You Were Made for More: Recent Episodes
Sammie Gallo
Our hearts yearn for teenagers to know that they are valued, loved, and created for a purpose. Currently, our culture is feeding teenagers so many lies – telling them that they are defined by what others say about them, how they perform, and what they have to offer to others. The Truth speaks of a completely different narrative, though. Our identities are found in one thing, and that one thing, changes everything: Jesus.That’s a POWERFUL, transformative statement. When it gets from our heads to our hearts it shifts how we live, what we believe, and how we do relationships with others. Our mission is to consistently speak about the abundant life that is freely offered to us because we have seen + believe that when teenagers know what they are worth AND whose they are, they will be more inclined to live for Jesus – following His commandments and walking in His ways. This podcast hosts conversations on tough, relational topics, always pointing back to the hope that God offers us when we understand who we were created to be. Music Credit: Matt Stewart from the band Soldiers and Sons (Waynesburg, PA)Check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialsoldiersandsons/
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.
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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:
- Lead Like Jael
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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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.
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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 theAdoption/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.
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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!
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 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:
- What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves
- Breaking Free from Body Shame: Dare to Reclaim What God Has Named Good
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.
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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On today's episode of the podcast, we have a conversation about faith and disability with Sammie's good friend, Gianna Zemet. Gianna is a middle school special education math teacher in the Upper St. Clair School District located in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to teaching, Gianna faithfully serves in her church's Autism Ministry and Student Ministry alongside her husband, Jeremiah. She clearly believes that God has placed a clear calling on her life to teach kids with disabilities and to mentor students/young adults.
Our hope is that this conversation would encourage you to think deeply about your theology of disability. How does the Gospel inform the way we think about disability? Though we all have different abilities, our stories are the same. We’re more alike than we think. We are all made in the image of God. We all share a story of struggle and find hope in the gospel of Jesus. You'll hear us talk about how to cultivate compassion paired with dignity, how to emphasize "people first language," and practical ways to lean into your community.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- North Way Christian Community's Autism Ministry
- "People First Language"
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 this episode, I wanted to take some time to really dive into what Sexual Risk Avoidance Education is all about - and some common myths that need debunked as we enter the new school year.
If you have a child attending public school this year, please, please, take the time to ask questions to your district about what type of sexual education your teens are receiving. In many states, there are laws in place that do not require schools to disclose that information to parents, even though you are the primary caregivers and ones who are responsible for raising these teens.
In public health, a risk avoidance approach is always given primacy when addressing health risk behaviors. In the 1960s, for example, the message regarding smoking wasn't: “Don’t begin smoking, but if you are already smoking, it is important to stop.” That would be silly, as I'd say to my almost-5-year old. The message was simple: do not smoke because there are consequences and you could die. See the example below. If we're honest, this model should be applied to sex education as well. My prayer is that this episode would encourage you to invest in your child's education and fight for their hearts in this way.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Example of Anti-Smoking Ad
- Sources for All Cited Facts
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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In Christian theology, fatherhood holds profound significance, mirroring God's own role as the ultimate Father and provider. It encompasses not only physical provision and protection but also spiritual guidance, moral instruction, and the modeling of God's love and character. As if that wasn't a high enough calling, earthly fathers are called to reflect the love, discipline, and faithfulness of God the Father, shaping their children's lives and pointing them towards a relationship with God through modeling what obedience looks like.
This month, we honored dad's on Father's Day, and we wanted to recognize that on the podcast - so, who better to ask to chat about fatherhood than my husband (I may be biased, but I think he is the best dad I know!) and our good friend who is about to become a dad himself? Juan and Ceddie are good friends, servant leaders, humble followers of Jesus, and aim to obey and please the Lord in everything they do. They're also no strangers to podcasting - they host their own podcast - The Upside Down Podcast - where they host thought-provoking questions about life and faith.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- The Upside Down Podcast (The Christian podcast of big questions and even bigger discussions :-))
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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May is all about moms as we celebrate Mother’s Day! In this episode, we hear from Sammie’s friend & first time mom, Mandi Boreing, about her transition into motherhood this past year and how Jesus has worked in & through her in this season.
Mandi married her husband, Andrew, a little over two years ago and since then they’ve lived in three houses in three cities, welcomed their first baby boy in April of 2024 and are expecting baby boy #2 in just a few months! As someone who has longed to be a mom for as long as she can remember, the reality of postpartum and parenting hit her harder than she expected. She credits only the Lord’s strength for getting her through and reminding her that she was made for this.
If you are someone who longs for a relationship, marriage, motherhood, or anything in between, we pray this conversation blesses you & encourages you to wait on the Lord and always trust Him and His timing.
We chat about:
- What motherhood has taught us about the Gospel
- What advice we would give to moms-to-be or women wishing to be moms
- Being in a season of waiting for marriage or a family
- Resources for encouragement
My own experience has been one of growth. It happens little by little. Day by day. Mundane moment by mundane moment. It happens by digging our roots deeper into God’s Word and who we have known him to be. It happens by reaching up, asking him to sustain us in our weakness and limitations. And it happens by looking out, faithfully doing the next hard thing and trusting him to bring us “from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:7). May this episode serve as an encouragement to you in your own motherhood journey - He is with you and for you!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Risen Motherhood Ministry
- Every Moment Holy(so good!) - Instagram
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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“I grew up my entire life going to church and never knew there was a pro-life movement. And if I would have thought there was one, I would have just assumed that the movement was picketers outside abortion clinics because that’s all the media shows us. But the first time I was invited to a pro-life conference, I was blown away. I had no idea that there are thousands of organizations and people that are boots on the ground, helping women be brave and choose life in the most creative ways!" -Amy Ford, Author + President of Embrace Grace
Going through an unplanned pregnancy herself, Amy Ford knows what it feels like to experience shame and loneliness with nowhere to turn to for guidance, support and direction. You'll here her story in our conversation - how God intervened and saved her baby.
She married her high school sweetheart, Ryan Ford, and they faced their unexpected pregnancy together. Looking back on that season of brokenness fueled their passion and desire to change things for young women with unplanned pregnancies. In 2008, Amy and her friend Salina, started a small group at her local church that met weekly with girls in that same situation providing support, friendship, guidance and love. A few years later in 2012, Embrace Grace was formed, a national non profit to equip churches all around the nation to have a pro-love focus and help women be brave and choose life. Since then, thousands of women have gone through the Embrace Grace program and were put back on a path towards Jesus.
In today's episode, Amy and Sammie talk about what it means to be proactive and pro-life.
Here are some things we mentioned in the episode:
- Help Her Be Brave - Take a quiz to learn how you can use your gifts to get involved in the pro-life movement! // And, find the book here.
- How Should the Church Respond? (Focus on the Family)
- Embrace Grace Website (especially if you're interested in finding or starting a chapter)
You Were Made for More Social Media:
In today's episode, we have a conversation with Kristen Miele. Kristen has educated youth on the topic of sex for the last 15 years. She’s taught in hundreds of diverse settings including 2 different countries with experience teaching ages 3 and up on content related to sex and sexuality. Kristen has a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Community Health from the University of Illinois. She has also been a Certified Health Education Specialist (NCHEC) since 2016. The vision for Sex Ed Reclaimed came to her in November 2021 through prayer and it became an LLC in 2022.
In today's discussion, we talk about setting a good foundation for your kids at a young age, creating a safe space for difficult discussions, how good sex ed prevents abortion (yes - you heard me right!!!), and how to let kids lead as they get older. Kristen's heart is aligned with the heart of Abundant Life: You Were Made for More and we have absolutely LOVED having her as part of the podcast family. If you have any questions for Kristen, want to sample her curriculum, or want to connect with her online resources, please visit her website.
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:
January is sanctity of life month! As we celebrate life and what God has created to be very good, I think a key part in that is destroying some of the lies that exist in our culture surrounding women’s health and pregnancy.Sorting through what’s true and what’s not when it comes to Planned Parenthood can be difficult - so that's what this episode seeks to do.
We'll take a look at the reality of Planned Parenthood through debunking some myths and taking a closer look at the ins and outs of PP's daily functions.
My prayer is that this January you would be reminded that God made each and every human to be VERY good - including you! May that Truth sink deep down into your bones. Love you guys. Happy 2025! Here are some links to dig into that contain vital info and stats mentioned in this episode:
- 2020-2021 Annual Report
- The 4% Myth by Live Action
- The Abortion Pill
- Prenatal Care & Planned Parenthood
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:
After an unplanned pregnancy, Christine Yeargin became passionate about the pro-life movement. Recognizing a need, she founded Be Their Village and works to connect women in unplanned pregnancies to resources in their area and uses the pro-life community she’s built on social media to complete baby registries for women who reject abortion and choose life. She speaks at events, on college campuses, and to pregnancy resource centers across the country. She produces content with Students for Life, has been featured on the YouTube series Middle Ground, is a regular guest on national news programs, and consistently works with mothers and their babies.
In today's episode, Christine and Sammie sit down and talk about how it can be simple to practically partner with women who actively are choosing life for their babies in your community!
Some practical ideas we talk about include:
- Offering babysitting to moms
- Making an expectant or new mom a meal
- Buying from their registry (or helping them create one!) - we may not have thousands, or even hundreds of dollars to donate to one person, but every single item that a new mom needs for her baby goes such a long way - like a pair of socks, a hat, or clothes for a thrift store! This is exactly what Be Their Village does on a larger scale through social media.
- Host a fundraiser with your youth group that benefits a new mom - think diapers, wipes, formula - all the essentials!
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
- Be Their Village
- Christine's Instagram
Together, I hope this podcast inspires us all to do more - to be their village - and to help women choose life.
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!To celebrate this, I asked my friend, Tera Swaney, to join us and share her testimony and journey as a foster parent (and soon to be adoptive parent!). Most importantly, I want to highlight why foster care and adoption, while different, are so similarly part of God's redemptive plan in the world to care for the orphan and the widow.
Tera is currently a stay at home mom to her three boys, while her husband Jon is in full-time ministry. Their hearts are so clearly seen through the way they engage and love people where they've began to plant their roots as a family.
I sincerely hope that their story will encourage you to boldly ask God, "could I be doing more?" and to listen for that answer.
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
- Tori Hope Petersen
- Foster the Family
- The Connected Child
- Tera's Contact Info
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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In this episode, Sammie sits down with her sister, Michelle (or Meesh as everyone calls her) to discuss how to teach kids from a young age to honor their bodies, who God made them, and to understanding the Gospel. Meesh is the kids director at their church and has an extensive background in ministering to kids of all backgrounds and multiple age ranges. This is such an important conversation as we head into the thick of a new school year, new beginnings, and new transitional periods for a lot of families. We pray that it blesses you and encourages you!
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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Happy Summer, everyone! We've been in the full swing of all the summer activities in my house, but I wanted to take the time to share an online message I shared with parents, grandparents, youth leaders, and students in our larger church community, in an effort to encourage and equip them in whatever their role in relationship education is.
It has been encouraging to me as I have been in this line of work to see that contrary to all the digs at evangelical purity culture over the years, God’s way of doing things actually works. This should not surprise us. On of my favorite quotes is from C.S. Lewis. He says, “God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine.” This makes Him preeminently qualified to tell us how that engine functions best.
Join us as we highlight where our current culture is regarding relationships, sex, intimacy, and ultimately life. We want to equip YOU as you head into a new school year next month to really do what God has called each and every one of us to do... To share His word and make Him known.
