Women & Work: Stepping into Kingdom Productivity

#35 Vaneetha Risner, Author, Speaker & Sufferer

Vaneetha writes and speaks about finding hope in suffering. Her memoir, Walking Through Fire as well as her devotional, The Scars That Have Shaped Me both encourage readers to turn to Christ in their pain. Some of her greatest joys are being a wife to Joel and a mother to Katie and Kristi, and you can find her embarrassing them in Raleigh, NC, or online at vaneetha.com. Vaneetha writes regularly for Desiring God and has been featured on Family Life Today, Joni & Friends, and Christianity Today.

 

She also has an upcoming Bible study with Lifeway Christian Resources that releases in May of 2023 entitled Desperate for Hope: The Questions We Ask God in Suffering, Loss, and Longing. 

 

In this episode, Vaneetha shares her life story which includes:

• Her polio diagnosis at 3 months old
• Her years of living in a hospital as a child and how that affected her view of God
• How she came to faith in Christ
• How she dealt with divorce and forgave her husband
• Her grief and God’s supernatural comfort after several miscarriages and the loss of her newborn baby
• How the Lord brought her to remarry
• Her more recent debilitating diagnosis of post-polio syndrome
• How He has used all of this to bring her to her current calling of serving others through writing and speaking

 

Recommended Resources from Vaneetha:

• Walking Through Fire
• The Scars That Have Shaped Me
• Desperate for Hope

#34 Kelly Minter, Author & Bible Teacher

Kelly Minter is an author, Bible teacher, and podcaster. Her most recent Bible study from Lifeway publishers is called Encountering God - Bible Study Book: Cultivating Habits of Faith Through the Spiritual Disciplines. Kelly speaks around the country and also works closely with Justice & Mercy International in the Amazon jungles of Brazil as well as the Eastern European country of Moldova.

 

Kelly is deeply passionate about teaching the Bible and believes it permeates all of life. Her love for the Word of God led her to create her Cultivate Event, an event centered around Scripture, worship, prayer, and mission. She is also the host of the Cultivate podcast, a weekly podcast where she walks through Scripture with her listeners.

 

When she’s not writing, traveling, or speaking, she enjoys time in her garden, cooking, and being with her friends and family. A Southern transplant, she delights in long walks, her local church, meaningful conversation, and coffee in her Justice & Mercy International diner mug.

 

In this episode, Kelly discusses:

– How God clearly thwarted her plans for a music career and steered her into Bible teaching and how women can adjust when they sense God doing this in their own lives

– Her most recent study on the spiritual disciplines and through which one she most encounters God

– Her process for writing Bible studies

– Her love of cooking and why sharing meals within community is good for Christians

– How we image God in cooking and gardening

– Her work with Justice & Mercy International, a non-profit organization that exists to make justice personal for the poor, the orphaned, and the forgotten of the world, primarily serving in Moldova in Eastern Europe and in the Amazon region of Brazil (Follow them on Instagram).

 

Mentioned Resources:

• Finding God Faithful: A Study on the Life of Joseph 
• A Place at the Table: Fresh Recipes for Meaningful Gatherings
• Encountering God - Bible Study Book: Cultivating Habits of Faith Through the Spiritual Disciplines
• Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy - Bible Study Book (Revised & Expanded) with Video Access

#33 Nikki Lawrence, President of BLACK+DECKER

Nikki Lawrence is a connector by nature. Her warm personality leaves little room for anyone to be a stranger for too long. This trait has fueled her pastime and helped Nikki charm audiences as a Mistress of Ceremony at conferences, fundraisers, and events all across the country. By day, she is a Corporate Executive for a Fortune 500 Company with a global team and multi-billion dollar portfolio. She has been with her company for 19 years and held a plethora of leadership roles for almost two decades.

Among her passions is the desire to see women from every walk of life walk boldly into whatever God has called them into. When she can combine her love for hospitality and/or developing people with helping women on their leadership journey, she is in her happy place.

Nikki lives in Baltimore, Maryland, and in her free time, she is daydreaming about home décor projects, road-tripping with friends, or playing with her niece and nephews.

In this episode, Nikki shares:

• How she saw God’s hand in leading her to the profession she’s in today
• The importance of networking
• How she views ministry in the marketplace
• The significance of both one’s IQ and EQ 
• The top leadership lessons she’s learned over the years
• The power of a “shaky yes”
• The importance of diversity in the workplace, as well as mentorships and sponsorships

Resources Mentioned: 

• Lifeway Women Live

 

#32 Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, Research Professor of English and Christianity & Culture

This episode of the Women & Work podcast features an interview with Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, a Research Professor of English and Christianity & Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

 

She is the author of Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me (T. S. Poetry Press, 2012), Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More—Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist (Thomas Nelson, 2014), and On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books (Brazos 2018). She is co-editor of Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues (Zondervan 2019) and has contributed to numerous other books. 

 

She is host of the popular podcast Jane and Jesus. She has a monthly column for Religion News Service. Her writing has appeared at Christianity Today, New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, First Things, Vox, Think Christian, The Gospel Coalition, Books and Culture and other places. She is a Contributing Editor for Comment, a founding member of The Pelican Project, a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, a Senior Fellow at the International Alliance for Christian Education, a Senior Fellow at the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture and is a former member of the Faith Advisory Council of the Humane Society of the United States. 

