Advertise on podcast: Here For It

You're busy, but are you effective? In this episode of Here For It, Pastors Aaron and Lauren get honest about a season that's tested them both: the difference between a full calendar and a fruitful life.They talk through what busyness actually hides (fear, insecurity, the need for affirmation), how striving differs from abiding, and why saying yes to good things can quietly cost you the people who matter most. Aaron shares the story of stepping back from nearly 90 nights of travel a year, and Lauren walks through what overcommitment does to marriage connection long before you notice the drift.If your calendar is full but your life doesn't feel fruitful, this conversation is for you.Subscribe to Here For It for honest conversations on marriage, ministry, and following Jesus in real life.Musicbed SyncID: MB01TRVVXSOVQNL

This August, Lauren and I are stepping away for a sabbatical, so Here for It will be off for the month. We will be back with new episodes soon, starting with a five week series on marriage that is sure to give us plenty to unpack together. Hope you and your family have a great summer. We would appreciate your prayers.

Something new is coming from Opendoor Church. Better Together is a podcast built around the belief that we grow best when we hear from many voices, not just one. Each season will bring in different guests, facilitators, elders, and staff to speak into different seasons of life. The first season is for young adults, unpacking the hard and often disorienting shift from youth group to college ministry to adulthood. Subscribe to Better Together now at opendoorchurch.com so you're ready for episode one.

Are you avoiding a conversation because it feels easier than having it? If you've felt the tension build in your marriage, your family, or your leadership because something never got said, this episode is for you.Pastor Aaron and Lauren Kennedy get honest about what avoidance actually costs: resentment, emotional distance, and broken trust. They talk through their own marriage, the fear of saying it wrong, and why the conversation you keep avoiding never actually goes away. It grows.You'll hear practical ways to step into hard conversations without waiting for the perfect moment, how to name what you're feeling before you say it out loud, and why speaking the truth in love isn't as complicated as it feels once you understand what love actually means.Peace isn't the absence of tension. It's the result of dealing with it the right way.New episodes of Here for It drop every month. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. opendoorchurch.com

You're tired. But it might not be because your calling is too heavy. It might be because you've picked up things God never asked you to carry. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy get honest about one of the most common and least-talked-about sources of burnout: false responsibility. They walk through how carrying other people's emotions, outcomes, and growth creates exhaustion that no amount of rest can fix, and what it actually looks like to put it down. They cover where this shows up in leadership, marriage, and everyday life, and they don't just talk theory. They talk about their own patterns, their own counseling journeys, and the daily decisions that make the difference between operating in grace and grinding through mercy. In this episode:Why burnout often isn't from your assignment, it's from what you picked up along the way The difference between a burden and an assignment. How people-pleasing, fear of man, and an identity rooted in being needed keep you overloaded What the hula hoop illustration reveals about what's actually yours to carryPractical resets and truth anchors to help you release what isn't yours Scriptures referenced: Galatians 6:5, Matthew 11:28-30, 1 John 4:16New episodes of Here for It drop every month. Subscribe so you don't miss one.

Everyone wants to find the right person. But most people haven't stopped to ask the right questions. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy get honest about what actually matters when you're navigating relationships and dating. They're not handing out a checklist or a formula. They're talking about the three things that tell you more about a person than a personality test ever could: their intimacy with Jesus, their character, and how they handle their finances. They also get into why you shouldn't marry someone's potential, how to find wise counsel instead of just friend counsel, and why the most important thing you can do before getting into a relationship is shore up your own identity first. Whether you're dating, thinking about it, or just trying to figure out what healthy even looks like, this one is worth your time.

What is an Altar Night, and why does it matter right now?In this powerful conversation, Pastor Aaron shares the heart behind Altar Nights at Opendoor Church and why he believes God is calling us back to something deeper. This isn’t about creating a moment; it’s about creating space for God to move.We talk about: What actually happens during an Altar NightWhy physical obedience matters in your faith journeyHow to move from routine to real encounterWhat to do if you don’t “feel” anythingWhy hunger for God changes everythingIf you’ve ever felt stuck, disconnected, or just hungry for more of God—this conversation is for you. God is still moving. The question is this: are we making room? Join us for Altar Nights at Opendoor Church Come expectant. Come hungry. Come ready. Share this with someone who needs a fresh encounter with God.Find out more info at: https://opendoorchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/category/104215

Some of what you're fighting isn't yours. It was planted long before you got here. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy tackle two topics that don't get nearly enough airtime in church: generational iniquities and soul ties. Not the spooky, hocus-pocus version. The real, practical, scripturally grounded version that shows up in marriages, families, and the patterns people can't seem to break no matter how hard they try. They walk through what the Bible actually says about iniquity passing through generations, what soul ties are and why they're not always sexual, and what it looks like to apply the blood of Jesus to the things in your life that keep pulling you backward. This one will probably turn on some lights. Come ready to do some honest looking.

