Stand Firm Parents

Marriage doesn't drift toward strength — it drifts toward survival. In this episode of Stand Firm Parents , Jake sits down with Jamie and Lisa Castro, married for over 45 years, to explore why shared purpose is essential for a thriving marriage. Drawing from decades of experience mentoring couples and hosting intimate marriage retreats, the Castros explain why couples must define a shared vision i...

Families don't drift into faith — they drift into busyness. In this episode of Stand Firm Parents , Jake McCandless challenges parents to intentionally set the spiritual tone for their family before schedules, pressure, and noise take over. Drawing from years of ministry experience and real family rhythms, Jake explains why simple pauses, presence, and shared moments matter more than perfect plans...

Life doesn't slow down just because you're trying to be spiritual. Kids, schedules, work, emotions, relationships — it piles up fast. And when you're running on fumes, your quiet time can start feeling more like a guilt trip than an anchor. In this episode, Jake McCandless gets honest about the seasons when you're too overwhelmed, too busy, or too emotionally drained to even know where to start sp...

Emotional health matters. But when emotional awareness turns into accusation — families start to fracture. In this final episode of the Hello to Emotional Health series, Jake McCandless delivers a needed warning for parents trying to navigate a generation fluent in therapy language but starved for truth. More and more young adults are embracing a "therapeutic gospel" — one that redefines pain, bou...

Anxiety is rewriting the story of a generation — but it doesn't have to win. In this second half of their conversation, Jake McCandless and licensed therapist Temple Carson go deeper into what parents can actually do to help their kids face anxiety with faith and strength. Temple brings years of clinical experience and ministry insight to talk about what happens after the diagnosis, after the over...

The anxiety epidemic isn't just affecting adults anymore. It's showing up earlier, hitting harder, and shaping how kids see the world. In this episode, Jake McCandless sits down with Temple Carson , a licensed therapist and professor with deep experience walking alongside kids and families. They break down what's driving this rise in anxiety — from cultural pressure to digital overload — and how p...

You've prayed. You've quoted the verses. Maybe you've even gone to counseling. And yet — you still feel off. You're not broken. You're human. In this honest follow-up to Part 1, Jake McCandless gets real about what emotional health looks like for Christians who are tired of pretending they're fine. This isn't about being "fixed." It's about letting God form you into someone who can stand firm when...

Hello to Emotional Health: Beyond Therapy, Counseling, & Medication – Part 1 Therapy and medication matter. But emotional health is also forged in the ordinary, daily choices we make. In this episode of Stand Firm Parents , host Jake McCandless unpacks how parents can model emotional resilience in real time—when anger hits, when stress rises, when discouragement shows up. Emotional health isn't ju...

Emotional and mental health have been taboo topics in many churches for too long. In this powerful episode of Stand Firm Parents , host Jake McCandless talks with Dr. Mark Dance —pastor, author of Start to Finish , and new Executive Director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention —to challenge that silence. 💡 What You'll Learn Why emotional health is a biblical priority , not a trend The connec...

Faith and therapy aren't enemies—they're partners. In this episode, Jake McCandless talks with therapist Corretta Woodard about: Why wise counsel is biblical Emotional health as the product of mental health Grounding, regulation, and practical tools How healing your wounds shapes your family's future Guest Bio: Corretta Woodard "I'm not perfect. But I'm whole. And I'm here to make sure you know yo...

🎉 50th Episode Celebration: The Top Lesson So Far After 50 powerful episodes, we're pausing to ask: What's the one lesson that's changed everything? In this special celebration episode, Jake McCandless shares the top takeaway from 50 conversations, interviews, and experiences — and how it can reshape your parenting from the inside out. 💡 You'll Learn: The #1 thing your child needs most How to di...

Persecution Is Coming Guest: Pastor Andrew Brunson, Author of God's Hostage He spent two years in a Turkish prison for preaching Christ. Now he's warning the Church: you're not ready. In this gripping episode, Jake sits down with Pastor Brunson to talk about suffering, faith, and preparing the next generation to endure. 🎧 Listen now. 📘 Get God's Hostage : Buy on Amazon » 🌐 Learn more: andrewand...

