The Communitas International Podcast

Cultivating Emotional and Spiritual Health: A Conversation with Mike Kuder and Daphne Fisher

At Communitas, we hope people will be empowered and trained well for the task at hand, but to be spiritually mature we must be emotionally mature as well. Mike Kuder and Daphne Fisher share how they implement Emotionally Healthy Discipleship which is an experiential learning process done in a community and available for all. Check out the links to find out how to participate and go to the learning hub for information on accessing other training options.
This episode dives into the tools, practices, and profound insights that the Emotionally Healthy curriculum offers, including the importance of silence, stillness, and relational health. You'll hear about personal stories, practical takeaways, and the incredible impact this material has had on participants around the globe. Whether you're in ministry or seeking personal growth, this conversation offers a compelling invitation to deeper emotional and spiritual wellness.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
The importance of integrating emotional health into spiritual practices.
How silence and stillness can transform your daily connection with God.
The power of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality and Relationships courses in fostering growth.
Practical tools for navigating conflict and fostering healthier relationships.
Insights into the benefits of a Rule of Life and how it can shape your spiritual journey.
About our Guests
First as team members with Mountainview church near Madrid and then with Lisboa Matrix in Portugal and as leaders of Grace Community Church, Daphne Fisher and her husband David have been involved for several years in broader roles as leaders with Staff Care and Development (SCD) and the Europe Advancement Team. As of the end of 2020, Daphne left her role as co-director of Communitas SCD to continue to follow her heart for the wellbeing of Communitas staff on a more personal, less administrative level. Together they continue to lead locally in a variety of ways that are helping people in their community get closer and deeper with Jesus and explore His desires and purposes for their lives. She loves to see others grow and to grow along with them, looking for ways to share how knowing Jesus has changed her! She also loves being a grandmother and staying in touch with her California kids and grands!
Mike Kuder was born and raised in Northern New Jersey. He spent the first 20+ years of his working life building the family business alongside his parents. In 2004 he had his first exposure to mission and ministry in Europe. Observing the vast difference between American Christian culture and that of post-modern, post-christendom Europe was a life-changing experience which led to a decade of study and practice of missional incarnational ministry. Mike served as a youth leader, and most recently as elder and pastor of a large growing church in NJ, where he trained and empowered leaders and everyday folks to embrace mission as lifestyle. “Helping others imagine themselves as God’s instruments of the kingdom” is his passion. Mike continues to reside in Northern New Jersey with his wife of 25 years, Heidi, and their two beautiful daughters, Madeleine and Brigitte. “We love the incredible culture, diversity, and yes, even the challenges that are afforded to us because of our close proximity to New York City – the greatest city in the world!”
Resources Mentioned:
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
Communitas Learning Hub https://learninghub.gocommunitas.org/ 
Connect With Us:If you found value in this episode, please share it with friends or family. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and let us know your thoughts! You can find the Communitas podcast on all major podcast platforms.
Call to Action:Transformation begins with one step. Explore how Emotionally Healthy Spirituality can guide you to a more profound connection with God and others. Check out the resources above and consider joining a cohort.
 

Maintaining Healthy Rhythms; With Stephanie Gutierrez

Stephanie Gutierrez, missionary care manager at Modern Day Missions, discusses the importance of maintaining personal boundaries and finding healthy rhythms to prevent burnout. Stephanie emphasizes the value of being moved by need, but not led by need as we respond to those around us. Learning to listen is paramount as it's so close to helping others feel loved.
About Stephanie
Stephanie Leigh Gutierrez is a certified life and leadership coach, podcast host, marriage speaker, and former missionary. She is also the missionary care manager at Modern Day Missions and hosts the Modern Day Missionaries podcast. Additionally, Stephanie and her husband Danny are the founders of Footrock, a nonprofit organization that hosts retreats for Christian missionaries and Spanish-speaking pastors.
Resources Mentioned
Podcast: https://mdmpodcast.org/
Modern Day Missions
Stephanie Leigh Gutierrez
Email: info@modernday.org
Connect with Communitas:
Website: https://gocommunitas.org/
Instagram: @gocommunitas
Podcast episodes and more: https://linktr.ee/communitasinternational

