The Stark Difference: A Conversation About Calling

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

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/

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.

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 [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

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/ [http://stark.edu/academics/master-of-divinity/] * MDiv in Chaplaincy: stark.edu/academics/master-of-divinity-in-chaplaincy/ [http://stark.edu/academics/master-of-divinity-in-chaplaincy/] Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.