Hear Women

What the Church Needs to Know About Single Mothering and Fostering | Jamie Lam

How can the church truly support and uplift single mothers, as well as children and families navigating the foster system? What if our often limited understanding of family holds us back from doing so?  This episode of Hear Women welcomes single mom, ministry leader, and foster/adoptive parent Jamie Lam for a disarmingly honest conversation with Tara Beth Leach about single motherhood and what it really means to cultivate family in the body of Christ. Through Lam’s story of fostering and adopting children, serving families in the fostering and adoption community, and mentoring young adults, she unveils how God’s call to love and welcome those in need empowers us to confront and break through our personal and cultural assumptions. This conversation explores Lam’s call to become a single foster and adoptive mom, as well as the challenges, joys, and surprises she has encountered as she continues to build her family. Her story of courage, hospitality, and openness to God’s leading shows us how the church can be a village that welcomes children, supports single parents, and reimagines what family can truly look like in God’s kingdom.  Whether you are a single mom, considering foster care or adoption, longing to become a parent, or know someone on this journey, this episode calls all of us to see, celebrate, and support single mothers for the good of every child, family, and the whole church. This episode highlights the following themes: * The courage and calling of single mothers in the church * Real challenges and gifts of fostering and adoption as a single woman * The importance of rethinking family beyond the nuclear mold Links from this episode: * Learn more about Jamie Lam [https://give.cru.org/0551103] and keep up with her through her ministry updates [https://www.ministryupdates.org/jamie_lam] * Check out Households of Faith [https://www.ivpress.com/households-of-faith?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Emily Hunter McGowin for a fresh vision of family in the kingdom of God * Discover more about Foster the City [https://fosterthecity.org/] * Read the transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N-SqpVn69vpp79yqC0oKk_EG9otziFK6/view?usp=drive_link] * Learn more about Hear Women [https://www.ivpress.com/hear-women-podcast?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Learn more about your hosts, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young [https://www.ivpress.com/dorina-lazo-gilmore-young?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], Nijay Gupta [https://www.ivpress.com/nijay-k-gupta?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], and Tara Beth Leach [https://www.ivpress.com/tara-beth-leach?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Read Redeemer [https://www.ivpress.com/redeemer?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young * Read Tell Her Story [https://www.ivpress.com/tell-her-story?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Nijay Gupta * Read Emboldened [https://www.ivpress.com/emboldened?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Tara Beth Leach SPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com [https://ivpress.com/?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] and use the code IVPHEAR40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode. SPONSOR | Hear Women is sponsored by Northern Seminary, where thousands of women have been equipped to serve as pastors, practitioners, church planters, and ministry leaders across the globe. Explore your calling and visit seminary.edu [https://www.seminary.edu/?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] to learn more. Credits: ✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton ✅ Research Assistants: Abby Lee and Jazmin Rose ✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts [https://honestpodcasts.com/] ✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne ✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard ✅ Theme Song: "Organica" by Artax Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

