Chassie Anders (Founder of Crown of Glory Beauty)

The episode you're about to listen to was released back when the Mere Christians podcast was called the Call to Mastery. Now, if you love Mere Christians, you're still going to love these older episodes because the majority of each conversation focuses on how the Gospel influences the work of our guests. With that disclaimer out of the way, please enjoy the episode. Foreign. Hey everybody. Welcome to the Call to Mastery. I'm Jordan Raynor. This is a podcast for Christians who want to do their most exceptional work for the glory of God and the good of others. Every week I host a conversation with a Christian who's pursuing world class mastery of their vocation. We talk about the path to mastery. We talk about their daily habits and how the Gospel of Jesus Christ influences their work. Guys, you are going to love today's episode with my new friend, Chassie Anders. She's a missionary turned entrepreneur running an incredible beauty business in Austin, Texas that serves brides on their wedding day. Chassis and I sat down recently to talk about why she left being a quote unquote full time missionary in China to do the kingdom work she believes she was best equipped to do here in the States. We talked about what Revelation says about the wedding dress we sew with our good works and we also shared five tips for sharing the Gospel in our post Christian context. Please enjoy this terrific conversation with Chassis Andrews. Hey Chassis. Welcome to the Call to Mastery.

Thank you so much for having me. I'm honored to be on this. This is so fun.

The honor is all ours. All right, so let's start with real basics. Tell us what is Crown of Glory Beauty?

So Crown of Glory Beauty is a Austin based beauty company, but we actually specialize in weddings and other special events. And Crown of Glory Beauty, I think what makes us different is that we are for the natural bride that really truly wants to look and feel like herself on her wedding day. Man, it's just such an honor. I absolutely love what we do.

That's awesome. So what is the scope of this for an ignorant guy like me?

Right?

Does this mean makeup, hair, the whole shebang all the wedding day? What is this?

Yes. So let's say I'll kind of walk you through what it would be like if you were a bride inquiring with me. So yeah, we help with pretty much anything beauty related within your wedding season. So we have a trial which a trial is basically just a run through of what your hair and makeup will look like on the day of. So typically brides book a trial run with me. I love trials. They're like my favorite thing on the planet. Because on wedding days, typically things can get a little hectic, as you could imagine. And so trials are really, I think, one of the. It's my favorite time to have with the bride because it's one on one, me and her. And I can really help her relax, calm down, take a break from the stressful wedding planning and gathering your family and really focus on what it is that you're doing and why you're getting married and really being able to pamper her. So we do trial runs. We help you get ready for rehearsal dinner and then rich rehearsal dinner, welcome parties. Those happen the day before or a couple days before the actual event. And then, yes, we absolutely come for the day of and we help bride, mom, bridesmaids, flower girls, grandmothers. Really whoever it is that wants to get pampered on that special day, I love it.

It's so great. So you started this business I don't like, almost a decade ago. Right. But then you put it on hold for a few years. Tell us that story. Explain kind of the genesis and kind of a winding path of this business.

Yeah, I think it's crazy because only in recent years have I really understood that I've been an entrepreneur. I didn't really take myself too seriously back when I did. I started Crown of glory at age 23 and I am now 31. So I have learned quite a bit and just these short, short years. But it has. It's been almost a decade, which is crazy. But, yeah, I've always been a person that's creative and I love singing Beauty. I would help my friends get ready. I actually tried getting my cosmetology license in high school, but I didn't have enough available credits. Like, I had to get some. Some of the basics out of the way. And so then when I graduated high school, you know, the typical thing we do is go to college. My parents really wanted me to do that, and, you know, I thought I'd give it a try. I still had no idea what I would even want to do. So I went to school for about a year, and then I ended up dropping out because I just. It didn't feel right for me. I worked for a little bit in the hospitality industry while I kind of figured things out. And then I decided to give Beauty another shot. And I went to cosmetology school at age 19 and I fell in love. I kind of struggled in school growing up, but when I walked into cosmetology school, everything just made sense to me. And I actually enjoyed it and I was really good with my hands. So I got a job at a while in beauty school at a local company here in Austin that specialized in weddings. And so I worked there for about five years or I guess four or five years and some overlap with Crown of Glory. When it started, I would contract with that company and I really just, I started cleaning the studio. I started doing very basic things and just kind of slowly over time they trusted me to do more and man, I fell in love. I remember in school my favorite thing to do was always updos, updos, styling. And so I just actually never even went into a traditional salon. I kind of knew that that was what I really enjoyed. And so when, yeah, I started Crown of glory at 23, from 2014 to about 2016ish, I was doing it on my own. But yes, we took a little pause. So my husband and I, we belong to a church here in Austin that we just started going to around about the same time I started going to school and my life just. Man, I grew up in a Christian home, but I feel like I truly heard the gospel as a young like college age person at this church and I just fell in love with the Lord. I felt freedom. I felt like, oh, I don't have to be all these different things that the world, myself or my family or whoever expects of me or wants from me. I truly felt, man, I just can remember the first layer of weight lifted off my shoulders when I surrendered to him.

What was it that. Because I have a very similar story, right. Went to Christian school for 13 years, but I don't think it was until college that I really started to understand the depth and breadth of the gospel. For me, honestly, it was Tim Keller's writings that helped me understand this. What was it for you?

Oh man, Tim Keller definitely is on that list. He is one of my favorites for sure. But I think for me, my parents divorced at a young age and they were actually worship pastors in my church growing up. And so I think just because of that chaos, we just stopped going. And I never thought God wasn't real, but I just, I guess slowly over time I started trying to figure out what I thought life was going to be apart from him. And so I think it was just this perfect time in my life. I had turned to so many other things to fill my void in my heart, like partying, boys, all the things. And I just was tired that wasn't filling me anymore. And I can remember just asking my friends like after a night of Partying, I would wake up and I just feel like, do you feel empty? Because I feel empty. And so I think I just had great grown because of God's grace. Obviously that was his spirit working in me. I know now looking back, he was totally showing me those things I was pursuing will, not birth, life and so going. It just happened to be the right time in my heart, in my life. And he had opened up me spiritually to be able to hear that. But I just think the people at my church have such a gift in communicating the gospel. It just, yeah, it grabbed a hold of me.

So I love it. And we were talking before via email, you had already started Crown of Glory Beauty or started around this time. And over time you just really felt this pressure to, I think you use that word precisely to move overseas and be a quote unquote, full time missionary. I'm curious, like, tell us a little bit more about that. What did that pressure sound like? What were some of the things you were being told implicitly, explicitly about this move in life?

Yeah, man. It's a part of my life that I'm really. The Lord is asking me to go back and kind of really look into and heal from. And so I'm still articulating personally how to like word some of these things. But I think the biggest, I would say, yeah, pressure, it was indirect and then also maybe some direct pressures. Like I obviously had an interest, I went to church and I would hear about, about the nations, I would hear about. There are places in the world that aren't just lost, they just, they haven't even had an opportunity to hear the gospel. And I think because I was so captivated by it at that time, you know, I kind of was in my honeymoon of my Christian life. I just was like, people have to know. And so I know that that seed was definitely planted by the Lord. But I think I did feel pressure as I kind of took steps, like serious steps into looking what it would look like to go overseas. Yeah, I feel like, because maybe there aren't too many people signing up to do that. As soon as you kind of get into some of the wonderful ministries that do prepare people to go be missionaries overseas, I kind of felt like I had to say yes at a point, like, because I was really passionate at the beginning. But then as I kind of started understanding a little more the cost of what that was going to be, which of course I don't even, I know now looking back even more of what that cost me, which God is worth that. Right. So you go back and forth in your head of. But this is what it means to be a Christ follower. It's to live sacrificially, it's to. So this must be the path. So I think it was some indirect pressures like that because it's the Great Commission, it's the gospel. I think the thing that I wish was that someone would have like truly. Jordan, I don't just mean this because I'm on your, your podcast right now. Like when I read your book, like I was moved to tears because called to create. I hadn't ever like in such a long time. I feel like my freedom to choose, my calling, my freedom to choose how I specifically, uniquely follow Christ was kind of taken from me in a way because that path of what it looked like to quote unquote, be a missionary was so specific. I think that that is a path for some people. But I wish someone would have maybe loved me enough to sit there and think like, how can Chassis specifically and her giftings, her talents, her sphere of influence, her opportunities go out and move the kingdom forward. And so your book, like that line where it says, is my work as a creative really as important as that of a pastor or missionary? Like, I came home and I did not think that. I know I didn't. I fell into some pretty deep depression and hopelessness because I felt guilty for doing a job, a passion that I love so much because it wasn't quote unquote, vocational ministry.

Yeah. And we'll get to. I really want to dig into that part of the story. So long story short for our listeners, you started this business, you and your husband went to China, right? Right.

Yes.

As quote, unquote, donor supported missionaries.

Right.

And then you came back. We're going to get to you guys. Coming back to the States in a minute, but it just sounds like. I just want to read this from your email and if you want me to edit this out later, let me know because I didn't get your permission. But here's what you said and I just thought you articulated this so perfectly. You said, quote, my leadership and you're talking about the leadership of this missions organization put a ministry goal of sending a certain amount of people to the nations. An amazing thing. Obviously your words right in front of me as an individual child of God, I don't think anyone was asking how is chassis wired and how can she specifically make a difference in the world? End quote. So it basically sounds like you felt like you were a square peg in a round, full time missionary shaped hole.

Right, yes. That is very fair to say. Yes. Yes.

So you guys come back to the States, you pick back up the business, but there's still a lot of guilt, as you alluded to a minute ago. Can you describe kind of what was going through your mind as you guys left China and came back to the States?

Yeah. I think some of the daily interlock in my brain was. I don't know the exact percentages, but I know the amount of people who end up serving in the 1041 or overseas from the Western church in America. I know it's very small. So let's just say it's 90. 10. 90% stay, 10% go, which I know it's less than that even. I would just say to myself, like, I came home and I was like, okay, it can't be true that 90% or more of the church who isn't going to the nations isn't moving forward the kingdom. Like, that can't be true. Like, I would just.

It just, like, doesn't ring true in our souls.

Yes, yes.

Or in God's word, period. Yeah.

Yes. Yes. I felt so much shame and guilt for not staying. There was a lot of that pressure we were talking about earlier. So there definitely was pressure for me to go once I started, like, taking steps into what that would look like. But the pressure didn't stop once I got there. It continued in a new way by the organization that I was with there to stay longer than my two years that my husband and I had committed. So, you know, the pressure was a lighter first year, but the second year, when we really had to start deciding, are we going home? Are we coming back? Gosh, I just. I felt. I said, no, obviously, I'm here. When I was home in those recent months and first year back, I felt guilt for not choosing to stay where I was. I felt guilty for being in America. I felt guilty for having all these comforts that I hadn't had. So I don't know if that answered your question, but.

No, it does. And I think we got to be careful here.

Right.

Because, for example, best man in my wedding, one of my best friends in the world. He and his family are sacrificing greatly as missionaries in Papua New guinea right now. Right. Like, they've given up a lot of comforts, and we should celebrate that work, and we need more people to do this work in the world. The point is, God hasn't wired everybody with the unique passions and skill sets to do that type of work. Right. Like, he created chassis to be a World class, creative and artist. Right. Like, and those skills could be a part of advancing and revealing the kingdom in Austin, Texas.

Right.

And you said in your email to me that you've gotten to that place over the years where you, quote, feel confident in my work being not just purposeful, but actual kingdom work, end quote. And the work you're talking about is this crown of beauty business. So talk to us a little bit more about this. How is your work in your mind and what you could see in scripture, Kingdom work.

Yeah, I think that there's so many different levels to it. It's kingdom work in for one for me personally, because as you probably know, no matter how small or big your business is as an entrepreneur, it is definitely something the Lord uses to personally continue to refine me and mold me more and more into the person he wants me to be. But yes, my husband Noah now works with us and we get to work together. And so it molds me personally, but it also molds and shapes our marriage. I love that. So I think that is kingdom work because marriage, family unit, these are things that have been so broken, especially even in my story. And so I know that is redeeming. God is redeeming the way maybe my family life was broken. He's going to absolutely want to redeem family life and marriage life in my marriage. So that's one way. But on the level of with my clients, man, I just, I'll use one example. So I had a bride reach out to me. Her name was Sandy and she actually had battled cancer and she won and she was getting remarried to her new husband. And she asked me to do her hair and makeup on her wedding day. And I said yes, of course. And then when she came in for her trial, she was so just battling some personal things. Like she was obviously in a very happy season of her life, like getting married. That's a beautiful season. But she was also simultaneously walking through some pretty dark things that had happened to her recently. And my one on one interaction with her, of course, this is the Lord working through me. But just being able to have her sit down in a chair, recline, have a charcuterie board of food, have her favorite beverage and her favorite music playing. Like, helps her relax and feel known, feel seen, feel special. So I think that level, like God cares about us personally and intimately. Right? So I think the Lord really does use very simple things like hospitality to serve my clients. I think that's a huge way.

I love that. That's a complete point for you. I asked you how is your word kingdom work? And you said, oh, I just served this client really well and made her feel seen and loved and appreciated. Right? Because that's giving her a foretaste of Jesus and Jesus's kingdom. And that act in and of itself honors the Lord. Now I am curious if with Sandy or other clients, that act of service and ministering to them has led to opportunities to accept explicitly share the gospel. Have you seen that?

Oh, yeah. So like with Sandy, specifically, so she, in her past, she was raised in a Christian home, but she actually eventually got married to her first husband and he was Jewish. And so then she went on over to his religion and his culture. They ended up divorcing. And so now, like, when she came to me in my chair, obviously in my name, a lot of people kind of know crown of glory. Like, they'll ask me about that and kind of have a hint at maybe that I'm a believer. But I think Sandy, like I told you, she was going through some pretty hard things. And I've been through some pretty hard things. And we opened up, I opened up very vulnerably to some of my struggles. And she just told me, like, chassis, I'm so glad that you shared your difficulties because she said, sometimes it's hard for me to believe that, you know, being a believer, being a Christ followers, only happy feelings or. And so like, she told me that specifically after that interaction, like when she walked into my studio, you could kind of tell just a little a wall was up with when I brought up kind of spiritual things. But by the time at the end of that conversation, I mean, was she a believer? I don't know. I don't know if that's what's in her heart yet. But I could tell the Lord had softened her heart towards himself. And so I think absolutely. And I did like. And that's one of the things that I am so grateful for, the trainings and different things that I did get while as a missionary preparing to be one, because I learned how to be, as we would say, gospel fluent. And I think sometimes the way we, knowing the person that you're talking to and is listening to you, obviously the gospel, it never changes, but I think there are certain ways that we can communicate it using their story to where the Lord can. He'll hit a heartstring to them specifically. And so again, we don't always know when and if that's happening. But I know that the Lord used me. And honestly, Jordan, if I'm being even more honest, I was very Much questioning my purpose and my work that day. Like, I was like, is what I'm doing? Does it matter? And then so it's this crazy. God is simultaneously encouraging me and encouraging her through our connection. And so I absolutely think. And we haven't even gotten to the beauty part.

Oh, we're gonna get there, don't you worry. Okay. But I want to dive a level deeper here. This is so beautiful. And I love that you were struggling with the question that day, God, how does my work matter? And then he sends you Sandy, and it's like, hey, just be faithful, right? Like, be faithful. I put this person in your chair. All right. For those of us who haven't had professional training in what you call, quote, unquote, gospel fluency. I know not just you, a lot of people use that term, get real practical for us because you're talking to thousands of listeners who are eager to move conversations with their co workers, with their clients, with whatever, from the surface, you know, to the spiritual ultimately. Like, how do you do that? Like, give us some practical tips for how we can do that effectively.

Yeah, that's a great question. And let me just say I have had many, many spiritual conversations that have gone very awkwardly and very just, you know, quote, unquote, not really a fail. Because, you know, nothing's a fail with the Lord. He can work through even your awkward conversations where you're just like, did I even make sense? Does this person think I'm weird? So there's hope for us, right? No matter where you are and you're sharing of your faith if you're new to it or if you've been doing it for a while. But I think the main thing, and honestly, Tim Keller is a person that's really helped shape this for me as well, because, you know, you can kind of think through what's the best way to do that. I don't know if I have the answer, but I do think that friendship is something that really, I keep coming back to. I think one time conversations with, you know, a stranger, I think God absolutely can and will. You never know, right? We don't know when a seed is planted, when it's being watered, when it's going to come to fruit. We don't know. So we can have hope and we can have confidence in God's faithfulness. Right? It's not truly up to us, but I think through friendship, Jordan, I think that's, to me, especially if it's a co worker, somebody that you're going to see consistently. Don't Be afraid to take it slow, get to know them. I would say a huge thing would be listening, listening to their story, listening to where maybe they have some wounds or some ways the church hurt them or failed. Because we're, you know, in America, and I think most people in our culture have. Have had an experience with church. So I would say get to know them, listen to their story, ask questions. And then just sometimes we think I do this myself too much in our head of, like, oh, my God, like, I want to share my faith with them. They're going to think I'm weird as soon as I bring up Jesus or even say his name. But honestly, like, I think letting people know up front in whatever relationship you're at, that into some capacity that you're a believer. There might even be times where, okay, they know. Like, let's say you're at work and one of your co workers has a really hard, like, one of my contractors that works with me. I openly share my faith. I pray. I do certain things in my company that just make it obvious. And Karen came to me sometimes the Lord gives you a little, as I would say, an underhand toss. And she just came to me and she was, like, going through something really hard. And she knew, like, so when people are in times of suffering or pain or hardships, they're going to know if they know you're a believer, they might turn to you. And so I think just being honest, being vulnerable, being a good listener and sharing your story, like, a lot of the time, I think being the first, the brave one to share something vulnerable. And just think of you're talking to a friend. You know, it doesn't have to be all these, as we would say, Christian easy type words that maybe even I don't even know the full meaning of. But you can practice how to kind of talk in a plain way that anyone, no matter if they're church experienced or not, can understand and get the point of. Jesus loves me. My sin separated me from him. But God loved us so much that he sent someone to walk that path for us and through his life, death and resurrection, like, we have new life available to us now, not just in heaven. Like, now. You can have abundant life now. And so I think, yeah, I don't know if that helps that if I.

Could frame three minutes of a podcast, I would frame these three minutes of this podcast. You probably didn't see this, but last year, late last year, I did devotional series on basically ways that we could share the gospel with our co workers in an increasingly post Christian cultural moment. Right? And the five things that I explored, you hit on every single one of them. So number one, be so good they can't ignore you. Serve people through the ministry of excellence so that you are credible. Right. Which is what you're doing in your business. Number two, be a friend. Real simple. Like be a nice person. Ask questions about them, get to know them personally. Number three, I love that you hit on this. Just identify yourself as a Christian. This doesn't need to be preaching. It just needs to be you talking about church this past weekend. Right. And talking about maybe what you read in scripture that was encouraging you to that morning. Number four, pray that God would open doors to move from the surface to the serious to the spirit, spiritual. Right? Because we can't pry open doors. Right. He's got to open them. And then finally, just be prepared to give an answer for the hope that's within us. Because as you said with. Was her name Karen, your contractor?

Yes. Yes.

They're gonna ask when hard things are happening, when the world is falling apart, when people have real questions, they're gonna go to people in their life. They have answers to those questions, right? It's usually the people exhibiting some. Some semblance of spiritual acumen and maturity, whatever you want to call it. So really beautiful chassis. Thank you for sharing that with us. All right, speaking of beauty, let's talk about beauty and the importance of beauty in the kingdom and the church. I got to imagine this is part of what you mean when you say your work at Crown of Glory. Beauty is kingdom work, right?

Yes, 100%, yes. The way you can. Let's go back to Sandy. So we've talked a little bit about just serving her, making her feel at home, comfortable, talking to her, hearing her story, hopefully sharing, you know, the gospel, if you can. But the other way that my work is, kingdom work is I love being able to help a woman feel like herself. It is just one of the most beautiful things ever. I mean, and it constantly reminds me, you know, in scripture, it talks about how we're going to go to a wedding feast and I get to adorn a bride. I get to help be a part of preparing her for her marriage. It's just beautiful. It's one of the most amazing things ever. Like to be able to. And we specialize in more natural beauty. I love being able to help because in the beauty world, as a woman, there's a lot of different steps and things and products and all the things. And I really like to try to I mean, just personally, I'm pretty low maintenance. As for a beauty professional, there's just too many steps and things. Like, I'm trying to simplify my life, and I really want to help women walk in the freedom that's available to them. Obviously, we know as believers, true freedom comes from knowing your creator and knowing the person that he's truly, truly made you to be. Like, that's where true freedom comes from. But I can give them a little glimpse of walking in a truer version of themselves. Not because the makeup makes them prettier or better, but they just. They celebrate their features, they celebrate their hair, they celebrate their face, their eyelashes, whatever it is, and they just feel so excited, happy, beautiful, and ready to go meet their groom. It's just beautiful.

That's beautiful. And we also have to remember, like, not only does the kingdom kick off with the wedding feast, but the kingdom itself is beautiful. Right? The New Jerusalem has miles, and I think it's 5,600 miles if I'm doing the math correctly.

I'm going to trust you on that.

Yeah, exactly. I don't know if I trust myself, so careful there. But 56 ish hundred miles of jewels lining the walls of the New Jerusalem, and that's like, purposeless, excessive, gratuitous beauty that the Lord creates with. I was thinking about this. Last year we took my kids to Epcot and we went to this, like, butterfly garden exhibit thing, right? And my girls, they're young, 7, 5 and 2. They, like, could not get over how many different kinds of butterflies there were and this thing and how beautiful they all were. And so we're all taking guesses. I was like, I wonder how many kinds of butterflies there are, right? And I guess, like, 500. My kids guessed, like, I don't know, a thousand. And we googled it. There's 17,500 species of butterflies. Like, if that doesn't speak to the Lord's love of creativity and beauty, like, needless quote unquote gratuitous beauty, I don't know what does. And that makes me want to create beauty.

Right? I love that. Oh, yeah. Like, it really is. I think that was one of the other things that, you know, when I came home and I was like, does beauty even matter? Like, that's so, you know, vain compared to sharing the gospel and some of the irrational thoughts I would have during that time period as I was transitioning back into my old life. But God does give. Give us just pure things for enjoyment. Like, we have taste, things are in color like, why are they in color? They could be in black and white if he wanted. Like, there are things in life that are just purely to enjoy. And I think that that's a perfect example. It really would encourage me that, no, like, what you're doing is heavenly. Like, that is heavenly.

