In this episode of Raising Fatherless Kids, Lori Apon sits down with Adeline Galo, a young woman who became fatherless as a teenager after losing her godly, loving dad to cancer. Adeline shares her story of grief, faith, and the slow unfolding of trust as she navigates milestones her dad is no longer here to witness. This conversation is a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness and a reminder that even in deep loss, He remains present. Adeline’s story is truly a trophy of grace.

Key Takeaways

Grief often unfolds slowly, especially through milestones when a father is not present to see

God faithfully steps in as Father when an earthly dad is gone

Talking about a lost parent keeps their legacy alive and brings healing

Connect with Perspective Ministries

Perspective Ministries exists to meet the practical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the widow and fatherless, encouraging them to put their trust in God. Through resources like this podcast, community gatherings, and faith-based encouragement, we walk alongside families navigating life after loss and remind them they are not alone.

Anger is an unavoidable part of grief for mothers and for children. It is a God-given emotion that can intensify in the face of loss, exhaustion, and stress. Through Scripture, personal stories, and gentle counsel, this conversation explores how anger can surface, why it can become a barrier to healing if left unchecked, and how God invites us to bring our anger to Him rather than letting it take root. Moms are encouraged to respond with wisdom, create a safe space for their children to express big emotions, and trust God to redeem even this part of the journey.

Key Takeaways:

Anger is not the enemy, but letting it stay and linger can become a barrier to healing

Grief can move from shock to frustration, and anger may surface later in the journey

Pause and respond with wisdom instead of reacting, so anger does not lead to regret or bitterness

Bring anger honestly to the Lord, and ask Him to shepherd your heart and guide your next steps

Key Scriptures:

Psalm 37:8–9, Proverbs 16:32, 29:11, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Ephesians 4:26–27, 31, James 1:19–20

Connect

If this episode encouraged you, we would love to stay connected. You can learn more about resources for widows, single mothers, and fatherless children, sign up for care, or connect with our ministry at Perspective Ministries. You are not meant to walk this journey alone.

Milestones throughout a daughter’s life can quietly highlight the absence of a dad, often without words or drama. From early childhood through adulthood, these moments may stir grief, questions, and longing for what is missing. This episode offers guidance for mothers as they anticipate these milestones, help their daughters process the loss honestly, and point them to the faithful hope found in God, who promises to be a Father to the fatherless.

Key Takeaways:

Anticipating milestones that may bring tender reminders of loss

Helping your child form a narrative for their story

Anchoring your daughter’s heart in God as Father

Scripture Anchor

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.” —Psalm 68:5 NIV

Connect with Perspective Ministries

To learn more, find resources for widows and single mothers, or connect with a community of support, visit perspectiveministries.org

Valentine’s Day can stir up many emotions, especially for single and widowed mothers raising children without their dads. What was once meaningful or simply ordinary can feel tender now. In this episode, we talk honestly about why Valentine’s Day can be hard, how perspective shapes the day, and practical ways to move forward with intention by creating new memories and giving love away.

Key Takeaways:

Perspective matters more than the day itself

You can create new memories instead of reliving old ones

Giving love away brings hope to your heart and your children

Connect

Perspective Ministries exists to meet the practical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the widow and fatherless, encouraging them to put their trust in God. Follow Perspective Ministries on social media for encouragement, resources, and connection with other moms walking a similar journey.

Greatest Fear Becomes Reality

Fear is something many single and widowed moms quietly carry, especially after loss or trauma. In this episode, Lori Apon shares personal insight and biblical truth to address the lie that fear causes painful outcomes. Through Scripture, testimony, and encouragement, this conversation reminds listeners that God is sovereign, fear does not override His will, and nothing in your story has taken Him by surprise. You will be encouraged to release shame, confront fear with truth, and trust God’s presence and grace even when what you feared has come to pass.

Key Takeaways

• Fear does not create reality or override God’s sovereignty.
• When feared outcomes happen, they are not your fault and are not evidence of failure or lack of faith.
• Scripture clarifies that God allows trials, but fear itself is a tool the enemy uses to add shame.
• God may use fear as preparation, not permission, and He remains present through every season.
• Forgiveness is essential for healing and freedom, even when the pain is ongoing and complex.

Scripture Referenced

Job 3:25, Proverbs 29:25, Ecclesiastes 11:4, Psalm 56:3, 2 Timothy 1:7, John 21:20–22

Connect with Perspective Ministries

To learn more about encouragement and biblical resources for widows and families raising fatherless children, visit Perspective Ministries. You can listen to past podcast episodes, find hope-filled teaching, and connect with Christ-centered support through Hope Gatherings. Follow Perspective Ministries on social media for continued encouragement and updates.

Spiritual warfare is a daily reality for every believer, especially for moms raising children with an absent dad. This episode helps you understand who the enemy is, recognize his tactics, and stand firm in biblical truth. You will be encouraged to rely on God’s strength, guard your thoughts, and remain connected to a Christ-centered community as you walk this journey.

Key Takeaways

• Be aware of the enemy’s schemes and do not give him unnecessary influence or a foothold.

• Know and speak God’s Word to combat lies, fear, discouragement, and doubt.

• Guard against isolation and stay connected to Christ-centered community.

• Fervent by Priscilla Shirer

• Hope Gatherings for widows (link referenced in the episode)

  Connect with Perspective Ministries
  To learn more about resources for widows and families raising fatherless children, visit Perspective Ministries. You can listen to past podcast episodes, find encouragement, and connect with Christ-centered support through Hope Gatherings. You can also follow Perspective Ministries on social media for ongoing encouragement and updates.

