Stand Firm Parents

Hello to Emotional Health: Beyond Therapy, Counseling, & Medication – Part 1 Therapy and medication matter. But emotional health is also forged in the ordinary, daily choices we make. In this episode of Stand Firm Parents, host Jake McCandless unpacks how parents can model emotional resilience in real time—when anger hits, when stress rises, when discouragement shows up. Emotional health isn’t just about us—it’s about the legacy we pass on. 💡 You’ll Learn: Why emotional health is about everyday choices, not just therapy How to regulate emotions before they explode Why kids mirror their parents’ emotional patterns How faith and emotional health work together in disciple-making 📲 Take the next step: Parents Commit Challenge 🌐 Learn more: StandFirmMinistries.com 💡 Key Takeaways Emotional health is shaped in small, daily decisions. Parents must model regulation, not just talk about it. Kids inherit our reactions—our rhythms become their reflexes. Scripture calls us to take thoughts captive and renew our minds as a daily practice. Discipleship and emotional health are inseparable. 📖 Bible References 2 Corinthians 10:5 – Take every thought captive. Romans 12:2 – Be transformed by renewing your mind. Proverbs 4:23 – Guard your heart, for everything flows from it. Ephesians 6:17 – Helmet of salvation to guard your thoughts.

Emotional and mental health have been taboo topics in many churches for too long. In this powerful episode of Stand Firm Parents, host Jake McCandless talks with Dr. Mark Dance—pastor, author of Start to Finish, and new Executive Director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention—to challenge that silence. 💡 What You’ll Learn Why emotional health is a biblical priority, not a trend The connection between Sabbath, boundaries, and resilience How to talk about mental health at home with honesty and grace Practical steps to build rhythms that sustain your soul and your family’s faith Mark shares his personal journey with depression and the humility it took to ask for help, offering encouragement and practical wisdom for parents and leaders. 🌐 Resources: MarkDance.net | About Mark Start to Finish Book ABSC Announcement StandFirmMinistries.com 💡 Key Takeaways Emotional health is essential for discipleship and leadership. Sabbath, hobbies, and boundaries are God’s protective rhythms. Parents modeling emotional honesty create spiritually resilient homes. Wise counsel and therapy are biblical strategies, not last resorts. Healing your own wounds stops generational cycles of pain. 📖 Bible References 1 Timothy 4:16 – Pay close attention to your life and teaching. Proverbs 11:14 – In an abundance of counselors there is safety. Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. Mark 12:30 – Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Isaiah 58:13–14 – Delight in the Sabbath.

Faith and therapy aren’t enemies—they’re partners. In this episode, Jake McCandless talks with therapist Corretta Woodard about: Why wise counsel is biblical Emotional health as the product of mental health Grounding, regulation, and practical tools How healing your wounds shapes your family’s future Guest Bio: Corretta Woodard “I’m not perfect. But I’m whole. And I’m here to make sure you know you can be too.” Corretta Woodard is a licensed therapist, U.S. Navy veteran, and the founder of The People Place Counseling Center in Bentonville, Arkansas. She’s the creator of BalancedME., a faith-fueled course that combines therapeutic tools with biblical wisdom for real-life emotional healing. Coretta also leads the thebestME. community, a sacred online space for women to grow in faith, wellness, boundaries, rhythm, and identity. 💛 Learn more / sign up: 👉 BalancedME. Course 👉 thebestME. Community + Brunch & Bloom events 👉 The People Place Counseling & Wellness 👉 Psychology Today Profile

🎉 50th Episode Celebration: The Top Lesson So Far After 50 powerful episodes, we’re pausing to ask: What’s the one lesson that’s changed everything? In this special celebration episode, Jake McCandless shares the top takeaway from 50 conversations, interviews, and experiences — and how it can reshape your parenting from the inside out. 💡 You’ll Learn: The #1 thing your child needs most How to disciple when you feel like a mess Why presence beats performance Jake’s most honest parenting moment yet Whether you’re new here or have been with us since episode 1, this one’s for you.

