The Parenting for Faith podcast

Trigger warnings: miscarriage, new babies/family members Adding to our family, whether by birth or adoption, is a joyful occasion, but it doesn’t come without challenges for the children we already have. On today’s episode, Anna Hawken and Lucy Rycroft have an open discussion about preparing for a new sibling. Anna shares how she has prepared her children for new baby siblings, and how the key tools help us as we adjust in that transition. Lucy shares her experience as an adopter, including how she prepared her birth children and the wider community for her boys’ arrival. Links: - Bedtime routine article: https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/the-bedtime-routine-what-is-important/ - Related by Adoption https://www.amazon.co.uk/Related-Adoption-handbook-grandparents-relatives-ebook/dp/B09CTRGXJK/ - Lucy’s Adoption Cheerleaders course https://thehopefilledfamily.newzenler.com/courses/adoption-cheerleaders - Take them a meal https://takethemameal.com/ Thanks for listening to today’s episode. If you found it useful, would you consider donating to BRF Ministries to enable others to be encouraged by it too? To give a one-off or regular gift, go to https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/ 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.

Many of us are aware of the rise of accessibility of pornography, and the damage it causes individuals and families, not to mention those involved in the industry. But talking to our kids about pornography - why to avoid it, how to avoid it and what to do if you encounter it - is another matter. To help us have those conversations, Anna was thrilled to chat to Ian Henderson, founder and CEO of Visible Ministries, including their flagship initiative the Naked Truth Project, which works to educate and inform young people about the destructive nature of porn. Ian and his wife moved to Manchester in 2001 to live and work in one of the most deprived areas for the Message Trust. Later he became Executive Director of Mission, before leaving to set up the Naked Truth Project in 2013. Ian still lives in Manchester; he and his wife have two teenage daughters. Links: - https://nakedtruthproject.com/ - read Ian’s story here: https://nakedtruthproject.com/about/ians-story/ - Chicken Clicking book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicken-Clicking-Online-Safety-Picture/dp/178344052X - Good Pictures Bad Pictures book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Pictures-Bad-Jr-Protect-ebook/dp/B07FK96K6Z - https://www.internetmatters.org/ We hope you found today as informative and useful as we did. Would you consider partnering with us to ensure that this podcast can continue to equip and resource Christian parents, carers and leaders? You can give a one-off or regular financial gift here: https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/ 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.

When we have prayed for our children to come to know Jesus for themselves, when we've nurtured their faith and created opportunities for them to grow, it can feel devastating when they make the decision to turn away from Jesus. But there is always hope. Today Lucy speaks to mother-and-daughter duo Linda Green and Sarah Walton. Both Linda and Sarah are now Christian authors and speakers - but this wasn't always the case. In her teens, Sarah went through a very tough season. Unable to cope with the shame of things that were happening to her, she turned in on herself, suffered from depression, took an overdose and ended up on a paediatric psychiatric ward. But her parents never gave up praying for her and ministering to her, and by the grace of God Sarah returned to Jesus. Today both Linda and Sarah live in Colorado. Linda lives with her husband of 45 years, Ray; together they have three children and ten grandchildren. Sarah lives with her husband Jeff and their four children. In this podcast episode, Linda and Sarah share their story of walking through this difficult season together. Links from the episode: - Browse Sarah's books on the theme of suffering, grace and hope - Pre-order He Gives more Grace, 30 Reflections for the Ups and Downs of Motherhood, the book Linda and Sarah have written together - Linda’s blog: Chosen and Called https://chosenandcalled.com/ Sarah’s blog: Set Apart https://setapart.net/ - The verse Linda mentions near the start is Genesis 50:20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+50%3A20&version=NIV We hope Linda and Sarah’s story has encouraged you today. If you’d like to be a part of ensuring that this podcast continues to reach and bless families around the world, why not consider making a financial contribution towards our work? To give a one-off or regular gift, go to https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/ 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.

