Love Fort Wayne Podcast
The Love Fort Wayne podcast amplifies the stories of everyday people who are loving and leading in Northeast Indiana to spark imagination, root inspiration, and ignite transformation.
Love Fort Wayne Podcast
Love Fort Wayne November Podcast featuring: Austin Bradtmueller with CCHC
In this episode of the Love Fort Wayne Podcast, we sit down with Austin Bradmueller, Executive Director of Christian Community Health Care, to explore what it means to lead with the heart of a shepherd. Austin shares how his calling to care for others extends far beyond meeting physical health needs — it’s about bringing the hope of the Gospel to every patient and family, both in word and action.
Together, we dive into the story and mission of Christian Community Health Care, that provides free medical care while pointing people to Christ. Austin also reflects on his own journey of leadership — how this season came to be, what it means to stay rooted in faith, and how he continues to be shaped by mentors and fellow leaders who walk alongside him.
Whether you’re passionate about faith-driven leadership, community care, or holistic ministry, this conversation will encourage and challenge you to see leadership as service and every act of care as a reflection of Christ’s love.
Learn more or get involved by visiting Christian Community Health Care’s website.
We want to create a space for all of them to walk in and feel the aroma of Christ so strong that they have to ask what this is. And in the process of sharing the love and compassion and grace and mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ, providing that direct service to make them healthier.
SPEAKER_03:Welcome everybody to the newest episode of the Love Fort Wayne podcast. I am your co-host, along with my co-host, Mitch Cruz. I'm Jeff King. We're excited to have you guys for this November episode. And Mitch, we've got a friend here with us that we're excited to talk to, right?
SPEAKER_01:Oh, this guy is incredible. Yeah. He's one of the premier, in my opinion, one of the premier emerging leaders in our community, Austin Bratt Mueller.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, Austin, so excited to have you, brother.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Thanks for having me. It's great. Yeah, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. You know, Mitch and I always say this we get the opportunity to connect with the emerging leaders, the seasoned leaders, the everyday leaders in our community that are making a difference here. And, you know, that's what our podcast is really all about. We want to the folks that are transforming our community in the everyday is what this podcast is really all about. Plus those leadership gems and nuggets that you guys are able to share with us and those that are listening wherever they are, um, here in Fort Wayne, Northeast Indiana or all over the country, all over the world, so that they can be inspired to make a difference uh in their communities is truly what we're about. But yes, excited to have some convo with you. And Mitch, I know uh we want to talk with Austin about all things, everything that he's doing at uh Christian Community Healthcare, everything that's happening in his personal life, what what what brought you to these moments? And so I'm gonna pass it to you to really get us kicked off.
SPEAKER_01:Can you tell us how you got to where you are today? Uh your your background story and what's led to you being executive director of your amazing organization?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I appreciate the opportunity to sit with you guys and share, if anything, of wisdom. But yeah, to answer your question, Mitch, I grew up here in Fort Wayne. I graduated from Carroll High School. Um, after high school, went off to Grace College, where there the Lord really started to shape who I was as a person. We had this thing that was spoken over us all the time at Grace. It was just a simple phrase uh to know him and make him known. And the entire time I was at Grace, um, that was really my experience. Um, I strived to know my savior. I grew up in a Christian family. I grew up um going to church every single weekend, but I had never made my faith my faith. And um, when I was able to get out of home and away from my parents, um the Lord really started shaping my heart. And um, I remember specifically, I think we're in the light switch flipped. I was in a class there that's required for all of us to take at Grace called Exploring the Bible. And we actually went cover to cover throughout the entire Bible in a single semester and wow. Um just hit every book. We didn't read every book. Some we just hit the highlights and moved on. But uh the whole point of the book was to show that this is all one linear story, um, a linear story of God's love and his desire to have community with us. Um and I had never viewed the Bible like that before. So after that class, I started studying who God was, who God said I was, and felt a call to go out into the world and make him known. Um so after college, I did not return home. I went to an internship in northern Michigan where I had the opportunity to travel about 38,000 miles in a single calendar year. How many? 38,000 miles. Yeah, yeah. It was exhausting, but it was great. Um, it was a summer camp called Lake Ann Camp, and it was a leaders and field training. Um, and it was really ministry um leadership and organizational leadership molded into one. So we would be in the room talking about budgets and all of those things, but majority of