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
- You Were Made for More Resource Page
- What to Say and When To Say It
- Uprooting Lies and Planting the Truth
- Biblical Critical Theory
- Lila Rose Appearance
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:
Sexual integrity is often not modeled in today’s culture. As your child’s parent, you have the unique opportunity to share the truth and model what it means to pursue sexual integrity and live a life of purity. In today's episode, we sift through the definition of what sexual purity exactly means and how to give the kids & students in our lives practical tips to pursue it.
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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Travis Deans and his wife Judy are from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Both Travis and Judy are graduates of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Travis has been in full-time youth ministry since 1996 as a youth pastor, campus ministry director, and youth network coordinator - that's 28 years! Through his role he mentors youth workers, consults for churches, assists youth workers to collaborate through evangelistic outreaches, equips students to share their faith, shares strategy for students to form campus ministries in their schools, and organizes youth ministry conferences. Travis has been an integral player in the Pittsburgh youth ministry scene for years, which is how he and Sammie originally connected.
In today's conversation, we're going to chat about why creating a safe space for teens to ask questions and ponder theological ideas is so important. Questions are most definitely okay - and knowing how to shepherd them as a youth leader or parent is equally important! I'm truly so excited for this episode to encourage and spur you on in the work that the Lord has called you to. Buckle up and join us!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Travis and Judy's Ministry Page
- 9 Month Mission Trip
You Were Made for More Social Media:
Many of the ethical issues our culture is wrestling with have an underlying issue in common. The growing confusion we see around us on matters such as abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, transgenderism, and sexual promiscuity all flow downstream from our lack of understanding of what the human body is and means.
One person who has sought to account for this confusion and to offer a corrective is Nancy Pearcey, professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist University, where she is also a scholar in residence. Many will be familiar with her previous books, such as Finding Truth and the award-winning Total Truth. Her book, Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality, addresses the worldview that lies behind the huge cultural shifts we have recently experienced in the West—and provides a biblical account of what it means to be made in God’s image as men and women.
There is a reason the Ten Commandments start with the command to love and worship God above all other things: when our hearts are centered on God, only then are we empowered to fulfill the rest of the commandments that deal with behavior—what we do with our bodies. In this conversation about honoring our human bodies, Sammie and Nancy explore tough questions that Christians face as we navigate what this means in light of our identities.
Professor Pearcey is the author of Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality,as well as The Toxic War on Masculinity, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners:How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."
Here are some things we mentioned in the episode:
- Love Thy Body - link to purchase!
- Professor Pearcey's Website
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It’s true that if we don’t seek to understand before we seek to equip and mentor, all our efforts will fall short.In today's episode of the podcast, Sammie covers some myths and relationships that this current generation of students tends to lean toward and believe.
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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As a former Planned Parenthood Director, Abby Johnson shares her testimony and discusses how we as a movement can better serve the needs of pregnant women amidst the new realities of living beyond Roe in America. She talks about how you can model God’s mercy to those who seem undeserving, and respond with grace when others err or offend, while bearing witness to God’s unrestrained compassion so that others may know Him.
Abby Johnson has always been fiercely determined to help women in need. This desire is what led Abby to a career with Planned Parenthood, our nation’s largest abortion provider, and caused her to flee the organization, becoming an outspoken advocate for the pro-life movement.
During her eight years with Planned Parenthood, Abby quickly rose through the organization’s ranks and became a clinic director. However, Abby became increasingly disturbed by what she witnessed. Abortion was a product Planned Parenthood was selling, not an unfortunate necessity they were fighting to decrease. Still, Abby loved the women that entered her clinic and her co-workers. Despite a growing unrest within her, she stayed on and strove to serve women in crisis.
All of that changed on September 26, 2009 when Abby was asked to assist with an ultrasound-guided abortion. She watched in horror as a 13 week baby fought for, and ultimately lost, its life at the hand of the abortionist.
At that moment, she fully realized what abortion actually was and what she had dedicated her life to. As it washed over Abby, a dramatic transformation had occurred. Desperate and confused, Abby sought help from a local pro-life group. She swore that she would begin to advocate for life in the womb and expose abortion for what it truly is.
Planned Parenthood did not take Abby’s departure sitting down. The organization is fully aware the workers who leave are their greatest threat. They took immediate action to silence Abby with a gag order and brought her to court. The lawsuit was quickly seen as the sham it was and it was ultimately thrown out of court.
The media was, and continues to be, intensely interested in Abby’s story as well as her continued efforts to advocate for the unborn and help clinic workers escape the abortion industry. She is a frequently requested guest on Fox News and a variety of other shows. She is also the author of the nationally best-selling book, Unplanned, which chronicles both her experiences within Planned Parenthood and her dramatic exit.
Today, Abby travels across the globe sharing her story, educating the public on pro-life issues, advocating for the unborn, and reaching out to abortion clinic staff who still work in the industry. She is the founder of And Then There Were None, a ministry designed to assist abortion clinic workers in transitioning out of the industry. To date, this ministry has helped over 630 workers leave the abortion industry. Abby lives in Texas with her husband and eight precious children.
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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Dr. Christina Francis discusses the importance and need for life-affirming healthcare for both the patient and the physician providing the care. She reviews the various ways reproductive health issues are impacted by policy, education, research, and the Hippocratic Oath, and why we must help protect healthcare providers right to conscientiously object to providing treatment that goes against their values.
Dr. Francis is a board-certified Ob/Gyn who currently works in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dr. Francis completed medical school at Indiana University in 2005 and completed her Ob/Gyn residency at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis in 2009. She is chair of the board of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) and a board member of Indiana Right to Life. As a professional speaker, Dr. Francis offers her medical expertise, knowledge of bioethics, and pro-life reasoning both here in the U.S. and around the globe. She has always had a passion for human rights, spending a significant portion of the past 10 years in various countries working tirelessly on behalf of women and children. Dr. Francis spent time working with orphans in Romania and Burma, discussing the importance of life issues with university students in Israel, and working for three years as the only OB/GYN at a mission hospital in rural Kenya. Dr. Francis left Kenya in 2014 to work on behalf of women and children in her home state and beyond who are often victims of the abortion industry, and to educate people on the greatest social injustice of our time.
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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Once we understand the depth and breadth of the problems we face as the Church in defining the value of humanity, Dr. Trueman will share strategies and tools he believes the Church can employ to respond to the cultural upheaval we encounter daily. He will discuss how understanding what it means to be a created human being, and employing the creeds, the Anglican Catechism, and the counsel of God can equip believers to respond with love to our neighbors with different worldviews. Both Keynotes will feature time for Q & A.
Carl is a Christian theologian and ecclesiastical historian. He was Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he held the Paul Woolley Chair of Church History. In 2018 Trueman resigned his position at Westminster to become a full-time undergraduate professor at Grove City College, serving as Full Professor in their Department of Biblical and Religious Studies.
Among Trueman's books are John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man, The Creedal Imperative, Fools Rush in Where Monkeys Fear to Tread: Taking Aim at Everyone, and Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative.In 2020, Trueman published what is probably his most popular and widely read book: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution. His most recent book, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution, is a condensed version of his previous book. He contributes to First Things (Journal of Religion and Public Life) blogs regularly at Reformation21 and co-hosts the Mortification of Spin podcast.
Trueman is also an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
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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On today's episode of the podcast, we hear from Lisa Rowe as part of our first series of Summit talks from the January events that Anglicans For Life puts on in conjunction with the March for Life! Stay tuned for all of them - seriously, I know they will bless you and educate you - and hopefully inspire you - in the next few weeks!
One in four women and one in five men experience abortion by the age of 45, and more than half identify as Christians. Both may experience grief, depression, and other painful emotions after abortion, and both can find healing and forgiveness when they are understood and have help navigating their feelings. Churches can help by focusing on the individuals who have been impacted by abortion, being the compassionate heart of Jesus for them, and connecting them to healing, so they find hope and forgiveness. Lisa will share a simple four-step process for compassionately and effectively talking with someone who has experienced or been impacted by abortion. She will also discuss who has abortions, risk factors, and lived experiences that often play a role when facing unintended pregnancy.
Lisa Rowe, who is at the forefront of the Abortion Healing movement, is a LCSW in private practice, co-author of Unraveled Roots, and CEO of Support After Abortion. Lisa has spent the last two decades equipping and empowering thousands of at-risk children, hurting adults, and broken families to find hope, healing, and restoration. Her areas of expertise include healing from foster care, teen parenting, unexpected pregnancies, abortion, addiction, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, codependency, and divorce. Lisa's passion for revealing the root of dysfunctional behavior and helping people find freedom from early childhood trauma is evident in her own life, the lives she helps lead, her public speaking engagements, and the program model she has and continues to build to serve clients. Her clinical experience, coupled with her organizational leadership, has assisted government, nonprofit, and private organizations to grow their impact, increase their sustainability, and leave a national imprint.
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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Less than five years ago, questions like; What is a Woman? or What Does it Mean to be Human? had obvious and easy answers. But with the advent of artificial intelligence, abortion through birth, technology, the right to euthanasia, and a plethora of genders – defining and understanding the truth that human beings are sacred and made in the image of God got more than complicated! In this keynote address, Dr. Trueman will trace the evolution of the sexual mores and psychological identities that got us to where we are today.
Carl Trueman is a Christian theologian and ecclesiastical historian. He was Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he held the Paul Woolley Chair of Church History. In 2018 Trueman resigned his position at Westminster to become a full-time undergraduate professor at Grove City College, serving as Full Professor in their Department of Biblical and Religious Studies.
Among Trueman's books are John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man, The Creedal Imperative, Fools Rush in Where Monkeys Fear to Tread: Taking Aim at Everyone, and Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative.In 2020, Trueman published what is probably his most popular and widely read book: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution. His most recent book, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution, is a condensed version of his previous book. He contributes to First Things (Journal of Religion and Public Life) blogs regularly at Reformation21 and co-hosts the Mortification of Spin podcast.
Trueman is also an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
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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In today's episode, we talk to our friend Graham Zeiders about why he has chosen to make the trip the National March for Life for several years and how the March has inspired him to be active in his own community since returning home from the January pro-life events last January!
Graham's dad is a Rev. in the ACNA at a church in Virginia and he is a 17 year old senior. Graham is a competitive equestrian who was born into a Christian family - since he has gotten older, he's become more active in the pro-life movement, volunteering and becoming involved with his local pregnancy center.
We encourage you to follow our website https://www.afllifesummit.org/ for all the information on our January pro-life events and plan to join us next year! There is something for EVERYONE - students, parents, youth leaders, groups, and even people who are new to learning about the pro-life movement. We'd love to have you join us!
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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In today's episode of the You Were Made for More podcast, Sammie chats with husband and wife duo, John and Catherine O'Neill from Students for Life! John serves as the Diocesan and Church Outreach Coordinator at Students for Life of America, while Catherine spent a few years as the Executive Assistant to the President, Kristan Hawkins, and now works in development for SFLA while pursuing her master's degree. Both John and Catherine have different stories that led them to not only be pro-life but to commit their lives to advocating for life. John and Catherine got married this past April 15th and are expecting their first baby in March of 2024! What I love about their stories is how God has woven them together - individual and unique, but yet together and one.
We talk about how to speak up about your pro-life beliefs in today's culture - all while giving you practical resources to get equipped and go have those conversations in your own communities.
You'll hear us say this in the episode, but we truly believe it is so much more authentic to be living the Truth than to go along with what is popular or accepted - that's our hope for you after listening to this episode - that you would feel empowered to believe the Truth and communicate it well. Each and every one of you is called to MORE.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- John's Email Address: JONEILL@STUDENTSFORLIFE.ORG
- www.StudentsforLife.org/Start: This page features a step-by-step guide to starting a Students for Life group, beginning with an introductory email to Start@StudentsforLife.org.
