Claim OwnershipBe the Difference
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The Be the Difference Podcast by Back2Back Ministries shares stories of everyday people who are being the difference in the lives of others. Hear what they’ve learned, obstacles they’ve overcome and why it’s worth it.
113 Episodes
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Chris and Sammy are joined today by Marie Edwards. Marie is the daughter to two parents described as “servant-hearted to their core” by most who know them. Marie is the Out of School Program Director for Community Building Institute in Middletown, Ohio. Marie recalls her childhood and adolescence fondly in this episode, sharing that they were always giving and serving as a family, and she never knew any other way.
In this episode, Marie shares what it was like growing up with parents who were missionally minded and incredibly generous. She shares about being deeply embedded in her community and what it means to be in community and to see one another. Hear about how she discusses generational impacts of gratitude and giving, how her own journey of self awareness has grown, teaching her she has to fill her own cup in order to offer to others, and listen for a special thank you at the end from a fellow Back2Back staff member.
Learn more about The Community Building Institute
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Child Sponsorship is a global program operated by hundreds of organizations around the world. In today’s episode, Chris and Sammy discuss the profound impact of sponsorship programs globally, the way it’s more about relationship shared than money exchanged and an opportunity we all have to be the difference.
In this episode, Steph Duff joins Chris and Sammy to share her experience as a child sponsor. Steph is the Inspirational Copywriter for Back2Back Ministries and a strong voice advocating for vulnerable children and families around the world. Hear the ways God pushed her out of her comfort zone and into dependence on him, how being a sponsor grew her up and why it's worth it to invest in something that is not about her.
Links to learn more:
Interested in being a child or family sponsor? Find opportunities for sponsorship!
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Two years ago, at just 24-years old, Megan Henderson said “yes” to God’s call to step into the role of single foster parent. Now a mom to four kids under the age of five, and a staff member at Venture Church in Harrisburg, NC, Megan lives out the church’s mission daily to be a community of people that strive to love loud, risk often, and hope always.
In this week’s episode, Megan shares the moment she knew she was called to be a foster parent and how she learned to surrender control and let God build her family.
Hear why she believes fostering is about more than just kids, how her perspective has shifted when it comes to sharing kid’s stories, and the ways her community rallies around her to make this story possible.
Links to learn more:
Learn how to become a foster parent in your state Foster Care State Directory
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Chris & Sammy are joined by Back2Back Executive Director, Todd Guckenberger! Todd is a husband, father, leader, and visionary. After over 25 years of galvanizing a global staff team, Todd shares the why behind the recent rebrand and why this work continues to be a top priority.
In this episode, Todd shares about a tree house in Monterrey that is expanding with a growing tree, and how that correlates with the organization's rebrand. Todd reflects on his global team and how they challenge him everyday to continue in this fight of pursuing vulnerable children and families. Hear how key phrases helped develop the ministry’s rebrand and what they mean to Todd and the work being done around the world, what he believes Back2Back’s greatest resource is, and how God keeps him, and his team, relentless in the work to ensure every child and family is known & loved.
Learn more about Back2Back Ministries and see the new look!
Today, Chris & Sammy give listeners a special sneak peak into something big for Back2Back. We are on the verge of a rebrand! Join them as they share about the idea behind life verses and mission statements, and why they matter both for global organizations like Back2Back and for each of us individually.
In this episode, hear Chris and Sammy share about life verses they’ve held onto through different seasons and why they believe they are a guardrail for what comes next in our stories. Hear about the beauty they both find in the mission of Back2Back and how those things will still be carried through to this new, rebranded season, while also expanding. To end this quick episode, Sammy and Chris leave listeners with a challenge and encouragement for finding our own brand and mission.Learn more about Back2Back Ministries
Jayne Schooler is a wife, mother, grandmother, advocate, writer, and voice of wisdom on trauma and its effects on our brains, bodies, and relationships. She and her late husband, David, are beloved, trusted experts on trauma-informed care, how homes should be for healing, and how to step into hard stories with foster and adoptive youth. Jayne is the author of multiple books around foster care, adoption, and trauma-informed parenting, and today she joins Chris and Sammy to discuss her newest book, Caring for Kids from Hard Places, which she co-authored with her beloved husband.
In this episode, Jayne shares when she first began dreaming of becoming a writer and what initially sparked it, who her first book was dedicated to and why, and how 1977 was a year that would forever change the trajectory of her and David’s lives and mission. Hear how their journey started as gathering information for their own home and children to being information they needed to share with everyone, why she believes if we don’t have hope, we don’t have anything, and why David’s thoughts on two chair universities and curious compassion will continue to be celebrated and live on.
