Abby Vlahos is the co-liaison for the On Behalf of All (OBOA) initiative's pilot parish, St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, Illinois. Her youngest child, Cosmas, is 9 years old and was born with a rare genetic syndrome causing a range of disabilities including intellectual disabilities and autism. She supports disability advocacy and ministry efforts in her work, her parish, and her Metropolis. In this interview Abby shares highlights of their parish experience in the first year as one of twelve pilot parishes chosen to work toward an accessible divine liturgy for children with disabilities through the OBOA initiative. St John's has been doing the holy work of making a way of belonging for families with disabilities for decades, and a few years ago established a high support needs Sunday School class. If you are interested in improving accessibility in your church community, St John's is a forerunner worth following.

Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Yagze, currently the Pastor of St George Orthodox Church in Fishers, Indiana and Fully Human Steering Committee member, shares insights on keeping our relationship with God open and authentic every day, and specifically during the challenging times in our lives. He lifts up examples of people in Holy Scriptures who remained in conversation with God in the midst of trials and suffering, and how we can revisit prayers in the Holy Eucharist — literally translated from the Greek as Holy Thanksgiving — to express gratitude to God. Father also shares how Christ carried him through personally painful family experiences, and what we can do to grow gratitude in our hearts. The answer is a life focused on and immersed in Jesus Christ Who offers us the Way, as He offers us Himself entirely unto our healing and wholeness. Listen more to hear particular ways we can focus on and live in Christ's love.

In this month of November when we celebrate National Gratitude Month and the American Feast of Thanksgiving, the Center for Family Care is spotlighting the virtue of gratitude. In this conversation, Pres. Kerry Pappas interviews Pres. Pat Tsagalakis, the Assistant Director of the Family Wellness Ministry for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco on the importance of gratitude for a faithful life in Christ and how to cultivate a heart of gratitude in our personal and family life.

October is designated as Clergy Appreciation Month (CAM) for all Christian churches in the US, honoring St. Paul's exhortation to acknowledge those "who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you," and to "hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work" (1 Thess. 5:12-13). In honor of CAM, Pres. Kerry Pappas speaks with Fr. Louis Christopulos, a priest of over 40 years who presently serves as the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver about the importance of showing appreciation for all members of the body of Christ and specifically for our priests and their families.

October highlights many disabilities as awareness days/month in the US, and this month's podcast seeks to create awareness on one family's experience with Spina Bifida. Kevin Deutsch, an On Behalf of All (OBOA) Initiative pilot parish liaison, shares how he and his wife Nicole met a test of faith early in their pregnancy when their daughter Kora was confirmed to have Spina Bifida. Turning to God in their challenging moments, seeking pastoral guidance from their priest, and enjoying their daughter as a blessing in their community, has helped them grow in their trust of God, and in understanding of what it means to be fully human.

Presvytera Kerry Pappas speaks with Fr Alex Goussetis, the outgoing host of the Family Matters podcast series, about what he learned about marriage and family life as Director of the Center for Family Care these past nine years. He offers advice for married couples, parenting tips, and insights into the parish's role in strengthening the home.

Have you ever felt misunderstood and isolated as a parent of a child with disabilities, or struggled to know how to educate members of your community regarding your child's needs? This month Angela Karadsheh shares her advocating approach and offers suggestions for those who find advocating to be challenging. Being a mom to a neurodivergent son has opened her heart to the Parental understanding of God, and what it means to be fully human.

Beth Thielman joins the conversation on disability in the church, clarifying that creating inclusive environments in our parish settings and ministries is more than saying "everyone is welcome," and then not taking steps to remove barriers for full participation in worship and church life. When we make pivots in the way we operate in order to make church life accessible, we offer a love that removes barriers which are for some of the faithful, like mountains.

Fr. Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr. Sofie Azmy regarding John Gottman's well-known metaphor describing four communication styles that often predict difficulties in a marriage relationship–and how to change course toward a healthier bond.

This Father's Day Edition features a conversation with Fr. Dean Panagos of St. John's Greek Orthodox Church in Blue Point, NY. Father Dean shares honestly about his initial reluctance for his community to apply to become a pilot parish in the GOARCH Initiative funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. On Behalf Of All: Toward an Accessible Divine Liturgy for Children with Disabilities; and, how attending the Gathered As One Body Conference in May opened his heart to see what he had not seen before in decades of ministry. He recognized the painful isolation disabled people experienced when they were not welcomed or valued in their communities; and alternatively, the joy they experienced when they were met with respect and friendship in their church families. For him, a bigger picture became clearer: intentions toward removing barriers for people with disabilities answers Christ's salvific call to us toward oneness as members of His Body.