Find Your Calling

Interview with Damon Horton Damon Horton joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. As a pastor, author, and former Christian rapper, Damon shares some of his backstory that ultimately led him to his current role as a church planter in Long Beach, California. Damon Horton’s mother heard the Gospel and made a profession of faith at a Billy Graham crusade in Kansas City. This shaped the rhythm of his early life.  He met his future wife in the inner city of Kansas City while doing evangelistic outreach with his parents.  Damon was a natural evangelist utilizing Christian rap to reach youth.  He became a youth pastor and eventually went to seminary.  He pastored several different churches before assuming the role of Executive Director of ReachLife Ministries. Convicted by his calling and with the financial responsibilities of a young family, Damon and his wife left the comfort and security of their current role to become church planting residents at the Summit Church in Raleigh Durham.  From

Interview with Alan Hirsch Alan Hirsch joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. As a pastor, author, and leading missional voice for the church, Alan shares some of his backstory that ultimately led him to the United States as a missionary.  Alan says he’s always been a bit of a rebellious dreamer.  When God got a hold of him and redeemed his calling, a prophetic, “holy rebel” emerged. Alan grew up under the Apartheid system of racial segregation in South Africa.  The unfair system shaped his values and thinking from an early age.  He often found himself in fights because he spoke up for the underdogs.  He describes himself as a “scrapper.”  Alan says, “I now have great respect and love for the edges and fringe in society because that’s where I was.” During his time in the South African army, Alan and his buddies often withdrew to smoke marijuana.  The leader of this rebellious group found Jesus and introduced Alan to him.  As Alan says, “my friend Murray never left the rest of us after

Interview with Brandon Cox Brandon Cox joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. As a pastor and friend to other pastors, Brandon shares some of his backstory that ultimately led him to full-time vocational ministry.  Most recently, his calling brought him to Bentonville, Arkansas where he and his wife, Angie, planted Grace Hills Church. Brandon has pursued his calling from an early age.  At age 17, equipped by several generations of family involved in business, Brandon dreamed of his future making money.  While riding on a bus to a Future Business Leaders of America gathering, Brandon felt God nudging him toward ministry.  After reading Jeremiah 1, Brandon wrote down in his Bible the sense he was feeling:  “called to ministry”. Brandon Cox on Calling In this edition of the Find Your Calling Podcast, Brandon shares his journey of following that nudge on the bus.  After his first few ministry assignments, he was feeling drained and never wanting to be a senior pastor.   However, that

Interview with Mark Batterson Mark Batterson joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. An author, pastor and personal friend, Mark shares some of his backstory that ultimately led him to preach and write, including what he calls his “summer of seeking” and the moment that brought him to Washington, D.C., where he and his wife, Lora, would eventually plant National Community Church. Mark has pursued his entrepreneurial calling in diverse ways, including church planting and writing. A New York Times best-selling author, he has influenced thousands of people worldwide, and in the podcast excerpt below, Mark tells us how people have influenced his calling—those who spoke into his life at a certain point and in hindsight were there in the right place at the right time. Mark Batterson on Calling “I remember my grandfather when I was five years old (he died when I was six) kneeling next to his bed, taking out his hearing aid, and praying for me by name. He couldn’t hear himself but everyone

Interview with Jim Putman Jim Putman joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. In this thoughtful interview, Jim shares his personal story of finding God and the Church (after years of bitterness and resentment toward both), as well as how he found his unique calling as a “coach of unique coaches.” A former All-American wrestler, high school teacher and coach, and now leader of the Relational Discipleship Network, Jim urges churches to think relationally about discipleship. In the podcast excerpt below, Jim identifies what he believes is one of the greatest culprits of Christians forsaking their calling and how helping others find and follow their calling is essential to discipleship. Jim Putman on Calling “One of the problems I think most Christians have is that they don’t understand calling. They think they’re going to get some sort of personal call from God.  They’ve never gotten that, so they think they must not be called. But we all are a holy nation and a royal priesthood. Part

Interview with William Vanderbloemen William Vanderbloemen joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. In it, William offers suggestions for finding and following our personal calling, such as why unlocking our past offers us clues into our calling, as well as discovering what does—and what doesn’t—evoke in us a white-hot passion. Since age six, William has been connecting dots of opportunities—exactly what he does now as the founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group, one of the largest leadership search firms for churches. He articulates his personal calling clearly and succinctly: “I serve the Kingdom by creating connections.” In the podcast excerpt below, William talks about the first time he really understood what it felt like to not be working in his sweet spot. William Vanderbloemen on Calling “After pastoring three churches for a total of 15 years, I went to work in human resources in a large company. It was the first day in my life that I ever understood what people were talk

