When Danielle Grandholm’s daughter was diagnosed with Down syndrome, she and her husband found themselves without adequate support. This experience led them to start Rising Kites, a nonprofit dedicated to helping parents of children with Down syndrome. What began as an unexpected journey became a source of blessing as Danielle witnessed God’s providence and grace throughout the process, demonstrating how God can transform challenges into opportunities to serve others and experience His care. 

Rising Kites 

We’ll Paint the Octopus Red by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Pam Devito (Illustrator) 

The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton 

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese 

 

Are you a Christian educator? If so, I’m guessing you want to do more than just impart knowledge to your students. You want to help them develop genuine faith and a Christian worldview that will shape their character and their life. If this resonates with you, I want to encourage you to check out the “Worldview Formation 101” course from the Colson Educators. This free online course will help you understand the purpose of worldview formation and give you practical steps to craft lesson plans that incorporate the Christian worldview. Even better, it will equip you to foster a school culture where your students’ faith is nourished. You can sign up for “Worldview Formation” today at colsoneducators.org.

 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

 

Join Strong Women on Social Media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

We will all face hard things. Will we be the sort of people who resist the challenges and become resentful and bitter? Or will we see suffering as an opportunity to be open to the Lord and trust him? Today, my friend Maggie and I both share how Christ is meeting us in the suffering of a broken engagement and a loved one’s Alzheimer's diagnosis. We also dive into the habits of faith that prepare us to suffer well and how God redeems our suffering to help us know Christ more intimately. 

 

The Secret to Joy-Filled Suffering with Joni Eareckson Tada 

The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis 

Another Glimpse by Sean Curran 

The Book of Common Prayer 

 

On Strong Women, we celebrate God’s good design for women in every season of life. It’s all part of a bigger mission: to help the Church be the Church—by celebrating what’s good, resisting evil, restoring what’s broken, and contributing what’s missing. As we approach our June 30 fiscal year end, we need your help to keep that mission going. You can support the next year of Strong Women, as well as all the other resources from the Colson Center, by making your best gift today at colsoncenter.org/swchurch. 

 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

 

Join Strong Women on Social Media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Kori Pennypacker is the founder and CEO of Bible2School. Today she joins me to share her journey from navy wife to ministry leader, demonstrating how women can lead with biblical conviction while keeping Jesus at the center. I know you’ll be encouraged by her testimonies of children encountering Jesus and how the program is creating ripples of faith in schools across the country. 

Show Notes: 

Bible2School 

colsoncenter.org/SWMonthly 

Little Book of Forgiveness: A Pathway to Freedom by Kenward Jones 

Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise by Horst Schulze 

 

On Strong Women, we celebrate God’s good design for women in every season of life. It’s all part of a bigger mission: to help the Church be the Church—by celebrating what’s good, resisting evil, restoring what’s broken, and contributing what’s missing. As we approach our June 30 fiscal year end, we need your help to keep that mission going. You can support the next year of Strong Women, as well as all the other resources from the Colson Center, by making your best gift today at colsoncenter.org/swchurch. 

 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

 

Join Strong Women on Social Media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

In a culture that increasingly devalues children and mothering, Rachael Carman challenges us to rediscover the profound beauty and value of motherhood, including the moments that feel tiring or even mundane. The vulnerability, sacrifice, and invisible acts of motherhood aren’t just duties to endure but sacred opportunities to meet Jesus and become more like Him. 

Show Notes: 

Apologia Curriculum 

The Kristin Lavransdatter Trilogy by Sigrid Undset 

 

Hey, listeners! You’ve probably heard me talk about the Colson Fellows Program here on Strong Women. I'm excited to let you know that the Colson Fellows team hosts one-hour, live, informational webinars that allow you to hear an overview of the program and get your questions answered. The webinars are hosted by the Vice President and Dean of the Colson Fellowship – my good friend, Michael Craven. If you enjoy the conversations we have on Strong Women and want to think more deeply about your place in God’s story of redemption, the Colson Fellows Program might be for you. Colson Fellows will take you on a deep dive study of Christian worldview through books, devotionals, meetings with likeminded peers, and more. If you’re interested, but have questions about the workload, cohort formats, or anything else, I encourage you to sign up for the next live, Colson Fellows informational webinar. You can find a full list of webinar dates and register today at colsonfellows.org/webinar. 

 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

 

Join Strong Women on Social Media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

As moms or teachers or mentors, how do we help the young people in our lives grow deep roots of faith before they launch into the world? Today’s guest has some practical answers. As Educators Specialist here at the Colson Center, Billy Hutchinson is all about helping Christian educators form their students in the Christian worldview. But this episode isn’t just for educators! If you play any influential role in the life of a young person, you’ll find encouragement and help in this conversation. 

