In this thought-provoking episode of Untangled Faith, Amy Fritz sits down with Kristen LaValley to discuss the complex and often misunderstood intersection of faith, prayer, and suffering. Kristen opens up about the emotional journey of navigating her high-risk pregnancy and the pressures of expecting specific outcomes from prayer.

You'll love hearing Kristen's and Amy's conversation (including some personal anecdotes that might surprise you!)

Where you can find Kristen:

Website: https://www.kristenlavalley.com

Substack: https://www.kristenlavalley.substack.com

Instagram: @kristen.lavalley

Kristen's book Even If He Doesn't: https://amzn.to/4gVFImn

(affiliate links used)

Episodes you might enjoy:

https://www.untangledfaithpodcast.com/46-when-narcissism-comes-to-church-guest-chuck-degroat/

https://www.untangledfaithpodcast.com/112-leaving-the-ifb-and-finding-the-real-jesus-guest-ryan-george/

Support the show:

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Where you can find me:

Youtube channel- https://youtube.com/channel/UCPfFk-I6QShXXvEpSFaJOvg

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com

https://instagram.com/untangledfaith

https://instagram.com/amyhenningfritz

Kristen LaValley joins Amy for a conversation about how suffering changes how we view God, religious cliches, being willing to see other's pain, and what she thinks about the recent influx of books decrying deconstruction.

Resources:

Kristen's new book: Even If He Doesn't

Follow Kristen here: (2) things i'm thinking about | Kristen LaValley | Substack

A master list of books, movies, videos, and podcasts that might help you with recovering from and making sense of spiritual abuse: Spiritual Abuse Recovery Starter Pack – Untangled Faith Podcast

Episodes you might enjoy:

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2023/03/01/72-unraveling-abuse-in-the-church-pete-singer-on-third-party-investigations-trauma-informed-practices/

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2022/11/16/61-deep-wide-finding-a-faith-thats-richer-better-than-you-hoped-guest-traci-rhoades/

Support the show:

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

Join us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/untangledfaith

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Where you can find me:

Youtube channel- https://youtube.com/channel/UCPfFk-I6QShXXvEpSFaJOvg

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com

https://instagram.com/untangledfaith

https://instagram.com/amyhenningfritz

Host/Creator: Amy Fritz

Producers:

Michele Pjanic

Phil and Susan Perdue

Pam Forsythe

Chelle Taylor

In this solo episode of the Untangled Faith podcast, Amy Fritz shares a deeply personal essay about the pain and process of coping with the death of a dream, specifically related to her and her husband's journey with Ramsey Solutions.

"What do you do when you have a dream that dies?" – Amy Fritz

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

In this episode Amy talks about

• What it feels like to chase a dream

• How Jon Acuff's writings and work encouraged them to apply at Ramsey Solutions

• What it was like call time of death on a dream

Resources mentioned

• This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

• Quitter by Jon Acuff

If you liked this episode, you'll love these ones:

• 71: Why You Should Reconsider A Ramsey Solutions Job
• 94: Lawsuit Update: Hypocrisy and Double Standards at Ramsey Solutions

Tell Your Friends!

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Welcome to Untangled Faith, where we navigate the complex journey of faith and the challenges we face in our spiritual communities. In this episode we're diving deep into the world of church affiliation and the personal implications it carries for believers.

Guests Nathan Fritz, Amanda Turnbull, and Melissa Anne share their comfort (or discomfort) with the idea of church membership as well as some of their backstories that have informed how they approach this topic.

To follow more the Amanda and Melissa's story, check it out here: Burning Butterflies (pod.link)

If you enjoyed this episode, you're going to love this one:

96: The Reshaping of the American Church. Guest: Bob Smietana – Untangled Faith Podcast

Support the show:

Subscribe to my newsletter:https://untangledfaith.substack.com

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Where you can find me:

Youtube channel-https://youtube.com/channel/UCPfFk-I6QShXXvEpSFaJOvg

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com

https://instagram.com/untangledfaith

https://instagram.com/amyhenningfritz

Looking for a place that allows you to pull up a seat at the table and have honest and vulnerable conversations about faith and life? Hi! That's exactly what we're doing at the Untangled Faith Podcast.

Hello! I'm Amy Fritz, the host of the Untangled Faith podcast. I pressed "publish" in April of 2021 and we're still going! 

I'm fine-tuning a bit as we move into 2024 and I can't wait to have conversations with voices that understand what it's like to navigate these spaces that are full of land mines and broken systems and people.

I'm so glad you're here.

If you want to hear me, in my own voice, share some thoughts as we move into this year, check out the latest episode of Untangled Faith in your favorite podcast player.

Throughout the month of December, we've been counting down the most downloaded episodes of the Untangled Faith Podcast. Today I share the most downloaded episode of 2023.

Episode 71- Why You Should Reconsider Taking A Job At Ramsey Solutions has been downloaded over 4400 times since it was released last February. Melissa Hogan joined me to talk about our concerns about our understanding of a new employee agreement Ramsey Solutions was requiring of all employees.