- www.StudentsforLifeHQ.com: A digital pro-life resource library, Students for Life HQ is an excellent starting place for students and adults alike to become virtually educated on a wide range of pro-life topics. All of SFLA’s trainings, webinars, and many more videos are uploaded to this site and available by making a free account.
- www.StudentsforLifeHQ.com/FreeTraining: This is the digital form to request a free, in-person (or virtual) pro-life speaker through Students for Life.
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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On this episode of the podcast, we welcome Johnston Moore, who serves at Anglicans for Life as the Adoption/Orphan Care Consultant. He joined us last year on the podcast to discuss adoption, but this year, we're going to focus more on foster care ministry.
We talk about the current state of the foster system and the heart behind why pro-life ministries and foster care should inherently be linked. We even discuss how students can become involved.
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
- Johnston's Episode 2022
- The AFCARS Report 2021-2022
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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Hey, friends and listeners - we’re so glad you’re here joining us on the You Were Made for More podcast! On today’s episode, I really wanted to pop in and tell you about our January plans this year to honor and protect Life. We’re switching it up from previous years and excited for the new opportunity that we’ve been given to partner with another pro-life organization to really understand why God Himself values life.
This year, in conjunction with the March for Life, we’re inviting youth groups and families to join us at OneVoice D.C. on January 18, 2024 at the Westin, D.C. Downtown Hotel. Unsure of what OneVoice D.C. is? Join us on your favorite listening platform for today's conversation and learn more about how you, your family, and your youth group can get involved with The Radiance Foundation, Anglicans for Life, and the March for Life.
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
- AFL Summit Website
- The Radiance Foundation
- Dr. Christina Francis' episode of the YWMFM podcast
- OneVoice D.C.'s Facebook page
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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In today's episode of the podcast, Sammie interviews one of the creators of a pro-life club on Waynesburg University's campus about what you can do to change the landscape of your school or campus. It can take courage, boldness, and perseverance to step out into the current culture (even at a Christian university!) and stand for life, and Anna Rape has done it with grace. We're so excited to hear her testimony and about how God is using her where He has placed her!
Anna is a junior at WU who is studying psychology with a minor in biblical ministry studies. During her time at WU, she helped start the pro-life club from the ground up. She is the one of six siblings, just got engaged to her fiance, Seth, and is passionate about loving God and loving others!
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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“Dating intentionally.”If you are a single Christian, it’s something that you’ve probably heard mentioned at some point, and held up as the right way to go about dating. But what does it mean, and how do you go about dating intentionally? Even on our podcast, we talk about that phrase a lot… because as Christians, we should be super intentional - or thoughtful - about the way we interact with others. On this episode of the podcast, we're going to take the time and dissect what it can look like to be INTENTIONAL, without being INTENSE while you're navigating dating. 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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Anglicans For Life believes it is important to engage people (both students and adults) in educational opportunities that equip them to speak the truth about the Sanctity of Life in a culture that uses misinformation to mislead people about abortion. Today on the podcast, Georgette Forney, President of Anglicans for Life, is joining us to talk about where the pro-life movement is now, a year or so after the Dobbs decision marked the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and how you can get involved.
Don't forget to check out our Uprooting Lies and Planting the Truth initiative here!
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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Today's episode focuses on one of our favorite topics: motherhood!
In a culture that continually discusses motherhood as a “less than” role in society and oftentimes makes it difficult to think of motherhood as the sacred role that it is, it can be even more challenging to truly live out the pro-life ideals that you may have. One of our staff members at Anglicans for Life, Sydney, experienced this first hand as she faced an unplanned pregnancy as a teenager; here’s what she says about how becoming a mom has impacted her life and faith:
“Patience and understanding are mercies I experience every day as a mom. Before Lydia, I had neither, but motherhood forces you to slow down and look at all angles of a situation. My kids ( Lydia and Manny) teach me something about myself every day.
(When it comes to my oldest) The Lord has blessed me with my best friend. At the time, when I found out I was pregnant, I thought my life was over. But when Lydia came into the world — everything changed for the better. She gave me a completely different perspective on life that I am genuinely grateful for. God always knows what we need, and Lydia is proof of that.”
Sydney has years of experience within the communications and digital marketing space. She has worked in various industries such as government contracting, private security, and healthcare. She has helped organizations reach their target audiences and grow their online presence through purposeful content. In her spare time she coaches girls’ soccer and enjoys spending time with her family.
Despite all of the negative aspects you’ll hear from the culture about motherhood, our goal today is to highlight some of the positives. The organization ZERO TO THREE conducted a study with 2,200 parents and found that...
- 91% say parenting is their greatest joy.
- 70% say they feel their life started when they became a parent.
- 90% of dads say being a parent is their greatest joy.
- 73% of those men say their lives began when they became a dad.
It’s completely possible to LOVE being a mom of small children. But it takes intentionality - our prayer is that this episode would convict OR encourage you about what motherhood in today’s world is meant to look like.
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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On today's episode of the podcast, Sammie sits down with her husband to talk a little bit about what it looks like to follow the Lord in a Christian marriage. While no relationship is perfect, our hope is that by sharing our story on the podcast that it will allow other couples to apply what Scripture says about marriage to their own relationships in order to create healthy communication and systems to thrive as God intended male and female to do.
This is Ephesians 22-33. It says:
“Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, his body in his himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies, he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I’m saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”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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"In a world where we are so polarized… We ought to be really pro-options." - Dr. John Bruchalski
Dr. John Bruchalski is the Founder of Tepeyac OB/GYN, a pro-life, faith-based practice in Fairfax, Virginia serving women in the D.C. metropolitan area for over 25 years. Tepeyac’s unique model is the first of its kind to provide patients, including those who are uninsured or low income, with quality medical care of the highest life-affirming standards.
With many patients crossing state lines to receive care from Tepeyac’s team of board-certified physicians and midwives, Dr. Bruchalski and his team at Divine Mercy Carehelped create the Pro-Women’s Healthcare Centers (PWHC) network in 2018, which now consists of 12 certtified PWHCs in the United States.
Dr. John Bruchalski received his M.D. from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, AL in 1987. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Eastern Virginia Medical Center and the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Norfolk, Virginia in 1991. He received board certification in 1993.
During his training, Dr. Bruchalski performed abortions believing he was helping women. After a spiritual awakening, he realized abortion was not achieving freedom, health, and happiness for women. Dr. Bruchalski stopped performing abortions, returned to faith, and felt God’s call to start a medical practice that truly helped women.
Dr. Bruchalski’s story represents the struggle many Christian medical professionals face: the decision to go along to get along or to boldly stand out. His journey reveals the dark side of getting caught up in the OB/GYN status quo, the evils hidden in plain sight, and the dangers of remaining lukewarm in your faith. His memoir, Two Patients: My Conversion from Abortion to Life-Affirming Medicine (Ignatius Press) was released in October 2022.
Dr. Bruchalski is the proud recipient of the 2017 Life Hero Award and the 2022 Notre Dame Evangelium Vitae Medal. He now believes that there are two patients in the line of work that he does, and in our conversation we'll hear how he went from performing abortions to practicing life-affirming medicine.
Here are some things we cover in our conversation:
- What is perinatal hospice and what is its purpose?
- How do we partner with those experiencing infant loss?
- Resources for those seeking life-affirming OB care
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
- Benotafraid.net
- Sufficientgraceministries.org
- Perinatalhospice.org
- Embracinggraceva.org (VA residents)
- NowILayMeDownToSleep.org
- Perinatal hospice comprehensive care for the fetus with a lethal condition (Journal of Reproductive Medicine)
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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"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:
- Moms for Liberty Website
- Moms for Liberty - Chapter Finder
- Clay County Case
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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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:
- Rebecca's Website
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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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:
- What is the ySUMMIT?
- Essential Speakers & Real Talk
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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"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 SpeaksBook
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.
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What does it look like to be marching into the post-Roe America?
I wanted to pop into your feed this month and personally invite you each to join us this January for the 50th annual March for Life and our event, the ySUMMIT!
The ySUMMIT is the event Anglicans for Life holds every year in conjunction with the March for Life. Through worship, fellowship, and engaging speakers, we’ll connect the Gospel with how to affirm life, so that we can make a difference for His Kingdom here on earth by being the light in the post-Roe world.
While the Dobbs decision in June was a historic milestone for those who believe that every life is sacred, we will not rest until legal protection is provided from conception to natural death for every human being. Since 1983, Abundant Life’s parent organization, Anglicans for Life has worked to uphold the Sanctity of Life by working to make abortion unthinkable and unnecessary, and we won’t give up until we have that victory.
Here is how to find out more about the ySUMMIT registration:
- ySUMMIT website
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:
We're so excited to have Dr. Christina Francis with us on the podcast today! Dr. Francis is a board-certified Ob/Gyn who currently works in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after completing medical school at Indiana University in 2005. She is chair of the board of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) and a board member of Indiana Right to Life. As a professional speaker, Dr. Francis offers her medical expertise, knowledge of bioethics, and pro-life reasoning both here in the U.S. and around the globe. She has always had a passion for human rights, spending a significant portion of the past 10 years in various countries working tirelessly on behalf of women and children. Dr. Francis spent time working with orphans in Romania and Burma, discussing the importance of life issues with university students in Israel, and working for three years as the only Ob/Gyn at a mission hospital in rural Kenya. Dr. Francis left Kenya in 2014 to work on behalf of women and children in the United States who are often victims of the abortion industry, and to educate people on the greatest social injustice of our time.
This episode is all about debunking some myths you may have heard since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June. Since abortion rights have been sent back to the states to decide, there has been a ton of misinformation circulating that women facing high-risk pregnancies and ectopic pregnancies will not be able to receive care for life-threatening conditions if abortion is illegal in that state. Dr. Francis shares her expertise with us, and trust me, you do not want to miss this! We answer questions like:
- Is abortion really essential to healthcare?
- What are ectopic pregnancies?
- Does post-Roe state legislation outlaw/criminalize treatment for ectopic pregnancies?
We hope this episode encourages you to speak up against the false narrative that abortion is healthcare and to educate yourselves about women's health before posting or sharing.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- AAPLOG's website
- AAPLOG's Instagram
- Dr. Francis' Website
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 this episode of the You Were Made for More Podcast, Alexa (or Lex as her people call her!) is joining us today for a conversation about being proactive about creating a healthy marriage relationship. Lex is a wife, mom, and has a background as a mental health counselor who is dedicated to promoting client welfare, dignity, and wellness. Through her education, she has been trained in individual therapy, group therapy, managing cases, and treatment planning, as she holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Waynesburg University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science from The Ohio State University. I asked Lex to join us for this conversation because I know her professionally AND personally, and I’ve seen her live out her values in her own relationships as well as helping clients walk through tough relationships and navigate hardships.
As we mentioned, this episode will focus on a how to be proactive about creating a healthy marriage & what it looks like to heal from and confront our own trauma to make our relationships better. God created marriage and it is good, but there can be so much brokenness surrounding the idea of being with another broken person forever - but through hard work, humility, and honesty, marriage can be one of the most life-giving gifts we’re given on this side of Heaven.
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 this episode, Brooke talks to us about what it looks like to have healthy relationships and how we can date "well," even though the Bible doesn't explicitly talk about the topic of dating. Sammie met Brooke when they were both serving on the Pittsburgh Essential Speakers team in high schools around the city of Pittsburgh! They both have a passion for helping teens navigate through the tricky waters of dating in today's culture, while also trying to be faithful and follow the Lord.
Brooke Farrell currently serves as the Middle School Director at North Way Christian Community in Wexford, PA. Brooke grew up in the Pittsburgh area and is a graduate of Geneva College with a degree in Communications and a concentration in Public Relations. She enjoys time with her two small kiddos and husband, and enjoys her side business of impersonating the Disney character, Elsa, from "Frozen" at birthday parties! You will regularly find Brooke with her nose in a book or laughing with her four sisters.
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:
Contentment. Contentment is trusting that God has the best in mind for you no matter where you are in life.
Sarah Parker is a 34-year-old professional living in Columbia, South Carolina. She graduated from Clemson in 2011. She owns a small business and loves serving her hometown! Covenant Services is a female-owned and led business, with a fully-female staff. She is an aunt to three nephews and a niece who she adores. Sarah Parker is passionate about Jesus and showing others that the “not yet married” life is not second best. She loves people, all things Clemson, her German Shepard Attila, and her double name! This conversation with Sarah discusses topics like singleness, living out God's call on your life, and how to trust God in seasons where you can't really see Him working. We loved having Sarah Parker on the #YouWereMadeForMorePodcast and we're so excited for you to hear our chat!
Here are some things we mentioned during this episode:
- Singled Out For Good
- Sarah Parker's Business
- Sarah Parker's Instagram (You'll want to follow her! Promise!)
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 unique episode will feature a discussion on what it means to have a Biblical perspective regarding sexual purity, and we're so excited to let you hear this conversation. Today's host will be Sammie's husband, Juan!
You've heard Sammie mention Juan before, but a little bit of background on him is that he graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and now serves as an Admissions Counselor for Waynesburg University. After leaving South Florida in 2015 and spending some time in Philadelphia, Juan ended up in Waynesburg, PA in 2017 to serve as youth director, where he met Sammie on a mission trip. Juan has a passion for others knowing and following Jesus and is currently pursuing his MBA, while raising his daughter, Ofie.
Brendan Byham studied Christian Ministry at Geneva College in Beaver Falls Pennsylvania where he received his Bachelor's in Christian Ministries. Since then, he has married his wife, Rhetta, received his M. Div, and has served as a pastor in Jefferson, PA. Brendan loves to experience God through the Scriptures, and he and his wife Rhetta are expecting a baby girl this summer.
And finally, you'll hear from Mike Baily. For 18 years, Mike Baily has been helping businesses at Baily Insurance Agency and serves currently as a fourth-generation owner. Mike really strives to serve people in every aspect of his life - including his business. Mike has been deeply invested in the community of Waynesburg for years and spends his free time raising his eleven children with his amazing wife, Cari. That's right - 11 children - ages 7 months to 20 years old! He has discipled his kids faithfully and many of them are now following Jesus on their own. Mike and Cari have served as mentors to and are Sammie and Juan's dear friends.
Here are some topics the men will cover in this episode: what the Bible says about sexual purity, sex and marriage, sexual sin, sexual attraction and orientation, and teaching kids about sexual purity.
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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At Abundant Life, we're passionate about equipping students to believe that they were made for more - that their identity changes everything - the way they live, the choices they make, and how they live into relationships. That they were made for more.
Recently, an article was published by Caleb Morell critiquing how Christians often talk about identity, under the provocative title, “Stop Finding Your Identity in Christ.”
Here's what we cover in this episode:
1. Is “finding your identity in Christ" unbiblical?
2. How do we rightfully connect our identity with the identity of creation - in other words, how do we rightfully connect our identity with the Creator, without turning into a postmodern attempt at self-discovery?
3. How should our realization of our identity in Christ change our relationships with other people?
Some key takeaways from our conversation:
- We need to teach the creation story as if it is definitive about what it is to be human.
- WHAT DOES THE IMAGE OF GOD MEAN IN LIGHT OF THE LARGER STORY? That is the question we have to hone in on. For many, the "image of God" is a piece of trivia and not a deep reflection of Scriptural truth.
John Stonestreet serves as President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview - the Colson Center exists to help you understand your place in God's story and serve God with clarity, confidence, and courage. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. Before coming to the Colson Center in 2010, John served in various leadership capacities with Summit Ministries and was on the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College (TN). John has co-authored four books: A Practical Guide to Culture, Restoring All Things, Same-Sex Marriage, and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN). He and his wife, Sarah, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO. Connect with John at BreakPoint.org, or follow him on Twitter (@jbstonestreet).
Here are some things we mentioned during this episode:
- The Colson Center
- Strange New World by Carl R. Trueman
- John's response to Morell's article
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:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
In today's episode, we have the opportunity to hear from Georgette Forney, the president of Anglicans for Life. She is also the co-founder of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, an effort to raise awareness about the physical, spiritual, and emotional harm abortion does to women and to let those who are hurting from abortion know help is available. Georgette had an abortion at age sixteen and later experienced healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation after going through an abortion recovery program. Through that, she developed a greater understanding of the negative impact abortion has on women and the need to highlight the issue as an abortion survivor.
Georgette is going to share with her heart on why teaching kids about the sanctity or sacredness of life is important and practical ways to do so. You can read more about her organization (which is Abundant Life's parent organization) and her background by visiting the website below! Georgette has deep and intimate knowledge of what the Bible says about these topics and she's walked through them herself as a mom & wife.
Here are some things we mentioned during this episode:
- Anglicans for Life website
- Anglicans for Life "Just Like Me" Resource
- Charlotte Lozier Institute's Fetal Development Resource
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 bonus episode features Dave Wright, who currently serves as the Coordinator for Student Ministries for The Anglican Diocese of SC. Dave has a rich history in youth ministry ranging all the way from Cheshire, England, to the suburbs of Chicago. Dave has led youth ministry training in the UK, Canada, and across the USA, and written numerous articles for youth ministry publications in the UK and USA.
After seeing Dave's passion for intergenerational youth ministry and believing that it really adds value to the life of the Church, Sammie asked him to come on and join us to share how the church can foster these relationships and provide us with practical steps to do just that. There are many decisions in the life of the church that needs to be guided by the importance of these relationships, and it is only through education that we can start moving in the right direction. I'm so thankful for Dave and his wisdom. If you are listening and you're interested in connecting with him, his contact info can be found in the links below!
Here are some things we mentioned during this episode:
- Dave's Blog
- Engage Website
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 this episode, Sammie talks about what it can look like to create a biblical family culture and gives practical tips to implement these in your own home. We take the time to break down and define "family culture," "biblical family culture," and the hallmark between the two.
"This is, perhaps, the greatest signature quality of a biblical family culture – willingness to flex and change as we are convicted by the Word and the Spirit."
Here are some things we mentioned during this episode:
- Intergenerational Ministry Blog
- Jefferson Bethke's Book - Take Back Your Family
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 this episode, you'll hear from Sammie as she talks to students who attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C. in January 2022.
She gives a rundown about why our relationships, our sexuality, and every part of who we are were made by God - which is precisely why it matters so much how we live and what we stand for.
If you're interested in learning more about the 2023 March for Life and ySummit - follow us on social media! We'll post all the info about registration and updates there. We'd love to have you join us!
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 today's episode, we're talking about why our worth is SO important in determining how we live in our relationships, who we are, what we believe, and the decisions we make.
Cynthia J. Wood, J.D., serves as the National Operations Coordinator for Feminists for Life of America - their goal is to make sure every woman knows the truth - that they deserve better than abortion.
Prior to FFL, she worked for the federal government for 35 years as a trainer for numerous workshops, including Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH), Effective Communication, and team-building and leadership workshops. Cynthia received a law degree from University of Houston Law Center in 1999. She has been a Bar Member of the D.C. Court of Appeals, Virginia, and Florida. She is married and has four children.
Here's some things we mention in the episode:
- Feminists for Life
- Preamble of the Declaration of Independence
- Link to Cynthia's Teaching
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:
On today's episode of the podcast, Sammie chats with Madison McQuary, who is a Christian, creator, writer, High School Family & Consumer Science Teacher, and a passionate fashion blogger! Madison shared an Instagram post that caught our attention and we couldn't help but reach out to her to be on the show.
In today's episode, we talk about some "unpopular opinions!" Here's what we cover:
-"Cancel culture" and the danger of censorship
-Why open dialogue is important
-Abortion, freedom, and practical ways to give women support, hope, and encouragement
-Human trafficking
-The real and scary nature of women's healthcare
-Modern-day feminism and why it's harmful
-Roe v. Wade and the sexual revolution - let's get educated about these!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Madison's Instagram (@missmadisonlynn)
- Madison's website
- Sharon McMahon's website - the best site for nonpartisan government facts, learning about controversial issues in order to form your own educated opinions
- Human Trafficking Resources
- Operation Underground Railroad
- Exodus Cry
- International Justice Mission
- Love146
- Business of Being Born Documentary
- Business of Birth Control Documentary
- Book: Subverted: How I Helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women's Movement
- Movie: Roe v. Wade
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 this episode of the podcast, you will be #blessed to hear from my dear friend, Georgia Scott. Georgia and I met while doing the Pittsburgh Fellows program, but she currently is living in Sewickley, PA and is a graduate student studying at Geneva College. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. She loves reading a good book, Jesus, chips and salsa, and spending time with the people I love. Her goal in life (which I love!) is why I asked her to be on the podcast! She desires to walk alongside people as they discover their path to flourishing, and in a world that can seem so very heavy on most days, I wanted her to encourage you in your own path to flourishing. Turn your volume up and enjoy our conversation - let's "have some fun & demystify mental health," as Georgia would say. ✨
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Georgia's blog and website
- Whole Sealing Healing Instagram: @wholesoulhealingco
- Georgia's post about body image
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:
"During my mission trip to India, I kept a detailed diary of the events, feelings, and experiences of my time. When I was writing I thought I would use the entries as notes for future blogs or maybe a book. So I wrote honestly and vulnerably, not expecting anyone to ever read it. But when I came home and years passed I realized that I would probably never take the time to write the blogs and I thought that would be the end of it. But this Spring I started reading my journal again and I realized that I wrote the entries as if I was blogging. They were blogs to God, and to myself. Some were prayers and some were lists. I realized that I didn’t need to change what I originally wrote to make it beautiful, the beauty was already there because it was authentic. So I have decided to publish my journal. All the vulnerable and cringe-worthy parts as well. The value of that summer is the truth of what I saw, felt, and experienced without any filters or edits. So here is my heart from India, with all the raw and beautiful parts intact."
-Lindsey's book description
Lindsey is a dear friend from my time completing the Pittsburgh Fellows program, a lover of Jesus, AND the interim youth director at St. Stephen's Church in Sewickley, PA. She has a heart for missions, people, and God, and it shines through in everything she does. I'm so grateful she is sharing the story of her book with us on the podcast today. Can't wait for you guys to hear it!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Lindsey's book
- Lindsey's blog and website
- Lindsey's Instagram: @lindseyreich
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:
Melissa Giles is the Marketing and Development Coordinator for Human Life Alliance, a nonprofit, pro-life informational organization dedicated to creating a culture in which all human life, from the moments of fertilization to natural death, is respected and cherished. Distribution of HLA’s compelling materials have reached 232.4 million people over the past 31 years in all 50 U.S. states, 88 different countries, and all seven continents.
Missy graduated from Eastern Michigan University with BA in Entrepreneurship. She founded a professional wedding photographer company and most recently served as a missionary for a non-profit Christian organization at the University of Michigan.
She also has a diverse background working as a professional wedding photographer, and nonprofit mission work with college students. Currently in her role at HLA, she leads students through asking hard questions like... “If you’re pro-life, why? If you’re going to take the stance of being pro-choice, can you back that up?” These are all important questions to ask ourselves, and we have to be able and willing to ask tough questions in order to be educated about cultural issues that can so easily divide us. We’re going to chat with Missy about what it looks like to become educated on these issues and why we should be passionate about them. What I love about Missy’s story is that she’s able to see now how various jobs aren’t “lost” - that there was purpose in her faithfully going where God called her for a certain season because there was purpose in each one. Let’s dive into this conversation!
Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast:
- Human Life Alliance Website (remember, they produce materials that can teach you 99% of the info you need to know about the culture of life! check it out today!)
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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“...now that I am a mother, I understand what Mother's Day is about: it's about looking through our lives and recognizing the act of mothering everywhere we see it, and more than that, recognizing that when any of us mother-- when we listen, nurture, nourish, protect--we're doing sacred work.”
-Shauna Neiquest
This episode is FOR moms, ABOUT moms, and HONORING moms. We're so grateful for all the mommas who mother us. I pray this episode encourages you no matter what your emotions about this day are - my goal is to honor everyone's story, to spur you on in healing, and to remind you that the Gospel is for you.
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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Easter is the reason we have hope; AND the reason we have access to Jesus. God has taught me so much through this Lent season and He impressed upon me that He is who He says He is. It got me thinking: what is Easter REALLY about and what does it mean to us? Not just on Easter Sunday - but all the days afterwards?
I don’t want to forget what happened in those next 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead. He showed up in mysterious and miraculous ways, teaching and preparing his friends to do greater things than he did.
“Jesus did countless things that I haven’t included here. And if every one of his works were written down and described one by one, I suppose that the world itself wouldn’t have enough room to contain the books that would have to be written!” John 21:25 TPT
These post-Easter days are sacred days. My prayer is that this message would prevent us from moving on so quickly and missing out on what Jesus wants to do TODAY.
Also, listen for an update on my (Sammie's) current season of life and some changes that you may see around here at the You Were Made for More Podcast! So thankful for you guys - we truly could not do this without you. 👏🏻
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:
Finding wholeness in your life is a continuous journey that can see hardships and healing. Discovering your identity in Christ and the worth your life is given will be the most rewarding experience. Join us as we discover tools and truths to walk in wholeness, worth and love - all of which are so important.
Kristie serves as the youth director at the Church of St. Clement in El Paso, TX. Her heart’s desire is to see this generation of “youth” on fire for Jesus. Isaiah 61:1-3 has been near and dear to her heart throughout the past several years; to see chains broken and captives liberated, for crowns of beauty to be placed on the heads of our youth instead of a sack of ashes. Kristie has personal experience with what it really means to struggle over sin and seek healing because of the impact that it had on her life, her relationships, and her identity. Kristie has been married to her high school sweetheart, Mark, for three and a half years.
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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Toni is someone who believes in the power of relationships and is passionate about sharing that with the next generation. She is vulnerable and real when sharing her own story of relationships, sex, and how God has redeemed her past. The thing we love about her story is the fact that she doesn’t overlook the hard work of healing that she needed to put in to set a new foundation for herself. Toni first and foremost wants to make sure that every person knows how to handle forgiveness, receive redemption, and look at mistakes through the lens of the Gospel. Toni speaks profoundly about love, identity, the sanctity of life, and how they all connect together.
Toni is an international speaker on the topic of abortion and healthy relationships. She is the founder of the program Relationships Matter which seeks to educate the youth on the degradation of sex in our culture while equipping them to walk out healthy relationships to not only protect themselves but honor their spouse in the future. Because of her background, she understands the power of overcoming a past and setting new foundations. Her goal is to educate and expose the lies of abortion by sharing her own story. She is a graduate of West Chester University, with a master’s in professional counseling from Clark’s Summit University. She is married to a wonderful man and blessed with 4 beautiful children.
Make sure to check out Toni's first appearance 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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Abortion is a lot more than a political topic for debate - unfortunately, a lot of our society thinks otherwise. On this episode of the You Were Made for More Podcast, we will hear Kristan Hawkins' message from the ySummit 2021 as she presents the key facts about abortion that each person needs to know, which will help us understand why abortion is the key social issue of our day and what the role of God's people is in helping to abolish it.
If you don’t know Kristan, she is a Christian, wife, mother, grassroots activist, author, speaker, Podcast host and a human rights advocate. You probably know her as the President of Students for Life of America, where she’s been doing activism and leading for 14 years now. She has built up a small organization made up of a few dozen student groups scattered around the country to a coordinated national team serving more than 1,200 Students for Life chapters in all fifty states.
Kristan’s expertise includes abortion, feminism, disability advocacy, and healthcare, as she navigates the social conditions and public policy that impacts the human rights issue of our day. We’re going to hear from her about everything you need to know about abortion – the facts, the misconceptions, the important arguments. Kristan is so passionate about life, firmly believes that all children have value, no matter the perception of their abilities – something I love about her is that she doesn’t just spend her time working for this cause, but she’s living it out, as a mother of four children, two of whom have cystic fibrosis. Her goal is to make sure that millennials and generation Z recognize the horrors of abortion for women and their preborn infants, and I hope that after hearing her, you’ll walk away with that as your goal too.
Here are some things we mention in this episode:
- Kristan's Social Media Accounts (@Kristan Hawkins)
- Students for Life of America
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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Ryan Bomberger is an Emmy® Award-winning creative professional, international public speaker, columnist, factivist, and author of the powerful book, Not Equal: Civil Rights Gone Wrong. He is also the co-founder of RadianceFoundation.org, a life-affirming organization based on the belief that every human life has purpose. Ryan has a rather unique perspective of the innate nature of purpose. He is one of ten children who were adopted and loved in a racially diverse family of fifteen. Today, as an adoptee and adoptive father with his wife Bethany, he enjoys boldly illuminating the intrinsic worth we all possess.
He and his wife, Bethany, founded The Radiance Foundation to extensively research and creatively present challenging social issues through ad campaigns, multimedia talks, fearless journalism, and compassionate community outreaches.
What I love most about Ryan is that his life really does defy the myth of the “unwanted” child – his birth mother was raped yet courageously gave him a chance to live. Today on the podcast we are sharing Ryan's talk from the ySummit 2021 (which we held in conjunction with Anglicans for Life and the March for Life, virtually!). Ryan is one of the best of the best and we couldn't help but share his talk with you all, about exposing lies that are rooted in what we believe about humanity and the worth of all human beings.
Here are some things we mention in this episode:
- The Radiance Foundation
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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Today, we’re going to have a conversation that all the parents who are listening are going to want to TURN UP the volume on, save, and listen to again and again. One of my greatest friends (and also mentors), Jenn Fossee, is joining us for a conversation about all things motherhood and ministry and I am so, so excited for this! Jenn has a contagious personality, she lights up any room she walks into, and she’s one of the most faithful followers of Jesus that I have ever met. I met Jenn through the first church community I really ever had my freshman year of college and we instantly clicked - I asked her to get coffee and I think we chatted for over 3 hours. Since then, I’ve lived with her family, I’ve done life alongside of her, and we’ve been a part of so many different seasons of each other's lives. I really love her so much and she’s taught me so much as I’ve watched her go through trials + joys, always seeking Jesus in the midst of them.
I’m excited for you to hear this convo - we’re going to talk about so many things! Jenn is the mom of two girls, now 19 and 16, and has been a single parent for the majority of their lives. She also has faithfully led children's and youth ministries in a wide variety of capacities, both vocationally and on a volunteer basis. In today's episode, we talk about what it looks like to love teens - whether they are your own, or teens who are a part of your community or ministry - faithfully and consistently and how to tackle challenges that arrive.
Here are some things we mention in this episode:
- Jenn's blog on YouWereMadeForMore.Org
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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If you’ve survived sorrow, have felt the pain of grief and know what it’s like to lose something: a dream, a loved one, etc., this episode is for you. Kim Erickson joins us in today’s episode to chat through practical ways to survive sorrow, seek God in the middle of it, and move urgently in obedience through the grieving process. Kim speaks to the one that hopes to share their story of sorrow, how to share it well, and what it looked like for her to get to the place that she is today.
I’ll leave the specifics up to Kim to share with us, but what you need to know is that Kim met the Lord after the sudden death of her young son in 2008. Her testimony is beautiful, and speaks of how God met her in a place of deep grief and sorrow that unfortunately way too many parents understand. In Kim’s story, her experience allowed her to see God with a new perspective, and now, she’s following Him faithfully and sharing her story to help others struggling with grief find hope and light in the middle of it. When Kim’s was first finding her own way through her grief, she found plenty of resources for grieving. She says what she really needed, though, "was someone who would give me advice for living, not just grieving . . . How do I get through the grocery store without crying? What do I do with my son’s things? When will my mind stop replaying the emergency room scene?"
Those questions caused her to dive into the Bible, and now, ten years from that moment, she has written a book, Surviving Sorrow, that is blessing so many people.
I’m so excited and can’t wait for you to hear this conversation - let’s jump in.
Here are some things we mention in this episode:
- Kim's Book / Surviving Sorrow: A Mother's Guide to Living with Loss
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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Today, we’re going to have a conversation with Precious Grieco about relationships, joy, and faithfulness, as well as where the Lord is leading her currently (trust me, I love her story and we can all learn something from her joy!). Cessie is 24 years old and she’s currently working at an elementary school while completing her masters in elementary education at Western Governors University. She also loves videography and is so creative behind the camera. Cessie and I went to the same high school, and although we weren’t friends, we did have mutual friends, which is how I know her and why I asked her to be on the podcast. I was scrolling through Instagram one say and saw that she had created an Instagram called “milknhoneystateofmind” - an Instagram that is all about living in the fullness & freedom of God’s promises and making that known to other people. That’s when I knew I had to ask her to be on this podcast. There are so many times that I’ve been so encouraged by other people’s stories, and that’s exactly what this is - I hope our conversation serves as an encouragement to you to lean in, listen, and seek what God has for you, no matter what season you’re in.
Here are some things we mention in this episode:
- Milknhoney Instagram
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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Today, we’re going to have a really important conversation - a conversation about depression, faith, coping, counseling, and so much more. I really believe that this conversation is for everyone, whether you have personally struggled with depression or not, I bet that you are close to somebody who has. I never really had real experience with depression until I was in my early 20’s - my first real exposure to it was when I was still dating my husband. He shared with me that he has struggled with depression for the majority of his life, and we spent the better half of our dating relationship and engagement navigating what that looked like for us. My second exposure to depression was more first-hand, when I struggled with depression as a result of birth control that I went on after we got married. It really seeped into every part of my life - especially my marriage. Thankfully for me, it was hormonally-based, so after I went off of the birth control, my mood and brain activity returned to normal - but, it did give me an inside look at the difficulty of dealing with depression.
I’ve become even more convinced since then that this conversation, whether you are a parent, teen, or youth leader, is so, so important. Nobody is immune to depression, anxiety, or loneliness, especially in these season of isolation that so many in our society are experiencing. I’m thankful that today, my friend Kristen is joining us to share her testimony and experience with depression and what her journey has looked like throughout that season and beyond. Kristen is a 2018 graduate of Waynesburg University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. She now lives in Waynesburg and is a homeowner in the town she has come to love. She also serves on the admissions team at Waynesburg University. Let’s jump into my convo with her!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- National Suicide Prevention Line
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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Hey guys! I am so excited to be back with you for season 3 of the You Were Made for More podcast… this time with some exciting news to share & some big changes happening in the Gallo household over the past 6 weeks! My husband Juan and I welcomed out sweet baby girl, Ofelia Esther into the world on August 24, 2020 at 5:17 PM and she truly is the perfect addition to our family that we didn’t even know we needed. We're just in awe with her and so thankful that the Lord has allowed us to be her parents on this side of Heaven.
Throughout my postpartum season and adjusting to my new life and our new life as a family, the Lord has been teaching me a lot of lessons. In this episode, I wanted to share with you some of those lessons - we talk about repentance, refreshment, and humility over stubbornness through looking at the book of Judges. I really believe this is such a timely message not only for me personally, but also for our nation, our society, and the world.
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19Let's lean in together and trust that through everything, if we lean in and take a posture of repentance, we’ll come out of it with purity of heart - refreshed and aware that the Spirit is working wonders in our lives.
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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We can't believe season 2 of the podcast has come to an end! To wrap up the season, we're talking about launching into the next season of life unafraid, learning (and relearning) what is looks like to follow and trust God, and we're updating you about Sammie's life and all the exciting things to come not only for her family, but also for the You Were Made for More Podcast! We hope you'll join us in trusting that the best is yet to come & we hope you know that we are so thankful to our listeners for all of the love, support, and prayers!
Here are some things that Sammie's loving currently that we mentioned in the episode:
- "Stepping Out When You Are Afraid" (You Were Made for More Blog)
- Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons
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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Today, we have the opportunity to hear from Frederica Mathewes-Green on the subject of feminism, its history, and how it has impacted our current culture, especially as we talk about the sexual revolution and women. Frederica Mathewes-Green is an American author and speaker in the national forum on topics related to Eastern Orthodox belief and practice. She holds a degree in theological studies from Virginia Theological Seminary. She lives with her husband, the Rev. Gregory Mathewes-Green, in Johnson City, TN. Their three children are grown and married, and they have fourteen grandchildren.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- The Jesus Prayer by Frederica Mathewes-Green
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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Disclaimer:
This episode contains an abortion testimony and description that may be triggering to some women or men who have not went through healing. For more information on abortion recovery and finding resources near you, please visit https://anglicansforlife.org/2018/05/10/anglicans-action-abortion-healing/, or reach out to Toni personally as she invites you to do in the episode.Today, we’re going to have the opportunity to hear a conversation that I had with Toni McFadden. Toni is someone who believes in the power of relationships, and is passionate about sharing that with the next generation. She is vulnerable and real when sharing her own story of relationships, sex, and how God has redeemed her past - but something I love about her story is the fact that she doesn’t overlook the hard work of the healing that she needed to put in to set a new foundation for herself. Toni first and foremost wants to make sure that every person knows how to handle forgiveness, receive redemption, and look mistakes in the face without allowing them to hold us back. I’m excited for you to hear my conversation with Toni - give the episode a listen and let us know how her story has encouraged you!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Relationships Matter
- Toni's Testimony
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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In part 2 of this series on "Why Talking With Your Kids About Sex Is So Important & How To Do It," we are going to hit on some practical "how to" tips of having "the talk" with your children and students. The sex talk is something every parent dreads at one point or another, but the truth is, it needs to be an ongoing conversation and not a one-time "let's get this over with" conversation.
I'll tell some personal stories I have of work in youth ministry and I'll also give five suggestions that you can start TODAY and hopefully will make the whole process less intimidating for you.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- HARVEST USA Resources
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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Most importantly, remember that the Holy Spirit is alive and active and will send a profound and wonderful message to your children, despite you feeling like you did a good enough job or not. Be encouraged by that today!
In part 1 of this series on "Why Talking With Your Kids About Sex Is So Important & How To Do It," we are going to hit on the "why" of having "the talk" with your children and students. The sex talk is something every parent dreads at one point or another, but the truth is, it needs to be an ongoing conversation and not a one-time "let's get this over with" conversation.
On today’s podcast episode, we’re going to cover first why it’s important to have these conversations with your children in the first place and why we should all care about them deeply. Part two of the podcast will be more about the practical application of HOW to have those conversations and what they look like, so stay tuned for that!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- HARVEST USA Resources
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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Today, we’re going to get a special treat of chatting with Laura Perry. Laura is someone who knows firsthand what it’s like to struggle with gender identity. Some of her childhood and teenage experiences molded her as a young woman, just like they do for all of us - but in her case, she began to believe it was a disgusting, filthy, worthless thing to be a female - so, the logical option for her was to begin the journey of “transitioning” into a man.
She spent nine years as a transgender, but after years of hormone therapies, a double mastectomy/chest reconstruction, the removal of all female organs, and all of the legal name and gender status changes, she was empty and broken. During this time, she was invited to a bible study and ended up giving her life to Jesus, and after that, she really became aware with and started to wrestle with who God had made her to be.
Today, Laura will tell you that she’s been transformed, and for the first time in her life, because of her IDENTITY in Christy, she loves being a woman. Laura is the author of a book called Transgender to Transformed where she testifies through raw, honest emotion, about the common deceptions of the transgender lifestyle. She exposes the frustration and hopelessness of living with a self-created identity that so many others shy away from admitting, let alone talking about. In her book, you’ll find practical insights into the mind of a transgender that will help you understand how to better love them, how to handle loved ones who are transitioning, and hope for those who are struggling with gender dysphoria. I’m excited for you to hear Laura’s story from her words, so let's dive in!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- First Stone Ministries
- Laura's Website
- Walt Heyer's Book, Trans Life Survivors
- Matthew 16:24-26
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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Today, we’re going to have the opportunity to hear a conversation that I had with Robin Turner, who serves as the director of children’s ministry at St. Stephen’s Church in Sewickley, PA, about birth control, alternatives to traditional birth control, and what her husband and she have implemented in their own marriage.
I think this is an important conversation to have because women's health is an important topic to be informed on and testimonies can be powerful! Women’s health is so important, and unfortunately, we are getting a wide variety of messages about what is “best” when it comes to our bodies. If you’ve never heard of natural family planning, or you’ve heard of it and you feel like it’s some outdated idea where you just count the days between your menstrual cycles, this episode is for you! Natural family planning is proven to be a great alternative to hormonal birth control, involves putting no chemicals and hormones in your body, and doesn’t interrupt the natural work of ovulation that God has created our bodies to do. Women’s health is a complex arena, but the earlier you get informed about what’s out there, the sooner you can start praying and discerning about what is best for you! If you've had issues with hormonal birth control like many women have, and you feel like there is no real option, there is - and that’s what today’s episode is all about.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Blog, Fertility Awareness & Women's Health: What You Should Know About The Birth Control Pill
- Basal Body Thermometer
- Taking Charge of Your Fertility Book
- Episode 14 Lila Rose Show
- FACTS Website
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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Mother's Day 2020 is right around the corner! This conversation on today's episode with Ashley Setterlind could not be more perfectly timed. Ashley is a follower of Jesus, pastor’s wife, mom, and worship leader.
She’s also the creator of an online community called Deeply Rooted Motherhood, where she believes that life is better when we encourage each other instead of compare each other. She hopes through writing and social media, moms can lean into the safety that comes from being vulnerable and imperfect together. I love that Ashley believes in the power of motherhood and believes that it was created to glorify God. We talk about parenting, marriage, the Gospel, and how all of those things fit together. I really believe we need more mom’s like her. Ashley is full of wisdom and I’m so excited for you to hear from her!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Ashley's Instagram
- Deeply Rooted Motherhood
- Deeply Rooted Motherhood Instagram
- Podcasts- Risen Motherhood
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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In this episode, we get the awesome opportunity to chat about a topic we haven’t covered ever on the podcast, but maybe you’ve heard us mention in a few interviews - the Enneagram!
I wanted to offer y'all a fun episode to really dive into and process in the midst of quarantining and social distancing, so here we go...
We’re going to chat with my twin sister, Meesh, who many of you know since she’s appeared on the podcast before and her friend, Kamala Palmer. Kamala has worked as a counselor and coach for over 12 years. She is trained in Grief Recovery, Gottman Couples Therapy and the Integrative Enneagram. She holds her PhD in Counselor Education and practices in Sewickley, PA, where she lives with her husband, Steve and their four kids. She and Meesh lead Enneagram groups within their community throughout the year because they believe in the power the Enneagram has to transform lives! Meesh is also a Certified Enneagram Coach through the organization “Your Enneagram Coach,” and most importantly, they both love Jesus, which means they are more than qualified to chat with us about how all of this relates to our walk with Christ.
You may think the Enneagram is just another personality test that is over-rated, you may not understand it and write it off, or you may think it puts you into boxes (which many of us do not like)! Either way, I really encourage you to open up your ears and your heart to a new way of thinking - take in the information they go over and then decide.
As Kamala says, "the Enneagram is not meant to put you in a box - it's showing you the box you're already in."
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- The Integrative Enneagram Test
- Your Enneagram Coach Test
- Books- The Road Back To You, The Wisdom of the Enneagram, Spiritual Rhythms of the Enneagram
- Podcasts- "The Typology" Podcast, "Your Enneagram Coach" 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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“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and protection.” Psalm 91:4 (NIV)
Welcome to a special episode of the You Were Made for More podcast! If you’re a subscriber and you normally spend time with us, you probably have picked up on the fact that we release episodes once every 2 weeks - so, technically, this is a bonus episode for you guys!
I was really feeling called to spend some time talking about everything happening in the world with COVID-19 - obviously we’ve been quarantined for around 4 weeks now and everyone is handling it differently. I know personally, I’ve dealt with all of the normal emotions - anger, uncertainty, impatience, loneliness, and sadness. All things which I’m sure if you’re honest, you’ve dealt with them, too. Then, there have been days where I feel great - content and thankful for the health of my family and I and able to focus on the Word of God instead of everything happening around me.
Instead of just moving on with regularly scheduled programming, I wanted to take a moment and acknowledge the hard feelings while also offering you some encouragement that has been life-changing for me during this season. Join us as we come together and talk about God's promises resting on His principles, and how that should give us hope to approach this season with courage and approach His throne by praying boldly. I know you'll be as encouraged by this closer look at Psalm 91 as I was.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Song: Land of the Living (You Don't Lie), Church of the City
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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In this episode, Sammie talks with one of her former youth group students, turned friend🥰, about the power of an invitation, being faithful to our callings as youth leaders, and what it looks like to partner with parents as a youth leader. Sarah McSweeney is not only one of my dearest friends, but she also holds such a special place in my heart because she actually was one of the first youth group students I ever had when I became a youth leader my freshman year of college. Since then, she has graduated high school, started attending college herself, and has begun leading student ministry faithfully in the church she grew up in.
Sarah’s one of my greatest gifts, and our relationship reminds me of the redemptive work that can be done through broken people like myself, all because of Jesus. I asked Sarah to come on the podcast today to talk about the importance of youth leaders in the lives of students. I know and believe that God sees these relationships as being so, so important and I know that they can be life-changing. For me, relationships that were with older, wiser adults who weren’t my parents were CRITICAL to my spiritual and personal development.
We dive into the idea that being a youth leader looks a lot like being a disciple of Jesus... there are so many different aspects and roles that go into the calling that at times, it can feel hard, heavy, and challenging. If you're in need of encouragement in the season you're in (let's be honest, we're all struggling a little bit in the midst of the COVID-19 Crisis!), this is where you'll find some.
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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Worldwide, 97 billion dollars per year goes into the sex industry. The average age of someone who enters the sex industry is 12 years old. 80% of human trafficking is done through the commercial sex industry (strip clubs, pornography, etc.).
Today, we’re going to have the opportunity to hear a conversation that I had with the founder of SoLoved - Mindy Summers. Mindy is a young wife and mother who six years ago began a ministry to people who are making a living in the sex-industry, which we now know as “SoLoved.” It's pretty clear once you get to know Mindy that she isn't doing this for the attention - she doesn't really desire any attention, so I was honored when I sent her an email and asked if she would be a guest on the You Were Made for More Podcast and... she said yes!
Mindy and her team reach out to women in their community who work in the sex industry. Their entire goal is to build relationships & sisterhood with the ladies in strip clubs. They want them to know they are loved, valued, seen & that we so enjoy who they are. Every month they bring gifts, homemade treats, handwritten love notes and homemade meals to each club. Mindy has seen the brokenness that sexual exploitation causes firsthand, and without judgement, she's made it her life mission to advocate for women and men who are enslaved to this industry that is full of darkness and danger. She believes deeply in justice and equality for ALL people and I think that's truly remarkable.
Here's a quote from Mindy that sums up a bit of her experience:
"This is the thing- I am not sheltered. I spend hours in strip clubs every month. Hours. I’ve been doing this for nearly 6 years. I’ve seen a lot of stuff. Our SoLoved team desires to build relationships with the precious women within the walls of these establishments. They are treasures. Most of them are there because of childhood trauma & abuse, lack of opportunity and/or manipulation or coercion. They didn’t dream of this. It isn’t empowering…it’s where they are and they are doing the best with what they’ve been dealt.…And the men. The men who go…most of them are sorting out their own brokenness within these walls. Porn addiction, broken relationships, loneliness, power trips & addiction are many of their stories."
Mindy and her team are living the Gospel that’s for sure - and after our conversation, I would consider her a friend and someone I admire. I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation, so just dive in!
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Mindy's Blog
- Hymn "Rescue the Perishing"
- Polaris
- IAmATreasure.Com
- Exodus Cry
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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"In my grief, ultimately, there is still a gift." -Cassidy Mills
In this episode, Sammie talks with Cassidy Mills about her experience with sexual assault, the healing that she's found in a relationship with Jesus, and ultimately, what it means to walk through life-altering trauma with your eyes on Him.
I spent a long time praying about someone who could share their story with truth and vulnerability. Sexual brokenness is so evident in our culture and this is such an important topic; I reached out to Cassidy through a mutual friend, who accepted my invitation to share and chat with so much grace, being up front about how it would be challenging but she knew the Lord was calling her to do it. That’s when I knew Cassidy was definitely the person who was supposed to share on the You Were Made for More Podcast. I hope you love meeting her as much as I did, and I hope her testimony encourages you to lean into God, even when things don’t seem to make sense.
Today’s conversation will be tough, so I encourage you that if you have experienced sexual assault, whether that be in a relationship or at random, please talk to someone about that - my hope is that Cassidy sharing her story will inspire others to share theirs. It’s so true when they say that the devil thrives in the darkness. He will convince you that it’s easier not to talk about it, not to share - but I can tell you personally that that’s one of the biggest lies that you can believe. As you share, light breaks into the darkness - and if you believe in the Bible, if you believe in the God who created all things and sustains all things, you know that HE IS LIGHT. He will break through whatever darkness you are experiencing if you give him the chance to. Never underestimate the power of reaching out to somebody who cares about you, will listen to you, and will walk with you. We weren’t meant to do this life alone.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Cassidy's Email Address: cassidyclai@aol.com
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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In this episode, Sammie tackles the story of Job's life in the second part of our abundance series. If you missed the first episode, go ahead and listen to episode 19 before you hit play on this one! In that episode, Sammie's husband, Juan dives into an analogy of life being God's party - one where we're all invited, everything we could ever need or want is there, and God is the generous host. He talks about what abundance really means in the here and now, and it sets this week's episode up really well.
If you've ever felt like your life is the furthest thing from a party, this episode is for you. We all go through seasons where life seems to be throwing us all sorts of curve balls, we feel tested, and we're not really sure what's going on. Sammie takes the time to tackle an important question: when life doesn't feel like the party, does that mean that the Giver (God), isn't good and doesn't love us anymore?
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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In this episode, Sammie's husband, Juan Gallo, dives into what abundance actually means through an analogy of God being the generous host of a party that we're all invited to. If you've ever wondered what John 10:10 really means, what the name of this podcast is all about, and how we lean into abundance in the here and now, this episode is for YOU! Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement because we're sure that it's going to speak to so many of you.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- The Bible Project's Series: Abundance or Scarcity
- The Bible Project's Series: God as the Generous Host
- Illustrative Video on Generosity by the Bible Project
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:
Season 2 is BACK. PRAISE!
This week's episode is all about why you may have noticed we're a little bit MIA! This month is the March for Life (if you've never been, take a listen to this episode because we talk about it here) but if you have, you know it's an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sammie shares what God has put on her heart about identity, personhood, and how we're all called to believe and fight for who God made us to be.
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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In this episode, Sammie talks about reflecting on Advent, the coming of Jesus, and wraps up Season 1 of the podcast with a short reminder of what the Christmas season is all about. We'll see you in January for Season 2 of the #YouWereMadeForMorePodcast!
PS: if you're looking for a great Advent devotional that's reusable throughout the years, check out Paul David Tripp's Devotional! My husband and I are walking through it this Advent season, and it's helped keep our minds on Jesus through everything that's going on in the holiday season.
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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In this episode, Sammie talks with Chaney Mullins about lots of topics: sexuality and marriage, femininity, women’s healthcare, and the value, or sanctity, of human life. Chaney serves as Development Coordinator for Divine Mercy Care, an educational and fundraising organization advancing pro-life health care. There, she works to promote the next frontier in the pro-life movement: inspiring pro-life OB/GYNs and building full medical centers that serve all women with good Christian health care – those with insurance and those without. She is a champion for deeper partnerships between local churches and women in need. Chaney also serves on the board of the Healing Center International, which is dedicated to helping people find more joy in their relationships with God and others. Additionally, Chaney is the co-founder of The Amore Project, which empowers deeper communities through viewing Christ as the intimate lover of our whole selves – body and soul. She’s also a special projects writer at Concerned Women of America.
Grab your coffee, turn up the volume, and hang out with us! I hope this episode inspires you to think... "Am I truly pursuing the woman God made me to be?"
Things we mention in this episode:
- ChaneyMullins.Com
- Chaney's Instagram
- Theology of the Body
- Chaney's Email: chaney.mullins@gmail.com
- Biblical Femininity eBook (FREE!)
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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My twin sister Meesh is joining me today on the You Were Made for More Podcast, so we can talk a little bit more about who we are and our struggle with identity growing up! I’m so thankful that I’m a twin - and it’s also cool to have someone who grew up in the same environment as you, during the same time as you, but with a totally different personality and different perspective. Meesh and I are so similar, but we’re also so different - I hope that this conversation with Meesh enlightens your hearts about who I am and where I came from, and that you also learn from her struggle with trauma, identity, and how she’s leaned into God to make her a person capable of loving and being loved. If you know anything about my story, you know that Meesh and I didn’t speak English until we were 5, due to a disorder with our speech development. This affected both of us similarly, but also very differently, as you’ll hear us talk about throughout our conversation.
Meesh currently lives in Sewickley, PA where she serves as the Assistant Director of Children’s Ministries at St. Stephen’s Church. Meesh is engaged to her fiance Caleb, and together, they love the kiddos of their community really well. I’m excited for you to hear this conversation because I think it’s really important - like I’ve said before, your struggle with identity may not look the same as mine, but I believe in some way, shape, or form, we all struggle with believing and living into who we were created to be. When we open up conversation about it, we’re inviting the light to come into dark places in our hearts where fear, insecurity, and trauma live and Satan thrives.
I hope this episode feels like you're just sitting across the table from us at a coffee shop!
Things we mention in this episode:
- Jess Connolly
- Meesh's Instagram and Facebook
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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In this episode, Sammie talks with her best friend, Ally Carter. If you know Ally, you love her, and you're better for knowing her.
Ally Carter is a fierce woman who loves Jesus and loves people equally as well. I met Ally a few years ago through my twin sister, but we formed a relationship when I would go visit Meesh at college. Ally was on staff with Young Life, and we automatically hit it off. Ally’s passionate about loving people - she is one of the best humans I know at striking up conversation, being intentional, and asking good questions. She believes in the power of community and lives that out every day as she engages people in a secular workspace, cares for families in her community, and makes sure that each of her friends feels loved. I have been so blessed by Ally and I’ve learned a lot about how she does friendship - and I think it’s important for you guys to hear some of that reasoning. If you ever get the chance to meet Ally, she’ll probably take you out for a cup of coffee and spend hours getting to know your story. I hope this conversation with her gives you a snap shot at just how powerful it is to be thoughtful in conversation and to open your heart to friendships, and how they really do have the power to change your life.
Some things we mentioned on the episode:
- Ally's Instagram and Facebook
- Young Life
- PULSE
- Gary Chapman's 5 Love Languages
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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“Abortion is a breakdown in community. In our moment of greatest need for real, compassionate, empowering human relationship, there is a void of connection.”
— Josiah Friedman, CEO & Founder of Voices for the Voiceless
In this episode, you’re going to meet a legend - Josiah Friedman is the CEO of Voices for the Voiceless, an organization that spends every day advocating for the worth and dignity of human beings. Not only that, he spends each and everyday equipping others to do just that, through storytelling and real, raw conversations with real people.
Josiah is the visionary mastermind behind the #standbyher movement. A graduate of Arizona Christian University, he founded Voices for the Voiceless as a nonprofit in 2013 while pursuing double majors in Journalism and Political Science. He is widely known for his creative approach and compassionate cultural voice that reaches people from all sides of the issue. Josiah's lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife, Andrea, who partners with him as the Marketing Director of Voices for the Voiceless.
I’m really excited for you to hear my conversation with Josiah, as we talk about his faith journey and how God has ignited his heart on fire for this movement. Josiah is a gifted communicator, has a heart for loving every single person that God has created, and I really admire the work he’s doing.
Here's some of the things we mention in the episode:
- Voices for the Voiceless
- Josiah's TED Talk
- VOX Study
- The Voices Docuseries
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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In this episode, Sammie sits down and talks to Ebie Hepworth; Ebie has a vulnerable and relatable heart that has allowed her to encourage countless women across the globe. You may know her from serving with an organization called Wipe Every Tear for five years, where she had the opportunity to be a part of bringing freedom and restoration to women trafficked in the sex trade. She's the author of a 30-day devotional, Fearless Girl, and is in the process of writing her second book!
Ebie is a woman passionate about cultivating healthy family, adoption, speaking identity and truth into women, and throwing away our masks so we can be honest about where we are at. She's the CEO and "Chief Dreamer" at Fearless Co, an organization that cultivates a movement of women unhindered by fear. She's a wife to her husband, Zac, and a mother to their two beautiful children, Birdie and Asa.
In this episode, we talk about her love story with her husband, her journey with infertility, and the international adoption story that God has authored for her family and how she is really all about loving the orphans like we are called to do in Scripture (even though she's in her mid-20's!). I love Ebie's heart, and I really think her family is a beautiful testament to how God writes more beautiful stories than we could even imagine, even in the hard moments. If you're curious about adoption, why it's important, or maybe you're thinking about adopting one day yourself, this conversation is something you don't want to miss.
Here are some things we mention in the episode:
- Ebie's book, Fearless Girl
- Fearless Co.
