Episode Summary

Is the family under attack—and if so, why?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Upright Christian Parenting Podcast, Hannah Pierrou sits down with J.P. De Gance, founder of Communio and co-author of Endgame, to unpack one of the most pressing issues facing our culture today: the breakdown of marriage and the family.

Drawing from both personal experience and years of research, J.P. shares the heartbreaking family crisis that redirected his life's mission—caring for four children from a broken home and witnessing firsthand the devastating ripple effects of family collapse. That experience ultimately led him to found Communio, a ministry helping churches strengthen marriages and rebuild families.

Together, Hannah and J.P. explore why strong families are the foundation of healthy churches, thriving communities, and flourishing societies. They discuss alarming cultural trends, the decline of marriage, the rise of fatherlessness, and why biblical marriage remains one of God's greatest gifts to humanity.

This conversation is filled with practical encouragement for parents, married couples, pastors, and anyone passionate about raising the next generation with a biblical worldview. You'll also hear hope-filled insights about signs of spiritual renewal among young people and why the local church has a unique opportunity to disciple families in this generation.

Whether you're married, raising children, preparing for marriage, or simply seeking God's design for the family, this episode will challenge, encourage, and equip you to build your home on a firm biblical foundation.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why healthy families are essential to a thriving culture

• The surprising statistics behind the decline of marriage in America

• How one family tragedy changed J.P. De Gance's life forever

• Why the Church is uniquely positioned to strengthen marriages

• The biblical beauty of marriage, complementarity, and sacrificial love

• How gratitude can transform your marriage

• Why family dinners are one of the most powerful discipleship tools parents have

• Practical ways parents can intentionally disciple the next generation

• Why there is genuine reason for hope in today's culture

If you've ever wondered how to raise children in a culture that increasingly rejects God's design for the family, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.

College of the Ozarks & School of the Ozarks

The future of America depends on the character, faith, and formation of the next generation. College of the Ozarks and School of the Ozarks are committed to preparing students—from elementary school through college—with a foundation rooted in faith in God, personal responsibility, servant leadership, love of country, and Classical Christian education.

Located just south of Branson, Missouri, their campus is dedicated to developing leaders of conviction, wisdom, and strong biblical character.

Learn more at https://www.cofo.edu

🌿 Support the ministry: https://thetreehousestoryteller.com/shop/ols/products/give-now-to-keep-the-treehouse-storyteller-thriving

📚 Shop books, devotionals, and family resources: https://thetreehousestoryteller.com/shop

📖 Read the Bible with us and save 30% on Dwell Bible (affiliate): https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=mjhlmdy

🖨️ Printing Center USA: https://refer.printingcenterusa.com/hannahpierrou

👍 If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Together, let's raise rooted families in a sideways culture.

#ChristianParenting #FaithBasedMedia #GreatAmericanFamily #BillAbbott #GreatAmericanMedia #BiblicalParenting #ChristianPodcast #FamilyValues #FaithAndCulture #RaisingKingdomKids

Host Hannah Pierrou sits down with Bill Abbott, CEO of Great American Media and former Hallmark executive, for a powerful conversation recorded at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention in Nashville. After leaving Hallmark during one of the most culturally divisive seasons in entertainment, Bill shares why he felt called to build a new media company rooted in faith, family, and timeless values.

Together, they discuss the growing influence of entertainment on children and culture, why storytelling matters, and the importance of creating films and television that reinforce biblical principles, strong families, hope, and character. Bill offers an inside look at the vision behind Great American Family, the challenges of standing for Judeo-Christian values in today's media landscape, and why Christians have an opportunity to shape culture rather than simply react to it.

If you're a Christian parent, grandparent, educator, or anyone passionate about raising the next generation with truth and discernment, this episode will encourage and equip you. Discover why the stories we consume matter, how entertainment forms our worldview, and practical ways to cultivate a Christ-centered home in a culture competing for our attention.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Bill Abbott left Hallmark to launch Great American Media

• The mission behind creating faith-filled, family-friendly entertainment

• How media shapes the hearts and minds of children

• Why biblical values still resonate with audiences

• Practical ways parents can reclaim entertainment in the home

• How Christians can influence culture through excellence in storytelling

If this episode encourages you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who cares about faith, family, and raising the next generation.

College of the Ozarks & School of the Ozarks

The future of America depends on the character, faith, and formation of the next generation. College of the Ozarks and School of the Ozarks are committed to preparing students—from elementary school through college—with a foundation rooted in faith in God, personal responsibility, servant leadership, love of country, and Classical Christian education.

Located just south of Branson, Missouri, their campus is dedicated to developing leaders of conviction, wisdom, and strong biblical character.

Learn more at https://www.cofo.edu

🌿 Support the ministry: https://thetreehousestoryteller.com/shop/ols/products/give-now-to-keep-the-treehouse-storyteller-thriving

📚 Shop books, devotionals, and family resources: https://thetreehousestoryteller.com/shop

📖 Read the Bible with us and save 30% on Dwell Bible (affiliate): https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=mjhlmdy

🖨️ Printing Center USA: https://refer.printingcenterusa.com/hannahpierrou

👍 If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Together, let's raise rooted families in a sideways culture.

#ChristianParenting #FaithBasedMedia #GreatAmericanFamily #BillAbbott #GreatAmericanMedia #BiblicalParenting #ChristianPodcast #FamilyValues #FaithAndCulture #RaisingKingdomKids

In this episode, Hannah confronts the quiet epidemic reshaping modern Christian homes: the outsourcing of discipleship to schedules, screens, and extracurriculars. With urgency and compassion she invites families to reclaim the dinner table, restore intentional rhythms of worship and conversation, and let fathers lead with biblical courage. Through personal stories, scriptural anchors, and practical challenges, Hannah shows how one small change—a committed family meal, a weekly worship moment, or a single reprioritized ‘no’—can turn a hurried household into a fruitful, Christ-centered home.

Listeners will leave encouraged and provoked to audit their time, guard their calendars, and choose the deeper fruit of spiritual formation over fleeting cultural wins. This episode blends pastoral wisdom, candid vulnerability, and doable steps that will help families resist the world’s busyness and raise Kingdom arrows.

College of the Ozarks & School of the Ozarks

The future of America depends on the character, faith, and formation of the next generation. College of the Ozarks and School of the Ozarks are committed to preparing students—from elementary school through college—with a foundation rooted in faith in God, personal responsibility, servant leadership, love of country, and Classical Christian education.

Located just south of Branson, Missouri, their campus is dedicated to developing leaders of conviction, wisdom, and strong biblical character.

Learn more at https://www.cofo.edu

🌿 Support the ministry: https://thetreehousestoryteller.com/shop/ols/products/give-now-to-keep-the-treehouse-storyteller-thriving

📚 Shop books, devotionals, and family resources: https://thetreehousestoryteller.com/shop

📖 Read the Bible with us and save 30% on Dwell Bible (affiliate): https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=mjhlmdy

🖨️ Printing Center USA: https://refer.printingcenterusa.com/hannahpierrou

👍 If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Together, let's raise rooted families in a sideways culture.