Podcast appearances and mentions of grace adventures

Did you know that, according to a recent Barna study, only 4% of those who call themselves Christians hold to a Biblical Worldview? This episode will help you teach kids to question what they are being told, so that when their faith collides with culture, they can grow in their faith, not out of it. Kori & Lee discuss faith & culture collisions such as evolution, gender ideology, moral relativism, victimhood and YOLO. You'll leave with some great conversation starters for your next kid convo!   Ready to teach kids to ask the next question when their faith collides with culture? Let's go! LEE NIENHUIS is a coffee drinker, friend maker, and loud laugher. She is an author, Bible teacher, podcaster and communications consultant. Lee has a heart for the global church, and has recently joined Live Global, a team who supports, trains and equips believers worldwide.  Lee lives with her handsome, hardworking husband, Mike, at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Training Center in West Michigan. They have four great kids who make her need Jesus. And she says, “That's a good thing.” KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church. Resources Romans 12:2 - Don't be conformed, be transformed Ephesians 6:13-18 - Armor of God Genesis 1:27 & 31 - Made in God's image - it is good! Romans 3:23 - All have sinned Romans 3:10 - none are righteous, not one! 1 John 1:8 – If we say we haven't sinned, we are lying John 14:6 - Jesus is the way, truth & life Phil 2:4-9 – Love others more than yourself like Jesus who was obedient even to death Matthew 20:28 – serve others like Jesus who gave his life Matthew 6:19-21 – lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven    Next Steps Subscribe to this podcast Share this episode with a friend Join the Podcast Impact Team Follow Bible2School on FB & IG

As believers, we all know the first most important hour of our day is time with Jesus! Can you guess what the second most important hour is? It may sound simple, but it's mealtime with family! Kori & Lee provide some surprising stats on the benefits of eating together around the table, including ones that will induce laughter and others that will inspire you to action! The best news is that the advice given is Biblically based and practical. You'll leave the conversation with new ideas ready to be practiced at your next meal! Are you ready to learn some surprising benefits of eating meals together as a family? Let's go! LEE NIENHUIS is a coffee drinker, friend maker, and loud laugher. She is an author, Bible teacher, podcaster and communications consultant. Lee has a heart for the global church, and has recently joined Live Global, a team who supports, trains and equips believers worldwide.  Lee lives with her handsome, hardworking husband, Mike, at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Training Center in West Michigan. They have four great kids who make her need Jesus. And she says, “That's a good thing.” KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church.   Resources Family Dinner Stats More Family Dinner Stats The Family Dinner Project Harvard Study - The Benefit of Family Mealtime Proverbs 4:10-11 Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Next Steps Subscribe to You CAN Tell The Children Share this episode with a friend Join our Podcast IMPACT TEAM Rate & Review us on your favorite podcast channel

When kids need to speak the truth in love, what should they do? Kid problems may start small, but eventually they become adult-sized! Filling them with God's truth daily and teaching them to handle conflict as Scripture instructs is critical if we want to see them grow in spiritual and emotional maturity. In this conversation between Kori & Lee, you'll learn some practical tips to create an action plan on how to speak the truth in love with the children in your life. They share relatable experiences that will lovingly address conflict while keeping in step with God's Word. When the world seeks to avoid conflict, we want to take the higher ground and confidently teach our children to boldly walk towards resolution.   Are you ready to hear practical examples of speaking the truth in love? Let's go! LEE NIENHUIS is a coffee drinker, friend maker, and loud laugher. She is an author, Bible teacher, podcaster and communications consultant. Lee has a heart for the global church, and has recently joined Live Global, a team who supports, trains and equips believers worldwide.  Lee lives with her handsome, hardworking husband, Mike, at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Training Center in West Michigan. They have four great kids who make her need Jesus. And she says, “That's a good thing. KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church.   Resources John 14:6 - Jesus is the way, truth & life John 3:16 - God loved the world & gave His only son 1 Corinthians 13 - the love chapter Galatians 5 - The fruit of the Spirit   Next Steps Join our Podcast Impact Team Check out Bible2Shool Comment on this episode @ FB & IG Share this episode with your friends!

What does trust have to do with intruder alert drills in schools? According to Kori & Lee, it has EVERYTHING to do with how well our children will be equipped for this type of an emergency - especially if it turns out to be real life and not just a drill. You'll hear how trust goes a long way in a crisis, and how to prepare the kids in your life to be spiritually and emotionally ready to face unthinkable events.   Ready to learn the 2 Things Your Kids Need to Know About Intruder Alert Drills? Let's go! KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church. LEE NIENHUIS is a coffee drinker, friend maker, and loud laugher. She is an author, Bible teacher, podcaster and communications consultant. Lee has a heart for the global church, and has recently joined Live Global, a team who supports, trains and equips believers worldwide. Lee lives with her handsome, hardworking husband, Mike, at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Training Center in West Michigan. They have four great kids who make her need Jesus. And she says, “That's a good thing.   Resources Psalm 46 - He is our shield and our strength, an ever-present help in danger Romans 8:28 - God works all things together for good Matthew 28:20 Jesus said, I am with you always.  Ephesians 6: Put on the Full armor of God Columbine Episode #27; How to Have Hard Conversations with Kids Mom's In Prayer Episode #44; How God Is Working Through Praying Moms Momsinprayer.org A Powerful School Lockdown Godstory on YouTube John 1:5 - the darkness will not overcome the light   Next Steps Learn more about Bible2School Subscribe to our Podcast Share this Episode

We all want to encourage the kids in our lives so they feel equipped to handle their days with confidence – and we can do this through our words! Scripture talks a lot about the importance of what we say, and that we are to encourage and build one another up. We can intentionally speak to children in ways that will set the tone for their entire day! Listen in as Kori & Lee discuss 3 things you should say to your kids each day before they go out the door. KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church. LEE NIENHUIS is a coffee drinker, friend maker, and loud laugher. She is an author, Bible teacher, podcaster and communications consultant. Lee has a heart for the global church, and has recently joined Live Global, a team who supports, trains and equips believers worldwide. Lee lives with her handsome, hardworking husband, Mike, at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Training Center in West Michigan. They have four great kids who make her need Jesus. And she says, “That's a good thing. Resources: Proverbs 16:24 - kind words are like honey 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - encourage one another Matthew 18:20 - where two are more are gathered Romans 8:28  - all things work together for good   Next Steps: Subscribe to this podcast Share You CAN Tell The Children with a friend Connect with us on our socials - FB & IG Rate and Review on Spotify , Apple, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts Bring Bible2School to your community

Do the kids in your life have a clear view of the world as God sees it, or do they need some gentle coaching to be shaped and molded into God's truth? This is where our conversation turns to sunglasses… Kori & Lee talk about three different types of sunglass lenses, and why it's so important for children to see the world through God's holy lens, brought into focus by the Bible! We want it to be second nature for our kids to process life through a Biblical worldview because this will guide them to truth which in turn guides them to hope - and  we know that Jesus is the hope of the world!  We aren't always going to be there to guide them, so we want to be sure they have on their Biblical worldview sunglasses… Ready to hear the 3 types of protective lenses kids need in order to see clearly? Let's go… KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church. LEE NIENHUIS is a coffee drinker, friend maker, and loud laugher. She is an author, Bible teacher, podcaster and communications consultant. Lee has a heart for the global church, and has recently joined Live Global, a team who supports, trains and equips believers worldwide. Lee lives with her handsome, hardworking husband, Mike, at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Training Center in West Michigan. They have four great kids who make her need Jesus. And she says, “That's a good thing.   Resources: Similar Podcast Episodes: Mamabear Apologetics Teaching Kids To Think Like Christ Not Culture How Do You Know The Bible Is True?   Next Steps: Subscribe to this podcast Share You CAN Tell The Children with a friend Rate and Review on Spotify , Apple, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts Bring Bible2School to your community

Does your child go to public school? If so, are you familiar with HOW their faith can be part of their school day? With phrases like “separation of church and state” constantly surfacing as a hot topic, it can be confusing to know what is truth and what is misconception.  In this episode, we want to kindly educate you so that your children can feel comfortable expressing their faith in public school. Ready to hear how our kids are free to exercise their religion before, during and after school? Let's go!  LEE NIENHUIS is a coffee drinker, friend maker, and loud laugher. She is an author, Bible teacher, podcaster and communications consultant. Lee has a heart for the global church, and has recently joined Live Global, a team who supports, trains and equips believers worldwide.  Lee lives with her handsome, hardworking husband, Mike, at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Training Center in West Michigan. They have four great kids who make her need Jesus. And she says, “That's a good thing.” KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church.   Resources for you: Our Blog: Navigating Faith in Public Schools Episode #11,  Religious Freedom in our Public Schools w/Matt Sharp Alliance Defending Freedom Website Constitutionally protected prayer An example of our kids' right to pray during school Freedom to dance to Christian music in the school talent show Freedom to give faith based gifts in school (and here) Colossians 3:17 ESV   Next Steps: Contact us to start a Bible2School near you Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children   Share this episode with a friend!

Happy New Year! It's the perfect time to review our year with the Bible2School Ministry and look forward in faith to what God is going to do in 2023! Kori shares some of the best God stories that will warm your heart and also reveals our big ask for this year. Ready to hear how God has done abundantly more than we could ask or imagine? Let's go! LEE NIENHUIS is a coffee drinker, friend maker, and loud laugher. She is an author, Bible teacher, podcaster and communications consultant. Her books, “Brave Moms, Brave Kids” and “Countercultural Parenting” have helped countless parents step into their roles as the primary disciple makers of their families. Her writing and speaking have been featured in places like Proverbs 31 Ministries, Focus on the Family, Moms in Prayer International, and the True Woman Movement. Lee has a heart for the global church, and has recently joined Live Global, a team who supports, trains and equips believers worldwide. It sounds like a lot, but really, Lee loves Jesus. She Believes He transforms lives, His Word is powerful and effective, and that prayer matters more than we could imagine. Lee lives with her handsome, hardworking husband, Mike, at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Training Center in West Michigan. They have four great kids who make her need Jesus. And she says, “That's a good thing.” KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. In her current position, Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church.   Resources For You: Volunteer for Bible2School Our helpful resources Get connected   Next Steps: Explore Bible2School! Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram Share this podcast with a friend Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Bible2School is thrilled to participate in GivingTuesday — a global generosity movement.  On November 29, 2022, people all around the nation are coming together to tap into the power of human connection, strengthen communities, and change our world.  With GivingTuesday in mind and Thanksgiving right around the bend, we're going to hear from Kori & Lee as they talk about the treasure of giving and share some inspiring stories of kids who have shown great generosity. In this episode, you will hear practical ways of experiencing God through participating in Kingdom work! Ready to hear some tangible ways to be generous? Let's go! LEE NIENHUIS is an author and passionate Bible teacher. She is on the national speaking team for Moms in Prayer International and the Co-host of The Martha and Mary Show. Her books, Brave Moms, Brave Kids (2018) and Countercultural Parenting (2020), published by Harvest House, have helped countless parents gain a biblical perspective on parenting a godly and countercultural generation. Lee's writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls. Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee is an inductive Bible study teacher who leads a Bible training program for Women's Ministry leaders in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. While she travels extensively, home is her favorite place to be. Lee and her husband, Mike, have been married 22 years. They have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses. Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus. Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus. KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. In her current position, Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church.   Resources For You: GivingTuesday B2S Online Donation GivingTuesday Website Matthew 6:21 Ephesians 2:10 Romans 8:32 Bible2School Website Bible2School on FB Bible2School on IG   Next Steps: Tell us what tips you're putting into practice at our website DONATE today or on Giving Tuesday Bring Bible2School to Your Community! Share this podcast with a friend Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children

Episode 54 - Training Kids to be Counter Cultural with Lee Nienhuis  Change can happen in your home and culture - and it starts with YOU! Our friend, author & speaker Lee Nienhuis, reminds us that in order to walk out this change, it's not all upstream swimming — it's actually participating in what God wants to do in and through us. He partners with us in this journey and is even MORE invested in our children than we are! He is limitless in power, knowledge, and creativity — all we have to do is seek Him and He promises He will be found by us. Ready to hear what Lee has to say about coaching the kids in our lives to obey God and enjoy relationship with him? Let's go.... LEE NIENHUIS is a coffee drinker, friend maker, and loud laugher. She is an author, Bible teacher, podcaster and communications consultant.  Her books, “Brave Moms, Brave Kids” and “Countercultural Parenting” have helped countless parents step into their roles as the primary disciple makers of their families. Her writing and speaking have been featured in places like Proverbs 31 Ministries, Focus on the Family, Moms in Prayer International, and the True Woman Movement. Lee has a heart for the global church, and has recently joined Live Global, a team who supports, trains and equips believers worldwide.  It sounds like a lot, but really, Lee loves Jesus.  She Believes He transforms lives, His Word is powerful and effective, and that prayer matters more than we could imagine. Lee lives with her handsome, hardworking husband, Mike, at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Training Center in West Michigan.  They have four great kids who make her need Jesus.  And she says, “That's a good thing.”  Resources For You: Lee Nienhuis Brave Moms, Brave Kids: A Battle Plan for Raising Heroes Counter Cultural Parenting Book Kids Character Quiz Facebook Instagram Next Steps: Share this podcast with a friend Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram Explore Bible2School!

4 Reasons to Volunteer It's National Volunteer Week, and we're celebrating by highlighting one of our favorite ways to get our hearts closer to Jesus — volunteering! In this fun episode, Kori and Lee chat about four main reasons why we should slow down and take the time to serve others. We truly believe that Jesus came to serve, and we can't be like Jesus unless we serve others.  Our hope is that you feel encouraged to find a need in your community and take action! If you're interested in volunteering for Bible2School, learn more here.  Ready … Let's go… LEE NIENHUIS is an author and passionate Bible teacher. She is on the national speaking team for Moms in Prayer International and the Co-host of The Martha and Mary Show. Her books, Brave Moms, Brave Kids (2018) and Countercultural Parenting (2020), published by Harvest House, have helped countless parents gain a biblical perspective on parenting a godly and countercultural generation. Lee's writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls. Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee is an inductive Bible study teacher who leads a Bible training program for Women's Ministry leaders in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. While she travels extensively, home is her favorite place to be. Lee and her husband, Mike, have been married 22 years. They have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses. Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus. Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus. KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. In her current position, Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church.   Resources For You: Volunteer for Bible2School Our helpful resources Next Steps: Share this podcast with a friend Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram Explore Bible2School!

