In this episode of Anchored by the Sword, I’m joined by Naomi Overton—CEO, author, and general editor of Every Woman’s Bible. Naomi’s heart for people shines through every word as she shares her powerful journey of growing up serving in the orphanages of Tijuana, Mexico, and how a rainy day and a little girl’s home changed everything.

From that defining childhood moment to leading global ministries like MOPS and Stonecroft, Naomi walks us through her freedom story—a life marked by reconciliation, restoration, and God’s vision for flourishing. We also dive into the incredible backstory of Every Woman’s Bible—how it came to be, what makes it different, and the worldwide team of women who made it happen.

You’ll hear about:

• Why Ephesians is her anchor

• The power of crossing barriers in Jesus’ name

• How her mission was shaped by love and justice

• What it means to truly embrace every woman

• Why this Bible is both solid in theology and full of invitation

We also talk about how Every Woman’s Bible isn’t just another women’s Bible—it’s an embrace. A place where your story meets God’s story and you’re reminded you belong.

📚 Get your copy of Every Woman’s Bible wherever books are sold—Sam’s Club, Target, independent Christian bookstores like Kern’s in North Canton, and more.

💻 Join the community and find Naomi’s work at www.everywomans-story.com and on Facebook at Every Woman’s Story.

Bio:

Naomi helps organizations and people dream, innovate, and grow. As a three-time CEO of The MomCo by MOPS, Stonecroft Ministries, and now We Are Becoming, she's seen that passion bear fruit.

As National Director of the National Leadership Council, Naomi has also lifted the dreams of World Vision's most generous philanthropists. And she has advanced innovations to lift children and families out of poverty. as Director of Compassion International's Product Strategy and Child Advocacy.

Beyond nonprofits, Naomi has created organizational and people-growth for Fortune 50 companies. She led new product development and go-to-market projects for Apple Computer and Hewlett-Packard Co., and contracted organizations in consumer tech, media, and publishing (the Los Angeles Times, NBC Network, local ABC and CBS affiliate stations, and Tyndale Publishing). In addition, she has served government (Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power), biotechnology, and leadership (the Ken Blanchard Company) organizations.

Naomi's fascination with how people become "mission multipliers" drove her doctoral study, winner of Fuller Theological Seminary School of Intercultural Studies' Leadership Award. She focused her UCLA MBA on Intrapreneurship and her Stanford University bachelor's on advancing movements. Through her work with Mission: Leadership, Naomi helps faith-based nonprofits grow impact by engaging fantastic leaders.

Naomi is married to her college sweetheart Frank and says, “My husband is my best advisor, our 4 world-changing kids my astonishment, and flourishing for all, my vision.”

Anchor Verse:

Ephesians 3:19

Connect with Naomi:

Website: https://everywomans-story.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/naomicrameroverton

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomicrameroverton

FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/573836635110025

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by author Julie Sunne, who reminds us what it looks like to hold on to hope when life doesn’t look like we imagined. Julie opens up about her journey through five miscarriages, the deep grief that followed, and the unexpected path of parenting a child with disabilities. She shares how her faith, which once felt more like a Sunday habit, was transformed into an anchored trust in the character of God.

Julie’s book, Sometimes I Forget: Reminders of Hope for Your Hard Days, isn’t just words on a page—it’s a reflection of the battles she’s walked through and the unchanging God who walked with her.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Faith isn’t about transactions—it’s about transformation.

• Grief often rewrites false narratives in our minds, but truth is found in God’s Word.

• Hope is not about what we feel; it’s about who God is.

• Our pain doesn’t disqualify us from purpose—it may be the place purpose begins.

• You are not alone in your sorrow, and God is not absent in your struggle.

Whether you’re navigating grief, feeling like you’ve lost your footing in faith, or simply need a reminder that God is still faithful—you’ll find encouragement in Julie’s story.

Bio:

Julie Sunne writes about finding real hope amid life’s real struggles. Her own struggles include enduring multiple miscarriages and caregiving for her adult daughter who has significant intellectual disabilities. Julie’s writing has been featured in print devotionals by Proverbs 31 Ministries, Guideposts, Celebrate Life magazine, Encouragement for Today (the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ email devotional), several online sites, and on her blog at juliesunne.com. Julie and her husband, David, are parents to three grown sons and a daughter and reside with their daughter in rural northeast Iowa.

