Stand Firm Parents: Recent Episodes
DIME Collective
Christian parents do everything they can to help their children come to faith and follow in that faith, but statistically we are failing miserably—most children raised in church and Christian homes leave the faith by age twenty-two and often before that. It’s time for a change. It’s time to flip the script. Stand Firm Parents is doing just that. Pastor and author Jake McCandless has been on a unique journey of helping believers across the world stand firm in their faith for the past ten years. Before the radical changes to life and especially church in 2020, Jake had been encouraging believers to prepare so that they would just survive but strive in difficulty. This journey has led to relationships around the world, learning from the persecuted church, and learning from the leading experts on the topic. Jake now brings that unexpected journey full circle to help families have a faith that lasts. Stand Firm Parents goes against the grain presenting parenting with a fresh perspective that has the end game in mind. Join the community and embark on a journey of seeking the answers that will help our children develop a faith that lasts as new episodes drop bi-monthly.
Let’s stop being negative. Yes, the majority of children raised in church leave the church and faith, but there are some that stay. Why do they stay? That’s an important question. Josh Denhart of KidMin Science and Lead Ministry has combined leading research to share reasons why the children raised in church and Christian homes stay when so many leave. You’ll be surprised by the list. It’s not what you think. In this first part of the interview, Josh shares a simple step with lasting results. We promise you will want to listen in and hear what Josh has to say.
Check out the graphic that introduced us to Josh https://www.facebook.com/standfirmparents/photos/a.102125738098277/717873956523449/
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Josh Denhart transitioned his vocational energies toward KidMin Science after serving as a children's pastor for over 10 years, Josh is a seasoned educator with BA in Chemistry Education, a MA in Effective Instruction, and earned National Board Certification in Young Adult and Adolescent Science. As a former High School chemistry teacher, Josh melded his love for Science and Christ, creating “The Amazing Chemistry Show”, a traveling gospel-centered stage show with fire, explosions and foam. Carrying this Ministry of Chemistry even further, Josh created three “Science VBS” curricula.
Along with this you’re also the founder of Lead-Ministry.
Learn more about Josh and KidMin Science at https://kidminscience.com/.
Also, check out https://leadministry.com/.
Have you ever fast forwarded to the end of television series or a movie? Jake fast forwards through the Six Spiritual Steps by covering the final two steps in this episode. You’re getting two for one. These spiritual prepper steps will help your children have a faith that lasts. These final two may seem basic but they’re cornerstone steps to developing a faith that lasts. As with each of these steps they first need to be done by us—the parents. And then Christ working in our lives should compel our children to pursue the same things.
Announcement of the new children’s book, Jesus and His Kingdom, coming Jan. 25th. Preorder now: https://standfirmstore.com/collections/stand-firm-kids/products/jesus-and-his-kingdom
Announcement of the family trip to Israel available with Generation 2 Generation.
Announcement from previous episodes, Jake joins the team at Last Days Overcomers, get the free ebook from Jake through Last Days Overcomers, https://lastdaysovrcomer.org/free-ebook/
Last Days Overcomers is a global Christian ministry dedicated to preparing and empowering believers spiritually, emotionally, and physically for the time before the most important day in history – The Day that Jesus comes back. We provide resources and conferences to help believers understand God’s purposes for the Last Days and how Christians can join Him in those purposes and someday hear the words “Well done good and faithful servant.” Learn more at https://lastdaysovercomer.org
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
It’s Christmas time, there’s no doubt one of the best or at least funniest Christmas movies is Elf. Do you remember the scene of the children’s book without an ending? Well, that’s how we tend to teach our children in American Christianity we leave out the ending. We leave out Jesus is coming back. As Jake dives into the 4th “Spiritual Prepper Step” for helping our children have a faith that lasts, he looks at telling the whole story. He presents five areas we aren’t teaching our children. Along the way he follows up the big announcement from last week with another—the release of a new children’s picture book!