What happens when a child or teenager is let down by the church? When they suffer church hurt? Will they walk away from God forever - or is it possible to parent them for faith through this painful season? Our guest today is Natalie Thomas Runion, author of Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry when you have a Million Reasons to Walk Away. Natalie was a pastor's daughter, then later a pastor herself. She has experienced first-hand how the church can be a hurtful place, but brings a message of hope and healing that, in Christ, forgiveness and spiritual growth are possible. Besides authoring her book, Natalie writes the Raised to Stay Instagram account, hosts the Raised to Stay podcast and is a worship leader and songwriter. She and her husband live with their two daughters in Kentucky. Links from the episode: - Natalie’s website https://natalierunion.com/ - Follow Natalie/Raised to Stay on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/raisedtostay/ - Check out ‘Raised to Stay’ book: https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/the-church/pastoral/raised-to-stay/ We’re so grateful for Natalie’s wisdom in this episode. In order to keep inviting excellent guests onto this podcast, we rely on donations from those who listen. To give a one-off or regular gift, go to https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/ 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.

At some point in their lives, our children will encounter racism - whether directed to them, or a friend, classmate or partner. How do we raise our children to be allies in the fight against racist discrimination? And as Christian parents, how can we ground our attitudes and words in Scripture? Our guide for today’s topic is Rev Azariah France-Williams. Azariah is the author of Ghost Ship: Institutional Racism and the Church of England, as well as rector of Ascension Church Hulme, husband and dad. Azariah is a thinker on issues of peace and justice, race and reconciliation, and believes in the power of the church within the community to sow the seeds of radical change. Links: - Follow Azariah on X: https://twitter.com/AzariahAnglican - Buy Azariah’s book ‘Ghost Ship: Institutional Racism and the Church of England’ https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/personal-life/social-issues-and-responsibility/ghost-ship/ - Check out Ascension Church Hulme: https://ascensionchurchhulme.co.uk/ What a deeply educational, heartbreaking yet inspiring interview. We hope you appreciated Azariah’s words and experience as much as we did. If you’d love to help us keep producing top-quality episodes, why not consider giving a one-off or regular financial gift? You can do that here: https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/ 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.

Part of the Christian walk involves experiencing different churchmanships or styles. This might be by choice - for example, booking onto a Christian festival or looking for a new church after moving house. Or it may be by invitation - perhaps a family member is getting baptised, dedicated or confirmed, or there’s a wedding or funeral to attend. How do we navigate these times with our children, ensuring that whether it’s been a largely positive or negative experience, it can still be of value within their faith journey? Exploring this question with us today is Matt McChlery. Matt is a church leader, speaker, author, songwriter and host of the Christian Book Blurb podcast. He is married to Verity and the father of three children. Matt and his family live in the Fens. Links: - Explore Matt’s website: https://mattmcchlery.com/ - Listen to the Christian Book Blurb podcast: https://christianbookblurb.podbean.com/ - Check out Matt’s books: https://www.eden.co.uk/shop/search.php?products%5Bquery%5D=matt%20mcchlery - Check out PFF Halloween resources here: https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/topics/halloween/ Thanks for listening today. We’re thrilled to bring you excellent guests, relevant topics, and lots to think about - but it costs money to do this! If you’d love to pay it forward, and ensure future generations of parents can enjoy this podcast too, why not consider giving a one-off or regular financial gift? You can do that here: https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/ 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.

How do we talk to our older children and teens about puberty, sex and relationships? As Christian parents, we want to make sure our children get excellent, Biblical, healthy sex education, but it’s not always easy to have those conversations. In this episode, we’re focusing on how we navigate this area specifically with our 11-18 year olds. We are delighted to welcome as our guest for this topic Sheila Wray Gregoire. Sheila is an international speaker and bestselling author of nine books, the founder of BareMarriage.com, and host of the Bare Marriage podcast. She has a lot of wisdom for us today! Links: - Check out the Bare Marriage website: https://baremarriage.com - Listen to the Bare Marriage podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/bare-marriage/id1448888894 - Follow Sheila on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilagregoire/ - Buy 'She Deserves Better', Sheila's latest book on raising girls with a healthy sexuality: https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/personal-life/christian-books-for-women/she-deserves-better-raising-girls-to-resist-toxic-teachings-on-sex-self-and-speaking-up/ - Buy 'The Great Sex Rescue' https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/personal-life/the-great-sex-rescue-9781540900821/ - Explore The Whole Story, Sheila's video series on puberty and sex for 9-16 year olds: https://baremarriage.com/the-whole-story/ If you found this episode helpful, would you consider giving a financial gift towards the ministry of Parenting for Faith? We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. To give a one-off or regular gift, go to https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/ 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. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

