No matter how passionate you may be about pro-life causes, the numbers do not lie.

For years, abortion providers have been targeted on a spectrum of aggressiveness. The National Abortion Federation reports more than 176,000 instances of picketing at clinics (and nearly 34,000 arrests) since 1977. It has documented more than 16,000 reported cases of hate mail or harassing phone calls, over 1,500 acts of vandalism and 400 death threats. (cnn.com)

Do pro-life protests and demonstrations, often taking place within a stone's throw of organizations like Planned Parenthood, only open the door to the potential for violence?  Has anyone's mind ever truly been changed because of a picket sign?

Today's Kingdom Culture Conversation features Stacy, a Northwest Christian high school student who is deeply involved in the school's Students for Life club.  "Involved" means that she's on the frontlines--protesting/educating at Planned Parenthood and she's been involved in counter-demonstrations at the state capitol as pro-choice advocates demonstrate against the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court's pending decision in the Dobbs case.

We put these tough questions in front of Stacy and, further, we ask, "What is it like on the frontlines?  What do you see, hear, and experience when you are involved in these protests and demonstrations?"

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

Disaster tourism.  Creating dependency.  Robbing dignity.  Exacerbating racial divides.  The detractor's list of criticisms for short term missions trips is long.  Is there any virtue to be found in short term missions trips?

As today's podcast hits, there is a team of teachers and students from Northwest Christian that is on the ground at the City of Joy in Rwanda.  And, serving alongside them is Jon Coughlin, the director of City of Joy.  In advance of that trip, we recorded this episode and posed some difficult questions to Jon about whether or not places like Rwanda are more helped or hurt by visiting (in the words of the detractors) "white saviors".

To learn more about the City of Joy Rwanda, please visit this link.

To support the dynamic ministry of the City of Joy financially, prayerfully consider following this link.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

As part of a Frameworks tradition, Throwback Thursdays represent our occasional forays into the past.  In this iteration of Throwback Thursdays, we're going back several years to a summer reading series--spent in the Psalms--in which various staff and faculty of Northwest Christian enjoyed Kingdom Culture Conversations with the pastors from their own churches--sharing and talking about their own respective favorite Psalms.

This week, we enjoy a conversation, regarding their favorite Psalms, between the husband and wife team of Mike and Courtney Anderson.  Mike is the campus pastor for CCV North Phoenix--a relatively new CCV campus that is growing by leaps and bounds.  Courtney, Mike's wife, is a Northwest Christian alumni and an elementary physical education teacher at NCS.

For more information on CCV North Phoenix, please click on this link.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

To say that Ellie Cunningham "grew up in the church" is neither an exaggeration or a figure of speech.  Quite literally,  under the constant gaze--and, sometimes, scrutiny--of parishioners within one of the largest churches in the city, she experienced life in a fishbowl:  her high's and low's were visible to all.

But, even when the limelight shone on some of the hardest, most painful moments in her young life, the Holy Spirit was ceaselessly navigating  her towards a very surprising destination:  a career in vocational ministry.  Where hardship might have pulled many away from a full-time commitment to life in the church, this was not the case with Ellie.  The hardships and struggles only served to heighten her sense of care and compassion for others just like her.

How does that happen?  In today's Kingdom Culture Conversation, you will learn how the Lord sometimes allows difficult circumstances into the lives of His children to position them to be real difference-makers with others.

To learn more about CalvaryPHX, the church where Ellie Cunningham serves as the Women's Ministry Director, please click here.

To get involved in the dynamic CalvaryPHX Women's Ministry, follow this link.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

As part of a Frameworks tradition, Throwback Thursdays represent our occasional forays into the past.  In this iteration of Throwback Thursdays, we're going back several years to a summer reading series--spent in the Psalms--in which various staff and faculty of Northwest Christian enjoyed Kingdom Culture Conversations with the pastors from their own churches--sharing and talking about their own respective favorite Psalms.