Announcement of the new children’s book, Jesus and His Kingdom, coming Jan. 25th. Preorder now: https://standfirmstore.com/collections/stand-firm-kids/products/jesus-and-his-kingdom
Announcement from last week, Jake joins the team at Last Days Overcomers, get the free ebook from Jake through Last Days Overcomers, https://lastdaysovrcomer.org/free-ebook/
Last Days Overcomers is a global Christian ministry dedicated to preparing and empowering believers spiritually, emotionally, and physically for the time before the most important day in history – The Day that Jesus comes back. We provide resources and conferences to help believers understand God’s purposes for the Last Days and how Christians can join Him in those purposes and someday hear the words “Well done good and faithful servant.” Learn more at https://lastdaysovercomer.org
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Host Jake McCandless continues to walk through the “Six Spiritual Prepper Steps” of Stand Firm Parents to help our families have a faith that lasts. In previous episodes he introduced that steps two and three can’t be separated for to “walk in the Spirit” one must be in the Word. He shared how that the Word serves as a guardrail to our walking in the Spirit, but Jake is joined by Marquis Laughlin of Acts of the Word Ministries to talk about how that the Word of God is far more than just a guardrail. There may be no one more uniquely qualified to speak on the subject than Marquis who gives solo performances of complete books of the Bible he has committed to memory. He has memorized and presented seven complete books. To give a taste of Marquis’ ministry, Jake has him perform a chapter live. Expand your appreciation for the Word of God through this episode. Jake also makes a special announcement concerning Stand Firm Parents.
Check out the free ebook from Jake through Last Days Overcomers, https://lastdaysovrcomer.org/free-ebook/
Last Days Overcomers is a global Christian ministry dedicated to preparing and empowering believers spiritually, emotionally, and physically for the time before the most important day in history – The Day that Jesus comes back. We provide resources and conferences to help believers understand God’s purposes for the Last Days and how Christians can join Him in those purposes and someday hear the words “Well done good and faithful servant.” Learn more at https://lastdaysovercomer.org
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Marquis Laughlin is the founder of Acts of The Word Ministries, a unique non-denominational ministry dedicated to transforming people’s lives through the words of the Bible. As a performance artist and missionary to the church in America, his uniquely compelling dramatic solo Scripture presentations include 7 different books of the Bible, highlighting the epic story of God’s relationship with man; Genesis, Exodus, Ecclesiastes, Daniel, John’s Gospel, Acts of the Apostles, & Revelation.
Through sharing the message of the need to prepare for faith challenges and helping believers stand firm since 2012, Jake has developed Six Spiritual Prepper Steps—the 5 “W”’s plus an “H”. In this episode, he picks up the third “W”. This third step is done in tandem with the second step. Not only do these two steps help us and our children remain faithful, but they help children and parents faithfully follow the Lord now. Be sure to listen in for this third spiritual prepper step as Jake shares to “read the email” and “give them guard rails.”
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
We had to teach our children to walk, or they would be stuck crawling and rolling around the ground forever. Yeah, they probably would’ve figured something out, but it was necessary they learn. Just as Jesus told Nicodemus he needed to be born again, all believers must learn to walk again, but this time to walk in the Spirit. Jake continues sharing the Six Spiritual Prepper Steps. These 5 “W’s” plus “H” are six things that we can impart into our children and help them have a faith that lasts. In this episode, Jake shares the second step (and gives a glimpse to the third). Though this step may seem obvious its imperative for one to live out basic Christianity. Lean into this second step both in your own life and imparting to your children.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
In this episode, Jake continues sharing the Six Spiritual Prepper Steps and continues with the first “W” which stands for WARNING. We must share the warnings of turning away with our children. It’s important we all hear, heed, and realize these warnings apply to us. Internationally-renown prophecy teacher Nelson Walters joins Jake to talk more in depth about Biblical warnings. Nelson is asked which warning concerning the last days should parents be the most concerned about. He doesn’t hesitate in answering the question. He then shares why our children are even more in danger than we realize concerning this Biblical warning.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Nelson Walters is the founder and Director of Overcomers, Inc., a non-profit, non-denominational ministry dedicated to preparing believers for the times before the greatest day in history – the day that Jesus comes back. Overcomers, Inc. assists in awakening Christians to God’s purposes at the End of the Age through face-to-face conferences, internet-based teaching, books, and Bible studies.