Links to learn more:
Pre-Order Caring for Kids from Hard Places today!
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As Chris & Sammy look forward to May, which is Foster Care Awareness month, they share the number of children and youth in foster care in the United States today. As they reflect on this statistic, they share their thoughts and views on foster care.
In this episode, find out what surprises Chris most about the statistic shared and how he and Sammy first were introduced to foster care. Hear how Chris and his team view every child and family they serve and the three buckets they use to determine how to best serve them, how when we learn stories of those separated from, when we see them as children of God, often deeply wounded, it changes how we approach foster care and every single person within it.
Links to learn more:
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Today, Chris and Sammy are joined by Caleigh Willis and Cristen Johnson. Both work for the Anthony Munoz Foundation; Caleigh is the Assistant Director and Cristen is the Director of Programming. The Munoz Foundation seeks to impact the lives of the Greater Cincinnati area youth mentally, physically, and spiritually through their seven Impact Programs. After over two decades of service, more than 55,000 youth have been influenced through the foundation.
In this episode, Caleigh and Cristen share what their high school selves would think of their current career path and how service was modeled for each of them at an early age. Hear about their drive to serve others, the character they each bring to the table and instill in emerging generations, and why donuts are something to celebrate.
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76 | Warrior of Eden | A Conversation with Beth Guckenberger
March is International Women’s Month, and today Chris and Sammy are joined by Beth Guckenberger! Beth is a wife, mom, beloved abuela, author, and speaker. Beth joins us today to talk about her newest book, Warrior of Eden and how she hopes to facilitate conversations honoring women all around the world through it.
In this episode, Beth shares why the release date for her 14th book felt different and, in some ways, more difficult. She shares how the idea for this book was born and why she considers this conversation one of “and,” not “or.” Hear her concerns about being misunderstood with this book’s publication, why Genesis 2 is key to this conversation, and why this is a book and conversation for both men and women today.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Back2Back Ministries
Get your copy of Warrior of Eden
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Kevin Corey is an Indiana native, a husband, father, grandfather, Veteran, and the Executive Director of Wesley Chapel Mission Center. Wesley Chapel is a guiding light and trusted haven that empowers children and families in Over-the-Rhine to practice Christ-like actions that transform the community. Kevin is a former DARE officer, youth coach, and mentor; he has documented his own upbringing and faith in his book Core Redemption: Using Your Trauma to Fuel Your Triumph.
In this episode, Kevin shares what made him say yes to moving to Cincinnati, how he wakes up in the morning, and what exactly he and his team do when they step into hard stories. Hear how a medical condition transformed his life, how he describes the atmosphere around the work he does, and why offering space to draw near to safety in the midst of danger is a key part of what he and his team do at Wesley Chapel Mission.
Links to learn more:
Wesley Chapel Mission Center
Kevin's Book Core Redemption
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To kick off February’s episodes, Chris and Sammy discuss two statistics concerning after-school programming and what access means for a child or teen and how do we measure the things that don’t happen as success?
In this episode, Sammy and Chris dive into why after school programming matters so much, and why these programs are a solution for everyone, not just youth who have difficult home lives. Hear how Chris encourages his staff team to measure the outcomes and the non outcomes, and what this means; listen in to better understand why seeing kids just getting to be kids is a huge win.
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Patience Dimka is a wife, mother, psychologist, and the Assistant Site Director of Back2Back Nigeria. Her time with Back2Back began as a staff psychologist using innovative and unique approaches to provide presence and trauma-informed care to vulnerable children when and where she could. She now helps lead an entire staff team in providing holistic care to those in her own country.
In this episode, Patience shares about what her 10-year old self would think about her current job and lifestyle, and what led her to the work she does everyday with Back2Back. Hear about the unique ways and locations Patience used to connect with children who didn’t know how to use their own voice, why she believes trauma competent care is a lifestyle, and what she comes back to on the hardest days to keep moving forward.
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Happy New Year! This week, Sammy and Chris are discussing what it really means to be an expert. How much training is necessary, why training matters, and how they have each seen it make a difference in the experience of being the difference in the lives of others.
In this episode, Chris shares a recent statistic he heard on how much training is required for several different career paths. Hear how training has impacted each of their own journeys, the balance to be found between having adequate training and never truly feeling like an expert and why there has been a global shift toward increased training and equipping.
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As we close out 2023 we are grateful for another full year of stories of everyday people being the difference for one! Together, we’ve listened to stories of grit, determination, following promptings without knowing how things will end, and how people, everyday, choose to show up for others and leave an impact that won’t be forgotten. Thank you for joining us, sharing with us, and gathering around others to ensure they feel known and loved.