Building Relationships to Start a Bible2School Program Are you curious how to get a Bible2School program into your community? This episode is for you! Bible2School CEO, Kori Pennypacker, explains why we believe that ministry is a team sport. She unpacks how we can help you build your own community team. We have a unique formula that has proven to be very successful in building a foundation of sustainability.  We truly believe that building the right team is one of the most important steps in the process — so we want to make it easy for you. Don't miss this informative episode!    LEE NIENHUIS is an author and passionate Bible teacher. She is on the national speaking team for Moms in Prayer International and the Co-host of The Martha and Mary Show. Her books, Brave Moms, Brave Kids (2018) and Countercultural Parenting (2020), published by Harvest House, have helped countless parents gain a biblical perspective on parenting a godly and countercultural generation. Lee's writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls. Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee is an inductive Bible study teacher who leads a Bible training program for Women's Ministry leaders in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. While she travels extensively, home is her favorite place to be. Lee and her husband, Mike, have been married 22 years. They have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses. Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus. Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus. KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. In her current position, Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church. Resources For You: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Next Steps: Share this podcast with a friend Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram Bring a Bible2School program to your community

Back to the Basics of Sharing the Gospel with Kids Lee and Kori get back to the basics of sharing the gospel with children in this episode. It can seem awkward to talk to kids about the gospel and salvation because we're afraid they won't understand. But kids CAN make the decision at any age to accept Jesus as their Savior, and we're here to help make it easy! So, how do you begin the conversation about salvation with kids? We have a resource just for you! The CBA Cross is a very simple and effective way to communicate the salvation message with children. [Download it now.](https://bible2school.ac-page.com/welcome) Kori and Lee discuss how to use this resource and other practical ways to engage a child in the prayer that will change their life forever.  It's such a privilege that we can share the gospel with children — because after all, it's the BEST NEWS ever. We are the experts in engaging children with the Word of God, and we want to equip you to do the same. So, don't miss this important episode! Let's go….     LEE NIENHUIS is an author and passionate Bible teacher. She is on the national speaking team for Moms in Prayer International and the Co-host of The Martha and Mary Show. Her books, Brave Moms, Brave Kids (2018) and Countercultural Parenting (2020), published by Harvest House, have helped countless parents gain a biblical perspective on parenting a godly and countercultural generation. Lee's writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls. Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee is an inductive Bible study teacher who leads a Bible training program for Women's Ministry leaders in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. While she travels extensively, home is her favorite place to be. Lee and her husband, Mike, have been married 22 years. They have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses. Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus. Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus. KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. In her current position, Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church. Resources For You: John 3:16 CBA Cross Other Helpful Resources  Next Steps: Share this podcast with a friend Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram Connect with Lee on Facebook and Instagram Connect with Kori on Facebook and Instagram Bring a Bible2School program to your community

Happy New Year! Co-hosts Lee Nienhuis & Kori Pennypacker are back together for this special podcast episode where we review 2021 and look ahead to 2022. At Bible2School, we are dreaming new dreams together for this year and we continue to be blown away by the growth that God is bringing. A new year brings new possibilities, and we can't wait to see what God has planned! Some of the highlights from 2021 include: - Over 1,000 kids are now registered for a Bible2School program. Almost 60% of these kids have no church home. - We have seen a 50% growth within our program, despite COVID-19. Wow, God is good! Ready to hear more? Listen to this episode to hear more praises from the past year, special Godstories, how to get involved, and learn how you can pray for us in 2022. Let's go… LEE NIENHUIS is an author and passionate Bible teacher. She is on the national speaking team for Moms in Prayer International and the Co-host of The Martha and Mary Show. Her books, Brave Moms, Brave Kids (2018) and Countercultural Parenting (2020), published by Harvest House, have helped countless parents gain a biblical perspective on parenting a godly and countercultural generation. Lee's writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls. Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee is an inductive Bible study teacher who leads a Bible training program for Women's Ministry leaders in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. While she travels extensively, home is her favorite place to be. Lee and her husband, Mike, have been married 22 years. They have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses. Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus. Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus. KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. In her current position, Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church. She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church. Resources For You: • CBA Cross Resource • Kori on Facebook and Instagram • Lee on Facebook and Instagram Next Steps: • Interested in learning how to bring Bible2School to your community? Contact us! • Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram • Subscribe to the You CAN Tell the Children Podcast

We all know it's important for our kids to feel valued in their schools and groups. Have you ever considered that our kids can be influential in creating a culture of value?  Our guest today, Ben Vander Kodde, has been helping children in public schools do just that through positive peer relationships. Ready to learn how to equip our children to create a culture of value in their schools?  Let's go.... BEN VANDER KODDE has worked at Grace Adventures in Silver Lake, MI since 2000.  As program director for 10 of those years, he ran youth camps, family camps, adult retreats and youth retreats.  Now he speaks, trains, facilitates and coaches both on Grace's campus and wherever God leads.  He loves to learn from God's Word and share with others. He and his wife Laura have 4 kids.     Resources for you: Grace Adventures Learn more about Positive Peer Relationships Value Cluster Visual James 1:5 I Samuel 16:7  Next Steps: Share this podcast with a friend Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram Explore Bible2School!

It's time to celebrate Thanksgiving, and we are thankful for you, faithful listeners!  Today Kori and Lee uncover examples of thankfulness found in the Bible and share 5 ways to teach our kids about gratitude. Ready to help your kids overflow with thankfulness? Let's go.... KORI PENNYPACKER has served with Bible2School since 2011. In her current position, Kori oversees the mission of Bible2School and Engagement by speaking to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for elementary age children in our communities, especially those who are not able to attend church.  She loves inviting people into the Bible2School Team as valued Members, Volunteers, and Donors. Kori lives in Lititz with her husband, Blaine, and has three sons.  She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and volunteering with her husband to mentor engaged couples at her church. LEE NIENHUIS is an author and passionate Bible teacher. She is on the national speaking team for Moms in Prayer International and the Co-host of The Martha and Mary Show. Her books, Brave Moms, Brave Kids (2018) and Countercultural Parenting (2020), published by Harvest House, have helped countless parents gain a biblical perspective on parenting a godly and countercultural generation. Lee's writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls. Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee is an inductive Bible study teacher who leads a Bible training program for Women's Ministry leaders in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. While she travels extensively, home is her favorite place to be. Lee and her husband, Mike, have been married 22 years. They have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses. Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus. Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus. Resources for you: Psalm 23 Jesus cleanses ten lepers Next Steps: Explore Bible2School! Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram Let us know how your family is sharing thankfulness! @koripennypacker @leenienhuis @bible_2_school  

What would our life look like to help our children face fear just like our heroes in the Bible? Today we're talking with Lee Nienhuis, author of Brave Moms, Brave Kids, and co-host of the You CAN Tell The Children Podcast. Ready to explore how to walk our kids through their fears by leading with faith? Let's go.... Guest Bio LEE NIENHUIS is an author and passionate Bible teacher. She is on the national speaking team for Moms in Prayer International and the Co-host of The Martha and Mary Show. Her books, Brave Moms, Brave Kids (2018) and Countercultural Parenting (2020), published by Harvest House, have helped countless parents gain a biblical perspective on parenting a godly and countercultural generation. Lee's writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls. Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee is an inductive Bible study teacher who leads a Bible training program for Women's Ministry leaders in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. While she travels extensively, home is her favorite place to be. Lee and her husband, Mike, have been married 22 years. They have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses. Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus. Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus. Resources For You: Lee Nienhuis Brave Moms, Brave Kids by Lee Nienhuis Jehoshaphat's narrative in 2 Chronicles 20 Gideon's narrative in Judges 7 Next Steps: Share this podcast with a friend Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children Leave a review on Apple Podcasts  

On this episode I talk with Jaimie Ladner, a homeschool mom of 5 boys. Our visit includes how their family homeschools, what her oldest is doing, the meaning of the word success, and always the important question: What's for supper? It's always meant to encourage you wherever you find yourself on the homeschool journey. Grab your favorite cup and listen in! Jaimie's oldest's gap year program: Ascent Gap Year through Grace Adventures

Today we'll hear about a group of of world changers who saw a need in their community and responded in a way that has impacted generations! Spoiler alert - they told children about Jesus. We'll also hear the three spiritual questions every child wants to know the answer to. Ready to hear why we are telling the children? Let's go... LEE NIENHUIS is an author and passionate Bible teacher. She is on the national speaking team for Moms in Prayer International and the Co-host of The Martha and Mary Show. Her books, Brave Moms, Brave Kids (2018) and Countercultural Parenting (2020), published by Harvest House, have helped countless parents gain a biblical perspective on parenting a godly and countercultural generation. Lee's writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls. Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee is an inductive Bible study teacher who leads a Bible training program for Women's Ministry leaders in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. While she travels extensively, home is her favorite place to be. Lee and her husband, Mike, have been married 22 years. They have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses. Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus. Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus.  Resources For You: Lee Nienhuis Josiah's narrative in 2 Chronicles 34 Hardwired to Connect Next Steps: Share this episode with a friend! Rate and review this podcast wherever you listen Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram

What is your family culture like? How will your kids describe their family growing up years from now? Author, speaker, and Bible teacher Lee Nienhuis shares how you can create a family culture that is set apart! Lee Nienhuis is an author and passionate Bible teacher. She is the Communications Specialist for Moms in Prayer International and the Host of the Moms in Prayer Podcast and the Co-host of The Martha and Mary Show. Lee's writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls. Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee's new book, Countercultural Parenting, released in June 2020 with Harvest House. Her first book was Brave Moms, Brave Kids released in 2018 also with Harvest House. Lee is an inductive Bible study teacher who leads a Bible training program for Women's Ministry leaders in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. While she travels extensively, home is her favorite place to be. Lee and her husband, Mike, have been married 21 years. They have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses. Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus. Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus. For more information about Lee, her books, and writing/speaking ministry, visit LeeNienhuis.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/awifelikeme/message

Join us today for a very special Building the Bridge podcast. Michael Sprague of the Capitol Commission and the chaplain for the LA legislature sits with host Elmo Winters. Listen as they talk about the challenges of being an ambassador of God among our elected officials and other politicians. You do not want to miss this inspiring and encouraging interview. Bio Highlights of Michael Sprague Serves as the Louisiana State Chaplain with the Capitol Commission and President of Grace Adventures, which reaches out to political, business, and spiritual leaders in the New Orleans/Baton Rouge region and beyond. Engaged in relational outreach and discipleship, teaching, coaching, writing, and speaking. His non-profit helps leaders think through the “Big Questions” of life and thrive as a whole person: spiritually, relationally, physically, and emotionally. Michael wants leaders to not only win at politics or career but at life. Serves as a “non-political” friend to people in the halls of leadership. Spends lots of time at the Capitol in Baton Rouge, Louisiana working with Legislators, lobbyists, administration, and Capitol staff in a non-political, non-partisan pastoral/chaplain role. The focus is not to lobby for legislation (as important as that is) but to help leaders with their faith and life. Days are filled with Bible studies, prayer, listening, caring appointments, and many surprises. Michael loves to help people know the Jesus of the Scriptures. Spoken at political and community events have preached at both megachurches and small churches and have lead retreats and workshops on topics including influence, leadership, global mission, faith and politics, faith and vocation, courage, hope, and dealing with disaster. He has been featured on such programs as Fox and Friends and Fox Business Risk and Rewards, Moody Radio, and Christianity Today. Holds a Business degree from the University of Maryland, a Master of Divinity degree from Capital Bible Seminary (Lanham, Maryland), and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. He served as Senior Pastor of Trinity Church in Covington, Louisiana for 11 years, and formerly served for 15 years at Forcey Bible Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina helped launch the Touch Global Crisis Response Ministry for the Evangelical Free Churches of America and wrote two books – DISASTER: Betting the Farm on God in Life's Storms and Stories from Katrinaland. Does life with his wonderful wife and partner Donna. They have one son, Jonathan who is married to Patricia, and have beloved grandchildren. Donna and Michael reside in Mandeville, LA. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball, reading, and traveling. His motto is “Bet the Farm on God.” Website: www..capitolcommissionlouisiana.org Email: MDSprague00@bellsouth.net and connect on Facebook @michael.w.sprague Acknowledgments The "Building the Bridge" Podcast is a production of The KINGDOM Group International, Inc., all rights reserved. KINGDOMGroup.co --- Music by Artist: Jorge Quinter, Track Information Title: 300 Violin Orchestra Genre: Orchestral YouTube of the artist: goo.gl/155iWH Music provided by Music Library: youtu.be/R4vNfzz8__s --- Production by MINE You Business Virtual Solutions MINEYoBiz.com Stay Connected to the KINGDOM Group To keep in touch with us, on social media platforms @kingdomgroupbr --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kingdomgroup/message

It is time for a revolution that begins in our homes, sparked by prayer.  Today, Moms in Prayer President, Sally Burke, and Lee Nienhuis switch roles to talk about the true goal of motherhood, and how we can raise children who live counterculturally.  This conversation is laced with the nuts and bolts of revival and how children have played a historical role in changing culture supported by their prayerful parents.     About our Guest: Lee Nienhuis is an author and passionate Bible teacher.  She is a Communications Specialist for Moms in Prayer International and the Host of the Moms in Prayer Podcast. Lee’s writing and speaking have been featured on Focus on the Family broadcast and magazine; True Woman; Proverbs 31, Hearts at Home, Iron Sharpens Iron conferences; GEMS Girls Clubs; and American Heritage Girls.  Lee shares a dynamic vision for the next generation of Christ followers. Lee’s new book, Countercultural Parenting, released in June 2020.  Her first book Brave Moms, Brave Kids released in 2018 also with Harvest House.  Lee and her husband, Mike, have four great kids and live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan where her husband serves as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for three campuses.  Mike and Lee have four great kids who make her need Jesus like she needs oxygen.  Lee loves hot cups of coffee, laughing till her sides ache, and Jesus.    Links:  To access Lee’s Character Quiz:  www.TheCharacterQuiz.com Lee’s Day-by-Day Character Prayer Calendar can be found at www.CounterCulturalParenting.com. To learn more about Lee’s writing and speaking ministry: www.LeeNienhuis.com Books: Countercultural Parenting: Building Character in a World of Compromise by Lee Nienhuis Brave Moms, Brave Kids by Lee Nienhuis   Moms in Prayer International- www.MomsInPrayer.org

“Prayer is an umbrella that brings protection and provision into the lives of people we love.“  In this episode, Lee sits down with her husband Mike to discuss the building of a family prayer legacy and the benefit of being a Moms in Prayer family.  Join them as they explore the role of prayer in marriage, the gift of praying grandparents, and the unique prayer training Moms in Prayer offers.    About our Guests: Mike and Lee Nienhuis live at Grace Adventures, a Christian Camp and Conference Center in West Michigan.  They have four great kids and love to travel, visit museums, and serve together.  Lee is a Communications Specialist for Moms in Prayer International and the Host of the Moms in Prayer Podcast.  You can connect with Lee on any social media platform at @LeeNienhuis.   To purchase Awaken Hope tickets: https://momsinprayer.org/events