Anchor Verses:

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Psalm 27: 13-14

Connect with Julie:

Website: https://juliesunne.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/juliesunne1/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/JulieSunne1/

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Kimberly Haar, a licensed professional counselor and author of the new book Healing From Life’s Deepest Hurts: Reclaiming Your Life After Grief, Loss or Trauma. Kimberly shares her incredible testimony of surviving a multiple hour assault by her ex-husband, the attempted murder of her then-boyfriend and navigating the long road of healing from deep trauma, grief, and abuse.

We talk about:

• The moment her life changed forever—and how God met her there

• What it looks like to walk through complex trauma as a believer

• How to rebuild emotionally and spiritually after domestic violence

• Why counseling, faith, and truth-telling are all part of healing

• How to move forward with hope even when your past is full of pain

Whether you’re walking through a hard season or love someone who is, this conversation will stir your faith, offer tools for healing, and remind you that God never wastes our pain.

Bio:

Kimberly Haar, LPC, LMFT, is a survivor of domestic violence, a licensed professional counselor, and a licensed marriage and family therapist with nearly two decades of experience helping others find healing and wholeness in life. She holds an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern Nazarene University and is a featured cohost on Oasis Radio Network. Kimberly's therapy practice is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she continues to inspire hope and strength in those facing life's challenges.

Anchor Verses:

Psalm 23

Psalm 34:18

Connect with Kim:

Website: https://kimberlyhaar.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/kimberly.haar

FB: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyJHaar/

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

What happens when the life you dreamed of falls apart—and somehow, God uses it to write a better story than you could’ve ever imagined?

In this episode, I’m talking with Amy Eaton, author of Hope When It’s Heavy, a woman of deep faith, a military wife, mom, and grandma with a story of radical redemption and honest hope. Amy grew up in a nontraditional home, but she met Jesus at 20—and everything changed. That doesn’t mean the road was easy. After walking through betrayal in her first marriage, Amy held onto trust in God—even in the middle of heartbreak.

She shares how meeting her now-husband Justin—who adopted her son and became a godly father—was a picture of true redemption. Her journey is proof that grief and joy can coexist, and that God is not afraid of our hard questions.

Amy opens up about her new book, Hope When It’s Heavy, written for the woman who feels like she has to fake it in Christian spaces. This is for the one who’s been shamed for asking the hard questions or saying “I’m not okay.” Amy reminds us: You don’t have to walk through pain alone. You can let people in. You can be honest. And most of all, you can find peace in Jesus—even when the weight is heavy.

We talk about:

• ​ Grieving with honesty and grace
• ​ Letting go of shame in faith communities
• ​ The painting behind her book cover—and the moment of peace it brought during her father’s final days
• ​ Why you don’t have to retreat in the hard things
• ​ What it means to see hope, even in the darkness

This is your permission to be honest. You don’t have to fake it. Jesus meets us right where we are.

Bio:

Amy Eaton writes from a deep well of having walked through many heavy seasons. She acknowledges the wrestle and reality of holding seemingly conflicting truths with a grace and tenacious hope that is contagious. She deeply loves Jesus, her family, the Church, and her community.

Amy’s background in local church ministry, psychology, and corporate human resource work uniquely equip her to write and speak to the whole person (spiritually, emotionally, and mentally) as an overflow of the Lord’s kindness in her life to carry her through so much.

An encourager, her greatest hope for any project she produces is for women to draw closer to God and to rest in His infinite love for them.

Amy and her husband are empty nesters, residing on a mini farm in Southeast Tennessee with their ever-shifting number of chickens, two cats, and three of the sweetest, fluffiest dogs.

Anchor Verse:

Isaiah 26:3

John 6:12

Connect with Amy:

Website: https://amyeatonauthor.com

Bio.Site: https://bio.site/amyeaton

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In this empowering episode, Gina sits down with Lisa J. Allen—wife, grandmother, former Proverbs 31 executive, and now confidence coach, speaker, and first-time author of Your Confidence Compass: From Self-Doubt to Self-Leadership. Lisa shares her journey of rooting her identity in Christ, rediscovering her confidence, and stepping into a new season of leadership and purpose.

They unpack what true godly confidence looks like, how boundaries and self-awareness are tied to freedom, and why confidence isn’t about being the loudest in the room—it’s about being rooted in your creative design. Lisa opens up about her early struggle with identity, her career shifts, and how her definition of confidence is anchored in courage, action, and grace.

Key Takeaways:

• Confidence grows through identity in Christ, mindset renewal, and self-leadership

• True confidence allows us to create margin, cultivate purpose, and walk into uncertainty with peace

• Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the bridge to connection, leadership, and transformation

• Boundaries are a gift that protect your freedom and help you lead with clarity

Whether you’re starting a second act, building a side hustle, or stepping out in faith for the first time, Lisa offers wisdom, encouragement, and practical insight to help you lead yourself well.

Bio:

Lisa Allen is a Jesus-loving, coffee-loving, leopard-print loving woman. She has a passion for and connection to women and uses this passion as a speaker, coach and ministry leader. She comes with a combined two decades of non-profit leadership with a national women's ministry and as staff of a large church. These 20 years of experience give her a unique connection to and understanding of women of faith, women pursuing faith and women desiring to walk out their faith authentically.

Lisa has been featured as a keynote speaker at Proverbs 31 Ministries’ annual She Speaks Conference, the She Laughs Conferences, and various Women’s Ministry keynotes and conferences. She has offered her insights for the Charlotte Today Show as a contributor. She has also been a contributing writer for the She Laughs newsletter, womensministry.net, Proverbs 31 Ministries’ COMPEL Writers Training, and more.

Her experience as a Board-Certified Life Coach has uniquely influenced her style. She is as comfortable delivering passionate keynote messages that leave her audience with a sense of calling and confidence, as she is to facilitating one on one coaching and/or training workshops for ministry and staff leadership teams.

Lisa is obsessed with personality assessments and enjoys the certifications she’s received for Team Coaching, DISC Personality Profile, Enneagram Coach, and Gallup StrengthsFinders.

Lisa loves fashion and Pilates (though confesses her favorite part of any workout is the end). She lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband and family, embracing her favorite title—LiLi (grandmother).

Anchor Verses:

2 Timothy 1:12

Ephesians 2:10

Connect with Lisa:

Website: https://ljallencoaching.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lisaallenconfidencecoach

FB: https://www.facebook.com/LJAllenCoaching

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Krissy Miles—speaker, author, and leader with the Nfluence Network. From growing up in a home marked by poverty, trauma, and instability, Krissy’s journey is one of radical repentance, transformation, and total submission to God.

She shares candidly about the pain of her past, the deep emotional wounds she carried, and how her desire to escape it all only led her deeper into confusion and despair. But when Krissy surrendered her life fully to Jesus, everything changed. In just four months, the trajectory of her life shifted dramatically—including the miraculous way she met her husband.

Krissy now equips others to walk in freedom through biblical discipleship, obedience, and hearing God’s voice clearly. Her testimony is a powerful reminder that no matter how far we feel from God, He’s still able to reach us—and restore us.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Repentance is the starting point to true freedom.

• We don’t need to polish ourselves up—freedom comes from total surrender.

• Emotional healing begins when we stop blaming others and start submitting fully to God.

• God can do a quick work—radical transformation is possible in a short amount of time.

• Scripture, especially Proverbs 3:5-6 and Romans 12: 1-2, was foundational in renewing Krissy’s mind and directing her steps.

• Miraculous things happen when we stop striving and start serving.

🕊️ You’re going to be moved, encouraged, and challenged to press in, let go, and fully trust the One who makes paths straight.

Bio:

Known for her wisdom and practical solutions, Krissy Miles is a pastor, business strategist, and media executive. She serves as the Executive Pastor of the Nfluence Network and Nfluence Church, as well as the CFO and co-founder of Miles Media, Inc., a full-service media production company located in the Midwest.

Not only is Krissy a gifted speaker and Bible teacher, but she’s also a skilled business consultant with a Master’s Degree in Non-profit Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Krissy consults regularly with ministry leaders, entertainment professionals, and political figures on issues of faith, using media to impact culture, Christian leadership, and public policy.

Krissy is a “Maximum CEO” trainer with the Leadership Institute founded by Dr. Dean Radtke, and serves as committee member and consultant for “Arise Women’s Conferences,” founded by Mary Hudson, mother of pop-icon Katy Perry.

Krissy hosts a weekly YouTube show called, “Get More Out of Life,” which focuses on taking the eternal truths from the Bible to help people produce extreme results in their lives.

Krissy is an expert at navigating both for profit and non-profit start-ups, and has been an associate producer on several faith-based and family friendly films released on platforms such as Netflix, Redbox, Sony and more.

Krissy resides in Granger, Indiana with husband, Lucas Miles, Senior Pastor of Nfluence Church, and co-founder of Miles Media, Inc.

