Heroes For Her, Presented By Bible Belles

"Jesus is everything. The faster you figure out that you can't do it on your own, and that you need him, the far better off you'll be." Today's guest is Christy Fay. Alongside her husband, Christy co-pastors Arcadia City Church in the Phoenix area. She loves seeing people engage with Jesus and their communities.  There is nothing she would rather do than partner with God in the restorative work He is doing in the world.  She's got four children and a husband who make her world go round. Other than her role as God's daughter, image-bearer, and Kingdom warrior, she feels most proud to be a wife and mom.  She's the author of two studies, Reclaimed: Uncovering Your Worth, which centers on the five women in the lineage of Jesus and I Have To: Chasing What Sets Your Soul on Fire, a journey through the Scriptures that helps us find that "thing" that God designed us to do. Christy discusses the challenges she faced during her younger years and how they prepared her for life as an adult woman who wants to walk in her

"If you just show up, lead yourself to Jesus, surrender your daughter, and do the best that you can, that is all the Lord asks of us." Today's guest is Stacey Thacker. We had Stacey on the show last year and she's back to share some updates with us. Stacey's a wife and the mother of four girls. The author of six books, she is also a Bible teacher and loves to connect with women and encourage them in their walks with God. You can find her blogging at staceythacker.com and hanging out on Instagram (@staceythacker), usually with a cup of coffee in her hand. Last time Stacey and I saw each other was the first time we had ever actually met in person. I was in Dallas speaking for Dare to Dream and she happened to be there speaking at First Euless Church and I got to attend. It was also the last time we both got to see our dear friend, Wynter, in person. I just cherish that night so deeply. Stacey's been through a lot in the last couple of years. Her husband, Mike, experienced an extreme medical emergency early last

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it."   Today's guest is Yewande O'Neal, a passionate advocate for people to discover who they were created to be. Yewande loves to see people walk in their God given purpose and do it with excellence. She lives to seek God's kingdom first, and doing so has transformed her life in many ways, which you'll hear about today.   Yewande started her career in the corporate world with the General Electric Company. She earned numerous awards and certifications in her 12 years with GE. She climbed the leadership ladder and became Executive General Manager, leading over 200 employees all over the world.   After working in the corporate world for several years, Yewande felt God tug her heart and she founded Women of Kairos in 2015 - Non-profit organization focused on helping women move into and in their purpose. I'm honored to be speaking at this year's Women of Kairos conference on October 13th in Atlanta.  

"For the sake of your kids, your future kids, you have to stop."    Today's guest is Sarah Bragg. Sarah lives in Georgia with her husband Scott and their two beautiful girls, Sinclair and Rory. She worked in full-time ministry for more than 8 years and then alongside those who are in the ministry trenches for more than 10 years with Orange. She's a graduate from Dallas Theological Seminary and author of the book, Body. Beauty. Boys. The Truth About Girls and How We See Ourselves.    She is currently Orange's content director for the Live a Better Story small group curriculum. You can also find her on iTunes hosting one of my favorite podcasts -- Surviving Sarah -- where she has great conversations with different people in order to help women enjoy and survive where they are in life.    During today's episode, Sarah and I catch up about what's going on over at the Bragg house for back to school, what the transitions to the 3rd and 5th grades has been like for her girls, and the simple motto she used to send he

"Faith is a muscle, and it needs exercise."   My guest today is Lauren Green McAfee. Lauren is a third generation member of the Green Family- founders of Hobby Lobby and the Museum of the Bible. While pursuing her graduate degrees in pastoral counseling and theology, Lauren worked at Museum of the Bible from its founding days, until its opening in Washington DC late last year. Today, she works at Hobby Lobby as Corporate Ambassador and is also pursuing her PHD in Ethics and Public Policy. She lives in Oklahoma City with her husband, Michael.   Lauren has spent considerable time studying the topic of legacy and the idea that each of us can play a unique and irreplaceable role in God's story. In today's episode, she talks about why she feels it's important to address legacy today, particularly as it relates to women.   She challenges women to live with their legacy in mind in a book she wrote in partnership with her mom, Jackie. Only One Life: How a Woman's Every Day Shapes an Eternal Legacy tells the stories o

