Encouragement Cafe

February 14, 2020 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen It's easy to keep busy doing lots of good things. Like helping others. But what if that means you never help yourself, or get around to doing the projects God has called you to do? Rachel and Luann talk about the pitfalls of getting too distracted with good things, and share strategies for making time for the great things.

February 7, 2020 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen They say that the only constant in life is change. Let's face it, friends. Change is not always easy. It's sometimes hard to change, adapt, or adjust with the times. Yet, we often forget that change may be a blessing from God. This week, join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we share stories and experiences of how "new and improved" can be a goo...

January 24, 2020 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Sometimes life feels like a casino game and "the House" is betting against you. Luann and Rachel discuss our tendency to think our winnings should outweigh our losses. Find out what the Bible says about the times when it seems we don't have a chip to our name.

January 17, 2020 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Does it seem like the whole world is projecting a well-crafted image, and in comparison you look like a football linebacker that woke up with bed head? Rachel and Luann discuss the current demand for positive messages and pretty images.

January 10, 2020 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen The new year brings a feeling of new beginnings and fresh momentum, making it a great time to implement new habits. Luann and Rachel discuss six simple habits for better health and peace of mind.

December 27, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Got any new year's resolutions? Or have you quit doing that after years of failure? Rachel and Luann talk about a different approach, and share their experiences choosing a word to be their theme for the year. Try it!

December 20, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen What does togetherness really mean? Rachel and Luann talk about the importance of sharing experiences together.

December 13, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Are you dreaming of a Hallmark Christmas? Luann and Rachel discuss what makes Hallmark Christmas movies the most watched cable network.

December 6, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Research shows more than half of us become more stressed during the holidays. Luann and Rachel talk about what brings this stress on during the happiest time of the year - and how to head it off before it arrives.

November 29, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen As a child, were you ever treated poorly by your classmates? Did they ever call you names? Such might have been the case with the wee little man, Zaccheus. As a tax collector, he was hated by many and scorned for his actions. Yet, in the eyes of Jesus, he was someone special. Hear the story of Zaccheus along with others shared by Luann and Rac...

November 15, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Brian Sanders Everyone leads. Moms lead their children. Pastors lead their congregations. Teachers lead their students, and bosses lead their companies. It's never a sprint but a marathon. This week, Luann talks with author and leader Brian Sanders about how to endure as a leader.

November 8, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen It's almost a cliche that Christians will fight over what color the carpet in the church should be. Luann and Rachel discuss how to disagree with other Christians, on issues from dogma to drapery.

The Laughing Club - November 1, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Life gets serious, and we get stressed. Sometimes you just need to laugh to lighten your load. Rachel and Luann talk about the need for levity and laughter in our lives. Come laugh with us.

October 25, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Within our own friend circles, there are a number of unique personalities. Some of us love to laugh at life, while others take a more serious, ponderous look at life. How do we react, however, during those stressful moments of struggle in life? Join Luann and Rachel as we share life together and try to better understand the weight of our words.

Set Beautiful Free - September 20, 2019 Speaker: Theresa Mills & Anson and Dawn Join guest host Theresa Mills for an in-depth discussion with Anson and Dawn from Set Beautiful Free, an initiative of Bombay Teen Challenge. For more information, visit their website at http://www.setbeautifulfree.org

September 13, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Millions of Americans share a common issue - sleep deprivation. What is it that causes us to have trouble sleeping? While the cause may be different for some, there are a number of things that may help us to recover some of those lost hours of sleep. Join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we discuss how simple acts of gratitude may help us get...

September 6, 2019 Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen It's not the easiest thing to admit when we're wrong. Let's face it; as humans, we like to think that we are right and know what is best. The beauty of admitting our errors is that the admission often strengthens our relationships with our family, friends, and colleagues. Join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we share life together and realize...

August 30, 2019 - Speaker: Luann Prater & Natasha Owens Join host Luann Prater as she welcomes our friend and special guest, Natasha Owens. Earlier this year, Natasha released the album, "Warrior." Natasha and Luann share life together as they journey through how trying experiences have shaped them into the women they are today. For more information on Natasha, you can go to https://natashaowensmu...

August 23, 2019 - Speakers: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen After listening to an interview with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Rachel and Luann discuss what they learned about making decisions.

August 16, 2019 - Speaker: Luann Prater & Jeannie Burlowski Join Luann at the Encouragement Cafe this week as she sits down with author Jeannie Burlowski. Jeannie is the author of “Launch: How to Get Your Kids Through College Debt-Free and Into Jobs They Love Afterward." Luann and Jeannie will discuss some of the strategies within the book along with the experiences that inspired them.

August 9, 2019 - Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen It's safe to say a majority of the population feels like they need more self-discipline. Luann and Rachel talk about the source of our self-control or procrastination struggles, and the solutions available to us.

July 19, 2019 - Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Is failing ten times a sign you’re just not cut out for something? What about ten thousand times? Do you give up when success doesn’t come relatively quickly or relatively easy? If you wish you could find a surefire path to success, this episode is for you.

July 12, 2019 - Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Life is filled with cherished moments - the birth of a child, the first day of school, graduation, and marriage just to name a few. Between these milestones, we often find smaller, yet just as important, moments to cherish for a lifetime. Join Luann and Rachel as together we celebrate the many milestones in life.

June 21, 2019 - Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is worth as well? Listen in as Rachel and Luann discuss Jesus' direction to store up treasure in heaven and Luann shares how she views "treasure."

June 7, 2019 - Speaker: Luann Prater & Rachel Olsen Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow (or yesterday) but how hard is that?! Luann and Rachel talk about staying present in the moment.