Conversations from the BRaVe

Katie Bond went through a harrowing event in her life that led her down a painful road.  Mercifully, the Lord restored her.  Because of her journey from a very excruciating experience, she has a vantage point that few can claim.  The reality of the life that could have been hers has given her a heart for both the parents and the children involved in the foster system.  A vulnerable account of the grace of God.

Will and Suzy Liegel adopted their first child over three decades ago.  Since then they have domestically adopted a total of seven children, some transracially, and all with special needs.  With a total of ten children, the Liegels have lived heart-wrenching struggles and overwhelming joys.  Their faith in God has deepened as they have daily sacrificed for the least of these.

David and Courtney Bradshaw caught the vision of foster care and the desire of all parties to reunify children with their biological parents.  They, along with their three home grown children, took in a sibling group of three as their initial placement.  As we find out, God had a plan other than reunification.

TJ & Jenn Menn have been fostering children for over a decade, beginning in their early twenties, having never parented previously.  In this conversation, Jenn talks about the realities of foster care, the highs and lows, and Who our hope really needs to lie in, regardless of what children we are parenting.  This is a woman with wisdom beyond her years.  A candid conversation about the sin in our own hearts and the only One who has the power to change not only the parented, but the parent.

Link to TJ & Jenn's book, Faith to Foster 

Lisa Baker spends her days bringing orphans and prospective adoptive parents one step closer to uniting.  Her work with Small World Adoption Agency has blessed many families, as she works to bring Chinese children home to their parents in the U.S.  

She also has the advantage of understanding adoption from a personal perspective.  She and her husband, Dennis, adopted three precious Asian children.  Uniquely, they are their only children...by design.

Don't miss this wonderful interview with a woman whose life work, both in and out of the home, has been thrown into creating and building families through adoption. 

The organization mentioned for funding adoptions:

https://bothhands.org

For almost half a decade, Rick and Lisa Walz have faithfully served the families in their community's foster system. Listen as they share how obedience to Jesus' words about dying to self and living for Christ in the daily, results in healing relationships. Their example challenges us to think outside of our comfort zone and embrace the role each of us has in caring for those in need.

The Peacock family experienced a loss not many can fathom.  In this incredible interview, Kim tells the story of losing her precious daughter, Nicole, in a freak accident.  The loss of Nicole has given Kim a platform that few have, being able to speak into some of the deepest pain one could ever endure.  If you, or someone you love, has experienced a deep loss, this podcast is must listen.  Don't miss this 'beauty from ashes' story and let it point you to the only One who can give us hope in this life and in the life to come.

Connect with Kim and gain more resources at:

https://www.wildvictoriousheart.com/

A family with a heart for China chooses to adopt two children with heart conditions.  God grants their desire, and they bring home their daughter first and then go back for their son.  Follow the story of the Secrest family as they welcome their adopted children into their home, love them to the fullest, and then must face a pain no parent ever wants to consider, let alone live.  Listen to Kasie as she tells their story, and fleshes out the words of Job:   

"The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21b

Katie Cain is a co-owner and coach at CrossFit Hard Knox, a gym located right outside of Fort Knox, Kentucky.  Audrey Straney coaches both CrossFit classes and nutrition clients while managing the gym.  Together they have created a unique and diverse community for all ages and skill levels.  Additionally, Katie has competed in the Granite Games, the semi-finals for CrossFit athletes.  Listen to their story of how growing up on a farm, reveling in helping others achieve their goals, and creating an unparalleled fitness community enables CrossFit Hard Knox to live up to its mantra, Forging Elite Fitness.

Forty years ago, Neal and Jane VanDeventer began investing in 'the least of these' through both foster care and adoption. The result has been countless lives who have been influenced for the Lord.  The VanDeventers have lovingly shown Jesus to over 200 foster children and their biological parents, the social workers they work beside each day, along with many others observing their lives.  By choosing the unglamorous, 'day in and day out' road of caring for children, they have had an impact of which the magnitude will only be known on the other side of eternity.