Persecution Is Coming Guest: Pastor Andrew Brunson, Author of God’s Hostage He spent two years in a Turkish prison for preaching Christ. Now he’s warning the Church: you’re not ready. In this gripping episode, Jake sits down with Pastor Brunson to talk about suffering, faith, and preparing the next generation to endure. 🎧 Listen now. 📘 Get God’s Hostage: Buy on Amazon » 🌐 Learn more: andrewandnorinebrunson.com

Real Life Standing Firm: Andrew Brunson’s Story of Faith Under Fire When persecution isn’t just possible but personal—what does faith look like? Dr. Andrew Brunson, falsely imprisoned for over 2 years in Turkey, joins Jake for a vulnerable and bold conversation on: The cost of standing firm Preparing the church for suffering Why parents need to disciple their children for trials—not comfort What he learned about faith in the fire 📚 Book: God’s Hostage 🌐 More: wavestarters.org

Jake McCandless closes out the Fully Integrated Faith series with a call to Christian parents: If your kids are going to stand firm in their faith, yours must come first. Discover how to move from devotionals to discipleship, and why the “church event” mindset must die. You’ll Learn: Why tools ≠ endgame How global Christians live fully integrated faith The secret to spiritual maturity in your daily routine Bio: Jake McCandless is the director of Stand Firm Ministries and the author of Spiritual Prepper. He helps families prepare for challenges of faith and disciple the next generation to stand firm. 🎧 More at www.standfirmministries.com

What if church wasn’t something you went to... but something you lived? In this deeply personal episode, Jake McCandless shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of his relentless pursuit to build a ministry that reflects the Acts 2 church — where discipleship, mission, and real-life faith collide. From wrestling with Sunday-only Christianity to stepping out in faith to build something more authentic, this isn’t just a story — it’s a roadmap for families who long to see faith fully integrated into every part of life. Whether you’re a parent, pastor, or just hungry for something more, this episode will challenge you to rethink what it means to follow Jesus in your home, church, and everyday life.

Guest: Dr. Jim Wilder, neurotheologian & author of The Other Half of Church What if the biggest barrier to passing on your faith… is your own maturity? In this powerful episode, Jake sits down with Dr. Jim Wilder to explore how brain science and spiritual formation come together to grow resilient, emotionally grounded believers — starting with parents. You’ll discover why character maturity is critical for lasting faith and how to build a discipleship model that transforms not just minds but hearts and homes. 🧠 Learn how your brain was designed to grow spiritually 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Discover how maturity impacts your parenting 🔥 Why emotional development is the missing piece in discipleship This episode is a wake-up call to raise warriors, not just well-behaved kids. 📚 Learn more at LifeModelWorks.org

Jake McCandless sits down with Dr. Jim Wilder to discuss the surprising connection between neuroscience and faith. Learn how your brain was designed to grow through joy and peace, how relational connections form the foundation of maturity, and how parents can use brain science to help their children develop a faith that truly lasts. Dr. Wilder also reveals how gratitude rewires the brain for resilience, and why a fully integrated faith is the key to spiritual and emotional health.   Key Takeaways: • Your brain was designed for joy—and faith should be fueled by it. • Maturity is about staying yourself when things go wrong. • Gratitude is brain training for spiritual and emotional health. • Parents can build resilience in their children through joy-based parenting.   Dr. Jim Wilder - Bio & Links  Dr. Jim Wilder is a neurotheologian, author, and the chief neurotheologian at *Life Model Works*, where he integrates brain science with spiritual formation to help individuals and communities grow in maturity and connection. He has dedicated his career to exploring the intersection of neuroscience and discipleship, helping people cultivate emotionally and spiritually healthy relationships. His work has profoundly shaped the field of relational discipleship and character transformation. 📖 **Growing We the People: More Human Community** – Get it on Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/Growing-People-More-Human-Community/dp/B0DG2SX5F1 🔗 Life Model Works – Learn more:   https://lifemodelworks.org