What the Church Needs to Know About Serving in Hard Places | Lina AbuJamra

What does it really look like to follow Jesus when life brings deep pain, war and suffering persist, and the church itself causes harm? And how do we continue to serve others in need as we ourselves heal? In this episode of Hear Women, host Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young welcomes ER doctor, Bible teacher, and humanitarian Lina AbuJamra for an honest, hope-filled conversation about the power of service, leadership, and mercy amid suffering. From her childhood in war-torn Lebanon to her frontline work in emergency rooms and refugee aid, AbuJamra shares how both her family and faith have shaped her life of service and boldness—and why she refuses to shy away from hard places or difficult truths. Together, Gilmore-Young and AbuJamra dig into the deeper meaning of mercy, challenge common narratives about “successful” Christian living, and address the longstanding wounds many women carry from ministry and church life. Along the way, they offer honest wisdom and encouragement for women who feel sidelined, overlooked, or are still healing from their experiences in the church. This episode offers a vision of the church where real pain is acknowledged, tangible needs are met, and women experience healing by being seen and valued as whole persons. This episode highlights the following themes: * The lifelong impact of serving others * Mercy as stepping into another’s pain and spreading hope * What the church needs to change if women are to be seen, heard, and fully empowered Links from this episode: * Learn more about Lina AbuJamra [https://www.ivpress.com/lina-abujamra?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] and Living With Power Ministries [https://www.livingwithpower.org/] * Check out Lina AbuJamra’s newest book, All Your Life [https://www.ivpress.com/all-your-life?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Check out Thrive: The Single Life as God Intended [https://www.amazon.com/Thrive-Single-Life-God-Intended/dp/0802407145/] and the rest of Lina AbuJamra’s books [https://www.livingwithpower.org/books/] * Check out Awaken Delight [https://www.ivpress.com/awaken-delight?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Stephanie Rousselle [https://www.ivpress.com/stephanie-rousselle] * Read the transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hOxdMZeRz8S272AUM6LLY2srOSiBZ-2n/view?usp=drive_link] * Learn more about Hear Women [https://www.ivpress.com/hear-women-podcast?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Learn more about your hosts, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young [https://www.ivpress.com/dorina-lazo-gilmore-young?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], Nijay Gupta [https://www.ivpress.com/nijay-k-gupta?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], and Tara Beth Leach [https://www.ivpress.com/tara-beth-leach?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Read Redeemer [https://www.ivpress.com/redeemer?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young * Read Tell Her Story [https://www.ivpress.com/tell-her-story?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Nijay Gupta * Read Emboldened [https://www.ivpress.com/emboldened?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Tara Beth Leach SPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com [https://ivpress.com/?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] and use the code IVPHEAR40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode. SPONSOR | Hear Women is sponsored by Northern Seminary, where thousands of women have been equipped to serve as pastors, practitioners, church planters, and ministry leaders across the globe. Explore your calling and visit seminary.edu [https://www.seminary.edu/?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] to learn more. Credits: ✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton ✅ Research Assistants: Abby Lee and Jazmin Rose ✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts [https://honestpodcasts.com/] ✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne ✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard ✅ Theme Song: "Organica" by Artax Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

What the Church Needs to Know About (Peri) Menopause | Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young & Tara Beth Leach

Why is the church still reluctant to discuss a topic that half its community will experience? In this episode of Hear Women, hosts Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young and Tara Beth Leach take the microphone together for an honest, personal conversation about perimenopause and menopause: the symptoms, the grief, and the questions women are quietly carrying. From night sweats and sleepless nights to the deeper question of what it even means to be a woman on the other side of fertility, Dorina and Tara Beth share what they've experienced and what they're still learning. Together, they also bring Scripture into the conversation, from Mary's posture of curiosity to Anna's devoted witness in the temple, and they ask what it would look like for women to embrace what this unique season truly holds. They also name the ways the church's emphasis on the nuclear family can send unintended messages to women who are single, childless, or post-menopausal—and what some helpful correctives might look like. More than anything, this episode is an invitation to ask not "what's wrong with me?" but "what's happening in me?" and to find community, laughter, and grace in a season that too often goes unnamed. Whether you're in the thick of perimenopause/menopause/postmenopause or supporting someone who is, or if you are just ready to have a conversation the church rarely starts—this episode is for you. This episode highlights the following themes: * The real, physical, and emotional weight of menopause—and why women are finally talking about it * What Scripture says about women, aging, and worth beyond reproduction * How the church can create space for women in midlife to be seen, supported, and still lead Links from this episode: * Read Weathering Change [https://www.ivpress.com/weathering-change?utm_campaign=show_notes&utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Courtney Ellis * Learn more about The ‘Pause Life [https://thepauselife.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoovEgmtqGhzv1Jq0xVjxhXCZf9YxmsSChr8r0SwZFp3j7yc0_F7] from Dr. Mary Claire Haver * Learn more about Dawn Jackson [https://www.dawnjacksoncoaching.com/] * Check of the Our Time to Rise in Midlife [https://theopendoorsisterhood.com/category/the-open-door-podcast/] podcast * Read the transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-xojuiiNR8hXDBcJGjKPbwBj47DAwWnE/view?usp=drive_link] * Learn more about Hear Women [https://www.ivpress.com/hear-women-podcast?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Learn more about your hosts, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young [https://www.ivpress.com/dorina-lazo-gilmore-young?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], Nijay Gupta [https://www.ivpress.com/nijay-k-gupta?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], and Tara Beth Leach [https://www.ivpress.com/tara-beth-leach?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Read Redeemer [https://www.ivpress.com/redeemer?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young * Read Tell Her Story [https://www.ivpress.com/tell-her-story?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Nijay Gupta * Read Emboldened [https://www.ivpress.com/emboldened?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Tara Beth Leach SPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com [http://ivpress.com] and use the code IVPHEAR40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode. SPONSOR | Hear Women is sponsored by Northern Seminary, where thousands of women have been equipped to serve as pastors, practitioners, church planters, and ministry leaders across the globe. Explore your calling and visit seminary.edu [https://www.seminary.edu/?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] to learn more. Credits: ✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton ✅ Research Assistants: Abby Lee and Jazmin Rose ✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts [https://honestpodcasts.com/] ✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne ✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard ✅ Theme Song: "Organica" by Artax Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

