SUMMARY:

PODCAST INTRO:

Anita’s family had always provided a strong foundation of faith in Christ and they pointed her to Him again when she needed clarity, answers, direction, forgiveness. As you’ll hear in her story, God was ahead of her need beginning with a relocation. God had already stirred her pastor father to look for a church in Lancaster, PA. Her father was offered a pastoral job so they had just recently moved when Anita discovers she’s pregnant. The church that the Lord placed them in welcomed them with kindness and the desire to help them. It was a church family and environment that would be supportive to a new pastor and his family including an unwed 17 year old pregnant daughter.

When Anita asked God what was best for her baby she felt she’d heard clearly that adoption was to be her choice. Even after making the decision she felt God was leading her toward, as her belly grows and she begins to feel the baby move, she second guesses whether it was God she heard or herself. Have you ever been there? Trying to discern whether you heard God right, did He really say that? I think that question is as old as the Garden of Eden. It’s that struggle where we’re asking/wondering, was that your voice God or my internal voice?

As we all know, adoption does not end with a decision. This is an issue of the human heart and there is a lifetime ahead both for the mother and the child. Anita points out her concerns about creating abandonment and rejection issues for her daughter. Even though she had prayed and requested a Christian family for her daughter, Anita still had anxiety wondering if her little girl was safe, loved, protected.

In the delivery room, Anita had only heard her daughter cry, she did not get to see her nor hold her so Anita’s heart ached to meet the baby that had changed her life. She so desired to learn more about her. In our conversation, you can tell that Anita’s heart was broken but she held on to hope that God would one day allow a reunion and Anita would actually meet, touch, hug her daughter, hear her daughter’s voice once again.

There are many precious moments that Anita shares but the one that stood out to me was the exchange that she and God had in a quiet moment together and God speaks into her spirit about His longing for the orphan hearts of the children that He desires to adopt and even those who have professed Him as their Savior but have yet to make Him the Lord of their life through reading His word, talking with Him and creating intimate relationship. As God speaks into Anita’s spirit,

In this powerful episode of Conversations with Christians Engaged recorded live from the National Religious Broadcasters convention, we sit down with author Joy Ng to hear the extraordinary story behind her book Even There: Love, Faith, and Danger in Wild Alaska. Joy and her husband, a decorated Coast Guard helicopter pilot, lived out their calling in some of the most remote and dangerous waters in the world—saving lives, building community, and trusting God through every peril and move.

From dramatic rescues in the Alaskan wilderness to quiet moments of discipleship over a chocolate cake, Joy shares how faith anchored her family through decades of service, sacrifice, and constant change. This heartfelt conversation reminds us of the unseen courage of military families—and the God who guides us “even there.”

Subscribe to our channel for weekly episodes of Conversations with Christians Engaged as we inspire you to pray, vote, and engage with biblical clarity and conviction.

We exist to awaken, educate, and empower believers in Jesus Christ to:

• ▪️ PRAY for our nation and elected officials regularly
• ▪️ VOTE in every local, state, and national election to impact our culture
• ▪️ ENGAGE our hearts in civic education or involvement for the well-being of our local communities and our nation

Learn more about Christians Engaged: christiansengaged.org
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Take the Pledge to PRAY, VOTE, & ENGAGE: christiansengaged.org/pledge

How can we find purposeful living, even when facing chronic illness?

In today’s episode, host Tina Yeager sits down with Christy Award-winning novelist Katie Powner to discuss purposeful living in the face of chronic illness. Together, they delve into how limitations can shape our character, draw us into deeper connections with others, and open unexpected doors to meaning and resilience. Whether you’re navigating chronic illness yourself or supporting a loved one who is, this conversation offers authentic insights, practical encouragement, and a reminder that every life—no matter the challenges—has extraordinary value and purpose. Join us and discover how God’s grace can transform even our greatest struggles into opportunities for growth and connection.

Key Takeaways:

• Limitations as Growth Opportunities: Chronic illness often shrinks what we think is possible, but Katie discusses how it can actually open avenues for spiritual growth, authentic connection, and even leadership through vulnerability.
• The Power of Prayer: When daily routines are upended and we can’t “do” as much, prayer remains a powerful, purposeful act that is always accessible—and profoundly impactful.
• Purpose Beyond Our Expectations: Sometimes God’s plans for us don’t align with what we’d choose or imagine. True meaning emerges as we trust Him, invite others in, and see ripple effects in our communities.
• Ordinary Life, Extraordinary Impact: Katie’s stories spotlight regular people facing tough circumstances—reminding us that anyone, in any setting, can do something extraordinary with God’s help.

Featured Quote:

"Your world is always as big as the Lord and his grace that abounds...the opportunity, the ability to serve the kingdom is still just as great as any other person." – Katie Powner

Get Inspired Further:

Want to dive deeper? Katie Powner’s novels offer vivid stories of redemption, resilience, and small-town hope. Explore her books at katypowner.com—or find them at your favorite bookseller.

We're thrilled to accompany you on this journey of faith, growth, and transformation. As always, we appreciate your support! Please subscribe and share this episode. We can't wait for you to join us for future episodes of Flourish-Meant.

To book Tina as a speaker, connect with her life coaching services, and more, visit her website: https://tinayeager.com/

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