Have you ever wondered if your prayers are actually working? Or felt like you're just reciting a laundry list of needs without really connecting with God?

Prayer lies at the heart of spiritual life across every religion, but its essence is often misunderstood. This deep dive into the true nature of prayer reveals it's not primarily about getting things from God—it's about relationship. As our hosts explain, prayer mirrors our most important human relationships, requiring two-way communication, attentive listening, and consistent investment of time.

The discussion explores how prayer functions as intimate communion with the divine, comparing it to a healthy marriage where communication happens not just through words but through presence, actions, and emotional posture. When Jesus taught his followers to address God as "Father," he revolutionized our understanding of prayer, inviting us into family-like intimacy with the Creator.

Perhaps most challenging is learning to listen in prayer. "We have to demonstrate: I want to hear what you have to say," one host explains, emphasizing that silence may be the most powerful element of prayer we're missing. Christians from resource-limited or persecuted regions demonstrate remarkable urgency in prayer—praying through entire nights for others' needs and treating prayer as their primary lifeline.

The conversation concludes with the difficult question of unanswered prayer, offering compassionate wisdom about God's presence in suffering rather than pat answers. Whether you're a prayer novice or seasoned practitioner, this episode provides practical guidance for transforming your conversations with God.

Ready to revolutionize your prayer life? Start by practicing intentional listening.

When you begin ILI training, you will discover how the Eight Core Values will lead to the Seven Outcomes in your life and the lives of those you lead. Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. Discover more at ILITeam.org/connect.

Ever wonder why some teams implode while others thrive through challenges? This deep-dive episode uncovers the hidden erosion that happens long before visible team failure.

We explore how mission drift silently damages even the strongest teams when leaders fail to provide what teams truly need—not certainty, but clarity. As one leadership expert notes, "People don't need certainty as much as they need clarity," a crucial distinction that transforms how we communicate vision.

The conversation reveals why conflict avoidance masquerading as harmony actually destroys trust faster than healthy disagreement. We examine the powerful difference between "peacekeeping" (maintaining superficial calm) and "peacemaking" (addressing issues with grace and truth).

Perhaps most challenging is our discussion of leadership identity. When leaders derive worth from titles or metrics rather than Christ, they create unstable foundations. "Leadership without intimacy with God is just religious performance," we note, exploring how misplaced identity hampers our ability to empower others and share leadership.

The episode provides practical steps for building enduring team culture: maintaining kingdom alignment, practicing confession and accountability (starting with leaders), celebrating small wins consistently, and leading with genuine humility. We conclude with a powerful reframing: leaders don't own visions—they steward them alongside others pursuing the same mission.

Whether you’re leading in ministry, the marketplace, or your community, this conversation will help you steward vision faithfully, empower your team, and advance the Kingdom together.

When you begin ILI training, you will discover how the Eight Core Values will lead to the Seven Outcomes in your life and the lives of those you lead. Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. Discover more at ILITeam.org/connect.

In this powerful episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, hosts Daniel and Norival uncover the surprising and deeply hopeful story of a spiritual movement sweeping across Europe—what researchers are calling "The Quiet Revival."

Drawing from a recent study by the British Bible Society, they explore how Gen Z is leading an unexpected resurgence in church engagement, spiritual disciplines, and personal faith in Jesus. This revival isn’t defined by stadium gatherings or celebrity evangelists—it’s marked by everyday conversations, growing interest in ancient Christian practices, and a hunger for community, transformation, and truth.

Together, they reflect on why young men are turning to liturgical traditions, why young women are drawn to the Pentecostal experience, and how prayer, Scripture, and spiritual mentoring are forming a new generation of committed Christ-followers.

If you’ve been praying for revival, this episode will leave you encouraged, challenged, and equipped to join what God is quietly, powerfully doing.

🔗 Resources mentioned: Bible Society UK

When you begin ILI training, you will discover how the Eight Core Values will lead to the Seven Outcomes in your life and the lives of those you lead. Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. Discover more at ILITeam.org/connect.

Have you ever felt a stirring in your heart—a persistent whisper that maybe God has something new for you? After 17 years of faithful service at the International Leadership Institute, Katie shares her powerful and emotional journey of transition—from a seasoned communications leader to pursuing her long-held passion in fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

In this special episode of the Historymakers Leadership Podcast, Katie gets personal about:
✅ Sensing God's new calling
✅ Wrestling with timing and obedience
✅ Navigating the emotional goodbye to a workplace that feels like family
✅ Living out a vision with integrity and boldness

She opens up about spiritual gifts, leadership development, and how God brought clarity through prayer and support from her family. Her testimony is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to follow God’s vision—even after nearly two decades in the same role.

Whether you're sensing a new season, struggling with fear, or holding onto a "just a dream" kind of passion—this is the episode for YOU.

🔗 Resources Mentioned: Part of ILI's Historymakers Curriculum
▶️ Spiritual Gifts Inventory
▶️ Discover your calling and gifts

👉 FREE Leadership Training Platform (On-Demand) - https://iliteam.org
👉 Visionary Leadership Session - https://iliteam.org/vision

When you begin ILI training, you will discover how the Eight Core Values will lead to the Seven Outcomes in your life and the lives of those you lead. Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. Discover more at ILITeam.org/connect.

In this powerful episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Pastor and Elder in the Global Methodist Church, April Briant, to hear her extraordinary story of surrender, calling, and transformation.

What to Expect:

• April's journey from a successful career to answering God's call to full-time ministry
• The life-changing moment at a prayer revival that shifted her destiny
• Her passion for discipleship, global missions, and mentoring women leaders
• Practical advice on time management, spiritual leadership, and embracing weakness as strength
• Insightful reflections on women in ministry and scriptural foundations that guide her path

Whether you’re discerning a call to ministry, seeking spiritual encouragement, or simply love hearing about God’s work in people’s lives, this episode is full of wisdom, humility, and inspiration.

Tune in, be inspired, and share this message of purpose and obedience with someone who needs it.

When you begin ILI training, you will discover how the Eight Core Values will lead to the Seven Outcomes in your life and the lives of those you lead. Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. Discover more at ILITeam.org/connect.

Are you struggling to rally others around the vision God has placed on your heart?

In this powerful episode, we sit down to explore the essential keys to building and sustaining spiritually mature, hungry, and purpose-driven teams.

Leadership expert Dan Slagle reveals the framework for building teams with genuine ownership and responsibility. After 20+ years in Christian leadership contexts, Dan knows firsthand that most vision-bearers struggle with the same challenge: getting others to care as much as they do.

The conversation unpacks three essential pillars for fostering ownership. First, a culture of trust forms the non-negotiable foundation where team members feel secure enough to take risks without fear of unfair consequences. Second, the critical importance of hiring emotionally mature people who naturally take responsibility rather than "delegating up." And finally, the courage to give meaningful responsibility and stand beside people through both success and failure.

Ready to transform your leadership approach? Listen now to discover how trust, maturity, and meaningful delegation create the environment where ownership naturally flourishes.

When you begin ILI training, you will discover how the Eight Core Values will lead to the Seven Outcomes in your life and the lives of those you lead. Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. Discover more at ILITeam.org/connect.

Strategic planning isn't merely an annual exercise marked on the calendar—it's a spiritual discipline requiring discernment, collaboration, and intentionality. This illuminating conversation with leadership expert Dan Slagle unpacks how effective organizations balance daily operations with future-focused vision casting.

In this powerful episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, we sit down with seasoned church leader Dan Slagle to explore the heart and discipline of strategic leadership. Whether you’re leading a church, a nonprofit, or a team in the marketplace, this conversation offers practical frameworks and spiritual wisdom you won’t want to miss.

Dan shares candid lessons from over two decades of leadership at FaithBridge Church, including how clear communication, prayerful discernment, and intentional systems created a culture of mission-alignment and strategic focus.

You’ll discover:

• When and how to initiate strategic planning in your leadership context
• The difference between tactical vs. strategic meetings
• How to discern and respond to Kairos moments — those divine windows of opportunity
• Real-life stories of navigating major gifts, leadership transitions, and organizational pivots
• How to empower your team and prepare the next generation of leaders

What does it really take to lead with clarity, purpose, and Kingdom impact? If you're ready to lead more intentionally, make better decisions, and serve your team faithfully — this conversation is for you.

Ready to transform your approach to strategic planning? Subscribe now and explore additional leadership resources at iliteam.org, including our guide to the eight core values of the most effective Christian leaders

Explore more resources and leadership tools at: https://iliteam.org.

When you begin ILI training, you will discover how the Eight Core Values will lead to the Seven Outcomes in your life and the lives of those you lead. Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. Discover more at ILITeam.org/connect.

What happens when your past is marked by trauma, your present is shattered by tragedy, and the future seems impossible? In this powerful episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Pastor Kayla Countryman, a woman who embodies resilience and a profound sense of purpose.

From a childhood marked by learning disabilities and a broken home to surviving a devastating accident that nearly took her life, Kayla's story is nothing short of miraculous. After being told she would never walk, speak clearly, or live independently again, Kayla defied every expectation—relearning how to walk, talk, and lead with courage.

With raw vulnerability, humor, and bold faith, Kayla shares how God used her greatest weaknesses to reveal His strength. This episode is a beacon of hope for anyone who’s faced insurmountable odds and wondered if there’s still a purpose on the other side of pain.

What you’ll hear in this episode:
- The early struggles Kayla faced growing up with dyslexia and abuse
- The miraculous survival from a near-fatal car accident
- Her journey of healing and rediscovery at the nation's leading rehabilitation center
- A look into how she leads today as a pastor and mentor

Whether you’re a leader, a ministry builder, or someone simply navigating life’s toughest seasons, Kayla’s testimony will leave you inspired to trust the process—and the One who carries you through it

When you begin ILI training, you will discover how the Eight Core Values will lead to the Seven Outcomes in your life and the lives of those you lead. Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. Discover more at ILITeam.org/connect.