Embrace Your Strengths

EP 179 Revisiting Strengths Confirmed Her Next Ministry Season with Faye Waidley

Faye's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:,Responsibility, Consistency, Harmony, Belief and Restorative 

Faye has been on Cru Staff for 41 years and currently serves as the Cru City Director of Oneness and Diversity.  She believes God has called His people to be bridge builders in our polarized world and seeks to live out that reality through her life and ministry. 

Faye has been married to John for 42 years. She loves being Mom to Josh, Alex, and Kathryn. She absolutely loves being the “Tutu” (Hawaiian for “Grandmother”) to her two rambunctious grandsons, Liam, age 10 and Gabriel, age 6. 

You can follow Faye on Instagram @fwaidly

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

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EP 178 Loving Her Work, Living in Her Strengths with Kari Kennedy

Kari's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Woo, Activator, Communication, Connectedness & Developer 

In 1998, at her first Cru Winter Conference, Kari stood to her feet as Bill Bright laid out a challenge inviting students to fully surrender their lives to Christ. Though she had no idea what that meant at the time, it launched her toward a life of connecting others to Jesus.

Kari spent 15 years with Cru’s campus ministry, leading teams in Texas and Oklahoma, but it was her time in Ethiopia that shaped her heart for the world. Gripped by a desire to reach the unreached, she spent five years as a Global Missions Director before joining Jesus Film Project in 2017. (total yrs on staff 24)

Kari’s love for connecting the body of Christ to kingdom resources along with her experience serving in Global Partnerships, Global Expansion, and Digital Strategies naturally led to her current role as Director of Global Expansion. She brings two decades of experience to her role and a passion for seeing the Great Commission fulfilled.

When she isn’t on a plane, she enjoys hosting others in her Atlanta home. You might stop by for a bowl of jambalaya but you’ll stay for a life-giving dose of southern hospitality.

Learn About The Jesus Film

Follow Kari on Instagram

Follow Kari on Facebook

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths

 

 

 

EP 177 Caring Deeply in the Heart of East Texas with Dr. Grace English

Grace's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Consistency, Empathy, Relator, Harmony &  Belief

Dr. Grace English is an Internal Medicine Physician and founder of
CARE (Christ-centered Abortion Recovery & Education) and of Deep
in the Heart Ministries. She is the host of “Getting Real to Heal with Dr.
Grace” podcast that launched in 2024. She loves to find testimonies
from people who have experienced the transforming power of Christ in
whatever hardship they have faced. Grace also personally has walked
through the steps of shattering strongholds to finding freedom in
multiple areas of her life so she is passionate about helping others find
the same freedom. Grace is married to John for over 30 years and
they live in Tyler, Texas. They have 3 wonderful adult children Sarah,
Daniel and Matthew who are pursuing their passions as they follow
the Lord for their lives. She loves her new “add-on” babies her son-in-
law Austin & daughter-in-laws Jocelyn and Abby.

Deep in the Heart Ministries 

Getting Real to Heal with Dr. Grace podcast 

Grace English on Facebook 

Grace English on Instagram

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths

 

 

EP 176 Strength for Her Journey: Learning, Leading and Overcoming with Sarah Yusuf

Sarah's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Deliberative, Restorative, Input, Consistency and Learner 

Sarah lives in Aguja, Nigeria snd works with Student Life Movement,  an arm of the Great Commission Movement of Nigeria (GCMN), also known as Campus Crusade for Christ International (Cru).  For 17 years  in her work she has  been actively engaged in discipleship, mentoring, and student outreach She began her spiritual journey in Christ  while watching the Jesus film as a young girl. Her spiritual growth was nurtured through follow-up, Sunday school, and discipleship programs over the years.  

While studying Accounting at the university, she was introduced to GCMN staff, these  connections deepened her faith.. This journey continued throughout her university years and eventually became her divine calling in fulfilling the Great Commission.Her relationship with GCMN played a pivotal role in her personal life as well. A friendship with a fellow GCMN staff member during her university days eventually blossomed into a relationship, leading to her marriage to Dr. Mudasiru Yusuf!  They are blessed with 3 biological  children and one adopted daughter. 

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths

 

 

 

EP 175 Bringing Hope and Joy to Others With David and Christie Gonzales

David's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Woo, Communication, Positivity, Strategic & Developer 

Christie's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Connectedness, Empathy, Responsibility, Positivity & Developer 

David and Christie live in Austin, Texas and have been married for 30 years.  They have three adult children and one grandchild with another on the way!  

David works part-time for The Bible Project and together they are owners of a Cosmetology and Barber School.  They love  people and bring joy and hope to those around them!  