Note: Amy will be taking off the month of January to make plans for 2024. Make sure you're following of subscribed to the podcast on your favorite listening app to make sure you don't miss the next episode when it drops!

P.S. To access the bonus audio Amy mentioned in this episode, you can find that at patreon.com/untangledfaith

Transcript

Episodes you might enjoy:

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2023/09/06/94-lawsuit-update-hypocrisy-and-double-standards-at-ramsey-solutions/

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2022/07/20/48-former-ramsey-solutions-employees-reflect-on-their-experience-with-ramsey-meetings/

Support the show:

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

Join us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/untangledfaith

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Where you can find me:

Youtube channel- https://youtube.com/channel/UCPfFk-I6QShXXvEpSFaJOvg

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com

https://instagram.com/untangledfaith

https://instagram.com/amyhenningfritz

Host/Creator: Amy Fritz

Producers:

Michele Pjanic

Phil and Susan Perdue

Pam Forsythe

Chelle Taylor

I'm counting down the most downloaded episodes of 2023 and sharing them with you this month. This episode was the 2nd most downloaded.

Kristina Kallman and JJ Merrick join Amy to share their thoughts about Shiny Happy People and how the IBLP and Bill Gothard world intersected with their lives.

Resources:

Episodes you might enjoy:

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2023/06/29/87audio-fix-shiny-happy-people-the-impact-of-iblp-and-bill-gothard-on-the-evangelical-church-guests-kristina-kallman-and-jj-merrick/

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2023/10/04/98-what-you-need-to-know-about-domestic-violence-guest-naghmeh-panahi/

Support the show:

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

Join us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/untangledfaith

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Where you can find me:

Youtube channel- https://youtube.com/channel/UCPfFk-I6QShXXvEpSFaJOvg

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com

https://instagram.com/untangledfaith

https://instagram.com/amyhenningfritz

Host/Creator: Amy Fritz

Producers:

Michele Pjanic

Phil and Susan Perdue

Pam Forsythe

Chelle Taylor

Laura Boyd

I'm counting down the most downloaded episodes of 2023!

In this episode Pete Singer, Executive Director of GRACE joins Amy to talk about third party assessments and how we should respond to those "over sensitive" to abuse.

Resources:

Episodes you might enjoy:

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2023/06/14/84-boz-tchividjian-on-fighting-against-abuse-in-the-church/

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2023/04/12/75-surviving-healing-the-pitfalls-of-advocacy-guest-lori-anne-thompson/

Support the show:

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

Join us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/untangledfaith

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Where you can find me:

Youtube channel- https://youtube.com/channel/UCPfFk-I6QShXXvEpSFaJOvg

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com

https://instagram.com/untangledfaith

https://instagram.com/amyhenningfritz

Host/Creator: Amy Fritz

Producers:

Michele Pjanic

Phil and Susan Perdue

Pam Forsythe

Chelle Taylor

Laura Boyd

I'm counting down the most downloaded episodes of 2023.

This episode with Amber Cullum came in as the 4th most downloaded episode. She and I sat down and talked about what it's like to reckon with problems in our own faith communities.

Resources:

Episodes you might enjoy:

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2023/09/20/96-the-reshaping-of-the-american-church-guest-bob-smietana/

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com2023/09/13/95-untwisting-scripture-does-god-really-want-to-break-us-guest-rebecca-davis/

Support the show:

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

Join us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/untangledfaith

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Where you can find me:

Youtube channel- https://youtube.com/channel/UCPfFk-I6QShXXvEpSFaJOvg

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com

https://instagram.com/untangledfaith

https://instagram.com/amyhenningfritz

Host/Creator: Amy Fritz

Producers:

Michele Pjanic

Phil and Susan Perdue

Pam Forsythe

Chelle Taylor

Laura Boyd

"I think there's so many people that are hurting quietly and feel like they're not good Christians or they don't measure up or they're not good enough. And, you know, if God could just use my story, even , to just comfort somebody else, then that's a good thing. And I know that he'll redeem it somehow. "- Ashley Pritchard

Bo and Ashley Pritchard sit down with Amy to share where there are now after a painful church implosion.

Resources:

A master list of books, movies, videos, and podcasts that might help you with recovering from and making sense of spiritual abuse: Spiritual Abuse Recovery Starter Pack – Untangled Faith Podcast

Episodes you might enjoy:

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2023/03/01/72-unraveling-abuse-in-the-church-pete-singer-on-third-party-investigations-trauma-informed-practices/

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com/2022/11/16/61-deep-wide-finding-a-faith-thats-richer-better-than-you-hoped-guest-traci-rhoades/

Support the show:

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

Join us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/untangledfaith

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Where you can find me:

Youtube channel- https://youtube.com/channel/UCPfFk-I6QShXXvEpSFaJOvg

https://untangledfaithpodcast.com

https://instagram.com/untangledfaith

https://instagram.com/amyhenningfritz

Host/Creator: Amy Fritz

Producers:

Michele Pjanic

Phil and Susan Perdue

Pam Forsythe

Chelle Taylor

Mentioned in this episode:

Faithful Counseling

Visit https://www.faithfulcounseling.com/untangled for 10% your first month.