The Defender Podcast

• Today, in part two of the grief series, we will be talking about navigating grief in context of the gospel and from the perspective of birth families and foster families. 

GUEST

• Traci Newell is the Director of Church Programs (LBSW, Master Trainer, TIPS-MAPP, TBRI® Practitioner) at Lifeline Children's Services. She has been at Lifeline since 2003. She has a plethora of experience working with birth/biological families and foster families. 

HOST

• Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST

• Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES

• Parent Coaching is a service available for any parent who needs additional insight into their child’s behavior.  
• Each session is tailored to each family’s specific needs. 
• They are filled with proven tools and techniques to use in building additional strengths in parenting. 
• Visit lifelinechild.org/parent-coaching for more information and to be connected with a Lifeline staff member. 

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES

• The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
• Web: lifelinechild.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
• The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
• The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

• Today we will be talking about navigating grief in context of the gospel and from the perspective of an adoptive parent. 

GUEST

• Lane Jackson is an adoptive mom at Lifeline. Melinda Nell, MSW, is a domestic specialist at Lifeline. The Jackson family has experienced several matches and placements not working out before the placement of their daughter. Before that, they experienced grief in the infertility journey. They were also one of Lifeline's longest waiting families when they accepted placement – they were in process for several years and were so open-handed, ready to say yes to every case they saw and ready for what the Lord had for them. Melinda Nell was their caseworker for 4-5 months of their entire 2+ year adoption process. 

HOST

• Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST

• Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES — North Macedonia 

• Lifeline is relaunching our North Macedonia international adoption program! 
• We are interested in working with families to serve as a pilot family in this program. 
• Visit https://lifelinechild.org/international-adoption/  to get more information and to apply. 

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES

• The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
• Web: lifelinechild.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
• The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
• The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

• In honor of National Social Work Month, one of Lifeline's amazing social workers, Susannah Ayers, joins the podcast alongside of Jeremy Simpson, Lifeline's Senior Director of Operations/Alabama State Director to share the adoption story of Jeremy's daughter through Lifeline's India program. Susannah was the social worker throughout the whole adoption process for Jeremy and his wife, Courtney. In this episode, you will hear about the immense impact social workers have on others' lives and Jeremy and Courtney's heart for and journey to adopting their daughter. 

GUEST

• Susannah Ayers, LMSW, is a licensed social worker for the India program at Lifeline Children's Services. Jeremy Simpson is the Senior Director of Operations/Alabama State Director at Lifeline. He and his wife Courtney adopted their daughter through the India program at Lifeline. 

HOST

• Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST

• Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES

• At Lifeline, we are grateful for our social workers and the immense care and compassion they bring to our families.  
• Our social workers serve families as they walk alongside families in joyous and difficult journeys. They are essential to God’s ministry through Lifeline. 
• This social worker month, we celebrate all they are and all they do for God’s glory at Lifeline. 
• If you’d like to join our team as a social worker visit https://lifelinechild.org/careers/ to see open positions around the country. 

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES

• The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
• Web: lifelinechild.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
• The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
• The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

• In honor of International Women's Day, two of our global partners join the podcast to talk about the difference God is making through the work they have done and the work they continue to do in orphan care in India. Tara and Sitara Manogarom join the podcast to talk about their home in India for orphaned girls and how God has worked through this ministry since 2007. 

GUEST

• Lifeline's (un)adopted ministry partners with a ministry in India. This ministry runs a home for orphaned girls. A husband and wife opened the Home in 2007 with three girls. Now they provide a home for 17+ girls. The husband lost his battle to COVID in 2020, yet his wife and children continue his legacy of caring for the girls and sharing the hope of Jesus. Tara is the wife who helped start this home and Sitara is her daughter. They both help run the home where the girls are thriving. 

HOST

• Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST

• Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES

• As we see the needs of the vulnerable around the world every day, we can often feel helpless to make a difference. 
• But we know that every man and woman, girl and boy are made in God’s image and deserve to be known, loved, and to know God's goodness. 
• You can be part of showing others their value in Christ by joining us in caring for vulnerable around the world. 
• See our show notes or visit https://lifelinechild.org/global-orphan-care/ to find out more. 

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES

• The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
• Web: lifelinechild.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
• The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
• The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

• Edward and Kristy Graham join the podcast today to share about the work of Samaritan's Purse in orphan care and caring for vulnerable children. They share about their mission to share the gospel around the world through their medical and disaster relief efforts. "If it's a person struggling in a 'ditch,' we want to reach their immediate needs."

GUEST

• Edward and Kristy Graham are the guests on today's podcast. Edward Graham is the youngest son of Franklin and Jane Graham, and the grandson of Billy Graham. He serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Samaritan’s Purse. Edward graduated from the United States Military Academy where he went on to serve 16 years in the US Army. After multiple combat deployments within Special Operations and serving in various leadership positions, he felt called by the Lord to return home and serve in the ministry starting in the winter of 2018. Kristy Graham is the host of On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse. Since this podcast journey started in 2019, Kristy has enjoyed sharing testimony after testimony of the ways God is working through Samaritan’s Purse. Kristy and Edward have been married for 16 years and have one daughter and three sons. They are raising their four children in the mountains of North Carolina.  

HOST

• Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST

• Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES

• At Lifeline, we strive to walk with families throughout their parenting journeys. 
• Whether for necessary continued training or for personal and family enrichment, we offer monthly, free education opportunities. 
• You can join us for these webinars from anywhere. 
• On March 15, we will be hosting The Power of Play and its impact on connecting with and bringing healing to our children. 
• Visit https://lifelinechild.org/ceus/ to find upcoming opportunities. 

