Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: Welcome to the Arkansas Baptist of Women podcast. On this season we will talk about the beauty of belonging to a gospel centered like minded community that shapes and encourages us to love God and to be present in our calling.
[00:00:12] Speaker B: We are excited to sit down with different women from all stages of life and hear what God is doing in their life in an area of ministry that God has called them to join us as we find encouragement in the work and presence of God as he is reflected through casual conversation around coffee and authenticity.
[00:00:31] Speaker A: All right, hello, it is your host Morgan Foulcher and Hannah Gane and today it is a Monday and we are gonna get to just sit down and just have some good conversation.
[00:00:41] Speaker C: We're excited, we're excited. We have Leslie Strobel with us today and we are excited to just learn from her and hear all the things that wisdom wise that she can teach us.
[00:00:51] Speaker A: Yes. So good. Okay, so if you are ready to get started, we are too. Okay. Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, where you're from and just maybe and passion for ministry.
[00:01:02] Speaker D: Sure. Well, Lee and I are originally from Chicago. The last several years we go back between Houston and Denver. And our kids, we have two children who are both married with families. Our daughter Allison and her family live near us in Texas and our son and his family live in California. So we love seeing our grandkids and spending time with them. And our passion for ministry has really stemmed from just what God has done in our life and the, the gifts that he's given Lee with speaking and writing. And we just spend a lot of our time traveling and I help Lee sort of just allow him to do what he does.
[00:01:42] Speaker A: Yeah, that's so good.
[00:01:45] Speaker C: What does like an average day look like for you or even look like for you and Lee, if you want to like answer both of you, you.
[00:01:50] Speaker D: Know, we don't have an average day. We don't because we're traveling. It kind of goes in seasons. There'll be a lot of travel time and then that's where we're just heading right now. So February, March, April, it's going to be pretty much on the road a lot and so that's doing a lot of flying and speaking at different events and then we'll have a little downtime and then he'll be riding and then we get back on the road again and we kind of sneak in there times with family. So really I've always seen my ministry as enabling Lee to do his and I just found that it's what I'm comfortable doing. It's kind of what I'm wired up to do. So, you know, we were just a real team. We see us as doing this as a partnership, and it's always worked really well. That's awesome.
[00:02:42] Speaker A: That's good. That's good. Okay. So you wrote a book?
[00:02:45] Speaker D: Well, we both wrote a book.
[00:02:47] Speaker A: You both wrote a book.
[00:02:48] Speaker D: We've got writers coming out the wazoo in the family.
[00:02:51] Speaker A: Oh, that's wonderful.
[00:02:52] Speaker D: Both kids are authors, and my husband. But I helped with this one because it was speaking from our experience, and so I wrote mine, and then he edited it.
[00:03:02] Speaker A: Yes. Okay, so tell us a little bit about that. What inspired you both to write this book? What was God just birthing in you as y'all started to compose this book? Spiritual Mismatch.
[00:03:14] Speaker D: So when Lee wrote the Case for Christ, that came out in 1998, and as people were reading that and then Lee was going around the country and speaking, more and more people started coming up to us and saying, oh, I'm in the exact same position as you guys were, or my sister's in that position or my brother's in that position. You know, their wife or their spouse is not on the same page. We don't know what to do, how to navigate that. So over a few years, finally in 2002, it just became clear. God was saying, you know, you've been in a unique position. You both got married as non believers. Leslie became a believer in the midst of that marriage, and now you're both believers. So you've seen all sides of this issue, and I think you have something to share that'll help people. And we just started writing down thoughts, and eventually just this book emerged, and it's just been really gratifying for us to see how God has used our story to help people.
[00:04:15] Speaker A: That's good. So tell us a little bit about your story and your journey of faith.
[00:04:19] Speaker D: Okay. So once Lee and I were married, we moved into a new building. We were in a condo, and first couple days, a neighbor came down with a plate of cookies and a baby on her hip. And I had my baby on my hip, and we became fast friends. She was a Christian, I wasn't, and Linda is her name. She started inviting me over to her house and starting asking questions how we would be raising our daughter. And, you know, in our minds, that wasn't even on our radar. Eventually, she started asking if I'd like to go to a Bible study. And I wasn't hostile to that. I thought, sure, that'd be fun. And so I went to the Bible study with her and had lots of questions. And over time, Linda was just there to answer my questions and eventually lead me to the Lord. And then she became really my mentor, helping me just grow in the faith. And she discipled me. And so that is how I became a believer. And then it became clear to me I probably needed to let Lee know. So that's when the trouble started. I came home one day and I said, you know, you need to know something. I've accepted Christ. And that opened up a can of worms for him because he felt that he was an atheist. He had no interest in any of that. And I started trying to invite him to come to church with me just to see what it was about, what it was like. And so for a year and nine months, we had a very difficult marriage. At one point, he felt that it was probably easiest just to divorce.
