The Table We Grew Up At

You've been listening, commenting, and asking some really thoughtful questions—and today, we're answering them!   In this Q&A episode of The Table We Grew Up At, we revisit topics from previous episodes, respond to questions that have come in from listeners, and share a few comments that have encouraged us along the way. This episode feels a lot like sitting around the table together.   Whethe...

In this special episode of The Table We Grew Up At, all five of the older siblings gather around the table while family camping together. What started as a fun opportunity to record in person quickly turned into a trip down memory lane. Join us as we laugh, reminisce, and share stories from our childhood—some heartwarming, some hilarious, and a few that may have been forgotten until now. From grow...

Non-resistance is one of the most well-known Anabaptist beliefs—the commitment to not fight back and to respond to conflict with peace. In this episode, we share how this teaching was presented in the communities where we were raised and how it influenced our views on conflict, forgiveness, and relationships. We discuss both the strengths and challenges of non-resistance, what we still value about...

In Episode 10 of The Table We Grew Up At, we take time to talk about the good things we experienced growing up in the Anabaptist community. While there are hard conversations to have, there are also beautiful parts of our upbringing that shaped us in meaningful ways.   In this episode, we reflect on: The strength and closeness of community Gathering around food and the memories made at the table T...

In this episode, we’re talking about church standards vs. Scripture and the difference between man-made rules and biblical truth.   Growing up, our church experience was very rule-heavy. There were strong expectations around appearance, behavior, and what “good Christianity” looked like. Often, those standards created pressure, shame, and fear more than grace and relationship with Jesus.   We shar...

This week we’re cracking open the memories from our little church school — you know, the one where every grade was basically in the same room and the drama level was way higher than the student count.   We’re laughing through the stories that still make us wheeze, and all the moments that had us trying not to laugh out loud in front of the teacher. There were the inside jokes that lasted for years...

Episode 7: Modesty & Clothing Expectations In this episode of The Table We Grew Up At, we’re diving into a topic that carries a lot of history, emotion, and differing perspectives—modesty and clothing expectations in the church we grew up at.   We share our personal experiences growing up with specific standards around dress, what those expectations communicated to us, and how they shaped our...

In this episode of The Table We Grew Up At, we’re opening up about a topic that shaped a meaningful part of our church experience growing up—head coverings.   Rooted in 1 Corinthians 11, this practice was something we didn’t just read about—it was something we lived. Today, we’re sharing what that looked like in our church, how we understood it at the time, and how it impacted us personally.   We...

Communion wasn’t always easy for us.   The way it was practiced — and the environments we experienced it in — made it hard to fully understand or appreciate what it was meant to be. But by the grace of God, our perspective has changed. What once felt heavy or distant has become something we now value deeply.   In this episode, we reflect on how our early experiences shaped our view of communion —...

Baptism and Church Membership In this episode, we’re talking about how baptism and church membership worked in the church we grew up at — and why the decision felt so big. In our world, baptism and membership were tied together, which meant saying “yes” wasn’t just about personal faith. It also meant stepping into a long list of expectations, commitments, and responsibilities within the church.  ...

Leadership and Ordination in the Church In this episode, we’re talking about how leadership worked in the church we grew up in — specifically how ordination happened and how leaders were chosen. If you grew up in a similar setting, some of this will feel familiar. If you didn’t, it might give you a clearer picture of the structure and expectations inside conservative Anabaptist churches.   We walk...

The Church We Grew Up At In this episode, we’re giving you a simple introduction to the church we grew up at — the place that shaped our weekly rhythms, our understanding of faith, and a lot of our early experiences. It wasn’t all funny or all serious, but it was a huge part of our childhood, and we wanted to start by painting a clear picture of what that world looked like for us.   We talk about:...

The Home We Grew Up In Featuring our brother, Chad In this bonus episode, we’re just hanging out with our brother Chad and swapping stories from the home we grew up in — the real, funny, chaotic moments that happened around our old kitchen table. Nothing deep, nothing heavy, just the kind of memories that make you laugh and say, “Yep… that was our childhood.”   ✨ Resource Links Sign up to stay co...

Welcome to The Table We Grew Up At In our very first episode, we’re pulling up a chair and inviting you into the place where everything started for us — the table we grew up at.   We’re siblings who were raised in the Anabaptist world, and that upbringing shaped us in ways we’re still unpacking. Some of it was beautiful. Some of it was heavy. All of it was real. And around that old kitchen table,...