January 15, 2025 • 10 mins
Jeralyn Belote is the Head of School at Calhoun Christian in Battle Creek Michigan. She is a personal friend and one of the most articulate and humble leaders I have ever worked with. I had the privilege of serving on her Board of Directors for 8 years and know this is a woman after God's own heart. Connect with Jeralyn on LinkedIn.
Be sure to rate and follow our podcast!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jason (00:05):
Welcome to the biblical leadership at work mid month.
Deep dive.
And today's bonus episode.
Our guest hosts revisit one ofour most popular interviews.
If this quick recap inspiresyou.
Then be sure to check out thefull episode.
For even more great insights
Hey, everyone.
Welcome to another deep dive.
We're diving into Christianleadership today with Gerilyn
(00:27):
Belote.
Head of Calhoun Christianschool, right?
That's her.
And you know how you all arealways asking to hear from
leaders who, you know, actuallywalk the walk.
I've been getting thosemessages.
Well, get ready, becauseGerilyn's story, it's, uh, Well,
it's full of good stuff.
What's got you hooked?
Honestly, how she became aleader in the first place.
It wasn't like a straight shotto the top.
(00:50):
Which, let's be real, makes itway more interesting.
I'm all ears.
So she starts out in specialeducation.
Really?
What got her into that?
It was her sister, actually.
Her sister's experiences were abig inspiration.
Wow, you know, when you thinkabout the empathy you develop
working with kids who have, youknow, different ways of
(01:11):
learning, right?
That's got to shape you as aperson, for sure.
And I bet that kind ofunderstanding is crazy valuable
when you're in charge.
Absolutely.
It's like, You're laying thegroundwork for leadership
without even knowing it.
You're learning to be sensitiveto what each person needs, how
to help them be their best, andhonestly, that's huge in any
(01:33):
leadership position, butespecially in a school.
And here's the thing.
She was totally content teachingin public schools, like super
dedicated to her work.
Then, She decides to send herown kids to a Christian school.
Makes sense.
Yeah, so she enrolls her son inCalhoun Christian school.
And that's where she ends up asthe head honcho.
You got it.
(01:53):
Talk about a turn of events.
It makes you think though likethose choices We make the ones
based on what we really deeplybelieve.
Yeah, they can have a rippleeffect You know, you just never
know what doors they might openor what's waiting on the other
side and for Gerilyn that doorled straight to The head
administrator's office.
Didn't she say she didn't evenwant that kind of job?
(02:14):
Not at first No, but sometimesit's like Our calling has other
plans, you know.
It's like it was meant to be.
And we're not just talking aboutany school here.
Calhoun Christian, they've gotover 40 churches represented in
their student body.
Whoa, 40.
40.
You're talking about a whole lotof different viewpoints.
That's got to be, I mean, how doyou even navigate that?
(02:34):
That's where her leadershipmotto comes in.
Restorative grace.
Okay, I like the sound of that.
But what does it actually looklike in action?
It's gotta be more than just,you know, keeping everyone
quiet.
Right.
So what does restorative graceactually mean in practice?
It's about making reconciliationand understanding the most
important things.
Like, even more important than,you know, always agreeing.
(02:57):
So it's about building bridges.
Exactly.
Even when people see thingsdifferently.
And they actually have a reallyspecific way to do that at
Calhoun Christian.
Oh yeah?
What's that?
The Matthew 18 Principle.
Now, that rings a bell, but tobe honest, I might need a little
refresher.
It's all about addressingconflict directly.
Like, instead of complaining toother people about someone, you
(03:18):
go straight to the person youhave the issue with.
It's amazing how we'd rathergossip than just talk to the
person directly.
Right.
But it's amazing how often thatone little thing, just being
open and honest, can just clearthe air.
So no more whispering in thehallways?
Well, hopefully less.
But, the point is, you gostraight to the source.
And if that doesn't work, ifyou're still not seeing eye to
(03:40):
eye, That's when you bring insomeone else.
Like a mediator or something.
Exactly.
But the focus is always on thatdirect, respectful
communication.
Okay, so it all ties back tothat restorative grace idea.
Right.
You're focused on fixing thosebroken connections.
Yeah.
Making it a safe place forpeople to disagree, but still
commit to working through ittogether.
(04:02):
Hmm.
That's, uh Powerful stuff.
It really is.
And what I think is so cool isthat the students, they're
learning this too.
Absolutely.