- Ebie's Website and Instagram
If Ebie's story touched you, please join me in praying for favor and healing over her family!
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog, or, send guest recommendations to us! If you liked what you heard, remember to give us a star rating and leave a review, so we know what you're loving!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media:
On this episode of the You Were Made for More podcast, Sammie talks with Zach Verrett. Zach is currently living in Austin, TX working for Austin Stone Community Church as part of their Connections ministry, and he's a magnetic, Jesus-loving, driven guy, who is serving the Kingdom with everything He has. Zach has a passion for relationships and seeing young men and women live into the life that Jesus has called them to, which is why he spent a number of years touring around the country bringing a message of purity to MS and HS students with the Unaltered Tour (formerly known as the Silver Ring Thing).
I'm so excited for you guys to hear what he's learned about purity, and how it really is an IDENTITY, instead of a goal.
If Zach's wisdom hit home in your heart, visit his website or follow him on Instagram to keep up with how he's serving and what he's learning!
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog, or, send guest recommendations to us! If you liked what you heard, remember to give us a star rating and leave a review, so we know what you're loving!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media:
In this episode, Sammie chats with author Courtney Wilson, about the message in her book, It Is Written: Daily Truth to Face the Lies We Battle, and how to grab hold of our God-given identities. Courtney is passionate about sharing the Truth that's rooted in Scripture about who we are and developing dreams of this generation. Courtney's the founder of Trailblazer Journals, an online community that believes this generation is called to be trailblazers in the culture we're in. She's also the founder of the Little Creative Company, a small design agency dedicated to helping non-profits, Christian organizations, churches and dreamers develop their brand, websites, and dreams.
I'm thankful for Courtney's heart and her passion as she leads this movement of trailblazing for the glory of God, and I hope that through this conversation, you're reminded that God has a purpose for YOU in the midst of whatever season you're in.
Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:
- The Enneagram
- It Is Written: Daily Truth to Face the Lies We Battle
- Matthew 4 - The Temptation of Jesus
- Bible in a Year Plan (The Bible Project)
- Come Matter Here by Hannah Brencher
- It's Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst
Here's Court's website & Instagram (@courthopewilson) so you can follow along with her journey!
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog, or, send guest recommendations to us! If you liked what you heard, remember to give us a star rating and leave a review, so we know what you're loving!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media:
In this episode, Sammie has a conversation with Rachel and Thomas Awtrey; two people who love Jesus, are chasing after Him, and just happen to have met in their high school youth group. Now, after years of dating and pursuing one another, they've been married for three years and share what they've learned through the love story that God has given them.
Rachel and Thomas live in Birmingham, Alabama, where they attend Church of the Highlands; Rachel spends her days sharing tips, tricks, and truth on social media through her blog and her podcast, Behind the Bliss. Thomas spends his days as a member of the Alabama Air National Guard, along with travelling and adventuring since he has his pilot's license! They also have a precious pup named Remi! They're full of energy, wisdom, and their love for one another shines through in my conversation with them.
We talk about so many things, ranging from how to keep Christ at the center of your relationship, how to trust Him even when things don't seem to be going your way, sexual purity + repentance, tips for engagement, all the way to how to champion one another in marriage and cultivate a friendship along with romance.
Here's some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Rachel's Website
- Behind the Bliss Podcast
To check out everything happening in their work, family, and life, head on over and follow @rachel.awtrey or @thomasawtrey on Instagram!
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog, or, send guest recommendations to us! If you liked what you heard, remember to give us a star rating and leave a review, so we know what you're loving!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media:
In this episode, Sammie interviews Dana Henry, a counselor and pastor's wife from Sewickley, Pennsylvania, who has dedicated her Kingdom calling to helping people find freedom from their traumas, so that they may live abundantly in their relationships. Dana has experience professionally handling traumas, as well as experience in doing the hard work of personal healing herself. If you want a run-down on what trauma is, and how the body scientifically responds to trauma, this is for YOU! We're so thankful for Dana's testimony and her willingness to share her story.
Here's some things we mentioned in this episode:
- Dana's testimony about her abortion
- Inner Healing Prayer
- EDMR Technique
- The Body Keeps The Scoreby Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
- The American Association of Christian Counselors
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog and send guest recommendations to us! If you liked what you heard, remember to give us a star rating and leave a review, so we know what you're loving!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media:
"While the mess I experienced, both the things that happened to me & the broken path I chose, was not His heart for my life, He has yet to waste a drop of it. Healing is mine for the taking, victory is mine for the taking, freedom is mine for the taking. And the same is true for you, wherever you are - no matter how heavy the mess you carry. He sees you, He holds you, and He loves you, so much. Do not let the lies you hear make you believe that you are too far from grace." -Nadine Mitchell, The Revival Folk BlogIn this episode, Sammie interviews Nadine Mitchell, a momma of four girls, blogger, wife, and owner of the brand, the Revival Folk, which creates and offers prints, posters, cards and a variety of events to help you uncover community. Through this episode, we hear a snapshot of Nadine's story from childhood to adulthood as she exemplifies who Jesus is through the redemptive work He has done in her life.
We cover topics like trauma, abuse, counseling, freedom, marriage, mental health, the importance of community and identity. This is one of our favorite episodes yet, and you do not want to miss it - so much wisdom and goodness!
Here are some of Nadine's Favorite things:
- Sandals Church, California Region
- Her favorite current read, Jackie Hill Perry's Gay Girl, Good God
- The Revival Folk Website
To check out everything happening in her work, family, and life, head on over to her Instagram page for some daily encouragement!
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog and send guest recommendations to us! If you liked what you heard, remember to give us a star rating and leave a review, so we know what you're loving!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media:
In this episode, Sammie continues our relationship "crash course" series and covers more questions that students (and adults!) frequently ask.
We talk about these four questions:
- What role should my parents play in my dating life?
- What happens if I'm rejected?
- What happens If I've already messed up?
- How do you even start building a healthy relationship?
Things we mentioned in this episode:
- Episode 4: Relationship FAQ, Part 1
- Sammie's Story
- The Next Right think by Emily P. Freeman
- Time Magazine Study On Marriage
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog.
Send guest recommendations to us!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media :-)
In this episode, Sammie interviews her friend, Lexi Moles, and they talk about Lexi’s calling – Lexi serves as the Director of Middle School Outreach at Ciudad Nueva, a non-profit that serves the community of El Paso, Texas.
Lexi is one of the most relational humans you’ll ever meet in your life, and thankfully, that energy plays into her role as she is learning what it means to do life with middle schoolers. Lexi has chosen to take the head-on approach and has shown an admirable initiative in educating her students and equipping her youth leaders to have healthy conversations about relationships and sexuality, all based on her experience in youth group growing up.
If you’ve ever wondered why it’s important to be consistent in teens' lives, how in the world someone can actually enjoy hanging out with middle schoolers, and why it’s important to stay and fight for the hearts of our kids, this episode will really speak to your heart.
Things we mentioned in this episode:
- Ciudad Nueva
- Abundant Life Curriculum
You can stay up to date with Lexi and her middle schoolers by following her on IG. That’s where all the good stuff goes!
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog.
Send guest recommendations to us here!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media…
In this episode, Sammie covers three of the top questions about relationships that students (and some adults!) ask. Welcome to part 1 of our relationship "crash course!"
We talk about these three questions:
- How do you define dating?
- How far is "too far" physically?
- Should I date someone who isn't a Christian?
If you have questions you'd like to see us answer in part 2, please send them to Sammie (abundantlifeym@gmail.com).
Things we mentioned in this episode:
- Single. Dating. Engaged. Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age by Ben Stuart
- Module 3 of Abundant Life: You Were Made for More (Purity: Rethinking, Restarting, Reorienting)
- Practical Tips for Dating in the Hook-Up Culture Blog
- Studies about Marriage, Relationship, and Teens
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog.
Send guest recommendations to us!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media :-)
Disclaimer: This episode does mention pornography, masturbation, and other mature content. We encourage parents and students to talk about these topics together before listening.
In this episode, Sammie interviews Kristie Cossel - a youth director from El Paso, Texas. Kristie has been married for almost two years to her husband, Mark, who she started dating in high school.
Kristie has personal experience with what it really means to struggle over sin and seek healing because of the impact that it had on her life, her relationships, and her identity. Not only does she truly believe that things she's saying in this interview, she vulnerably lives them out each day - something that I admire about her so much.
Truth is, we are all affected by pornography (whether directly or indirectly, which Kristie does a great job of highlighting in this episode):
- 12% of websites on the internet are pornographic – that’s 24,644,172 sites.
- 1 in 3 porn viewers are women. It’s not just a “guy problem.”
- Porn sites receive more regular traffic than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter combined each month.
- Watching porn diminishes relationship commitment. Porn increased marital infidelity, or cheating, by 300%. A few studies reported in Psychology Today show that people who watched porn were more likely to engage in flirting (or more) outside their relationships and were more likely to cheat and hook-up with someone other than their partner.
- 50% of all adults do not think that porn is wrong – and most teenagers are encouraging, neutral, or indifferent about opinions of pornography. They say it’s “not a big deal.”
- Porn is a $57 billion-dollar industry worldwide - $14 billion-dollar industry in the US. That’s larger than all the combined revenues of all professional football, baseball, and basketball franchises AND more than CBS, NBC, and ABC combined.
- A pastor in Cincinnati, Ohio polled all the 7th graders in his church and 100% of those 11-year-olds admitted to having exposure to pornography.
- 50% of Christian men are addicted to pornography.
Pornography is a phenomenon that not many youth groups aren’t talking about, despite the epidemic running wild within the lives of our young men and women. Kristie personally relates to the statistics listed above, and I know that many of you listening will be impacted by what she has to share. At the root of the pornography problem lies a tragic misunderstanding of who we were created to be and what relationships are supposed to be about.
You were made for more than the counterfeit love that pornography offers you, and our prayer is that this conversation would allow you to wrestle with the weight of it's destruction in the world.
Things we mentioned in this episode:
- Kristie's instagram: @kristinajoy
- Kristie's blog on Abundant Life's website (Pornography: It's Not Just a Guy Problem)
- The Link between Human Trafficking and Pornography
- Harvest USA
- Fight the New Drug
- Fortify Tracker
- The Difference Between Shame and Guilt by Brene Brown
- Carolyn Allen's Book: Journey Into Wholeness
In this episode, Sammie interviews her friend, Taylor Hartz, about what it means to follow Jesus in your early 20's as a single gal.
Taylor brings a ton of wisdom to the table - not only because she's submitting to what the Lord is teaching her, but also because she's learned from her past relational decisions. I'm so thankful for Taylor's heart, her vulnerability, and how she shares honestly about why God makes us for "more" than we even realize!
Our prayer is that you know redemption is waiting for you, too. You are not too far gone. You are not too messy, too broken, too impure, too unclean. You are seen, known, loved, and purposed for a life free of the bondage of sexual sin. The leap of faith is wild, it's countercultural, and many times, laughed at - but the grace you jump into is liberating, satisfying, and soul-resuscitating.
Things we mentioned in this episode:
- Taylor's instagram: @t.hartzz
- Taylor's blog: https://freedomindeed.wordpress.com/
- The Unaltered Tour
- Defiant Joy by Stasi Eldredge
- Mighty Grace by John Mark Pantana
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog.
Send guest recommendations to us!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media :-)
In episode 1, you meet our host - Sammie Gallo - and learn all about her heart behind making sure every person hears the words "you were made for more."
Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog.
Send guest recommendations to us!
We love y'all! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to follow us on social media :-)