MOM SQUAD – The School Dilemma w Mandy Hayes
Public? Private? Homeschool? What is a parent to do?
Mandy Hayes from THE MOM SQUAD joins us today. Mom to 3 daughters, she and her husband Marcus live in the Houston area, are in ministry and are treating this decision as a yearly one. Because they are in ministry, Marcus is lead pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in The Woodlands, TX, they have lived in several places, and they’ve chosen schooling for their daughters that have best suited them at that time and place.
Mandy taught in the Chicago public school system for many years. Her daughters are in a hybrid, Christian school program now. She has also homeschooled them in prior years. So, her experience with each option is vast. And she’s passionate about it.
The thing we need to remember is that God is in it all. As Believers, wherever we go, God goes. So, we should not fear these decisions. We pray, trust, and go.
Mandy is the author of, “Promise Me You’ll Always be 3!” She has previously been a guest on The Wonder Podcast. Thank you for joining us, Mandy!
Thank you for listening! We appreciate you!
Lisa and Chrissie
Hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Help us share the word! And we’d love to hear from you. If you LOVE what you hear, please throw us some stars!!! *****
Instagram - @talkwithchrissieandlisa
“Raising Sinners” available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com
(Lisa Clark and Chrissie Dunham host Raising Sinners, a podcast launched September 2021 on Christian Parenting’s Podcast Network. Lisa is the author of the book, “Raising Sinners” and she and Chrissie co-host The Wonder Podcast, as well. Check it out!)
Raising Sinners is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org
Teaching Truth in a False World w Elizabeth Urbanowicz
Our guest today is Elizabeth Urbanowicz. Elizabeth is a follower of Jesus Christ who is passionate about equipping kids to understand the truth of the Christian worldview.
She holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Elizabeth began her professional career as an elementary teacher in a Christian school.
She began her professional career as an elementary teacher in a Christian school. Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding any materials that met this need, she began creating a curriculum for her students.
Elizabeth first taught Foundation Comparative Worldview Curriculum as an after-school class for third through fifth graders, and the results were incredible! Students were transformed from passive recipients of information to active evaluators of every message they receive. Parents and teachers alike noticed the impact these materials had on students’ media consumption, academic achievement, and everyday habits. This transformation lasted beyond the elementary years and guided students’ thinking in junior high and beyond.
Elizabeth now works full-time on developing comparative worldview and apologetics resources for children. Her goal is to prepare the next generation to be lifelong critical thinkers and, most importantly, lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.
We thoroughly enjoyed our conversation with Elizabeth, and hope you’ll be encouraged by her drive and passion to help parents teach their children to think critically with a Biblical perspective. Today more than ever we need this.
For more information or to connect with Elizabeth go to www.foundationworldview.com
@foundation_worldview
Raising Sinners is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org
MOM SQUAD – How Old is Too Young? CELL PHONES w Becky Leach
How old it too young for a cell phone? That’s the question we’re asking today, and we’re joined by Becky Leach, Mom Squad member, and mom to Brady, Charlotte, and Landry, 14, 12, and 8. Becky shares their experiences, guidelines, contracts, rules, and all the things! It’s a lot y’all. As you know, this is a loaded topic and HOT BUTTON, but we talk about it anyway! Cell phones aren’t going anywhere.
The decision to give your child a cell phone is usually a hard one. Why? Because you’re not giving them a landline connected to a wall in the hub of your home. You’re giving them a computer that talks, texts, and does research and they can take it wherever they go. Therein lies the problem and struggle. So, figuring out how cell phones fit into your family is what each family must decide and we as parents need to stay in our lane and make decisions that might not look like our neighbors. (Too much opinion? Oops!)
“We must trust our kids enough to let them fail. Then teach them how to rebound and get it right the next time.”
This was a good, thought-provoking conversation including a discussion about knowing in our gut whether our child is ready for a cell phone. In fact, a hard fast rule on age might not work because one child at 13 is different than another child at 13.
Thank you for joining us, Becky! We appreciate your honesty and vulnerability. xo
Thank you for listening! We appreciate you!
Lisa and Chrissie
Hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Help us share the word! And we’d love to hear from you. If you LOVE what you hear, please throw us some stars!!! *****
Instagram - @talkwithchrissieandlisa
“Raising Sinners” available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com
(Lisa Clark and Chrissie Dunham host Raising Sinners, a podcast launched September 2021 on Christian Parenting’s Podcast Network. Lisa is the author of the book, “Raising Sinners” and she and Chrissie co-host The Wonder Podcast, as well. Check it out!)
Raising Sinners is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org
MOM SQUAD - Making Friends in a Virtual World w AMY PIERSON
Friends. Whether you are 8 or 58, making friends can be tricky. Especially today when we are living in a false reality world called “social” media. We have more “friends” than ever, but are experiencing depression, loneliness, and isolation more than ever, too.
