The Strong Women Podcast

Kori Pennypacker is the founder and CEO of Bible2School. Today she joins me to share her journey from navy wife to ministry leader, demonstrating how women can lead with biblical conviction while keeping Jesus at the center. I know you’ll be encouraged by her testimonies of children encountering Jesus and how the program is creating ripples of faith in schools across the country.  Show Notes:  Bible2School  colsoncenter.org/SWMonthly  Little Book of Forgiveness: A Pathway to Freedom by Kenward Jones  Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise by Horst Schulze    On Strong Women, we celebrate God’s good design for women in every season of life. It’s all part of a bigger mission: to help the Church be the Church—by celebrating what’s good, resisting evil, restoring what’s broken, and contributing what’s missing. As we approach our June 30 fiscal year end, we need your help to keep that mission going. You can support the next year of Strong Women, as well as all the other resources from the Colson Center, by making your best gift today at colsoncenter.org/swchurch.    The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

In a culture that increasingly devalues children and mothering, Rachael Carman challenges us to rediscover the profound beauty and value of motherhood, including the moments that feel tiring or even mundane. The vulnerability, sacrifice, and invisible acts of motherhood aren’t just duties to endure but sacred opportunities to meet Jesus and become more like Him.  Show Notes:  Apologia Curriculum  The Kristin Lavransdatter Trilogy by Sigrid Undset    Hey, listeners! You’ve probably heard me talk about the Colson Fellows Program here on Strong Women. I'm excited to let you know that the Colson Fellows team hosts one-hour, live, informational webinars that allow you to hear an overview of the program and get your questions answered. The webinars are hosted by the Vice President and Dean of the Colson Fellowship – my good friend, Michael Craven. If you enjoy the conversations we have on Strong Women and want to think more deeply about your place in God’s story of redemption, the Colson Fellows Program might be for you. Colson Fellows will take you on a deep dive study of Christian worldview through books, devotionals, meetings with likeminded peers, and more. If you’re interested, but have questions about the workload, cohort formats, or anything else, I encourage you to sign up for the next live, Colson Fellows informational webinar. You can find a full list of webinar dates and register today at colsonfellows.org/webinar.    The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Billy Hutchinson, an Educator Specialist at the Colson Center, passionately equips educators to shape a Christian worldview in their classrooms. He shares practical strategies for fostering deep roots of faith in young people before they enter the world. The conversation covers the critical role of teachers as role models and guides, the importance of integrating faith with education, and offers resources for effective youth development. Hutchinson also discusses empowering young women to navigate modern challenges and choose partners who share their faith.

The words we sing matter. They ‘catechize’ us, training us to see the world in a certain way and set our affections on something. Today I’m talking with Caroline Cobb, whose Scripture-saturated songs combine Truth and melody. Tune in for a conversation about the formational power of music and being intentional about the narratives we allow to shape our lives.   Psalms: The Poetry of Prayer by Caroline Cobb  Advent for Exiles by Caroline Cobb  Song: A Breath of a Prayer by Michael Card  The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis  The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis  The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien  The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson  The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom    You can provide foundational support to the Colson Center by becoming a Cornerstone Monthly Partner. The support of dedicated Monthly Partners helps us invest in believers worldwide as they seek to live with clarity, confidence, and courage. Monthly Partners provide our most dependable level support and get exclusive benefits from the Colson Center in return. To become a Cornerstone Monthly Partner, go to colsoncenter.org/swcornerstone.   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Christianity isn’t based on blind faith, but on the reality that Jesus lived, died, and rose again. Today I’m joined by apologist Sean McDowell to talk about all the evidence we have for the resurrection of Jesus, and how we can wisely engage with seekers and skeptics about the hope we have in Christ.    Show Notes:  Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture by Sean McDowell  Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God's Design for Marriage by Sean McDowell   Evidence for the Resurrection: What it Means for your Relationship with God by Sean McDowell and Josh McDowell  The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas  More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe On the Resurrection series by Gary Habermas   The Church Affiliate program brings the Colson Fellows Program to your local church. Pastors and church leaders can go through the Colson Fellows Program for free, so they are able to launch a Church Affiliate cohort and bring worldview training to their church members. For more details, visit colsoncenter.org/church.    Summit Ministries’ 12-day Student Conferences are for young adults who refuse to settle. It’s for those ready to take risks, ask big questions, and push past what’s comfortable. There, you’ll find friends who understand and mentors who will help you discover what it truly means to live with purpose. Register for Student Conferences using code STRONG25 for $200 off. Go to summit.org/promotions/strong women.   Educators—your worldview matters. It shapes your school. It shapes your classroom. It shapes your students. Are you cultivating a thoroughly Christian worldview? The Rooted Educator Worldview Summit is designed to help you do that. Join ACSI and the Colson Center June 16-18 in Grand Prairie, TX for this year’s Worldview Summit. The lineup of speakers is one you don’t want to miss: Dr. Larry Taylor of ACSI, author and speaker Brett Kunkle of Maven, author and speaker Alisa Childers, and more! This event is designed to help you cultivate your worldview so you can shape your students’ faith for a lifetime. Time is running out to register! Secure your spot today at acsi.org/rooted.   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Phylicia Masonheimer, a theologian and founder of Every Woman a Theologian, shares her insights on the intersection of theology and a passionate faith in Christ. She emphasizes that studying theology is accessible for everyone, especially women, and encourages listeners to engage deeply with Scripture. The discussion also highlights the challenges women’s ministries face, advocating for more profound teachings rather than superficial ones. Phylicia stresses the importance of including family in faith conversations, fostering community, and enriching personal growth.

