Amy Julia Becker's assumptions about many things changed when she had a child born with Down syndrome. Suddenly she saw the world through a new lens and better understood how her own experiences were shaped by privilege. Amy Julia began to study theology and disability in order to broaden her understanding of the world, what it means to reflect God's image and how people's different gifts are valuable.
Entering the world of disability led Amy Julia to examine how she was parenting and the assumptions she was making about people outside of her immediate circles. She realized her own "normal" didn't reflect the richness of God's world and she set out to make some changes. As a graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, married to the headmaster of a boarding school, Amy Julia is uniquely positioned to examine what it means to live a life of privilege, specifcally as a married, white woman.
A conversation based on Amy Julia's journey, this episode opens up questions for all of us. How are we listening to different voices with different experiences? How much do we know about our country or local community's history? How do we develop relationships with people different than us? A podcast that gets us all thinking about how to use our head, hands, and heart for God's purposes.
When we are going through hard times, we wonder if we will ever recover or be happy again. Our very breath is knocked out of us and we struggle to find the meaning in what we are going through and how it can be used for our good.
Kim Walker Smith, founder of the Jesus Culture band and movement, is no stranger to pain. The abuse she endured as a child left her broken, with a fractured sense of self. After a failed suicide attempt, Kim found herself opening up to God for the first time in her life. Where God took her from that shattered moment to now is nothing short of a miracle.
Kim's journey to wholeness inspires all of us to allow God in to re-write the story of our pain for good, in our lives, and in the lives of others.
Cari Jenkins is a pastor to people who don't have one. What does that mean? It means spending time with people, asking lots of questions, listening for God’s voice, and allowing her imagination to be used by God. In this beautiful conversation about growing in faith, Cari gives sisters freedom to look for God in the world by finding things that reflect his character.
With 20 years of local church experience, Cari uses her gifts and experience to make the Kingdom of God tangible. We talk about feelings and actions, looking for Jesus in places that feel untraditional or unconventional, how God brought her to the type of pastoring she does today, and how we recognize God's voice when we know his character.
We hear about the unique community Cari lives in where she loves to host, redecorate daily, play often and create beauty. She aims annually to host over 500 people for meals in various forms and to encourage true hospitality in others. Cari says you are always welcome at her table and this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast feels like a dinner conversation you can take with you. Don't miss our friend Cari.
No matter what age our children are, we never stop being a parent. Yet, when they reach adulthood, our relationships change. We must learn to be healthy in this new, somewhat complicated place of adult to adult. If we don't make that transition, our children will suffer and so will we.
Dr. Jim Burns, president of Homeword, joins us to offer his insight into not only how we begin early to prepare for this stage, but also how to navigate difficult conversations, what to do if our kids move back home, and what to do if we don't approve of who they are choosing to date and/or marry.
Turn out, helping our children launch into adulthood is just as much about us as it is about them.