Treat Yourself to a Crisis

“Gold and rubble flow through the same river. You have to sift it yourself.” Teresa Adler

For over two decades, Teresa Adler stood with both feet firmly in the church world. She led worship, built management teams and Kids Church ministries, organized national conferences, and was a core part of the leadership of LIFE Church Vienna – a vibrant, spirit-filled church she still loves deeply. When a question began to rise within her – quiet at first, then persistent:

“Why are you standing with both feet in the church, when I called you to go into all the world?” 

What once felt like the most sacred yes of her life began to feel like standing in a hallway – the door behind her gently closing, the one ahead not yet open. The room was still full of applause. People were still saying Yes and Amen to all she did, but the echo of heaven grew quieter – not out of disappointment, but because something new was waiting to begin. 

The shift came gently. First a whisper. Then a longing. Then a restlessness she could no longer ignore. She didn’t feel called to leave the church – but to carry the Kingdom into the world. Into conversations, companies, culture, and crisis. Back to the world where her professional journey began: the PR and media industry.

Teresa had done her homework. She had spent years building networks, investing in certifications, and refining her skills as a communicator.

“Because God may meet us suddenly – but He should never find us unprepared. Surprised, yes. But not stagnant. Out of the blue – but always into the deep.”

“She didn’t have a clear plan. But not responding felt more dangerous than stepping out.” 

So she made space. Cleared her calendar. Stepped out of safe roles.

Like Abraham, she walked without knowing the destination.

Like Ruth, she followed faith into unfamiliar terrain.

“Sometimes in life you don’t need a blueprint. You simply need to move.”

And then a call came. A publisher had heard her mention a title – half-joking, half-serious:

“Treat Yourself to a Crisis.” They loved it. And they offered her a deal. 

The book challenges our instinct to avoid or manage away pain. It invites readers to go through it – not around. Through the drought. Through the silence. Through the unknown. Because that’s where the springs break forth. 

“Gold and rubble flow through the same river. You have to sift it yourself.”

“You will find no gold if you avoid the rubble. No living water if you bypass the dry places. And no next level if you're afraid to let go of the good old ideas that brought you this far.”

The book became a bestseller in Austria and opened doors she had never imagined: Keynotes, workshops, panels – not only in Christian spaces, but in schools, companies, and boardrooms.

“Kingdom influence doesn’t wear a label. It wears obedience.”

Today, Teresa Adler speaks and coaches across sectors. She talks about identity, change, courage and truth – and about leading with conviction. 

Out of the book, Teresa also developed a new art form:  KabaRead – a bold mix of deep insight and disarming humor. A unique format that combines spoken word, stage presence, and raw storytelling. And companies love it for their events. 

And yes, she still preaches – just not behind a pulpit. “ She preaches in boardrooms. In keynotes. In secular spaces.

Because truth doesn’t need a stage. It needs a voice.”

She calls Vienna home. Her next dream? To see her message reach the English-speaking world.

“Don’t wait for certainty. Don’t worship clarity. Don’t fear the crisis that comes with dry and uncertain places. Go in. Go through. Make room.

Because maybe – just maybe – your greatest calling won’t show up until you do.”

Teresa Adler -  Speaker. Author. Business Mental Coach. Mother. Reformer.

So grateful to Teresa for sharing her story, privileged to know her and delighted she will be a guest on the Solutionaries Series on the Kingdomize podcast! Look out for her episode.