Relational Skills: With Chris Coursey

Chris Coursey shares that God is glad to be with us! If we truly know that, it transforms not only us as individuals but all of our interactions with others. Those interactions are strengthened when we use the 19 relational skills that should be learned, but often aren't, during infancy. Even if we missed that early learning opportunity, there is much hope. We can form new habits when we practice these skills throughout our life.
About Chris
For nearly 25 years Chris has been developing and practicing brain-based solutions to make relationships work. He started out his career specializing in severe trauma and abuse. For a number of years he also pastored a small congregation in Michigan. Chris is a published author with ten books in print, including “The Joy Switch: How Your Brain’s Secret Circuit Affects Your Relationships…And How You Can Activate It.” He co-authored his most recent book, “The 4 Habits of Raising Joy-Filled Kids”. Chris enjoys spending time with Jen and their two sons, Matthew and Andrew. In addition to studying, writing, jogging and exercising, he enjoys the outdoors and is one of the rare people who actually likes the snow.
Resources Mentioned
https://thrivetoday.org/
Connect with Communitas:
Website: https://gocommunitas.org/
Instagram: @gocommunitas
Podcast episodes and more: https://linktr.ee/communitasinternational

Engage Locally, Love Globally; with Claudia Hendricks

Claudia Hendricks shares her passion for connecting with the people around her and how it has changed her into a new person. She gives examples of how each of us can do that in everyday life leading to more joy and peace.
About Claudia
Claudia is a passionate connector and trainer with vast experience in spiritual formation in Argentina, Latin America and the United States. She holds a masters in Speech Pathology where she first learned about the human brain and is completing her MDiv at Fuller Seminary, but her most valuable lessons in life came by experiencing God’s presence among the most vulnerable and marginalized people.
Currently, with her husband Michel, they are part of the Life Model Works and Thrive Training team, emphasizing the centrality of attachment to God and each other as the way to grow healthy families and communities, as well as the need of woman participation and leadership. Claudia is the Director of Life Model Works outside the US, currently focused on the Spanish speaking world. Residing in Boulder, CO they have 3 bilingual adult children. Claudia loves Jesus and spending quality time at a table with family, old and new friends, being outside in nature, dancing, cooking and traveling.
Resources Mentioned
Arbol de Justicia
Life Model Works
Modelodevida - Life Model Works
THRIVE today 
Connect with Communitas:
Website: https://gocommunitas.org/
Instagram: @gocommunitas
Podcast episodes and more: https://linktr.ee/communitasinternational

Curiosity as a Catalyst for Change. Build People, Not an Organization; With Michel Hendricks

Michel Hendricks shares his spiritual journey and insights on transformation within the church. He discusses the importance of understanding how the human brain matures and how this knowledge can enhance discipleship. The conversation delves into the significance of joy, group identity, and healthy correction in fostering a thriving community. Michel also introduces the Life Model Consulting approach, emphasizing the need for multi-generational relationships and relational brain skills to facilitate personal and communal transformation.About Michel
Michel Hendricks is the Director of Life Model Consulting. Michel Hendricks has been a pastor, missionary, inventor and author. He has been a teacher and trainer for more than 25 years. He is the former pastor of spiritual formation at Flatirons Community Church near Boulder, CO. He has also served and trained in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. He is the author of Basic Training for Walking with Jesus and co-author of The Other Half of Church. He works with churches and organizations to help bring maturity and the transformation of character back into the center of Christian practice.
 
Takeaways
Transformation is a journey that requires community support.
Joy and hesed (loving-kindness) are essential for growth.
Understanding brain science can enhance spiritual maturity.
Group identity shapes our responses and behaviors.
Healthy correction is vital for personal development.
Curiosity is key to maintaining an open mindset.
Multi-generational relationships enrich our spiritual lives.
Discipleship should focus on relational skills, not just knowledge.
We need to reflect each other's identities back to one another.
Transformation is a process that requires patience and perseverance.
Sound Bites
"I sensed God sharing almost like his thoughts with me."
"Why don't we see more radical transformation in the current church?"
"Our churches need to be high joy environments."
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Background
04:17Spiritual Journey and Transformation
11:27The Other Half of Church
15:06The Importance of Joy and Hesed
20:52Group Identity and Healthy Correction
29:08The Role of Community in Transformation
37:01Life Model Consulting and Its Impact
45:29Key Elements for Transformation
50:18Conclusion and Future DirectionsLife Model Consulting: https://lifemodelworks.org/consulting-services/
Recommended reading:
The Other Half of Church
Living From the Heart Jesus Gave You
The Joy Switch
Joyful Journey
Connect with Communitas:
Website: https://gocommunitas.org/
Instagram: @gocommunitas
Podcast episodes and more: https://linktr.ee/communitasinternational
 

