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November is Adoption Awareness Month!  This month specifically is meant to raise awareness about adoption, celebrate families formed through adoption, and highlight the need for permanent homes for children in foster care. On this episode of the podcast, Sammie's friend and coworker, Johnston Moore, sits down and has a conversation with Chris Johnson, a pastor and adoptive dad who works with church engagement at Lifeline Children's Services. The two discuss Chris's background, family life, and testimony - which inevitably dives into a conversation related to God’s call to the Church, and to individual Christians, to care for vulnerable children and their families, whether biological, adoptive, or foster.  Johnston Moore serves as the Adoption/Orphan Care Consultant for Anglicans for Life and has been featured on the You Were Made for More podcast before - the perfect reason to invite him in to host an episode! Johnston is charismatic, generous, and has a heart for all of God's children. Chris Johnson serves as the Sr. Director of Church Partnerships & External Advocacy at Lifeline Children’s Services. With over two decades of pastoral experience and a background as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Faith and Community Based Initiatives, Chris is a seasoned leader and advocate for vulnerable children and families. A native of metro Atlanta, Georgia, Chris now resides in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife, Alicia. Together, they have 10 children, seven of whom were adopted from foster care, and are proud grandparents, including two grandchildren adopted through foster care. Their commitment to serving children extends to fostering over 40 children throughout the years, embodying their dedication to family and community. Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

I am so thrilled to bring you this conversation today with my new friend, Ali! Chatting with Ali about her new book and about parenting really felt like a hug from the Lord in my own season of parenting little ones an being so intentional about the culture in our home. My prayer is that this book and her wisdom would bless you immensely!  Ali Gilkeson is the author of Keeping the Light, and the New York Times bestselling book, My Lighthouse, as well as an internationally-known performer and speaker. She has traveled the world playing music and sharing stories with the band Rend Collective and is part of Rend Co. Kids, Rend Collective’s ministry creating music that both kids and adults can enjoy. She is a mother of three kids, raising them all on the road since six weeks of age. Ali grew up in Northern Ireland in a time of conflict and uncertainty, a childhood spent always looking over her shoulder but also learning to laugh in the middle of the chaos. Gifted as a communicator, she started traveling around Ireland as a speaker in her early twenties, taking any chance she could to encourage and embolden the young people she met. Ali currently lives in Nashville, TN with her family and is the kind of woman who makes jokes that most people don’t expect, tells captivating stories like you’re round the campfire, and is deeply passionate about raising good humans.  “Son, it’s not our job as lighthouse keepers to decide who does and who does not deserve the light. Our job is to shine the light, no matter what.” (Quote from Keeping the Light) In this book, children will learn… The importance of showing grace and empathy towards othersHow to view difficult people (like bullies) through the eyes of love and understandingHow they possess a special ability to share kindness to the worldHow to be brave when feeling intimidated or insecureBe sure to head over and get your copy, today!  Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

This month's episode of the podcast is going to be formatted a little bit differently than our typical conversations. My prayer is that formatting an episode this way would challenge you to be vulnerable; find someone you trust to pray, ponder, and walk through this set of questions with you.  Here's the truth: the way we view our bodies is not a shallow, surface issue for the immature or the vain. The way we view our bodies is a deeply spiritual issue because our bodies are made by God, in the image of God, and they are where we encounter God for now. Body image IS a deeply spiritual issue. After listening to this episode, here is a list of questions to walk through in your small groups, with a mentor, or quietly and independently with God: 1) What do you believe are the leading causes of body image struggles for young girls in our culture today? 2) WHY is it vital that we answer the hard questions, like - do I like this body and will I respect this body? 3) Advice for parents trying to help a teenager who struggles with "bad" or negative feelings about her physical appearance? IE: Our daughter has a poor body image and a distressingly negative view of herself, but she won't talk about it. How do we bring this up without smothering her, alienating her or otherwise hurting our relationship? 4) What are practical ways to teach kids to honor and respect their bodies, without body shaming? Some examples that I've come to appreciate: eating healthy foods that make me feel good, taste good, and give me energy - prioritizing sleep and rest - being active every day - focusing on holistic health (physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being) more than just the physical.  Here are some resources we think will help to guide you in your conversations:  What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves Breaking Free from Body Shame: Dare to Reclaim What God Has Named GoodLastly, if you don't have anyone to walk through these questions with - WE would love to do that with you. Send us an email at [email protected] to connect.  Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

On today's episode of the podcast, we have a conversation about faith and disability with Sammie's good friend, Gianna Zemet. Gianna is a middle school special education math teacher in the Upper St. Clair School District located in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to teaching, Gianna faithfully serves in her church's Autism Ministry and Student Ministry alongside her husband, Jeremiah. She clearly believes that God has placed a clear calling on her life to teach kids with disabilities and to mentor students/young adults.  Our hope is that this conversation would encourage you to think deeply about your theology of disability. How does the Gospel inform the way we think about disability? Though we all have different abilities, our stories are the same. We’re more alike than we think. We are all made in the image of God. We all share a story of struggle and find hope in the gospel of Jesus. You'll hear us talk about how to cultivate compassion paired with dignity, how to emphasize "people first language," and practical ways to lean into your community. Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:  North Way Christian Community's Autism Ministry"People First Language"Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