Amy Pierson, mom to Eva, Isaac, and Benjamin, shares her personal experiences as a new mom in a big city, and how she helps her children navigate friendship.
“Why don’t we invite someone?” These are Amy’s connection words. Going to the park? Invite someone! Going to eat dinner after a game? Invite someone! Taking a class at the gym? Invite someone! We’re all looking for an invitation. A simple invitation connects two people. It’s not hard to do, but why don’t we do it? Fear. We talk about it.
“You have to want friendship more than you fear not having it.”
We also discuss modeling friendship, being proactive and “helping” younger children learn how to be a friend. Thanks Amy! As always, we LOVE having Amy on our show. If you haven’t listened to THE WONDER PODCAST, check it out! Amy has been a frequent guest and friend. She’s full of godly wisdom.
Thank you for listening! We appreciate you!
Lisa and Chrissie
Hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Help us share the word! And we’d love to hear from you. If you LOVE what you hear, please throw us some stars!!! *****
Instagram - @talkwithchrissieandlisa
“Raising Sinners” available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com
(Lisa Clark and Chrissie Dunham host Raising Sinners, a podcast launched September 2021 on Christian Parenting’s Podcast Network. Lisa is the author of the book, “Raising Sinners” and she and Chrissie co-host The Wonder Podcast, as well. Check it out!)
Raising Sinners is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org
YOU COME FROM GREATNESS with Sara Chinakwe
We had such a great conversation with Sara Chinakwe talking about her new (and first!) book, You Come from Greatness!
Sara is a wife, mom, teacher, ministry leader and author. Sara loves to encourage women and children to pursue God’s purpose and embrace their God-given identity. This calling led her to write her first book and share stories of men and women whom God has used to impact our world for good.
In You Come from Greatness, Sara has crafted a love letter to Black children that empowers them to know their God-give worth by pointing to those who came before them. The story follows a young boy from the moment of his birth through his childhood, as his father details the history of their ancestry through the impact of a wide range of legacy leaders – including brilliant storytellers like May Angelou and prominent preachers like Desmond Tutu. As the story follows their footsteps of greatness, the child learns that he, too, has the power to change the world by embracing exactly who God wants him to be.
Vibrantly illustrated by Ken Daley, this poignant retelling of Black history is ideal for children ages 3-7 and adults who want to celebrate black culture. After reading You Come from Greatness, young readers of all races and ethnicities will feel encouraged to make the world a brighter, better place.
For more information or to connect with Sara, go to www.sarachinakwe.com
Thank you for listening! We appreciate you!
Lisa and Chrissie
Hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Help us share the word! And we’d love to hear from you. If you LOVE what you hear, please throw us some stars!!! *****
Instagram - @talkwithchrissieandlisa
“Raising Sinners” available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com
(Lisa Clark and Chrissie Dunham host Raising Sinners, a podcast launched September 2021 on Christian Parenting’s Podcast Network. Lisa is the author of the book, “Raising Sinners” and she and Chrissie co-host The Wonder Podcast, as well. Check it out!)
The Mom Squad w Liz Steckel, New Year, New Rhythms
Happy 2023!!! We made it!!!
We’re hitting the ground running into 2023 with a slate of fun, interesting, important episodes for parents of all ages and stages! We hope you’ll join every other week as we share new episodes of RAISING SINNERS. Our prayer, as a team, is that we encourage, share hope and provide community for parents who love Jesus, want to draw closer to Him, and raise kids to follow Him all their lives.
In this episode of THE MOM SQUAD, we’re joined by mom, Liz Steckel. She’s a wife, mom, and co-worker. She wears all the hats and admits she likes to GO. So, waiting, listening, sitting are her struggle. She shared with us 5 “rhythms” her family lives out in order to enable them to reach the goals God has placed on their hearts.
We loved when Liz shared each day she strives to “speak life” over her husband and daughters. With so much negativity and hate in the world, making your home a refuge of truth and life is a goal we can all work towards.
She also shared sage wisdom she received early on in her parenting, “…your children don’t belong to you, they’re entrusted to you.” A. MEN. Our kids are God’s.
We also share practical “goal setting” ideas that worked (or didn’t work ☺) in our families, and how God truly does want us to have a vision.
Again, HAPPY 2023, and as always, thanks for listening! We appreciate you!
Lisa and Chrissie
Hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Help us share the word! And we’d love to hear from you. If you LOVE what you hear, please throw us some stars!!! *****
Instagram - @talkwithchrissieandlisa
“Raising Sinners” available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com
(Lisa Clark and Chrissie Dunham host Raising Sinners, a podcast launched September 2021 on Christian Parenting’s Podcast Network. Lisa is the author of the book, “Raising Sinners” and she and Chrissie co-host The Wonder Podcast, as well. Check it out!)
