The Strong Women Podcast

From bookstore shelves to social media groups, there’s no shortage of guidance out there for raising babies, toddlers, and teens. But what about those of us parenting adult children? What does it look like to love them well without over-parenting or disengaging? What if they’re estranged from us? Gaye Clark joins us this week to share her well-earned wisdom about walking with Christ as we parent adult children.    Loving Your Adult Children: The Heartache of Parenting and the Hope of the Gospel by Gaye B. Clark  Things Not Seen by Jon Bloom  The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson  The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt     In collaboration with Focus on the Family, we are excited to announce the next Lighthouse Voices on Tuesday, November 12 at 7pm MT. Lighthouse Voices is a livestreamed event series designed to help Christians navigate today’s cultural landscape with truth and love.  Joining us this month is author and theologian Os Guinness, who will answer the question, “What is the True Meaning of Love?” Contrary to popular belief, concept of “free love” proposed by the sexual revolution is neither freeing nor loving. It’s costly and dehumanizing. But God’s design for love and sex is good, true, and lifegiving. What would it look like for us to start a Christian sexual revolution that displays God’s design for love to a world that’s longing for the real thing? Join us on November 12 for answers and encouragement. This conversation will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. To attend via livestream or in person in Colorado Springs, register for free today at colsoncenter.org/lighthouse.   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     

God doesn’t need you to do big things for Him. He wants you to take the small steps of obedience that are right in front of you. These small steps eventually led Amy Ford to start Embrace Grace, a ministry dedicated to helping churches support women and families facing unplanned pregnancy. Tune in to hear how the Church can make abortion unthinkable by creating a culture of love, encouragement, and tangible support.   Embrace Grace  A Legacy That Lasts: Preserving and Transferring Your Family Values by Trudy Cathy White Give today at colsoncenter.org/swoctober to receive your copy of What Do I Say When...? by Andrew and Christian Walker and a year-long subscription to the Identity Project. 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     

Have you ever grieved so deeply that you can’t find the words to pray? In seasons of suffering, praying prayers written by other believers can help us bring our weary hearts to the Lord. Jessika Sanders and Eric Schumacher have written a book of these prayers, In His Hands: Prayers for Your Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis. They join us this week to talk about the comfort and power of prayer in times of suffering.   In His Hands: Prayers for Your Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis by Jessika Sanders and Eric Schumacher  Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard  You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That's Good News by Kelly Kapic  Praying Through Ministries    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's cohort an 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     

In our sexually confused culture, “The Talk” just doesn’t cut it anymore. But neither does silence about sex, especially from the Church. If talking to the next generation about sex makes you feel overwhelmed, unprepared, or just plain awkward, this conversation is for you! Kristen Miele, founder of Sex Ed Reclaimed, equips us to disciple the next generation toward healthy, God-honoring sexuality.    Sex Ed Reclaimed  The Identity Project  Our Bodies Tell God's Story by Christopher West  The Sex Talk You Never Got: Reclaiming the Heart of Masculine Sexuality by Sam Jolman  Unwanted by Jay Stringer    Give today at colsoncenter.org/swoctober to receive your copy of What Do I Say When...? by Andrew and Christian Walker and a year-long subscription to the Identity Project.   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     

Do you wonder if God will forgive that sin or heal that wound? The one that still haunts you? You’ll want to listen to today’s episode. After a dysfunctional family life, sexual abuse, and two abortions, God saved Sheri Friedman and led her on a long journey of healing. Sheri’s story reminds us that God redeems the darkest parts of our stories and frees us to offer His redemption to others.    Healed in Mercy  Agape Women’s Clinic  Colson Fellows  Rachel’s Vineyard  Unveiling Grace: The Story of How We Found Our Way out of the Mormon Church by Lynn K. Wilder  Let Justice Roll Down by John M. Perkins  Heaven by Randy Alcorn    Give today at colsoncenter.org/swoctober to receive your copy of What Do I Say When...? by Andrew and Christian Walker and a year-long subscription to the Identity Project.   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       

