In this episode of Seekin' Deacon, Cuyler O'Connor welcomes the Rev. Christi O. Brown of ACE Leadership for an engaging conversation about authentic leadership, spiritual formation, and the unexpected ways God connects our faith with our everyday lives. Christi shares her experience working with both faith-based organizations and corporate teams, exploring the common threads that unite people across different settings. At the heart of effective leadership, she reminds us, is our willingness to recognize our strengths, acknowledge our weaknesses, and remain open to growth. Through leadership coaching, she challenges individuals and teams to step outside their comfort zones, build stronger relationships, and become more intentional in how they lead and serve others. The conversation also explores the importance of spiritual practices in a busy world. Christi shares how prayer, devotional reading, lighting a candle, and walking in nature help her remain grounded in her faith. She offers a particularly meaningful reflection on praying Scripture over her daughters, demonstrating how even the simplest daily rituals can create opportunities for connection, encouragement, and spiritual growth. And, of course, there is pickleball! Christi reflects on how a longtime love of tennis led her to discover a new community through pickleball. What begins as a sport becomes something more: a reminder that when we consistently show up for one another, meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging naturally grow. The pickleball court, like the workplace and the church, can become a place where we learn about ourselves, strengthen our connections, and discover new ways to work together. Join us for a conversation that bridges faith, leadership, family, and community, reminding us that spiritual growth doesn't happen only in church or during formal moments of prayer. Sometimes, it happens in a coaching session, around the dinner table, on a walk in the woods, or on the pickleball court.