"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?"  Proverbs 8:1 When I slow down and consider all of the people I've met since we began this ministry/company, there are a few special people whose voices ring with genuine wisdom and the incomparable truth found in God's Word. They are the voices that I was looking for as a mama. Above the roar of culture, they are the voices our girls need to hear. They are powerful weapons in the fight for our girls. My dear friend Wynter Pitts had a voice like that, and she used it to empower parents to lead their daughters to Christ and encourage girls to live with the gospel at the center of everything.  When she suddenly passed away less than two weeks ago, the girl ministry community, as well as my own home and family, were rocked. But what began in sadness and confusion ended with incredible peace and a rallying by the body of Christ unlike any that I have ever seen.  On behalf of the team at Bible Belles, it is my honor to re-release the interview I d

"Be unoffendable. In the words of Taylor Swift, shake it off."    Today's guest is Christine Caine. Christine is someone I admire and respect so much in the arenas of leadership, influence and encouraging women. She is an Australian-born, Greek-blooded lover of Jesus, activist, author and international speaker. Her primary passion is to make Jesus' last command her first priority by giving her all to see the lost saved and to build the local church - globally. She has a passion for justice, and together with her husband, Nick, founded the anti-human trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign. In 2015, they founded Propel Women, an organization designed to honor the calling of every woman, empower her to lead, equip her for success, and develop a sense of God-given purpose. She's known around the world as a passionate communicator of God's word and his love.    Much of the work Christine does through A21 and Propel Women revolves around empowering women. In today's episode, you'll find out why she is so commit

"Keep it simple. Focus on God and focus on loving others."   Today's guest is Michayla White. As the Executive Director for International Network of Children's Ministry, Michayla oversees and provides guidance for initiatives that inspire and equip the kidmin community. For the past eleven years, she has had the privilege of working in children's and family ministry. Prior to joining INCM, she served at a non-profit children's ministry organization in various capacities like media production, digital strategy, conferences, partnerships, and ministry program design. Michayla has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with specializations in Christian Counseling and Life Coaching from Liberty University. Michayla is married to her best friend and childhood sweetheart Stephen. They are having a blast raising two little boys.   Michayla's passion for children's ministry started in middle school. Growing up, she was always involved in pretty much every aspect of her church's kidmin efforts. Those experiences, and servi

"For every one look we take at ourselves and the culture, we have to take ten looks at Christ." -Elizabeth Elliott, Keep a Quiet Heart Today's guest is Melanie Mudge. Melanie is originally from Albuquerque, NM, and she currently lives in Rapid City, South Dakota with her husband Josh and their two dogs, Diesel and Denali. Great names. As I prepped for this interview, I learned that Melanie loves cooking Paleo (bless her and anyone else with the ability to cook - I cannot relate), she's on Pinterest and has so many craft goals, and that she hopes to someday beat her mom at tennis.  After graduating from the University of New Mexico, she made her way to Manitou Springs, CO to be on summer staff with Summit Ministries, and it was through that experience that she got connected with Axis - which is an incredible organization that works to resource parents and faith leaders to disciple and create legacies of lasting faith for kids. She's the editor of The Culture Translator weekly email, and the writer and editor o

"It may be that the souls of all children are waiting for the call of knowledge to awaken them to delightful living."  - Charlotte Mason   My guest for today's episode is Rebecca Farris. As C.E.O. of Home Educating Family Association, Rebecca inspires and supports thousands of homeschool moms each year through her speaking, talk show, daily planners, magazines, and online resources. Each year Rebecca uses her platform as the Well Planned Gal to share her inspirational story of grace. Challenging women to discover the unique journey God has for them, Rebecca mentors women in their work, marriage, parenting adventures, and life. Her personal journey and day-to-day activities can be found in the pages of Family Magazine, on wellplannedgal.com, and through social media.   Today, Rebecca explains why she describes her childhood as unusual, and how she wasn't exactly a fan of homeschooling when she was the student. She breaks down why she had a change of heart about home education and how the Lord showed her how to