the time we were out in the communities trying to bring kids to a camp where they could be introduced to the love of Christ. And when I was there, the Lord just continued working on my heart and he showed me that this idea of vocational ministry was the calling that he was laying on my life. Um, and I was convinced that it was going to be anywhere but northeast Indiana. Um, I wanted to go overseas and do missions. I wanted to go to a larger city to do missions. Um, so when my internship ended and I came home, I was really confused because I was applying to all these jobs elsewhere. And the Lord just put me into a season of just abiding and the goodness that he had given me all these years so far. Um, and in that I surrendered to him saying, okay, I'm gonna sit and abide and try and know you more before I get to go make you known. And um, and in that, he just started opening my eyes to how rich of a community we have here in northeast Indiana. And one day I got a random email in my inbox saying you should think about applying for this job as an executive director at Christian Community Healthcare. And I had never heard of the organization before. Um, and I turned him down actually three times, and the interim director just kept chasing and chasing. And he called me up and said, you know, why are you not stepping into this opportunity? And I told him I was 27 at the time, and this organization was 27 years old. And it's like, I am not your guy. I am not the guy you want leading this established ministry. I really appreciate it, and I hope you find the guy you're looking for. And that interim director, who's a board member of ours, said, I truly believe you are the guy we're looking for. Will you put your name in the ring? And the Lord just has this really cool um practice of reminding you of things that you had been praying for. And um, for months prior to that, I was working a job I loved, but I was tired and burnout, and I was praying for an opportunity. I was praying that if I was where I was supposed to be, that God would sustain me. And I know he would do that. But if it was time to move on to provide me that opportunity, so I officially stepped into this role and my role. And since joining this organization two years ago, I have fallen in love with what God's doing right here in Fort Wayne. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:It's incredible. Um I had to be one of the first people you met with. I couldn't. Because I'm pretty tight with that interim director board member, right? I'm a co-grandparent with him. It's Kelsey's father-in-law, Dr. Herber. And I just smile when I hear that story because I can visualize like God at work with in him to be at work in you.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And I've got to say thank you for responding to that email when I first reached out to you. Um, and thank you, uh, John, for making that connection. Because what I learned real quick is when I stepped into my role, is I knew nothing about leading an organization. I had been in nonprofit before, I had seen everything be done, but I was never the voice in the room doing it. Um, and the Lord put on my heart to find people that are doing the job well, that have Christ in at the center of their lives. And um when I was talking to the interim director, John, um, he said, Well, you gotta talk to Mitch Cruz. And I was like, Well, you know, that's gonna be great if Mitch has time to talk to this new up-and-coming leader. And um, we got lunch and just started talking. And um, it's been the greatest privilege just to surround myself with um Christ-centered leaders that are trying to make their little portion of the wall um the best it can be built, and then serving families in the process.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, it's so good. You know, it was a little bit after that that you text me and said, You got to meet this guy. Um, and we end up having a lunch as four together, yeah. Um, which was which neat in Austin, we've been able to continue to build rapport and friendship since then. It's just, yeah, the way that God ties together us in our community and many other communities where he's got a plan, he's got something in store. We utilize the wall language a lot here in our community in regards to where the people of Nehemiah building the wall. And if we if we don't recognize it, he often goes, look at this portion of the wall that I have you working in, and it's connected to other people. And if you don't think you you're connected, I'm gonna show you that uh you are connected unto something new and fresh and a rebuilding that I want to do here. I'm so glad you get a chance to to be a part of it and uh, you know, uh, you know, C C C H C would I'll say I used to, I'm usually saying that, but I'll say it out loud so that people understand we're talking about Christian community healthcare. But like it's got this rich history that you talked about at the time in which you started, it was 27 years old, and it's just continued on, and you guys have grown. Can you can you talk about the history of your your ministry and your organization and even the ways that God is growing you all in our area?