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths

 

EP 174 Understanding Strengths: Loving More Deeply with Warren and Barbara Culwell

Warren's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Harmony, Belief, Communication, Intellection and Analytical 

Barbara's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Harmony, Adaptability, Empathy, Connectedness & Maximizer 

Warren and Barbara live in Austin, Texas and have been married 43 years.   They both enjoy  mentoring men and women and  loving and caring for folks in their home with warm hospitality.  Their two daughters are married and they have 7 grandchildren.  

Recent books Warren is gleaning from are:  Preparing for Heaven by Gary Black and Dallas Willard  and Living Like Backward by David Gibson

ind out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths

EP 173 Intentional Influence for the Long Haul with Dan and Julie Brenton

Dan's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are :Context, Activator, Maximizer, Futuristic & Learner

Julie's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Activator, Relator, Belief, Responsibility & Connectedness 

Dan and julie were married in 1983 and have enjoyed a lifetime of ministry opportunities. 17 years with CRU working with College students and the past 25 years in church ministry. They currently live in Grand Island, NE where Dan is the Lead Pastor at the Grand Island Evangelical Free Church and Julie is the Teaching Director for the local Community Bible Study. They have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren and love pursuing growth in their own marriage as well as helping others in theirs. They have also been presenters at the Family Life Weekend to Remember conferences for 30 years. 

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths

 

EP 172 Experiencing God's Goodness in Her Story of Loss with Amy Sylvestre

Amy's Top 5 Strengths are: Belief, Developer, Empathy, Context and Harmony 

Amy  is a grief and trauma-informed coach who helps individuals find hope, healing, and purpose after experiencing deep loss. Having lost her own son to heart disease, Amy truly understands the weight of grief and the struggle of holding on to faith in the midst of suffering. Through her writing, speaking, and coaching, she encourages people to be honest about their emotions, embrace vulnerability, and hold tight to God’s promises, even when it feels like faith is slipping away. Amy’s approach is rooted in a biblical, trauma-informed framework that empowers individuals to move from isolation to connection, from despair to hope. She offers clear, actionable steps to help clients rediscover their sense of self, find community, and create a path forward, even after life-altering grief or trauma. Amy specializes in coaching individuals who have experienced a variety of deeply painful situations, including child loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, adoption trauma, family fractures, medical trauma, grief, and prolonged singleness. Her coaching style is warm, engaging, and transformative, creating a safe and supportive space for healing. Clients often describe Amy as nurturing, connected, loyal, approachable, and wise—qualities that help them feel seen, heard, and empowered to move forward through their pain. Whether navigating complex grief or life’s toughest challenges, Amy’s compassionate approach helps others rediscover hope, healing, and clarity. Amy holds a masters degree and is certified as a Nothing Is Wasted Trauma-Informed Pain to Purpose Coach. She also works full-time with Nothing Is Wasted Ministries, helping people live fully and purposefully despite tragedy.  

More about Nothing is Wasted Ministries 

Follow Amy on Instagram 

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths

 

EP 171 Relatable Leadership: Building Connections that Matter with Shelby Hoke

Shelby's Top 5 Clifton Strengths are: Responsibility, Discipline, Activator, Relator & Futuristic

Shelby is a technology program manager living in Austin, TX. She credits her first job producing and booking concerts with her now-career of managing and influencing people to get things done. She's an avid traveler who now has to balance her inability to say no to an adventure with being a new homeowner. She's involved in her church, enjoys live music, jogs around Town Lake, and time with friends.

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths

EP 170 Embrace Your Strengths Highlights of 2024

Every episode in 2024 was such a joy to chat with each person as we talked about how their top 5 CliftonStrengths are showing up in their work, life and relationships. Here is a quick flyover of a some of them you might like to listen to or share with a friend! 

# 149 Sisters Celebrating Strengths as Moms with Claire Culwell and Rachel Buchanan

#143 Connecting with My Big Brother: Exploring Strengths with Doug Griffes  

#137Jesse and Tricia  Marcos 

# 138 Soloman and Jamie Wang

#147 Tim Casteel 

#160 Journey to the Likeness of Jesus with Cheryl Fletcher 

#169 Nothing is Wasted with Davey Blackburn

#159 Friends in Life, Work and Loss with Katherine Thorwalson and Madison Bowen

#168 Stepping Up to Use Her Voice to Bring Hope to  Students with Racheal Mwale

#165 An Adventurous Learner in Life and Work with Anabel Jamail 

#151 Compelling Passions in Her Writing and Counseling with Christine Kaskow

#158 Leveraging Her Strengths: Counseling, Caring and Transforming Lives with Cricket Berlin

#167 Guiding Women to Treasure their Sacred Story with Laura Wilcox

#146 Bringing Genunie Joy and Care Every Day with Ophelia Chafagouline 

#134 Leading with His Passion for People with Brett Marcos

#144 Creatingh with Purpose with Hannah Hamza 

#148 Embracing God's Goodness in the Unexpected with Gayle Clark

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment  

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths