Ministry On The Margins

Deconstructing The Myth of Good Christian Parenting with Marissa Burt

The Myth of Good Christian Parenting with Marissa Burt About this Episode What happens when “biblical parenting” becomes an industry? Author and researcher Marissa Burt joins Ministry on the Margins to talk about her new book The Myth of Good Christian Parenting (co-authored with Kelsey McGinnis). Together, we unpack how a movement that promised to produce godly children often betrayed the very families it sought to help. From the rise of James Dobson’s Dare to Discipline to the ongoing culture of evangelical authoritarianism, Burt traces how well-meaning parents were shaped by fear, control, and a marketing machine that confused certainty with faithfulness. 🎧 In This Episode You’ll Hear * How the evangelical “Christian parenting” industry emerged in the 1970s * Why Dobson’s Dare to Discipline became a cultural turning point * The dangers of self-platformed “experts” without child-development training * How theology and authoritarianism merged in evangelical family life * The generational fallout—adult children deconstructing faith and family * Why telling the truth about our stories is the first step toward healing * Practical, grace-filled ways parents can move forward today

Sacred Surrender with Jamie Jamgochian

What happens when your plan A falls apart—and God’s plan takes over? Singer-songwriter and worship leader Jamie Jamgochian joins Ministry on the Margins to talk about her new book Sacred Surrender: The Practice of Waiting Well with God. From jazz clubs to church stages, Jamie’s story is one of letting go, trusting deeply, and discovering peace in the in-between. In this episode, Josh and Jamie talk about surrender, identity, waiting, and the surprising beauty of God’s redirection. Whether you’re in a season of uncertainty or learning to rest in God’s timing, this conversation will remind you that waiting is never wasted when it’s spent with Him.

The Great Morning Revolution with Tara Beach Leach

The Great Morning Revolution | Tara Beth Leach Episode Overview In this episode of Ministry on the Margins, Josh Olds talks with pastor and author Tara Beth Leach about her new book, The Great Morning Revolution. It isn’t a prescriptive “do these five things and your life will work” manual; it’s a pastoral invitation to begin the day with God—while your mind is still a blank canvas and before headlines, notifications, and to-dos set the tone:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}. Out of a personal wilderness season marked by grief, caregiving, and a brutal Chicago winter, Tara Beth sensed God’s nudge: “It’s time to rise,” and found a sustainable rhythm of mornings with God that reshaped her days:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. In This Episode You’ll Hear * How a night owl became an early riser through a season of loss and liminality * Why the goal is presence, not performance—and how to avoid turning routine into legalism * The G.R.E.A.T. framework: Gratitude, Reflection, Exaltation, Asking, Trusting—and what it looks like in real life * Practical ways to begin with God in five minutes or an hour, in quiet or amid kid chaos * Why sleep is a spiritual discipline—and how nighttime habits shape morning faithfulness * How to keep authenticity and attentiveness within a simple, repeatable structure About the Book The Great Morning Revolution is part memoir, part spiritual guide—a gentle call to wake up physically and spiritually. Tara Beth invites readers to “begin with God” in whatever season they’re in. It’s not about a specific wake-up time; it’s about a set-apart moment at the start of your day when the Spirit can establish your steps and intentions. Her G.R.E.A.T. rhythm—Gratitude (naming God’s gifts), Reflection (Scripture and examen), Exaltation (praise/psalms), Asking (intercession aligned to God’s will), and Trusting (surrender through the Lord’s Prayer or Psalm 23)—offers a simple, life-giving path that flexes with your realities. About the Author Tara Beth Leach serves as senior pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Naperville, Illinois. A gifted preacher and writer (including Radiant Church and Emboldened), she ministers with a warm pastoral voice that helps people discover sustainable rhythms of grace in ordinary life. She and her family (plus two very cuddly corgis) make their home in Chicagoland. Favorite Quotes “While our minds are still a blank canvas…allow God to establish our steps and set the intentions of our days.” “God is waiting for us to wake up. God delights in our presence.” “It’s not prescriptive—find a sacred five minutes or a sacred hour that fits your season.” “We’re not doing this to please God—we’re doing it so we can be present with God.” “End your day with God so you can begin your day with God—rest is a spiritual discipline.”

Answers in Genesis: A Conversation with Ken Ham

In this episode of Ministryon the Margins, Josh Olds interviews Ken Ham, founder of Answers inGenesis, about his new memoir Miraculous: The Ken Ham and Answers in GenesisStory. Ham reflects on his upbringing in Australia, the founding ofthe Creation Museum and Ark Encounter, and why he views Genesis 1–11 as thefoundation of all Christian doctrine. Ham explains his belief in a young earth,his distinction between “observational” and “historical” science, and why hesees the debate as an issue of biblical authority rather than science alone. Inthis episode, you’ll hear: * Ken Ham explain why he believes Genesis 1–11 must be read as literal history. * His defense of a young earth (~6,000 years old) and the flood as the source of the fossil record. * Josh Olds pressing on why young earth creationism remains a minority position among Christians. * Ham’s distinction between “observational” and “historical” science. * Josh exploring whether making young earth central risks becoming a stumbling block to evangelism. * Ham clarifying that young earth creationism is not a salvation issue but a matter of biblical authority. * Josh highlighting how respected conservative theologians differ with Ham on this issue. * Reflections on Ham’s memoir Miraculous and fifty years of ministry through Answers in Genesis.

Discovering Your Child's Point of View with Kelsie Olds, The Occuplaytional Therapist

Occupational therapist and author Kelsie Olds joins host Josh Olds to explore how we can better understand and support children by seeing the world from their perspective. Drawing from their book Your Child’s Point of View, Kelsie unpacks practical, empathetic approaches to parenting, challenges authoritarian power structures in faith and family, and reflects on what it means to truly treat children as whole human beings—at home, at school, and in church.