Special guest Chelsea Glover has tons of tips for raising godly girls. She is the wife of Pastor Chad Glover and the mother of three daughters. Today’s podcast covers topics from modesty to identity, comparison, and even preparing them for marriage.

Focusing on the holiness of God is something the Glovers integrate into their parenting. It helps to encourage their daughters to be set apart from the toxic culture in our world, and understand that they are God’s girls, and be held to God’s standard. (Leviticus 20:26) They are reminded to be set apart in all aspects, how they dress, how they talk, and how they carry themselves.

When it comes to modesty, Chelsea takes her daughters back to Genesis, showing them how God clothed Adam and Eve to cover their shame. We’re reminded of the gospel every time we get dressed in the morning, and how God cares for us to clothe ourselves in Christ’s righteousness. We’re held to a higher standard as Christians, and everything we do in our lives is important to God.

Chelsea says, a girl's mind is a battlefield, and training her to take every thought captive is crucial when struggling with comparison, and even listening to misinformation and worldly doctrine that may be taught outside of your home.

Lastly, the Glovers prepare their daughters for marriage by modeling a healthy marriage in their home every day. No one is perfect, but putting on display how they love and care for each other's needs is exactly what a little girl needs to strive for God’s best!

As Christians, we are called to a life of ministry, and it all beings in our homes. In today’s podcast, we learn from Bill and Karen Ward, authors and parents of five adult children, as they discuss the importance of family discipleship.

Having not grown up in spiritually foundational homes, Bill and Karen were driven to create a biblical environment for their own children. As they submitted to God and His way for their family, they found themselves changing into the parents they wanted to be. Karen was called to homeschool all five children, and Bill learned about his purpose as a father, that he is responsible for his family, and for shaping his children to be presentable to Jesus one day.

The key to good parenting, according to this wise couple, is to be active in your personal walk with God. Having Him deal with your issues so that you don’t adversely affect your children while bringing them up. And when you do mess up, making it clear that you need repentance, and modeling your relationship with God in front of them, so they will see that you are genuine and hopefully choose to walk with Christ for their whole lives as well.

No family is perfect, and when there is chaos in the home it’s the parent's job to take ownership of the mess. Bill humbly asks for forgiveness from his children when things go wrong at home, and this is something they have kept with them their whole lives. Seeing a parents’ love for Jesus above all things is the best gift you can give your children.

Ever wonder what a missions trip entails or how to get involved? Missions Pastor Bill Gibbs of Abundant Life Church walks us through these questions. He’s been to 27 different countries, has a heart and a passion for missions, and he’s an obedient and faithful servant of God.

Going on a missions trip can sound intimidating, but you aren’t thrown into a place with anything to do. Usually, you are partnered with a team, and you are meeting each other’s needs. Depending on your strengths, you can work in construction, or teaching, and/or evangelizing. There is plenty of training involved before sending you out into a different country, to prepare you for a different culture, and conversations to have, and expectations. Though you don’t have to go overseas to go on a missions trip, there are plenty of opportunities locally to serve too!

“Living on mission” is simple, says Gibbs, it’s not all about our intentions, it’s about our submission. Understand that sometimes God does more through us than with us. We may never know the impact of our actions when we serve God in this life, the important thing is to be obedient, and also courageous to speak the truth. Know that the Holy Spirit goes with you, and it’s His power and heart to pursue the lost.

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God’s love for us is immeasurable and the fact that He is mighty to save is a miracle in and of itself. Hearing testimonies of how God has saved the lost is always a reason to praise Him and brings immense joy to our hearts as Christians. In this talk, Marcus Penwell, security director at Abundant Life Church in Lee’s Summit, MO tells of his salvation and what God has done in his life since.

Growing up, Marcus was drawn to the occupation of being a police officer. He followed his childhood dream, but once it was reality, he realized the dark side of the life he had chosen. It wasn’t bad enough that people he would encounter every day would disrespect him, but his girlfriend did not approve of his choice and left him, while also terminating a pregnancy. This drew Marcus to alcohol abuse and a close encounter with an attempt at suicide. But God spared his life, (the first time.)

A friend from work talked to him about how God has changed his life, and this drew Marcus into who God is, eventually attending a church service and giving his life to Jesus. Since then, God has protected this man’s life not once but three times in miraculous ways while he was working on the force.

This episode features Jason Fenton, Groups and Missions leader of Abundant Life and very faithful brother in Christ.

He came to Abundant Life in a roundabout way. After being taken in by Chelsea Glover’s parents while in Texas, he met Pastor Chad Glover at a holiday gathering, and agreed to come to speak at Abundant Life in Lee’s Summit, MO. Faithfully trusting God, he decided to move to MO and pursue volunteering and working at Abundant Life.

Being a pastor’s kid, Jason grew up surrounded by Christians and Christian culture in Texas but came to the knowledge of Christ through his older sister explaining the gospel to him. He got baptized at a young age but it was in college that he would learn to make his faith his own.

He went on a mission trip with a friend from college, to help refugees escape the country of South Sudan, even flying with them on helicopters. He loved the adventure of it all, so he applied for the International Missions Board, where he was fully funded to go on missions, and trained as well.

Jason went to the Amazon to help tribes evangelize to unknown groups. On the four-day long boat trip there from base camp, they were hijacked and robbed, having guns on their backs. Not knowing what the next moments held for him while he was kidnapped and separated from his team, he prayed that God would help them somehow. Thirty minutes later they regrouped and were helplessly witnessing their robbery, but still had their lives! A spirit of boldness from the Lord came upon Jason and his teammates, they started sharing the gospel with these thieves. They left with all their items.