In this episode, Sammy and Chris share a Back2Back tradition called “picture of the day” and share each of their own “pictures of the year” from the podcast. You’ll hear about moments they’ve loved, felt challenged, and grown as a result of people sharing their stories. Hear about their highlights in the third annual Year in Review.
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As 2023 is drawing to a close, Chris and Sammy come together today to share reflections on the last year and the many guests who are being the difference right where they are, and discuss how you, the listener, can be a difference, too!
In this episode, Chris and Sammy share their top ten ways you can make a difference right where you are. Bring holiday cheer to those around you by surprising a neighbor with a gift or act of service, plan a mission trip for 2024 with your friends or family, volunteer locally, take intentional time to bless populations often isolated in this season, sponsor a child, trade ornaments with someone you love, or gift an experience to someone in your life. Being the difference doesn’t have to be expensive and, in some cases, it doesn’t cost anything but time; you can ask intentional questions, hold stories well, or share an episode of your favorite podcast to someone you love. We can make the spaces around us kinder, more beautiful, and significantly more intentional when we take these easy steps toward another human.
Links to learn more:
To donate tickets to events for a gifted experience:
https://www.mostvaluablekids.org/
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Azubike Kalu is a husband, father, former tutor, and current Director of Back2Back Nigeria. His journey with the ministry began with tutoring, and over time, he became captain of a children’s home, then an assistant director, and now he leads an entire staff team in providing holistic care to vulnerable populations in his own home-country.
In this episode, Azubike shares who mentored him well in his younger years, the lessons he’s collected from his many roles within Back2Back, and what keeps him up at night. Hear what Azu returns to on the hardest days, why a trauma-informed Back2Back school was so important for the families of Nigeria, and what has been made possible in the lives of kids and families because that school now exists.
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In the midst of headlines of war, civil unrest, embattled opinions and election news the world can quickly become overwhelming. How can we be the difference when headlines feel so heavy? Sammy and Chris dive into this question and discuss ways they each navigate the call to be the difference even when the world feels overwhelming.
In this episode, Sammy and Chris share the ways they each navigate the constant influx of news we all experience each day. Hear the questions Chris asks himself before engaging with a difficult topic, how we can approach every situation through the lens of the gospel and when the kindest thing to do for ourselves and others is to take a step back.
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On October 11th, many people joined Back2Back staff in-person and virtually at the annual A Night of Hope. It was a night for many to recall just how many different people are being the difference in the lives of those around them. It was a night filled with conversation, emotion, and story. A special part of the evening was hearing directly from Beth Guckenberger, Back2Back Co-Executive Director, about what it means to stay. The ripple effects of her talk have been poignant and life giving for each of us.
In this episode, Beth will dive into the question she is asked most often - what makes you wanna stay? Hear about what Beth means when she says she has steel in her spine, what 65% of our conversations are based on, and how the story of Rahab, a story of Beth’s family, and a story about a young woman in Nigeria are connected. Today, take a moment to listen and be reminded that the story isn’t over yet.
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Listen & watch the full program from A Night of Hope
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Rick and Lisa Bursey are husband and wife, mom and dad to two boys, and officially the new Site Directors for Back2Back’s ninth global site in Linares, Mexico! Originally from Ontario, Canada, the Burseys have long served children and said yes to every big and small moment God has extended an invitation. In 2008, they quit their jobs, sold their belongings, and moved two hours south of Monterrey, Mexico to a small town called Linares. Today, they are excited for the future of the Linares site and all it will provide for the children they serve.
In this episode, Rick and Lisa share the three words they’d use to describe their life in Canada, how saying yes was like building muscle over time, and why they believe comfort can breed discomfort. Hear how Lisa responded when God put hungry, sad, or withdrawn people in front of her, how one of Rick’s worst moments led to the opening of Possibilities House, and why patience and perseverance are words, and attitudes, they live by.
Join Rick and Lisa at A Night of Hope!
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Learn about Possibilities House
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Today, Sammy and Chris welcome back Beth Guckenberger! Beth is the Co-Executive Director of Back2Back Ministries, an author, speaker, wife, and mom. Today, she is sharing about her newest children’s book!
In this episode, Beth shares about a conversation she still remembers having with her mom in the third grade and how it still impacts her today. Hear how Beth defines spiritual warfare, how to frame conversations around it with children, and why a children’s book moves those conversations forward for all of us.
Links to learn more:
Order your copy of The Heart Who Wanted to be Whole today!
Join Back2Back Staff on October 11th for A Night of Hope!
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