mother, and recent graduate of both The Seattle School's MACP graduate program and The Allender Center's Certificate in Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level I and II. Through their conversation, you'll hear many stories from Danielle's life, including her courageous journey to graduate school and the work she is called to do in the world. Resources: Listen to new and past episodes of Danielle's podcast, The Arise Podcast Read A Shining Affliction Learn more about Danielle and her work by visiting her website Listen to a podcast series on Love and Courage in a Global Pandemic Learn more about Danielle's practice, Wayfinding Therapy

"Kindness is disruptive for our good." Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen begin to explore the qualities of a well-lived story, beginning with kindness, in a conversation with their spouses Becky Allender and Rev. Michael S. Chen. They talk about how both Becky and Michael embody kindness, and throughout the episode, you'll hear how stories of both hope and heartache impact how they extend kindness to their spouses and those around them. Resources: Learn more about and apply to Virtual Story Workshop Read a blog post about "The Courage of Kindness" Read a blog post about a Story Workshop participant's experience

What draws you to a human being? This week, Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen begin a new series on the podcast about what makes up the various qualities of and what it means to live a well-lived story. Our own stories are not enough to guide us into living well—we need other people, pictures of, and examples who reveal the very qualities that our stories are meant to reveal. In this episode, you'll hear Dan and Rachael discuss the characteristics of a well-lived story worth emulating and how, over the coming weeks, they'll be inviting special guests to share with us how some of these characteristics have come to be a part of their own life and story, Resources: Watch a video about Wendell Moss on the Unique Honor of Story Work with Dr. Dan Allender Listen to a podcast series about a deep dive into one of our online courses, Story Sage Listen to a podcast episode, What If I Fear My Story?

Today on the podcast, Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen have a conversation with special guest Sarah Bessey, an author, writer, and self-described recovering know it all. She is the author of Jesus Feminist, Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith, and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things. Throughout the episode, you'll hear more about her most recent book, her own story and engagement with trauma, and the ways in which she embodies faith, hope, and love while holding the tension of being human. Resources: Read Sarah's books: Jesus Feminist, Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith, and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things Follow Sarah on Facebook and Instagram Sign up for Sarah's newsletter, Field Notes

In this brief episode, Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen take an intentional pause from our regular rhythms on the podcast. We hope that for each of our listeners this holiday weekend holds moments of not only rest, but also reflection on our collective story as a nation. Stay tuned as we pick back up next week for a conversation with a very special guest and dive deeper into what it means to have a well-lived story throughout the summer. Resources: Explore our brand-new online course, To Be Told Learn more about Virtual Story Workshop Learn more about our Certificate in Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level I