The Stark Difference: A Conversation About Calling

Hosted by Stark College and Seminary

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Jul 2025

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About the show

Welcome to The Stark Difference—a podcast exploring the stories of ministers and leaders transformed by God’s call. Each month, we feature guests from all walks of life who live out God’s calling and make a difference in their world. We’ll dive into the highs and lows of ministry, leadership, and the journey of saying “yes” to God. Whether you’re a seasoned pastor, involved in ministry, or just curious about God's purposes, discover the difference it makes when we follow God's lead.

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18 recent

July 1, 202541 min

Dr. Beth Allison Barr on Calling, Ministry, and Becoming the Pastor's Wife

🎙️ In this episode of The Stark Difference, we talk with Dr. Beth Allison Barr—James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University and best-selling author of Becoming the Pastor’s Wife . Dr. Barr shares candid reflections on her calling to ministry and academia, the unspoken pressures on pastors’ wives, and how women in the church can—and should—set healthy boundaries. 🕓 Highlights 5:35 – Dr. Barr's call to ministry and graduate education 13:11 – Stories from life as a pastor’s wife 17:52 – A sneak peek into Becoming the Pastor’s Wife and how the role is historically recent 30:53 – Boundaries in ministry and how pastors' wives can (and must) say “no" 50:55 – A word to male pastors on how empowering women also lightens their load 53:02 – Why church history isn’t optional—and why your ministry depends on understanding it

June 3, 2025Episode 539 min

Hope in Hard Places: Christian Counseling with Darin Griffiths of STCH Ministries

In this episode of The Stark Difference , Cheryl Temple and Dr. Andres Garcia sit down with Darin Griffiths, Vice President of Counseling Ministries at South Texas Children’s Home (STCH) Ministries. With humor, humility, and spiritual depth, Darin shares how God called him away from farming and into counseling—and how that call sustains him in the emotionally intense world of mental health ministry. Key Moments: [9:14] – The moment God interrupted his farming plans and called him into ministry. [19:14] – Realizing clients aren’t “crazy”—they’re just like us, and they sit in our pews. [27:20] – When pastors should refer to counselors: protecting both the shepherd and the flock. [40:35] – What to do when you don’t know what to do. [52:45] – How to discern a genuine call to counseling—and why not everyone is meant for it. To learn more about STCH Ministries, visit https://www.stchm.org/

May 6, 2025Episode 441 min

Teaching the Word: A Conversation with Dr. Carmen Joy Imes on Her Call to Academia

In this episode of The Stark Difference, we sit down with Dr. Carmen Joy Imes, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology. Dr. Imes traces her journey from a missions-focused college student to her current role as an Old Testament professor and scholar. She also offers thoughtful guidance on engaging difficult Old Testament passages and reflects on the church’s call to live as a family. Highlights: [7:00] Unexpected path from missionary work to Old Testament scholarship. [14:00] Wrestling with women’s roles in ministry and what changed her understanding of the topic. [30:00] How to engage hard biblical texts like Canaanite violence and divine justice. [46:00] Sneak peek into her upcoming book Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters and why community is central to Christian identity.

April 1, 202548 min

Everyday Faithfulness: Dr. Lisa Beatty's Journey from Music to ABHE Leadership

In this episode of #thestarkdifference podcast, Cheryl Temple and Dr. Jena Dunn sit down with Dr. Lisa Beatty, Executive Director of the ABHE Commission on Accreditation, to discuss her unlikely path from music teacher to a leading voice in biblical higher education. Dr. Beatty shares her personal testimony, reflects on God’s surprising call on her life, and offers wisdom for those discerning their own calling. 🕒 Highlights: [04:50] Dr. Beatty shares her salvation story, rooted in a faithful family. [13:21] She reflects on her early aspirations and how God used each step—even detours—to shape her calling. [25:01] Advice to ministers discerning their call: “Be faithful in the small things.” [38:59] Trends in biblical higher education. [43:34] Encouragement to Stark students: “Add to your faith knowledge” (2 Peter 1:5) and keep growing. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

March 4, 202537 min

Called to Compassion: Father Christopher Okoli on Chaplaincy & CPE

In this episode, we sit down with Father Christopher Okoli, the Director of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, to discuss hospital chaplaincy, the role of CPE, and how theological education shapes pastoral care. Key topics covered: [04:29] - Father Chris' journey into ministry [10:53] - The role of chaplains: presence, advocacy, and spiritual care in hospitals [13:42] - Empathy in ministry and Jesus as our model [16:37] - Surprising lessons in chaplaincy [20:12] - Advice for students discerning a call to chaplaincy [27:17] - Why theological education matters for chaplaincy [36:19] - Future plans At Stark, we’re committed to equipping those called to chaplaincy through our Master of Divinity (MDiv) program and our new MDiv in Chaplaincy track. 📌 Learn more: MDiv: stark.edu/academics/master-of-divinity/ MDiv in Chaplaincy: stark.edu/academics/master-of-divinity-in-chaplaincy/ Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

February 4, 202529 min

Passing the Mic: Meet Your New Host, Cheryl Temple

In the season two premiere, we introduce our new podcast host, Cheryl Temple! Cheryl has served at Stark College & Seminary for 10 years, and is currently the Senior Director of Communications and Financial Aid. In the episode, she shares: [7:06] Her journey in ministry [15:02] Overcoming challenges and church hurt [21:28] Faithfulness in ministry [27:57] Looking ahead in season 2 Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

August 6, 202447 min

A Call to Sacrifice: Celebrating Life’s Seasons>

God calls all of his children to minister to the world in one way or another, and His call is beautiful in how it can mean different things to different people. The same is true of our hosts, Dr. Tony Celelli and Rochelle Roots, who each had defining moments in which they felt God’s call to ministry tug at their hearts. In celebration of our first season of The Stark Difference , Dr. Celelli and Rochelle reflect on their favorite moments from the show and how God brought them to Stark College & Seminary. Join us as we discuss: [6:16] Answering the high and heavy call into ministry [19:39] How our hosts define God's calling [32:59] Celebrating the season’s guests and highlights Want more great conversations like this? Subscribe to The Stark Difference: A Conversation About Calling on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

July 2, 202438 min

Gospel Conversations: The Thirst for Consistency and Truth in Today’s Church

As the son of a Texas rancher, Pastor Pete Pawelek is used to tough work and getting his hands dirty. Yet when he heard God’s call to ministry at seventeen, he balked at the notion of shepherding his fellow Christ followers. But after a dear college mentor emboldened him to pursue church leadership, he embraced the challenge to become the interim pastor of Cowboy Fellowship in Jourdanton, Texas. Now, over 20 years later, Pastor Pete and his fellowship have helped plant hundreds of churches worldwide. He shares his remarkable story of how he finally gave in to God’s calling for his life and offers encouragement to other leaders dealing with today’s unique challenges. Join us as we discuss: [1:43] Why church leaders need to prepare for rapid change [10:40] Three things that set apart each person’s calling [19:14] The biggest challenges for pastors in a secular society [27:08] Returning to the roots of the New Testament church Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Want more great conversations like this? Subscribe to The Stark Difference: A Conversation About Calling on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

June 4, 202449 min

From Youth Ministry to Online Ministry: The Journey of Answering God’s Call

Answering God’s calling looks different for everyone. Even if you’re met with opposition internally and externally, it doesn’t mean it’s not what's right for you. Answering the call to mentor Gen Z, growing your church's presence online, or starting a church in a whole different state – God’s plans work in mysterious ways. From not knowing the Lord until high school to now being a full-time Pastor, Danny Rangel , the Online Pastor at BT.Church in McAllen, TX, takes us through his calling. In this episode, we explore embracing the call to reach the next generation. Join us as we discuss: [10:49] Handling opposition to God’s calling [14:51] Advice for other church leaders [21:31] Adapting to post-Covid ministry changes [45:36] When God’s calling for us changes Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: danny.rangel@bt.church _dannyrangel on Instagram Want more great conversations like this? Subscribe to The Stark Difference: A Conversation About Calling on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

May 7, 202430 min

Keep On Living: When God Calls Us Through Our Experiences

As an experienced electrical engineer, Tamiko Jones was very comfortable in her global corporate career. But when God called her to leave her field for ministry, she was confident He would knock down any doors that stood in her way. Today, as the Executive Director-Treasurer at WMU of Texas , she is engaging with local churches, establishing partnerships, and empowering them for worldwide missions. Tamiko joins us to share how her experiences have shaped her calling from her small hometown of Ninety Six, South Carolina, to helping other women in ministry grow God’s kingdom. Join us as we discuss: [4:28] How our experiences lead to God’s call for our lives [12:20] Her journey from an international corporate career to ministry [24:29] How God carries us across tough finish lines Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Tamiko Jones Facebook I Am Texas Missions Want more great conversations like this? Subscribe to The Stark Difference: A Conversation About Calling on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.