Making The Leap

With a major, national election just around the corner, the Stigalls contemplate with their pastor, Dr. Ken Parker the role of the church and its leaders' in discussing civics, voting, and education with our school-aged kids and how they do or don't compliment our primary focus - Jesus, and the Word of God. Is your church speaking up about the issues of the day and advocating for your Christian walk through your week? Is your church leadership bold, or lukewarm? Christian schools thrive when they're inhabited by students and teachers who come from strong, truth telling churches. Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Chris and Christine have a pretty cool job at the Herzog Foundation getting to talk to you every week on this podcast. But if you know anyone headed for college or is currently enrolled in, or about to finish their college education - you should let them know about THE coolest job inside our Herzog Foundation headquarters. Become a Herzog Ambassador! Today, you'll meet the diverse post-college grads who've joined our team to travel the country and introduce all the foundation has to offer those exploring Christian education. How did these men and women find their way here, who are they, and what do they think of their new job assignment?00:51 Sam Gonzalez06:45 Ian Foster11:49 Collin Bonnie17:01 Esther Rea22:31 Jaylynn Hall29:21 Madelyn Stout36:58 Jenna LarsonFollow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

We bring back a familiar voice to Making the Leap this week. Ginny Gentles - a senior fellow at Independent Women's Forum - has now joined with a fairly new D.C. based organization called the Defense of Freedom Institute where she serves as the Director of Education Freedom and Parental Rights. Ginny's mission is to push for more educational freedom at the national level and make parents aware across the country of not only options to public education, but also holding the public school teachers' unions accountable. In this episode, we discuss her agenda and the obvious need that exists for parents to have as many options available to them as possible for their kids' educations. Follow Ginny on X @GinnyGentles and at dfipolicy.orgFollow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Sometimes we hear churches find reasons why opening their doors to Christian schools or homeschool programs doesn't work for them. We've never heard of a church totally destroyed, only for the leadership to declare - "We must rebuild, and this time with a school!" That's the story of Victory Church in Bloomington, Illinois - home to Foundation Christian Academy. Hear from the executive pastor Jarrod Herald who shares how a 23,000 square foot church had to be completely leveled after a fire and what his father, the senior pastor of the church said God asked him to do in a dream when it was time to rebuild. And like everything, when God is in the plan - watch how He works in this story!Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Join Chris and Christine this week as they talk with Joelle Fortin and Kelly Lyman, a dynamic pair of moms who have been working to create a pod school in southeast Pennsylvania. Joelle and Kelly share their experiences, success and strategies related to curriuculum and the day-to-day challenges they've encountered, relaying on faith and support from the families enrolled in their pod.Want to see how this story began over a year ago?  Jump back to Episode #33 of Making the Leap when this was something brand new on the heart of Joelle. Quite a change to today!  Reach out to Joelle on Instagram @fiveforleys or via email at pgapodlife@gmail.com Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

While there's never been a bigger selection and menu of Christian media options today, there's also never been a more aggressive push to silence those products. That's why the National Religious Broadcasters exist as an organization - to advocate for and defend Christian programming. President of the NRB, Troy Miller has invited the Stigalls to participate in producing Making the Leap from their annual convention and they will return next year with their colleagues from the Herzog Podcast Network and the Lion to formally join the NRB. In today's conversation we get a peek inside the battles Christian programmers sometimes fight to get their products to market for their audiences. The NRB has been in existence for over eighty years when radio was the primary media delivery system. Today, Christian media has expanded to network television, satellite and streaming radio and podcasts, publishing, and much more.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

The 47th Governor of Arkansas drops by to discuss how she championed school choice in her state. Don't miss it!Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Last week, Christine joined Emilie Lunt of "Heart and Soul Homeschool" to discuss the pioneering work of Bitterroot Heritage Academy. This week, the conversation continues as the Stigalls explore how a highly degreed professional educator and church administrator - Megan Gesler - weathered the highs and lows of bringing quality, Christian education to a small rural town in Montana.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

In a Herzog Podcast Network first, Christine Stigall of "Making the Leap" and Emilie Lunt of "Heart and Soul Homeschool" join forces for an important conversation for believers, no matter how you choose to educate your kids.  The ladies discuss the importance of Kingdom education.  Christine and Emilie talk with Christine Agin, co-founder of Bitterroot Heritage Academy in Montana who shares her story of faith, overcoming challenges, and honoring God's directions for her education endeavors.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

In part three of this three-part series, the Stigalls interview this year's recipients of the 2024 Excellence In Christian Education Awards.  Hear why these exemplary teachers from all over the country have been nominated and ultimately chosen by the Herzog Foundation for the highest honor in Christian education in the country! Each will be recognized formally at the annual awards ceremony in Washington D.C.'s Museum of the Bible this September.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.