And like, they're being equippedwith these conflict resolution
skills that'll help them waybeyond their time at school.
It's like they're learning awhole new language.
The language of grace andreconciliation.
And that's something this worldcould really use a lot more of,
(04:24):
don't you think?
A hundred percent.
It really is.
I mean, it's like, they'reactually learning how to be
peacemakers.
Mm.
You know, like how to actuallybring people together.
And in a world that feels, like,constantly divided.
Man, that's huge.
For sure.
But all this, it kind of makesyou wonder, like, how do you
actually build that kind ofculture?
Especially in a school, right?
(04:45):
Exactly.
Where does it even start?
Well, with Gerilyn, she's superopen about the fact that she
hasn't always been perfect atthis whole leadership thing.
Right, she talks aboutstruggling with people pleasing.
Oh, yeah, big time.
Especially when she was firststarting out.
I can totally see that.
It's tough, right?
Wanting to make everyone happyall the time, you end up feeling
responsible for how everyonefeels.
(05:05):
And that is not a recipe for,like, success, you know?
It's a recipe for burnout,that's for sure.
Yeah.
So how'd she get over that?
A few things.
First, she's big on having goodpeople around her, like a team
of advisors.
Okay, so not just yes people,but people who will actually
challenge her.
Yeah, exactly.
People she can bounce ideas offof.
(05:26):
People who will help her maketough decisions.
And you know what's interesting?
She went out of her way to findpeople from all different
backgrounds, different points ofview, because she knew she
needed to hear a wide range ofperspectives.
Makes sense.
You gotta have different voicesat the table.
Absolutely.
And prayer, too.
She talks about how importantprayer is for her leadership.
Like, she'll literally juststop, even if it's for a few
(05:47):
seconds, and pray.
Wow.
Even in the middle of, like, Acrazy day, especially in the
middle of a crazy day, it'sabout staying connected to like
the bigger picture, rememberingwho she's ultimately answerable
to, which is God, not people andman, I'll tell you, that's a
game changer right there.
I bet it is.
(06:07):
It's like when you realize thatyour identity, it's found in
Christ.
Not in what other people thinkof you.
You're free.
Totally.
Free to lead with conviction, tomake tough decisions, even when
they're unpopular.
And that right there, that'swhat she sees as the biggest
problem in leadership today.
Not just in Christianleadership.
Not at all.
She sees it everywhere, thislack of integrity, you know,
(06:28):
people, organizations, they'reso Quick to abandon what they
believe in just to please peopleor chase the latest trends.
Yeah, it's like, where do youdraw the line?
When do you stand your ground?
Exactly.
And she's particularly concernedabout what she's seeing in some
Christian schools.
It's like they're losing theirway, compromising their values
without even realizing it.
(06:49):
It's like one small compromiseleads to another.
And then another.
And before you know it.
You're totally off track.
And it all comes down tointegrity, right?
Like, Are your actions actuallymatching up with what you say
you believe?
A hundred percent.
And it's not always easy.
There's always going to be thattension, that pull to choose
sides, you know?
Yeah, especially in today'sworld.
(07:10):
So, how do you hold both graceand truth at the same time?
How do you do that?
That is the question.
And she uses this reallyinteresting illustration, the
story of Jesus and the woman atthe well.
Have you heard it?
I mean, yeah, kind of.
It's one of those, like, Sundayschool stories, you know, but
I'm not sure I remember all thedetails.
So, Jesus is at this well,right, and he meets this woman
(07:31):
who's, well, let's just sayshe's had kind of a tough life.
And she's totally shocked thathe's even talking to her.
Because she's a woman.
Right.
Right.
Back then, men, they just didn'ttalk to women in public like
that, especially not a womanwho, you know, had a past.
Exactly, but Jesus, he doesn'tcare about any of that.
He talks to her with suchcompassion, offers her this
(07:52):
living water, which is like thisamazing metaphor for eternal
life.
But here's the thing, and thisis important.
He doesn't sugarcoat anythingeither.
What do you mean?
He tells her the truth about herlife, about her choices.
He challenges her to change, toturn away from the things that
are hurting her.
It's like he's showing her bothgrace and truth at the same
time.
Exactly.
(08:13):
He loves her right where she is,but he also loves her too much
to just leave her there.
Powerful stuff.
It makes you think about how wetreat people, especially those
who are different from us orwho've made mistakes, you know.
Absolutely.
And you know what else reallystruck me about Jerilyn's story?
What's that?