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES

• The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
• Web: lifelinechild.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
• The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
• The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

• Karla Thrasher, Senior Director of International Adoption and Jana Lombardo, Director of International Programs, join the Defender podcast with Dr. Rick Morton to talk about the new North Macedonia adoption program at Lifeline and the current landscape of international adoption. They talk about the impact of international adoption on their lives and how international adoption played out in 2022. 121 children were brought home in 2022! 

GUEST

• Karla Thrasher is the Senior Director of International Adoption and Jana Lombardo is the Director of International Programs at Lifeline Children's Services. 

HOST

• Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST

• Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES

• If you’re considering international adoption but are stuck with too many questions to list, we invite you to join an upcoming webinar, Road Map to International Adoption.  
• Topics include application process, what’s a home study, what travel looks like, financing your adoption, and more.  
• Register for free at Https://www.lifelinechild.org/information-meetings. 

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES

• The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
• Web: lifelinechild.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
• The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
• The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

• Today on the podcast, Micah and Jamie Steele, a Lifeline adoptive family, talks about their journey in marriage and parenting, specifically children who were brought home through adoption. We are honored to have this couple who is committed to each other and parenting in accordance to the gospel. 

GUEST

• Micah and Jamie Steele have adopted through Lifeline and have six kids. Their oldest two came to their home biologically and their youngest four were adopted from China. They live in Iowa. 

HOST

• Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST

• Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES

• If you’re a counselor or therapist who is interested in how play can help bring healing to children and families, Lifeline is hosting a Theraplay training event. 
• Held April 17-20, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama.
• You will learn the fundamentals of the Theraplay model and be able to begin applying Theraplay principles into your work with existing and new clients.   
• See the link below for more information. 
• https://lifelinechild.org/event/level-one-theraplay-mim-birmingham-al%ef%bf%bc/   

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES

• The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
• Web: lifelinechild.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
• The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
• The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

• Today on the podcast, Allison Centofante joins Herbie Newell and Rick Morton to talk about pro-life advocacy and how you can do that in every day life. The fight for life starts in our communities. 

GUEST

• Alison Centofante, Founder of Centofante Strategies, LLC, a Huntsville, AL-based consulting firm, is a child advocacy innovator, in-demand public speaker, activist, and writer with over ten years of experience speaking on abortion, marriage, human dignity, and religious freedom.  Centofante has been featured on Fox News, ABC, NPR, The Christian Broadcasting Network, and other national and international media outlets. Her work and expert perspective has been published in Yahoo News, Business Insider, Buzzfeed, National Review Online, Fox News, World Magazine, Red Alert Politics, and The Federalist. Alison most recently served as Director of External Affairs at Live Action, a nonprofit organization with the largest digital footprint in the global pro-life movement.  
  Prior to that, Alison served as Director of Alliance Relations at Alliance Defending Freedom, a global legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, marriage, family, parental rights, and the sanctity of life. She started her work in Washington, D.C. as Communications Director at Concerned Women for America, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization. Alison was named to Red Alert Politics “30 under 30” and Christianity Today’s Readers Choice “33 under Thirty-Three.”  

HOST

• Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST

• Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES

• The relationship between a mom and dad impact every aspect of the family. 
• A strong marriage in Christ is the core of a healthy family. 
• If there are areas of your marriage that you would like to see strengthened, our counseling services are here for you. 
• Visit https://lifelinechild.org/counseling-services/ for more details on how you can get in touch with our counselors. 

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES

• The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
• Web: lifelinechild.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
• The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
• The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

In this episode, Ann Maura Hinton, Program Director of Bridge Educational Services at Lifeline, joins the podcast. Dr. Rick Morton, the vice president of engagement at Lifeline, and Herbie Newell, President and Executive Director of Lifeline, talk with Ann Maura about the power of play in kids' lives and how it affects their ability to learn and grow.

GUEST
Ann Maura is the Program Director of Bridge Educational Services at Lifeline. She loves to learn and is constantly looking to build a bridge from frustration to hope alongside families in need. She brings with her over 25 years of teaching experience in a variety of different settings with a variety of different abilities.

HOST
Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST
Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES
As we navigate an ever-changing world, we want to stand for life as we use our hands and feet to care for women, babies, and families. There are many ways to demonstrate pro-life care as individuals and churches. From hosting information tables or being a financial partner to mentoring at-risk families and youth, there’s an opportunity for you to stand for life. Visit https://lifelinechild.org/engage-your-church/ for more details.  

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES
The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
Web: lifelinechild.org
Email: [email protected]
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify

Chelsea Patterson Sobolik is Lifeline's Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy. She joins the podcast today to talk about how adoption has deeply impacted her life. She shares about her personal adoption story, her and husband's pursuit of adopting a child internationally, and her book "Longing for Motherhood: Holding Onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness."

GUEST
Chelsea Patterson Sobolik serves as Lifeline's Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy. Prior to joining Lifeline, she was the Director of Policy for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). Previously, she worked on Capitol Hill on pro-life policies, domestic and international religious freedom, adoption, and foster care issues. Chelsea has been published at the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and others. She is the author of Longing for Motherhood – Holding onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness, and a forthcoming book on women and work. She has a B.A. in International Relations from Liberty University, and lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Michael. She and Michael are in the adoption process, and are looking forward to welcoming home a child from India.

HOST
Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms.

CO-HOST
Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.

RESOURCES
For those seeking to adopt in the new year, we have produced an eBook to help you financially prepare for the journey. Filled with tips, resources, contact information for grant organizations, and more. To receive this free eBook, visit https://lifelinechild.org/international-adoption/ for more information. Link to download eBook: https://lifelinechild.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/funding_your_adoption.pdf 
 

LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICES
The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. 
Web: lifelinechild.org
Email: [email protected]
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @lifelinechild
The Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify
The Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify