Built by Faith: Motherhood, Legacy & Leading Through Life’s Seasons

Legacy doesn’t happen by accident, and Celeste Allen proves it with a life that’s been shaped by faith, discipline, and service. We’re talking with a mother, educator, mentor, and ministry leader with more than 45 years of experience who has helped build people, not just programs. If you’ve ever wondered whether your everyday choices matter, this conversation makes the case that they matter more than you think. 

We get honest about motherhood in real life: the part no one explains, the way worries shift as kids become adults, and why “it gets easier” isn’t the whole story. Celeste shares how God led her into homeschooling, why spiritual formation mattered more than simply “getting a good education,” and what it took to keep going as a single parent after losing her husband. Her parenting principles are simple but weighty: start with the Word, build Christian character, and trust God with the outcomes. 

We also dig into servant leadership and purpose through seasons, including how Celeste’s relationship with Christ transformed her love for people and her willingness to speak up for God. Her prayer life is practical and memorable, from written prayers to persistent intercession for her children. We close with a definition of “being a baller” that has nothing to do with status and everything to do with significance: being available, lifting others up, and strengthening people spiritually and emotionally. 

If you’re a mom who feels unseen, a leader who wants to serve well, or a woman questioning your timeline, press play and take notes. Subscribe, share this with someone you’re building with, and leave a review so more legacy-minded listeners can find the show.

Transcript

Season Theme And Guest Welcome

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to season seven of Be a Baller, the podcast where success is the goal. Legacy is. This season is all about intentional living, leading with purpose, serving with faith, and leaving a mark that outlives us. We go beyond the highlights, bringing you real conversations with legacy builders from ministry, business, sports, education, and community. Leaders committed to the wisdom pledge, paying it forward to the next generation. If you're ready for faith-filled leadership and practical wisdom to live on purpose and finish strong, let's be a baller, legacy style.

SPEAKER_02 0:34

Today, we're honored to have Miss Celeste Allen joining us. She is a devoted servant of God, mother, leader, educator, mentor, and woman of incredible wisdom and grace. With over 45 years of ministry experience in Christian education, youth ministry, and adult leadership, Celeste has dedicated her life to helping others grow. Not only in life, but in their relationship with Christ. She is the mother of two adult children whom she homeschooled both now college graduates, including a daughter who is a successful attorney. She holds a Bachelor's of Science in Family Relations and Human Development from the Ohio State University and a Master's in Ministry Leadership from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. She serves as an elder, executive minister, and director of Christian education at Family Fellowship Church in Gahana, Ohio, while also leading in business, consulting, and community service through multiple organizations and boards. Her life reflects wisdom, discipline, leadership, and deep faith. This conversation is going to challenge, encourage, and inspire. Welcome, Celeste to Be a Baller podcast.

SPEAKER_03 2:09

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

Okay. So

The Truth About Motherhood

SPEAKER_02 2:15

what are some things people don't tell you about motherhood until you experience it yourself?

SPEAKER_03 2:23

Well, I think the first thing as my children are adults now that you are um a mother forever. And they say that, you know, well, it gets easier. I don't know that it gets easier. I think maybe the uh constant oversight becomes less, but the issues and concerns become greater. That's one of the things they they share. They didn't share with me, at least.

SPEAKER_02 2:51

So, how did motherhood shape your purpose and identity as a woman?

SPEAKER_03 2:59

I think that for me, um it helped to really affirm who I was, what God wanted me to be, and what he wanted me to do. For example, I never dreamed that I would be a homeschooling mother. But it was God who said to me that was what I was gonna do. And so that's what I did. And praise God, you know, they made it through.

Why Homeschooling Became A Calling

SPEAKER_02 3:33

And since you're talking about the um being a homeschool mother, tell us what what what would you if you knew someone that was considering to be at uh want to do homeschool, what what advice would you give them?

SPEAKER_03 3:47

I would encourage them to be led by the Holy Spirit, uh, because I don't think that without well, I didn't homeschool my kids for education because I knew that they could probably go to any school and get a good education. But I homeschooled them basically because the Lord said, This is what I want you to do, because I need you to raise up a nation that will praise and glorify me. And so I just believe that God has to be all in the homeschooling.

SPEAKER_02 4:22

Amen. And we know that God does direct our path, so we praise God. So, what were some of the biggest challenges and greatest rewards of homeschooling?

SPEAKER_03 4:33

The biggest challenge was homeschooling by myself. Um, my my daughter was, I believe, third grade when my husband died, and I had never intended to do this all alone, and literally thought that once he uh went home to be with the Lord, I started looking for schools because I knew I couldn't, because he was a very integral part in that. But God had another plan. So just being uh having to do it alone was a huge challenge. When you also, you know, as a single parent, when you have multiple kids and they're active and they're in different age groups. When you're in a two-parent family home, dad can take one child one place, mom can take the other child the other place. But when you're a single parent, it's just you. And it's challenging when you have kids in two different age groups to get them into both where they need to be at the same time.