What anti-life lies do pro-life Christians believe? According to Riley Schneider, many Christians have subtle assumptions about children, parenting, and flourishing that contradict their pro-life convictions. And these lies are hindering the pro-life movement. As a young woman who faced death head-on, Riley is passionate about promoting life by advocating for unborn babies and parents in crisis. Tune in to hear her story and learn what Christians must do if we’re truly going to protect vulnerable lives in our anti-life culture. Voices for the Voiceless  Students for Life poll  Traction by Gino Wickman  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling  Strong Women is a listener funded program from The Colson Center. To join our community of women who make this free program possible, visit colsoncenter.org/swmonthly. We are excited to officially invite you to the 2025 Colson Center National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, May 30 to June 1, 2025. Our theme this year is “Be the Church.” We talk a lot about the Church on Strong Women, because the Church is God’s plan A for restoring all things. In our day and age, it’s easy to think of the Christian faith only in individual terms. But God is not just saving individuals—He's making a People, the Church. And before the Church can do what we’re called to do, we must first understand who we are as the body of Christ. We'll explore that question this year, and hear from fantastic speakers like Rosaria Butterfield, Scott Klusendorf, Carl Trueman, and many others. So, come join us at CCNC 2025 and learn with the Church what it means to be the Church. For more details, or to secure your seat, go to colsonconference.org.  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

When Jullie and Matt Love opened The Well, their goal wasn’t just to serve great coffee, but to share the life Jesus promises in John 4:14. Through deep conversations and ongoing relationships, they’re making disciples in one of the most diverse and busy cities in the country. Tune in to see how their commitment to loving their literal neighbors over the long haul has transformed their community and family. Show Notes: The Well Coffee House: https://www.thewellcoffeehouse.com/  Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver  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 

How can the Church lovingly engage with the transgender movement? This week, Dr. Katie McCoy guides us through the complexities of gender ideology, celebrating the diversity between men and women, and exploring how Christians can effectively care for those affected by transgender ideology. Join us to understand the balance of truth and love in this challenging conversation.   Summit Ministries - https://www.summit.org/  Identity Project - https://identityproject.tv/  The Meaning of Sex – J. Budziszewski   Genesis of Gender – Abigail Favale  To Be a Woman: The Confusion Over Female Identity and How Christians Can Respond – Katie McCoy  Love Thy Body - Nancy Pearcey  Theology of the Body - Pope John Paul II  Our Bodies Tell God Stories - Christopher West  God and the Transgender Debate - Andrew Walker   When Harry became Sally – Ryan Anderson      No habit is neutral. To help you develop Christ-centered habbits, grab a free copy of Habits that Aim our Affections at colsoncenter.org/habits.   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     

“When our churches are ugly, it’s a bad witness.” That’s what this week’s guest believes—what do you think? Roberta Ahmanson is Christian, journalist, and art lover. Alongside her husband Harold, she advocates for Christians filling the world and the Church with beauty. Tune in to discover why art matters and why our sacred spaces should reflect the beauty of the Heavenly City.  Peter Bruegel artwork  Visual Commentary on Scripture  Image Journal: A Conversation with Roberta Ahmanson  Godshuizen in Bruges, Belgium  Ancient Christian Doctrine Series edited by Thomas C. Oden  Plutarch’s Lives  King and Emperor, A New Life of Charlemagne  Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugate series in Alaska    No habit is neutral. To help you develop Christ-centered habbits, grab a free copy of Habits that Aim our Affections at colsoncenter.org/habits.     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     

Päivi Räsänen, a former Finnish Minister of the Interior and a current parliamentarian known for her strong Christian beliefs, shares her powerful legal battles over free speech sparked by her biblical views on marriage. She reflects on her childhood faith and the decline of Christianity in Finland, discussing the tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ issues. Throughout her trials, she emphasizes resilience, the importance of community, and daily spiritual practices, offering insight into her journey of faith and the transformative power of sharing the truth.