In this episode, Dr. Sarita Lyons joins Christine Caine on the Propel Women podcast to talk about what it means to be a “church girl” as a black woman. In this episode you will be encouraged that God’s word is relevant in any and every corner of discovering your purpose, identity and calling. Dr. Sarita will empower you to face the particular spiritual challenges and opportunities you face in the culture and context God has placed you.

Show Notes:

Loving the Local Church

“We should love what Christ loves and we should hate what Christ hates. And one of the things Christ does not hate is the local church.”

Context Matters

This focus is needed for black believers to understand their calling and for all believers to acknowledge that cultural context follows God’s biblical pattern. “Black segments of the world are saying Christianity is a white man’s religion. You need someone like me who has walked a mile in a black woman’s shoes to say no, Jesus came to die for everyone.”

Unexpected Idols and Unidentified Prophets

Over time, God used faithful witnesses to chip away at Dr. Sarita’s idolatry. She encourages us not to underestimate the impact that our small moments of witness might have. “We accomplish more in prayer than we think. God is not weak. God is not slow. And, God is not late.”

Follow @drsaritalyons on Instagram and get your own copy of Church Girl.

Follow Christine @ChristineCaine

Get your FREE reflection guide for journaling prompts or use it as a discussion guide with your community at PropelWomen.org/Podcast.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to leave a review! See you next week on the Propel Women Life & Leadership Podcast.

You can connect with us further at PropelWomen.org or on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Threads @PropelWomen. We can’t wait to hang out with you in your car, during your workout, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

—

Propel Women is an initiative of Equip & Empower Ministries founded by Christine Caine.

We EMPOWER women with biblical wisdom and encouragement, EQUIP women with practical training and education, and MOBILIZE women by providing hands-on leadership opportunities.

No matter where a woman has influence – in an office, in her community, at home with her family, or in ministry – Propel is driven by a calling to equip and mobilize women to become effective co-laborers with Christ and make a difference within their unique spheres of influence.

In this episode, Christine Caine welcomes Katie Modrau, country manager for A21 South Africa. Katie’s story is one of needing to lead and pilot in areas where she was young and underqualified. “Don’t fake it ‘til you make it,” advises Katie, “but learn where your limitations are.” Christine and Katie encourage us to trust that God has put us in the places he has, while remembering it’s our responsibility to learn, grow, and improve our skills in order to steward those opportunities well. Listen in as Katie shares the sobering reality of A21’s work in South Africa and be reminded that God has you where you are for a reason and that no matter how underqualified you feel, you can learn and grow as you lead.

Show Notes:

Remain flexible

Katie had plans to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy, but her life was irrevocably changed when she heard about human trafficking. Even when you feel underqualified and inexperienced, you can move forward and steward God’s opportunities.

Learn Your Limits

Leaders often have to pioneer new things, which means needing to grow and learn on the job, knowing our limits and being honest about them. God uses life experiences to equip us so we can equip others and be patient as they are learning.

Learn as You Go

Katie encourages us to put in the work to develop skills to steward our opportunities well. Faith doesn’t just mean “winging it.” We need to commit to developing strengths and skills for the tasks God has given us.

Leading a Tired Team

To ensure her workers can go the distance, Katie puts practices in place like vacation time and counseling opportunities, but reminds us that each person is responsible to implement those. We are responsible for implementing our own boundaries in the ebb and flow of life’s challenges.

—

Follow Katie on Instagram @KatieModrau. Katie Modrau has her honours in Occupational Therapy (BSc OT) from University of Cape Town and has been working for A21 for the past 13 years as South Africa's Country Manager.

Follow Christine @ChristineCaine

Get your FREE reflection guide for journaling prompts or use it as a discussion guide with your community at PropelWomen.org/Podcast.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to leave a review! See you next week on the Propel Women Life & Leadership Podcast.

You can connect with us further at PropelWomen.org or on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Threads @PropelWomen. We can’t wait to hang out with you in your car, during your workout, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

—

Propel Women is an initiative of Equip & Empower Ministries founded by Christine Caine.

We EMPOWER women with biblical wisdom and encouragement, EQUIP women with practical training and education, and MOBILIZE women by providing hands-on leadership opportunities.

No matter where a woman has influence – in an office, in her community, at home with her family, or in ministry – Propel is driven by a calling to equip and mobilize women to become effective co-laborers with Christ and make a difference within their unique spheres of influence.

In this episode, our host, Christine Caine, welcomes Rev. Dr. Nicole Martin, Chief Impact Officer with Christianity Today. Nicole shares how God has used her education, experiences (both successes and disappointments), and the direction of the Spirit to equip her to live and lead with discernment at home and in the workplace. It’s not just one part of us that God calls to follow him, rather it’s our whole person. Nicole will encourage you today to bring your whole self into every space and place God leads you.

Show Notes:

God’s Detours

In many of the disappointing “side” routes she has faced, Nicole says God has been actively detouring her so that He could sharpen her skills or show her new things He had for her. What divine detours might God be leading you on?

A Seat at the Table

Nicole recalls, “when you get to the table, it’s your job to speak up for who’s not there.” We all have a role in creating pathways for other leaders and voices that are noticeably not present.

Bring Your Whole Self

“Code-switching” and having to adapt yourself to new environments is exhausting. Nicole shares how discernment is learning to “listen to the Holy Spirit to know when it’s time to pull back or push forward,” not because you’re too much or not enough, “but because you’re waiting for the appointed time.”

Do What Only you can do

Our bodies are one way God signals to us that we have limits. If we’re overwhelmed, Nicole suggests it may be time for us to be discerning about what needs to change. Christine shares that none of us can do it all, and we can practice accepting help from others where it’s available, so that we are able to prioritize the relationships and tasks that only we can do.

Follow Nicole @DrNicoleMMartin and Soulfire International Ministries. She is the author of Made to Lead: Empowering Women for Ministry, and her forthcoming book Nailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering and Surrender will be found wherever books are sold.

Follow Christine @ChristineCaine

Get your FREE reflection guide for journaling prompts or use it as a discussion guide with your community at PropelWomen.org/Podcast.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to leave a review! See you next week on the Propel Women Life & Leadership Podcast.

You can connect with us further at PropelWomen.org or on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Threads @PropelWomen. We can’t wait to hang out with you in your car, during your workout, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

—

Propel Women is an initiative of Equip & Empower Ministries founded by Christine Caine.

We EMPOWER women with biblical wisdom and encouragement, EQUIP women with practical training and education, and MOBILIZE women by providing hands-on leadership opportunities.

No matter where a woman has influence – in an office, in her community, at home with her family, or in ministry – Propel is driven by a calling to equip and mobilize women to become effective co-laborers with Christ and make a difference within their unique spheres of influence.