Abundant Life: You Were Made for More Podcast
John 10:10 is a promise fulfilled. Jesus came down to Earth so that we would have life – and have it abundantly!
We pray that every Church would have:
• Teenagers knowing and believing who they were created to be – because our identity changes everything!
• Youth groups that discuss issues such as sexuality and relationships with teens.
• Parents equipped to create safe spaces for teens to wrestle with the differences between our culture & our faith.
• Students who have been set free by the power of the Gospel and understand how the Good News equips us to fully live out our earthly relationships.
So, buckle up as we take this journey and look at what God has to say about friendships, relationships, sexuality, dating, and ALL the things in between.
We are so glad you’re here!
"Parents have the constitutional and God-given rights to direct the moral, ethical, and religious upbringing of our children. Parents are the first and most important teachers. We simply want a seat at the table, and for our principles to be treated with the same respect as all others." - Julia Page
In this episode of the podcast, Sammie interview Tiffany Justice, one of the cofounders of the organization, Moms for Liberty. Tiffany is a wife and mom of four school-aged children. In 2016 she stepped up to serve for 4 years on the School District of Indian River County, FL School Board. She and Tina Descovich founded Moms for Liberty with the main goal of unifying parents and addressing concerning issues and hold people accountable at all levels of government. They firmly believe in fundamental rights, stand for truth, empower others, and build relationships.
You'll hear us discuss what the mission of Mom's for Liberty is, what kids are facing culturally when they're in school, and why standing up for our children is a core element that is needed to keep families thriving, as well as what to do if you want to get involved. Tiffany encourages parents listening to this episode that "love is an expertise," and we have a responsibility to stand firm in what we believe for the sake of our children and their best interest.
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.
You Were Made for More Social Media:
This month, we're bringing you the ySUMMIT talks on the podcast! You'll hear from speakers who spoke to students who attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C. in January 2023.
The second episode featured this month is surrounding a topic that is frequently used as an argument in the pro-choice movement: what if the woman who wants an abortion was raped? It absolutely should be justified then, right?
I'll admit, even for me, this is such a sensitive and difficult topic to breach because it involves real people, many times in the trenches of deep and raw pain. Rebecca highlights why babies conceived in rape are just as worthy of life as the rest of us beautifully.
Rebecca Kiessling is Founder and President of Save The 1, and co-founder of Embryo Defense. She has been an international pro-life speaker and adoption speaker since 1995. She’s helped pregnant rape victims all around the world to choose life for their children. She’s also an attorney and mother of 5 (two oldest are adopted), lost 2 additional babies to miscarriage, and her 33 day-old, adopted daughter Cassie, who was born with special needs. She’s also featured on a poster for Feminists for Life’s ad, “Did I Deserve the Death Penalty.”
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.
You Were Made for More Social Media:
This month, we're bringing you the ySUMMIT talks on the podcast! You'll hear from speakers who spoke to students who attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C. in January 2023.
This first episode features Laura, whose talk was split into two parts. One about doing life our own way, and one about doing like God's way (this episode is a cohesive blend of both her talks!). The gist of what she hits on is why it is so important to think deeply and rely on God's guidance about the choices we make; without the guidance of God and the Holy Spirit in our lives, we wander into unhealthy relationships, selfish behaviors, and because of our sin nature we make choices that end up harming us more than benefiting us. The second part of her talk features the "redemption" of leaning into relationships the way God would call us to AND practical ways to do this.
Laura was the Director of the Pittsburgh Essential Speakers program at Women’s Choice Network, Pittsburgh, PA before the COVID-19 pandemic. To keep getting the “Healthy Relationship” message out to teens during COVID, she authored the video curriculum REAL TALK, which is a video series designed to equip young people with the skills to combat relationship challenges they face in adolescence. She is a native Pittsburgher, graduated with a BS in Psychology/Business from Penn State University, and in her more ‘youthful’ days, she was a resident archery athlete at the US Olympic Training Center in CO, made the USA World Archery Team, National Team, and was Archery’s Athlete Representative to the US Olympic Committee. After raising two daughters and working in the family manufacturing representative business, she continues to be active in her church and follows closely the sexual challenges teens face in today’s culture. Her passion for the abundant life that Christ calls us to is evident in who she is AND the work that she does.
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.
You Were Made for More Social Media:
"You've got fantastic intuition and need courage to act." Ashley Bush, Unplanned Mom School
I'm so excited to introduce you to my friend Ashley! Ashley is a passionate woman, mom, and business leader who wants you to know... you are meant to be here. The message that she has spent her life walking out and now spends her life cultivating within a mission of her business is VITAL if we are going to partner with moms of unexpected pregnancies.
A little about the Unplanned Mom School:
- A new kind of mom community that is inspiring women to live their best lives
- We are building a community of unplanned moms who have embraced motherhood by surprise
- No matter what situation you are faced with, we’re all on this journey together called motherhood!
Ashley offers coaching and guidance to walk through unexpected seasons of life because she walked through an unplanned pregnancy herself.
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
- Ashley's Website
- Ashley's Tik Tok
- Ophelia Speaks Book
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.
You Were Made for More Social Media:
"In all the ways that we are broken, God is not that. He is completely different and BETTER than us in every way."
- Bp. Steven
On this episode of the podcast, we get to hear a conversation with the Rt. Rev. Dr. Steven Tighe of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)! Steven was recently consecrated as Bishop in the Diocese of the Southwest. Previously he served as the Canon for Youth Ministry for the Anglican Church in North America, having been involved with youth ministry since leaving college. He graduated Rice University, with two degrees in Electrical Engineering and did computer research in Austin before attending Trinity School for Ministry (TSM) and taught youth ministry there while on staff with Rock the World Youth Mission Alliance. Steven has an Mdiv from TSM and PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Steven currently lives in El Paso, TX with his wife, Tricia. Steven gets most of his exercise mountain biking in the El Paso hills. He reads a lot, plays computer games, writes songs, is an accomplished sand sculptor and has recently taken up kite surfing.
During the season of Advent, we're reminded of how sacred Christmas really is - Jesus, coming to earth, God with us, so that we may have a relationship with the Father. So, how do we carry that sacredness with us for the rest of the year? Steven and I chat about what holiness is and how we trust God in the midst of difficult circumstances because of who He is. We hope this episode encourages you in your own walk with the Lord!
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.
You Were Made for More Social Media:
November is Adoption Awareness Month!
On this episode of the podcast, we welcome Johnston Moore, who serves at Anglicans for Life as the Adoption/Orphan Care Consultant.
Johnston has been married to his wife, Terri, since 1988, and together they have seven children, all of whom were adopted through the Los Angeles County foster care system. He is a strong believer in and vocal advocate for permanency and justice for children, having witnessed the impact that both have had on his children. John enjoyed a career in Hollywood in film/TV production and as a screenwriter before becoming fully immersed in adoption and foster care ministry, first through his employment at Hope for Orphans, and then at Home Forever.
Currently, Johnston is living with his family in Virginia, where he is a regular speaker at Focus on the Family’s Wait No More Adoption Conferences. They attend Redeemer Anglican Church in Richmond, VA and are passionate about seeing the greater Church be a part of what God is doing through the foster care and adoption movement.
In this conversation, we talk about the "in's and out's" of adoption and creative ways in which you can get involved depending on where God is calling you to use your time, resources, and gifts.
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.
You Were Made for More Social Media:
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