Fame. It’s attractive and it’s mesmerizing. So many of us have had at least one moment in our life that we thought being famous would be awesome. But as a Christ Follower, fame takes on a different meaning. You may be famous but it’s no longer about you, it’s about Jesus. How do you use your fame for His glory and His Honor? And what happens when your fame starts to fade or an illness takes you out of the limelight, how you react to your circumstances is being watched by everybody. Then fame may not be all that you were hoping for.  Today we talk with Singer, Songwriter, Artist and Comedian Kelly Lang. She has sung alongside some of the greatest singers of our time, performed in front of huge audiences and been on many TV shows and she has a story to tell when that fame and career was threatened by cancer. Walk with us as we talk with Kelly Lang about her story.

Kelly Lang was born into a loving family where her dad was a road manager for Conway Twitty.  Her life was surrounded with famous people but her dad often told her to not be like the people that let fame get to their heads and treat others badly.  She became a Christ-follower at the age of 12 and was involved in her youth group and church.  God gave her many opportunities to perform in and around Nashville and grew her confidence as a performer. 

16 years ago Kelly wrote a song for a friend as she watched her console her dying husband and kept telling him she wasn’t going anywhere.  After her own serious bout with breast cancer Kelly’s song has become the voice of a hospital commercial where she was treated for her breast cancer.  God used her words to not only minister to a few but now thousands that are struggling with hurt, pain, suffering, and loss in this season. 

Kelly Lang sees her work as her ministry.  God has shown her that her breast cancer wasn’t a death sentence but rather a life sentence while she is here on earth.  Everyday is an opportunity to live and make a differene in those around her.  Early in her career she was encouraged to sing at church and perform Gospel music, but she understood that she could minister to those that may not enter a church if she performed elsewhere.  So Kelly knows that when she is performing in a bar she can be a light to someone there.  She knows that having confidence in her path and trusting her personal friendship with Jesus allow her to be strong and not compromise. 

Kelly is doing interviews and podcasts so she can share her message of all that God is doing and using her music, songwriting, artist and comedy as the platform.  You can watch the song video of I’m not going anywhere.  https://www.kellylang.net/videos

Featured Guests: Kelly Lang

Ministry/Workplace: Singer/Songwriter

YouTube Video Interview

You know it’s always amazing when a bunch of Jesus followers from all over the country get together.   The mutual camaraderie and mission pull us together as brothers and sisters in Christ.  The excitement is palpable and inspiring.  Now for the last 14 months we haven’t had events and we have barely gotten together with people in our own neighborhoods let alone our country. But the Country is opening up and God is on the move. As is our calling, we are covering a move of God called the Christian Leadership Alliance. Their mission is dedicated to equipping Christian non-profit leaders to a high level of excellence while protecting and projecting the Gospel message to the lost and hopeless of our land. Martha and I have grown very fond of the Christian Leadership alliance and their leader Tami Heim. We invited Tami to join us today to talk about the Blockbuster event The Christian Leadership Alliance is hosting in Orlando in June. A Perfect time to break out of quarantine lockdown and join a 1000 others in pursuing excellence with others in the kingdom.  Tami Heim is here to talk about all things Outcomes Conference and their theme for 2021 – Thrive.

The Outcomes Conference 2021 June 15 –17, 2021 Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Hotel – Orlando

Tami Heim shared with us how the Christian Leadership Alliance prepares leaders of non-profit for the uncertainty of tomorrow.  This was a huge benefit in 2020 as many non-profits had to adjust and learn how to function during the pandemic. 

God has taught her to wait, be patient, and listen to Him for guidance.  As a leader these can be difficult to do, but they paid off as God provided miraculously for the increased expansion of The Outcomes Conference to several countries because of the digital approach last year. 

This year’s theme of Thrive is increasingly important as non-profits learn what it really means to thrive both personally and corporately. 

LATE BREAKING NEWS:  The Outcomes Conference early bird pricing has been extended to May 7th and you can find out more at www.outcomesconference.org Jim and Martha Brangenberg are this year’s emcees for The Outcomes Conference.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Featured Guests: Tami Heim

Ministry/Workplace: Christian Leadership Alliance & The Outcomes Conference

YouTube Video Interview

iWork4Him is a show solely focused on the intersection of our Faith in Jesus and our Work. When these two collide – fantastic things happen all around us. People start to benefit from you following Jesus whether they believe in Jesus or not. That’s when the enemy goes full on frontal attack. He wants to compromise your reputation at work so that your testimony is no longer attractive.  What is one way he does this? An Affair with an office mate.  Whether you are a man or a woman, A committed follower of Jesus or one just finding their way in being a Jesus Follower, the enemy wants to see you fail.  How do we protect our reputation and the reputation of our savior? We need to affair proof our marriages. We need to have a solid ground to stand on at home so that our steadfastness isn’t compromised at work. Even if you are not married, an affair at work will significantly dismantle your witness as a Christian.  Today joining Martha and I in this conversation is Rhonda Stoppe with www.NoRegretsWoman.com She has written many books. We use The Marriage Mentor all the time that she wrote with her husband Steve and today’s topic will come from the pages of Real Life Romance, which we will give away today.

