Title: Bridging the Gap
Subtitle: A Christian’s Guide to Tough Topics in a Polarized World
Host: Beth Domsten
Speaker: Katherine Gallagher
Date/Time: Friday, Nov 10, 2023 @ 4 pm Eastern
Have you ever found yourself deep in a conversation about divisive topics such as politics, gender, or sexuality, only to feel the tension rising and the dialogue turning into a dispute?
As Christians called to pursue justice, being both the salt and light, your approach to these conversations isn’t just important—it’s a reflection of your faith.
That’s why I’m excited to extend an invitation to you for an upcoming webinar featuring Katherine Gallagher, Executive Director of GoStrategic. Katherine will provide you with practical tools for self-evaluation and conversational engagement that honor relationships and embody Christ-like love.
Whether you are navigating these conversations in your family, among friends, or within your community, it’s Katherine desire to help you communicate with compassion and conviction.
In this webinar, you will learn how to:
- Enter discussions poised to listen and understand, not just to be heard.
- Understand your own beliefs to take the first step toward engaging others with empathy and insight.
- Explore how to cultivate relationships that withstand the tests of disagreement and discourse.
- Sharpen your conversational tools to cut through barriers, not build them, with questions and language that reflect the love of Christ.
If you’re ready to transform the way you discuss trigger-worthy topics and seek justice in love, join us for this enlightening session with Katherine!
About Katherine Gallagher
Katherine began her speaking career in her teens, as a peer educator and motivational speaker in local high schools. With a passion for truth and for people, she has continued to speak on such topics as relationships, marriage, worldview, leadership, business and personal growth from a core level. She is the current Executive Director of GoStrategic, a former small business owner, and also works with several local non-profits as a consultant and advisor. She is an author and has made numerous radio and television appearances. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Azusa Pacific University and resides in Santa Rosa, California with her husband and two teenage daughters.
So deep; so clear and just great choices of word application Thank you Katherine. I have also friends and family in the same sex category and trust for wiser conversation when engaging with them in the future. My heart is heavy for them regarding eternity so I hold back so I don’t come across condemning and forfeiting God’s conviction etc. Wonderful so glad I listened to this today.
A huge thank you to Katherine Gallagher!!! The information she presented is invaluable. People’s belief systems regarding certain social issues can be difficult to understand, however after this webinar I feel better equipped to have meaningful conversations about controversial topics with family or friends. The “strategy” of asking the right questions to draw truth out of people because they will believe themselves more than you was a real eye-opener. I so appreciate all the information that Katherine shared.
Wow!!! Katherine did an outstanding job! This webinar was inspiring, educational, and practical. We are called to make a difference here on earth. What a blessing to have Katherine teach us how to engage in controversial topics such as politics, gender, sexuality, and abortion and still produce loving conversations.
Some points Katherine touched on were: practical application for self-evaluation, engaging conversation, honoring relationships, perspective on conflict, effective language strategy, and worldview.
I loved and appreciated the personal testimonies Katherine shared about how she used ASKING the right questions to help her two friends think differently about abortion and transgender.
A few highlights that stood out to me:
• Look at ourselves first. Are we properly positioned to hear the Holy Spirit?
• Know WHAT we believe and WHY. (Be able to explain the principles in scriptures without using the Bible.)
• Some people think the Bible is irrelevant. We need to understand the principles that are behind what we are arguing.
• It’s so important that we know “What we are FOR?” Not just “What are we AGAINST.”
• We each have our own sphere of influence God has called us to (family, neighbors, co-workers, employees, etc.) Be intentional and start a relationship with them. Build a level of TRUST with people that could allow a chance for real conversations.
• We want to ask the right questions (guided by the Holy Spirit) to help people get to the heart of what’s behind their belief.
• THE BIG 3 QUESTIONS – Can help us figure out what’s behind our own beliefs, the beliefs of others, and the issues in the world today.
• What do you believe about the NATURE OF GOD? Is there or is there not a God? If He exists, what is He like?
• What do you believe about the NATURE OF MAN? Is man created by God? Is there purpose or design? Is man basically good?
• What do you believe about the NATURE OF TRUTH? Is truth relative or absolute? Who or what determines it, and how do we discover it? Is there really no absolute truth?
• The goal is to engage a person’s heart, not win an argument.
• We aren’t engaging a topic. Don’t make the person the belief. The person is a child of God. We are engaging a person’s perspective/emotions. Try to understand the person’s emotional state.
• Conviction takes place at the heart level and paves the way for genuine transformation.
• Speak the truth in love. Listen with love.
• Anything you can be argued into – you can be argued out of.
• “The mind justifies what the heart has chosen.” Dennis Peacocke
• “Draw truth out of people. They’re going to believe themselves before they believe you.”
• Our language strategy matters. It’s not just about “right” and wrong.” Katherine likes to use the terms HEALTHY and UNHEALTHY. LIFE and DEATH. For example: “This is what we believe is most HEALTHY.”