SPEAKER_02 5:37

And good. And honestly, you're you're already telling us some about the challenges. Uh what looking back now, what parenting principles were most important in raising your children?

SPEAKER_03 5:48

This sounds like repeat for me, but uh really just instilling a Christ-like, I want to say Christ-like personality, I guess, in them. Um growing them. One of the things we did every day, we started the day out with a Bible lesson. And because, you know, I figured education they could go anywhere and get, but getting the word of God in them and developing that Christian character had to come from me. And so um that what that was really my focus, and I think it's paid off.

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Amen.

Servant Leadership And Life Seasons

SPEAKER_02 6:29

With over 45 years of ministry, what has God taught you most about servant leadership?

SPEAKER_03 6:38

Well, that as a leader, you are truly a servant. Um, some people take the term leader and think that means that you're always at the top, you're always in front, you're always out there, but that is not always the case. There are times when you are out there, but mostly you're inspiring and uh lifting others up rather than your being in the front.

SPEAKER_02 7:04

So, how has your personal relationship with Christ evolved through different seasons of life?

SPEAKER_03 7:12

Well, I believe in seasons. Uh I I believe one of my sayings is that my purpose for the Lord always remains the same. But the means that he chooses for me to fulfill that purpose changes from time to time. And those those means are my seasons of life that he puts me in. So not a lot of people know this. You know, when I was much younger, I was not a people person.

SPEAKER_02 7:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 7:48

Not at all. And actually, I used to pray to God that he would remove everybody from the earth but me and him, because we really didn't need these people. Okay. But as I grew closer to him, grew more in uh my relationship and my faith with him, he turned all of that around. And he gave me a love for people and helped me to realize that he made us to be in community with one another and to be there and to love one each other and to help each other.

SPEAKER_02 8:23

Um, and honestly, you you shared you shared quite a bit, and that answers a lot of that question.

Prayer Practices And Parenting Styles

SPEAKER_02 8:29

But we want to just gonna maybe clarify, but um what role has prayer played in your motherhood leadership and decision making?

SPEAKER_03 8:41

Prayer plays a big, big role. Prayer is everything. If you were uh in my house, um able to see my bedroom at this point in time, you will see on the wall, I oftentimes write my prayers out. Because some prayers you have to repeat over and over again. And so you will see on my wall, uh, there are a lot of different prayers, but there's one segment of my wall that's just different prayers for my children. Some are pages, some are postcard size, some are half pages, but they're all depending on where we are, what we're dealing with, because I believe all children need prayer. But when you have children who are trying to live a Christ-like life, especially, you know, young children, I believe Satan comes at them with a vengeance. And so there's always something. So prayer, I don't move in the act without prayer.

SPEAKER_02 9:46

I have a question. When you think about prayer, what would you say your children? How did your children receive your prayer?

SPEAKER_03 9:53

I think that um, okay, so uh uh as you guys have three kids, so I know you know that every child is different. Right. And every child, um Justin, the my uh youngest, is um he's always very accommodating. And um we talk about the Lord all the time, and Justin and I don't actually pray together, but we talk about God all the time. So that lets me know that he receives what God is trying to impart in him very much so. Justine and I don't talk about God as much, but we pray together. And so that lets me know too that she believes in the power of prayer and that she receives uh what God is trying to impart to her.

SPEAKER_02 10:57

Amen. And and basically now your your your children are adult children. Yes. So what would you say, would you say the difference, or what what did you do differently? What are you doing differently now that they are adults? And with with your prayer, with your time with them, or well, how's that?

SPEAKER_03 11:14

You know, when they're younger, we can tell them what to do. But as they become, when they become adults, there is no longer telling them what to do. You can suggest, and when you have tried your best to rear them in the fear and admonition of the Lord, you can always direct them to the scriptures. And one of the things I I do whenever I talk to them, I pray to God to give me the right words to say. Um, they would all sometimes say, because I'm a walker. And when I would wake up and I go walk, and I think that the Lord will reveal something too, I come back and I'd I'd say, Oh, when I was walking this morning, and they was like, Oh my God, what did God say this morning? But they hear it. And you just you, you know, you can't be that helicopter parent. You can't be that uh overbearing when they become adults because they have to grow, find their own relationship, make their own decisions, and uh they you become more of an advisor uh to the kids as they become adults.