In this heartfelt conversation, Lori talks with David Welch, a husband of 42 years, father of four, and grandfather of nine, who shares his powerful story of growing up without a dad. At just eight years old, David lost his father unexpectedly and was raised by a single mother who carried the weight of providing, nurturing, and grieving alone. His journey beautifully testifies to how God pursued him, guided his steps, and became the Father he never had.

David’s story, featured in Absent Dad, Present Father, offers hope to single moms raising sons and daughters without an earthly dad. His experiences remind us that God is present in the pain, faithful through the years, and intentional in bringing godly mentors at just the right time.

Key Takeaways

1. God is faithful, even in the absence of a father From early childhood through adulthood, David experienced God’s steady presence, even before he came to faith. Looking back, he sees how the Lord redirected his path countless times and gently drew him toward salvation.

2. The role of a faithful mother matters David’s mother worked tirelessly and carried immense responsibility alone. Though he didn’t fully appreciate her sacrifices as a boy, he now sees the courage and strength it took for her to raise him with love and moral grounding.

3. Mentorship comes in God’s timing For years, David lacked a male role model—but God provided one later through his father-in-law, a gentle pastor who modeled what it means to be a husband and father. Moms, this is a reminder: God knows the right mentors for your children and will bring them at just the right time.

4. For moms with rebellious or wandering children David’s encouragement to mothers: Do not lose hope. Even when your son or daughter seems far from God, He is still working. The same God who pursued David is pursuing your child. Keep praying, keep pointing them to Jesus, and trust Him to write their story.

Encouragement for the Listener

If you’re walking this journey alone, take heart. You are not forgotten. God sees your faithfulness, and one day your children will see it too. Your story, and theirs, is still being written by a loving Father who is faithful through every season.

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Absent Dad, Present Father: Testimonies of God’s Faithfulness to Fatherless Children

• David Welch’s Blog: The Scarred Oak Redemption | David Welch | Substack

https//davidwelch.substack.com

Connect with Perspective Ministries: PerspectiveMinistries.org Follow on Instagram @perspectiveministries

The start of a new year often brings both relief after the holidays and a desire for a fresh beginning. In this episode, mothers are encouraged to make God’s Word a foundation in their home by intentionally teaching the Bible to their children.

You do not need to be a Bible expert or have a perfect routine. This episode offers simple ways to begin learning Scripture together and trusting God to bring forth fruit from the seeds planted.

Key Takeaways

• What Scripture Says About God’s Word

• Guidance on how to instill God’s Word into the hearts of your children

• Suggested Scripture for memorization

• An overview of how to teach the Bible to your children from preschool to the teenage years

Trusted Resources

• The Big Picture Bible

• Happy Hymnody 

• The New City Catechism: 52 Questions and Answers for Our Hearts and Minds 

• Old Story New

• The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New (The Kid's Theology Series) by Marty Machowski
• WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New (The Kid's Theology Series) by Marty Machowski
• The Bible Recap for Kids: A 365-Day Guide Through the Bible for Young Readers Ages 8-12  by Tara-Leigh Cobble 

If you would like additional encouragement and resources for raising fatherless children, we would love to connect with you. Visit perspectiveministries.org for more podcast episodes, Bible-based resources, and information on Hope Gatherings in your area. 

As the year comes to a close, Lori invites single and widowed mothers to pause, reflect, andremember God's faithfulness. Whether this New Year’s Eve is quiet, heavy, hopeful, or filledwith questions, Lori shares encouragement from Scripture, from her home, and from the ministryGod has built through Perspective Ministries.In this tender episode, she reflects on angels, shepherds, and the Christmas story—then followsMary’s example of “treasuring and pondering” all that God has done. Lori offers simplereflection questions for moms and children, shares her family’s “Year at a Glance” tradition, andopens her own heart about her word of the year, her family updates, ministry milestones, andGod’s continued goodness.Four Practical Takeaways1. Pause and remember God’s faithfulness.2. Reflect as a family using simple questions.3. Notice God’s care in your personal story.4. Look ahead with hope, trusting God’s gentle leading.Connect with Lori and Perspective Ministries● Website: perspectiveministries.org● Email: [email protected]● Subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform● Share this episode with a mom who may be entering the new year with sorrow, hope, or both.

On Christmas Eve, Lori invites single and widowed moms into the heart of the Christmas story—the Lamb of God who came near. While Christmas Eve is often portrayed as peaceful and serene, many moms raising children with an absent dad experience a night filled with pain, tears, and last–minute responsibilities. Lori offers compassion, biblical truth, and practical encouragement for mothers navigating Christmas with both hope and heartache.Tracing the Lamb of God through Scripture, from Genesis to the Gospels, Lori shows how Jesus has always been God’s plan of rescue and redemption. She reminds moms that Emmanuel, God with us, meets them in the loneliness and the sorrow, offering His presence, protection, and peace.In this episode, Lori shares:- Honest reflections from her own Christmas Eves as a widowed mom - How Jesus, the Lamb of God, appears throughout Scripture:-- Genesis 22 and God’s provision of the ram-- Exodus 12 and the Passover lamb-- Isaiah 53 and the prophecy of the suffering servant- The beauty of Emmanuel—God with us—in sorrow, uncertainty, and in the absence of an earthly dad- Encouragement for single and widowed moms facing fresh grief during the holidaysKey Takeaways:1. Jesus has always been the Lamb of God.2. God comes near to the humble and hurting.3. Emmanuel means you are not alone.4. Your children can experience the hope of Christmas in simple, meaningful ways.Connect with Lori and Perspective MinistriesWebsite: perspectiveministries.orgEmail: [email protected] to YouTube and your favorite podcast platform!Share this episode with a mom spending Christmas Eve in the quiet ache of what is missing.