As followers of Christ, we do trust in something. We trust in the eternal God who created all things, including us, and has our best interests at heart even more than we do.

In addition to connecting the dots, looking back also reminds us of the many things we have to be thankful for. To me, a thankful heart is what gives me a better ability to look to the future with hope.

If God was faithful to take care of me in the past, He will be faithful in the future as well. As we end the year 2021 at License to Parent we are going to be looking back, looking forward, and connecting some dots in the coming year.

Trace Embry is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Shepherd’s Hill Academy in Martin, GA. Trace, along with his wife Beth (co-founder) has a heart and a passion for helping hurting teens and their families.

Shepherd’s Hill Academy was founded in 1994 in Martin, GA, where it has grown to serve families from virtually every state and across the world.

Along with being an entrepreneur and prominent business owner, Trace served as a Police Officer in their hometown after graduating from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1978. Trace and Beth felt the Lord’s prompting to full-time ministry and attended college at Toccoa Falls College, in Toccoa Falls, GA, and pursued other extensive training to prepare them for working with troubled teens. Trace is also the Host of the License to Parent radio program.

Image from Canva

The post The Miracles of Shepherd’s Hill Part II with Trace Embry appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.

This is actually part of a whole series of miracles that included prophecies, a virgin birth, angelic warnings, protection from a wicked ruler set out to kill the newborn king, and so much more. We celebrate this series of miracles each Christmas as we proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ.

Today on License to Parent we want to tell you about some more miracles. In fact, these are miracles that have happened during the past year! The Miracles of Shepherd’s Hill.

We hope that by sharing these stories you may be blessed and may also gain a better understanding of what we do here and why we do what we do on License to Parent. You’ll also get a glimpse into what God is doing day in and day out at our year-long residential therapeutic program for teens in crisis; Shepherd’s Hill Academy.

Trace Embry is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Shepherd’s Hill Academy in Martin, GA. Trace, along with his wife Beth (co-founder) has a heart and a passion for helping hurting teens and their families.

Shepherd’s Hill Academy was founded in 1994 in Martin, GA, where it has grown to serve families from virtually every state and across the world.

Along with being an entrepreneur and prominent business owner, Trace served as a Police Officer in their hometown after graduating from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1978. Trace and Beth felt the Lord’s prompting to full-time ministry and attended college at Toccoa Falls College, in Toccoa Falls, GA, and pursued other extensive training to prepare them for working with troubled teens. Trace is also the Host of the License to Parent radio program.

Image from Canva

The post The Miracles of Shepherd’s Hill with Trace Embry appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.

Rick Boyer is recognized by many in the homeschool network as Uncle Rick.  He is an author, speaker, and homeschool pioneer.  For many years his audio recording have taken Scripture, history, and adventure stories and turned them into character lessons for many children.  Rick and his wife Marilyn created the homeschool curriculum “Character Concepts.”

Today we discuss the challenges of raising children in today’s society, where traditional family values seem to be under attack. Trace Embry and Michelle Hill, talk with friend Rick Boyer, a homeschooling pioneer, about the importance of teaching children about their history and equipping them to think critically.

Rick Boyer emphasizes the need for parents to expose their children to different viewpoints and to teach them that there is absolute truth, as found in the Bible. He also discusses the importance of homeschooling in raising future leaders, as it allows children to be involved in designing their own education and encourages individuality and creativity.

Boyer’s Uncle Rick Audio Book Club offers resources for parents and children to learn about American history through old books and biographies.

Episode Highlights:

Image from Canva

The post Classic: Character Concepts with Rick Boyer appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.

Dr. Kardaras is an Ivy-League educated psychologist, a well known speaker and addiction expert. He is also the CEO and Chief Clinical Officer of Maui Recovery in Hawaii and Omega Recovery in Austin, Texas.  Dr. Kardaras is the author of the book titled “Glow Kids.”  Please visit his bio page to learn more about his amazing accomplishments.

Trace Embry, Michelle Hill, and Dr. Nicholas Kardaras speak about the dangers of excessive screen time for children and its impact on their emotional, social, physical, and spiritual health.  They highlight the importance of face-to-face interaction and the role of parents in setting examples for their children.

They also discuss the influence of digital technology on the mental health of young people, particularly the addictive nature of devices and the impact of social media influencers.  They suggest that the excessive information and lack of critical thinking skills can lead to mental health issues, self-destructive behaviors, and even suicide.

They advocate for delayed access to devices, regulation of screen time, and avoidance of social media and gaming to protect children from the harmful effects of digital technology.

Episode Highlights:

Image from Canva

The post Classic: Don’t Let Your Kids Grow Up to be Glow Kids with Dr. Nicholas Kardaras appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.

Melanie Hempe, BSN, is an author, speaker and the founder of ScreenStrong and Families Managing Media (FMM).  She received her bachelors of Nursing from Emory University and has worked with technology experts and researchers on the impact of social media and video game use.  She helps families avoid problematic screen use, i.e., video games, pornography, social media, etc. in their kids’ lives.

Through ScreenStrong, she provides resources and education courses on brain development and the effects of screen use on kids, and solutions for parents who desire to free their kids from screen addictions. Melanie hosts the popular weekly ScreenStrong Families Podcast and has been featured in Psychology Today, The Wall Street Journal, A&E Network, CBS, CNN, NPR, “Screened Out” (the movie), and many other news and television outlets.

Melanie lives in North Carolina with her husband, Chris, and their four children.  As a family they enjoy reading good books, spending time with friends in their home and just good family fun without screens.

Trace Embry, Michelle Hill and guest Melanie Hempe, BSN discuss the dangers of screen time and digital addiction with our children, comparing its effects on the brain to that of cocaine and heroin. The conversation brings out passions how the constant exposure to screens can lead to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts.

