Last month I had the opportunity to go to the Mexico/United States border with Women of Welcome and World Relief. A group of friends and Happy Hour listeners joined me and we had the opportunity to gain proximity to those who were living the experience of immigration, as well as meet with pastors, community leaders, and border patrol officers to learn more about this issue. This was my third trip and I still walked away immensely impacted by the stories shared. On the second episode of this three part series, I’m joined with two friends, Julia Curtis and Nikki Ogden. This was their first experience at the border and you’ll hear how this trip has impacted their life upon returning. 

Julia Curtis has served as a full-time missionary on the Tohono O’odham Nation with Live Love Ministries since 2017. Her main roles include teaching children, discipling teenage girls, and leading an adult Bible Study in a community without a church. When she isn't working, she loves to hike, especially at the Grand Canyon.

Nikki Ogden  has more than 15 years of Christian ministry experience, serving a wide range of people groups from inner-city kids to college students to wives and mothers. In 2018, Nikki and her husband planted Horizon West Church in Winter Garden, Florida, and continue to lead the diverse and growing congregation there. In addition to her ministry work, Nikki is a Podcast Producer for several shows. She is passionate about discipling women and advocating for underserved people. On her free time she loves spending time with her husband and their three children.

Immigration may be a topic that has been politicized, but I believe it's a topic that is close to the heart of God and should be important to every Christ follower. My prayer as you listen to these episodes is that you'll be filled with questions and the desire to learn more about what God's Word says on this topic. I pray that we are moved to be compassionate and loving to all of our neighbors.

SHOW NOTES:

The Little Liar

Give them Grace

Free Family Refugee Guide 

World Relief, The Path

Good Neighbor Teams

Women of Welcome

Matthew Soerens article on Holy Post

Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate

Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church

Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis 

Last month I had the opportunity to go to the Mexico/United States border with Women of Welcome and World Relief. A group of friends and Happy Hour listeners joined me and we had the opportunity to gain proximity to those who were living the experience of immigration, as well as meet with pastors, community leaders, and border patrol officers to learn more about this issue. This was my third trip and I still walked away immensely impacted by the stories shared. In this month's bonus series you'll hear from two leaders who led the trip and a few voices from those who attended. 

On the first episode of this three part series, I’m joined with two friends, Jessica Thompson and Becky Kiser. This was their first experience at the border and you’ll hear how this trip has impacted their life upon returning. 

Becky Kiser is tenacious in her intent to help women love God, themselves, and others. She is a life and small business coach, helping women identify and surpass their goals. Becky is an authentic and passionate speaker at Christian women’s events and retreats, as well as in prisons and in Africa. She hosts the Hearers & Doers with Becky Kiser podcast, interviewing new and old friends, and sharing one-on-one coaching sessions with her listeners. Becky cofounded Online Women’s Ministries, which hosts Online Women’s Bible Study, Online Women’s Retreat, and more coming soon! Becky and her husband, Chris, live in The Woodlands, Texas, with their three daughters: Karis, Moriah, and Chandler.

Jessica is a Pastor at Risen Church in San Diego. She is the author of several books. She has her Masters in Biblical Studies from Redemption Seminary. She has three adult children and lives in San Diego, California.

Immigration may be a topic that has been politicized, but I believe it's a topic that is close to the heart of God and should be important to every Christ follower. My prayer as you listen to these episodes is that you'll be filled with questions and the desire to learn more about what God's Word says on this topic. I pray that we are moved to be compassionate and loving to all of our neighbors.

SHOW NOTES:

The Little Liar

Give them Grace

Free Family Refugee Guide 

World Relief, The Path

Good Neighbor Teams

Women of Welcome

Matthew Soerens article on Holy Post

Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate

Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church

Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis 

Connect with Jamie

On December 10th, 2003 Kent Whitaker’s life was struck with tragedy in a way that would change it forever. After an evening out with his family, Kent, his wife, and two sons returned to their home to find an intruder waiting inside. On today’s show Kent shares with us how his entire family was shot that night, killing two family members, and how Romans 8:28 became real to him in a new way. Kent describes how he did what most of us would think as impossible, forgive the people responsible for such crime. 

Kent’s story of loss, forgiveness and redemption has been featured on Oprah, 20/20, 48 Hours Mystery, People Magazine, and dozens of other shows. His book, Murder By Family, made the New York Times Bestseller List and has inspired and encouraged thousands of people.

