Women in the Book of Acts: Real, Diverse, and Essential

Women in the Book of Acts: Real, Diverse, and Essential

Followers of Christ are widely familiar with the 12 disciples in the Bible, but another group made a significant impact worthy of the spotlight: the women in the book of Acts. Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. For today’s episode, we’re going to look at a few stories of prominent women in Scripture, specifically in the book of Acts. These women are not the stuff of Sunday School picture books. They’re real, they’re diverse, and more than anything, they help us understand God’s plan for his church. Article: Recovering the stories of silenced women in ancient literature [https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/recovering-the-stories-of-silenced-women-in-ancient-literature] Focus on Faith and Culture e-newsletter [https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/e-newsletter?utm_campaign=thriving_family_s4&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=focusonthefamily.ca] Free, one-time phone consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada. Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult. Support the podcast [https://donation.focusonthefamily.ca/page/donate/thriving-family-pod?leadsource=PodcastGiving&leadsource=PodcastGiving&utm_campaign=thriving_family_s4&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=focusonthefamily.ca] © 2017 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. Sources from today's episode: Darrell L. Bock, Acts, (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Baker Academic, 2007. F.F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, (New International Commentary on the New Testament), Eerdmans, 1988. R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, (Preaching the Word), Crossway, 2014. I. Howard Marshall, Acts, (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries), IVP Academic, 1980. Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles, (Socio-Rhetorical Commentary), Eerdmans, 1997.

Andrea Mrozek and Peter Jon Mitchell: Finding Hope Through Research And Data

In a world that says marriage and monogamy are outdated, these words are radically countercultural: “I do.” Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. Today, you’re in for an inspiring conversation with Andrea Mzorek and Peter Jon Mitchell from Cardus, where they discuss the research that shows why marriage still matters. Cardus is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to clarifying and strengthening, through research and dialogue, the ways in which society’s institutions can work together for the common good. Andrea has worked in journalism and think tanks in Europe and Canada. She writes and speaks about marriage, childcare, and women's issues. Prior to joining Cardus, she was executive director of the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada. Peter Jon is program director of Cardus Family. He has been researching and writing about Canadian families and public policy for nearly two decades. Join us as Andrea and Peter Jon talk about their fascinating new book I Do: Why Marriage Still Matters. I…Do? Why Marriage Still Matters [https://www.cardus.ca/research-library/family/i-do-why-marriage-still-matters/] Cardus [https://www.cardus.ca/] Free, one-time phone consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada. Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult. Support the podcast [https://donation.focusonthefamily.ca/page/donate/thriving-family-pod?leadsource=PodcastGiving&leadsource=PodcastGiving&utm_campaign=thriving_family_s4&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=focusonthefamily.ca] © 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

God’s Redemptive Love for Orphans, Widows, and Outsiders

Society’s most vulnerable can hold on to this hope: they are loved, valued, and known by our Heavenly Father. Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. For today’s episode, we’ll take a deep dive into God’s care for the vulnerable. Why does our Heavenly Father care so deeply about orphans, widows, and outsiders? The simple answer is that it reflects his own loving and just character. As you’ll hear, there’s more to it than that. Focus on Faith and Culture e-newsletter [https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/e-newsletter?utm_campaign=thriving_family_s4&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=focusonthefamily.ca] Free, one-time phone consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada. Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult. Support the podcast [https://donation.focusonthefamily.ca/page/donate/thriving-family-pod?leadsource=PodcastGiving&leadsource=PodcastGiving&utm_campaign=thriving_family_s4&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=focusonthefamily.ca] © 2024 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Jim Daly: Conversation of Legacy and Hope Between Focus on the Family Leaders

Any conversation is a chance to share from the heart, and what a joy it was to do this with Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. Today’s episode features a special guest and friend of our ministry: Jim Daly. Jim is a husband, father, author and broadcaster. He is the president of Focus on the Family in the U.S. and host of its beloved audio program which is heard by more than 5.6 million listeners a week and has been honored as Program of the Year by the National Religious Broadcasters. Jim and his wife, Jean, have two sons and live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult. Support the podcast [https://donation.focusonthefamily.ca/page/donate/thriving-family-pod?leadsource=PodcastGiving&leadsource=PodcastGiving&utm_campaign=thriving_family_s4&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=focusonthefamily.ca] Focus on the Family With Jim Daly [https://focusonthefamily.ca/listen/focus-on-the-family-show] © 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Jason Ballard: Full-Hearted Pastoring in an Unchurched Metropolis

What does it take to pastor a church in an unchurched metropolis? Passion, conviction, love, and most importantly, the right kind of support system. Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. Today’s episode features Jason Ballard. Jason is a pastor at The Way Church in Vancouver, BC. He also serves as the Executive Director of The Pastorate and hosts The Pastorate podcast, engaging in conversations that strengthen the hearts of pastors and tell the story of the church in Canada. When he is not serving his church and working to inspire and equip pastors, you can find him at home with his wife, Rachael, and three kids. Today’s interview is facilitated by Len DenBraber, chief operating officer at Focus on the Family Canada. Kerith Ministry Leader Retreats [https://kerithretreats.ca/] Free, one-time phone consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada. Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult. Support the podcast [https://donation.focusonthefamily.ca/page/donate/thriving-family-pod?leadsource=PodcastGiving&leadsource=PodcastGiving&utm_campaign=thriving_family_s4&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=focusonthefamily.ca] © 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.