Nelson is the author of nine books including Revelation Deciphered, How to Prepare for the Last Days, and Daniel Unsealed. And he encourages and opens the scriptures to millions every year on his internationally renowned YouTube channel.
Nelson is married to Laura and together they have 3 adult children and one grand-daughter.
In this episode, Jake continues sharing the Six Spiritual Prepper Steps and continues with the first “W” which stands for WARNING. We must share the warnings of turning away with our children. It’s important we all hear, heed, and realize these warnings apply to us. Internationally-renown prophecy teacher Nelson Walters joins Jake to talk more in depth about Biblical warnings. Nelson is asked which warning concerning the last days should parents be the most concerned about. He doesn’t hesitate in answering the question. He then shares why our children are even more in danger than we realize concerning this Biblical warning.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Nelson Walters is the founder and Director of Overcomers, Inc., a non-profit, non-denominational ministry dedicated to preparing believers for the times before the greatest day in history – the day that Jesus comes back. Overcomers, Inc. assists in awakening Christians to God’s purposes at the End of the Age through face-to-face conferences, internet-based teaching, books, and Bible studies.
Nelson is the author of nine books including Revelation Deciphered, How to Prepare for the Last Days, and Daniel Unsealed. And he encourages and opens the scriptures to millions every year on his internationally renowned YouTube channel.
Nelson is married to Laura and together they have 3 adult children and one grand-daughter.
Throughout a ten-year journey with Stand Firm, Jake has developed the Six Spiritual Prepper Steps. These six things will help our children have a faith that lasts. In this episode, Jake shares the first of these 5 W’s plus H. The first “W” stands for WARNING. We must share the warnings of turning away with our children. It’s important we all hear, heed, and realize these warnings apply to us. Throughout the episode Jake walks through Biblical warnings we need to prioritize and then takes time to communicate how to introduce those six steps.
Jake mentioned his new book, For Uncertain Times, which released September 11th. Check it out!
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Throughout a ten-year journey with Stand Firm, Jake has developed the Six Spiritual Prepper Steps. These six things will help our children have a faith that lasts. In this episode, Jake shares the first of these 5 W’s plus H. The first “W” stands for WARNING. We must share the warnings of turning away with our children. It’s important we all hear, heed, and realize these warnings apply to us. Throughout the episode Jake walks through Biblical warnings we need to prioritize and then takes time to communicate how to introduce those six steps.
Jake mentioned his new book, For Uncertain Times, which released September 11th. Check it out!
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
For most of this first season of Stand Firm Parents, host Jake McCandless and his guests have looked at what has proved to be the number one way to help children and teens have a faith that last which is helping them have a bigger story. A bigger story of mission and of the Bible. Before moving towards other factors in helping families have a faith that lasts, Jake recaps the season so far and gives practical advice. This is a must listen to episode for parents.
Jake mentioned his new book, For Uncertain Times, which released September 11th. Check it out!
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Though each episode Jake bridges the conversation to practical take-aways and advice, we parents need the nuts and bolts. In this episode, Jake and guest Olly Goldenberg of Children Can, serve up three practical steps. Olly Goldenberg’s longtime leading of one of the largest children’s ministries in Europe and his work around the globe has led to the development of three stages of faith necessary for not just a faith that lasts, but a vibrant and passionate faith. In the interview, Jake and Olly address that there are already standard stages accepted for children and faith. The work laid out by Fowler and Westhehoff have been the standard, but Olly’s list focuses on the role parents in the development of their child’s faith and is rooted in Biblical evidence.
Jake mentioned his new book, For Uncertain Times, which released September 11th. Check it out,
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Olly Goldenberg has been ministering to children in churches and outside of the church for twenty-five years. For fifteen of these years, he led one of the largest children's ministries in Europe, with responsibility for children aged 0-14. The ministry more than doubled in size under his leadership. He saw a reversal of the trend of children leaving the church, with many of the children inviting their friends to be part of the church. Over the years the fruit remained up into the youth ministry and beyond.
Currently he leads a ministry, together with his wife and five children, called 'Children Can' www.childrencan.co.uk. Through modelling and training leaders they have inspired thousands of leaders from different nations and denominations to know how to lead children from a head knowledge of God to a passionate relationship with him. At the heart of their ministry is a passion to see children raised as disciples of Jesus.