It's that statistic shementioned about how so many
young people today, they walkaway from the faith.
(08:36):
Yeah, it's like 75%, right?
Yeah, something like that.
And it breaks my heart, youknow, because it shows just how
important it is for Christianleaders, whether they're in a
school, a church.
Or even just in their families.
Could be good examples.
Exactly.
They need to show what it reallylooks like to live out your
faith in a way that's real andattractive and, you know,
(08:56):
actually makes people want tostick around.
And Gerilyn, to her credit,she's not pretending to have it
all figured out.
No, no, not at all.
She's super open about the factthat she's still learning, still
growing.
Which I love.
It's so refreshing, you know?
It's like, do it.
She's leading from this place ofhumility, recognizing that we're
all in this together.
In fact, she was talking aboutthis podcast she's been
(09:19):
listening to, Theology in theRaw.
I've heard of that one.
And how much she appreciates theway they tackle these really
tough cultural topics.
It's not always easy to talkabout that stuff.
No, it's not.
But it's so important, you know,we can't just shy away from the
hard stuff.
We have to be willing to engagewith these issues, even when
it's uncomfortable.
And Gerilyn, she gets that.
(09:40):
It's like she's always pushingherself to go deeper.
To learn more.
And she's encouraging herstudents to do the same.
It's like that quote, faithseeks understanding.
You know?
I love that.
Because it's true.
We shouldn't be afraid to askhard questions.
To wrestle with doubt.
That's how we grow.
And that brings us back to thatchallenge Gerilyn leaves us
with.
How do we create those spaces,those communities, where
(10:03):
everyone feels like they belong?
Where everyone feels loved andaccepted, no matter what.
Man, that's, that's a big one.
It is.
But I really believe it'spossible.
And I think it starts with eachof us.
What do you mean?
It's about taking a good, hardlook at ourselves.
Like, are we showing that samegrace and truth to others that
Jesus showed to the woman at thewell?
(10:24):
Are we willing to listen, tolove, unconditionally, even when
it's hard?
That's the heart of it, isn'tit?
Leading with love.
It's not always easy, but it'salways the answer.
It really is.
Well, on that note, I think it'stime to wrap up this deep dive.
As always, we hope thisconversation has given you some
things to think about, to chewon, maybe even to disagree with.
(10:44):
That's okay.
That's what it's all about,right?
Absolutely.
Until next time, keep askingthose tough questions, keep
seeking truth, and keep leadingwith love.
Welcome to the biblical leadership at work mid month.
Deep dive.
And today's bonus episode.
Our guest hosts revisit one ofour most popular interviews.
If this quick recap inspiresyou.
Then be sure to check out thefull episode.
For even more great insights
Hey, everyone.
Welcome to another deep dive.
We're diving into Christianleadership today with Gerilyn
(00:27):
Belote.
Head of Calhoun Christianschool, right?
That's her.
And you know how you all arealways asking to hear from
leaders who, you know, actuallywalk the walk.
I've been getting thosemessages.
Well, get ready, becauseGerilyn's story, it's, uh, Well,
it's full of good stuff.
What's got you hooked?
Honestly, how she became aleader in the first place.
It wasn't like a straight shotto the top.
(00:50):
Which, let's be real, makes itway more interesting.
I'm all ears.
So she starts out in specialeducation.
Really?
What got her into that?
It was her sister, actually.
Her sister's experiences were abig inspiration.
Wow, you know, when you thinkabout the empathy you develop
working with kids who have, youknow, different ways of
(01:11):
learning, right?
That's got to shape you as aperson, for sure.
And I bet that kind ofunderstanding is crazy valuable
when you're in charge.
Absolutely.
It's like, You're laying thegroundwork for leadership
without even knowing it.
You're learning to be sensitiveto what each person needs, how
to help them be their best, andhonestly, that's huge in any
(01:33):
leadership position, butespecially in a school.
And here's the thing.
She was totally content teachingin public schools, like super
dedicated to her work.
Then, She decides to send herown kids to a Christian school.
Makes sense.
Yeah, so she enrolls her son inCalhoun Christian school.
And that's where she ends up asthe head honcho.
You got it.
(01:53):
Talk about a turn of events.
It makes you think though likethose choices We make the ones
based on what we really deeplybelieve.
Yeah, they can have a rippleeffect You know, you just never
know what doors they might openor what's waiting on the other
side and for Gerilyn that doorled straight to The head
administrator's office.
Didn't she say she didn't evenwant that kind of job?
