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In the season two finale of the Simply127 podcast Sara Beth shares some stats and recaps of season two. She also shares how she met each of the 127 Worldwide partners.   Email: Simply [email protected]   https://127worldwide.org/Simply127 Episode 21 Tony Merida Episode 23 Michele Suffridge Episode 36 Dustin Dozier   Episode 1 Sara Beth Fentress Episode 3 Eleanor Wells Episode 12 Peter Abungu   Episode 26 & 27 : Manny and Jillian Prieto   Books: Atomic Habits Misreading Scripture Through Western Eyes The Choice Gentle and Lowly

In this episode of the Simply 127 podcast, Sara Beth chats with Drew Raynor. Drew is a husband, pastor, and adoptive father. Drew and his wife Taylor began to see adoption as part of their story through their time at Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, NC. They now have three biological children and one adopted child. Drew always knew that he wanted to be part of a church plant. Seven years ago he and several others decided to plant a church in Cary, North Carolina.  Drew talks about how adoption changed his relationship with God, his marriage and changed him personally. He shares how his family is uniquely engaged in the work of caring for orphans and vulnerable children through their family business in partnership with 127 Worldwide. As a pastor, he also explains how the church can engage in caring for orphans through adoption. Resources: www.127worldwide.org [email protected] Podcast episodes referenced: Simply127 Podcast Episode 10: Tim Raynor Episode 16: Jeremy Wixson https://harvestrdu.com/ https://idcraleigh.com/  

On this episode of the Simply127 podcast Sara Beth interviews Phil Darke. Phil, his wife Becca, and their five children, live in Folsom, CA. He is the President of Providence World, a non-profit developing organizations around the world to help children and families flourish. He co-authored the book In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence and also founded and hosts three podcasts: How Soccer Explains Leadership, Think Orphan, and Coaching Character. Listen to hear how God worked through Phil’s life to bring him to where he is now.   Resources: www.127worldwide.org [email protected] Providence World: https://providenceworld.com/ Book: In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence By: Philip Darke and Keith McFarland Podcast: Think Orphan https://thinkorphan.com/

In this episode of the Simply127 podcast, Sara Beth interviews her good friend Chelsea Sobolik. Chelsea works for the  ERLC in their DC office. She is also an author, having written Longing for Motherhood and is working with Moody Publishers on her second book. Chelsea was born in Romania. She and another little boy were adopted by her parents in the United States when she was very young. They were 11 days apart in age and not related. Her parents adopted four other children from Russia. Chelsea grew up in a very loving household and God grew her heart for the vulnerable. When Chelsea was a freshman in college she learned that she had a rare condition that would prevent her from having biological children. She wasn’t able to find a book or resources for those walking through this type of loss. She wrote the book,  Longing for Motherhood, the book she wished she had when she was walking through this part of her life. Listen to hear more of her story and justice journey. Resources:   www.127worldwide.org [email protected]   Book: Longing for Motherhood: Holding On to Hope in the Midst of Childlessness By: Chelsea Patterson Sobolik    https://erlc.com

Dustin Dozier is a husband, pastor and father to adopted children. He is the Teaching Pastor at Upstate Church Five Forks outside of Greenville, South Carolina. Dustin did not grow up in a church home and didn’t become a Christian until he was in high school after being invited to church by friends when he was a freshman.   After going on several mission trips, Dustin saw the great need to foster and adopt. God stirred in his heart the call to adopt but Dustin did not know the details of how that would look. After the earthquake in Haiti, Dustin and his wife hosted a child from Haiti and ended up adopting him and his 2 siblings. They adopted a newborn, 15 month old and two year old in a very short period of time. This wasn’t the path that Dustin envisioned when starting a family with his wife, but he learned very quickly that he needed to lean on God’s leading in his life for their family. Dustin provides advice for the journey of adoption and also for the church in caring for the vulnerable. He discusses how sometimes the world sees Christians for what they are against, not what they are for. Christians should show others the goodness of God. Adoption and foster care are ways that show others the goodness of God.   Resources:   www.127worldwide.org [email protected]   Dustin Dozier @dustindozier on Instagram [email protected]

In this episode of the Simply127 podcast, Sara Beth interviews Gary Freeman. Gary is originally from Chesapeake, Virginia and attended East Carolina University on a football scholarship. His father was a pastor and they did not have a good relationship growing up. Gary explained how he saw the more difficult parts of his father being in ministry and as a result disregarded his faith in college. When he was a senior in college he started to pursue his relationship with Christ again.    Gary founded Major League Dad which is an organization that strives to promote a healthy view of fatherhood, pregnancy crisis support and guidance on how to care for a baby. Romans 5:8 says that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This verse guides and propels Gary in all that he does. It permeates all efforts of ministry from the fatherless to a difficult father and child relationship to those toiling with whether or not they want to be a father.   Resources:   www.127worldwide.org [email protected]   majorleaguedad.org   Gfreeman@majorleaguedad  

