We are committed to a lifelong journey of learning and personal development, and we regularly read new books and listen to podcasts to help us achieve those goals. We are often asked for recommendations, so here are a few of our favorites, along with the ways we have found them to be helpful:
While not written from an explicitly Christian perspective, I find her observations about human behavior massively helpful, particularly the ways that shame and avoidance of vulnerability get in the way of the love and belonging we were all made to experience.
This book compiles all of Brene’s research and writings to date into a cohesive leadership framework and philosophy. Even if you don’t implement all the points, there is a lot here for leaders of any group or organization to chew on. I especially found her tips on how to have difficult conversations helpful.
Takes you beyond the surface and shows how what drives much of our behavior (even our best efforts) is not what you would expect.
Submission and honor are topics that tend to be poorly or rarely addressed in churches and ministries, but they are vital to understand. This book was massively helpful to me in my early, formative years of ministry, and helped me navigate feelings of being misunderstood and mistreated.
If I could give one piece of advice to young leaders, it would be to become unoffendable. John shows how offense is not just a weapon that the enemy uses to derail us; it is the weapon.
Hosted by prominent Christian therapist, author, professor, and speaker Dan Allender, this podcast explores many crucial issues (particularly related to trauma and abuse) that leaders, pastors, and anyone working to develop the potential in people need to be aware of.
A great podcast that shares candidly about the ups and downs related to church planting, leadership, and pastoring.
Christine’s stories from her life are incredible. She has conquered so many obstacles including rejection from adoption, racism, sexual abuse, and more. Her testimony is one of hope and restoration.
Lisa talks about the important role of a godly woman and exhorts the church to have the mothers rise up alongside the fathers in the church. This is a very empowering book for women.
Kris shares about his experience walking out of his poverty mindset into a Kingdom mindset. This book is incredibly thought-provoking.
This is the story of a remarkable young woman who gave up everything comfortable in America to serve orphans in Africa. She began adopting children as a young single woman and adopted thirteen kids by the time she was twenty-three. Grab some tissues because her story will rock you.
This is Joyce’s testimony of how she overcame the pain of being repeatedly sexually abused by her father her entire childhood and the deep denial of her abuse by her mother. It is astounding how much pain one person can walk through and in Christ overcome victoriously. This is not light reading, but it is incredibly healing and inspiring.
This book is about Hobby Lobby’s story and their convictions on generosity and building a godly heritage for future generations. As if I needed another reason to love Hobby Lobby more, this book made me their number one fan.
Jason encountered tremendous pain when his wife left him with their three little children to live a life of adultery. His testimony is incredible about how he was able to walk through the debilitating pain by forgiving his ex.
This pastor unknowingly had $20 million stolen from their church by the finance director who was a con man. His church went from 4,000 members to less than 200. He became deeply depressed and gained 100 pounds! His testimony is also about forgiveness and gives hope to anyone hurting.
For God provoking, miracle stories.
For godly inspiration.
For godly living.
For inspiration in motherhood