Real Life Standing Firm: Andrew Brunson's Story of Faith Under Fire When persecution isn't just possible but personal—what does faith look like? Dr. Andrew Brunson, falsely imprisoned for over 2 years in Turkey, joins Jake for a vulnerable and bold conversation on: The cost of standing firm Preparing the church for suffering Why parents need to disciple their children for trials—not comfort What h...

Jake McCandless closes out the Fully Integrated Faith series with a call to Christian parents: If your kids are going to stand firm in their faith, yours must come first. Discover how to move from devotionals to discipleship, and why the "church event" mindset must die. You'll Learn : Why tools ≠ endgame How global Christians live fully integrated faith The secret to spiritual maturity in your dai...

What if church wasn't something you went to... but something you lived ? In this deeply personal episode, Jake McCandless shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of his relentless pursuit to build a ministry that reflects the Acts 2 church — where discipleship, mission, and real-life faith collide. From wrestling with Sunday-only Christianity to stepping out in faith to build something more authen...

Guest: Dr. Jim Wilder, neurotheologian & author of The Other Half of Church What if the biggest barrier to passing on your faith… is your own maturity? In this powerful episode, Jake sits down with Dr. Jim Wilder to explore how brain science and spiritual formation come together to grow resilient, emotionally grounded believers — starting with parents. You'll discover why character maturity is cri...

Jake McCandless sits down with Dr. Jim Wilder to discuss the surprising connection between neuroscience and faith . Learn how your brain was designed to grow through joy and peace , how relational connections form the foundation of maturity, and how parents can use brain science to help their children develop a faith that truly lasts. Dr. Wilder also reveals how  gratitude rewires the brain for re...

Jake McCandless continues his conversation with Michael Hendrix about brain science and discipleship, focusing on practical steps parents can take to nurture a healthy and resilient faith in their children. Discover why building joy, practicing rest, and showing true connection with your kids can make all the difference. Key Takeaways: Brain science reveals how children learn through joy and rest...

Have we been discipling with half the brain ? Michel Hendricks, co-author of The Other Half of Church , reveals how right-brain training is essential for true spiritual transformation. Most discipleship focuses on knowledge and willpower , but what if emotional and relational growth is the missing key? In this episode, we unpack: 🔹 How brain science connects to faith and formation 🔹 Why joy is t...

Brian Johnson, co-founder of KC Underground, joins Stand Firm Parents to discuss a radical shift in how we do church and raise disciples at home. Instead of separating faith into a Sunday event, Brian shares how to make disciple-making a natural, daily part of life. Key Takeaways: ✔️ The biggest reasons young people leave the faith ✔️ What the early church teaches us about disciple-making ✔️ Why p...

Rob Wegner joins Stand Firm Parents to challenge the way we think about church. Rather than centering faith around a weekly event, what if we saw it as a lifestyle of disciple-making? This episode explores how microchurches, spiritual families, and everyday disciple-makers are the future of faith. Rob Wegner is a leading voice in the missional movement and the co-founder of KC Underground , a dece...

The underground church in Iran is thriving under persecution while Christianity in the West is in decline. Why? Joel Richardson shares what's fueling explosive growth in the Middle East and what Western believers—and parents—must do differently to raise children with a faith that lasts. This eye-opening conversation challenges our approach to discipleship and evangelism. Key Takeaways: Why Iran's...

Jake McCandless speaks with Darren Huckey about the Jewish context of discipleship and what it means for parents raising children in faith. Learn how first-century discipleship was more than just knowledge—it was about full-life transformation through devotion, imitation, and replication. Key Takeaways: How first-century discipleship worked What Jesus meant when He said, "A disciple, when fully tr...

Jake McCandless sits down with Katharine van der Beek to explore the power of fully integrated faith through a Hebraic lens. Drawing from her experiences as an Israeli tour guide, Katharine shares profound insights into seeing God's hand in everything and trusting His sovereignty in every aspect of life. Key Takeaways: The Hebraic mindset of faith as all-encompassing. How parents can teach their k...

What can the global church teach us about raising kids with a faith that lasts? Jake McCandless sits down with John David Smith, President of BMA Global, for an enlightening conversation about wholistic faith and parenting. Key Takeaways: The difference between wholistic Christianity and compartmentalized faith. Why simplicity matters in our walk with Christ. The power of the gospel to transform f...