The Parenting for Faith podcast

In today’s episode we speak to Bethany McIlrath about friendship.Bethany loves to get lost in a book and to help others discover their next read in her marketing role at The Good Book Company. When she's not reading stories, she's usually writing them or dreaming about them as she comes up with real-life creative adventures for friends, her husband, and a doorbell-like dog named Indy. Serving in children's ministry is also one of her greatest joys. Links: Abigail books https://www.abigailseries.com/ To listen to the original podcast episodes that the friendship drama chapter is based on: navigating friendship difficulties with Olly Goldenberg https://soundcloud.com/parentingforfaith-brf/s4-ep3-school-and-friendships-with-olly-goldenberg; dealing with mean kids with Rachel Turner https://soundcloud.com/parentingforfaith-brf/8-emotional-intelligence-dealing-with-mean-kids-and-explaining-guy-fawkes-and-religious-violence; making new friends with Rachel Turner https://on.soundcloud.com/XTFJdgDCRg7sYjq97; and managing emotions around friendships with Clare Luther https://on.soundcloud.com/XPj7LtWH1RHEw6zp8 Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/ Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

In today’s episode we speak to Esther Kuku about Stepparenting. Esther is a bio mum and Stepmum, and has been married for 12 years. She is passionate about step families and compassionate leadership. Stepping Up, her devotional for stepfamilies will be released in June 2026. Links: Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Preorder Esther’s book, Stepping Up https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stepping-Up-Esther-Kuku/dp/1800394241 Book one of The Forge gatherings for children’s, youth and family leaders https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/theforge/ Thank you for listening today. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/ Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

In today’s episode we speak to Wini Heron, a mum of three adopted children (17,8 and 8). Originally from Malaysia she now lives in Tasmania and is the Pastoral Care and Young Adult Minister at her church where she runs Parenting for Faith courses. She’s chosen to speak about gaming, which is a chapter of the A - Z of Parenting for Faith book (out October 2025). Links: Send us your questions about Easter or anything to do with helping kids and teenagers meet and know God at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Hear the original PFF podcast episode that the Gaming chapter is based on at https://on.soundcloud.com/T15NrERav7hzxrEa8 or scroll back to episode 116 of the very first season. The Forge Online - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-online-2025 The Forge in-person - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-in-person-2025 Thank you for listening today. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/ Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

In today’s episode we speak to Matthew White. Matthew White is a priest, poet and songwriter whose debut poetry collection, "Propelled into Wonder," was published in September 2024. He is married to Sarah and they have three children (9,7 and 4). We spoke to Matt about Lent and Good Friday, which is a chapter of the A - Z of Parenting for Faith book (out October 2025). Links: Journeying with Jesus free download for Lent - https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/lent-journeying-jesus/ Send us your questions about Easter or anything to do with helping kids and teenagers meet and know God at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Hear the original PFF podcast episode that the Lent and Good Friday chapter is based on at https://on.soundcloud.com/BihPDQuQz6sS4Y4s8 or scroll back to episode 23 of the very first season. The Forge Online - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-online-2025 The Forge in-person - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-in-person-2025 You can find more about Matthew and his work at @poetunearthed on Instagram, @priestlypoet on X or on his website https://www.matthewwhite.online or substack https://idleandblessed.substack.com/ Thank you for listening today. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/ Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

In today’s episode we speak to Kate Fear, Emerging Generations Coordinator at Trinity Church Nottingham. Kate loves Jesus and loves being an invested adult to many children including her nephew, five godchildren and the children at her church. She shares some thoughts on the shame chapter of the A-Z Parenting for Faith Book (out October 2025). Links: Book a group or church onto the original Parenting for Faith couse, which starts in March. https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-courses/products/the-original-parenting-for-faith-zoom-course-2025 The Forge Online - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-online-2025 The Forge in-person - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-in-person-2025 Hear the original PFF podcast episodes that the shame chapter of the A - Z of Parenting for Faith book is based on. https://on.soundcloud.com/3K6tjgoLKsZyfqbM9 or scroll back to episode #46 of the very first season. The six stage circle https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/the-six-stage-circle/ Session six of the original Parenting for Faith course which teaches the six stage circle https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/course/6-surfing-the-waves/ Find out about becoming a Parenting for Faith Champion like Kate https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/meet-team/all-about-champions/ Record a question or share a story at parentingforfaith.org/podcast. Thank you for listening today. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/ Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

In today’s episode we speak to CK and Chidiuto Imediegwu, a young christian couple from Milton Keynes. They are new parents looking forward to raising their daughter to meet and know God. They share some thoughts on the worship chapter of the A-Z Parenting for Faith Book (out October 2025). Links: Book a group or church onto the original Parenting for Faith couse, which starts in March. https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-courses/products/the-original-parenting-for-faith-zoom-course-2025 Hear the original PFF podcast episodes that the worship chapter of the A - Z of Parenting for Faith book is based on - #84 kids and worship https://on.soundcloud.com/pXnpYNbtfFxN4ggu7, #72 kids and songwriting https://on.soundcloud.com/PetL5j4jD5dBiL2t7 and #97 the power of songs https://on.soundcloud.com/AERLaEcAtfCwM46R6 or scroll back to these episodes in the very first season. Record a question or share a story at parentingforfaith.org/podcast. The Forge Online - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-online-2025 The Forge in-person - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-in-person-2025 Worship albums/artists mentioned: Shout to the Lord Kids https://open.spotify.com/album/3srxJtNh6S5SCHgxoMomWV The Corner Room https://www.cornerroommusic.com/ Seeds Kids Worship https://seedskidsworship.com/ Slugs and Bugs https://slugsandbugs.com/ Thank you for listening today. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/ Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

In today’s episode we speak to Matt and Alison Keddilty. Matt and Alison are a couple on mission in the North East of England. They love ministering to, and with, families, including their own six children. As an interacted couple, Matt loves ultra running and Alison loves her wheelchair. They chose the chapter from the A-Z of Parenting for Faith book on illness to share some of their story and how to navigate parenting for faith through the illness of a parent. Please be aware, this is an incredibly powerful episode that contains themes of illness, death and dying so you may choose to listen to it without children around or might decide it’s not helpful for you to listen to at all at the moment. It is also a longer than normal episode to enable them to share sensitively and more in depth about this topic. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.-Joshua 24:15b Links: Book a group or church onto the original Parenting for Faith couse, which starts in March. https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-courses/products/the-original-parenting-for-faith-zoom-course-2025 The Forge Online - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-online-2025 The Forge in-person - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-in-person-2025 Hear the original PFF podcast episodes that the Illness chapter are based on: What if I have cancer? https://soundcloud.com/parentingforfaith-brf/s5-ep7-what-if-i-have-cancer and Where is God when life is tough? https://soundcloud.com/parentingforfaith-brf/s10e3-where-is-god-when-life-is-tough-eric-schumacher-and-jessika-sanders Thank you for listening today. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/ Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

In today’s episode we speak to Olof Bradt, who works at both the Bible Society in Sweden and Scripture Union Sweden . He is married to Rachel and they have four children, aged between 2 and 16. He shares some thoughts prompted by the chapter of the A-Z Parenting for Faith Book on helping older kids engage with the Bible and the Here To Stay research in Sweden. Links: Book a group or church onto the original Parenting for Faith couse, which starts in March. https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-courses/products/the-original-parenting-for-faith-zoom-course-2025 Here to stay research from Australia https://here2stay.org.au/ Hear the original PFF podcast episodes that the Helping older kids engage with the Bible chapter is based on: #56 Equipping kids to find answers in the Bible https://on.soundcloud.com/SDmrUNTeBazHqcUbA, #111 How to help our kids love the Bible https://on.soundcloud.com/5uyW2DvSQttXTajD8, S2E1 Framing the Bible’s origins and understanding the whole story of the Bible https://on.soundcloud.com/oDHjkoA1TiB1jqrt9 The Forge Online - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-online-2025 The Forge in-person - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-in-person-2025 Finally we’d love you to do one of these three Ps today: Participate - email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk with your stories, become a Parenting for Faith Champion https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/meet-team/all-about-champions/ or rate review and subscribe to the podcast. Pray with us - brf.org.uk/get-involved/pray Pennies or pounds - If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/. We are so grateful for all donations, big or small.

In today’s episode we speak to Caitlin Boddy, a single mum to an 11-going-on-15 year old, from the outskirts of Edinburgh. Caitlin used to be a primary teacher and now works for her local church. We asked Caitlin to share her thoughts on arguments, not because she’s especially argumentative but because A is top of our list! She chose two extracts from the arguments chapter in A - Z of Parenting for Faith (out in Oct 2025), one called ‘More than obedience’ on helping our kids be who they’re called to be not just getting them to do what we want and one called ‘Progress not perfection’. Links: - Book a group or church onto the original Parenting for Faith couse, which starts in March. https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-courses/products/the-original-parenting-for-faith-zoom-course-2025 - Hear the original PFF podcast episode that the Arguments chapter is based on at https://soundcloud.com/parentingforfaith-brf/s7e14-the-one-about-arguing-well or scroll back to Season 7 Episode 14 on your podcast app. The Forge Online - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-online-2025 The Forge in-person - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-forge-gathering-in-person-2025 Thank you for listening today. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/ Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

For our first episode of 2025, Anna Hawken, Parenting for Faith Ministry Lead shares about the A-Z of Parenting for Faith - a brand new book which will be out in October 2025 and the focus for this season’s podcast. We’ll be picking all sorts of hot Christian parenting topics, collating the wisdom of previous guests and finding out what this looks like on the ground by interviewing you! Links Book onto the original Parenting for Faith course on zoom starting 6 March - https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/the-original-parenting-for-faith-zoom-course-2025 We’d love to give you: Five key tools https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/tools/ Free access to all four of our Parenting for Faith courses - https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/the-courses/ Resources to help you navigate every season of life with kids and teens. For parents and carers go to https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/parents/ and for churches https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/churches/ We’d love you to give us (our new year wishlist): Your participation - send in a story or volunteer to be on the podcast by emailing parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk, become a Parenting for Faith champion https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/meet-team/all-about-champions/ or leave us a review wherever you listen to this podcast Your prayers Your pennies (or pounds!) - https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/