Yeah. Let me give you one more piece of encouragement. I just read a commentary on this the other day, and it blew my mind. So Revelation 19, verses 7 through 8. Here's what it says. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride, that's the church, has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. And here's what it says literally in parentheses in the Bible. I love that the Bible has parentheses. It says, fine linen stands for the righteous deeds of God's holy people. And I was reading this commentary, and the commentary was basically saying, the good work we do through the Spirit in this life is literally, According to Revelation 19, stitching the wedding dress of the church.

That's pretty amazing. I'm definitely going to go and sit on those verses for a little bit.

Go sit on Revelation 19 for a little bit. Let that be an encouragement to you and your team. All right. So we talked about having opportunities to explicitly share the hope of Christ. I would argue, as I mentioned before, oftentimes, not all the times God can work every once, but oftentimes, just being really great at what we do professionally is a prerequisite to this. Right. Mastery is winsome, not mediocrity. Right. So for you, this is the Call to Mastery podcast. I'm curious, what have you learned about what it takes to just serve your clients masterfully? Well, what does that look like?

Yeah, I think it's obviously getting really good at your particular craft or skill, whatever that might be. So working on fine tuning that, like my beauty skills. But I think I remember I went and did an internship with my hairdresser growing up that I just adored and loved, and she was a huge reason why I wanted to do this. Like, I saw someone doing beauty in my life, and I was like, that's cool. I love it. So I went and did an internship with her. And I remember she told me, she said, Chazzy, 90% of this is being hospitable and serving them and hearing them and listening to them, and the other 10% is doing your actual job. And I think that rings true. I think that it's the small things. I think being a master at your particular crafter, your Industry is doing the things that are, I don't want to say going the extra mile, but clear communication, responding when they come in.

It's a real basic.

Yes. Like it is. It truly is. Like those things, like making someone feel, feel, especially in our world today, like things are, especially in the beauty world. So I listen to clients talk about their experiences in the salon and their problems, their things that they aren't happy with, and I try to correct those things. And so I think it really is taking the time to address some of those things and listen to your clients, listen to people who are sitting in the makeup chair, the things they enjoy or don't enjoy, and then try to do the things that are going to make them feel like a person, like someone important. And I really do think that that's a huge, huge, huge part of what makes someone a master at what they do.

Yeah. And it's real simple. Right. But that is the work. And it takes a lot of work to be tuned into what clients are saying and just serving them. Well, people are the work. Serving people is the work, regardless of the vocation. I mean, you're literally touching your client's hair. And so it's a little bit more tangible and hands on. But it's true. Whether you're writing or being a data analyst or whatever, at the end of the day, it's serving people. So, Chazzy, three questions I love to wrap up every conversation with. Number one, which books do you find yourself recommending or gifting most frequently?

Yeah, Jordan, again, I'm going to nerd out here, but right now I cannot stop telling people to read. Called to Create. It's my number one because I just think there's such. I'm around so many women. Actually, there's quite a few women Christian entrepreneurs that I've met here in Austin. And I just feel like they need to know that what they love, what they're passionate about, what they do matters for the kingdom. And so I just think that the different stories that you've shared in that book, it's so inspiring. So that's my top one.

I love that. Well, we're airing this episode on May 4th, so by the time it comes out, we will have just released basically the kids version of Called to Create. I don't know if I told you about this. Yeah, so it's called the Creator in you, and it's basically called the create in 387 words. But the artist we partnered with talking about beauty, the artists that we partner with, it's the most Beautiful book I've ever seen. And I could see that because that has nothing to do with the words. Right? Like, it is not cartoony. It is epic and beautiful and just gives you a really big picture of God's work in our own creative work in response. So you're gonna love it.

Oh, my gosh.

I'm really excited for you. See it. All right. Who would you most like to hear in this podcast talking about how the gospel shapes the work they do in world. The world?

You've already had Tim Keller. He's obviously someone that I just have. The Lord has used so much to inspire me in my life. I think.

I think your answer should be, let's have Tim back on.

