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!
Ready to Talk: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Gender and Sexuality is a new resource written by Amber Garrett Carroll. Sammie sits down with her on today's episode to chat about the book and how it can practically help parents and the Church dive into these topics with confidence and preparedness, taking a proactive approach to issues we know they'll one day face. We talk about the 3 essential parts to her book - (1) the theological foundation, (2) practical conversation starters, and (3) same sex attraction/gender issues - and how parents are able to prepare for conversations with their kids in today's culture.
"In Ready to Talk, Amber Carroll prepares readers to do just that: talk. This book equips parents for the inevitable conversations ahead, offering practical recommendations, suggested wording, and developmentally attuned guidance. Carroll provides a wife randge of thoughtful teaching and sample responses to some of the most challenging topics parents worry they will one day face. The material on vocational singleness is especially inqure and accessibly. I highly recommend this book." -Mark Yarhouse, Psy. D., Author of Emerging Sexual Identities and Gender Identity and Faith
Amber graduated from Union University in 2008 with a degree in English Literature and Secondary Education. After college, she spent six years teaching middle and high school in the public school system, followed by several years at home raising babies while freelancing as an editor for publishers including Lifeway.
In 2019, she joined Equip, where she now serves as Vice President. Her primary focus is equipping Christian parents with the clarity, confidence, and courage they need to begin age-appropriate conversations with their kids about God-honoring sex, sexuality, gender. Her passion for helping parents talk with their kids about sex, sexuality, and gender in ways that build trust, deepen faith, and point them toward Jesus, is something we all can learn from. This work matters deeply to her as she has quite the personal connection to it that you'll hear about through our conversation.
This book is for you if you’re…
– a Christian parent of children ages 2–12 and you realize conversations about sex, relationships, and gender are conversations you can't afford to avoid
– a grandparent, godparent, foster parent, aunt, or uncle
– a children’s ministry leader, Sunday School teacher, or kids’ volunteer
– anyone who cares about equipping kids to understand God’s design for sexuality and gender
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Amber's Free Resource - Parent Pack
- Amber's Instagram and Equip's Facebook
- Amber's Wesbite
- Book Amber to Speak
- Amber's Email: amber@equipyourcommunity.org
Remember - Amber is assisting churches in hosting FREE events this year regarding these topics. Reach out to her with questions!
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's podcast is highlighting what it looks like to really do life with students faithfully with Sammie's friend, Janelle DiStefano.
Get to know Janelle:
"I'm on Young Life Staff in Sewickley, PA and married to my husband, Sam. I have been involved with the ministry of Young Life for 8 years (as a student, leader & now on staff)! Jesus brought me from death to life my sophomore year of high school & now I get to walk alongside students and share this good news with them every day. I’m passionate about being constant in students lives through all seasons. Entering into students brokenness with them changes lives for eternity! God is doing so much through my hesitant “yes” to full time ministry- praise God for redemption through Him!"
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:
Put first things first, and He’ll take care of the rest.
Emma Waters has implemented this quote from C.S. Lewis into her life and the flourishing of the fruit from it is beautiful.
It is impossible to do justice to every detail of Lead Like Jael, but such a book is an essential how-to guide to create a world after feminism - one that honors women and gives space for us to use the gifts that God has given us.
Waters' new book, Lead Like Jael, asks the question: What if the pursuit of “having it all” is costing women the very things they were made to love?
In a culture that insists women must choose between two extremes—become a “girl boss” or embrace a “tradwife” ideal—many find themselves longing for something deeper. Neither path fully answers the yearning for purpose, wisdom, and a life aligned with God’s design.
Lead Like Jael offers a better way with PRACTICAL steps to start living out this design - which is what I love about it! Idealistic and realistic - hallelujah!
Written for women in every stage of life, Lead Like Jael rejects simplistic cultural labels and invites readers into biblical maturity. Waters makes the case for the Tent Peg Strategy, offering seven principles for living wisely in a disordered age:
- Discernment shaped by God’s Word
- Shrewdness guided by conviction and courage
- Resourcefulness grounded in duty to one’s home
- Hospitality as a life-giving and life-saving force
- Marriage that embraces husbands as battle-mates, not rivals
- Motherhood as warfare wielding self-sacrificial love
- Wise counsel from faithful women
Whether you’re just beginning your journey or guiding others along theirs, this book meets you where you are and speaks with strength, clarity, and hope. God’s Word leaves no room for passivity: “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down” (Proverbs 14:1).
Emma Waters is a Policy Analyst for the Center for Technology and the Human Person at The Heritage Foundation. Her work focuses on family, bioethics, and reproductive technology. She is a former Visiting Fellow with Independent Women’s Forum and a contributing author with World Magazine. Emma graduated valedictorian of Lee University with a double major in Political Science and Biblical & Theological Studies. Today, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their two children. Follow her on X @emlwaters.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
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:
Put first things first, and He’ll take care of the rest.
Emma Waters has implemented this quote from C.S. Lewis into her life and the flourishing of the fruit from it is beautiful.
It is impossible to do justice to every detail of Lead Like Jael, but such a book is an essential how-to guide to create a world after feminism - one that honors women and gives space for us to use the gifts that God has given us.
Waters' new book, Lead Like Jael, asks the question: What if the pursuit of “having it all” is costing women the very things they were made to love?
In a culture that insists women must choose between two extremes—become a “girl boss” or embrace a “tradwife” ideal—many find themselves longing for something deeper. Neither path fully answers the yearning for purpose, wisdom, and a life aligned with God’s design.
Lead Like Jael offers a better way with PRACTICAL steps to start living out this design - which is what I love about it! Idealistic and realistic - hallelujah!
Written for women in every stage of life, Lead Like Jael rejects simplistic cultural labels and invites readers into biblical maturity. Waters makes the case for the Tent Peg Strategy, offering seven principles for living wisely in a disordered age:
- Discernment shaped by God’s Word
- Shrewdness guided by conviction and courage
- Resourcefulness grounded in duty to one’s home
- Hospitality as a life-giving and life-saving force
- Marriage that embraces husbands as battle-mates, not rivals
- Motherhood as warfare wielding self-sacrificial love
- Wise counsel from faithful women
Whether you’re just beginning your journey or guiding others along theirs, this book meets you where you are and speaks with strength, clarity, and hope. God’s Word leaves no room for passivity: “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down” (Proverbs 14:1).
Emma Waters is a Policy Analyst for the Center for Technology and the Human Person at The Heritage Foundation. Her work focuses on family, bioethics, and reproductive technology. She is a former Visiting Fellow with Independent Women’s Forum and a contributing author with World Magazine. Emma graduated valedictorian of Lee University with a double major in Political Science and Biblical & Theological Studies. Today, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their two children. Follow her on X @emlwaters.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
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:
Ask yourself the question - "How is God parenting you?"
This one question will determine how you live your every day, especially as a mom. It will make all the difference in your parenting.
In this episode, we talk about a variety of things, but highlight motherhood and the gift that it is:
- God doesn’t waste or halt your dreams - He just reframes them and gives you a new mission field to live them out in.
- Inviting your kids into everything - especially the mundane.
- How you model, discipline, and pray are greatly intertwined with your own relationship with God.
Jessie Dains is a Registered Nurse with a Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, whom also is one of my dearest friends. Jessie says, "I prayed once and told God I would do the hardest thing for Him, whatever He asked. He made me a wife and a mom and led me to stay home with my kids and homeschool them." That's essentially who she is. And she absolutely crushes everything that she does. I can't wait for you to hear from her!
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:
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.
You Were Made for More Social Media:
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.
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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