Höre You Were Made for More

“I grew up my entire life going to church and never knew there was a pro-life movement. And if I would have thought there was one, I would have just assumed that the movement was picketers outside abortion clinics because that’s all the media shows us. But the first time I was invited to a pro-life conference, I was blown away. I had no idea that there are thousands of organizations and people that are boots on the ground, helping women be brave and choose life in the most creative ways!" -Amy Ford, Author + President of Embrace Grace Going through an unplanned pregnancy herself, Amy Ford knows what it feels like to experience shame and loneliness with nowhere to turn to for guidance, support and direction. You'll here her story in our conversation - how God intervened and saved her baby. She married her high school sweetheart, Ryan Ford, and they faced their unexpected pregnancy together. Looking back on that season of brokenness fueled their passion and desire to change things for young women with unplanned pregnancies. In 2008, Amy and her friend Salina, started a small group at her local church that met weekly with girls in that same situation providing support, friendship, guidance and love. A few years later in 2012, Embrace Grace was formed, a national non profit to equip churches all around the nation to have a pro-love focus and help women be brave and choose life.  Since then, thousands of women have gone through the Embrace Grace program and were put back on a path towards Jesus.  In today's episode, Amy and Sammie talk about what it means to be proactive and pro-life.  Here are some things we mentioned in the episode:  * Help Her Be Brave [https://www.helpherbebrave.com/] - Take a quiz to learn how you can use your gifts to get involved in the pro-life movement! // And, find the book [https://www.amazon.com/Help-Her-Be-Brave-Discover/dp/0802423116/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Mpc2hORFSRlStSGWtdXa7QCAdOTuhkds0icRK3WIKd3vvEpKtZhyZeLCa-Fb18MvSVs86vVTYNX_nEPGPYAHkXlO7CD-FYmwa_0OJ4BBc6y-3jl2n6aErWmyIgohszVN.wArqeYhhbnlzmunzaKhzwJCq-QxJQPAXexXdl6gCxnQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=598729065506&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9005819&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4202839219752103180&hvtargid=kwd-1117656703158&hydadcr=22566_13531289&keywords=help+her+be+brave+amy+ford&mcid=79171f22f15b3bc9985c2a8858f32541&qid=1742863709&s=books&sr=1-1] here.  * How Should the Church Respond? [https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life/unplanned-pregnancies-how-should-the-church-respond/] (Focus on the Family) * Embrace Grace [https://www.embracegrace.com/?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium={adname}&utm_campaign={campaignname}&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_keyword=embrace%20grace&utm_matchtype=e&campaign_id=18082499652&ad_group_id=143855336761&ad_id=617136706078&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium={adname}&utm_campaign={campaignname}&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_keyword=embrace%20grace&utm_matchtype=e&campaign_id=18082499652&ad_group_id=143855336761&ad_id=617136706078&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhYS_BhD2ARIsAJTMMQZ6eY4j75eb7Mi3cVFmVYyzQUOO0ZUZMq3d54E86SbKSY52BOJD10UaAteWEALw_wcB] Website (especially if you're interested in finding or starting a chapter) You Were Made for More Social Media:  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AbundantLifeYM/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/AbundantLifeYM] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifeym/]

In today's episode, we have a conversation with Kristen Miele. Kristen has educated youth on the topic of sex for the last 15 years. She’s taught in hundreds of diverse settings including 2 different countries with experience teaching ages 3 and up on content related to sex and sexuality. Kristen has a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Community Health from the University of Illinois. She has also been a Certified Health Education Specialist (NCHEC) since 2016. The vision for Sex Ed Reclaimed [https://www.sexedreclaimed.com/mission-vision/] came to her in November 2021 through prayer and it became an LLC in 2022.  In today's discussion, we talk about setting a good foundation for your kids at a young age, creating a safe space for difficult discussions, how good sex ed prevents abortion (yes - you heard me right!!!), and how to let kids lead as they get older. Kristen's heart is aligned with the heart of Abundant Life: You Were Made for More and we have absolutely LOVED having her as part of the podcast family. If you have any questions for Kristen, want to sample her curriculum, or want to connect with her online resources, please visit her website [https://www.sexedreclaimed.com/]. Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog [http://www.youweremadeformore.org/blog] - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us [http://youweremadeformore.org/contact/]or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message. You Were Made for More Social Media:  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AbundantLifeYM/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/AbundantLifeYM] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifeym/]

