Making The Leap

In part two of this three-part series, the Stigalls interview this year's recipients of the 2024 Excellence In Christian Education Awards.  Hear why these exemplary teachers from all over the country have been nominated and ultimately chosen by the Herzog Foundation for the highest honor in Christian education in the country! Each will be recognized formally at the annual awards ceremony in Washington D.C.'s Museum of the Bible this September.

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To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

In part one of this three-part series, the Stigalls interview this year's recipients of the 2024 Excellence In Christian Education Awards. Hear why these exemplary teachers from all over the country have been nominated and ultimately chosen by the Herzog Foundation for the highest honor in Christian education in the country! Each will be recognized formally at the annual awards ceremony in Washington D.C.'s Museum of the Bible this September.

Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email [email protected].

To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

If you're a parent, it's no secret the secular world is working overtime to drive a wedge in between you and members of your family. Chris and Julie Bennett have one of the most extraordinary stories of trying to listen and follow God's will for their lives while at the same time coming up against some of life's biggest challenges in their professional lives, in their health, and in their relationship with their kids. How do we as families hold it all together and keep "the main thing" the main thing? How do we battle loneliness, isolation and defeat from swallowing our kids? This was one of the Stigall's favorite conversations to date. It's fun, it's emotional, and it's thought provoking. Read more about the Bennetts' and their remarkable journey at fightforfamily.org

Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email [email protected].

To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

What can Christian school do for a child struggling with mental health challenges?  Meet Janie Wilson - a young woman who convinced her parents before entering kindergarten she knew she needed Christian school.  But it was not without challenges.  Hear how she battled mentally, with parents somewhat new to walking in Christianity, and ultimately made a lifetime commitment to Christian education well into college and into adulthood.

Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email [email protected].

To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Christine sits down with five recipients from last year's Teacher of the Year class to discuss where they are now twelve months after their honor and how their lives have changed since winning. Their stories continue to inspire, but also demonstrate that even when you're awarded Christian education's highest honor - God may not keep you in the same place for long.

Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email [email protected].

To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

The news of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump last Saturday got the Stigalls thinking about the different national tragedies that have befallen the United States over the years and who are our kids spending time with when they happen? How can we discuss these tough events with our kids and shield them from the ugliness? In addition, news this week of the explosive growth in alternative post K-12 education caught their attention and the governor of California signs legislation that should serve as a major concern for any parent with school-aged kids.

Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email [email protected].

To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Dr. Allison Lassiter is one of the more interesting examples of someone whose life in education is one full of change. She's a community college professor who also homeschools but has also placed some of her kids in a classical Christian school. She's also willing to revaluate if it appears her kids' needs in learning change. As we know, every child learns differently so why do we try to teach them all the same way? Dr. Lassiter understood from an early age why learning for her was a struggle because her own mother was willing to make changes that ultimately shot her to the head of her class by graduation. If there's one thing we learn in this conversation it's that we need to shed the self-imposed handcuffs - even in Christian school settings - that we're locked in and scrap the notion that we can't change the way we're teaching our kids if it's not working.

Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email [email protected].

To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Chris and Christine sit down with Jonathan Houpe and Nia Thompson Campbell, administrators of Harvest Christian School in Kansas City, Missouri. Jonathan and Nia discuss taking over leadership roles at an early age, as well as the trials and triumphs of working in Christian education.

Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email [email protected].

To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

We've never met a couple with a background quite like the Oettels. In one conversation, you'll hear how a young couple became public school teachers - while first home-schooling their kids. They then started their own classical Christian school, followed by entering seminary, becoming a youth pastor and eventually an associate pastor. Then back to public school while sending their own children to a classical Christian school. Why all the change? With so many different perspectives from so many different venues - what did the Oettels learn? Which setting do they think best to learn and teach? How does Lacey navigate teaching in public school while her own kids aren't enrolled there while she yearns for her past in Christian education? What does Jon think about the Church's responsibility to open their doors to developing their own educational offering? If you take nothing else from this conversation, it's that keeping your eyes and ears open to the way the Lord moves in your family's lives can lead to big changes you can lean into rather than ignore.

Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email [email protected].

To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

We hope you enjoyed the previous episode featuring the Stigalls on the set of Brave Books new children's TV show "Adventures with Iggy and Mr. Kirk." In this part-two episode you'll hear from another star of the show. She's a familiar name to many millions of kids who grew up watching Disney's Good Luck, Charlie - Leigh-Allyn Baker. Now, she shares with the Stigalls why she thinks Disney lost their way and why pouring her time into this new project with Brave Books is her professional passion. Writer and producer Eric Presley gives us a behind-the-scenes peek into the creative aspects of the show. And you'll meet one of the senior leaders of Brave Books, Zach Bell who explains their company mission in transforming media and literature for our kids' consumption. 

Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email [email protected].

To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.