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's a great question. Um, so what I was told about CCHC being that I had no knowledge of it prior to becoming their executive director is um in 1996 there was a church in Leo, which is now no longer, it was called the Church of the Good Shepherd. And one day there was some guy sitting around in a room in a prayer meeting looking at an empty church and trying to figure out how we can utilize the space that God has given us to be a benefit to our community in a bigger way than just Sunday service. And they all went their separate ways and individually they have shared with me that the Lord laid on their heart this burden of helping families that are not making ends meet, um, working families that on paper should be able to make everything work month to month, but still find themselves falling short because of various reasons. And from that meeting, they started praying, Lord, show us what this is, show us where do we step in. Um, and all of them separately had this conviction to open a health clinic. And I remember one of the founders told me that he got together and with the guys and said, you know, we got an idea. I've been thinking about this thing, I've been praying about this thing. And the other one said, Are you thinking about a health clinic? Because I've been thinking about the same thing. Oh my gosh. And one by one, they were all on the same page. Like this is what God's asking us to do. So from the start, they had to decide how do we function as an organization instead of just being something that's um maybe not filling a need and it's just a perceived need. So they started doing some work behind the scenes, started building this team and started providing healthcare. And from the beginning of this organization's inception, they have done all of their services 100% free of charge, regardless of insurance, income, residence. There is no restriction. I tell families all the time that the only requirement for you to get services at CCHC is you walk in the door and tell us what you need. Man. And even if it can't be met in our office, we're gonna do what we can to fill that need with our partners that we have around the city. And um, from the beginning, they've had that model because the gospel of Jesus Christ is free for all of us to accept. Come on. Um, so our services should be the exact same if that's what we're gonna be advancing. Um what I love about the heart of the ministry is we have always had the mission statement that we exist to share the truth, love, and compassion of Jesus Christ through healthcare. Um, and when I was studying the mission statement and praying over it as I started this role, I started seeing more and more that we don't exist to provide quality health care. We exist to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He's given us quality health care to be the vehicle. So it was this idea that we are missionaries before we're doctors. So creating a space where we can invite those who may know Christ and haven't fully devoted their lives to him, or people that have never heard the name of Jesus Christ, or people who have and have chosen not to follow him, we want to create a space for all of them to walk in and feel the aroma of Christ so strong that they have to ask what this is. And in the process of sharing the love and compassion and grace and mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ, providing that direct service to make them healthier. Um, and then walking alongside their families to the best of our ability to ensure that they continue to thrive as a family. So I love this ministry. Um, so many times we get patient feedback forms, and our spiritual care outranks our medical care every single time. And our medical care ranks very high. Um, we just received our second gold standard um two years in a row for quality of care. Wow. Um, so we are right up there with any other medical service here in our quality of care. And out of a scale of five, our medical care usually sits around like a 4.7 out of five, which we're very thankful for. Um, the only need for improvement is they want more snacks in our waiting room and they want more time with us, yeah, which I love. Yeah. But what constantly scores higher than medical care is our spiritual care. So they feel seen, they feel known, they feel loved, and they're introduced to a savior that sees them, knows them, and loves them so much more than we do. Um, and that has constantly been about a 4.9 out of five, which we can't complain about.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, that's a good net promoter score, man. I mean, yeah. Well, uh just kind of a follow-up, if I can. It's you know, talk to us or share with the listener, even uh, about who these men and women are that serve there at CCHC, like these physicians, these everyday missionaries who are loving people like Jesus.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's a great question. So we have a team of about 82 volunteers that come in there on a recurring basis. Um, we are still in need of volunteers, um, but our doctor team is phenomenal. They love our practice because we are trying to return healthcare to its original love, which is the person sitting across from them. So we have doctors that will devote time at a family practice or at the ER for a full shift and then come and give us three hours at the end of the night. And I am just so thankful for our volunteers because I know that they're sacrificing time with their families to love someone else's family. That is just the nature of the doctors that we have. And we have doctors that come in on a recurring basis from month to month, depending on their schedule. But we have a dedicated team that is there every single week without question. Rain or shine, blizzard. The clinic will be open and there will be people staffing it. Um we have an amazing group of receptionists and nurses. We have one receptionist that has been volunteering at CCHC three days a week for about 15 years. Like these are people that have seen the mission well before I ever stepped foot into the mission and decided that this is the call the Lord has for me and they're doing the Lord's work. So why would I stop? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:So good. I would think you have a very unique uh perspective of the growth of our community of the greater Fort Wayne area and the unity necessary in the church because you work with so many people from so many different churches. Yeah. How do you see those connected?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. When I look around Fort Wayne, um I am just astounded at the growth that I get to see. Um, being a lifelong resident, you see all the developments, you see everything that's coming to town, all great things that are providing needed benefits to those that live in our community. Um, what I think also comes with that, sadly, though, is um it creates more of a harvest that needs to be um harvested by God's kingdom. And where I love everything that's coming to Fort Wayne, I know that there's a growing need for families. So about 27% of our county make more than the federal poverty guideline, but less than the basic cost of living for the community that they live in. And I know that with development sometimes brings rise in property costs and rise in cost of living. So that gap's getting larger. And what I love about Fort Wayne is despite all this amazing growth, which I don't disagree with in any way, there's also a growing population of the churches in our city that are recognizing that to be a church that is rooted in what Christ has called us to do, we have to leave the walls of the church to do that, which I love. So we have grown our partnerships with churches because they're now seeing like, oh, there's needs in our backyard that we weren't even aware of. And when I go to and talk to churches, I share with them that, you know, international missions is a phenomenal endeavor. And I think everybody should do at least one. But like when we go overseas and share the gospel, God is wild, he's proud, he's happy to see that. But he's equally wild, proud, and happy when we cross our street and do missions. So, how can we invite the church in to look at their section of the community and say, here are the needs that are growing, here are the needs that we're seeing as nonprofit leaders, and here are the needs that the community are professing. Um, and you have a unique opportunity then to step in and do something with the churches around you. Um so in unity, I'm just happy to see that Fort Wayne being a summit city. Um, I've always viewed us as like that city on a hill mantra, and we have that title of uh the city of churches, and I think we're slowly becoming a city of the church, yeah, which I think is really cool and exciting to see.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, so good. This it's really unique, Austin. I just hit on something you shared is you know, I think there's I've heard people share this, and I've I've read articles and I've heard some podcasts where of stories being told of even the the the global church, the international church, they're praying for us uh that we would see our own neighbors and our own cities in our own communities with the heart of Jesus to be uh the hands and feet of Jesus, to take Matthew 25 more literal, literal and and and in an action-based approach. So they're they're grieving for us. And so I love that you're sharing that same message. It's not that uh the global church doesn't welcome us to their countries and their and their towns and their cities to to join them in the work uh that God is doing there. But uh just no, listener, they're saying no, the uh, you know, North American and American church see the needs of your city, of the of your neighbor and of your community. So thank you for even being shoulder to shoulder that uh with the church of our community because there is a growing oneness among us. So I mean your work's powerful, man. And you know, you you think you think I think about 80 plus volunteers and uh meeting the needs of families, opening the door, sharing God's love, sharing the gospel with them. Beautiful work, but it's demanding. So, you know, what are you doing as an emerging leader in this this beautiful new role to just care for yourself? And what is those those rhythms of rest and respite and a refuel look like to you?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's a great question. And I'm still figuring it out, if I'm honest, because it is demanding. It's I think it's hard when you're fully on fire for what the Lord has called you to do, that when you get into it, you start seeing that the need is far greater than what you can personally do. Um, and that's heartbreaking for me, like being a nonprofit, the amount of patients that come and share in our waiting rooms where they're struggling. Like, you know, we have families that have are being evicted from their homes and they have no plan after that. And we have families that are struggling to put food on their table every single week. And um, it's heartbreaking for me because I can't do anything about that, but I really want to. Um, but I've had to learn and trust that as we shared with the idea of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall, that there's others out there rebuilding their section. Um, so I've tried to, in a bigger way, figure out who's building their portions of the wall and how can I support and uplift them and what