(02:14):
Not at first No, but sometimesit's like Our calling has other
plans, you know.
It's like it was meant to be.
And we're not just talking aboutany school here.
Calhoun Christian, they've gotover 40 churches represented in
their student body.
Whoa, 40.
40.
You're talking about a whole lotof different viewpoints.
That's got to be, I mean, how doyou even navigate that?
(02:34):
That's where her leadershipmotto comes in.
Restorative grace.
Okay, I like the sound of that.
But what does it actually looklike in action?
It's gotta be more than just,you know, keeping everyone
quiet.
Right.
So what does restorative graceactually mean in practice?
It's about making reconciliationand understanding the most
important things.
Like, even more important than,you know, always agreeing.
(02:57):
So it's about building bridges.
Exactly.
Even when people see thingsdifferently.
And they actually have a reallyspecific way to do that at
Calhoun Christian.
Oh yeah?
What's that?
The Matthew 18 Principle.
Now, that rings a bell, but tobe honest, I might need a little
refresher.
It's all about addressingconflict directly.
Like, instead of complaining toother people about someone, you
(03:18):
go straight to the person youhave the issue with.
It's amazing how we'd rathergossip than just talk to the
person directly.
Right.
But it's amazing how often thatone little thing, just being
open and honest, can just clearthe air.
So no more whispering in thehallways?
Well, hopefully less.
But, the point is, you gostraight to the source.
And if that doesn't work, ifyou're still not seeing eye to
(03:40):
eye, That's when you bring insomeone else.
Like a mediator or something.
Exactly.
But the focus is always on thatdirect, respectful
communication.
Okay, so it all ties back tothat restorative grace idea.
Right.
You're focused on fixing thosebroken connections.
Yeah.
Making it a safe place forpeople to disagree, but still
commit to working through ittogether.
(04:02):
Hmm.
That's, uh Powerful stuff.
It really is.
And what I think is so cool isthat the students, they're
learning this too.
Absolutely.
And like, they're being equippedwith these conflict resolution
skills that'll help them waybeyond their time at school.
It's like they're learning awhole new language.
The language of grace andreconciliation.
And that's something this worldcould really use a lot more of,
(04:24):
don't you think?
A hundred percent.
It really is.
I mean, it's like, they'reactually learning how to be
peacemakers.
Mm.
You know, like how to actuallybring people together.
And in a world that feels, like,constantly divided.
Man, that's huge.
For sure.
But all this, it kind of makesyou wonder, like, how do you
actually build that kind ofculture?
Especially in a school, right?
(04:45):
Exactly.
Where does it even start?
Well, with Gerilyn, she's superopen about the fact that she
hasn't always been perfect atthis whole leadership thing.
Right, she talks aboutstruggling with people pleasing.
Oh, yeah, big time.
Especially when she was firststarting out.
I can totally see that.
It's tough, right?
Wanting to make everyone happyall the time, you end up feeling
responsible for how everyonefeels.
(05:05):
And that is not a recipe for,like, success, you know?
It's a recipe for burnout,that's for sure.
Yeah.
So how'd she get over that?
A few things.
First, she's big on having goodpeople around her, like a team
of advisors.
Okay, so not just yes people,but people who will actually
challenge her.
Yeah, exactly.
People she can bounce ideas offof.
(05:26):
People who will help her maketough decisions.
And you know what's interesting?
She went out of her way to findpeople from all different
backgrounds, different points ofview, because she knew she
needed to hear a wide range ofperspectives.
Makes sense.
You gotta have different voicesat the table.
Absolutely.
And prayer, too.
She talks about how importantprayer is for her leadership.
Like, she'll literally juststop, even if it's for a few
(05:47):
seconds, and pray.
Wow.
Even in the middle of, like, Acrazy day, especially in the
middle of a crazy day, it'sabout staying connected to like
the bigger picture, rememberingwho she's ultimately answerable
to, which is God, not people andman, I'll tell you, that's a
game changer right there.
I bet it is.
(06:07):
It's like when you realize thatyour identity, it's found in
Christ.
Not in what other people thinkof you.
You're free.
Totally.
Free to lead with conviction, tomake tough decisions, even when
they're unpopular.
And that right there, that'swhat she sees as the biggest
problem in leadership today.
Not just in Christianleadership.
Not at all.
She sees it everywhere, thislack of integrity, you know,
(06:28):
people, organizations, they'reso Quick to abandon what they
believe in just to please peopleor chase the latest trends.