Yes. Like, I have already. Like, I just love him so much. I feel like he's my grandfather in a way. In so many ways. Just like I've told someone, actually, this was with my friends while we were serving overseas. We would ask the question, if you could have anyone narrate the story of your life, who would it be? And I'm like, tim Keller's narrating my life. If I ever have the option to do that, I would love it. So let's. Yeah, let's get Tim back. TK we need to get Kathy wife.

On, who I also love. So fun quick story. I don't think she would mind me sharing this, but for the creator and you. This children's book I just mentioned, she was so unbelievably helpful to me in the project. So I reached out initially just asking for she and Tim to endorse the book, which they did. I'm so grateful for that. But she was, like, so kind and wrote me. She must have spent two hours writing me this email, giving me feedback, mostly positive, but, like, some of it was, like, really constructive, like, feedback on the manuscript.

And.

And I was just like, man, she has so much to do. Like, how unbelievably generous of Kathy Keller. Like, I'm so grateful to them, and I love them so much.

I would absolutely love to hear from her. They did during, like, when the pandemic first started, he was doing little encouragement, devotions, and she would go on there with them, and I loved hearing and seeing them talk with each other. It just was beautiful. So I agree. Let's do it. Let's get Kathy on there.

That's right.

All right.

I gotta ask you, what's your favorite Keller book? I know it's an impossible question, but.

Yeah, I think Prodigal God. Yeah, I read that one. I think yeah, that one definitely my favorite. I think it can speak for itself. That my favorite book, for sure.

It's a classic. It's good. All right, Chassis, you're talking to an audience of creatives, of entrepreneurs, of marketers, of sales executives, of doctors. Very diverse in terms of vocations. What our audience shares, though, is a deep love of Jesus and a desire to do great work for his glory. What's one thing you want to tell that audience before we sign off?

Yeah, I think right now I'm kind of taking a little bit of a step back from Crown of Glory just to kind of realign some things in my personal life. And I come really close quite often to wanting to quit. But I think God. So no matter, you know, where you are in your profession or what you're doing, there's going to be a lot of times where we're going to want to quit. And there might be a valid reason for you to do that. I want you to feel freedom to know that you can surrender anything over to the Lord. So we don't need to be slaves to our business. And I really feel like that kind of snuck in a little bit on me recently in the pandemic. And so the Lord is going to be so, like, we don't have to worry. We don't have to carry the pressure on our shoulders, although we often do every day. We can come to him, his presence, lay those burdens at his feet, and we can trust Him. Like, I've really had to think through and process with him right now. Like, is Crown of Glory where I need to be? Or is there something else you're asking me to step into? And I'm still wrestling with that. I think I am going to stay. But I would just encourage you that there's going to be ups and downs, whatever work path you're on, but he is going to be faithful to sustain you, and he's going to be faithful to direct you and guide you. And at the end of the day, we do this for Him. Right. This is his business. It's his. I can't take credit for any of the things that I have because he gave me these talents. He gave me my family, he gave me my life. And so I just think, walk in freedom. Like, truly, that would be my little tidbit.

That's a good word. And I would add to that. I think we can forget this sometimes. But God doesn't need us to do any of the work that we're doing at all. His purposes will not be thwarted and that speaks to that theme of freedom, right? God doesn't need you to do any specific job in this world, so walk in freedom and find paths that lead to serving people through the ministry of excellence and becoming more like His Son, which I'm assuming based on what we could see in the Gospels, did His work in a pretty restful way, and certainly with God, and not just for the Father. Chassis, I want to commend you for the exceptional kingdom work you do every single day, for leaning into who God made you specifically to fulfill his purposes. And just thank you for reminding us that all good work is God's work in the world. Guys, if you want to learn more about Chassis, you can find out more@crownofglorybeauty.com chassis, thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you for having me, Jordan.

Man, I love that episode. Hey, if you're enjoying the call to Mastery, do me a favor, take 30 seconds and go. Leave a review on the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Guys, thank you so much for tuning in this week. I love making this show for you guys. I'll see you next time. Ra.