For the first time on Here For It, Pastors Aaron and Lauren sit down with guest Dr. Ashley Hudson, a Christian therapist, researcher, and mama in process who specializes in mental and sexual health. This honest and necessary conversation tackles one of the most avoided topics in church and family life: how to disciple kids and teens around sexuality without shame, fear, or silence. Dr. Hudson explains the difference between purity culture and biblical purity, reframing sexual discipleship as desire formation, not desire suppression. Instead of a one-time “talk,” she encourages parents to think in terms of ongoing, age-appropriate conversations that begin far earlier than most people expect. Aaron and Lauren bring their pastoral and parenting perspective into the conversation, sharing what they’ve learned raising teenagers, why pretending these issues do not exist causes more harm, and how safety, humor, honesty, and curiosity build trust over time. The episode also covers: • Dating boundaries for Christian singles • Preparing for marriage after a sex-negative upbringing • Postpartum mental health and intimacy challenges • Why many women suffer silently with sexual pain • How couples can rebuild connection through conversation and attunementThis episode is practical, theological, and pastoral, offering hope and tools for parents, couples, singles, and church leaders who want to handle this topic with wisdom and courage. In This Episode, You’ll Hear: • Why sexual discipleship starts day one, not at puberty • The difference between Purity Culture and Biblical Purity • Desire formation vs desire suppression • How to create safe, ongoing conversations with kids and teens • Why silence in church creates shame instead of holiness • Healthy boundaries for Christian dating • Preparing for marriage when your upbringing was sex-negative • Postpartum depression, intimacy pain, and why awareness matters • Why attunement, not correction, builds trust and intimacy • Practical tools parents can use right now Resources for parenting sexuality shared by Dr. Ashley Hudson Books for Kids and Families: • Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds https://a.co/d/0rnomUO • God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies https://a.co/d/6CCsySF • God’s Design for Sex Series (4-Book Set)Stan Jones & Brenna Jones https://a.co/d/8XL4EWu • It’s So Amazing!: A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families https://a.co/d/2lDvY9wParent Resources and Tools: • Pearl In Process Resource Libraryhttps://pearlinprocess.podia.comHelpful Instagram Posts: • https://www.instagram.com/p/CoshokBMYPI/?igsh=NXdnMnFuNjJyMWVn • https://www.instagram.com/p/CovGmBGBATm/?igsh=MWlxeGYwMXhmcDRwNA== Helpful Reminder:Nature and wildlife provide natural, organic opportunities to teach kids about procreation in calm, age-appropriate ways. Episode Guest Dr. Ashley Hudson Therapist | Researcher | Coach in Mental and Sexual Health Website: https://pearlinprocess.com Resources: https://pearlinprocess.podia.com Instagram: @pearlinprocess

“Submission” is one of the fastest ways to make people tense up, but Pastors Aaron and Lauren argue it’s one of the most life-changing Kingdom principles you can live. In this episode, they break down mutual submission as a path to unity, harmony, trust, and protection, not hierarchy or manipulation. Using Ephesians 5:15–33, they explain why many teachings start at the wrong verse, how Paul frames marriage with a call to submit to one another first, and why Christ is the head of the church, not man. They also open the hood on how mutual submission works in their unique context as co–senior pastors, how they stay submitted to spiritual authority, and what happens when they hit a real impasse. You’ll hear two key real-life examples: • A high-pressure 2020 COVID-era leadership decision where Pastors Aaron and Lauren could not reach unity and recused themselves, submitting the final call to their elders. • A parenting situation with their oldest where they submitted to trusted marriage counselors, changed roles, and rebuilt unity at home. They also bring this into team culture: why “Who has the final say?” is the wrong question, how collaboration creates both necessary and unnecessary tension, and why slowing down can expose dysfunction and help the best idea win. In this episode, you’ll hear: • Why “submission” is for everyone, not just wives • How Ephesians 5 is often taught backwards • Why unity is entered through the Holy Spirit, not forced • The role of elders, oversight, and spiritual covering in healthy leadership • A practical “release valve” when a couple cannot agree • Parenting without good cop/bad cop, fear-based control, or abdication • Collaboration at work: harmony over hierarchy • A key mindset shift: “better to be in relationship than to be right” • What “headship” means to them: initiation, not domination Scripture Teferenced • Ephesians 5:15–33 Chapters 00:00 Intro and why this topic matters02:30 Why “submission” triggers people05:00 Reading Ephesians 5 in context10:30 Mutual submission as the foundation for marriage14:00 Submission in church leadership: elders and covering18:30 2020 example: the mask decision and submitting to elders27:30 Submission at home: parenting conflict and counselor wisdom35:30 Why unity creates blessing even when decisions are imperfect39:00 Workplace culture: “who has the final say?” is the wrong question46:00 Collaboration, tension, and hearing God together52:00 Relationship over being right56:00 Headship as initiation and love If you’re stuck in a repeating conflict, stop trying to win and start trying to get into unity. Decide who you trust for outside wisdom, invite covering into the conversation, and let the Holy Spirit lead you into harmony.If this episode hit home, share it with a friend or couple who’s navigating conflict, leadership, or parenting pressure.