January is sanctity of life month! As we celebrate life and what God has created to be very good, I think a key part in that is destroying some of the lies that exist in our culture surrounding women’s health and pregnancy. Sorting through what’s true and what’s not when it comes to Planned Parenthood can be difficult - so that's what this episode seeks to do. We'll take a look at the reality of Planned Parenthood through debunking some myths and taking a closer look at the ins and outs of PP's daily functions. My prayer is that this January you would be reminded that God made each and every human to be VERY good - including you! May that Truth sink deep down into your bones. Love you guys. Happy 2025! Here are some links to dig into that contain vital info and stats mentioned in this episode: * 2020-2021 Annual Report [https://cdn.plannedparenthood.org/uploads/filer_public/40/8f/408fc2ad-c8c2-48da-ad87-be5cc257d370/211214-ppfa-annualreport-20-21-c3-digital.pdf] * The 4% Myth [https://www.liveaction.org/news/planned-parenthood-abortion-4-percent-services-false/] by Live Action * The Abortion Pill [https://www.hli.org/resources/ru-486-medical-abortion/] * Prenatal Care & Planned Parenthood [https://www.hli.org/resources/how-many-planned-parenthood-clinics-offer-prenatal-care/] Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog [http://www.youweremadeformore.org/blog] - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us [http://youweremadeformore.org/contact/]or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message. You Were Made for More Social Media:  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AbundantLifeYM/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/AbundantLifeYM] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifeym/]

After an unplanned pregnancy, Christine Yeargin became passionate about the pro-life movement. Recognizing a need, she founded Be Their Village and works to connect women in unplanned pregnancies to resources in their area and uses the pro-life community she’s built on social media to complete baby registries for women who reject abortion and choose life. She speaks at events, on college campuses, and to pregnancy resource centers across the country. She produces content with Students for Life, has been featured on the YouTube series Middle Ground, is a regular guest on national news programs, and consistently works with mothers and their babies. In today's episode, Christine and Sammie sit down and talk about how it can be simple to practically partner with women who actively are choosing life for their babies in your community! Some practical ideas we talk about include:  * Offering babysitting to moms * Making an expectant or new mom a meal * Buying from their registry (or helping them create one!) - we may not have thousands, or even hundreds of dollars to donate to one person, but every single item that a new mom needs for her baby goes such a long way - like a pair of socks, a hat, or clothes for a thrift store! This is exactly what Be Their Village does on a larger scale through social media. * Host a fundraiser with your youth group that benefits a new mom - think diapers, wipes, formula - all the essentials!  Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast: * Be Their Village [https://www.instagram.com/betheirvillage/] * Christine's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/christineyeargin/] Together, I hope this podcast inspires us all to do more - to be their village - and to help women choose life. Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog [http://www.youweremadeformore.org/blog] - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us [http://youweremadeformore.org/contact/]or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message. You Were Made for More Social Media:  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AbundantLifeYM/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/AbundantLifeYM] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifeym/]

November is Adoption Awareness Month!   To celebrate this, I asked my friend, Tera Swaney, to join us and share her testimony and journey as a foster parent (and soon to be adoptive parent!). Most importantly, I want to highlight why foster care and adoption, while different, are so similarly part of God's redemptive plan in the world to care for the orphan and the widow. Tera is currently a stay at home mom to her three boys, while her husband Jon is in full-time ministry. Their hearts are so clearly seen through the way they engage and love people where they've began to plant their roots as a family. I sincerely hope that their story will encourage you to boldly ask God, "could I be doing more?" and to listen for that answer.                                                                                                                                                        Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast: * Tori Hope Petersen [https://www.torihopepetersen.com/] * Foster the Family [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1540901866?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_G2HNHRZ04YVDQEY5NHV4&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_G2HNHRZ04YVDQEY5NHV4&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_G2HNHRZ04YVDQEY5NHV4&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071475001?] * The Connected Child [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071475001?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_HMYMQ9F7SNT1TB64X63T&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_HMYMQ9F7SNT1TB64X63T&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_HMYMQ9F7SNT1TB64X63T&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1] * Tera's Contact Info [https://www.facebook.com/tera.l.tyson] Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog [http://www.youweremadeformore.org/blog] - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us [http://youweremadeformore.org/contact/]or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message. You Were Made for More Social Media:  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AbundantLifeYM/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/AbundantLifeYM] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifeym/]