But I think God, even though he wasn't a believer, I believe God spoke to his heart and gave him something, which was, why don't you marry? Prove her wrong.
Which is exactly what he set out to do. He figured over a weekend he'd be able to prove that the resurrection, which is really the linchpin of the faith, either Jesus rose again or he didn't. He felt he could disprove that. But it really was a year and nine month length of time that it took him to ask a lot of questions, do a lot of research, and for himself, finally accept that what all of this research was showing is truth, that God did indeed rise from the dead, and he is who he claimed to be, and he accepted Christ.
So then that opened up a whole new interesting era because he was a.
He was working at the Chicago Tribune, legal affairs editor. And after several months, he started feeling like God was calling him into ministry. But he thought, that's crazy. I've never been to seminary. I don't know the Bible. And at the church we were at, we were in a group, a small group that they had Lee meeting with some gentlemen who were theologians. And so they started mentoring him. And he basically got a seminary degree just from meeting and learning on his own and meeting with these men. And so that's really when God started steering our whole life into a new direction.
[00:07:29] Speaker A: Wow, that's so cool. Incredible.
[00:07:32] Speaker C: Kind of going back to the spiritual mismatch book. How long did that project take y'all to write together? And then you even kind of alluded to a little bit of, like, how you've seen the Lord move, like, what are some cool stories you've seen like that the Lord has done through that book.
[00:07:45] Speaker D: Yeah. So the book probably took a little over a year for us to write. And, you know, we were just gratified once it came out that pastors and marriage counselors who had read it started suggesting for people who were struggling to go ahead and read it. And then we would see people. We didn't do any kind of counseling because we're not counselors, but we just were able to share from our heart how we navigated that time. So quite often Lynlee is speaking somewhere. We'll have people come up and say that they're struggling or they've read the book and how it helped them. So it's just being able to see the fruit of that labor. And God has not used that book so strongly in Lee's life. It's more me. I'll get a lot of texts and stuff from women who'll say, I've read the book and I'm wondering if I can ask some questions. Or people will just come up that know. So it's been helpful just to know that our story is able to be used by God to help others.
[00:08:49] Speaker C: Yeah. That's awesome. Are there any other projects that y'all are working on right now or that you're specifically working on?
[00:08:54] Speaker D: You know, my project is Lee.
[00:08:57] Speaker A: That's fantastic.
[00:08:59] Speaker D: And it always has been. I mean, it'll change in an ebb and flow depending on what he's involved with. But we really are just. I'm a helpmate. I've seen myself like that from the beginning. And so he is currently just finishing up two books. One is coming out March 18 called Seeking the Supernatural. And that is going to be a great book on just how we can know that there is something beyond what we can see and touch, that there is another world that God is in, and we will be heading to that someday. And then he wrote a book several years ago that he has now updated and given a lot of new material to, which is called the Case for Christmas, and that'll be out next Christmas. So the last several months, he's been working on both those projects. And that's where I just, you know, anything. Like I told Morgan a few days ago, our furnace went out, and so we had to have a new furnace. But he had no way of taking the time to mess with that. That kind of thing is just. I just head up all that kind of stuff with the house or kids. There's certain seasons where I just kind of take over and kind of manage that. Stuff.
[00:10:09] Speaker C: That's awesome.
[00:10:10] Speaker A: That's so good. And I think one thing I keep hearing over and over and over again is just your heart and love for your husband in just his ministry. And this is a joint ministry that you guys have. And so tell us a little bit about that. I know that year and nine months was really hard.
And then when he came to faith, how did that shape and strengthen your marriage and kind of launch all into this ministry where both of you have grown together? But also it just seems that you've got such a delight and new love for your husband in a new way. So kind of speak to that.