"Just because a publisher is saying no doesn't mean that God is saying no."  My guest for today's episode is Glynnis Whitwer. Glynnis is on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries as Executive Director of Communications. She currently oversees and writes for the Proverbs 31 devotions, Encouragement for Today, with over 1 million daily readers. She also oversees content for the First 5 app with 2 million downloads, manages the content for She Speaks Writer and Speakers Conference and oversees COMPEL Writing Training.  Over the years, God has had Glynnis in a variety of roles: career woman, stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom. She's led ministry inside and outside her home. Consistently over the last 15 years, writing has been an important part of her life. Recently though, she realized that God was calling her into a new season with P31. During today's episode, Glynnis breaks down how she knew that God wanted her to switch gears and what she's enjoyed most about working with P31. She also shares all the details for t

"The work is good, and the rest is holy. Be still." Yes! Today's guest is Heroes For Her alumna, Crystal Stine. We had Crystal on the show back in March 2016 and I love that we got to catch up today because so much has happened since our original interview. Crystal makes her living as a writer. She's the author of "Creative Basics: 30 Days to Awesome Social Media Art," creator of the popular "Clarity Coaching" Course, editor of "Craving Connection" and host of the annual Write 31 Days challenge. Most recently, she is encouraging women everywhere to pursue holy hustle - a work hard, rest well lifestyle that chases faith instead of fame. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Matt and their six-year-old daughter, Madi. Some generations pride themselves on their strong work ethic. Other generations chase happiness. The "world" promotes 24/7 hustle as a necessity to success, while Christians avoid the word and prefer rest. Crystal's been working to unpack what "hustle" truly means and why it shouldn't be fear

"We can find rest for our 'inner souls'—a place of true, Christ-centered peace and joy. It really is possible." ?   Today's guest is Shaunti Feldhahn. Shaunti is a popular speaker, best-selling author, and groundbreaking social researcher. Her findings have been featured in media as diverse as Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, the New York Times and Cosmo. With a master's degree from Harvard University, Shaunti has worked on Wall Street and Capitol Hill. Now she applies her analytical skills to helping people and relationships thrive. She and her husband, Jeff, live in Atlanta with their two children.   Shaunti's journey with the Lord has inspired her research over many years. Recently, she's been studying both what the Bible says and what science says about finding true rest as it relates to the stress and worry we face as women.   We know that being "busy" has become a status symbol in American life, but the fact is that for women there's no avoiding it.  How can we manage to rest well amidst all of ou

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth." -Psalm 127:4   Today's guest is Bob Lepine. Bob is Senior Vice President of FamilyLife, as well as co-host of FamilyLife Today®, their nationally syndicated radio program. He is a veteran of Christian radio, working for local radio stations in Tulsa, Phoenix, Sacramento, and San Antonio before joining FamilyLife in 1992.   He is the author of The Christian Husband and the on-air voice for "Truth for Life" with Alistair Begg (@alistair_begg_truthforlife ). Bob also serves on the Board of Directors for National Religious Broadcasters (@nrbassociation ). He and his wife, Mary Ann, live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have five children and a growing number of grandkids.     Bob's work has taken him all over the world for many years, and he does more traveling now that his kids are grown. As a parent and grandparent, it has meant the world to him to be a part of FamilyLife teams and projects over the years that are helping to strengthen famili

"Smart people put smarter people around them." My guest for today's episode is Tammy Hotsenpiller. Tammy is an author, speaker, life coach and leader of a national women's movement. She is the president of Total Life Coach - a coaching company that emphasizes life balance, purpose and reinvention. Tammy is also the founder and executive director of Women of Influence—an organization that seeks to educate and empower women in their spheres of influence - very near and dear to our hearts. Her passion is for equipping others to embrace their natural abilities, personal passions, and spiritual gifts.   The highlights from today's episode are the stories! God has a story for all of us. We can look back through our lives and see where he has been at work, but we also need to look ahead and see what story he is writing about the days to come. Tammy shares some unbelievable stories about her own journey of faith - how God got a hold of her heart when she was young and she felt his tugging on a mission trip to Haiti.

