For single parents who don't have a partner to share the load, the weight of caring for kids alone can feel crushing. It takes a village to help raise the world’s next disciples, and it is a relief to find community when your household is shorthanded on help.

On today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Christin Thorpe to hear how she has felt supported and empowered as a single mother to raise her young son within the Church. Join us as we explore different ways we can show up for one another and create intentional communities that walk through all aspects of life together.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Christin Thorpe is a devoted mother, sociologist, church consultant, and community-focused faith leader. Through her work, Christin brings research-driven insight shaped by lived experience. With deep church roots and seasons of distance from faith, she brings authenticity, vision, and hope to churched, unchurched, and de-churched communities alike—all while calling people back to belonging.

Links:

Thriving Black Church Initiative: https://www.odbm.org/en/voices/thriving-black-church-initiative

Listen to more from Dr. Christin Thorpe on the “Faith Under Construction” podcast! 🎧 https://www.odbm.org/en/podcasts/faith-under-construction?pg=1

Explore these print and digital resources to bring your family together throughout the Lent and Easter season! 📖📱 https://www.odbm.org/en/campaigns/nydi/nydi-welcome-families/lent-season

Our Daily Bread Ministries: https://www.odbm.org/en/

Every family’s story is different. For blended families, their story often starts with a season of pain, loss, and unexpected change. Not only are the parents and children having to make sense of the new day-to-day logistics, but they’re also having to work through the big feelings that come with former dynamics or what might be next. Thankfully, God still delights in making beauty out of ashes.

On this episode of “Raising Young Disciples,” Mary Jo and Daniel are joined by Cheryl Shumake, proud bio mom, bonus mom, and founder of Stepmom Sanity, to share her experiences growing and discipling her blended family. And here’s a spoiler: God’s grace, love, and mercy always shows up for her and her family—wherever they are in their story.

Guest Bio:

Ask Cheryl about her greatest adventure and she’ll tell you, “That I know and love Jesus and get to make Him known.” She is a Bible teacher, author, speaker, and founder of Stepmom Sanity, a Christ-centered circle of support, providing help and hope for stepmoms who are “there” from stepmoms who’ve been there. Cheryl and her husband, Jonathan, make their home in Michigan and are frequently invaded by their children looking for food and hugs!

Links:

Stepmom Sanity: https://www.stepmomsanity.com/the-mission

FamilyLife Blended: https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/

Check out Cheryl’s book, Waiting to Be Wanted!

Explore these print and digital resources to bring your family together throughout the Lent and Easter season! 📖📱 https://www.odbm.org/en/campaigns/nydi/nydi-welcome-families/lent-season

Our Daily Bread Ministries: https://www.odbm.org/en/

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” —Psalm 139:13-14

Did you know that 1 out of every 3 households in the United States includes someone living with a disability? Those who find themselves as part of the caregiving communities—whether directly or indirectly—know that every story, challenge, and experience is different. But do you know what will always be true? God will always show up and meet us wherever we are along this journey.

Join hosts Mary Jo and Daniel as they sit down with Rev. Dr. Jason Le Shana and explore how we create opportunities for true inclusion and belonging between those with and without disabilities inside our homes, communities, and churches.

Guest Bio:

Reverend Jason Le Shana, PhD, is Program Director of the Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability. Before coming to Baylor, Rev. Dr. Le Shana was a campus pastor for 13 years at Azusa Pacific University where he led the chapel programming and pastoral counseling efforts. As an ordained pastor, he has served in churches both large and small as a pastoral team member, including as worship pastor, preaching team member, and youth ministry staff. His passion for the church and higher education has allowed him to also serve as an adjunct professor in biblical studies, a denominational consultant, and as a volunteer in a variety of local church ministries.

In addition to his years serving college students and congregants with intellectual and physical disabilities, Rev. Dr. Le Shana’s passion and calling to faith and disability work stem from his personal life experiences, including living with a physical disability and as the parent of a child with autism.

Links:

Disability Ministry Network: https://disabilityministrynetwork.org/

Joni & Friends: https://joniandfriends.org/

Explore these print and digital resources to bring your family together throughout the Lent and Easter season! 📖📱 https://www.odbm.org/en/campaigns/nydi/nydi-welcome-families/lent-season

Our Daily Bread Ministries: https://www.odbm.org/en/