Forgiveness isn’t easy and often feels like the most unnatural thing to do. But because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we can forgive because we have been forgiven.

Thanks for listening and be sure to share with a friend!

SHOW LINKS:

Romans 8:28 

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Kairos Prison Ministry

CONNECT WITH JAMIE

Sign Up for Jamie's Newsletter

Hey friends! Today my good friend Jasmine Holmes is back on the show! This is Jasmine’s third time on the show in 2023 and we just love having her here! Jasmine is a content queen and we spent half of the interview talking about all her amazing projects she’s created, on top of all the books she’s read this year! Jasmine also shares with us how she cares for her mental health and her secret to moving her body all day!

Jasmine L. Holmes is an educator, research assistant, and author of Carved in Ebony and Mother to Son. She creates public history resources for teachers and lifelong learners. Jasmine and her husband, Phillip, live in Jackson, Mississippi, with their three sons.

We hope you enjoyed today’s episode and would love for you to share with a friend! Remember to check out the website’s new facelift, and watch this interview on YouTube!

SHOW LINKS:

Jasmine’s February episode Part 1

Jasmine’s February episode Part 2

Carved in Ebony

Carved in Ebony - Young Adult book 

Crowned with Glory 

Never Cast Out 

Jamie’s Website

The Happy Hour YouTube

Why Can’t I Get it Together

Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling

All That is Secret

#Readingeverybodyblack

When Dimple Met Rishi

Indescribable Kids Devotion Books

Reading While Black

For Colored Girls 

A Different Drummer

Black Folk

Men We Reaped

Yonder

Invisible Things

The Fifth Season

You guys, I can't believe it's already December. As we look back on the year, we remember the good and reflect on the hard. This season is all about hope and my hope for you is that you can look forward to celebrating with anticipation!

This month we have my good friends Jasmine Holmes and Kent Witaker on the show. We'll wrap up the year with my husband Aaron as we reflect on 2023 in our business life, our personal life, and all the things! You may know I took a trip to the Mexico/America border with some of you and was led by Women of Welcome and World Relief. I look forward to sharing more about that with you through this month's bonus series!

As we wait and look forward, we can be filled with hope. I pray you have time to dwell on the fact that Jesus came for his people, and he's coming again!

SHOW LINKS:

Why Can't I Get it Together

Dwell Differently - code: JAMIE

Holiday Gift Guide

Women of Welcome

World Relief

As a woman, have you ever felt insecure about learning or teaching scripture? Is it because of the lack of experience? Maybe because of the lack of discipleship or opportunity? On today’s episode Jackie and I dive into some of the reasons women may feel insecure about learning and sharing scripture. Jackie encourages us to be reminded that we have the holy spirit living inside of us, therefore have been given the capacity through Christ’s power to understand His divine word!

Jackie Hill Perry is an author, bible teacher, and hip-hop artist. Since becoming a Christian, she has been compelled to use her speaking and teaching gifts to share the light of the gospel of God as authentically as she can. She is the author of Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been, Holier Than Thou, and Upon Waking Devotional. At home, she is a wife to Preston and Mommy to Eden, Autumn, Sage, and August.

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to always be the first to be in the know!

SHOW LINKS:

Upon Waking

Why Can’t I Get it Together

Marvel at the Moon - This 90-day devotional for kids ages 6 to 10 will help them face loneliness, peer pressure, and insecurities with confidence, and learn how to navigate big feelings and negative emotions.

Jamie's Newsletter

The Happy Hour Bookclub

To all of my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are enjoying good food, lots of football, and most of all, taking time to reflect on God’s goodness to you. I want to give a special shoutout to those of you who were able to join me at the US/Mexico border with Women of Welcome and World Relief. I am still processing all that we learned and experienced on that incredible trip! And to all of my friends around the world, thanks for listening and I hope you are experiencing the goodness of God in amazing ways.

In today’s episode, I speak with Dallas and Amanda Jenkins. Dallas is a returning guest to The Happy Hour and is best known as creator of the massively successful TV show, The Chosen. This time around, Dallas joins me along with his lovely wife, Amanda, to discuss their experiences with the show and some of the unique and powerful ways God is using it in the lives of people. I know you’ll be blessed as you hear their perspective on what God is doing in and through them.

Show Links:

Women of Welcome

World Relief

Christmas with the Chose: Holy Night 

Buster Gets Back on Track  -  Share Buster’s empowering message of never giving up, perfect for preschool- and elementary-age kids.