What the Church Needs to Know About the Burdens of Women in Leadership | Tammy Dunahoo

What roadblocks—and outright opposition—do women face when they pursue their call to leadership? In this episode of Hear Women, host Tara Beth Leach sits down with seasoned leader Tammy Dunahoo to talk about the wisdom she’s gleaned from her four decades of ministry, the unique burden of being “the first,” and the identity struggles women face in male-shaped systems. By sharing both the joys and pains of her leadership journey, Dunahoo explores the tension between capability and calling, the wounds and weariness that come with tempered resistance, and the healing found in befriending both grief and gratitude. Through it all, Dunahoo’s deep-rooted confidence, resilience, and wisdom shine as she describes what it means to stand firm in her identity as called by God, to invest in the next generation of women leaders through mentorship, and to prioritize family amid significant leadership responsibilities. With precision and a pastoral approach, Leach and Dunahoo name cultural and theological roadblocks that are still present for women in the church and call us all to come to the table together with honesty, rich scholarship, and true mutuality.  Listen in for hard-won wisdom, practical encouragement, and a vision for the church where women serve, lead, and heal—and where we can all flourish together. This episode highlights the following themes: * The subtle and overt roadblocks women encounter while exploring their calling to leadership * The transformative power of mentorship and encouragement for women discerning vocation * The tension between capability, calling, and the struggle to claim the title “leader” Links from this episode: * Learn more about Tammy Dunahoo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdunahoo/] * Read Penny Preaches [https://www.ivpress.com/penny-preaches?srsltid=AfmBOoo8NzVh7w23z61WUlkUY22GegsrPEWoPCFdWbVFe_Yzf5O5rOLH] by Amy Dixon and Rob Dixon * Learn more about Rev. Ashley Matthews [https://c4so.org/a-new-role-for-the-rev-ashley-mathews/] * Read the transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k0wl6AirEb8uUuLuXdu-AC7ebLv6Q9S5/view?usp=drive_link] * Learn more about Hear Women [https://www.ivpress.com/hear-women-podcast?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Learn more about your hosts, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young [https://www.ivpress.com/dorina-lazo-gilmore-young?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], Nijay Gupta [https://www.ivpress.com/nijay-k-gupta?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], and Tara Beth Leach [https://www.ivpress.com/tara-beth-leach?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Read Redeemer [https://www.ivpress.com/redeemer?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young * Read Tell Her Story [https://www.ivpress.com/tell-her-story?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Nijay Gupta * Read Emboldened [https://www.ivpress.com/emboldened?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Tara Beth Leach SPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com [http://ivpress.com] and use the code IVPHEAR40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode. SPONSOR | Hear Women is sponsored by Northern Seminary, where thousands of women have been equipped to serve as pastors, practitioners, church planters, and ministry leaders across the globe. Explore your calling and visit seminary.edu [https://www.seminary.edu/?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] to learn more. Credits: ✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton ✅ Research Assistants: Abby Lee and Jazmin Rose ✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts [https://honestpodcasts.com/] ✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne ✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard ✅ Theme Song: "Organica" by Artax Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