they're doing to help fill the need that I see that I can't fill. Um, but still I find myself exhausted at times. And I think a long time ago, before I even stepped foot in this job, which I'm thankful the Lord laid on my heart early, is the importance of Sabbath rest. Um, and I always viewed Sabbath as just the Sunday, like going to church. But um, Sabbath rest is so much more than that. It's like this time set away to be intentionally with the Father. And um, in that, I long time ago decided that I was going to designate every Saturday morning to Sabbath rest. And it was a hard routine to get going. But every Saturday morning from about 8 to 12, you can find me at a local coffee shop just reading, writing, trying to spend time in the Word and with my father. And that has been such a routine now that the people around me recognize that and it doesn't get touched, which has been great. Um, I use those times in coffee shops to do a uh compass heading check. I carry this brass compass around with me constantly, just as this reminder that when you're orienteering, if you have a course set at 250 and you set your compass and eventually your compass goes off to 249, um in the short term, there's no real big difference. You can you can you're about six inches off of your mark, like it looks great and you keep going. But in the long term, you miss the entire um point that you're trying to get to. So, a good example is there's this boat race that goes from Los Angeles to Hawaii. And they say that if you don't have that degree set and you get one degree off to the left or the right, you will miss the entire chain of Hawaii. And so, like in the short term, it's only a couple inches, but in the long term, you miss the entire point of the race. Um, so that's been a big thing for me is creating that non-negotiable time to sit and to just write my heart to ensure that my compass is set on the proper coordinate so that I can continue doing what the Lord's called me to do, and I don't miss the whole thing that He's asking me to do week to week. Um I've created a rhythm for Sabbath on a monthly basis too and a yearly basis. So once a month I try and devote a little bit more time than my normal Saturdays if my schedule allows. But on a yearly basis, I set aside one weekend a year and I go away by myself somewhere just to be an intense prayer scripture and writing and union with my father, and that's been super good. Um, the other two rhythms that I think I'd mention is finding things that fill your cup. Um, I believe that our good works should be as a result of our deep love for Christ. So if we view our deep love for Christ as a cup that's being filled, that we should fill that cup so much that it's overflowing over everything. And our good works are just scooping up what's poured on the table and never touching the cup. So finding things that fill that cup for me. Um, I attend Pathway Church and um I am a uh middle school ministry small group leader. I love middle school ministry, it's my favorite. Um, so that has been uh non-negotiable for me. So Wednesdays, I'm there serving, pouring into the next generation, and I love it. And then through that, I found an amazing Bible study that I've added on to my week on Sunday. So it keeps me busy week to week, but all these things are life-giving so that every other pocket in the week, I can continue doing what the Lord's called me to do with strength, with endurance and vigor to keep doing it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, it's so good. Yeah. Number one, uh-huh. I've learned I have no idea how to operate a compass. That was one of those powerful illustrations. Uh number two, there was a time in my life when I was really, really busy when I owned a business and I didn't see how there was any white space in my calendar. Yeah. And God got a hold of me. Even growing up, going to church three times a week, uh, I had maintained control of my own life in the marketplace. And I felt like it was time for me to surrender what I'd been holding back, and that's my business. And so I added a mutual walk uh guy to my life. I added a small group with other couples to my life, and we even helped start the small group ministry at our church. Um I added a group of business guys uh to get together. Uh, I added my team, uh, my management team to get together and study the Bible. Um, I had a mentor, I got together with him. I invested in younger people. And what I discovered, and I started to devour the scriptures from cover to cover every year, something I still do. I'll read through the Bible uh in the course of a year. It gave me more time. Yeah, yeah. I had more time. My thoughts were clearer, my decisions were uh more Christ-like. I didn't have to clean up a bunch of messes. It's amazing. Um, could you say what that dominant metaphor was at grace again? Is it to know God?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, to make him and make him known. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Um, I love that. Uh, Paul. The apostle Paul writes parenthetically, now that you know God, and then here's his parenthetical comment, or rather that you are known by God. Yeah, man. And there's something inside each one of us that we want to know and be known. And I it's in in uh Hebrew and Greek to know it's an experience. It's not just what we think is head knowledge, it's this experience of our inner being, of intimacy connected with Him. And that's how we translate the life of the gospel. I see you as a young, emerging leader that blesses our community uh beyond comprehension.