[00:10:42] Speaker D: Sure. Well, once he became a, you know, I was just. First of all, I never expected that to happen. I went to a group of women in my Bible study and they knew my situation when he wasn't a believer. And I said, I just don't have any hope for him coming around. He was so negative and so opposed to anything to do with the church. And one of my dear friends had given me a verse, Ezekiel 36:26. It says, Moreover, I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take your stony heart of sin and give you a heart of flesh. I started praying that daily. They agreed with me in that prayer and I just believe God answered that. Once Lee became a believer, it changed our relationship in many ways. First of all, I didn't have to fight him for going to church. I didn't have to fight for where our money was going to go. I didn't have to argue about how I wanted the kids to go to Bible camp or whatever. I mean, he was now on the same page. And so, so much of that friction that happens between a couple when one is a believer and one isn't is really an important thing for women and men to understand in the dating process.
Don't fool yourself in thinking that you can win this person over in your dating life. And then once you're married, it'll work.
Unless they are really a believer, there's a good chance that especially men, you know, men who are dating, they're very goal driven and they want to see if they're wanting to be married to this woman. They're going to do what it takes to get married and they'll say whatever they can to make this work. But if it isn't legitimate, then there's no guarantee after the fact that you're going to be married to a believer.
That was the biggest eye opener for me is how his worldview Changed so that in every way he saw life. Now we were on the same page. And me too, because I originally wasn't a believer.
So it changes everything. How you spend your weekends, your money, what you do with your family.
It's a big change. So there was that. That all changed for us, and it was for the better.
[00:13:06] Speaker A: Wow. It's just a beautiful story and a testimony to so many women that may find themselves in a very similar situation, but also just women in general that the way that we are to love and come alongside our husband, you know, so they can really lead and also just carry the capacity of ministry that God has given them to steward. So that's an amazing encouragement to us, Hannah.
[00:13:31] Speaker C: For sure.
[00:13:32] Speaker A: Yeah. And you actually being your husband in ministry, I'm sure this is just such a delight for you to hear.
[00:13:40] Speaker C: Yeah, for sure. Cause even prior to like our season now, we were both like, I was full time on a church staff and he was full time doing his thing and even like us learning how to balance that together, but do it together. But we each had different roles and different places, but now we get to do things together in a different way. Cause we both work for the same.
We both work at the Arkansas Bible State Convention. So we get to just like, align differently in some things. And so, yeah, like, everything you're saying, I'm like, yes, like, we're in the process of learning some of those things. And just this new season and new roles that we have for sure.
[00:14:12] Speaker A: Yeah, that's really good. So good. Okay, so encourage us more. What is something that God has recently laid on your heart or is teaching you that may encourage other women as well?
[00:14:26] Speaker D: Right. A couple things. First off, quickly back to the book. If I can just jump back to that. You know, if our churches are doing what they're supposed to be doing, which is leading people to the Lord, then you're creating on equally yoked marriages. Because generally the couple is not going to come together as believers at the same time. So I think it's really important just to keep that in mind and be watchful for those women and men who are struggling. But I think it's important also to recognize that you want women kind of mentoring or helping women and men mentoring men. But in terms of what you were saying, any. What was the question?
[00:15:05] Speaker A: Oh, what's something that God is teaching you?
[00:15:07] Speaker D: Oh, laying on my heart. You know, we are so busy with family and with travel, and it just seems like in recent months, God has really impressed on my heart to slow down, to get quiet. To grow my relationship with him personally. And I remember doing that as a new believer, really spending time in the Word. But then you get into ministry, you get into life, you get kids, you have grandkids, you have responsibilities in the church and outside, and you kind of fall back on what you used to know about your prayer life, and it can get really stale. And what I've discovered recently is God saying to me, just learn more about what it means to rest in me and to know who I am. I know who you are. I want you to know who I am. And so that's been a huge, huge help. It's kind of a plug from a mother. But my son wrote an amazing book. He's a theologian and Quiet the Prayer Warrior and When Prayer Becomes Real is a book that he has written that I am loving, just sitting under the teaching of my son on a topic that I am learning so much about.
And so I've appreciated some of the practices that help us to get our mind quiet and just allow God and his spirit to indwell us, speak to us so that we can hear Him.
[00:16:40] Speaker A: I've got to write that down. We need to pen. So When Prayer.
[00:16:44] Speaker D: When Prayer Becomes Real by Kyle Strobel.
[00:16:46] Speaker A: By Kyle Strobel. Okay. Oh, that's good. That's good. Okay, so tell us, how can we pray for you?
[00:16:53] Speaker D: Well, always with the.