Christmas, The Story that Never Gets Old
It’s the MOST WONDERFUL time of the year!!! It’s Christmastime! And we’re celebrating hard over here at Raising Sinners!
The story of Jesus’ birth seems to come alive every year at this time as parents, grandparents, friends, and family tell the story from Luke chapter 2. Every time we open God’s word to read the account, it seems like it refreshes itself and becomes anew. That’s the truth of God’s word, isn’t it? It’s always fresh and comes alive. And the Christmas story is no different.
By gathering to tell the story, you’re giving Jesus a seat at your table. You’re inviting Him into your celebration and making much of Him, the Guest of honor. As we tell the story, we’re being faithful to the generations behind us who are depending on us to repeat and repeat the message of Christ’s birth to redeem mankind. Oh, what a story! Oh, what a Savior!
We wish you and yours a blessed Christmas and a VERY Happy 2023!
As always, thanks for listening! We appreciate you!
Lisa and Chrissie
Hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Help us share the word! And we’d love to hear from you. If you LOVE what you hear, please throw us some stars!!! *****
Instagram - @talkwithchrissieandlisa
“Raising Sinners” available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com
(Lisa Clark and Chrissie Dunham host Raising Sinners, a podcast launched September 2021 on Christian Parenting’s Podcast Network. Lisa is the author of the book, “Raising Sinners” and she and Chrissie co-host The Wonder Podcast, as well. Check it out!)
Change is Hard with Debbie Stephens
Change is inevitable. But all at one time? New city. New church. New friends. New schools. New home. New dog (hey Moose!)
The Stephens family has experienced lots of change in the couple of years and we wanted to check in with the queen of the household herself, Mrs. Debbie Stephens! Wife, mom, speaker, teacher and funny girl, Debbie shares from her heart how they’ve navigated their new normal.
Debbie is married to Jarrett Stephens, senior pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Northwest Houston, Texas. They have 4 daughters and 2 dogs. (Fun fact: both Jarrett and Debbie have been guests on The Wonder Podcast! )
“Obedience is costly but so worth it.” Debbie Stephens
In obedience, the Stephens family left their life in the Dallas area and embarked on a new journey, but it wasn’t easy.
Teaching our children to be flexible is difficult on many levels because most find their security in routines and consistency. Change is hard. But the Stephens family has done it with grace and come out on the other side shining bright! Listen in to Debbie’s tips on communicating change with your kids and giving space to grieving, new schedules and making choices.
As always, thanks for listening! We appreciate you!
Lisa and Chrissie
Hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Help us share the word! And we’d love to hear from you. If you LOVE what you hear, please throw us some stars!!! *****
Instagram - @talkwithchrissieandlisa
“Raising Sinners” available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com
(Lisa Clark and Chrissie Dunham host Raising Sinners, a podcast launched September 2021 on Christian Parenting’s Podcast Network. Lisa is the author of the book, “Raising Sinners” and she and Chrissie co-host The Wonder Podcast, as well. Check it out!)
Uncommon Love with Mary Comm
Mary Comm is a seasoned and experienced ministry leader, author, and speaker. She brings her 25+ years of Christian ministry experience to parents and family members facing the difficult and despairing issues concerning their LGBTQ loved ones. She offers HOPE in the context of Biblical truth and personal experience, wrapped in compassion, peppered with humor, and packed with the powerful and trustworthy promises of our Great and Mighty God.
Mary is the mom of an adult daughter who identifies as lesbian, having walked this path in relationship with her since 2016. She lives out with her daughter what she teaches other parents: compassionate understanding for the struggles without compromising her own faith and values – all within a context of mutual love and respect. She puts it this way: “Our job is to love our kids like Jesus – to be the parents He has called us to be and the parents our kids need us to be. We leave the results in His hands.”
Mary is an ICF Certified Professional Life Coach and lifelong student of God’s word. She is the author of Uncommon Love: God’s Heart for Christian Parents of Gay kids (Morgan James Faith, 2019), the first Bible study of its kind. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology as well as a Biblical Studies Certificate from Colorado Christian University.
Connect with Mary at www.uncommonlove.online
Instagram @marycomm
As always, thanks for listening! We’re honored you’ve joined us.
Lisa and Chrissie
Hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Help us share the word! And we’d love to hear from you. If you LOVE what you hear, please throw us some stars!!! *****
Instagram - @talkwithchrissieandlisa
“Raising Sinners” available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com
(Lisa Clark and Chrissie Dunham host Raising Sinners, a podcast launched September 2021 on Christian Parenting’s Podcast Network. Lisa is the author of the book, “Raising Sinners” and she and Chrissie co-host The Wonder Podcast, as well. Check it out!)