Abby Banfield joins us as we talk about strategic friendships and how it's beneficial to have Martha-mentors and Mary-mentors. We dive into: the blessings and blunders that surface in these types of relationships, the beauty of quick mentor moments, and how you can glean wisdom from those you may never meet in person. Discover the spiritual growth and spontaneous fun that can take place within organic mentoring, in this lively conversation. Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post. If you choose to purchase through the links, I may be compensated at no additional cost to you. See full disclosure policy.  Theme Music: “Driven” from Katie Reid's “Echoes of My Heart” Album. https://www.katiemreid.com/singer/ Show Sponsor: Special thanks to The Prayerful Planner. Things We Talk About: Titus 2:3-5 (ESV) Abby Banfield: Our dear friend (and the first interviewee on this podcast) is a wife, mom to two adorable boys, the Program Consultant at Grace Adventures, an Enneagram 7, and an all-around great gal. :-) We mention Abby on Episode 1 and Episode 3 Lee's Book Launch Party Katie's Book Launch Party Bair Lake Bible Camp Mary-mentors and Martha-mentors Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by Stasi Eldredge (this was the book we went through for the long-distance Bible Study). Organic Mentoring James 1:5  Today's Verse: Proverbs 11:14  "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Connect on Facebook by joining the Made Like Martha Sisterhood Connect on Instagram: @madelikemartha Our IG Handles: @leenienhuis @katie_m_reid Our Hashtag: #marthamaryshow  Episode Producer: Jeanna Lesausky Subscribe to the website to stay up-to-date!   

It takes planning to host a party! Birthday parties, summer cookouts, holiday gatherings, and special events can be a lot of fun, and a lot of work. As you can imagine, Katie and Lee have different party planning styles. In this light-hearted episode, they chat about: their favorite aspects of parties, how to better serve guests, and ideas for simplifying events so you don't stress yourself (and your guests) out.  Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post. If you choose to purchase through the links, I may be compensated at no additional cost to you. See full disclosure policy. Theme music: "Driven" from Katie Reid's "Echoes of My Heart" Album. https://www.katiemreid.com/singer/ More Info: Episode #2: Our Worth + God's Worthiness, Lee's book launch party, Katie's book launch party Show Sponsor: Amelia Rhodes, Speaker and Author of Isn't It Time for A Coffee? and Pray A to Z https://www.ameliarhodes.com/ Featured Resource: Bair Lake Bible Camp https://www.blbc.com/ Grace Adventures https://graceadventures.org/ Today's Verse: Romans 12:10 Our IG Handles: @leenienhuis @katie_m_reid Our Hashtags: #marthamaryshow  Episode Producer: Angie Elkins of Chatologie

Discerning Your Purpose Have you ever wondered why you're on this planet? To glorify God and build His Kingdom is the answer that's true for all of us, but what about you specifically? What are you made to do? Show Notes: Welcome back to More than Milk; I’m Hannah Rebekah. As we’ve been talking about walking in the Spirit and knowing what God’s will for your life is the last few weeks, I’ve emphasized that it’s really not about finding one big “will” of God and you can then spend the rest of your life doing but rather listening moment-by-moment to what God wants you to do now. This keeps us reliant upon God and humble as we wait on Him. But you might be thinking, ‘That’s all well and good for the daily things, but what about when I have a really big decision? How do I know what God wants from me then?’ I’m going to answer that in a few different ways. First of all, understanding what God wants in the big things is built on a foundation of listening to what God wants in the little things. If you’ve made a habit of not paying attention to the nudges from the Holy Spirit throughout your life and then one day realize you need God’s help to make a big decision, it’s going to be a lot harder to hear Him. Only asking God’s opinion when you recognize your wisdom has run out is turning what is supposed to be a relationship into an emergency service. That’s not the design, and it won’t work well. The second thing I would advise during bigger, more difficult decisions is to not discount the input from those around you. I have seen so many people regret their college or major choice and so many couples end up miserable or divorced because they refused to listen to the advise of people who loved God and loved them. When we’re in the middle of a big decision, our emotions get tangled in with the logic. Often we really can’t see straight. We need to be in the habit of asking for input from parents, friends, pastors, mentors, and anyone else who is invested in us and loves Jesus. This doesn’t mean abdicate the decision. You shouldn’t poll those around you and just decide based on the outcomes. Pray, fast, and think carefully through the implications of your decision, but don’t make it in a vacuum. The third thing I have found is helpful—or I guess sixth if we count praying, fasting, and thinking through implications—is understanding your purpose. This is where I want to spend most of today’s time. Purpose is a concept I was introduced to seven years ago when I first came to Grace Adventures. It took me awhile to really understand what it meant and even longer to know what mine was, but I hope I can at least give you a starting point to figure yours out today. The idea of purpose is all over the bible and is grounded in the truth of God’s sovereignty. Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.” Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” So we know at least God has an over-arching purpose for everything. God speaking through Moses to Pharaoh in Exodus 9:16 says, “However, I have let you live for this purpose: to show you My power and to make My name known in all the earth.” Acts 13:36, “For David, after serving his own generation in God’s plan, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed.” This tells us that clearly God has specific purposes in His grander plan for each person. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” God has planned out the good that we are to do for His Kingdom in our lifetimes. Now the idea of a life purpose is a little more intricate than that. It says that God has designed each person with an over-arching purpose for their lives and everything God has destined for them to do in this life more or less fits in that category. The verses above don’t get us quite this far. However, if we look at the way God has designed humans and human nature, we can observe a few things. God has made each of us with a unique appearance, set of skills, experiences, physical abilities, etc. While we can hone the skills we have and learn new ones to an extent, we can’t really change the way we were made. I will never be able to throw a football or ride a horse the way some of my more athletic friends can. I can get better than I am, but I just don’t have the body awareness they do. I can know how it’s done so well that I could teach someone else, but when it comes to actually getting my own muscles to do it, the finer points evade me. God could have made us way more adaptable than we are so that whatever He called us to on a particular day, we were able to do it. What an adventure that would be. Couldn’t ride a bicycle yesterday, but today you can. Couldn’t speak a language last week, but now no problem. God needs a Christian in the NBA, so now you can dunk. But that’s not the way in works. Instead, God deliberately designed each of us with built-in strengths and weaknesses. Why? First of all, I’m sure it’s to keep us humble. The fact that we can’t do everything reminds us that we’re human. Second, though, is because God has a specific purpose in mind for each of us, and He gave us the strengths and weaknesses we would need to fulfill that purpose. Whether you realize it or not, your weaknesses, though they may frustrate you at times, keep you on track. If you were good at everything, you would have a lot harder of a time figuring out where God wants you. You may have a lot of interests, hobbies, and skills, but if you can’t jump, at least you know you’re not supposed to play professional basketball. So if God has an over-arching purpose for my life, how do I find it? Great question. First, let’s define a little better what I mean by your purpose. It’s not where or how you do things, it’s what you do. Your purpose is not your job or career. People with very similar life purposes can be in vastly different fields. Let me give you a couple examples. My life purpose is to grow people spiritually. If I were to give it a little more detail and depth, I’d say my end goal is to help people progress in their spiritual walk to a point in which they can start developing those who are less spiritually mature around them. My core focus is identity formation, because I believe strongly that if you don’t have a grasp of what identity in Christ means and how to grow in it, you’re not going to move forward spiritually. Now that’s not necessarily a career. There are careers where that’s the main focus—youth pastor for one—but my job doesn’t have to be all about that for me to be able to fulfill my purpose. It does help me narrow down my career field. If I can’t live out my purpose at all in my work, like if I worked alone all day for example, that wouldn’t be good. I have a friend who’s worked his purpose down to a single word: disillusionment. He is quick to spot lies people are believing, call them out on them, and speak the truth. Our purposes are very similar, because if you remember, identity issues always come down to lies. However, the wording is important and shows how our approach is different. I like to cultivate truth and progress; he likes to spiritually attack lies. So now that we’ve defined purpose a little better, how do we figure it out? There are a couple of steps I’ve found helpful. The number one thing that helped me was realizing what made me spiritually excited. I don’t know if I can even fully explain what I mean by that. It’s when you have a moment of, “Oh my word, God, look what You just did through me!” For me, those moments are when I get to teach biblical truth and see fruit from it. That could be from teaching a Sunday school class, from someone seeking my advice, or just one of those life-on-life, spiritual/relational correction moments. My heart starts pounding excitedly, my mind is fully engaged, I get more expressive, and I can sense God working. If you can come up with a few of those moments and figure out what they have in common, you’re well on your way to knowing your purpose. If you’ve never had one of those moments, you should do a heart-check and figure out why. Are you refusing to do the things the Holy Spirit is telling you to? It could be that you’re living in fear because you don’t know your identity or believe that God always has your good planned in everything. Because of that, you’re missing out on the opportunities He wants to give you to see Him exemplify His power in your strengths and weaknesses. Non-spiritual things can also be indicators of where to look for your purpose. If you make a list of all the things you really love to do, I’m willing to bet there are patterns that will lead you in the right direction. I love to teach people things. I love to give advice. I love to come alongside and help. Those are all related to my purpose. I hope this gets you started thinking about and searching for your purpose if you don’t already know it. If you do, I hope you are energized to keep searching for opportunities to live it out! If you know what your purpose is, I’d love to hear about it. You can write me on facebook, Instagram, or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you! Next week we’re going to start a new series on the fruits of the Spirit. I hope you’ll join me then.

Fear and Anxiety Wrap-Up This week we're tying everything we've talked about in this series together, including a personal story about a fear I had, how I dealt with it (or didn't at first!), and the impact that has had on my life. Show Notes: Welcome back to More than Milk. I’m Hannah Rebekah. Today we’re wrapping up our series on fear by doing a little bit of review and tying together everything we’ve talked about so far. Fear is made possible when we move from mentally trusting God with everything to trusting in ourselves, our school, our car, or anything else. This happens all the time because we are forgetful people who are more likely to trust what we can see and touch rather than what we know is there but don’t experience physically so much. Fear actually happens when our trust in whatever it is we were trusting that’s not God is shaken. This could be anything from our car not starting, to political upheaval, to someone we love ending up in the hospital. In the moments when we hear the news, we feel the fear of what could happen now. Though you may or may not be able to recognize it, the thought process goes like this: I didn’t think this was possible (or I knew it was POSSIBLE, but I never thought it would happen to ME); now that this has happened, there are so many other terrible possibilities that could happen, too! And then we spiral in fear and doubt and “what if” scenarios. Fear is wrong because God is all powerful, sovereign, and in control of all things. He has promised that He will work all things together for our good. To be afraid of what could happen is to say God is either incompetent to take care of us or ignorant of our real needs. In order to fight fear, we have to first realize that we’re afraid, agree with God that it’s wrong, and be willing to fight back against it. Next, we have to dig down to understand our fear, to know what it is we’re really afraid of and admit that to God, ourselves, and another person. Finally, we have to identify the truth about God and His care and promises toward us and then tell it to ourselves over and over again, every time that fear starts to creep back into our minds. The reason that we battle fear is three-fold. First, God commands it. Second, conquering fear allows us to do the work of God’s Kingdom with a lot more freedom. Third, when we are successful at ridding fear from our lives—even a little bit—we are happier and more content with our lives. These three reasons are all connected. God created us to be happy in Him, to do His work, and to obey Him. When we fight back against fear by trusting God and His promises, we make all three of these purposes happen. Back in the Fall of 2016, I started working as an apprentice in the Guest Services department at Grace Adventures. This meant that I was responsible for contacting groups that were planning to come and make sure we had what we needed from them and they had what they needed from us. My primary mode of doing this was email because I had a long-standing fear of talking on the phone, specifically of calling people I don’t know. This avoidance technique worked pretty well until late Winter, early Spring, when we had to make camper calls. This is where all of the staff get a list of former camper families who have not yet registered for the summer and we spend a night or two a week calling them to see if they are interested in registering. It was like a nightmare come true. Somehow I powered through and survived, in large part because the fear of disappointing those I’m responsible to was stronger than that of talking to strangers on the phone. It was at that point that I realized I had a problem, though. I didn’t want to admit it to anyone, but I also didn’t want to struggle with it the rest of my life. That Summer, my role expanded a bit, and I was responsible for a lot more groups, many of whom did not communicate well over email and needed to be called. I finally admitted my fear to someone I trusted, which broke its power a little bit and helped cement that it was wrong and needed to be dealt with. I had recently finished writing the section in my book on fear about how to combat it. I knew what steps to take. I figured out that I’m afraid of misspeaking, giving the wrong information, or making some similar mistake that makes me look incompetent and reflects poorly on the organization I’m working for. This stems from two facets of my biggest identity issue. I falsely believe that my worth is based on my personal competence, and those who’s opinions matter the most about whether or not I am competent are those in positions over me. So if I make a mistake on the phone that makes that person think I’m incompetent, I think that diminishes by value, but if word of that somehow got back to my supervisor or the president of the organization, that would be crushing. This was an identity lie that I had been actively fighting for years, but it still had little footholds in places like fear of talking on the phone. What’s the truth that combats this? My value is defined and fixed by Christ. I will make mistakes—everyone does. When I do, it is not a reflection of what I am worth but of my humanity, and it makes me more relatable and approachable. If I really fail, it gives me the opportunity to display the grace and power of God in handling that situation. Those in positions of authority over me are just human, too. I can’t live by their measurement because it is at once too high and also too low. In some areas they will never be really pleasable, and that’s okay. In other areas, their standards aren’t as high as God’s, and that’s who I should be aiming to please. The summer became much easier as I started fighting this fear. There were still times when I would have to lock myself in the bathroom and tell myself those truths over and over before I could go back to my desk and make a particular phone call. A year later, I was asked to be the Welcome Center Manager at the campground. One of my biggest hesitations at first was that would require me to make a heck of a lot of phone calls to people I didn’t know. If I hadn’t been dealing with it the summer before, I doubt I would have accepted. The first month there, I had to fight the urge to have my staff make most of the phone calls. By the end of my time there, I didn’t even hesitate picking up the phone. Here’s why I tell you that story. Making phone calls to strangers is not the biggest fear I’ve ever had. It seemed fairly unobtrusive at first, something I could get around for the most part and just suffer through when I absolutely had to make a call. In general, it wasn’t changing my life much—or so I thought. What I didn’t realize was that this fear was like a leaf off a big identity lie tree. I had worked hard to chop big branches of that tree down, but there was more left to it than I realized. By fighting this fear, I am more confident in my identity in general, and that has impacted how much of myself I am willing to “put out there” in all areas of my life. I can point to multiple different opportunities I never would have taken a couple years ago that I jumped into now—some of which would seem to have nothing to do with talking on the phone. It can be very easy to look at a fear and say something like, “It doesn’t matter that much.” “I can suffer through that one.” Why would you want to? I know the reason, of course. In order to fight back, you’re probably going to have to tell someone about it. You’ll have to confront head-on whatever lie you’re believing about yourself, some version of, “You’re not good enough.” It’s easier to just sweep that under the rug and pretend like it doesn’t exist, but it doesn’t disappear when you try not to think about it. It spits out more lies, fears, and causes underlying anxiety, doing its very best to make you miserable. To confront that lie is frightening because you believe it, and if you don’t have enough ammo, it will eat you alive. That’s why you need the truth of who you are in Christ and someone else who knows scripture who can help you. In and of yourself, no, you are not good enough. But you are not alone. You’ll never be alone. Jesus Christ gave up His eternal glory, became a human, and lived a sinless life so He could die in your place and break the chains of darkness that held you. You are worth more than you know. If you have accepted Jesus’ offer of forgiveness, He has given you everything you need for life and godliness. In Him, you are enough. You will always be enough because He will never leave you. Nothing you do can make Him love you less, abandon you, or punish you. He will put you through hard things to refine you and make you a better person, to bring you into closer relationship with Him, but He promises to be with you through it. I AM THAT I AM is the most powerful being in the universe, and He loves you more deeply and intimately than anyone else could, even more than you can imagine. In Him, you are enough, and because that is true, you don’t have to be afraid of anything. I hope you’re willing to fight until you really, wholly believe that truth. Thanks for joining me on the podcast today. This concludes our series on fear and anxiety. Next week we’re going to start a new series on listening to the Holy Spirit and knowing and following God’s will for your life. I hope you’ll join me then.

Responses to Fear and the Three Basic Fears Ever since fear became a part of our reality, we’ve had three responses to it: trust, fight, or evade. We've also had three basic fears: physical pain, emotional pain, and loss of control. Listen in to see how these fears and responses play into our lives. Show Notes: Today we are talking about the responses to fear, the three basic fears, and one of the first steps in combating fear. Ever since fear became a part of our reality, we’ve had three responses to it: trust, fight, or evade. Evasion includes both fleeing and hiding—basic avoidance. The phone call comes that your mom is in the hospital. You hear through the grapevine that your boss wants to talk to you. Red flags start popping up that tell you your boyfriend might be cheating on you. Fear starts to take over, and your mind begins whirling in circles. What do you do? The instinct for most of us is to evade. Evasion can take a few different forms. For physical danger, evasion is pretty self-explanatory. You look for the best escape route or something big to hide behind. For emotional danger, evasion becomes more complicated. We might avoid seeing or talking to the person we’re afraid of or who is most closely related to what we fear. A few years ago, my grandma was dying of cancer. I was afraid of two things: that she was going to lose the battle and that I would only be able to remember her in her cancer-ridden form. After it started to really turn bad, I never went to see her. I hid behind excuses. That was a fear-dictated decision, it was wrong, and I regret it. Another way we try to evade what we fear is by pretending that what we fear isn’t happening or won’t occur. I’ve seen this in marriages a lot. Spouses ignore warning signs and go on as though life is normal, when it’s obvious that something needs to change. They’re afraid of what the other person will think if they bring it up, afraid of change, afraid of other people finding out they’re not okay, so they just ignore it. It never ends well. Putting on masks is another common form of evasion. Wearing masks is all about burying who we are and instead displaying who we think others want to see. We might try to be happy all the time because we’re afraid of seeing those around us in pain, and that’s what we think will help. We may change the way we act around different people because we’re afraid of rejection or not fitting in. We might go through life wearing the “I’m busy” mask, so that no one will be able to get close enough to hurt us. We may try to be perfect on social media, so that people will like us and envy us. We think hiding will keep us safe, but it is a lonely existence. The fight reaction is a little tricky to understand. The reason we fight is not always because we are afraid, and our response to fear is not always fighting. Sometimes fighting can mean we are pushing past our fear and trusting. So how do we tell the difference? The answer lies in our motives. Are we fighting to hide some deeper fear? If I lash out at someone for a comment they made that caused me to feel incompetent, I am giving into fear. However, if I stand up to a bully at school to protect the little guy, I might be fighting against fear. The questions is: is my choice to fight fueled by trust or fear? Not too long after I moved to work at a Grace Adventures for the first time, there was a night when I stayed out late for work. I had forgotten my flashlight and was forced to walk home in the dark. The route was still somewhat unfamiliar, and I found myself assailed by a number of fears. What if I get lost? What if a cougar or a bear jumps out of the woods and attacks me? What if a skunk walks out and I don't see him before it's too late? As the thoughts mounted and my blood pressure spiked, I heard one of the things I was dreading—growing and barking. It was a low and vicious sound. I wasn't aware that any of the staff families had dogs, and I was afraid that it was a wild mutt, willing to tear me limb from limb at the slightest provocation. At that moment, I had a choice: turn around and run for my life or stand and fight. I chose the latter and pulled my knife from my pocket. For the life of me, I can't remember why I stayed. It might have been because I was too scared to walk back through the dark to find another route home, in which case my decision to fight was only a choice between two fears. It might have also been that I had a brief moment of God-given trust that either He would not let me be attacked by a wild dog or He would use such an attack for my good. Either way, I pressed on, edging slowly along the road as close to the tree line as I could in the dark. The dog continued to growl and bark, but I guessed at that point that he was either on a leash or unwilling to follow through on his threats. After what seemed like forever, I finally made it far enough down the road that I could tell the dog was behind me, and I ran home faster than the fifth little piggy. Whether we fight or evade depends on what we fear and how close the source of that fear is to us. Without God's help, if we think it’s possible to escape our fears, we will attempt to hide, cover up, divert, deceive, and run until evasion is no longer an option. The dark, spiders, driving off a bridge, public speaking, camping, apologizing, singing anywhere except the shower, snakes, disappointing people in authority, people finding out our deepest secrets, drowning, clowns, being attacked by wild animals, needles, and being unable to help those we care about. These are just a few common fears. Do you share any of them? Even though these fears are wildly diverse, they can all be boiled down to three basic fears: physical pain, emotional pain, and loss of control. Like we saw last week, every fear really comes down to a loss of control. When we don’t trust God and believe that He is in control, we either take our safety and well-being into our own hands or put our trust in the control of others, like government, insurance, or parents. Fear comes into play when we realize that our control or that of those we trust is insufficient. I am afraid of the dark because I don’t know what is out there and whether or not I can handle it. I am afraid of making close friends because they might leave or hurt me, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m afraid of the future because I don’t know what is out there and if it is beyond my abilities. It’s all outside my control, and that is terrifying. You might have felt safe at school, because you were trusting the security that was in place. But then you hear that there was a shooting at a school with the same security measures as yours. Suddenly your trust in the system is gone, and you’re afraid. You thought they had control, but now you realize they don’t. The second type of fear is emotional distress. These are fears we have because we are ultimately afraid of things like embarrassment, criticism, or anger aimed toward us. I’m afraid of public speaking because of what people might think and say about me and because I may mess up and embarrass myself. I fear praying out loud and making phone calls to strangers for the same reasons. I’m afraid of social interactions because I fear rejection and the pain that comes with that. I’m afraid of losing everything I own in a house fire and the emotional pain that comes with that. Other fears that stem from this include: abandonment, being alone, failure, commitment, and intimacy with others. Perhaps the most obvious type of fear is physical pain or injury. I am afraid of spiders, heights, driving in traffic, snakes, and my car door opening on the highway all because they have the potential for physical pain. Most fears are a combination of at least two, if not all three of these basic fears. Death is a good example of this. Many people are afraid of death. Why is this? Firstly, they are afraid of what will come after. That is a huge unknown that elicits the fear of loss of control. Secondly, people are afraid of the process of dying. This can be an emotionally difficult and physically painful time, especially if there is a long, drawn-out illness involved. Another example would be doing something adventurous or physically demanding you’ve never done before, especially with other people. I went skiing for the first time last year with some friends. I am not the most physically capable person on the planet. Throwing and catching a frisbee is difficult for me. I was afraid that the friends I was going with, who are all quite athletic and had been skiing before, would ridicule me for my ineptitude or leave me to do more intense hills. That’s emotional pain. I was also afraid that I would not be able to stop and would crash. That’s both loss of control and physical pain. When we are afraid, there is one thing we convince ourselves that we cannot do. We can’t ever let anyone know what we are afraid of. If we admit that to anyone—even ourselves sometimes—we are convinced that our fear is more likely to become reality or that people will think less of us because of it. In fact, one of your fears might be that people will find out what you’re afraid of. But that is a lie. Keeping our fears secret is not in our best interests. Our fears are always built upon foundations of lies. When we start to open up about them, we realize these foundations are false, and we start to become free. When we are happy and free, we are incredibly useful to God. That is the last thing that Satan, the father of lies, wants. I cannot emphasize this enough. You have to let people in. You must let them see the deep fears, the socially unacceptable ones that you think you’re the only one who struggles with. Only then will you recognize the lies for what they are and be able to believe the truth. Letting people see the darkness is the first step in becoming free from fear. In order for lies to continue, they need more lies to back them up. If you’ve ever lied, you know this. It’s not enough to tell one little “white” lie. Someone will see through it if you don’t add more lies to it. The only solution for the mess we make is truth. The same is true when it comes to the foundations of lies beneath our fears. If we allow people we trust to know the things we’re afraid of, they will spread truth into our lives and dismantle the fortress of lies that surrounds us and builds our fears. I hope this week you take a chance and tell someone you’re close to something that really frightens you that you’ve never told them before. See what happens. Thanks for joining me on the podcast today. Next week we are going to talk through a process I call funneling and how we can use that to fight against fear in