Olly is the author of numerous books such as The Josiah Generation, Jesus, Your Baby, and You, A Home with God, and the God’s Generals for Kids series.
Another guest from across the pond joins Jake to talk about raising children that will stand firm. Olly Goldenberg was a children’s pastor in one of the largest children’s ministries in Europe for fifteen years. He now leads Children Can and hosts the podcast Raising Stand-ers. The connection between Jake and Olly is obvious as both have a heart to help children and teens have a sold-out faith that lasts. Originally, Jake interviewed Olly because of the faith framework he has developed to help parents and children ministries contribute to the continued development of faith in their children, but as with every guest, Olly went off script and blew Jake’s mind. Olly asked about children of the early church. This revelation led to a discussion of how if we raise our standards for what we believe our children can do, they will be stand-ers. He also brought in how that embracing conflict and helping children navigate through it builds this high-grade faith. Jake uses the conversation as a springboard to share research of youth in the first church.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Olly Goldenberg has been ministering to children in churches and outside of the church for twenty-five years. For fifteen of these years, he led one of the largest children's ministries in Europe, with responsibility for children aged 0-14. The ministry more than doubled in size under his leadership. He saw a reversal of the trend of children leaving the church, with many of the children inviting their friends to be part of the church. Over the years the fruit remained up into the youth ministry and beyond.
Currently he leads a ministry, together with his wife and five children, called 'Children Can' www.childrencan.co.uk. Through modelling and training leaders they have inspired thousands of leaders from different nations and denominations to know how to lead children from a head knowledge of God to a passionate relationship with him. At the heart of their ministry is a passion to see children raised as disciples of Jesus.
Olly is the author of numerous books such as The Josiah Generation, Jesus, Your Baby, and You, A Home with God, and the God’s Generals for Kids series.
Hearing that it takes conflict to give children a great story combined with the need to present them with a greater story sent Stand Firm Parents host, Jake McCandless, reeling. Over the last two episodes, he dived into how as parents can embrace conflict and help children navigate through it. In this third conversation about conflict in our children’s stories, Jake takes us back to the time of the first followers of Jesus. What Jewish leadership called this new movement reveals how Christianity is meant to be lived out, but also the great story our children have been invited to.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
The guest from episode six sent the search for how to give families a faith that lasts in a new trajectory, leaving host, Jake McCandless, scrambling. It had been established we need to give our children a greater story. Asking his literary agent, what makes a great story, Cyle Young shared that it was conflict. This has left Jake considering how we should bring this understanding of conflict into the Christian parenting realm. In the previous episode, Jake shared how that when it comes to dealing with conflict, American believers are at a disadvantage. In this episode, Jake shares that whether we realize it or not we’re all in a great conflict. In this overarching conflict there is no neutral. As parents we can’t go on autopilot. We can’t be passive. Our children are already in a story—one in which there is no neutral.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Still reeling from his literary agent and writing guru, Cyle Young’s answer to what makes a great story, Jake pauses to wrestle with how to embrace conflict in the story of our children’s lives. Modern American Christian parenting is focused on sheltering children from the difficulties in life, while at the same time the number one reason for Americans leaving the faith is due to facing difficulties. Maybe this paradox holds the answer to helping our families have a faith that lasts. Jake dives deeper into what it means for parents to embrace conflict and prepare their children for it. He points out how American believers are uniquely unprepared and introducing children to conflict might help turn the tide.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
The previous episode shared research and evidence that giving our children a better story—a bigger story of Christianity—would help them have a faith that lasts. Talking about our “story” is trendy, we see it and hear it often, but what truly makes a story great. To breakdown this idea of giving a better story, Jake invited his literary agent, Cyle Young, on to talk about what makes a great story. Leaning into Cyle’s knowledge in the writing world as an author and one of the leading agents in the business, we are able to dissect how to guide our children into a deeper following of Christ. Cyle surprises Jake with his answer, which not only throws Jake off in the interview, but reshapes the entire coming season of Stand Firm Parents.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Cyle Young is a renowned literary agent and award-winning author of over 20 writing awards. When not writing or representing books, Cyle travels across the U.S. speaking at many conferences, including regional writers’ conferences in OH, MI, NC and GA, hosted by his own company, Serious Writer Inc., http://www.seriouswriter.com. Cyle is passionate about training writers through in person instruction and through his on-line writing school, Serious Writer Academy, http://www.seriouswriteracademy.com.