A little while later the thieves came back, gave them back some items, and asked for forgiveness! Jason and his team were miraculously able to drive the boat back to base camp with only the five gallons of gas that remained. They were able to complete their original mission of reaching the tribes to equip for evangelism.

Continuing from Daniel Arnautov’s story of growing up in a communist country, he tells his father's miraculous adventures as part of the underground church in Ukraine. Daniel is a husband and father and served in the Fusion ministry at Abundant Life in Lee’s Summit MO.

After arresting Daniel’s Grandfather, the KGB was after his father. In order to continue his work for the Kingdom, Daniel’s father had to go under the radar. He spent years of his life serving the underground church by collecting paper in nonconspicuous ways, in order to print bibles, on a homemade mobile printing press. Unbeknownst to Daniel at the time, he also spent his weekends and vacations delivering bibles all over to underground churches.

At this time, anything with the name “God” printed on it was illegal. The KGB would come into homes and inspect any piece of literature. When this happened to Daniel’s family, his mother would hide their bibles underneath pillows.

When they were eventually able to have the option to move to a different country, they moved to America and continued to live faithfully for Christ. They didn’t speak English so they started their own small Russian-speaking church in Oregon.

In comparison to how Christians in Ukraine live versus how Christians in America live, there’s a real-life faith aspect that is present in the hearts of those in countries where their faith is tested directly. In the abundance of liberty in the US, we are missing our mission.

Philippians 1:14

“And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”

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Today’s podcast highlights the incredible life of one of our Abundant Life members, fusion volunteers, husband, and father of three, Daniel Arnautov. Growing up in Ukraine, he did not have it easy, living in a communist country as a Christian.

Even as a young boy in first grade, Daniel was strong in his faith in God. He was bold to decline the red star, which would symbolize his allegiance to the communist party, which most of his classmates wore on their uniform.

This firm faith was passed down to him from his grandfather and supplemented by his mother. His grandfather became a Christian and started pastoring, only to be arrested. Seeing his grandfather imprisoned for being a Christian was so inspiring to young Daniel, and it encouraged him to become even bolder for the faith.

Growing up, the Bible was not readily available for anyone to have, and so his mother would read to her children stories from the Bible every night, and as often as they could, they would host an underground church, camouflaging their get-togethers as a holiday or birthday party.

The urgency to learn the Bible, memorize scripture and submit to God, is something that has stayed with Daniel, and will forever. In America, we take for granted our freedom so often, but this is a story we can all learn from. Don’t fall asleep, be sharp in the Word, and be alert!

This episode features Toshaun Avery, pastor of Fusion, husband, and father of two. He is a very gifted and caring leader of Abundant Life Church’s teens. Today he discusses how to navigate teens dating, and the dangers of pornography.

Many might ask the question “what age is appropriate to start dating?” But Toshaun asks another question, “why?” What is the purpose of dating at this young age? Is it to find identity, or to know you’re loved? There is a maturity level teens must reach before dating, and asking these questions is a great way to see into your kid's hearts.

Fusion leaders make it a point to reach the parents of the teens, and partner with them. They often meet one-on-one and discuss the needs of their teens. Though something Toshaun has noticed is that he chats with the mothers a lot more often than the fathers. He says this is one of our major issues in tackling the teen years, and fathers need to be more involved.

Pornography is another huge stumbling block for teens and parents need to be equipped with how to prevent it, but also deal with it if it becomes a problem in their teen's life. With today’s internet access, it’s not a matter of if but when your kids will be exposed to it. Don’t be afraid to monitor your kid's phones, and deal with hard conversations.

Remember, it’s not a fight with your kids, it’s a fight for your kids.

In the last episode of the series: Sharing the Gospel in Post-Christian America and why we can trust the Bible, we explore Why the resurrection of Jesus Christ is true, featuring Lead Pastor Phil Hopper and Ed Croteau, founder of FSE University.

Our faith rests or falls on the resurrection. The cynic might say it is not scientifically possible. Science can tell you how something works but not how. God explains the how things work, but he tells us why. It is difficult for people to believe that when they die, they are worm food. But the Bible tells us there is hope beyond this world. Christ claimed to be God but also shared the purpose of the world is eternity.

In this podcast we will answer:

Is it possible that the disciples were deceived and believed a myth?

Is it possible that Jesus was just in a coma?

What about the stone?

Why is the blood and water that came from Christ’s body a key point as evidence?

Did the disciples go to the wrong tomb?

Miracles are possible. Science alone can’t explain everything. Listen in as we walk you through how the resurrection is true.

In today’s podcast, author Robin Walsh tells of her incredible story of surviving suicide. In her book, “My Morning Song Psalm 23, My Journey Back From Suicide” she explains how trauma can have long-term effects, but no matter how deep the hurt, God is always with you and will never abandon you.

After the death of her father, her mother became depressed and turned to alcohol. All five children were dispersed between relatives and foster care. Having both parents suddenly gone from her life, Robin felt a heavy sense of abandonment that stuck with her, though she couldn’t come to terms with it until she found herself as an adult filing for divorce. Looking over the paperwork, the term “abandon” came up when deciding custody over the children, and the wave of childhood trauma resurfaced.

After overdosing on prescription medication, Robin went into a coma. Three days later she woke up to a pastor reading Psalm 23, a psalm that she was drawn to even as a child, and one that was her mother’s favorite.

From this experience, Robin has given her life to Christ and has a heart for all those struggling with trauma and mental illness. She says “You can lose everything, but God will never abandon you.”

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255

Non-Profit: “Choose 2 Live” choose2live.org

Abundant Life Church: livingproof.co