Sword & Grace Unscripted

Tina Bender

Sword & Grace Unscripted is a podcast for women who lead businesses, ministries, churches, and organizations while carrying both conviction and compassion. This is not a platform for polished success stories. It is a space for honest, grounded conversations about the real cost of leadership, the unseen weight women carry, and the grace required to remain faithful through pressure, complexity, building and rebuilding. I am your host, Tina J. Smith, a 𝘓𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘵 of over 20 years, an international 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 for women, 𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 for pastors/ministry leaders, Author, and the Founder and CEO of both a for-profit organization and a not-for-profit charitable organization. I have spent decades working across mental health, leadership, and ministry contexts, walking alongside men and women through trauma, formation, leadership strain, collapse, and restoration. I am also a mother to two adult children, one teenager, and a mom to a childhood cancer survivor. My work is shaped by lived leadership, faith, and responsibility carried in real life. This podcast is especially for the stories that have been hard. The moments that left you betrayed, crying, and undone. The seasons where you stepped off the stage, walked out of the boardroom, closed the door, and carried pain no one saw and silence you felt you had to keep. These are the stories other Christian women need to hear so we can heal, walk with humility, love well, stand stronger, and rebuild for the Kingdom. 𝘚𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 & 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 features women who have built, shepherded, stewarded, or carried responsibility for others and who are willing to speak with humility and truth about how leadership has shaped their faith, nervous system, relationships, and sense of calling. We value formation over performance and wisdom refined through lived experience.

  1. 3d ago

    Who Will Reach the People the Church Struggles to Reach? | Karen Souter, Blood Bought

    Author and ministry leader Karen Souter, writer of Blood Bought, joins Tina Bender on Sword & Grace Unscripted for a powerful conversation about reaching the people the Church has often struggled to reach. This episode goes beyond Karen’s testimony. We talk about Christian leadership, church outreach, redemption, shame, addiction, ministry, reaching the lost, and what it means to take the hope of Jesus beyond the four walls of the Church. Karen’s story has brought her into places many people in ministry may never see up close. She understands what it is to carry shame, rejection, brokenness, and the belief that your story may have placed you beyond restoration. But Jesus met her there. And now she is using her story to reach people who may never walk through the doors of a church on their own. In this conversation, Karen and I wrestle with questions I believe matter deeply for the Church and especially for those of us who lead: • How do we reach people who do not feel safe walking into a church? • What does it look like to hold truth and grace together? • Have we become more comfortable ministering to people who already know how to belong in church culture? • How can God redeem the most painful parts of a person’s story and use them to reach someone else? • What responsibility do Christian leaders have to see the person behind the behaviour, shame, addiction, or choices? • What happens when ministry moves beyond the four walls of the Church? This is exactly the kind of conversation Sword & Grace Unscripted was created to hold. I care deeply about the woman behind the leadership, but I also care about what happens when healed and surrendered leaders allow God to send them back into places their own stories have prepared them to understand. Karen Souter is the author of Blood Bought and leads Bloodbought ministry. Learn more about Karen, her ministry, and her book here: https://bloodbought.net Please note: Blood Bought can only be purchased directly through Karen’s website. Subscribe to Sword & Grace Unscripted for conversations about Christian women in leadership, ministry, healing, church culture, redemption, calling, and the woman behind the leadership: If this conversation makes you think of someone, share it with her. Sword & Grace Unscripted Hosted by Tina Bender Licensed Therapist | Coach | Prophet | Author #KarenSouter #BloodBought #SwordAndGraceUnscripted #ChristianLeadership #WomenInMinistry #ChristianWomen #ChurchOutreach #ChristianTestimony #Redemption #ReachingTheLost #WomenWhoLead

