73: Bethany Allen | Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Leadership Development

Bethany and I chat about spiritual formation, consistently showing up to meet with God, how she handles questions about being a woman who teaches God's Word, and what led her to seminary.

Bridgetown Church

Practicing the Way

3:38Share a little of your faith journey with us.  How did you come to know Jesus?

"I think there's a lot of merit to just that slow, good work of Jesus in our lives."

5:28What led to you to seminary? 

Western Seminary

"I feel like my seminary experience had so much to do with God healing me, as opposed to just learning."

"I remember God... saying, Bethany, you can build a kingdom, you have enough charisma....You can build your kingdom and you can have influence and it would be good, it will produce goodness, but if you make that your ambition as a woman in ministry, it will be limited. If you instead yield to the reality that I am one who orchestrates my people and brings fullness of the imago dei, it means you'll have to die a lot more deaths and it will have to be your ambition is really the advancement of the kingdom of God at all costs. Which means you'll have to bow the knee in certain places, you'll have to go lower in certain places, you'll have to withstand things that you don't necessarily want to withstand, but it will mean the expansion of my kingdom on my terms."

Ephesians 4pastoral gifting

14:49What is it like to serve alongside a group of men who do look at you and value you as someone who can teach the Word of God?

"I think it really helps that I grew up in a context where my dad has always championed me. My dad's one of the most humble people in the kingdom of God. I remember him always saying, I would sweep the floors of the kingdom, if I could just be a part of it."

"I have prayed every day for friendship and favor with these men largely because I desire that more than I desire a place on the pulpit."

"I would say to anyone who asked me because it's true, he [John Mark Comer]  is just as good if not better than you think. He's just as godly and humble and he's perfect? No, absolutely not. Am I? No...Those men I serve with are some of the most humble men I've ever known. They are both my covering and I'm not afraid to say that that's not triggering language for me. They are my advocates and they are my friends."

Show notes CONTINUED at www.graceenoughpodcast.com

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