Anchor Verses:

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Romans 12: 1-2

2 Corinthians 10:5

Connect with Krissy:

Website: https://krissymiles.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B7tTKvEYy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

IG: https://www.instagram.com/krissymiles

LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/krissymiles

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In this raw, powerful episode, I sit down with Tabitha Yates, author of the newly released audiobook Jesus and Therapy, to unpack her courageous journey through mental illness, spiritual abuse, and rediscovering the kindness of God.

Tabitha opens up about surviving intense childhood trauma, narcissistic abuse cloaked in spiritual authority, and being told her depression was a sign of rebellion. Her story is one of survival—but even more, one of redemption. From being disowned by her father to enduring psychological and physical abuse within the church, Tabitha vulnerably shares what it looked like to walk through the valley of the shadow with God, even when the church felt like the enemy.

We talk about:

• What it’s like to be spiritually gaslit when you’re already struggling mentally

• How EMDR, therapy, and the Word helped Tabitha untangle lies from truth

• Why she almost didn’t publish this book—and the wrestle of sharing your pain for the sake of someone else’s healing

• How motherhood became the turning point in her healing journey

• What it looks like to walk alongside others who are hurting without doing more harm

• The verses that finally broke through the pain and helped Tabitha see God’s true heart

This isn’t just a conversation about mental health. It’s about the bravery it takes to heal, the lies we need to unlearn, and the freedom that comes when we realize Jesus never asked us to fake it till we make it—He meets us in our pain and brings us home.

🛑 If you’ve ever been told your depression is a spiritual failure, or felt like your trauma disqualified you from faith—this one is for you.

🎧 Listen now to Jesus and Therapy—available on audiobook wherever you get your books.

Bio:

Tabitha Yates is the author of #1 Best Seller, Jesus and Therapy: Bridging the Gap between Faith and Mental Health. She is a mental health advocate, suicide attempt survivor, and speaker, known as The Redeemed Mama on social media where she writes about faith, mental health, and God’s redemptive plan. Tabitha has been published in Yahoo News, MSN, Relevant Magazine, The Mighty, Love What Matters, and more. Through practical advice, personal anecdotes, and biblical insights, Tabitha has used her platform to help renew the faith of millions of individuals struggling with where their faith and mental health intersect. She lives in Southern Arizona with her family.

Anchor Verses:

Jeremiah 31:3

2 Timothy 2:13

Connect with Tabitha:

Website- www.theredeemedmama.com

Facebook- The Redeemed Mama-Tabitha Yates | Facebook

Instagram- Tabitha Yates (@tabitha_yates_author)

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

Today on the show, I sit down with Kristen Strong—author, military wife, twin mama, and encourager of the soul—as she shares her freedom story and the journey that led her to write her newest book, Desperate Woman Seeks Friends: Real Talk About Connection, Rejection, and Trying Again for the Friendships You Need (out today!).

Kristen opens up about her move from Oklahoma to Ohio and how that shift uncovered her deep need for true connection—along with the realization that she didn’t really know how to make friends from scratch. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

We talk about the loneliness that creeps in during transitions, the awkwardness of initiating friendships, and the grief of losing friends who were once close. Kristen also shares how working on her friendship with Jesus became the foundation for healthy, life-giving relationships with others.

Whether you’re navigating new seasons, dealing with friendship anxiety, or wondering if you’ll ever find your “ride or dies,” Kristen offers hope, truth, and a whole lot of grace.

We also dive into:

• How to take online friendships offline

• Practical steps to rebuild your friendship muscles

• The importance of boundaries (and how to lovingly set them)

• Why 300 hours builds a deep friendship

• And the truth that friendships are for a reason, a season, or a lifetime—and that’s okay

This is a conversation for the woman who’s been hurt, but still hopes. Who’s lonely, but still showing up. Who’s ready to risk again for the kind of friendship that goes deep and lasts.

Grab Kristen’s book wherever books are sold—and if you’re in a season of rebuilding your circle, start right here.

Bio:

Kristen Strong, who has authored books include Girl Meets Change and When Change Finds You, also compiled the 90-day devotional, Praying Through Loneliness. She writes as a friend walking alongside you in your lonely season to a more helpful, hopeful destination. She loves sharing laughs, long talks, and meaningful stories with family and friends while holding a cup of strong black tea. She and her US Air Force veteran husband, David, have three beloved adult children. Together this military family zigzagged across the country (and one ocean) several times before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Anchor Verses:

1 Peter 5:7

Romans 8:31-32

Connect with Kristen:

Website: https://kristenstrong.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/kristenstrong

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kristenstrong

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***