You can find out more about Cyle at his website https://www.cyleyoung.com.
Along with being deeply rooted in the writing world, Cyle is a pastor. He also is a leading online gamer. He streams regularly as Dadventurer with his kids. Through this endeavor, he is positively impacting kids across the globe. Cyle also is a member of the college football national championship Michigan Wolverine team.
In a decade of researching why the emerging generation leaves the church and the faith, Jake has gained tremendous insight. In this episode, Jake shares the number one step towards helping our children have a faith that lasts. The introduction of this step and direction is something parents can’t miss. Jake relays parental advice that author Donald Miller shared in his book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years and it’s the advice for business Donald shares through his StoryBrand training and books. Check out this important advice and help your children engage in a better story to have a faith that lasts.
Jake also dives into deeper research to why the emerging generation is leaving the faith. The research is enlightening and further shows why the direction suggested in Donald Miller’s book is vital.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
In the previous episode, Jake shared a better goal for our parenting—our children actively following Jesus. Keeping the discussion about a better goal going, Jake visits with author and producer Stephanie Quick as she lives out this better goal and better story. Stephanie shares how actively following Jesus leads to unexpected adventure as she tells of her work in the Middle East with Frontier Alliance International. Living out this better goal will help our children have a faith that lasts.
Stephanie gives insight on how the dynamic of her following Jesus to new frontiers has had on her family, as well as, sharing her motivation for such a life engaged for the kingdom.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Stephanie Quick is a writer and producer serving with Frontier Alliance International. She hosts The Better Beautiful podcast alongside FAI Chairman Jeff Henderson and serves as Editor in Chief of FAI Publishing and FAI’s Annual Field Journal, PILGRIM. She is author of To Trace a Rising Sun: God, the Gospel, and Your Life in this Age and Confronting Unbelief: Your Soul and the City of the Great King Her music, films, books, and articles can be found in the FAI and Covenant and Controversy resource libraries. Learn more at www.stephaniequick.org.
Frontier Alliance International has been laying foundations in strategic regions throughout the 10/40 Window. Like Hudson Taylor’s China Inland Mission, our teams are laboring together in a concentrated and coordinated advance into the “interior” regions of our generation where today there is still no witness. Learn more at https://www.faimission.org/ and also check out the FAI App for tremendous content.
As the saying goes, “If you don’t have a target, you’re not going to hit anything.” One of the contributing factors to Christian children and teens eventually leaving the church and often the faith is that there wasn’t goal in parenting them. Typically, Christian parents have an assumed goal, but have never actually formulated that goal and articulated. By having just an assumption of goals it’s possible that parents don’t have the absolute best goal. They may be good goals but are they the best.
Stand Firm Parents host Jake McCandless isn’t pointing the finger at everyone but realize he and his wife have not articulated their parenting goals. As he challenges parents to find that goal and parent accordingly, he shares insight into the goalsetting conversation with his wife Amanda.
This conversation on parenting goals is essential at helping our children have a faith that lasts.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Jake and Amanda live in Northwest Arkansas with their two daughters, Andrea and Addison. Amanda has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education. She currently is the upper elementary alternative education teacher for one of the largest school districts in Arkansas. They have served together in ministry together since 2000.
Creating tools for their parenting goals, Jake authored the first traditionally published children’s book on the return of Jesus entitled Jesus and His White Horse.
