16| Loving the Church While Longing for More

16| Loving the Church While Longing for More

In this episode of Seen & Known, host Leona Morelock welcomes pastor, author, and speaker Tara Beth Leach for an honest conversation about loving the church while acknowledging its shortcomings. Together, they explore the tension many women feel between deep faith in Jesus and disappointment with the church's failures. Tara Beth shares her journey as a pastor, wife, mother, and church leader, explaining why she remains committed to the church despite its imperfections. Describing herself as a "Millennial who still loves the church" and a "prisoner of hope," she reflects on what gives her confidence that God is still at work in and through the church today. Key themes include: * Hope for the Church: Why Tara Beth believes the church can still become the radiant witness Jesus intended, even amid cultural skepticism and institutional failures. * The Power of Relationships: How healthy Christian community and authentic friendships help people stay connected to faith when they are tempted to walk away. * Women and the Church: A candid discussion about what women need from the church today, including opportunities to use their gifts, ask hard questions, and fully embrace their calling. * Spiritual Formation and Morning Prayer: Insights from Tara Beth's book The Great Morning Revolution, emphasizing how beginning each day with intentional prayer shapes faith, leadership, and discipleship. * Encouraging Women Leaders: Reflections on her work with Propel Women and the ways God is raising up and equipping women for ministry and leadership. * A Message for the Weary: Tara Beth closes with encouragement for women who feel unseen, unheard, or wounded by the church, reminding them that they are deeply known, fully seen, and beloved by God. At its heart, this episode is an invitation to hold both honesty and hope—to acknowledge the church's wounds without abandoning the possibility of renewal, and to remember that God continues to see, call, and love His people even in seasons of disappointment and longing.

15| Held in His Love, One Story at a Time

In this episode of Seen & Known, Leona sits down with author and Ministry with Coffee host Tricia Bullard for a gentle, hope-filled conversation about presence, storytelling, and the faithful love of God. Tricia shares her journey from decades in the banking world to stepping into ministry later in life, and how one life-changing encounter with Jesus ignited her calling to help others experience God's overwhelming love. Together, they explore the sacred power of slowing down, pulling up a chair, and creating space for honest conversations—especially for those walking through loneliness, waiting, or wilderness seasons. Tricia also reflects on the friendships formed through Propel, the courage it takes to share everyday stories, and the beauty of discovering God's nearness in every chapter of life. This episode is for anyone longing to be reminded that they are not forgotten, that their story matters, and that God's love is personal, constant, and near.

14| Unshackled: Breaking Chains and Learning to Soar

In this episode of Seen & Known, Leona sits down with author and ministry leader Veronica Cornejo for a powerful conversation about freedom, resilience, and becoming who God created you to be. Veronica shares the heart behind her book, Unshackled: A Teen Mom Finding Unstoppable Freedom, and reflects on her journey of breaking generational chains, navigating faith in difficult seasons, and learning to trust God's redemptive work in her life. Together, they talk about recognizing God's presence in the most challenging moments, the role of friendship and community—especially through Propel—and what it means to embrace your true potential with confidence and hope. This episode is for anyone who feels defined by their past or wonders if real change is possible. If you're longing for freedom, healing, and the reminder that God still calls you to soar, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

13| Building Strong Homes & Friendships

What does it really mean to build a strong home? For many women, the desire to create a home filled with peace, faith, and love runs deep—but the reality of marriage, motherhood, and everyday life can sometimes feel overwhelming. In this episode of Seen & Known, Leona sits down with Carol Roper, founder of Building Strong Homes, to talk about what it looks like to build a spiritual foundation that lasts. Together they explore the role of wisdom in difficult seasons, the power of authentic friendships, and how simple moments—like gathering around a table—can strengthen both our homes and our hearts. If you've ever felt pressure to have it all together, or wondered how your ordinary days could shape a meaningful legacy, this conversation will remind you that strong homes are built one faithful step at a time. Pull up a chair and join us.

12| Staying When It Hurts: Healing Church Wounds & Finding Sisterhood Again

What do you do when the place that was meant to feel like home… is the very place that hurt you? In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Leona sits down with Natalie Runion—founder of Raised to Stay and author of I Don't Even Like Women—to talk about church hurt, staying rooted in Jesus, and the long road back to healing and belonging. Together, they explore what it means to wrestle with faith without walking away, how to navigate disappointment within the Church, and why so many women struggle to trust one another—even in spaces meant to feel safe. Natalie shares from her own story as a pastor's kid turned pastor, offering wisdom, honesty, and deep compassion for those who feel caught between loving Jesus and feeling wounded by His people. This episode is a gentle invitation to the woman who feels unsure where she belongs… a reminder that healing is possible, community can be restored, and you are not alone in your wrestling. In this episode, you'll hear: * How to stay connected to Jesus while processing church hurt * The difference between walking away from the Church and walking with God through pain * Why female friendships can feel so complicated—and how to rebuild trust * Practical ways to move from comparison and insecurity to connection * A vision for a healed, healthy Church rooted in grace and truth If you've ever felt hurt, overlooked, or disconnected in your faith community, this conversation will meet you with both truth and tenderness. You are still seen. You are still known. And there is still a place for you.