This week, we drop into a conversation between Pastor J. Mark Martin of CalvaryPHX and recently-retired Crusader teachers Debby Noland and Pauline Henry.   With a deep commitment to expository Bible study, Pastor Martin and friends present a stirring case for believers to  be frequent visitors to the Psalms as part of individual study of God's word.

For more information on CalvaryPHX, please visit https://calvaryphx.com/ .

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

The numbers are not good.

And, they are getting worse.

Stephanie Siete has been recognized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a frontline warrior in the battle against drug abuse.  She works closely with first responders, federal investigators, government officials, educators, and community leaders.

The frontline report that she brings to Kingdom Culture Conversations today is stark, sobering....and hopeful?  Yes!  Siete works to educate various communities and illuminate both problems and solutions.  While you will find today's conversation to be eye-opening, you will also find it to be inspiring.

To learn more about Community Bridges, please follow this link.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

Tags: #Podcast#talkshow#Christian

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

As part of a Frameworks tradition, Throwback Thursdays represent our occasional forays into the past.  In this iteration of Throwback Thursdays, we're going back several years to a summer reading series--spent in the Psalms--in which various staff and faculty of Northwest Christian enjoyed Kingdom Culture Conversations with the pastors from their own churches--sharing and talking about their own respective favorite Psalms.

We kick off this weekly series of podcast episodes with Pastor Dan Gavaza of Palmcroft Church and Northwest Christian superintendent Geoff Brown.  "Dan has been both my friend and pastor for more years than either of us would care to admit," explains Geoff.  "He's had a tremendous impact on me personally but also the way in which I have come to understand what it means to see education as 'Christian'.  And, he's the type of pastor--some might call him old school--that truly shepherds a flock through both Bible teaching, discipleship, and meaningful relationship.  As my own son has aspired for pastoral ministry, Dan has been a frequent point of reference and model."

Enjoy today's episodes and Dan and Geoff talk through their favorite Psalms!

For more information on Palmcroft Church, please visit https://palmcroft.church/.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

Is it possible?  Could we become so fixated on working out, diet, looks, and fitness, that our body image becomes a distraction in our pursuit of Christ?  If our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19-20), we need to keep the temple in good repair--but can that be carried to unhealthy extremes?

Today, the "What about?" Wednesday team is joined by Holli Barnes, a Northwest Christian alumni who has studied nutrition and performed as an athlete.  Her studied perspective is intriguing and there's no doubt, this particular Kingdom Culture Conversation will spark some real conversation in your home!

What is this Kingdom Culture Conversation podcast tradition, " 'What About?' Wednesday"?   Every-other-Wednesday, we are joined by Robby Lashua, of Stand to Reason Ministries, an apologetics ministry based in Southern California.

Robby's role within these special "What About?" Wednesday episodes?  Podcast listeners have the opportunity to email/text in their own "What About?" questions and during these episodes, Robby will work to answer the questions, point students towards the scriptural truth underlying their inquiry, and equip them to defend their faith!

If you are interested in submitting a question, please email [email protected].

To learn more about Stand to Reason, please visit this link!

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

Some have called it the Great American Experiment.  In the words of James Madison:  “We are teaching the world a great truth, that religion flourishes in greater purity without, than with, the aid of government.”

All these years later, how's that working out, James?  It's time to get real.

And, that's what we do today in an intriguing conversation with Janet Ruth, the author of "Separate for a Reason:  Re-examining the Separation of Church and State in America".  As a retired federal prosecutor and Christ follower, Janet is highly familiar with the U.S. Constitution, its implications, and the opposing sides who both base their positions on religion and religious liberty within it.

Today, you'll enjoy a compelling conversation that very well may challenge your perspective on God's designs for the roles that believers are meant to play in culture.

For more information on Janet Ruth, please visit www.JanetRuth.com.

To learn more about the book "Separate for a Reason", please click here.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.

For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/

For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/

To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email [email protected] or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.