Yeah, it's like, where do youdraw the line?
When do you stand your ground?
Exactly.
And she's particularly concernedabout what she's seeing in some
Christian schools.
It's like they're losing theirway, compromising their values
without even realizing it.
(06:49):
It's like one small compromiseleads to another.
And then another.
And before you know it.
You're totally off track.
And it all comes down tointegrity, right?
Like, Are your actions actuallymatching up with what you say
you believe?
A hundred percent.
And it's not always easy.
There's always going to be thattension, that pull to choose
sides, you know?
Yeah, especially in today'sworld.
(07:10):
So, how do you hold both graceand truth at the same time?
How do you do that?
That is the question.
And she uses this reallyinteresting illustration, the
story of Jesus and the woman atthe well.
Have you heard it?
I mean, yeah, kind of.
It's one of those, like, Sundayschool stories, you know, but
I'm not sure I remember all thedetails.
So, Jesus is at this well,right, and he meets this woman
(07:31):
who's, well, let's just sayshe's had kind of a tough life.
And she's totally shocked thathe's even talking to her.
Because she's a woman.
Right.
Right.
Back then, men, they just didn'ttalk to women in public like
that, especially not a womanwho, you know, had a past.
Exactly, but Jesus, he doesn'tcare about any of that.
He talks to her with suchcompassion, offers her this
(07:52):
living water, which is like thisamazing metaphor for eternal
life.
But here's the thing, and thisis important.
He doesn't sugarcoat anythingeither.
What do you mean?
He tells her the truth about herlife, about her choices.
He challenges her to change, toturn away from the things that
are hurting her.
It's like he's showing her bothgrace and truth at the same
time.
Exactly.
(08:13):
He loves her right where she is,but he also loves her too much
to just leave her there.
Powerful stuff.
It makes you think about how wetreat people, especially those
who are different from us orwho've made mistakes, you know.
Absolutely.
And you know what else reallystruck me about Jerilyn's story?
What's that?
It's that statistic shementioned about how so many
young people today, they walkaway from the faith.
(08:36):
Yeah, it's like 75%, right?
Yeah, something like that.
And it breaks my heart, youknow, because it shows just how
important it is for Christianleaders, whether they're in a
school, a church.
Or even just in their families.
Could be good examples.
Exactly.
They need to show what it reallylooks like to live out your
faith in a way that's real andattractive and, you know,
(08:56):
actually makes people want tostick around.
And Gerilyn, to her credit,she's not pretending to have it
all figured out.
No, no, not at all.
She's super open about the factthat she's still learning, still
growing.
Which I love.
It's so refreshing, you know?
It's like, do it.
She's leading from this place ofhumility, recognizing that we're
all in this together.
In fact, she was talking aboutthis podcast she's been
(09:19):
listening to, Theology in theRaw.
I've heard of that one.
And how much she appreciates theway they tackle these really
tough cultural topics.
It's not always easy to talkabout that stuff.
No, it's not.
But it's so important, you know,we can't just shy away from the
hard stuff.
We have to be willing to engagewith these issues, even when
it's uncomfortable.
And Gerilyn, she gets that.
(09:40):
It's like she's always pushingherself to go deeper.
To learn more.
And she's encouraging herstudents to do the same.
It's like that quote, faithseeks understanding.
You know?
I love that.
Because it's true.
We shouldn't be afraid to askhard questions.
To wrestle with doubt.
That's how we grow.
And that brings us back to thatchallenge Gerilyn leaves us
with.
How do we create those spaces,those communities, where
(10:03):
everyone feels like they belong?
Where everyone feels loved andaccepted, no matter what.
Man, that's, that's a big one.
It is.
But I really believe it'spossible.
And I think it starts with eachof us.
What do you mean?
It's about taking a good, hardlook at ourselves.
Like, are we showing that samegrace and truth to others that
Jesus showed to the woman at thewell?
(10:24):
Are we willing to listen, tolove, unconditionally, even when
it's hard?
That's the heart of it, isn'tit?
Leading with love.
It's not always easy, but it'salways the answer.
It really is.
Well, on that note, I think it'stime to wrap up this deep dive.
As always, we hope thisconversation has given you some
things to think about, to chewon, maybe even to disagree with.
(10:44):
That's okay.
That's what it's all about,right?
Absolutely.
Until next time, keep askingthose tough questions, keep
seeking truth, and keep leadingwith love.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com