“As Christians we are all called to ministry and all parts of our lives are a part of that calling!”In this episode, Kadi Cole shares from her bestselling book, Developing Female Leaders: Navigate the Minefields and Release the Potential of Women in Your Church. Having only seen women in one role in church ministry, Kadi sought God's will for her own life and discovered her unique gifts and calling did not fit the expected mold. She has since committed her life to helping others discover and walk in their gifts.

God has given the Church so many resources and gifts through its people. It is our job to recognize, equip and release each one to fulfill her irreplaceable role.

Extra Bonus: My daughter, Jessica Downs, joins our conversation and shares about her personal journey and calling while serving as a children's pastor and a new mom.{ USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }

Important Takeaways from Show

Each person brings unique resources and gifts to the ChurchWe should challenge all of our assumptions and paradigms with God's WordAs a leader, we need to connect with a lot of different people to challenge our own biasesScripture does not reflect gender bias in giftingEveryone in Scripture is for everyone; we can identify with male or female characters based on similar experience or giftingAs culture continually shifts, women often feel like they are not enough or too muchUnderstand your top spiritual gifts and focus on your role aloneStewarding what God has given us is a part of our sanctificationWe are called to advocate for others (i.e. the marginalized or oppressed), and to trust God to be our defenderWe need to be both honest and honoring about ourselves and othersSelf-awareness is the ability to understand what is going on inside of you and how it is affecting other people"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." Luke 6:45We cannot avoid hurt or offense; we need the Holy Spirit to help us restore relationships towards true unityAddressing hurts and conflict should come out of a place of healing through the Holy Spirit and be motivated by love rather than revengeRestoration requires: confrontation, healing, and reunited fellowshipRestoration happens when we are both honest and honoring about ourselves and othersThe Church misses complete reconciliation and unity when we leave any section of the body of Christ outPerfectionism is one of the main temptations Satan uses to hold women back

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17: 20-23

Links from ShowDeveloping Female Leaders: Navigate the Minefields and Release the Potential of Women in Your ChurchKadi's Leadership Support Group: Ministry ChickJoanna's Leader Access Pass [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]Connect with Kadi ColeWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Connect with JoannaFacebook | Pinterest | Instagram | TwitterGet Episode Updates!We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)

I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Kadi's interview?