SPEAKER_02 12:27

Okay,

Legacy Vision And Women’s Purpose

SPEAKER_02 12:28

so we're gonna pivot this a little bit, but thinking about purpose, vision, and legacy. So, how do you want your children, spiritual sons and daughters, because you have served with more than just just your children and community to remember you?

SPEAKER_03 12:43

It's that's real simple. Just someone who loved the Lord and served him with all her heart and all her soul.

SPEAKER_02 12:51

And what advice would you give women who feel like they are behind in life or questioning their purpose?

SPEAKER_03 13:00

I I would say that I don't believe that people are behind in life. I believe the world makes us think that we are behind in life. But I believe that as a woman of God, you are exactly where God wanted you to be at that time. And you just have to keep knowing that things change from season as you were talking, season from season to season. And there were two senior ladies who sat and talked with me when my daughter was first born, and they knew me. And one of the things they said to me was, These are some things you're gonna need to do now. You're not going to be able to do this, you're not going to be able to do that. But if you play your cards right, your season will come again. And I think that's what we have to remember as women that our seasons come. And when we're a woman of God, those seasons change. And where you are today is where God would have you be.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

Amen. And then that is something sometimes we uh we want to question God, but at the same time, he does guide us. And if we would just take the time and listen, and sometimes it sometimes we have to someone has to tell us more than once. And so I'm glad that um you're able, you have that relationship with young people, young women, and even young boys and men to be able to share. And I'm I'm glad you're using that gift that God's given you to share with others. So um just what truth do women especially need to hear in this generation?

SPEAKER_03 14:47

That they are valued and that they do have purpose.

SPEAKER_02 14:51

And if you could sit down with one with your younger self, what wisdom would you share?

SPEAKER_03 14:58

I would probably say not be afraid, do not be afraid.

SPEAKER_02 15:02

Do not be afraid. And can I ask, what was one thing that you were afraid of, and and now it's it's okay?

SPEAKER_03 15:11

I don't know that it's okay, okay, but one of the the most biggest things, the biggest thing for me was uh speaking out for God.

SPEAKER_02 15:21

Amen.

SPEAKER_03 15:23

I was afraid of what people would think of me because I had been made fun a lot, even from being a teenager on, about my relationship with God. And so I shut it down and was afraid to even let people know that I was a Christian, and speaking out was far beyond anything that I would do. But that has changed.

Being A Baller In Significance

SPEAKER_02 15:48

So um this podcast is called Be a Baller. So what does being a being a baller mean to you? Not in status, but in significance.

SPEAKER_03 16:02

I think being a baller for me means being available, helping others, supporting others, inspiring others, and lifting others up spiritually and emotionally, mentally, and physically.

SPEAKER_02 16:22

And as we come to an end, uh what encouragement would you leave for mothers who may feel unseen, overwhelmed, or uncertain?

SPEAKER_03 16:33

I think that the first thing I would say to them is that you are seen. First of all, you have the most important job in this world. You are molding and shaping hearts and minds and spirits, and nobody can do it like you as a mother.

SPEAKER_02 16:58

Thank you.

Closing Wisdom Sponsor Tip And CTA

SPEAKER_02 16:59

Thank you so much, Sister Celeste. Um, it's been a very good conversation. And um uh what an incredible and wisdom-filled conversation we've had. Miss Celeste Allen reminded us that true success is not measured by title, applause, or accomplishments, but by faithfulness, purpose, and the lives we impact along the way. From motherhood and homeschooling to ministry leadership, education, business, and community service, her story shows us that legacy is built one faithful decision at a time. This episode, What They Don't Tell You But What We Will, gave us honest truth, spiritual wisdom, and powerful reminders that purpose is never accidental. It is cultivated through obedience, discipline, and trust in God. To every mother listening, your investment matters, your leadership matters, your faith matters. Miss Allen, thank you for sharing your wisdom, your journey, and your heart with us. Make sure you subscribe, share this episode, and continue building legacy wherever God has planted you. This is the Be a Baller Podcast, where purpose meets impact. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 18:28

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SPEAKER_01 18:52

Thank you for spending time with us here on Be a Baller Podcast. Remember, legacy isn't built by accident. It's built through daily choices, faithful obedience, and intentional impact. If today's conversation encouraged you, challenged you, or spoke to your heart, share this episode with a friend, a teammate, a leader, or someone who's ready to live with purpose. That simple act of sharing helps us grow the movement and spread legacy-minded living. We want to invite you to join the legacy movement. This is more than a podcast, it's a call to action. And one of the best ways to go deeper is by grabbing your copy of the book Living a Legacy. It's a powerful resource designed to help you apply what you're hearing and start building something that truly lasts. Until next time, keep showing up, keep pouring into others, and keep building a legacy worth following. Thanks for listening, and remember, be a baller. Live on purpose. Leave a legacy.