  2. Aug 28

    Find Your Voice: Escape the Cave

    The conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of women in ministry, particularly those called to the prophetic mantle. It explores the societal shift, struggles with owning the prophetic mantle, breaking free from limiting voices, finding voice and legacy, the journey of healing and growth, and stepping out of the comfort zone. The conversation delves into the themes of unexpected loss, grief, closure, identity, and reclaiming one's sense of self. It explores the emotional and spiritual journey of women navigating through these experiences and finding strength in their faith. Most importantly, finding your voice the the Lord has given you. Join Lori Dixon, Visionary Kingdom Publisher, Prophetic Wisdom Thera-coach at www.walkwithlori.com Takeaways Embracing the prophetic call is a journey of healing and growth.Women in ministry face societal challenges and struggle to own their prophetic mantle. Unexpected loss can lead to deep grief and a need for closure.Grief and responsibility can shape a woman's identity and life choices.Reclaiming one's identity involves introspection, aligning with God's truth, and shedding false labels. Chapters 00:00 Embracing the Prophetic Call04:06 Struggles with Owning the Prophetic Mantle07:17 Societal Shift and Women in Ministry11:16 Breaking Free from Limiting Voices15:43 Finding Voice and Legacy19:08 The Journey of Healing and Growth24:03 Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone25:45 The Unexpected Loss27:20 Grief and Closure29:19 Identity and Responsibility36:40 Reclaiming Identity

  3. Jul 30

    Who Gets Access? Discerning the Voices Influencing Your Assignment

    The conversation explores the significance of recognizing influential voices, defining relationship roles, and discerning access and relationship boundaries. It delves into the impact of sharing personal testimony, Jesus' example of relationship circles, and the challenge of drawing out the gold in others. It also addresses the endurance required in building from the ground up and maintaining a clean heart amid betrayal, emphasizing the sacred space between an individual and God. The conversation delves into the themes of overcoming betrayal, the challenges of apostolic leadership, the importance of consecration and intimacy with God, and the distinction between discernment and suspicion. It emphasizes the need to prioritize relationship with God and stay focused on one's own journey without falling into the trap of comparison. Takeaways Recognize the importance of discerning access and influence in relationships.Understand the challenge of drawing out the gold in others and the endurance required in building from the ground up. Trust and consecration are essential in overcoming betrayal and isolation.Prioritize intimacy with God and avoid falling into the trap of comparison. Chapters 00:00 Recognizing Influential Voices01:32 Introduction to Tiffany Donahue03:08 The Importance of Access and Influence04:17 Defining Relationship Roles05:37 Discerning Access and Relationship Boundaries06:40 The Impact of Sharing Personal Testimony07:18 Jesus' Example of Relationship Circles08:14 Connecting Through Stories and Experiences09:09 Discerning Readiness for Revelation11:55 The Challenge of Drawing Out the Gold17:28 Endurance and Building from the Ground Up20:03 Maintaining a Clean Heart Amid Betrayal21:14 The Sacred Space Between You and God22:16 Overcoming Betrayal and Trust23:43 Isolation vs. Consecration24:32 Challenges of Apostolic Leadership25:58 Building from a Healed Heart26:47 Consecration and Intimacy with God28:40 Discernment vs. Suspicion32:37 Prioritizing Relationship with God35:22 Staying in Your Lane

About

Sword & Grace Unscripted is a podcast for women who lead businesses, ministries, churches, and organizations while carrying both conviction and compassion. This is not a platform for polished success stories. It is a space for honest, grounded conversations about the real cost of leadership, the unseen weight women carry, and the grace required to remain faithful through pressure, complexity, building and rebuilding. I am your host, Tina J. Smith, a 𝘓𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘵 of over 20 years, an international 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 for women, 𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 for pastors/ministry leaders, Author, and the Founder and CEO of both a for-profit organization and a not-for-profit charitable organization. I have spent decades working across mental health, leadership, and ministry contexts, walking alongside men and women through trauma, formation, leadership strain, collapse, and restoration. I am also a mother to two adult children, one teenager, and a mom to a childhood cancer survivor. My work is shaped by lived leadership, faith, and responsibility carried in real life. This podcast is especially for the stories that have been hard. The moments that left you betrayed, crying, and undone. The seasons where you stepped off the stage, walked out of the boardroom, closed the door, and carried pain no one saw and silence you felt you had to keep. These are the stories other Christian women need to hear so we can heal, walk with humility, love well, stand stronger, and rebuild for the Kingdom. 𝘚𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 & 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 features women who have built, shepherded, stewarded, or carried responsibility for others and who are willing to speak with humility and truth about how leadership has shaped their faith, nervous system, relationships, and sense of calling. We value formation over performance and wisdom refined through lived experience.