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What does it actually mean to champion women in leadership, not just say that we do? In this Men of Faith and Project Sisterhood crossover, Chrissy Cole sits down with Caleb Cole, Tim Bittle, and Banning Liebscher for an honest conversation about men and women leading together in the church, ministry, and the marketplace.
They unpack why women often enter leadership without the same years of experience or “reps” that men have been given, and why healthy leaders have to intentionally create opportunities for women to develop, fail, learn, and grow. Tim shares the moment his wife wanted to quit preaching after a difficult message and why he refused to let one failure become her off-ramp from leadership. Caleb challenges leaders to let obedience trump insecurity, trusting God with the results instead of allowing fear or criticism to determine whether they step into their calling.
The conversation also gets into some of the harder tensions surrounding men and women working and being discipled together, healthy boundaries, cross-gender mentorship, equal authority in leadership, and the church culture many Christians are still having to unlearn. Rather than pretending those tensions do not exist, this conversation asks what it looks like to become healthy enough to navigate them while building churches and organizations where both men and women can fully lead.
They unpack why women often enter leadership without the same years of experience or “reps” that men have been given, and why healthy leaders have to intentionally create opportunities for women to develop, fail, learn, and grow. Tim shares the moment his wife wanted to quit preaching after a difficult message and why he refused to let one failure become her off-ramp from leadership. Caleb challenges leaders to let obedience trump insecurity, trusting God with the results instead of allowing fear or criticism to determine whether they step into their calling.
The conversation also gets into some of the harder tensions surrounding men and women working and being discipled together, healthy boundaries, cross-gender mentorship, equal authority in leadership, and the church culture many Christians are still having to unlearn. Rather than pretending those tensions do not exist, this conversation asks what it looks like to become healthy enough to navigate them while building churches and organizations where both men and women can fully lead.
- (00:00) - Why Male Voices Need to Champion Women
- (01:05) - Why This Conversation Needs Men and Women
- (03:36) - Women Already Leading at the Highest Levels
- (05:58) - Why Tim Wrote a Position on Women in Leadership
- (07:54) - Healthy Leaders Matter More Than Gender
- (09:40) - Choose the Best Person for the Job
- (11:13) - Women Need Reps to Grow as Leaders
- (14:18) - You Don’t Get to Quit After a Bad Sermon
- (16:19) - Leadership Requires Playing the Long Game
- (17:04) - Obedience Has to Trump Insecurity
- (19:34) - The Real Tension of Men and Women Leading Together
- (24:09) - Objectivity, Discernment, and Healthy Leadership
- (25:29) - Rethinking Cross-Gender Discipleship
- (30:09) - Equal Authority Means Releasing Control
- (32:37) - Unlearning a Male-Dominated Church Culture
Creators and Guests
Host
Caleb Cole
Caleb, a Sacramento native, grew up in a pastor’s home and is a third generation minister. At the age of 12, after one of his grandfather’s sermons, he felt a call from God to be a pastor. He consistently pursued that call throughout high school and college. Caleb attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO where he earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies and went on to the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary where he earned an M.A. in Theological Studies.
Guest
Chrissy Cole
Chrissy’s parents moved to the U.S. from the Philippines in the late 70′s. She saw her parents both come to know the Lord at a young age. She and her family poured their lives into the local church and were changed by God. Chrissy attended Evangel University in Springfield, MO and earned a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations.
What is Men of Faith?
Men of Faith is a Christian podcast dedicated to calling men up and not out.
Hosted by Caleb Cole, each episode equips men to follow Jesus with conviction, character, and consistency—at home, at work, and in every season of life. Through honest conversations and practical biblical wisdom, Men of Faith tackles real issues like leadership, fatherhood, identity, marriage, discipline, spiritual growth, and navigating culture without compromise. This is a podcast for men who want more than inspiration—they want transformation.