Have you or someone you love been affected by abortion? Have you, as a leader, pastor, or faithful neighbor, wanted to help people heal and find wholeness after the experience of having an abortion—but you find it difficult to broach this sensitive subject?

Our guest for this conversation is here to offer some much-needed clarity and direction for Christians who want to respond with both truth and grace. Her work with post-abortion healing ministries gives us powerful insights on how to walk with people in a Gospel-centric way in order to see them come to redemption and healing.

Karen Ellison is the Founder and President of Deeper Still, a ministry devoted to helping men and women heal from the emotional wounds of an abortion. Karen has had an abortion herself and knows what the healing journey entails.

In this episode, Karen shares her personal story of hurt and healing, a more complete understanding of atonement within the context of our sin, how to create a culture of healing in our churches, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/karen-ellison-s3e3/

Do you recall the first time someone shared the gospel with you? If you grew up in the church, it was likely during a kids’ program or a camp hosted by your church.

Once you’ve received the good news, it’s only natural that your heart feels called to pass it on to others. But if you’ve ever struggled to know how and where and when to evangelize, you aren’t alone. Nobody wants to feel like they’re forcing God’s word into the faces of their friends, family, or even strangers in passing. So the question is, how do we go about sharing the gospel in a way that feels loving and Spirit-led?

Our guest for this conversation has made it his mission to equip Christians to have normal but powerful conversations that lead to sharing the love of Jesus.

Jerry McCorkle is the Founder and Executive Director of Spread Truth, a global ministry helping Christians share the gospel with clarity and confidence through practical resources, gospel training, and hands-on missions opportunities.

In this episode, Jerry shares practical ways we can share Jesus with others, the importance of assessing the Lord’s leading before taking a conversation straight to the gospel, how to overcome our hesitation to share the gospel, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/jerry-mccorkle-s3e2/

We are back with the third season of Just Neighbors, where we are learning to practice biblical justice and compassion together. If this is your first time, welcome, and if you are a long-time listener, welcome back to our little neighborhood. Ryan MacDonald, our co-host from season one, is back to share the mic with Jami.

Here to help us kick off this brand new season is our first guest, Brett McCracken. Brett is an author and journalist based in Southern California. He serves as a senior editor at The Gospel Coalition (TGC), where he writes on the intersection of faith and culture. Today, we’re thrilled to share our conversation with Brett about a topic that is weighing heavy on all our hearts.

You don’t have to look far to be overwhelmed by the injustice of our world. Our social media feeds are filled to the brim with events that overburden our souls while failing to lead us towards practical actions that bring about justice. The digital landscape is having an impact on how we engage with the culture, our neighborhood, and our fellow humans.

In this episode, Brett leads us to ponder the implications of being engrossed in the digital space, how we may be missing out on developing empathy and compassion for our neighbors, why we should hone our focus on local issues, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/brett-mccracken-s3e1/

We're so excited to be back!

In a divided and distracted world, pastors are called to help their people see others with the eyes of Christ—clearly, compassionately, and through the lens of the gospel.

This season of Just Neighbors explores what it means to notice, understand, and love our neighbors with biblical justice and compassion.

Through conversations with pastors, theologians, and ministry leaders, we’ll engage topics that press on real tensions in ministry and offer gospel-rooted encouragement for the journey.

This season, we’ll explore:

• Forming our vision – Brett McCracken on how what we feed our souls shapes the way we see others, and Jamin Goggin on leading with humility in a culture obsessed with power.

• Healing and restoration – Karen Ellison on walking with post-abortive women toward gospel-centered redemption, and Tami Taunton on long-term, trauma-informed care for survivors of trafficking.

• Family and belonging – Lynn Johnson on creating belonging for youth aging out of foster care.

• Justice and mercy in practice – Brian Fikkert on poverty alleviation that avoids harm and offers hope, and Jerry McCorkle on evangelism as mercy ministry, proclaiming truth through compassion and presence.

• & more!

Stay tuned for new episodes next week, or catch up on last season right here: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/just-neighbors-podcast/

Be the bridge that brings hope by becoming a TFI Advocate: www.tfiadvocate.org (Applications are open until the end of May!)

Hey, neighbors! We are honored to have you on this journey with us as we grow and practice biblical justice and compassion together.

In this fan favorite episode, we were joined by Jamie Finn, who is a dear friend of mine. Jamie is the best-selling author of Fostering the Family, founder and president of Foster the Family, host of the Real Mom Podcast, founder and owner of Goods & Better, a speaker, and TBRI practitioner.

In our conversation, you’ll hear how we can unite our lives with the heart of God, how Jamie learned to localize living out the Gospel, the perspective we should carry of experiencing trials, what our goal of parenting should be, and so much more.

This truly is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Find the resources mentioned and more in our show notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/jamie-finn-8/

We aren’t done quite yet! We may have said that the previous episode was the finale of the second season of Just Neighbors, but we were so inspired by today’s conversation that we decided to bring you a special bonus episode before we take a break. We’re grateful to have a renowned guest joining us to explore how we can build and maintain healthy relationships—both with the people closest to us and with the vulnerable neighbors we are called to serve.

Psychiatrist Curt Thompson is here to share practical insights that will help us fully realize our deepest longing—to be known. Drawing from his expertise in interpersonal neurobiology and a Christian view of what it means to be human, Curt uses his understanding of the brain to help people foster healthy and vibrant lives—empowering them to get unstuck and move toward the next beautiful thing they are called to make.

In this episode, you’ll discover how the family dynamics we experience growing up shape how we serve others, what Christians can do to overcome burnout on our paths to obeying God’s call to care for others, how God is actively working to bring healing and connection into our lives, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/curt-thompson-s2e11/

It’s a bittersweet moment—we’ve officially reached the finale of Season 2! Over the past few months, we’ve had the privilege of learning from 9 incredible guests here on Just Neighbors, and we couldn’t have picked a better guest to close out this season.

In this episode, we are talking about how we can continue to be Just Neighbors even when we’re discouraged by challenging ourselves to view disillusionment as a gift.

The truth is, many philanthropic endeavors begin with idealism. We envision bold action, steady progress, and real change, sailing swiftly toward our mission. This passion is a beautiful thing—it plants the seeds for countless ministries and initiatives. However, what many of us don’t realize until we’re deep in the work is that bumps in the road are inevitable. When disillusionment strikes, we’re faced with a choice: quit, rely on our own strength, or look upward to Christ to sustain us.

Peter Greer joins us to guide this important discussion. Peter is the president and CEO of HOPE International, a global Christ-centered economic development organization serving throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. As an advocate for the Church’s role in missions and alleviating extreme poverty, Peter has co-authored 15 books, including two we will discuss in this conversation: The Gift of Disillusionment and Lead with Prayer.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/peter-greer-s2e10/

With an estimated 153 million orphans worldwide and the costs of adoption on the rise, fulfilling the call of James 1:27 to care for orphans and widows can feel increasingly challenging. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average cost of adopting a child in the U.S. is between $20,000-$45,000. In comparison, an international adoption can cost up to $50,000, depending on the country and the number of trips you’ll need to make.

How can we answer this call to be a Just Neighbor when financial barriers seem so daunting? What practical steps can we take to care for the vulnerable in our communities?

Joining us for this discussion is JT Olson, a man who has figured out a way to support two causes at once. His personal experience of being orphaned as a child alongside his four siblings gave him a deep understanding of how crucial it is to provide loving homes for vulnerable children. Today, JT is the Founder and President of Both Hands, a faith-based nonprofit that serves both orphans and widows.

In this episode, you’ll hear the story of how JT’s community rallied around him and his siblings after their parents passed away, why real stories can be more impactful than statistics when it comes to inspiring outreach, why taking the time to help one of your neighbors is key even if you can’t help all of them, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/jt-olson-s2e9/