The LDHR Podcast

In this LDHR Podcast episode, Beth interviews Ben Sparkman about BPMT (Building Powerful Ministry Teams) — a practical model for teams to choose cooperation and achieve exceptional results. Ben explains the six components (common purpose, clear roles, accepted leadership, effective processes, solid relationships, and excellent communication) and how they help teams grow, especially across cultures.
Listeners will gain simple, actionable steps to start aligning their teams around a clear purpose, improving processes, and building trust. For next steps and resources, visit LDHR.org, contact your LDHR leader, or message us at llama@cru.org.

Barbara Culwell shares her journey with Cru and her work as a strengths coach, explaining how CliftonStrengths and the CoreClarity framework help people recognize their gifts, deepen their sense of purpose, and serve more effectively in ministry.
She offers practical steps for listeners: take the CliftonStrengths assessment, revisit your top five, consider coaching to unpack results, and intentionally apply your strengths in teams and relationships.
Embrace Your Strengths with Barbara Culwell
Clifton Strengths Assessment 
Want to find out more? Write us at llama@cru.org. 

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast, where ministry leaders grow together. In this episode, Gina Butz discusses why moving beyond surface snapshots to examine our stories matters for leadership and spiritual growth. She shares practical tools—like life maps, journaling worksheets, attachment insight, LEAF coaching, and transformational prayer—and emphasizes emotional self-awareness, community, and compassionate curiosity as pathways to deeper healing and freedom.
 
Make Sense of Your Story
The Place We Find Ourselves Podcast
To Be Told
How We Love Awareness Worksheet
The Emmanuel Promise
Landscapes of the Soul
 
And Gina's Book: Making Peace with Change
 
Contact us at llama@cru.org 

In this episode, Roger Osbaldiston (35 years with Cru, now leading a church network in New Zealand) introduces Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius — a simple, practical framework of six “geniuses” (Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanize, Enablement, Tenacity) across ideation, activation, and implementation to help teams work together better.
Listeners will learn how Working Genius explains behavior, reduces guilt and judgment, maps team strengths and gaps, and equips leaders to be self-aware of the “wake” they create. A simple next step: ask your team what work gives life and what drains it.
For more info, write llama@cru.org.
The Working Genius

On this LDHR Podcast episode Beth interviews Dennis Metcalf about the Career Path Planning tool — a God-centered process to help ministry workers discern calling, clarify strengths, and plan growth. Dennis explains the three-part Career Pathway Map (Know, Discern, Grow) and the Five E’s of development (Expose, Equip, Experience, Evaluate, Environment).
The episode emphasizes listening to God rather than rushing decisions, practical next steps for leaders and staff, and how the tool creates space to make faithful, fruit-bearing choices in vocational ministry.
 
Career Path Planning
Career Pathway Map
Bringing Clarity to Calling

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast, where ministry leaders grow together. This episode explores the Myers‑Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) as a tool for self‑awareness and healthy leadership. Steve Morgan shares his personal journey, explains the four preference pairs of MBTI, and illustrates how understanding type can improve personal growth, team dynamics, and stress management.
Listeners will learn practical next steps for discovering their type, how to use MBTI as a doorway to deeper self‑knowledge (not a label), and how to apply insights to lead and serve others more effectively.
 
16 Personalities Test
Would you like to find out more about MBTI and a coach? Write the llama at llama@cru.org! 

On this LDHR Podcast episode, three Birkman experts—Erin Layne, Cy Farmer, and Mark McGowan—introduce the Birkman Method and explain how it measures underlying needs, interests, usual behaviors, and stress reactions using a four-color framework (red, green, blue, yellow). They discuss how the tool reveals invisible needs, accelerates team formation, and offers a strengths-based, biblically rooted approach to personal and leadership development.
Practical takeaways include naming needs without judgment, spotting stress early, borrowing behavior to increase effectiveness, and stewarding team pace to prevent burnout. To learn more or get started with Birkman, listeners can contact birkman@cru.org.
 
Workvivo Birkman Community
Workvivo Birkman Certified Professionals

Welcome to the LDHR Podcast with guest Terry Morgan. In this episode, we explore the Embracing Feedback course, why feedback matters, and practical ways to give and receive it. Terry shares the origin of 30 Days of Feedback, lessons on using questions and heart-centered approaches, and tips for building feedback-rich, cross-cultural teams. Learn simple steps you can try this week to strengthen positive feedback and invite growth, and find the course at LDHR.org to dive deeper.
Embracing Feedback Course

Bob Tiede, who has served for 54 years in Cru, shares how switching from directing to asking transformed his leadership. He explains the difference between diminishers and multipliers and why self-awareness and humility matter.
Bob introduces a simple toolkit you can use immediately: four short questions, plus techniques for giving feedback, inviting ideas by asking "What might we do?", and helping people own solutions.
Leading With Questions Blog
Bob's Free eBooks
Leading with Questions Seminar Cru25
 

In this final Across the Ages episode, ministry leaders from four generations discuss development, retention, and separation across the staff life cycle.They explore what helps people feel seen, valued, and supported—from clear development pathways and creative leadership handovers to meaningful recognition, flexibility, and healthy offboarding practices.Listeners will hear practical steps and real stories to help organizations nurture staff, prevent unnecessary exits, and send people well when it’s time to move on.