In this episode of the Simply 127 podcast, Sara Beth interviews Tracy Arntzen, Co- Founder and Executive Director of Saving Susan Ministry. Tracy and her husband, Jay, own an elevator business and live in north Atlanta. Together they have three sons. Not long after starting their own business in 2008,  they felt the call to change churches.  Through one of their church connections, Jay felt led to go to Cambodia after mission Sunday. He and one of his sons decided to go on the mission project. There he met a little girl with whom he had a strong connection. He even wanted their family to adopt her, but found out that the borders were closed to international adoption. Through prayer and guidance they felt led to still help support the girl, they nick-named Susan, and her brother.  When founding Saving Susan Ministry, Tracy was very adamant that prayer would be central to their ministry. Six years later it is still the most important thing they do. They approach orphan care in a unique and very relational way. There is an application process for anyone who wants to sponsor a child and work closely with local leaders in the countries where these children live.   Resources: Have any comments or questions? Email [email protected]   127 Worldwide www.127worldwide.org   Saving Susan Ministry https://www.savingsusanministry.org/ [email protected]   Books: The Hole in Our Gospel Richard Sterns   In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence Keith McFarland Philip Darke

Episode 33   In this episode Sara Beth has a conversation with Jackie Wild. Jackie is a wife, mom of two boys and wedding photographer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has been passionate about adoption and caring for vulnerable communities since she was a teenager. She served on the board of directors for 127 Worldwide and continues to be an advocate for orphans and widows.    Both of Jackie’s boys were adopted as infants in the United States. She shares her adoption journey with her husband, Matt, and how they grew their family following the path the Lord laid before them.   Resources:   www.127worldwide.org [email protected]   Jackie’s Info: Instagram: Jwild.photography Email: [email protected]

Arthur lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with his wife, Liz and dog and cat. He studied student and family ministry at Lancaster Bible college. For 10 years he served as a youth pastor and then felt God’s nudge to leave student ministry and move on to something different. He and his wife built a passion for orphans and vulnerable children. They walked alongside a lot of kids who were facing significant difficulties and trauma. From this experience he learned that kids from hard places have significant barriers to receiving the gospel. He made a video series called, Trusting the God of the Gospel that helps caregivers and families disciple adopted or foster teenagers.    Arthur and Liz have been in the adoption process for several years now. He shares his journey through failed adoption and some of the difficulties he and his wife faced. They also fostered for 2 years. He shares how adoption and foster care is a faith journey, is not always easy and how important it is to be steadfast through it all. Lastly, he shares practical advice to those starting on the adoption and foster care road.   Resources: www.127worldwide.org   Have any questions or feedback?  Email: [email protected]   Arthur C Woods website: https://www.arthurcwoods.com/   Trust the God of the Gospel www.trustingthegodofthegospel.com

Episode 31 In this episode Sara Beth has a conversation with the newest partner of 127 Worldwide, David Lara. David is the pastor of a church outside of Guatemala, in Escuintla, that was planted by his father. His wife and three daughters work together in ministry. He comes from a big family of five brothers and one sister. His father always had a passion to serve the Lord. David shares how he learned to care for the vulnerable through the example of his father and how he is now leading his church towards discipleship and care for the vulnerable.  David also shares how the pandemic has affected his ministry and life this past year and what partnering with 127 Worldwide has looked like for him.   Resources: Have any questions about the Simply 127 podcast? Email [email protected] Book: When Helping Hurts : written by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

In this episode Sara Beth has a conversation with Chrispine (Chris) Omondi, Director of Swahiba Networks in Nairobi, Kenya. Swahiba shares the truth of the gospel through meeting temporal needs in Kibera, Africa’s largest slum. Chris grew up in Kibera and participated in programs offered through Swahiba Networks. He was mentored by founder, Peter Abungu, and is now directing the day to day operations at Swahiba.   Resources: Have any comments or questions? Email [email protected]   Swahiba Networks https://swahiba.org/   Prayer Document: https://127worldwide.org/pray

In episode 29, Sara Beth has a conversation with Jason Johnson, National Director of Church Ministry Initiatives for Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO). Jason’s background is in church planting and ministry. He and his wife have 4 daughters, one of whom was adopted through foster care.  Jason shares about his work through CAFO and how everyone has a unique role to play in caring for vulnerable children and families.  He also shares the heart of how to engage more churches and people to care for vulnerable children; through discipleship. The message central to action is that the gospel changes the questions we ask ourselves. Instead of asking why to do something, the new question becomes ‘why not?’.   Resources: CAFO- Christan Alliance for Orphans   Jason Johnson email: [email protected]   Jason Johnson Blog   Books: Everyone Can Do Something Reframing Foster Care   Finding Your Fit in Foster Care   Have any questions about the Simply 127 podcast? Email [email protected]