Show Notes: 

A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle 

Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell 

The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President by Edward O’Keefe  

The Colson Educators Program 

The Colson Fellows Program  

The Identity Project 

 

Want to know what it takes to be a Colson Fellow? Well, you can find out from someone who’s already been through it by checking out the Pursuit series on the Colson Fellows blog. There, you can read testimonies of men and women like you from different backgrounds who took on the challenge of the Colson Fellows Program and came out on the other side transformed. Start with Catherine Wheeler’s story. She was in my Colson Fellows cohort when I was a leader. She’s an OBGYN and former abortionist whose transformation story really is amazing. You can read Catherine’s testimony and many others by visiting colsonfellows.org/stories.

 

You don’t have to look far to notice cancel culture is everywhere. Maybe your teen is nervous to speak up at school about being pro-life because she's afraid her opinion will be dismissed. Maybe you're hesitant to voice concerns at work because you're worried about backlash from your co-workers. These situations are common, but speaking the truth with love is our calling as Christians. The Colson Educators course, "Navigating Cancel Culture," can help. In partnership with "No Safe Spaces," the Colson Center and Brett Kunkle teach you how to understand cancel culture, recognize where it shows up, and respond with a Christian perspective. Ready to learn more? Sign up at colsoneducators.org. 

 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

 

Join Strong Women on Social Media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

The words we sing matter. They ‘catechize’ us, training us to see the world in a certain way and set our affections on something. Today I’m talking with Caroline Cobb, whose Scripture-saturated songs combine Truth and melody. Tune in for a conversation about the formational power of music and being intentional about the narratives we allow to shape our lives.

 

Psalms: The Poetry of Prayer by Caroline Cobb 

Advent for Exiles by Caroline Cobb 

Song: A Breath of a Prayer by Michael Card 

The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson 

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom 

 

You can provide foundational support to the Colson Center by becoming a Cornerstone Monthly Partner. The support of dedicated Monthly Partners helps us invest in believers worldwide as they seek to live with clarity, confidence, and courage. Monthly Partners provide our most dependable level support and get exclusive benefits from the Colson Center in return. To become a Cornerstone Monthly Partner, go to colsoncenter.org/swcornerstone.

 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

 

Join Strong Women on Social Media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Christianity isn’t based on blind faith, but on the reality that Jesus lived, died, and rose again. Today I’m joined by apologist Sean McDowell to talk about all the evidence we have for the resurrection of Jesus, and how we can wisely engage with seekers and skeptics about the hope we have in Christ. 

 

Show Notes: 

Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture by Sean McDowell 

Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God's Design for Marriage by Sean McDowell  

Evidence for the Resurrection: What it Means for your Relationship with God by Sean McDowell and Josh McDowell 

The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas 

More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell

Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe

On the Resurrection series by Gary Habermas

 

The Church Affiliate program brings the Colson Fellows Program to your local church. Pastors and church leaders can go through the Colson Fellows Program for free, so they are able to launch a Church Affiliate cohort and bring worldview training to their church members. For more details, visit colsoncenter.org/church. 

 

Summit Ministries’ 12-day Student Conferences are for young adults who refuse to settle. It’s for those ready to take risks, ask big questions, and push past what’s comfortable. There, you’ll find friends who understand and mentors who will help you discover what it truly means to live with purpose. Register for Student Conferences using code STRONG25 for $200 off. Go to summit.org/promotions/strong women.

 

Educators—your worldview matters. It shapes your school. It shapes your classroom. It shapes your students. Are you cultivating a thoroughly Christian worldview? The Rooted Educator Worldview Summit is designed to help you do that. Join ACSI and the Colson Center June 16-18 in Grand Prairie, TX for this year’s Worldview Summit. The lineup of speakers is one you don’t want to miss: Dr. Larry Taylor of ACSI, author and speaker Brett Kunkle of Maven, author and speaker Alisa Childers, and more! This event is designed to help you cultivate your worldview so you can shape your students’ faith for a lifetime. Time is running out to register! Secure your spot today at acsi.org/rooted.

 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

 

Join Strong Women on Social Media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

You don’t have to choose between studying theology and being passionate about Jesus. In fact, our study of God should lead to love for God. Today I’m joined by theologian, Bible teacher, and author Phylicia Masonheimer, who shows us the beauty of studying theology for the love of Christ. No matter your circumstances, education, or age, you have an invitation to grow in the love and knowledge of God every day.