Rhonda Stoppe returns to iWork4Him for another great interview about marriage.  She recently commented on one of our iWork4Him PowerThoughts about the need to Affair-proof marriages in the context of our workplaces.  Her book Real-Life Romance and also The Marriage Mentor are great resources for helping to strengthen marriages at home and to help affair proof them. 

Rhonda and Steve have been married for 39 years and she knows that they continue to need to be transparent with each other and take their advice from scripture.  When they were new parents Rhonda found herself dressing up for church on Sundays and appreciated the compliments of a gentleman there.  After a few weeks of getting compliments she approached Steve and basically explained the situation and told him he needs to compliment her more, as she was looking forward to the compliments of the man at church.  She knew this behaviour could have bad consequences and that is how most affairs get started. 

Applying that story to the workplace is pretty easy.  We need to set good boundaries and clearly protect our marriages.  We can do this by strengthening our marriages and making them a priority.  We shared the 72-hour intimacy rule with her and Rhonda is going to add that to her messaging.  Rhonda encouraged women to pursue their husbands.  This is a successful way to affair proof your marriage. 

Rhonda is offering a free ebook – “A Christian Woman’s Guide to Great Sex in Marriage” when you sign up for her newsletter:  http://www.noregretswoman.com

There is a road to recovery for an affair.  God has forgiven us as far as the East is from the West.  Don’t stop protecting your marriage.  When the kids leave and our lives change we shouldn’t look elsewhere for attention.  Rhonda encouraged marriages to be careful even in our virtual relationships while we work distantly.  It can quickly get out of control. 

For more great insights to affair proof your marriage check out Rhonda Stoppes website at http://www.noregretswoman.com. It is always fun to have Rhonda as a guest on iWork4Him.

Featured Guests: Rhonda Stoppes

Ministry/Workplace: No Regrets Woman LLC

YouTube Video Interview

God designed all of us to be leaders. How do I know this? Jesus handed down an assignment that designates all of us to lead others back to Him. What does it take to be a great leader in challenging times. Some would say Tempered Leaders. Leaders that have been pounded, beaten, attacked, hardened, fought in the heat of battle. Leaders who have face great opposition and have come out with Tempered Resilience. Resilience that represents our ability to rebound in the face of great challenge. Leaders who demonstrate Tempered Resilience, are leaders without pride issues and without privilege. These are tried and true leaders who have earned their position and a right to be heard. Tod Bolsinger comes back on iWork4Him today to talk about his book Tempered Resilience. Tod Bolsinger is a Senior Fellow at De Pree Center and Associate Professor of Leadership Formation at Fuller Seminary.

Tod Bolsinger has been a previous guest on the iWork4Him show talking about his last book, Canoeing the Mountain.  This excellent book about not continuing to do things the way they’ve always been done is a great leadership book that Jim has recommended often.  On March 13, 2020, Tod got off a plane from traveling and discovered that 15 of his next speaking opportunities had been canceled.  Little did he know that God would use this adversity to allow Tod to do 105 webinars instead.  He had a chance to live out what he wrote about in his newest book “Tempered Resilience.”

God also allowed 2020 to be a year to launch the Church Leadership Institute at Fuller Seminary in the DePree Center. 

Tod said a key for leaders is to keep learning and growing and allow formation during a disruption.  Be stronger and flexible and have the capacity to adapt core values.

Tod’s new book Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change is here for such a time as this.  Everyone is experiencing disruption and change.  Tempered tools are stronger than their original matter. 

Most leaders experience the most challenging resistance inside their organization and need help to know how to navigate this resistance and be resilient.  When I asked Tod when someone should read this book, he agreed it could be read anytime, as someone prepares to be a leader, or during their leadership opportunity.  The real lessons are learned in the midst of the crisis. 

Call our listener line at 866-713-9675 to win a copy of this book Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change. You can also text:  change to 66866 to get a link to resources by Tod Bolsinger.

Featured Guests: Tod Bolsinger

Ministry/Workplace: Church Leadership Institute

YouTube Video Interview

A few Weeks Back I had an opportunity to sit down with some Christian Educators from around the country who teach in the public school system. 4 teachers, 4 different stories of how they are living out their faith in their work and how www.CEAI.org (The Christian Educators Association International) is encouraging them to be AWAKE in their jobs as teachers. AWAKE = Ambassadors working as Kingdom Educators. From The Twin Cities to California we hear the real stories of teachers working in the teaching trenches of America. Enjoy.

Featured Guests: Karen Cuen, Heather Kohnen, Craig Olsen & Terry Meier

Ministry/Workplace: The Christian Educators Association International

YouTube Video Interview

Every year we start off with ridiculous resolutions that never happen. We want to give you a new years resolution that will be easy to keep and it will change your work life. Stay tuned for the best new year show ever as Martha and I roll out the iWork4Him Nation and the plans for expanding iWork4Him from 1 show to 9 shows/podcasts and Introducing the Awaken Podcast Network. A jam packed show in 15 minutes or less…You’ve tuned in to iWork4Him and we are your hosts Jim and Martha Brangenberg…Hang On…

Featured Guests: Jim & Martha Brangenberg
Ministry/Workplace: iWork4him

YouTube Video Interview

For our listeners who are ladies and for the men who listen who are attached to a lady this show is for you. If you work with women or have friends who are women, then this show is for you. For 8 years iWork4Him has been scouring across the nation trying to identify faith and work ministries focused on the Christian Working Woman. There is such a need for encouragement and equipping of the Christian Working Women audience we even started a brand to pull all the voices we find under one umbrella on our Awaken Podcast Network. It is under the SheWorks4Him tab. Now amazingly enough, about a year ago I discovered a ministry that is called SheWorksHisWay.com. Today we are going to introduce you to Michelle Myers, one of the founders of the SheWorksHisWay ministry which is dedicated to equipping, encouraging, and connecting working women putting Jesus First in her heart, home and work.

Michelle was an approval junkie.  She encouraged our listeners to shorten their approval list and aim to live approved!

When she realized that there was no sin she was not capable of, Michelle invited a few close friends to meet weekly and share in accountability by asking hard questions.  18 months later she works His way was born.  They built community around the content and strive to be the best business expense each month for their members.  As a new member you will be encouraged to calm the overwhelm and realize that life balance is a sham.  Most women experience relief to hear that the lies to they hear all day from the world can be overcome.  In January 2021 they will be adding workshops to their calendar.  January’s theme is around having Godly goals for ambition.  Visit www.SheWorksHisWay.com/freeclass  to sit in on a free class and determine if membership is right for you.

Featured Guest: Michelle Myers

Workplace/Ministry: SheWorksHisWay Ministry

YouTube Video Interview

IF there is one thing that is certain it’s that Change is inevitable. Over the past 15 years we have studied the movement to equip people like you and me to live out our faith in our work. The number of Ministries focused on this has gone from 100+ to 3000+. The country is alive with Jesus Followers who are now beginning to understand that their faith in Jesus has a lot more to do with Monday through Friday than just Sunday Morning.  When we went on the air 7 years ago, Christian Talk radio was a steady reliable medium and podcasts were an up and coming trend. Today there are almost a million different podcasts out there and hundreds specifically about the faith and work movement.

Our platform and our focus are changing and our medium digitizing.  For now, iWork4Him is on the move and we wanted to share with you the incredible things that God has us working on.  Everything comes to an end but often an end leads to a beginning and that is what we are going to talk about today.

Thank you Jacksonville for being an amazing audience, you have a special place in our heart and we love you and hope you will stay in touch.  www.iWork4Him.com

Featured Guest: JIm & Martha Brangenberg

Workplace/Ministry: www.iWork4Him.com

In today’s show Jim talks with guest Laurie Hill from c3tb, the Tampa Bay Christian Chamber of Commerce about the challenges of facing Christian business owners and employers today, the mission and vision of the organization, and what kind of impact they would like to see in the Tampa Bay area. Plus, Martha at Charis Christian Books and Gifts highlights two top faith and work books!

Featured Guests: Laurie Hill

Ministry/Workplace: c3tb

Welcome to the iWork4Him Show! Join host Jim Brangenberg as he shares his testimony, the “iWork4Him” vision, and practical ways you can make your workplace a mission field! Our prayer is that today’s show will challenge you to allow the transforming power of Jesus Christ to change your life from the inside out so that you can impact your workplace for Christ tomorrow.

Ministry/Workplace: iWork4Him with Jim & Martha Brangenberg