What the Church Needs to Know About Confronting Sexism | Heather Matthews

Sexism in the church isn’t limited to headline-grabbing moments—it’s often quiet, persistent, and too easily overlooked.  In this episode of Hear Women, hosts Tara Beth Leach and Nijay Gupta are joined by Heather Matthews to take an honest look at the overt and covert ways women are held back in ministry. Matthews is a pastor, church planter, author, and educator who has worked in various ministry contexts in the US and internationally for twenty-five years. From subtle exclusions and lost opportunities to direct limits and unpaid work, her journey reveals both the personal pain and the collective loss experienced when women are undervalued or discriminated against. Yet the biblical story offers a different perspective. Drawing from her own story and her book, Confronting Sexism in the Church [https://www.ivpress.com/confronting-sexism-in-the-church?srsltid=AfmBOoon5foGzwf9Uj3dLaJ6brLHEmMSQwgpIi1geuSeDQ24OwMPbkn3], Matthews challenges us: What does the overarching story of Scripture teach us about women? As Matthews describes her journey of understanding Scripture and shares her personal story, she offers how anti-sexism might become a reality instead of just a slogan. Listen in for practical insight, encouragement, and a compelling invitation to become the kind of ally that women in the church desperately need. This episode highlights the following themes: * The pervasive forms of sexism in the church * How theological reflection on Scripture can empower women to embrace their God-given gifts * Practical approaches for confronting sexism in faith communities Links from this episode: * Discover more about Heather Matthews [https://www.ivpress.com/heather-matthews?srsltid=AfmBOooNZrgK8dXHCEvm6wA5aLOkzurEDXXwXR3xSOtniVLwSdHGn5bN] * Read Heather Matthews’ book, Confronting Sexism in the Church [https://www.ivpress.com/confronting-sexism-in-the-church?srsltid=AfmBOoon5foGzwf9Uj3dLaJ6brLHEmMSQwgpIi1geuSeDQ24OwMPbkn3] * Read The Vulnerable Pastor [https://www.ivpress.com/the-vulnerable-pastor?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Mandy Smith, and learn more about her work [https://thewayistheway.org/] * Read Allies in Ministry [https://www.ivpress.com/allies-in-ministry?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Rob Dixon * Read the transcript here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BQtZGty45ryaHnvhobbtZ9hRSfVq4eha/view?usp=drive_link] * Learn more about Hear Women [https://www.ivpress.com/hear-women-podcast?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Learn more about your hosts, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young [https://www.ivpress.com/dorina-lazo-gilmore-young?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], Nijay Gupta [https://www.ivpress.com/nijay-k-gupta?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25], and Tara Beth Leach [https://www.ivpress.com/tara-beth-leach?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] * Read Redeemer [https://www.ivpress.com/redeemer?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young * Read Tell Her Story [https://www.ivpress.com/tell-her-story?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Nijay Gupta * Read Emboldened [https://www.ivpress.com/emboldened?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] by Tara Beth Leach SPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com [http://ivpress.com] and use the code IVPHEAR40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode. SPONSOR | Hear Women is sponsored by Northern Seminary, where thousands of women have been equipped to serve as pastors, practitioners, church planters, and ministry leaders across the globe. Explore your calling and visit seminary.edu [https://www.seminary.edu/?utm_medium=ivp_hw&utm_source=ivpod25] to learn more. Credits: ✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton ✅ Research Assistants: Abby Lee and Jazmin Rose ✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts [https://honestpodcasts.com/] ✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne ✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard ✅ Theme Song: "Organica" by Artax Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]