Christian Community Leadership: Grace, Boundaries, and Seeing People Through God’s Perspective with Michelle

Christian community leadership gets messy fast. And that is exactly why we need grace, compassion, and healthy boundaries that protect people without hardening our hearts. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Michelle, the steady leader behind the Schoolie Swarm nomad community, to talk about what it really looks like to lead people well.

Michelle shares how the Swarm started in 2018 from a simple online thread about school bus conversions. The plan was never "build a movement." It was just, "Let's meet up." What began as 22 rigs grew quickly to 68, then 98, then 158, then 250, and now over 300, with intentional caps to keep the event feeling like family.

We talk about the hard parts too. Michelle shares a moment when she had to make a difficult call for the sake of safety, including verifying concerns and then setting a firm boundary with someone who made others feel uncomfortable. It was not personal for her, but she knew it was necessary to protect single women and preserve trust in the space.

And then there is the everyday leadership load, the messages, the last-minute requests, the constant "Michelle, where is it, can I still come?" She shares how moving registration to a website helped create healthier boundaries, so the community could keep widening the circle without crushing the leader.

You will also hear how Michelle fills her cup in the in-between seasons, getting outside, chasing beauty, using travel as a reminder of how good God is, and staying grounded in what He created.

Her closing perspective is one I keep thinking about: ask God to let you see people through His eyes. When you do, it softens your heart, removes your jaded filters, and helps you lead with love while still making wise decisions.

If you lead any group, a ministry, a community, a team, or even your own home, this conversation will encourage you to hold both kindness and boundaries in the same hands.