Is American freedom connected with faith? How do we need to protect our rights?

Host Tina Yeager sits down with Coach Joe Kennedy, a former Marine and high school football coach whose bold stance for religious liberty led him all the way to the Supreme Court. Joe shares the story behind his landmark case, revealing how a simple act of giving thanks through prayer after football games grew into a nationwide discussion about freedom of speech and religious rights in America.

Together, Tina and Joe explore the deep connections between American faith and freedom, the personal and legal battles Joe endured, and the broader implications for every citizen—regardless of their beliefs. You’ll hear firsthand about the costs of standing up for constitutional rights, the spiritual battles that come with it, and Joe’s passionate commitment to mentoring the next generation. Whether you’re a person of faith or simply concerned about our fundamental rights, this episode will inspire you to cherish and champion the hard-won freedoms we all share.

Joe shares his powerful story—one that began with a simple 15-second prayer on the football field and grew into an eight-year legal journey, costing him his job, impacting his family life, and requiring steadfast perseverance.

Stay tuned as Coach Joe Kennedy also discusses practical ways to get involved, the ongoing work of Coral Ridge Ministries, and how you too can be a light in your community.

What You’ll Learn:

• The personal cost and significance of standing up for your beliefs—Joe reminds us that “freedom isn’t free.”
• Why the First Amendment matters to all Americans, regardless of faith background.
• How the Supreme Court's ruling in Joe’s case restored critical religious freedoms for the next generation.
• Joe’s heartfelt call to start conversations about freedom and faith at home, and his encouragement to be present and active in our schools and communities.

Featured Resources:

• Joe’s Book: _Average Joe_—A touching story of faith, perseverance, and family, available now.
• Average Joe Movie: Streamable on Amazon Prime and other platforms—a great choice for your next family or date night!
• Coral Ridge Ministries: Explore more about Dr. Kennedy’s legacy and today’s efforts to protect religious freedom.
• Connect with Joe: Visit coachjoekennedy.com for links to all of the above and to stay in touch.

Final Takeaway: Coach Kennedy lives by 2 Timothy 4:7—“Fight the good fight, finish the race, and remain faithful.” His victory is a reminder: God wins the ultimate battle, and it’s on us to show up and stand strong in our faith and freedoms.

Be inspired! Let’s continue to champion freedom of speech and faith, mentor the next generation, and shine our light in every community.

For more uplifting conversations, be sure to stay connected for our next episode.

We're thrilled to accompany you on this j

PODCAST INTRO:

Liz and I agree that grief changes you in countless ways and as much as we may want things to go back to the way they were, they never will. How can they? We’ve lost a significant portion of our life.

Liz and her first husband, Ryan met when she was 22, fell in love and married in 2014. They wanted a family and were blessed with their first daughter. But sadly, they would only have 6 1/2 years together. Ryan, at 39 years of age unexpectedly passed away at home, alone on his treadmill.

To add more trauma to her shattered heart, Liz discovers that she’s pregnant one day after Ryan’s funeral. Not traumatized over being pregnant, but heartbroken that Ryan will never meet his daughter, nor will she meet her daddy and being a single parent was never in her life plans.

One of the significant motivators of transformation for Liz was the realization that she could stay bitter or get better. She chose, get better. She engaged the hard questions, evaluated the cost of living angry and despite the pain, she pushed forward to discover that she isn’t afraid to draw new boundaries, set new standards and start new businesses. She’s exploring life, options, opportunities and breaking ground (personally/professionally) in countless ways.

Liz has an encouraging perspective on finding her way through the pain, embracing new revelations of who she is as she grows through the various challenges and pain points with personal discoveries in all the many facets of her life.

Listen in to find out that widowhood is not the final chapter in her story, my your story and even your story.

Liz’s example gives us the courage to discover that there is even more to life because God is the author of our stories. He always has a plan and fulfilling your purpose has only begun.

You’ve heard me say many times before…keep your eyes on God because He’s writing a much bigger love story, an overarching love story with you as the unique person He created you to be and Liz, with the life she is choosing to cultivate is a beautiful example of that.

Let’s listen in and be encouraged today!

Live Loved and Thrive! @alifeofthrive.com

Here are some additional podcast episodes and/or blogs that pertain to finding God in our pain:

CONNECT WITH LIZ:

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this episode, host Doris Swift welcomes back her friend and returning guest, Rebecca George—author, speaker, and founder of the Radical Radiance podcast community. Doris and Rebecca dive into themes every woman can relate to, including living in that “in-between-almost-but-not-yet” season, and the struggle of waiting on God’s timing in a world telling us to hurry up, because we’re falling behind.

Rebecca shares insights from her newest book, You’re Not Too Late: Trusting God’s Timing in a Hurry Up World, and opens up about how longing, comparison, and even resentment can creep in, no matter what stage of life you’re in. Together, Doris and Rebecca discuss faith and trusting God with hopes, dreams, and that thing we’re longing for. They also talk about the importance of community, the dangers of the prosperity gospel, and how to cultivate spiritual resiliency in our everyday rhythms of waiting.

Whether you’re waiting for a breakthrough, struggling with unmet desires, or simply looking to find more joy right where you are, this episode promises wisdom, encouragement, and a reminder: it’s not too late for you. Join us as we lean into God’s timing, celebrate kingdom work, and find inspiration for your own fierce calling!

How does God turn worship leaders, teachers, and everyday believers into bold voices for truth in our culture? In this episode of our summer series recapping the 2024 Christians Engaged Conference, hear powerful testimonies from Anika Reeves, Jonathan Reeves, Anita Scott, Justin Bezner, and Susan Cordre—ordinary Christians who said “yes” to God’s call and stepped into extraordinary roles of civic engagement and spiritual leadership. Discover how:▪️A worship leader became a bold voice for biblical justice▪️A dad went from complaining to winning a city council seat▪️A principal lost a school board race but gained a call to policy▪️A husband and wife team sparked revival in their county▪️One woman’s yes led to hundreds finding their place in the missionThese stories prove that when believers pray, vote, and engage, communities are transformed. Subscribe for more stories that inspire Christians to live their faith in public life. Join us August 8–9 for our 2025 National Conference in DFW: https://christiansengaged.orgWe 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 Support our mission: christiansengaged.org/donate Take the Pledge to PRAY, VOTE, & ENGAGE: christiansengaged.org/pledge