Maturity Development Across the Lifespan: With Jim Wilder

Dr. Jim Wilder shares with Geoff and Joy his experience regarding the complex mechanisms of the human brain concerning the need for belonging and the fear of rejection, and the challenges of fostering a sense of belonging in church. They explore Jim's concept of 'enemy mode' and the value of loving one's enemies as the benchmark of Christianity. Jim emphasizes the importance of living from our emobied self instead of our performance self, which we do best when we're in a multigenerational community with nurturing individuals, growing spiritually and relationally.
About Jim
Dr. Jim Wilder is a Neurotheologian at Life Model Works, author, international speaker who develops ways to apply brain science and Christian practices that help all those who encounter the church to be drawn to and transformed into the character of Christ. He helps existing relational networks build joy, suffer well, love enemies and grow a mature community with the resilience to overcome trauma under the guidance of Christ’s Spirit. Wilder grew up in villages tucked into the Andes mountains of Colombia and travels learning and teaching resilience in Southern Sudan, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Eastern Europe, Mexico, Korea, Thailand, Chile, Brazil, Alaska and even Canada. Wilder draws on his extensive life experience from his Ph.D. in psychology and M.A. in theology to his walk through many worlds and cultures as a lens to examine life and to tell stories. Transparency, humor, a second look at what we thought was reality and a passion to find a joyful life, create hopeful girls, restore communities and develop deep spirituality fill his books. Wilder is the thinker behind the Life Model, a lifespan guide to being fully human. He is good reading for those who would rather be alive than simply comfortable.
Connect with Jim
LifeModelWorks.org
Escaping Enemy Mode: How Our Brains Unite or Divide Us
Connect with Communitas:
Website: https://gocommunitas.org/
Instagram: @gocommunitas
Podcast episodes and more: https://linktr.ee/communitasinternational
 

Tools for Spirit-Led Ministry: The Enneagram and More!

On this episode, Joy and Geoff talk about tools for Spirit-led ministry with author Kristi Gaultiere who is also a therapist, spiritual director and coach. She shares the six stages of a church's development from her first book, Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Growth, written with her husband Bill Gaultiere. They also discuss the fact that God can't heal what we're not willing to feel, a topic close to Kristi's heart and addressed in her recent book, Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually through the Enneagram.
About KristiKristi Gaultiere (“Gall-tear.” As in “teardrop”) is the mother of 3 adult children and the grandmother of 4. She is the co-author of the book Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Growth. And Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith, Kristi has her doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) and is a Therapist, Spiritual Director and Coach. She has spent over 30,000 hours in the pool of pain with people. In 2009 Kristi and her husband, Bill, Co-founded the ministry of Soul Shepherding. She enjoys sharing her learnings to strengthen others in their intimacy with Jesus towards emotional, relational, and spiritual health on her weekly Soul Talks podcast as well through writing, speaking, consulting, and training Spiritual Directors and Coaches. Kristi’s empathy and vulnerable speaking style articulate not only her knowledge and wisdom in life and leadership but her genuine love for Jesus and people.
Resources mentioned
Soul Shepherding;
podcasts - Soul Shepherding;
Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually through the Enneagram ;
Journey of the Soul
 
Connect with Communitas:
Website: https://gocommunitas.org/
Instagram: @gocommunitas
Podcast episodes and more: https://linktr.ee/communitasinternational

AntiBurnout: A lighter way to live and lead in a heavy world: With Alan Briggs

Alan talks with Geoff and Joy about his new book, "AntiBurnout," which focuses on grounded leadership and self-care to prevent burnout in leaders. He shares the importance of receiving in order to sustainably give as well as the value of setting boundaries while embracing rest as a gift! Alan emphasizes that it's impossible to find balance, and suggests that rather we look for buoyancy, learning to live in the tension of work and rest, because both are essential and should coexist.
About Alan
Alan Briggs is a mountain guide for the leadership journey. As a Leadership Coach and Sabbatical Coach he helps kingdom leaders conquer overwhelm + navigate with courage.
Resources Mentioned
Listen in to practical thoughts on living and leading effectively at Stay Forth Leadership Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stay-forth-leadership-podcast/id1449683368
Find out more about his coaching at: http://stayforth.com/coaching
Email him at alan@stayforth.com
Purchase AntiBurnout: https://www.amazon.com/AntiBurnout-lighter-live-heavy-world/dp/B0CZP9JKB2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BDGZQHU8QEZL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3JiF-tpQ00HuOddXaz75D24lx-zdor42CPk7J0h2mowUHWHYJAelzurD9eAIA_kGvoW_Oj3WCmNLmdLrjI5gLU5dzRJtLqUBlqxFi7S_DW8wZPQfyxEDi4zteKSW5ECTpcpoJ2SfuC_QIb51ppAxgVsWgET2hMRPI4vLSSgHLu1YWynOSJ4UVJAwiLx3mf8ksRuW0IhRKFQOBF5bdLh1heC0F3wwJCJXaA9YQfOIPR8.d
Connect with Communitas:
Website: https://gocommunitas.org/
Instagram: @gocommunitas
Podcast episodes and more: https://linktr.ee/communitasinternational