Imagine being told from a very young age that the church your family attends is the only real church in the world? That even the thought of leaving the church is tantamount to rebellion against God?
Our guest on today's episode experienced that, and let's just say it had a negative effect on her. After becoming wise to the ways of the world, Karen Y. Wilson Wilson-Starks realized the folly of such a doctrine and finally left her church. But it came at a cost of also leaving the only identity in Jesus she had ever known.
A true "wilderness experience" as she puts it.
But those who have tasted the good things of God always come back to Him, and Karen did so eventually. She's dealt with her fair share of legalism and man-made criteria as an adult after rediscovering her love for God, but has also met legit shining lights for the Gospel. So much so that she ministers to those who have endured similar estrangement from the Truth and encourages them to seek and find Jesus.
In this conversation with Dr. Karen Y. Wilson-Starks, you'll learn:
-Karen's journey from "pharisaical, law-based religion" to true freedom in Christ...05:00
-Escaping the oppression of a rules-based pseudo-gospel...11:38
-The unfolding of family life, and how it impacted Karen's character as an adult...13:50
-Discovering true freedom after wandering in a figurative wilderness for a period of time...19:00
-Advice for those who desire God, but are still on the precipice of finding God...25:00
-A divine meeting finally allows Karen and her husband to marry...27:20
-The most important lesson Karen has learned through her experiences in life...35:40
-Getting intimate with Jesus without worrying about meeting a bunch of man-made criteria...38:01
-How God has used Karen's unique experiences to minister in the marketplace...42:08
-And much more!
Resources mentioned:
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Guest's bio and social handles:
Dr. Karen Y. Wilson-Starks is the President and CEO of TRANSLEADERSHIP, INC. an executive leadership development consulting firm for executives in mid to large-sized values-based corporations. She partners with her global clients to select and retain the best people, create high performance teams, and develop cultures that get rapid innovative results. Her clients create a “Living Leadership Legacy” succession plan that leaves the organization, the people, and themselves Transformed, Transcended, and Ascended for their next chapter.
Dr. Wilson-Starks is also host of the weekly podcast show, The Voice of Leadership; Host of the TV and iHeart radio shows Dr. Karen Speaks Leadership; author of Lead Yourself First: The Senior Leader’s Guide to Engaging Your People for Greater Performance and Impact; and creator of the online course: Teams Empowered for Dynamic Organizational Results.
Her previous positions include serving as Chief Assessor and Senior Faculty member for the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) in Colorado Springs and as an active duty Army officer and psychologist. Her Army assignments include serving as the Clinical Director of the Cadet Counseling Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, as Division Psychologist for the First Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas; and also serving at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.
She holds active memberships in the American Psychological Association (APA) where she is a Fellow and serves as a member of the Consulting Psychology Ethics Committee; the Society for the Advancement of Consulting (SAC) where she is an expert panelist of the Global Supply Chain group; the Society for Human Resource Managers (SHRM); and the Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA). She is also the 2021 recipient of The RHR International Award for Excellence in Consultation, the highest level practice award in the Consulting Psychology Division of The American Psychological Association (APA).
The Consulting Psychology Journal published her co-authored article, “Consulting Competently in Multicultural Contexts” in the June 2008 edition. Articles in industry and association publications include “Team Building Success” and “It’s Time to Build High Performance Teams.”
Her Ph.D. and master’s degrees in clinical psychology are from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, and her bachelor’s degree in psychology is from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.
With more than 30 years of experience as a trusted advisor for executives in corporations, the US Militaryand Federal Government, and non-profit leaders in Foundations and faith-based organizations, she specializes in “Positive Leadership for Positive Business Results”. She also leverages her global experiences for a broader and more expansive view of options and possibilities.
She enjoys international travel, Broadway theatre, vacations at the ocean, and reading in her leisure time. She is married to Gregory Starks, a retired Army Officer and avid prosumer photographer.