 

She and her husband live on a 100-year-old homestead in central Virginia with dogs, chickens, and lots of books.

 

In this episode, Dr. Prior discusses with Courtney and Missie:

 

–– Why she considers herself first a reader before a writer

–– How she realized writing and teaching were what God had called her to vocationally and how 

     listeners can discern their own calling

–– How she helps readers navigate literary pitfalls as well as read in light of the gospel

–– How reading builds character and how literature can help us discover “the good life”

–– How her work as a writer and professor images God

–– How she views her own unintentional childlessness in light of her profession

–– Advice for aspiring writers 

 

Mentioned on the Show:

• On Reading Well
• Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me
• Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues
•  Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More, Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist 
• Jane Eyre: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting
• The Scarlet Letter: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting
• Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting
• Frankenstein: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting
• Sense and Sensibility: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting
• Heart of Darkness
• Pride and Prejudice

 

If you find that the Women & Work Podcast is inspiring you to more confidently step into your God-given calling and view your work as meaningful to the kingdom of God, would you consider partnering with us by making a tax-deductible monthly or one-time donation? Go to womenwork.net/donate today. Thank you!

 

#31 Ask Anything with Missie Branch & Courtney Moore

#30 Courtney Moore, Founder + President of Women & Work

Courtney Moore is the Founder and President of Women & Work, as well as co-host of the Women & Work Podcast. She holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Mobile and an M.A. in Biblical Counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Courtney is passionate about seeing Jesus Christ honored by women as they steward their gifts and leverage their unique potential for His glory. She has been married to Brent for 15 years. They have 3 great kids and live in El Paso, TX where Brent pastors LIFEchurch.

In this next get-to-know-your-host episode, Missie interviews our beloved founder, Courtney Moore. Courtney is passionate about seeing Jesus Christ honored by women as they steward their gifts and leverage their unique potential for His glory. Her and her family live in El Paso, Tx where they serve in church ministry.

 

In this episode, you get to learn more about Courtney’s story, including: 

 

• The Story of Women & Work
• Growing into Leadership Roles
• Stepping Out in Faith 
• Work in Seasons

 

We hope this episode encourages you to view your work as meaningful to the kingdom of God. 

#29 Missie Branch, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Missie Branch currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Graduate Life at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to Deuce and they have 4 children. Missie is passionate about women seeing themselves as disciples and theologians. She’s a published author, chairwoman of the trustees at Lifeway Christian Resources, and of course, one of our beloved podcast hosts!

 

In this episode, Missie discusses:

✨Her journey from owning a successful cake business to becoming the Associate Dean of Students at SEBTS. 

✨Women and leadership and some of the messaging women hear 

✨Women leaders in the black church and the positive influence that has had on her.

✨Being in predominantly white spaces and what she has learned about being in a culture that is different than her own.

✨A kingdom-minded vision of all peoples living reconciled. 

 

And so much more. Missie is so wise and we are so thankful for her contributions to our team and to the broader evangelical culture.  We loved this episode and getting to know her more and hope you were as encouraged as we were. 

#28 Dr. Sarah Rainer, Children & Families Psychologist

Dr. Sarah Rainer has her Masters and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology. She specializes in child and adolescent mental health and development. Sarah is also the co-host of the Parenting & Pennies podcast on the Christian Parenting podcast network. Sarah serves in leadership at her church for women’s discipleship and enjoys discipling other women. She enjoys being a guest writer, speaker, and podcaster for different organizations.

 

In this episode, Sarah shares about her career as a Clinical Psychologist, caring for parents and caregivers, navigating a demanding career and family, and viewing all work as ministry.

#27 Melissa Kruger, LIVE at Cultivate Conference

On this episode of the Women & Work podcast Courtney Moore and Missie Branch interview Melissa Kruger, Director of Women's Content at The Gospel Coalition. This episode was recorded live at Cultivate Conference in March of 2022 at The Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

 

Besides serving at The Gospel Coalition, Melissa is also an author and podcast co-host. Her books include The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World and Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood. She serves alongside Jackie Hill Perry and Jasmine Holmes as co-hosts of the Let’s Talk podcast, produced by TGC. Melissa is married to Mike, the president of Reformed Theological Seminary, and they have three children.

 

In this episode, Melissa shares about her role at The Gospel Coalition, how her work has changed in different seasons, on discerning the Lord's call on their lives, how to form a Kingdom perspective on work, and so much more.

#26 Jess Barefield, Interior Designer and Business Owner

Jess Barefield is an interior designer and business owner, wife and mom of 3. She has a love for beautiful and practical spaces that comes from years of executing her own interior design dreams. Jess grew up in Pittsburgh and made stops in Philadelphia, Washington D.C, and Atlanta before settling in Dallas. Living in so many different houses helped her to appreciate the impact a well-designed home can have on family life. After doing it so many times for herself, Jess wants to help other families create a home that reflects who they are and beckons them home after a long day. 

 

Jess is married to Christian hip-hop artist Trip Lee and mother of three. Jessica understands the importance of balancing style with functionality. She firmly believes that our homes should not only be beautiful but also serve our needs. And even with kids, it is possible to have both. Ultimately, Jess wants to help you love where you live.

 

In this episode, Jess discusses: 

• Her work as an interior designer
• The danger of comparison
• Serving to the point of exhuastion and believing that we as caregivers must also care for ourselves