Trace and Melanie also highlight the importance of parents taking responsibility for their children’s screen time and setting boundaries.  Then Melanie Hempe shares the personal experience she encountered with her own son’s gaming addiction and how she managed to help him overcome it.

Melanie emphasizes the importance of real-life social interactions for children and warns against the false sense of social fulfillment that social media provides.  She encourages parents to stick together with other like minded parents.  The three of them encourage parents to seek support and gather resources to help manage their children’s screen time effectively.

Episode Highlights:

Image from Canva

The post Classic: The ScreenStrong Solution with Melanie Hempe, BSN appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.

Holly Hunter is the founder of Hunter Investigations, LLC and Safe Passage Global.  It is her passion and calling to help families in crisis.  For more than twenty years she has been a private investigator helping parents with crisis management intervention.  Holly also helps families transport troubled teens to therapeutic programs via Safe Passage Global.  She is certified in crisis management, a mental health coach, first responder, a Christian life coach, and so much more!  On a more personal level, Holly cares deeply about people, loves to take pictures, writing books, and singing.

Trace Embry, Michelle Hill, and Holly Hunter share their experiences about the challenges parents face when dealing with troubled teenagers and the options available for help. They discuss the role of residential care programs like Shepherd’s Hill Academy, which offers therapeutic and educational support for teens in crisis.

They also discuss the importance of parents maintaining their relationship and not blaming each other for their child’s issues. Our guest, Holly Hunter, founder of Safe Passage Global, explains her organization’s role in transporting troubled teens to therapeutic schools and programs and their benefits. She emphasizes the importance of family unity and the need for professional help in extreme cases. They also touch on the legal aspects of involuntary treatment and the misconceptions surrounding it.

Episode Highlights:

Image from Canva

The post Classic: Holly Hunter Gives Parents Options to Help Their Troubled Teen appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.

G. Craige Lewis has been ministering for over 30 years. He’s been pastoring Adamant Believers Council in North Richland Hills, Texas for over a decade, promoting the message of Christ and fighting against the secularization of God’s church.

Lewis also leads and is the founder of EX Ministries; established to share God’s Truth to the body of Christ and others, and to expose the deception of the enemy. He is often called on to speak about the hip-hop sub-culture, as he authored the “The Truth Behind Hip Hop” series. 

Trace Embry, Rich Roszel and G. Craige Lewis discuss the impact of music on children and teenagers. They share that the music young people listen to can shape their identities and influence their behavior!  To a higher degree, certain types of music, particularly rock, rap, and hip-hop, can have a negative impact on young people, potentially leading them to engage in harmful behaviors.  They all stress the importance of parents being intentional in their parenting and being aware of the music their children are listening to.

G. Craige shares his views on the spiritual nature of music and its effect on human behavior. He argues that music can bypass a person’s moral code and influence them in ways they may not be aware of.  He also emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit to discern the spiritual nature of music.  Rich expounds on this and shares a personal story about how music touched his soul.

Trace expresses this;  “I think we’ve got too many people claiming the name of Christ who want to live like hell and expect heaven for a reward.  It just doesn’t work that way.”

Image from Canva

The post Classic: Power of Music with G. Craige Lewis appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.

Our guest, Jordan Whitmer, age 25, is the Founder of the evangelism and missions organization reaching Generation Z youth called the HowToLife Movement.  He also hosts the podcast called “Gen Z Today.”   He is a graduate of Liberty University, with a Bachelor’s in Religion: Biblical and Theological Studies, and is an ordained reverend.  Jordan’s heart is that Gen Z find Christ and live and lead boldly for Him.

Together, Michelle Hill, Trace Embry and Jordan Whitmer discuss discipling to Gen Z.

The Gen Z generation, those aged between 11 and 26, are reportedly leaving the church at a higher rate than previous generations. The reasons for this are complex, but some suggest it may be due to a lack of discipleship and the influence of secular agendas.

However, Jordan Whitmer believes that many Gen Z individuals are open to faith conversations and can be reached through peer-led evangelism events.   Learn more how to get involved and see how Jordan is making a difference.

Whitmer’s movement has organized over 155 student-led evangelism events across 29 U.S. states and 11 countries. Despite the challenges, Jordan remains hopeful for the spiritual future of Gen Z!

Image from Canva

The post Jordan Whitmer for Zoomers appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.

In this episode of License to Parent, Trace and Michelle continue their discussion on the impact of sexual perversion and the LGBTQ+ movement on society and the church. They mention how the normalization of these issues are causing a moral decline and confusion among young people.

They also discuss the importance of parents having open and honest conversations at a young age with their children about sexuality, and setting clear boundaries. They emphasize the need for parents to guide their children based on biblical principles and to always affirm their love for them, even when they make choices that go against these principles.

Image from Canva

The post Gen Z and the Gallup Poll- Part 2 appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.

Throughout the 18-year journey of parenting, conflicts between parents and children are inevitable. However, when these conflicts intensify during the teenage years, leading to constant battles, what steps should parents take? What happens when the strategies to control a rebellious teenager no longer work, putting the household and its members at risk? When all ideas seem exhausted in maintaining a safe and peaceful home, there are alternatives available, guided by professionals specializing in assisting families in such situations.

Holly Hunter has been transporting troubled teens to therapeutic schools and programs across the country through Safe Passage Global which she founded. Holly has been a private investigator for more than 20 years, holds certifications in crisis manager intervention, and has been a Christian life coach. Holly is a certified mental health coach, first responder, and much much more. Holly is good at what she does and cares deeply about people. When Holly has some downtime you can find her singing, taking photos, or writing books.

Image from Canva

The post Exploring Residential Care appeared first on Trace Embry | License to Parent.