The Parenting for Faith podcast

In today’s episode we speak to Rachel Turner, founder of Parenting for Faith and key contributor to An A - Z of Parenting for Faith. We share a snippet of the top five parenting topics (as voted by you) covered in the book and ask Rachel for any thoughts to add. This is a recording of part of the book launch event which took place in September. The topics chosen were arguments, school, church enga...

In today’s episode we speak to Paul Mallard about spending Christmas with friends or family who aren’t Christians, especially children who have walked away. Paul served as a pastor for 40 years in three different churches. He now works as Director for the West Midlands for the FIEC (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, UK), supporting churches and their leaders across the region. He’s t...

In today’s episode we speak to Anna Shaw about the mental load and what it’s got to do with discipleship. Anna is a mum, a teacher, vicar’s wife, DBE and Bishop’s Council member, and the CPAS specialist on working with schools. Her Education MA thesis was on Christian distinctiveness in CE schools, and she delivers clergy training nationally. We chat about the overwhelm and mental load that parent...

In today’s episode we speak to Chip Kendall about all sorts of things including surfing the waves with our kids to help them find purpose and reach their full potential. Chip is a songwriter and recording artist with a big heart for using music to connect people with God. He is the author of the Level Up series of children's books (levelupbooks.com) and previously fronted the dance/alternative eva...

In today’s episode we speak to Dr Jerry Woodbridge about grief. Dr. Jerry Woodbridge is a Christian author, grief advocate, and lifelong educator with a heart for those navigating loss. Drawing from over 40 years of experience in the classroom and her personal journey through widowhood, Jerry writes to help grieving children and their caregivers rediscover hope and healing. Links: Find out more ab...

In today’s episode we speak to Jonathan Beecham about gaming. Jonathan is a digital creator and founder of Emmaus Gaming. He is based in London and has a background in youth ministry where he utilised video games and social media to pioneer new ways of doing ministry online. We asked Jonathan about how to use the Parenting for Faith key tool of ‘surfing the waves’ to come alongside your child or t...

In today’s episode we speak to some more of the Parenting for Faith team about their favourite chapters from An A - Z of Parenting for Faith, which is out this Friday, 24 October. Lucy Rycroft is the editor of An A - Z of Parenting for Faith and on the speaker team, she also runs a ministry called The Hope-Filled Family. Jess Rodewald is the Development and Relationship Lead, she chats to Anna abo...

In today’s episode we speak to Kate Irvine and Becky Sedgwick about Halloween. Kate is the Support Coordinator at Parenting for Faith and she chooses an extract from the Halloween chapter of An A - Z of Parenting for Faith about how to find your family’s fit for Halloween to share. Becky is the Parenting for Faith Resourcer and she shares how to help us talk to our kids about the devil. They also...

In today’s episode we speak to Vicki Smith from Growing Hope about additional needs, When Dreams Change and the unwinding tool. Vicki is Growing Hope’s Interim CEO, a charity that champions accessibility and supports children with additional needs and their families through clinics set up in partnership with churches across the UK. Vicki is passionate about enabling families to receive help and su...

In today’s episode we speak to Sarah Strand and Emma Parker about the theology behind faith at home. Rev Sarah Strand is Dean of Anglican Formation at Cranmer Hall, Durham, having previously worked as Tutor and Lecturer in Theological Reflection and, before that, served in parishes on Teesside. She is completing a PhD in Divinity at the University of Aberdeen, exploring how young children encounte...

In today’s episode we speak to Zoe Strong about dyslexia and faith. Zoe Strong is an AHRC-funded doctoral researcher exploring dyslexia and engaging with the Bible. She also heads up the University of Aberdeen’s Autism and Theology Podcast, and is the neurodiversity topic editor for Practical Theology Hub. We talk to her about the challenges that people with dyslexia might face at church or explor...

In today’s episode we speak to Dr Leon van Ommen and Lizzy Peach about autism and faith. Leon was born and raised in the Netherlands and has lived most of his adult life in Belgium, and is now based in Aberdeen. He works as Lecturer in Practical Theology, in the areas of liturgy and worship, suffering and healing, justice and reconciliation, and recently in disability theology and autism. He is th...

In today’s episode we speak to Dr Tamara Rosier about ADHD and faith. Tamara is passionate about changing the way in which ADHD is perceived by reassuring people with ADHD that their brains are not ‘broken’ and helping them and their families and friends to understand ADHD better. She speaks and writes about ADHD: as an expert, having written ‘Your Brain Is Not Broken’ and the follow-up ‘You, Me a...

In today’s bonus episode we speak to Lucy Rycroft about her new book Be Still. Anna and Lucy share the highs and lows of parenting for faith in the summer holidays and explore what being still might like like for us as parents and carers even in that chaos! Lucy Rycroft is the founder of thehopefilledfamily.com and a part-time music teacher. She previously worked for BRF Ministries in the Parentin...

In today’s episode we ask Rachel Turner, founder of Parenting for Faith, your questions. She has worked in churches for over 15 years and continues to consult, speak at conferences and run training days for church leaders, parents and families around the world. Rachel is the author of nine books, and the original Parenting for Faith course. We asked her these questions: 1:19 - What if your kid dec...

In today’s episode we speak to Rosie Jefferson about parenting for faith for adopters and foster carers and her new venture Creative Calm. The conversation explores how to prepare for becoming an adopter or foster carers and who to support the people around us as well as how we can all find calm and self-care strategies as parents or carers. Links: Find Creative Calm on Facebook https://www.facebo...

In today’s episode we speak to Chine McDonald about imperfection and motherhood, sparked by her new book Unmaking Mary. Chine is a mum, writer, broadcaster, author and director of Theos, the religion and society think tank. She regularly contributes to BBC Religion & Ethics programmes, including Thought for the Day on Radio 4’s Today programme, the Daily Service, and Prayer for the Day. She is vic...

In today’s episode we speak to Louise Willis about handling anger. Louise is the founder of Hope for Families. She’s married to Garryl and they have four children. She’s a qualified teacher and recently completed her MA in Theology, Mission and Ministry (Children, Young People and Family specialism), researching the impact of Hope for Families’ most popular course, Handling Anger in the Family. Li...

In today’s episode we speak to Dorothy Mendez about social media, online safety and relationships. Dorothy Mendez is the Mobilisation Coordinator for A21 UK. A21 is a global anti-human trafficking organisation, operating programmes in over 20 countries, with the mission to Abolish Slavery in the 21st century. Links: A21 resources available at a21.org/content/resources-uk This episode was inspired...

In today’s episode we speak to Rebecca St James about framing the ups and downs of life. Rebecca St. James is among the most defining artists in Christian music history. She’s a GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter, best-selling author, speaker and actress who catapulted into the global spotlight following the release of her self-titled Forefront Records debut in 1994. Rebecca has been involved in mu...

In today’s episode we speak to Debs Peake about Self Worth, drawing on some ideas from the Puberty, Emotions, Eating Disorders and Self Harm chapters in the A - Z of Parenting for Faith book. Debs is a parent of two and Founder of the Charity Know Your Worth which is all about helping teenage girls to grow self-esteem. The charity also supports professionals and parents/carers to support their tee...

In today’s episode we speak to Graham Daniels and Jonny Reid about sport. Dr Graham Daniels is General Director of Christians in Sport. A former professional footballer, he also serves as a director of Cambridge United Football Club. Graham is on the staff of St Andrew the Great Church, Cambridge, UK and an Associate of Ridley Hall Theological College, Cambridge. He is on the Board of Trustees for...

In today’s episode we speak to Joy Wendling about emotions. Joy Wendling is a mum of 5 girls, writer, speaker, parent coach, founder of Created to Play, and former family pastor. She has over 25 years of experience in children, youth, and family ministry and a Master’s in Youth, Family, and Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary. The springboard for the conversation was the emotions chapter of A...

In today’s episode we speak to Karen Allen about forgiveness. She is an author, speaker and mother of five. Passionate about inspiring and empowering young people challenging the norms and changing the narrative especially as it relates to young black men. Links: Book onto any of our upcoming zoom courses https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/upcoming-events/ Become a friend of Parenting for Fa...

Our guest today is Melissa Richards, a wife and mum of four. She is originally from Canada but moved to Australia in 2007.She is the Children's Pastor at Door of Hope Christian Church in Tasmania and became a Parenting for Faith champion six months ago. She talks us through how she used the questions tool (from the big questions chapter of An A - Z of Parenting for Faith) to help her son when his...