How do we talk to our younger children about growing up, puberty and sex? As Christian parents, we want to make sure our children get excellent, Biblical, healthy sex education, but it’s not always easy to have those conversations. Helping us navigate this issue today is Emma Waring. Emma is a psychosexual nurse therapist with over 20 years of experience. Many of the patients and clients she has helped can relate sexual problems back to childhood experiences of sex being taboo, so Emma is passionate about helping parents have better conversations with their children. Emma is the author of ‘Seasons of Sex and Intimacy’. Links: - Check out Emma’s website: https://www.emmawaring.com/ - Buy Emma’s book ‘Seasons of Sex and Intimacy’: https://www.emmawaring.com/the-book - NSPCC - Pantosaurus and Talk Pants https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rule/ - The Girls’ Guide to Growing Up https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girls-Guide-Growing-Up/dp/1526360187 - How to grow up and feel amazing: the no worries guide for boy https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Feel-Amazing-No-Worries/dp/1526362953 Ian Henderson from The Naked Truth Project will be with us for episode 10 equipping us to talk to our children and young people about pornography. Make sure to hit ‘follow’ or ‘subscribe’ so that you can access that episode. If you found this episode helpful, would you consider giving a financial gift towards the ministry of Parenting for Faith? We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. To give a one-off or regular gift, go to https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/ 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. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

Giving our child their first phone can be a daunting prospect, filled with trepidation at the risk we might have exposed them to. Have we set up the right filters and limits? Are we having the right conversations? Will they act responsibly and safely online? Today’s guest is Andy Robertson, founder of Taming Gaming and theology-trained video game journalist. Andy shares helpful tips and boundaries we can use, not only to keep our kids safe with their phones, but to allow them to unleash creativity through the positive benefits of having a phone. He also answers a question about how to respond if we discover our child has been engaging in, or the victim of, untoward behaviour on their phone. Links: Andy’s Taming Game website: https://www.taminggaming.com/ Follow Andy on Twitter https://twitter.com/GeekDadGamer Follow Taming Gaming on Twitter https://twitter.com/FamilyGamingDB Setting up an iPhone for a child: https://www.askaboutgames.com/news/set-up-iphone-and-ipad-for-your-family Setting up an android phone for a child: https://www.askaboutgames.com/news/set-up-android-devices-for-your-family Buy Andy’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Taming-Gaming-Guide-healthy-habits/dp/1783528923 Wow, what a helpful and practical episode for all of us! We’re so grateful for those who enable us to continue this podcast ministry by financially giving to BRF. Will you join us? To give a one-off or regular gift, go to https://www.brf.org.uk/donate/ 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.

As Christian parents, how can we help our children form healthy friendships at school, or in other situations when they are away from us? What happens when there’s been a fall-out or break-up? How can we navigate our children through the loneliness of having no friends? And what about when it’s our child who’s the source of the friendship difficulties? Today’s guest is Clare Luther, former occupational therapist and current author of a set of books designed to help children navigate different emotions. Clare lives with her husband and teenage daughters in a faith-filled home in London. She loves Jesus, and is convinced that the Bible tells us of a God who gives us our ultimate identity, sits with us in our mess, comforts us when we are sad, and is powerful to turn situations around for the better. Links: - Clare’s website and books: www.head2heartbooks.com - Buy Clare’s latest book ‘Say what?’ from 10ofthose: https://uk.10ofthose.com/product/9781915705068/say-what Wow, what a rich episode today! We hope you found Clare’s words encouraging, equipping and comforting. If you’d like us to keep producing helpful faith-filled content like this, we need your help. Financial donations, even small ones, make a massive difference to what we can produce. You can click here to give a one-off or regular gift at 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.