Christian parents need to know the reality that they’re up against. One of the compounding causes to children leaving the church and eventually the faith is that we’re not looking in the mirror. Instead, churches and parents are avoiding the unfortunate reality they are facing in raising their children. The odds aren’t in our favor. The statistics are heart-breaking. Understanding the importance of us assessing the battlefield, host pastor and author Jake McCandless visits with Ken Ham of Answering in Genesis, the Creation Museum, and the Ark Encounter. Ken Ham and Britt Beemer’s 2009 book, Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church and What You Can Do To Stop It painted this grim picture. Ken lays out the challenges Christian parents are up against, but also provides encouragement. In this episode Christian parents will not only understand the reality, but also be encouraged that they can help their child have a faith that lasts.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Ken Ham is the CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis, the highly acclaimed Creation Museum, and the world-renowned Ark Encounter, Ken Ham is the author of more than 25 books and an in-demand Christian speaker. Since moving to America in 1987, Ken has become one of America’s most in-demand Christian speakers and interview guests. He became internationally known for his 2014 creation/evolution debate with Bill Nye “the Science Guy,” which has been watched by an estimated 25 million people. Ham hosts the daily radio program “Answers . . . with Ken Ham,” heard on over 1,000 stations, and in 2020 oversaw the launch of Answers TV, a video streaming service.
A biblical apologist, Ken gives numerous faith-building talks to tens of thousands of children and adults each year on topics such as the reliability of the Bible, how compromise over biblical authority has undermined society (and even the church, which is seeing a massive exodus of young people), witnessing more effectively, dinosaurs, “races,” and so on. Ham’s most recent book is a commentary and devotional on Genesis chapters 1-11, “"Creation to Babel"” (2021). His book on effective evangelism, “Gospel Reset,” was sent to every church in America and to many churches in other English-speaking countries (over 300,000 copies).
Ken cofounded AiG in 1994 with the purpose of upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse and sharing the gospel beginning in Genesis. In addition, he provides biblical and scientific answers to some of the most difficult questions people ask about the Christian faith.
Children raised in church and Christian homes are leaving the faith in droves—yes, droves. Yet, we keep returning to the same training and teaching for parenting advice, it’s time we shake it up. It’s time for a different approach. Stand Firm Parents takes that different approach beginning with visiting with mother and son duo—Daphne Kirk and Andrew Kirk. Together they lead the ministry Generation 2 Generation which has worked for many years in over forty countries reconnecting the generations and preparing them “for such a time as this." Their commitment to helping churches develop multi-generational ministry strategies has brought transformations in the emerging generation. Host Jake McCandless visits with the Kirks about the mandate we have as parents to raise up the next generation in faith. The discussion doesn’t stop just at our parental mandate but moves beyond to present the great opportunity Christian parents have to not just raise up their children in the Lord, but to raise the generation that will fulfill the Great Commission. By understanding this mandate and be encouraged by our great opportunity Jake is helping your family to have a faith that lasts.
Stand Firm Parents is a resource from Stand Firm led by pastor and author Stand Firm Jake, Jake McCandless, who has been on a journey the past ten years to help believers around the globe hold on to their faith—to stand firm. Learn more at www.standfirmministries.com.
Daphne Kirk and Andrew Kirk lead Generation to Generation who since 1993 has been in 40 nations, working with churches and organizations to see mobilization and discipleship of the emerging generation, pioneering in small groups, mission training, mobilization, disaster relief, leadership conferences, church consultation, and resourcing. They are based in the UK. Their vision is to reconnect the generations and preparing them for such a time as this with the goal to see one generation discipling the next and preparing them. During 2020 the world-wide Issachar Network was birthed out of Generation to Generation to further help prepare believers for such a time as this. In addition to Generation to Generation, Andrew hosts the internationally popular podcast, “The Radical Lifestyle Podcast.” Learn more at https://www.gnation2gnation.com/.
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In the book of James, we read that we’re to take joy in trials and suffering. This sounds bizarre and completely counter-cultural, but God has a purpose in our sufferings. Daniel Secomb from Israel, Islam, and the End Times returns to talk about the role suffering plays in the life of the Christian. This role is a shocker, but contrary to contemporary Christian teaching suffering has been taught to be a teacher and molder for the Christian.
The common motivator or those who have held on to their faith against the most difficult odds is the age to come—Heaven. Unfortunately, modern teaching on Heaven sells it short. The Bible gives are more details about this age-to-come than is let on by most preaching and teaching. Past generations understood these details. Daniel Secomb, of Israel, Islam, and the Endtimes, and a leading teacher on the Millennial Kingdom shares these overlooked details. The Millennial Kingdom is a one-thousand-year reign of Jesus on earth with those who followed Him on earth will live in this king immortally while other mortals live on the earth as well. Dana Crosby of the YouTube channel Wisdom Calls and the show, What Your Pastor Never Told You shares how Christian teachings are being missed in most churches.