Identity in Christ: My Testimony Why am I so passionate about making sure those around me understand what it means to have their identity in Christ? It's because I lived a long time as a believer without this knowledge, and when I finally got it, it drastically changed my life for the better. Show Notes: I grew up in a Christian home, went to church every week and AWANA every Wednesday, and I believed in Jesus and His sacrifice for my sin at the age of about seven. Even with all that exposure and training, I don’t remember hearing the words “identity in Christ” or hearing a sermon preached on what Paul means when he says over and over “in Christ” (which is the New Testament’s way of saying “identity in Christ”). Now I don’t have a perfect memory, so it’s completely possible that these things were talked about some, but I can reasonably conclude that they weren’t emphasized as the cornerstone of discipleship that they are. The first time I distinctly remember hearing the term “identity in Christ,” I was sitting in a meeting with the Program Administrator at Grace Adventures, talking about the possibility of doing an internship there. I wanted to do the camping apprenticeship one, and he said the gap year was more what I needed. The purposes of that program would be to help me know what I’m doing with my life and what my next steps are AND understanding my identity in Christ. I knew for sure I needed the first. The second I had heard vaguely from a distance and suddenly had the notion that this was what my spiritual life needed next, but if you’d asked me to define it, I would have been completely incapable. Those nine months changed my life completely. The first book we read as a group was Victory over the Darkness by Neil Anderson (which I’d highly recommend). In it was a list of things that are true about us as believers, much like the list I read to you toward the beginning of this series. The book instructed you to read them out loud to yourself several times. I thought this was lunacy, and I definitely lied about it when our instructor asked in the group discussion if we’d done it. I thought I knew those truths, and so I wasn’t going to do what I thought would make a fool of myself, even if it was just me in the room. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I only knew of those truths. I didn’t know them. To really know something is to connect with it mentally and emotionally and then to apply it to your life so that it changes you. In that sense, I knew nothing of identity in Christ. Though I would have adamantly denied it at the time, what I really knew of Christianity was classic legalism. I had head knowledge of much more than that, of course, but it hadn’t reached my heart or changed my life. Later on in that internship, we attended the Christian Camp and Conference Association regional section conference. Basically, it’s where a bunch of staff from Christian camps all over the state or wider, depending on the year, get together and learn more about camping, connect, and relax. It’s wonderful. The speaker that year was a guy named John Lynch. His first message was about identity in Christ, and he told it in first-person story form. It connected all the dots for me. My head was spinning by the end, and I spent an hour journaling. I felt like giant chains I’d been wearing for years suddenly lifted off. I practically bounced around campus the rest of the conference. The particular lies that I had been believing were that God’s love for me was determined by my performance, good or bad, and that my value as a person was based on what other people thought of me. Particularly, I wanted to be known as the studious one who always does things correctly, knows the answers, and is always willing to help. While there’s nothing wrong with those things to a point, since I was basing my value in people thinking that of me, there was no room for anything else. I couldn’t be silly or emotional in public. I could never say what I thought if I wasn’t 100% sure it was right. And I had a hard time telling people ‘no.’ This led to a host of fears. I was scared of just about everything you can think of. It was impressive, really. Every unknown, every possibility for failure, every opportunity where I might not be able to keep complete control of my emotions was to be avoided at all costs. This was not a very fun life to live. After the conference, it was like the flood gates of emotion I’d been holding back were released. I smiled in public. I couldn’t stop smiling, actually. I  got in trouble for being too boisterous, and it was okay, because my worth wasn’t based on what people thought of me. I was free. In the six years since then, I’ve continued to learn what it looks like practically to live out these truths. I have put so many fears to death, taken risks, and made so many mistakes along the way. And I’ve tried my hardest to help others come to know the incredible truths that if you’re saved, God’s love is not conditional on your actions, He has no wrath left for you because it was all exerted on the cross, and He has a plan for your life that will boggle your imagination. If you don’t truly know that yet, I hope that by listening to this podcast, some of your own chains have started to fall away. Next week we’re going to look at some things we can mistakenly find our identity, the signs of that, and how to reorient our lives based on truth. I hope you’ll join me then.

Ben VanderKodde is a Moms in Prayer son, married to a Moms in Prayer mom.  In this episode, we explore the benefits of being fervently prayed over for a lifetime.  You will be challenged by the intentionality and climate set within the walls of a praying home.  Ben and Lee discuss helping children find their identities in Christ.     About Our Guest: Ben VanderKodde is the Trainings Director for Grace Adventures, a Christian camp, training and conference center in West Michigan. Through story and Bible teaching Ben engages audiences of all ages with the Word of God. Ben is married to his beautiful wife, Laura, and together they have four great kids.  Ben likes to be active and outdoors which is fantastic because he has lived at camp for 18 years.  To connect with Ben- www.graceadventures.org Moms in Prayer International- www.MomsInPrayer.org