Podcast – Abundant Life

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!

Episode 100: Uncertainty and Open Hands in Hard Times (With Chaley Knight)

What does it look like to live with open hands and an open heart - especially during times of uncertainty?

This month we are bringing you a special conversation about hope, uncertainty, and faith, from Dr. Chaley Knight.

Chaley has been a longtime member of the Waynesburg University campus as both a student and a counselor, which is how I met her. For my husband and I’s first three years of marriage, we lived in the little town just north of the PA/WV border called Waynesburg, and it brought so many great people into our circle. At the time, Juan was a youth pastor and we served the students of our church every Sunday at youth group. Chaley’s three kiddos were regulars there and we came to know and love them - they are so grown up now, and since we’ve moved away, we kept in touch via Facebook - the upside of social media! Chaley completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from WU in 2004, earned her Master’s degree in counseling psychology in 2007. While a graduate student, she served as a resident director and resided in the residence hall with students. Before officially joining the Waynesburg University counseling staff, she worked within the community as a mental health therapist and addictions counselor.

Chaley recently shared her testimony at Waynesburg University’s chapel the other week and I came across it on my feed when she shared it to encourage others through the joy and the heartaches of her story. The way that she spoke triggered a realization inside of me - how often we hold back our stories because we are too afraid to speak with a trembling voice. Chaley shared her story with trembling, holding back tears, but did so while pointing to the God who wrote her story and writes all of ours. He is good. He is with us. In all of the uncertainty.

It should be noted that Chaley's original presentation of this message was given at Waynesburg University's Chapel as part of their Testimony Tuesday series. She graciously re-recorded her testimony for us to be blessed with on the You Were Made for More 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.

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Episode 99: Adoption As An Act of the Gospel (With Johnston Moore and Chris Johnson)

November is Adoption Awareness Month!

This month specifically is meant to raise awareness about adoption, celebrate families formed through adoption, and highlight the need for permanent homes for children in foster care.

On this episode of the podcast, Sammie's friend and coworker, Johnston Moore, sits down and has a conversation with Chris Johnson, a pastor and adoptive dad who works with church engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

The two discuss Chris's background, family life, and testimony - which inevitably dives into a conversation related to God’s call to the Church, and to individual Christians, to care for vulnerable children and their families, whether biological, adoptive, or foster.

Johnston Moore serves as the Adoption/Orphan Care Consultant for Anglicans for Life and has been featured on the You Were Made for More podcast before - the perfect reason to invite him in to host an episode! Johnston is charismatic, generous, and has a heart for all of God's children.

Chris Johnson serves as the Sr. Director of Church Partnerships & External Advocacy at Lifeline Children’s Services. With over two decades of pastoral experience and a background as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Faith and Community Based Initiatives, Chris is a seasoned leader and advocate for vulnerable children and families.

A native of metro Atlanta, Georgia, Chris now resides in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife, Alicia. Together, they have 10 children, seven of whom were adopted from foster care, and are proud grandparents, including two grandchildren adopted through foster care. Their commitment to serving children extends to fostering over 40 children throughout the years, embodying their dedication to family and community.

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Episode 98: Keeping the Light (With Ali Gilkeson)

I am so thrilled to bring you this conversation today with my new friend, Ali! Chatting with Ali about her new book and about parenting really felt like a hug from the Lord in my own season of parenting little ones an being so intentional about the culture in our home. My prayer is that this book and her wisdom would bless you immensely!

Ali Gilkeson is the author of Keeping the Light, and the New York Times bestselling book, My Lighthouse, as well as an internationally-known performer and speaker. She has traveled the world playing music and sharing stories with the band Rend Collective and is part of Rend Co. Kids, Rend Collective’s ministry creating music that both kids and adults can enjoy. She is a mother of three kids, raising them all on the road since six weeks of age. Ali grew up in Northern Ireland in a time of conflict and uncertainty, a childhood spent always looking over her shoulder but also learning to laugh in the middle of the chaos. Gifted as a communicator, she started traveling around Ireland as a speaker in her early twenties, taking any chance she could to encourage and embolden the young people she met. Ali currently lives in Nashville, TN with her family and is the kind of woman who makes jokes that most people don’t expect, tells captivating stories like you’re round the campfire, and is deeply passionate about raising good humans.

“Son, it’s not our job as lighthouse keepers to decide who does and who does not deserve the light. Our job is to shine the light, no matter what.”
(Quote from Keeping the Light)

In this book, children will learn…

The importance of showing grace and empathy towards others
How to view difficult people (like bullies) through the eyes of love and understanding
How they possess a special ability to share kindness to the world
How to be brave when feeling intimidated or insecure

Be sure to head over and get your copy, today!

Lastly, if you don't have anyone to walk through these questions with - WE would love to do that with you. Send us an email at abundantlifeym@gmail.com to connect.

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Episode 97: Body Image Challenge (With Sammie Gallo)

This month's episode of the podcast is going to be formatted a little bit differently than our typical conversations. My prayer is that formatting an episode this way would challenge you to be vulnerable; find someone you trust to pray, ponder, and walk through this set of questions with you.

Here's the truth: the way we view our bodies is not a shallow, surface issue for the immature or the vain. The way we view our bodies is a deeply spiritual issue because our bodies are made by God, in the image of God, and they are where we encounter God for now.

Body image IS a deeply spiritual issue.

After listening to this episode, here is a list of questions to walk through in your small groups, with a mentor, or quietly and independently with God:

1) What do you believe are the leading causes of body image struggles for young girls in our culture today?

2) WHY is it vital that we answer the hard questions, like - do I like this body and will I respect this body?

3) Advice for parents trying to help a teenager who struggles with "bad" or negative feelings about her physical appearance? IE: Our daughter has a poor body image and a distressingly negative view of herself, but she won't talk about it. How do we bring this up without smothering her, alienating her or otherwise hurting our relationship?

4) What are practical ways to teach kids to honor and respect their bodies, without body shaming? Some examples that I've come to appreciate: eating healthy foods that make me feel good, taste good, and give me energy - prioritizing sleep and rest - being active every day - focusing on holistic health (physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being) more than just the physical.

Here are some resources we think will help to guide you in your conversations:

Lastly, if you don't have anyone to walk through these questions with - WE would love to do that with you. Send us an email at abundantlifeym@gmail.com to connect.

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