There is a spiritual world and there is a raging battle within that world that also breaks through into the physical world. This spiritual battle is behind many of the challenges of our faith. C.S. Lewis provided the world great insight into the demonic opposition upon our following of Christ in his classic, The Screwtape Letters. Author Beckie Lindsey has taken a modern spin on the topic covered by Lewis. Her latest Young Adult Fiction series, Beauty from Ashes, is flying off shelves. In the two-book released so far Secrets and Uninvited she shares the struggle of teens and young adults today and pulls the curtains back to share the spiritual world behind those attacks. Beckie does not shy away from any topic but faces issues the church is afraid to talk about. This approach is fresh and allows us to face our struggles head-on. Timothy Gill, formerly of Voice of the Martyrs and now president of the Christian Persecution Preparedness Institute, shares insight on the biblical topic of spiritual warfare. Tim’s work around the world has given him great insight to how spiritual attacks happen in this modern world and the best warfare methods to combat them.
The pushback and objections raised to Hold On, have been that there is no need to talk about the issue of people leaving their faith because God will provide strength in that time. And He does, but it's not from left field rather its been cultivated over time. In previous episodes, guests have shared how in difficulty they turned to God and He provided a peace like no other, but Rita Halter Thomas of Hold On Stories, shares the secret behind Lora Jones’ faithfulness. And the answer is preparation. This snippet of knowledge leads Jake to contact Nelson Walters who is an author, award-winning blogger, and president of The Gospel in the End Times. He shares from his book on preparation—Are We Ready for Jesus. Jake shares from his book Spiritual Prepper.
Believers constantly face challenges to their faith. Challenges like have been presented in every episode of Hold On so far this season, but no challenge may match persecution of one’s faith. Timothy and Darcie Gill spent many years as missionary representatives for Voice of the Martyrs. They would spend time in the field with persecuted believers and then return to states to share in churches. Through their work, Timothy and Darcie gained a great insight into the reality of persecution, as well as, the lack of understanding of the subject in American churches. This insight led Timothy to launch the Christian Persecution Preparedness Institute which seeks to prepare the American church for what one day will occur—persecution. He also provides teaching via YouTube and through an online community called Endtime.Church. The Gills share real-life accounts that they witnessed in their work. Christopher Mantei of the international ministry, Wings of the Eagle, stops in to share about the current condition of the world-wide church in terms of persecution.
The Bible tells many stories of God doing the impossible whether that be bringing a child to a barren womb, a virgin birth, or the other miracles. Those feats of the Bible seem ancient history to us today. When we face the impossible, its easy to give up and given in. But God calls us to be faithful and trust Him to do the impossible. Ralph and Evelyn Mann did just that – when the received word that the baby in Evelyn’s womb had a lethal form of dwarfism, Thanatophoric Dwarfism, and was told to continue with a therapeutic abortion—they chose to trust God. Their son, Samuel, is now thirteen. He has defied the odds. In this episode, Evelynn shares the journey from the start of pregnancy until today. She has written about Samuel’s story in her book Miracle in My Living Room . Evelyn also blogs about the journey, as well as, speaks to women’s groups. Listen in to hear Samuel’s story and go to www.miraclemann.com and fall in love with Samuel.
Taking a pause from the powerful stories and interviews, Jake slows down to make sure everyone is on the same page as he takes a timeout and pumps the break to talk about what is faith and why people really are leaving. Jake also shares his own story of coming to faith in Jesus.