Interview with Rick Warren Rick Warren joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. In this insightful conversation, he shares his story of discovering his calling and the many factors that contributed to finding specific clarity. As the best-selling author of numerous books, including The Purpose Driven Life, and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, Rick has equipped the worldwide Church and its leaders to pursue both faithfulness and fruitfulness. He has also been a personal friend for a number of years. In the podcast excerpt below, Rick talks about the essential importance of community in finding and following your unique calling, as well as our responsibility to point out calling in others. Rick Warren on Calling “Your calling is connected to other people. You’re never just called in a vacuum. The Bible says that we’re one body, we’re the same spirit, and we’ve all been called to the same glorious hope. Scripture talks about how we’re holy partners in a heavenly calling. Many verses t

Interview with Pete Richardson Pete Richardson joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast.  In this conversation, Pete shares how discovering and following his true calling of “map maker” has led to true clarity for his life. For eight years years, Pete served on the leadership team for the national movement Promise Keepers, helping steer the organization until 2000. It was there that Pete met Tom Paterson from the Paterson Center who introduced him to what would become his future path of life planning—helping individuals and organizations figure out where they are, where God wants them to go and then creating maps for moving them in that direction. Since 1993, Richardson has done 800+ LifePlans. Today, he is a partner and lead trainer at the Paterson Center. In the podcast excerpt below, Pete talks about the importance of understanding and grasping our core identity—the “be” part of the personal calling framework I write about in my book, More. Pete Richardson on Calling “I call the ‘be

Interview with Carey Nieuwhof Carey Nieuwhof joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. Carey shares how he fell backwards into his ministry calling, going from law school graduate poised to work in a top firm, to a student pastor among three area churches, one of which had 16 people. Since age 12, Carey has been passionate about reaching unchurched people. He always dreamed about starting a church his unchurched friends would like. As founder and teaching pastor of Connexus Church near Toronto, Canada, Carey has seen that dream become reality. Over the last several years, he has become known for his insights and focus on serving leaders, regularly writing and speaking to Christian leaders. In the podcast excerpt below, Cary talks about the impact of pursuing our calling even when we don’t have full clarity on it. Carey Nieuwhof on Calling “A lot of people get paralyzed by calling. The one thing I think is true over these last 30-plus years is that even when I was confused, I never stop

Interview with Brad Lomenick Brad Lomenick joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. Brad shares his journey and storyline that have revealed his unique calling as an influencer of influencers. For 10 years, Brad led the four-day Catalyst conference, working with leaders from all walks of life to encourage, empower and challenge young leaders nationwide. Today, he serves a variety of organizations as a freelance consultant and leadership strategist. In the podcast excerpt below, Brad talks about why knowing who we were uniquely created to be (our unique calling) can help us navigate uncharted waters—even when we don’t have full clarity on what the next season will look like. Brad Lomenick on Calling “The thing I have always seen in each of my seasons or assignments is that I was never ready for the next one. I never stepped off the diving board and thought, I’ve practiced this dive so many times that I’m going to nail it. So many times, I stepped off wondering if there was water below.

Interview with Ron Edmondson Ron Edmondson joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. Ron shares what he has learned about finding clarity in his calling as he made the decision to move from the business world into full-time ministry where he has spent the last 15 years leading churches. Ron is … Ron Edmondson: Find Your Calling Podcast Read More »

Interview with Thom Rainer Thom Rainer joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast. Thom shares his journey of discovering his unique identify and specific markers that led him from banking to vocational ministry. Thom has spent the last 30 years resourcing leaders. As president/CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources and the author … Thom Rainer: Find Your Calling Podcast Read More »

Interview with Jenni Catron Jenni Catron joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast.  Jenni shares her journey of gaining clarity on her personal calling. Jenni Catron is a writer, speaker, and leadership coach who consults churches and non-profits to help them lead from their extraordinary best. Her passion is to … Jenni Catron: Find Your Calling Podcast Read More »

Interview with Os Guinness Os Guinness joins us for the next episode of the Find Your Calling Podcast.  His book The Call provides a solid theological foundation and basis for understanding calling.  When I started writing my new book MORE: Find Your Personal Calling and Live Life to the Fullest Measure, Os provided valuable coaching … Os Guinness: Find Your Calling Podcast Read More »

Interview with Francis Chan Francis Chan joins us for the debut of the Find Your Calling Podcast. This episode is Francis’ first interview after a 30 day “technology” fast from phones, texts, and emails. Francis shares insights from his personal journey and how he understands calling. He gives us an update on his church planting … Francis Chan: Find Your Calling Podcast Read More »

Find Your Calling Podcast The first edition of the Find Your Calling Podcast is now live!  Each episode includes an interview with a different leader on the topic of calling. My goals are simple.  First, to help listeners understand the Biblical perspective on calling.  Second, to see how others have discerned their calling.  Third, to … Introduction: Find Your Calling Podcast Read More »