"Look up to God, not down at your phone, and enjoy the view." My guest for today's episode is Arlene Pellicane. Arlene is a speaker, author, media personality, and blogger. She has written six books including on of my favorites, Growing Up Social (which she wrote with Dr. Gary Chapman). Arlene has appeared on the Today Show, Focus on the Family, Fox & Friends, and Family Life Today among many others and has written for several national magazines. She is a graduate from Biola and Regent Universities. Before becoming a speaker and author, she served as a features reporter for The 700 Club and associate director for Turning Point Television with David Jeremiah. Arlene lives in a happy home in San Diego with her husband James and kids Ethan, Noelle, and Lucy. Welcome Arlene and I first met when she was presenting a parenting workshop at Rock Church in San Diego. I was so inspired by what she shared that I refer to her often when I am talking with parents about kids and technology. Today Arlene shares why she

"Lord, she is Yours and I trust You with her." My guest for today's episode is Wynter Pitts. Wynter is the founder of For Girls Like You Magazine and the author of several amazing resources that are very popular in the Weidemann household - For Girls Like You, You're God's Girl Devotionals For Tweens and She is Yours- Trusting God as You Raise the Girl He Gave You. She is the proud wife of Jonathan and mom of four girls. Wynter has made it her mission is to empower and equip girls to walk boldly into becoming who God has created them to be (sound familiar?) and to provide parents with the resources and support needed to raise strong Christ followers. That's the goal: to walk alongside our girls as they live out their God-breathed destinies. To do that, we've got to remember that everything we have belongs to God, even them. Check out today's episode, "She Is Yours."

"If we're intentional to invest in the people that we have influence with right now, it is powerful." My guest today is Jenni Catron. We had Jenni on the podcast about a year ago (Episode 32 - for quick reference) and it's an honor to welcome her back and hear about what she's been up to since then. Jenni's got a lot going on - she is a writer, speaker, and leadership expert and her passion is to lead well and to inspire, equip and encourage others to do the same.  Listen in for Jenni's answers to the following questions:  Why do you feel like God called you to study leadership and work to equip leaders with the tools they need to be effective?  Where is your work as a leadership expert taking you these days?  What's been a recent memorable team or group of leaders you've worked with?  What trends do you see in the space of women and leadership? What are you noticing about women in the work you do?  How do you see what you've learned over the past several years translating to women who have yet to grow up (th

"Joyful and free." My guest for today's episode is an incomparable woman and my dear friend, Manna Ko. Manna is a Visionary, CEO and FOUNDER of several companies, and Strategic Partner to many others. She's been speaking internationally for decades, sharing her passion to teach, stretch, and equip others to live-out their gifts in a world hungry for authentic, honorable, and meaningful leadership and relationships. Now with almost thirty years of entrepreneurial experience, she's worked with hundreds of different businesses and organizations, and guided even more individuals seeking personal excellence. Her passion is to help people thrive their calling, live extraordinary lives, prosper through chaos, be a forerunner with unseen opportunities, lead under pressure, and deliver results.  Manna's experiences have taken her many places, and he faith has grown tremendously her life's journey. She shares how she has seen God at work throughout her life and through writing down her own story, an autobiographical no

"Lead with peace." My guest for today's episode is the amazing Elise Boggs. We had Elise on the podcast about a year ago and I'm honored that she's back dive deeper into her passion: to equip the next generation of marketplace leaders to change the world. As a university professor and accomplished coach, Elise has trained leaders in industries ranging from non-profits and government to medicine and the military. She's worked in the United States as well as led teams all over the world including the United Kingdom, India, South Africa and Australia. Last time Elise was here, we talked mostly about emotional intelligence which is a key component to great leadership. If you missed that episode, you can scroll back through our past episodes and EP 20. Questions Elise answers during today's interview are below. Do you feel that every person has the potential to be a great leader?  Who had a significant influence in shaping you as a leader? Kids we know have a natural curiosity and they ask sooooooo many questions.