The Chosen: 40 Days with Jesus

Connect with Jamie

When married, too often it’s easy to fall into unintentional habits and patterns and all of a sudden you realize you have more of a roommate situation than an intimate marriage that you desire. On today’s show, marriage pastor Scott Kedersha shares how we can trust God with our spouse and be intentional about building the marriage we all desire to have.

Scott Kedersha is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Kristen, dad to four teenage sons, and the Marriage Pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. Scott is the author of Ready or Knot: 12 Conversations Every Couple Needs to Have before Marriage and The Ready or Knot Prayer Guide: 100 Prayers for Dating and Engaged Couples. He writes at ScottKedersha.com and is one of the co-hosts of the More Than Roommates Podcast.

From talking football to marriage, to health and wellness, this conversation with Scott was so real and raw and I appreciate his vulnerability and transparency!

SHOW LINKS:

Confessions from a bathroom stall message

More Than Roommates Podcast

Ready or Knot Prayer Guide

Complement

Made for People

Embracing Obscurity

When Narcissim Comes to Church

The Blind

The Well

Broken Crayons Still Color - Help your kids process big feelings, build a social-emotional tool kit, and find beauty in life's challenges with this children’s book from my good friend, Toni Collier.

Connect with Jamie

Jamie’s Newsletter

This month’s bonus series is on a topic that can tend to be very uncomfortable to talk about. But this is a good uncomfortable. Pornography is a subject that affects all of us in one way or another and it’s important to have these conversations. The average age of kids who view pornography for the first time is 9 years old. As a parent you may read that statistic and feel completely discouraged or overwhelmed, but you’re not alone! On today’s show Chris McKenna shares ways we can help protect our kids from the weapons of the internet. 

Chris McKenna is a former middle school youth director, and author of multiple resources for families and churches. His 2019 US Senate testimony was the catalyst for new federal and state online child protection legislation and earned Protect Young Eyes (PYE) the Dignity Defense Alert Award in 2020. The PYE team performs hundreds of presentations at schools, churches, and nonprofits, receives over a million visits to their popular website annually, and was featured in the Childhood 2.0 movie

I hope in this series you gain a wealth of resources to help you, however this topic affects you. Whether you’re someone who has struggled with pornography and addiction, or you are a spouse or partner who is dealing with the betrayal of such addiction, we encourage you to check out the links from the show to find support, healing, and ultimately freedom.

SHOW LINKS:

Protect Young Eyes

Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.

Good Pictures Bad Pictures

God’s Design for Sex

How to Talk to a 5 Year Old About Pornography 

What is Sextortion? 3 Prevention Tips for Families

Beggars Daughter

Quenched

The Healing Church

Part 1 of Let’s Talk About Porn with Sam Black

Part 2 of Let’s Talk About Porn with Jessica Harris

Celebrate Recovery 

Covenant Eyes

Canopy

Bark - Use Code JAMIE10

Coddling of the American Mind

THH #506 From Porn to Pastor

THH #565 Liberator Preview w/Chelsea and Layton Boeve

THH #538 Boundaries with Jim Cress

Jamie’s Newsletter

This month’s bonus series is on a topic that can tend to be very uncomfortable to talk about. But this is a good uncomfortable. Pornography is a subject that affects all of us in one way or another and it’s important to have these conversations.

Studies show that 33% of pornography consumers are female. This is no longer an issue that can only be talked about to men. With very little resources available to women, shame and guilt keep too many women hiding and in chains. On today’s episode Jessica Harris, author of Quenched, shares her story of addiction and freedom. Jessica shares valuable ways we can help people without shaming them! 

I hope in this series you gain a wealth of resources to help you, however this topic affects you. Whether you’re someone who has struggled with pornography and addiction, or have a spouse or partner who is dealing with the betrayal of such addiction, we encourage you to check out the links from the show to find support, healing, and ultimately freedom.

SHOW LINKS:

Beggars Daughter

Quenched

The Healing Church

Create Anyway

Part 1 of Let’s Talk About Porn with Sam Black

Part 3 of Let’s Talk About Porn with Chris McKenna 

Celebrate Recovery 

Covenant Eyes

Canopy

Bark - Use Code JAMIE10

Jamie’s Newsletter

Wednesday’s Episode with Josh and Katie Walters