In this episode, I wanted to take some time to really dive into what Sexual Risk Avoidance Education is all about - and some common myths that need debunked as we enter the new school year.  If you have a child attending public school this year, please, please, take the time to ask questions to your district about what type of sexual education your teens are receiving. In many states, there are laws in place that do not require schools to disclose that information to parents, even though you are the primary caregivers and ones who are responsible for raising these teens.  In public health, a risk avoidance approach is always given primacy when addressing health risk behaviors. In the 1960s, for example, the message regarding smoking wasn't: “Don’t begin smoking, but if you are already smoking, it is important to stop.” That would be silly, as I'd say to my almost-5-year old. The message was simple: do not smoke because there are consequences and you could die. See the example below. If we're honest, this model should be applied to sex education as well. My prayer is that this episode would encourage you to invest in your child's education and fight for their hearts in this way.  Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:  Example of Anti-Smoking AdSources for All Cited FactsBe sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

In Christian theology, fatherhood holds profound significance, mirroring God's own role as the ultimate Father and provider. It encompasses not only physical provision and protection but also spiritual guidance, moral instruction, and the modeling of God's love and character. As if that wasn't a high enough calling, earthly fathers are called to reflect the love, discipline, and faithfulness of God the Father, shaping their children's lives and pointing them towards a relationship with God through modeling what obedience looks like.  This month, we honored dad's on Father's Day, and we wanted to recognize that on the podcast - so, who better to ask to chat about fatherhood than my husband (I may be biased, but I think he is the best dad I know!) and our good friend who is about to become a dad himself? Juan and Ceddie are good friends, servant leaders, humble followers of Jesus, and aim to obey and please the Lord in everything they do. They're also no strangers to podcasting - they host their own podcast - The Upside Down Podcast - where they host thought-provoking questions about life and faith.  Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:  The Upside Down Podcast (The Christian podcast of big questions and even bigger discussions :-))Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

May is all about moms as we celebrate Mother’s Day! In this episode, we hear from Sammie’s friend & first time mom, Mandi Boreing, about her transition into motherhood this past year and how Jesus has worked in & through her in this season.  Mandi married her husband, Andrew, a little over two years ago and since then they’ve lived in three houses in three cities, welcomed their first baby boy in April of 2024 and are expecting baby boy #2 in just a few months! As someone who has longed to be a mom for as long as she can remember, the reality of postpartum and parenting hit her harder than she expected. She credits only the Lord’s strength for getting her through and reminding her that she was made for this. If you are someone who longs for a relationship, marriage, motherhood, or anything in between, we pray this conversation blesses you & encourages you to wait on the Lord and always trust Him and His timing.  We chat about: - What motherhood has taught us about the Gospel  - What advice we would give to moms-to-be or women wishing to be moms  - Being in a season of waiting for marriage or a family  - Resources for encouragement  My own experience has been one of growth. It happens little by little. Day by day. Mundane moment by mundane moment. It happens by digging our roots deeper into God’s Word and who we have known him to be. It happens by reaching up, asking him to sustain us in our weakness and limitations. And it happens by looking out, faithfully doing the next hard thing and trusting him to bring us “from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:7). May this episode serve as an encouragement to you in your own motherhood journey - He is with you and for you!  Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:  Risen Motherhood MinistryEvery Moment Holy (so good!) - InstagramBe sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

“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 - Take a quiz to learn how you can use your gifts to get involved in the pro-life movement! // And, find the book here. How Should the Church Respond? (Focus on the Family)Embrace Grace Website (especially if you're interested in finding or starting a chapter)You Were Made for More Social Media:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

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 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. Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

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 ReportThe 4% Myth by Live ActionThe Abortion PillPrenatal Care & Planned ParenthoodBe sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

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 momsMaking an expectant or new mom a mealBuying 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 VillageChristine's InstagramTogether, 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 - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

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 PetersenFoster the FamilyThe Connected ChildTera's Contact InfoBe sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

In this episode, Sammie sits down with her sister, Michelle (or Meesh as everyone calls her) to discuss how to teach kids from a young age to honor their bodies, who God made them, and to understanding the Gospel. Meesh is the kids director at their church and has an extensive background in ministering to kids of all backgrounds and multiple age ranges. This is such an important conversation as we head into the thick of a new school year, new beginnings, and new transitional periods for a lot of families. We pray that it blesses you and encourages you!  Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

Happy Summer, everyone! We've been in the full swing of all the summer activities in my house, but I wanted to take the time to share an online message I shared with parents, grandparents, youth leaders, and students in our larger church community, in an effort to encourage and equip them in whatever their role in relationship education is. It has been encouraging to me as I have been in this line of work to see that contrary to all the digs at evangelical purity culture over the years, God’s way of doing things actually works. This should not surprise us. On of my favorite quotes is from C.S. Lewis. He says, “God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine.” This makes Him preeminently qualified to tell us how that engine functions best.   Join us as we highlight where our current culture is regarding relationships, sex, intimacy, and ultimately life. We want to equip YOU as you head into a new school year next month to really do what God has called each and every one of us to do... To share His word and make Him known. Here are some things we mentioned in the podcast: You Were Made for More Resource Page What to Say and When To Say It Uprooting Lies and Planting the TruthBiblical Critical Theory Lila Rose Appearance Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram

Sexual integrity is often not modeled in today’s culture. As your child’s parent, you have the unique opportunity to share the truth and model what it means to pursue sexual integrity and live a life of purity. In today's episode, we sift through the definition of what sexual purity exactly means and how to give the kids & students in our lives practical tips to pursue it. Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us 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:  FacebookTwitterInstagram