SPEAKER_02:Thank you.
SPEAKER_01:Um however, I'd really would like you to say, what would you say to your younger self? Now seeing where you are, looking in the rearview mirror, what would you say to younger self about getting to this point? And did you take things a little too um seriously? Did you not take things seriously enough? Like what would you say to your younger self?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's a great question. Um, I think first thing that comes to mind is that um I don't need to perform to earn the love that Christ has for me. It's been the biggest lesson. Like he he loves me for me because he created me and I'm his handiwork and his masterpiece. Um, he's not concerned with how much money I bring in in a year. He's not concerned with our patient numbers. He's concerned with my heart and in a big way invited me into a deep relationship. So I love this analogy. Um, there's an author I love, and he has this analogy about um playing catch with your father in the backyard is the kind of intimate relationship he wants. Um, God just wants to play catch with us and spend that quality, intentional time with us. Um, and you know, if your dad came to you and asked you to play catch with him and you told him, Well, I'm just gonna study you Wednesday nights and we'll call good, be really awkward. Um, but that's all he wants. And I think I would tell myself as a young college student, too, of looking how God created all this to be. Um in Genesis, I think it's really cool that from the beginning of creation, we had three things. We had access to our creator, uninterrupted, free, freely moving. We had godly good work to do, and we had people to do it with. And so many times I've because of sin, we've lost the direct access until Christ died on the cross, and that was restored. So now, because of Christ, I have everything that I was originally designed to enjoy, and that is union with my father, good work to do on his behalf, and an amazing community to do it with. So I would tell myself to see that a little sooner than I did. Um, lastly, too, I was at a conference last year, and it was a light switch moment for me as a young leader that um in the book. Of Deuteronomy, it actually gives us a blueprint of biblical leadership that I had never read before. Um, I think it's let me pull it up. I think it's Deuteronomy 17. Um, yeah. So the people of God are receiving all these laws from um God, and he knew that when they got to the place that he had promised them, they would want a king over them. Um, so he set the ground rules of what a king's supposed to be and what he's not supposed to be. Um, and what I loved is he first tells us three things that a king should not do, and it's to acquire many horses, which was a symbol of power at the time, um, and to not go back any back any direction towards Egypt, and then to not acquire many wives, and to not acquire tons of gold and silver. So, like power, treasure, and um power, treasure, and I'm losing my train of thought. Pleasure, maybe. Yeah, pleasure, thank you. Um, and from that he said, This is what we shouldn't do. And we later see that King Solomon broke all those rules in a big way, but he then can continues to tell us what a king should do. And it's a very simple thing. It's that the king should write for himself on a scroll the law and carry it with him every single day and read it every single day so that he would develop a fear and obedience for his Lord, and in that his gaze would not turn from the left or the right. So, like I would tell myself that because I've been carrying this compass around for a long time. And when I started doing it, I didn't have a super good basis on why I was doing it. But since finding that verse, it's like, yeah, this is the compass heading. Like, if I as a leader want longevity, I have to ensure that I'm reading this every single day, devoting myself to what the Lord's asked me to do so that my gaze doesn't move from the left to the right. Um, and I would tell myself that because it took me way too long to learn that. Um I think lastly, too, is just as I mentioned earlier, at the end of the day, I'm in the position I'm in because God has blessed me with this position. And at the end of the day, this ministry is his. Um, when I started, I thought it was mine. Yeah. And I was trying to do everything to maintain that. But God has constantly reminded me and showed me that he is the God of perfect timing. Um, one of my favorite Christmas verses actually is Galatians 4 4. It says, When the moment of time was perfected, God sent his son into the world.