The travel is always a little scary because you don't want to get sick while you're on the road and you don't want to have any issues on the road. So I always appreciate prayer just for our travels and our health as we're running around the country and our family because, you know, clearly Satan doesn't want us doing what we're doing and reaching more for him, for God. And so we have experienced obstacles in the way and that you just know that there's people praying for you and it's getting you through. And so I've appreciated that. That's been always good. So, yes, I'm always happy to have people praying for our welfare and our health.
[00:17:36] Speaker A: So. Good. Okay, we're going to pray for you here in just a minute. But I also. Okay, I'm going to back up just like Hannah did just a minute ago. And it sounds like that the spaces that you're saying that the church has got to welcome people into are going to be very delicate. Right. Because it is lost or coming into a very unfamiliar space that we are calling them into. Just this holiness and worship that is very out of anything that they've Ever experienced before. And so how did God cultivate your heart to create delicate spaces for them, for them to be themselves, but also as they're on this journey of seeking truth?
[00:18:14] Speaker D: Right. I think God, what he did is used Linda in my life to show me what her template was for me. And we do that then with others. So, for instance, when someone is coming in and they are in that hard place, they're there. A woman comes into church by herself. Her mate isn't with her. He has no interest.
We really want to help her in three areas. First, help her learn to really grow her relationship again with God, but then to help her to grow her relationship with her husband. You know, when you're in that. That situation of not being married to a believer and now you are, there's constant friction. But you have to go back and remember what was it that drew us together? How was it we fell in love? What was it about our relationship that I knew I wanted to. Excuse me, be with this person the rest of my life. And so you have to go back and cultivate that. And then the last thing would be just to remember that you have to have a mentor. If there's any way possible Linda was there. You need a Christian voice or a Christian shoulder to cry on, to ask your questions to, knowing that that person isn't going to be like you and her against your spouse, but that they're going to help you pray, navigate any particular situation that you're in, and just be able to walk alongside you so that you have some support in the process. Because not everyone's husband or spouse will become a believer in a year and nine months. I know women that are waiting 40 years and their husband still has not received Christ. And they would say the ones that I am friends with, that without the women around them that are supporting them as mentors and friends and someone who they're able to talk to about their situation, not in a gossipy way, but just to be able to have that godly wisdom from other women who are believers, to hear and to listen and to hear you, but then say, let's pray about this, seek God and how you're going to handle this situation. It's just invaluable. And then, like I said, just growing your relationship with God, allowing him to guide and direct you.
[00:20:33] Speaker A: Oh, that's so good. So good. Okay, well, I'm going to pray for us and pray for you as we close out this session.
This has been a joy.
[00:20:42] Speaker D: Thank you so much. It's been great fun.
[00:20:44] Speaker A: Yes. A Huge July. I hope that you're loving just the area of Arkansas that you're in.
[00:20:47] Speaker D: It's beautiful. And it's warmer than Denver right now, so it's gorgeous.
[00:20:53] Speaker A: Yes, I know. And there's light. Sunny.
Yeah. And, Hannah, I haven't been here in a week, so I thought last week was pretty rainy.
[00:21:00] Speaker C: Oh, it was, like, cold. It was so cold. It was the coldest, most frigid weather we had had, but there was no snow. We'd had snow, like, two weeks ago. Last week was just cold, no snow. And so I was like, if it's gonna be this cold, at least be snowy. Like, let there be a purpose. But now this weather is way better.
[00:21:18] Speaker D: This is delightful.
[00:21:19] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:21:19] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:21:19] Speaker A: This is lovely. Yes. So good. Okay, well, let's pray.
God, we just come before you, and we are just so grateful for just the ministry that you have called Leslie and Lee into. God, we just thank you for the way that you've saved their life, you saved their souls. God, you've redeemed them, you've restored them. And, God, you've given them such a platform to minister to people all over the world through their writing, through their books, just their hearts. To be able to get up and to travel and to go wherever you called them to is just remarkable. God, we just pray your spirit over them, God, as they continue in ministry, God, that there would just be an outpouring of yourself as they continue to write, as they continue to minister not only just to other people, but also to their kids. And, God, we've seen you just raise up their children to also love you and also to write and to walk in truth.
God, we just thank you just for her. We ask that you provide her rest and health in this next season that she would find time just to sit with you. God, we just pray for the women all over our state also. God, they would find encouragement from this, that as they are leading women and as they are also creating delicate spaces for other women to walk into, Lord, that your spirit would meet them there and that we're not the ones that do the work, that you are the ones. You are the one who does the work. And so we are grateful for that. God bless Leslie just now in the days ahead. God, give her favor and wisdom as she meets with you. In Jesus name, amen.