 

Every Woman a Theologian

Podcast: Verity with Phylician Masonheimer 

When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James 

Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 

Daily Doctrine by Kevin DeYoung 

 

Lent is a time to reflect on our need for salvation, repent of our sins, and prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection with deep gratitude. Our team has created a free guide with weekly hymns, prayers, and artwork to help prepare your heart for Easter. Join the Strong Women community and download your free copy today at colsoncenter.org/lent. 

 

Hey, listeners! You’ve probably heard me talk about the Colson Fellows Program here on Strong Women. I'm excited to let you know that the Colson Fellows team hosts one-hour, live, informational webinars that allow you to hear an overview of the program and get your questions answered. The webinars are hosted by the Vice President and Dean of the Colson Fellowship – my good friend, Michael Craven. If you enjoy the conversations we have on Strong Women and want to think more deeply about your place in God’s story of redemption, the Colson Fellows Program might be for you. Colson Fellows will take you on a deep dive study of Christian worldview through books, devotionals, meetings with likeminded peers, and more. If you’re interested, but have questions about the workload, cohort formats, or anything else, I encourage you to sign up for the next live, Colson Fellows informational webinar. You can find a full list of webinar dates and register today at colsonfellows.org/webinar. 

 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

 

Join Strong Women on Social Media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Take a peek at the Colson Fellows Program through three women who are in the middle of it! Brooke Colón, the Colson Fellows Director, gives us a glimpse at the Program and how it can transform your faith. Then, Martha and Grace, two current Colson Fellows-in-Training, share how the Program has challenged their thinking and strengthened their faith. 

 

How Now Shall We Live? by Chuck Colson 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis 

Knowing God by J.I. Packer 

2025 Colson Center National Conference 

 

 

Lent is a time to reflect on our need for salvation, repent of our sins, and prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection with deep gratitude. Our team has created a free guide with weekly hymns, prayers, and artwork to help prepare your heart for Easter. Join the Strong Women community and download your free copy today at colsoncenter.org/lent.

 

Do you ever feel like culture is changing faster than you can keep up with? Like you’re unsure of how to live like a Christian in this time and place? There’s good news: You're not alone. Faithful cultural engagement isn’t about having all the answers to the latest issue being discussed on social media. It’s about WHO we are becoming, how we see the world, and, most importantly, how we live in the world as the people of God. Come and cultivate deep roots for a chaotic world at the next Lighthouse Voices event on April 15 at 7PM MT. John Stonestreet will be answering the question, “What does Christian faithfulness look like in a time of unprecedented cultural change?” He will walk through four pillars that can help us understand this moment and live in it with hope and purpose in Christ. Register to attend in-person at the Focus on the Family Welcome Center, or via livestream. This event is free, but space is limited, so register today at colsoncenter.org/lighthouse.

 

Mental illness and suicide rates have reached critical levels in our culture. As Christians, we have an opportunity to share the hope and healing of Christ with those who feel hopeless. That’s why the Colson Educators created Hope Always: How to be a Force for Life in a Culture of Suicide. In this free online course, Dr. Matthew Sleeth explores today's mental health challenges, highlights how Scripture speaks to sufferers, and provides practical guidance for how we can talk about suicide prevention in our families, churches, and schools. Sign up for Hope Always today and learn how to be a force for life in the places God has called you. You can sign up today at colsoneducators.org. 

 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

 

Join Strong Women on Social Media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

 

Step into the enchanted world of the 12th-century nun Hildegard von Bingen. This multi-talented woman was a musician, playwright, abbess, and visionary (tune in to find out what that means!). Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson returns to explore how Hildegard’s life and work can shape our spiritual imagination and invite us to know God and participate in His world more fully. 

The Identity Project 

Breakpoint 

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 

Heavenly Participation by Hans Boersma 

Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers

 

Lent is a time to reflect on our need for salvation, repent of our sins, and prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection with deep gratitude. Our team has created a free guide with weekly hymns, prayers, and artwork to help prepare your heart for Easter. Join the Strong Women community and download your free copy today at colsoncenter.org/lent.

 

Summit Ministries’ 12-day Student Conferences are for young adults who refuse to settle. It’s for those ready to take risks, ask big questions, and push past what’s comfortable. There, you’ll find friends who understand and mentors who will help you discover what it truly means to live with purpose. Register for Student Conferences using code STRONG25 for $200 off. Go to summit.org/promotions/strong women.

 

The Church Affiliate program brings the Colson Fellows Program to your local church. Pastors and church leaders can go through the Colson Fellows Program for free, so they are able to launch a Church Affiliate cohort and bring worldview training to their church members. For more details, visit colsoncenter.org/church. 

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center, which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them. Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/  

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

Join Strong Women on social media:  

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/ 

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/ 

https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc