Chrissy Chang

Rupture and Repair | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 4

Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

“Relational turmoil and conflict can indeed be resolved as we work toward mutual reconciliation.“ – Steve Macchia 

When we live in a spiritual community together, it’s inevitable that we will encounter conflict. It can be a challenge to know what to do when someone has broken our trust, sinned against us or brought harm to our life. How do we repair that which has been ruptured? This episode of The Discerning Leader podcast offers practical wisdom to help you remain in healthy relationships and not simply walk away when things get tough.  

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

 

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A Healthy Dose of Humility | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 3

Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

“It’s not only my neighbor’s will but their honor that needs to be more important than mine.”—Steve Macchia 

 Spiritual communities are to be marked by humble and meek followers of Jesus. In this week’s episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Steve and Matt explore questions like: What is the role of humility within a spiritual community? How do we honor and prefer one another over and above ourselves? Tune in to hear more about the ministry of meekness and how we lead others from that posture. 

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

A Healthy Dose of Humility | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 3 Read More »

Listening is an Act of Love | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 2

Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

“Listening and presence are the greatest exhibition of love.” —Steve Macchia 

One of the ways we love and serve each other in our spiritual communities is by learning to listen well. This podcast episode invites you to consider how you can become a better listener as you receive, welcome, and accept another. Offering practical exercises and personal experiences, Steve and Matt offer tangible ways to extend the gift of listening as an act of love. 

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

 

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The Perfect Community | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 1

Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia & Matt Scott

“We are to be like the Trinity and model our lives accordingly.” —Steve Macchia 

The perfect church is a misnomer. But what if there was such a thing as a perfect community? The relationship within the Triune God (Father, Son, and Spirit) is indeed, the perfect community. Beginning with a conversation around the life of the Trinity, Season 35 of The Discerning Leader podcast explores the essentials of spiritual community.  In episode 01, Steve and Matt invite the listener to consider what it looks like for fellow pilgrims on a commonly shared journey to share life together. 

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

The Perfect Community | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 1 Read More »

Easter Sunday – April 20, 2025 | Holy Week Interlude 2025

Holy Week Interlude (2025), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey with us toward the cross, the empty tomb and into the bright light of joy-filled Resurrection Day.

Special Guest: Jeremy Stefano
Reading: John 20:1-10

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Jeremy Stefano (Reader)
Jeremy offers spiritual direction, leads retreats, teaches classes in spiritual formation and serves as the director of LTI’s Emmaus: Certificate in Formational Leadership and Abide: Certificate in Spiritual Formation programs. The heartbeat of Jeremy’s calling is to encourage Christian leaders in the cultivation of their relationship with God. He has served churches as a local pastor, interim pastor and as a visiting Bible teacher in Southern Africa and North America.

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Holy Saturday – April 19, 2025 | Holy Week Interlude 2025

Holy Week Interlude (2025), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey with us toward the cross, the empty tomb and into the bright light of joy-filled Resurrection Day.

Special Guest: Chrissy Chang
Reading: John 19:38-42

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

 

Chrissy Chang (Reader)
Chrissy serves as Online Ministry Coordinator with Leadership Transformations. She is a trained spiritual director through LTI’s Selah Certificate in Spiritual Direction program and serves as Associate Director of Mosaic Network with Mosaic Formation. She has a passion for co-creating spaces with God where others can experience the hospitality of Jesus and grow into their beloved selves in Christ.

Holy Saturday – April 19, 2025 | Holy Week Interlude 2025 Read More »

Good Friday – April 18, 2025 | Holy Week Interlude 2025

Holy Week Interlude (2025), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey with us toward the cross, the empty tomb and into the bright light of joy-filled Resurrection Day.

Special Guest: Matt Scott
Reading: John 19:16-37

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Matt Scott (Reader)
Creative Director
With 15 years of local church experience, Matt has served various churches in the area of worship and arts, community life, shepherding, and pastoral ministry. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv) and the University of Mobile (Worship Leadership and Music Performance), Matt has a heart to shepherd people through songwriting, worship leadership, and pastoral care. He and his wife, Kristen, live in Bluffton, South Carolina with their two children, Emerson and Ashton.

Good Friday – April 18, 2025 | Holy Week Interlude 2025 Read More »

Maundy Thursday – April 17, 2025 | Holy Week Interlude 2025

Holy Week Interlude (2025), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey with us toward the cross, the empty tomb and into the bright light of joy-filled Resurrection Day.

Special Guest: Susan Currie
Reading: John 13:1-17

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Susan Currie (Reader)
Director of Selah
Susan serves as the Director of Leadership Transformation’s Selah Certificate Training Program in Spiritual Direction. Over the past 30 years, she has offered retreat leadership and formation ministry to various church and parachurch bodies. Susan also serves as Affiliated Clergy with All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral in Amesbury, MA.

Maundy Thursday – April 17, 2025 | Holy Week Interlude 2025 Read More »

Wednesday of Holy Week – April 16 | Holy Week Interlude (2025)

Holy Week Interlude (2025), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey with us toward the cross, the empty tomb and into the bright light of joy-filled Resurrection Day.

Special Guest: Steve Macchia
Reading: Mark 14:1-11

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Steve Macchia (Podcast Host & Reader)
Founder and President of Leadership Transformations
Steve is the author of The Discerning Life,  Becoming a Healthy Church, Broken and Whole, Crafting a Rule of Life and several other titles. Steve has over 40 years in ministry and two postgraduate degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Wednesday of Holy Week – April 16 | Holy Week Interlude (2025) Read More »

Tuesday of Holy Week – April 15 | Holy Week Interlude (2025)

Holy Week Interlude (2025), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

The Discerning Leader Podcast pauses its weekly episodes to feature this Holy Week Interlude. As Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, each of these episodes reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. With a daily Scripture reading and excerpt from Outstretched Arms of Grace, these reflections invite you to walk with Jesus through the final week of his earthly life. Journey with us toward the cross, the empty tomb and into the bright light of joy-filled Resurrection Day.

Special Guest: Kim Alexander
Reading: Mark 12:1-12

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Kim Alexander (Reader)
Kim has a passion for empowering women to live in the fullness of their relationship with Christ and leads the Women’s Ministry of The Park Church in Charlotte, NC. She is also founder of Deeper Roots Soul Care, a spiritual director, and Supervisor for LTI’s Selah Certificate Training Program in Spiritual Direction. Kim shares life with her husband, Bishop Claude Alexander, Jr. and their two daughters Camryn and Carsyn.

Tuesday of Holy Week – April 15 | Holy Week Interlude (2025) Read More »

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Mitzi Mak

Selah-West Faculty & Emmaus Faculty

Mitzi started her professional life as a high school social studies teacher. She and her husband Jerry then served cross-culturally for ten+ years, living abroad first in India and then Kurdistan, N. Iraq. In addition to being a Spiritual Director, she now serves as a Formation and Care pastor in her local church in Houston, TX. She has graduated from LTI’s Selah Spiritual Direction training as well as LTI’s Emmaus Formational Leadership Program.

Mitzi enjoys engaging conversation, reading fiction, doing jigsaw/crossword puzzles, ocean gazing and exploring the world with Jerry through food and travel.

God has two main callings in Mitzi’s life: to care for those who care for others and to be a guide in helping others have a healthy relationship with the Trinity – recognizing God’s loving presence and activity in their lives and how to faithfully respond.

“Selah was a transformative experience for me – allowing the contemplative within to emerge and to beautifully co-exist with my extraverted personality.“