From episode one, guest David Sanford shared that one of the main causes of an individual leaving the faith was when tragedy strikes. The question becomes how a loving God can allow something so evil and tragic to occur. But the call of faithful from the Bible calls the follower of Jesus to remain faithful no matter what. Christian teaching points back to Job who lost everything. Job faced the unthinkable and remained faithful. Lora Jones faced the unthinkable in her life and like Job was asked to quit believing in God. She has remained faithful and been a shining light to others. Lora’s friend Rita Halter Thomas, who writes and edits “Hold On Stories” for Stand Firm Ministries and Hold On (they can be found at www.standfirministries.com and www.holdonpodcast.com), says that Lora never wavered in her faith. J.L. Jones, Lora’s husband, was a pastor. As a family, they faithfully served and followed Jesus. Their entire lives were focused on God, but they were still not immune to tragedy. Lora woke up to find her world had completely changed. For fourteen years, she has held on to her faith. She travels across the country speaking at churches and conferences with Lora Jones Ministries. Her story is soon to be released to the world through her book Song of a Wounded Heart. The book will be available June 25, 2019.
Each guest interviewed, and each story told becomes part of the cast and tell the narrative of the reality many American Christians face, a challenge to hold on and keep their faith. Statistics and experience tell us that few returns to the church and the faith after leaving. But Ronnie did. Ronnie was a Christian—actively serving in his church. He had even committed his life to be a pastor, and then he left for the Navy. And on the high seas, well more like the ports, Ronnie fell into addiction and left the faith. Years later with six girls to raise, this rough and tough cowboy, began to feel the effects of alcoholism and an addiction to methamphetamines. He found himself unable to conquer the addiction and the inner demons. Finally, he went to church to tell God good-by, but instead, his life was changed. He handed over his addiction to God and came back to faith. Now Ronnie works with addicts and teenagers and is having a huge impact. He proves that returns can happen.
This season began with the identification of an epidemic in America---millions leaving the faith. The outlook is bleak and seemingly hopeless, but in episode two our guests share there was hope and that people could return to the faith. This reality is music to the ears of all of us because we all have someone we deeply love who is currently away from the faith. Although, David’s words are encouraging—finding someone who has returned is far in-between. To prove that returns do happen Jake went back to the church he pastored to visit with a good friend, Ronnie Guinn, who had a powerful comeback story. Ronnie came back to the faith after being away for over twenty-five years. But this return story is not just about Ronnie. Proving our lives are not isolated, Jake, visits with Ronnie’s mother Aletha who prayed for him the whole time he was away from the faith. She shares the struggle of trusting in faith her son would return when it looked hopeless that he would. Jake also visited with one of Ronnie’s daughter, Nichole, who shares her own return story along with the impact her Dad’s return had on her life and family.
Past generations in America saw people leave the church and even the faith as teenagers, but they typically returned when they began to have families of their own. Statisticians tell us now that is not the case. That especially, young adults who have grown up in the faith and leave are not coming back. The research makes the possibility seem hopeless, but author David Sanford has personally been able to help others come back to their faith and even come into a stronger faith. David has been following this trend of people leaving the faith for over a decade. His book If God Disappears addresses this phenomenon and addresses nine major faith wreckers. In his latest book, Loving Your Neighbor: Surprise It’s Not What You Think provides ten steps to help someone return to their faith. This is a must-listen episode for anyone who feels it is hopeless for someone to return to the faith.
Hold On is tackling one particular issue head on—the abandonment of one’s faith. In the process of coming to understand this issue, many more will be addressed. In episode one, Jake sets out to quantify just how big of a problem this is in America. There are many researchers and statisticians who have written about the large number who have left the faith, but there is one author who has gone beyond the numbers and examined the stories of those who have left. David Sanford began exposing what he called an epidemic in 2009 with the release of If God Disappears. The book and corresponding blog-site went beyond the stats and identified the root causes. His research led him to discover nine major faith wreckers. Rather than numbers, David speaks about stories which places a much more compassion understanding to the subject. In 2009, he wrote there was thirty-five million stories in America. By 2015, the number had risen to forty-two million. Jake and David work off of that 2015 number, but Pew Research has now suggested it could be as high as sixty-seven million today. To put that large number in perspective, it has to be understood that its 14% of the entire American population. The issue is huge and few churches and Christian leaders are addressing it. As David does in his books, he continues to point to the real-life human component. He simply asks the question are we listening to their stories. If you want to hear the statistic scope of this problem along with human aspect you must check this episode out. David’s latest book Love Your Neighbor: Surprise It’s Not What You Think is available now.