SPEAKER_03:So good.
SPEAKER_00:Um, and if he can do that at the perfect time, I think he can handle everything that CCHC and I'm doing in my life in perfect timing. So learn to trust your his timing and just give up on yours because his always turns out better. Um I think I would lastly say to really connect with the conversion of uh Nathaniel is one of my favorite disciple stories. Um, because we just see Jesus go up to him and say, I saw you under your fig tree. No idea what he was going through in that time. Um, but that statement alone was so powerful to him that he believed that this was the Son of God. And from that, he says, Surely you're the Messiah that we've been waiting for. And Jesus responds with, If you believe that, just wait and see what I'm gonna do. Um, and I just love that. Like, if we can have that kind of surrender, like, okay, this is a God that sees me, knows me, and loves me. Um, I believe that wholeheartedly, without any other things coming into factor, then he will show me something that is so much more abundant than anything I ever dreamed of. And it just comes out of that obedience and surrender.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah. Really, really good snapshot for those listening really is trust God's timing. I don't have him in order, but trust God's time and trust that he sees you.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:And put your faith in the direction that he provides. There's so many worldly treasures and things we can chase and fill our hearts and our minds with pleasures, treasures, power, but the he's got something directly for you if you keep your heart and your eyes steadfast on him. I always say this. Um, kneeling in front of him. We've we we we went away from sitting at the feet of Jesus to standing with one another and talking about the things we're gonna do instead of asking him the direction he wants to direct us. I mean, these are beautiful gems of that you have them now. I I love that question. We asked that question. What things would you tell yourself? So it's this beautiful reflection of these things that God has now revealed in our leadership journey and it will continue to reveal in our leadership journeys in our lives as we make a difference in the lives of others. So yeah, thank you, brother. Mitch, you got a final word?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Uh we talked about Nehemiah and Nehemiah 8.10 says the joy of the Lord is our strength. Austin, I see that in you. Thank you, and Solomon said in Psalms 127.1 that unless the Lord builds the house, the labor is labor in vain. And I just see that in you. He also said that this humility, this reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom. And I think your humility, bending the knees of your heart toward the God of the universe, is fleshed out in wisdom that he gives you that you share with our community in a mighty, mighty way. I have been blessed immensely by you and especially again today.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, Austin. It's a uh my prayer is that the folks that are listening um are blessed in the same way that we've been blessed. And then, you know, we say this at the end, folks, you've if you've listened to the podcast for a while, like hit the 10 second back button as many times as you need to. Go find the gems, go find the things that maybe spoke to your heart. And yeah, ask the Lord, man, what are you saying to me in these things? And then Austin, finally, again, just thank you for spending time with us. Thank you for the work that you guys at CCHC are doing, uh, not only to serve our community in an area that's needed so much with healthcare, uh, but sharing the love of Jesus and the truth of the gospel with them. I love the the data that you shared about how that's the number one thing that's happening among those that you're serving and keep up the good work and thank you for being a partner uh with us at Love Fort Wayne to share Christ's love here in our community.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and thank you both for the role that both of you have played in my um emerging leader uh lessons. And I'm just so thankful for both of you and thankful for the opportunity.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, absolutely. Well, folks, man, this was a good one. Again, uh rewind it, check it out, and we're looking forward to being with you on the next episode. Until then, be well uh and make a difference there in your community.