Pastors Aaron and Lauren get real about something they’ve practiced for 5 to 6 years: an annual marriage and family vision retreat. Starting out of a hard season and counseling, this practice became one of the most life-giving rhythms in their relationship. In this episode, they walk through why having a vision for “this season” matters more than chasing a vague life vision, how couples drift without realizing it, and how intentional time away creates deeper connection, trust, and unity. They also share practical tools for planning your own retreat, including recommended guides, what to do if you cannot travel, how to pace the conversations, and why the goal is not productivity but hearing God together. In this episode, you’ll hear: • Why most couples do not “fall apart,” they slowly drift • How changing seasons (kids, schedules, unexpected family stress) demand new alignment • What a vision retreat actually looks like (2 to 3 days, built-in fun, honest conversations) • Why “we agree on principle” still breaks down in the details • How to handle sensitive categories like finances, intimacy, and conflict without rushing • The difference between a system and a God-breathed direction for your family Resources mentioned: • XO Marriage Vision Retreat Guidebook by Jimmy and Karen Evans (also available on Amazon) • “Couple Goals” Vision Retreat resource from Sean and Lanette (shared as a free download via QR code when they visited) Key Scripture referenced: • Hebrews 2:1 (warning against drifting) Chapters 00:00 Intro and topic setup02:00 Why they started doing vision retreats (counseling, rebuilding trust)07:00 Vision for a season vs “vision for your whole life”12:00 What couples drift from and why it happens slowly16:00 Retreat resources: XO guidebook + Couple Goals workbook22:00 How to plan the retreat: get away, remove distractions, pace it30:00 Common friction points: finances, intimacy, parenting, extended family36:00 Daily, weekly, quarterly rhythms that support long-term connection43:00 Systems vs God’s voice: finding “God’s way” together50:00 Hebrews 2:1 and the warning against drift54:00 Wrap-up If you and your spouse have never done a vision retreat, start this year. Pick a weekend, grab a guidebook, and commit to honest conversations that help you hear God together. Your marriage is worth building on purpose.If you want the resources mentioned in this episode, go search: • “XO Marriage Vision Retreat Guidebook” • “Couple Goals vision retreat Sean and Lanette”

In this follow-up to their powerful conversation on godly women, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy turn the spotlight to the men. With honesty, humor, and real-life reflection, they walk through eight attributes of godly men — what it looks like to lead with prayer, love Scripture deeply, serve sacrificially, and live with integrity in a culture that often confuses pride for strength. Aaron shares candid lessons from his own life and leadership journey, while Lauren offers a wife’s perspective on what real spiritual leadership looks like at home. Together, they unpack how godly men can lead from humility, protect their families without controlling them, and live disciplined, grounded lives that build trust and stability. Key themes: Why godly men must learn to pray first, fix laterThe difference between spiritual authority and controlGenerosity as a reflection of trust, not performanceHow to love and prioritize your spouse in practical waysLiving with integrity when the world values image over substance

After a long-awaited return from sabbatical, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy dive deep into what it really means to be a godly woman in today’s world. Building off their recent marriage series, this episode explores the first half of their “Eight Attributes of Godly Men and Women” message, focusing on how women can cultivate prayer, trust, wisdom, and quiet confidence in a culture full of noise and pressure.With honesty, humor, and practical wisdom, Aaron and Lauren share how prayer keeps us grounded, how Scripture nourishes our souls, and why trusting God (not control) changes everything. From parenting to marriage to personal growth, this conversation is both challenging and deeply encouraging for anyone wanting to live with peace, purpose, and strength rooted in God.Topics include:The difference between being busy for God vs. being still with GodWhy women can’t find peace without the posture of prayerLearning to trust God instead of controlling outcomesWhat real honor and wisdom look like in relationshipsThe power of “quiet confidence” in a loud world

It has been said that if you try to become a good leader while you are in a position of leadership, you are setting yourself up for failure. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren share insights into how you can prepare for leadership long before you sit in a particular seat of leadership.

In today's culture, sexuality is an ongoing topic of discussion, but for parents, it can often be one of the more daunting subjects to discuss with their kids. When is the appropriate time to start the conversation? What is the world teaching my kids? In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren talk about how to bring the Holy Spirit into the conversation and why it is so important to be the first ones your kids hear from about sexuality. For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at ⁠⁠[email protected]