Brooke Colón, the Director of the Colson Fellows Program, leads discussions on faith and cultural engagement, sharing how the program transforms participants’ perspectives. Martha Borders, a current Fellow, reflects on navigating empty nest challenges alongside her daughter. Together, they explore the journey of discovering personal calling and courage in a chaotic world, the power of community support, and the importance of a biblical worldview. Their personal stories underscore that engagement isn't just about answers, but about becoming who we are meant to be in faith.

Step into the enchanted world of the 12th-century nun Hildegard von Bingen. This multi-talented woman was a musician, playwright, abbess, and visionary (tune in to find out what that means!). Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson returns to explore how Hildegard’s life and work can shape our spiritual imagination and invite us to know God and participate in His world more fully.  The Identity Project  Breakpoint  The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis  Heavenly Participation by Hans Boersma  Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers   Lent is a time to reflect on our need for salvation, repent of our sins, and prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection with deep gratitude. Our team has created a free guide with weekly hymns, prayers, and artwork to help prepare your heart for Easter. Join the Strong Women community and download your free copy today at colsoncenter.org/lent.   Summit Ministries’ 12-day Student Conferences are for young adults who refuse to settle. It’s for those ready to take risks, ask big questions, and push past what’s comfortable. There, you’ll find friends who understand and mentors who will help you discover what it truly means to live with purpose. Register for Student Conferences using code STRONG25 for $200 off. Go to summit.org/promotions/strong women.   The Church Affiliate program brings the Colson Fellows Program to your local church. Pastors and church leaders can go through the Colson Fellows Program for free, so they are able to launch a Church Affiliate cohort and bring worldview training to their church members. For more details, visit colsoncenter.org/church.  The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center, which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them. Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women  Join Strong Women on social media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Lent is a time for reflection and reorientation toward Jesus. Good music can help us with both of these things. Today I get to talk with singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken about the practice of Lent and how hymns can help us face our humanity and bring it all to Jesus.   The Maker of the Mountain: A Story About What God is Like by Sandra McCracken and Tim Nicholson  Summit Ministries' 12-day Student Conferences are for young adults who refuse to settle. It’s for those ready to take risks, ask big questions, and push past what’s comfortable. There, you’ll find friends who understand and mentors who will help you discover what it truly means to live with purpose. Register for Student Conferences using code STRONG25 for $200 off. Go to summit.org/promotions/strong women. The Colson Center will be in Greenville, South Carolina on Thursday, April 3rd for its next Breakpoint Forum Live! My husband John Stonestreet will be speaking, along with Dr. Katie McCoy and Dr. Andrew Walker. The topic for the evening is, “A New Sexual Revolution: Living as Image Bearers, Male and Female.” Our culture today is confused about what it means to be male and female because it’s lost sight of what men and women are for. God’s Word tells us that God created men and women to bear His own image in the world. Join us for this event to learn how to recover a Christian vision for living as embodied, male and female image bearers of God before a watching world. This is a free event, but spaces are limited. Secure your spot by registering today at  colsoncenter.org/greenville.   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc     

Join me for a very musical episode with priest, musician, and songwriter Josh Bales! Josh and I explore how Lent helps us reckon with our brokenness. Tune in for a deep conversation on the beauty of liturgy and the deep hymns that can shape our worship during this season. Plus, Josh brings his guitar and breaks into song throughout the conversation!    Josh Bales: The story behind the album art for “Come Away From Rush and Hurry”     As of this month, the Identity Project is available for free! That’s right, over 200 videos from Christian experts on identity, sexuality, marriage, and more are available to you for free. We believe this platform is needed now more than ever, because our culture is so confused about identity, and that confusion is shaping the people we’re called to love and disciple. The Identity Project addresses important cultural questions about identity, relationships, and human flourishing from a distinctly Christian worldview, so you can be equipped to point those around you to a solid, biblical identity. The Identity Project features subject-matter experts like Laura Perry Smalts, Mark Regnerus, Katie McCoy, and more. So, join the Identity Project in this new chapter by exploring the platform and sharing it with others. Make your free account today at identityproject.tv.   Lent is a time to reflect on our need for salvation, repent of our sins, and prepare to celebrate Chirst's resurection with a deep gratitude. Our team has created a free guide with weekly hymns, prayers, and artwork to help prepare your heart for Easter. Join the Strong Women community and download your free copy today at colsoncenter.org/lent.   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc