Could “free prayer” transform your neighborhood? 

In this remarkable episode of our “Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself” series, we dive into the transformative work of Love Columbia as host Lynn Roush interviews Jane Williams, Co-Founder and Executive Director, and Caroline Roush, Director of Communications. 

It’s true: Love Columbia grew from a simple gesture of offering “free prayer” to neighbors in need to a thriving hub for personal transformation in our community. 

Jane Williams has always been passionate about loving others well, but it was the experience of encountering her own limits when she lost her eyesight 13 years ago that deepened her reliance on God and energized her mission to build a ministry that meets both the physical and emotional needs for the most vulnerable in our city. Now a thriving non-profit organization, Love Columbia provides a holistic approach to caring for those who need a helping hand.

In this episode you will learn the secret to loving others well and the key elements needed for transformation: humility to acknowledge one’s need for help, faith in God’s provision, endurance to persevere through challenges, and social connectedness to build supportive relationships. You’ll also hear how Caroline used to underestimate the power of listening, but has since learned that you need to understand a person’s struggles and dreams before offering practical help, like financial coaching or car repairs. 

If you want to be a force for good in your community, you’ll be encouraged to know that transforming others with love always starts with one small act of faith, but can change the course of someone’s life and create a legacy of hope that you could have never imagined.

Visit lovecolumbia.org to volunteer or learn how to be part of this life-changing mission or get ideas for starting a hub of transformation in your own community.

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Did you know that we are in the midst of the greatest de-churching movement in the history of the world? In the last 25 years, over 40 million people have stopped going to church. While that may be cause for concern, Chris & Elizabeth McKinney see it as an opportunity to impact your neighborhood one small act at a time.

Listen as Austin Conner interviews Chris and Elizabeth McKinney, a perfect fit for our current series Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself. The McKinneys are passionate about intentional neighboring, which began as a small fish fry in 2012. Their desire to create a welcoming community in their Columbia, Missouri neighborhood has since grown into a ministry to equip others to love their neighbors purposefully. 

The McKinneys emphasize that being a good neighbor isn’t about perfection but persistence, and have countless stories of how a small effort can create a big impact in people’s lives. They address common apprehensions, such as time constraints for introverts or fear of awkwardness, and stress that small steps like simply waving, saying hello, initiating small conversations or sharing a meal with your neighbor are the key to getting started. 

This episode will challenge the cultural norm of leaving neighbors alone, and encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, even just a little bit, so that you can play a part in “going where God is” in your neighborhood right outside your front door. 

Check out their books Placed for a Purpose and Neighborhoods Reimagined, or their podcast for more inspiration to see your address as a divine appointment.

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Do you feel overwhelmed by the needs of those around you and struggle with guilt that you’re not doing enough to help? In a world filled with suffering, brokenness and heartache, Christians are called to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). But who defines what love is and who qualifies as your neighbor? 

We are kicking off a brand new series called Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself as we attempt to answer this culturally relevant and often confusing topic. In this episode, hosts John Tinnin and Shay Roush are joined by their friend and fellow pastor Nathan Tiemeyer, to tackle the question: Who is my neighbor and how am I called to love them? 

Through the lens of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, they explore the biblical command to love others, and address who we’re called to love, and how to do so wisely. If you’re feeling cynical, burdened by the needs of others, or are seeking practical ways to love well, this episode - and ultimately this series - will offer hope and clarity so that you can love your neighbor with increasing knowledge, insight and intentionality. 

Listen as John, Shay and Nathan discuss:

The radical scope and biblical definition of the term “neighbor” 

How our own spiritual bankruptcy puts all of us in a position of needing help and mercy

What God does - and does not - expect from us as finite creatures when it comes to meeting the needs of others

How Augustine’s Ordo Amoris (order of love) provides us with an intentional but discerning perspective on loving others as yourself

A Christian perspective on immigration and loving the immigrant in your community

This discussion will free you up to accept that you can’t love everyone equally, but you can start with one person in front of you. As you consider how to “love your neighbor as yourself”, the simplest place to start is to do for one what you wish you could do for everyone, trusting God to guide your love and multiply your impact.

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Are you bogged down by the day-to-day struggles of parenting? Do you question if anything is getting through to your kids? Do you feel powerless to impact your child’s spiritual growth? Parenting can feel like navigating a storm—chaotic, unpredictable, and uncertain. 

So the question is, how do you guide your child toward faith and wisdom in a world pulling them in every direction?

If you’re looking for hope while parenting in the weeds of life, then this episode is for you. Austin Conner interviews Melissa Kruger, author of Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age. Melissa, a seasoned parent and former high school math teacher, shares insights from her journey, blending biblical wisdom with practical strategies for shepherding teens through this turbulent season of parenting.

In this episode you will learn:

The power of asking questions over dictating answers

The effectiveness of an invitational approach to studying the Bible with your teen

The wisdom of avoiding a fear-based controlling approach to parenting

The only and ultimate place to derive hope when you’re feeling discouraged

Whether you’re parenting a teen, or just looking for some encouragement in the trenches of parenting, this episode will remind you that your hope rests not in perfect parenting, but in Jesus, who never fails.

To find more of Melissa Kruger's resources, check out her website: Melissabkruger.com

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“I don’t want to live anymore” might be the most overwhelming and scary thing to hear as a parent. What should you say? What should you do next?

In this eye-opening episode, Austin Conner interviews counselor Gary Maddux, as he shares his journey from grief to advocacy, in memory of his beautiful daughter Kaylee who died by suicide six years ago. Gary seeks to challenge stigmas and debunk myths around suicide, urging parents to approach suicide with compassion, education and timely intervention.

This conversation offers practical advice for parents, including encouragement to ask direct questions like, “Are you thinking about suicide?” and promotes training like QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) as well as ways to develop a support network around crisis moments with your teen. 

Gary’s story is a reminder that Jesus’ presence is constant, even in the worst tragedy, offering hope that God embraces those who are impacted by suicide. You will feel more equipped to navigate this heavy topic after learning from Gary’s extensive professional training regarding suicide prevention and how you can offer care and compassion to your loved ones who are struggling. 

Check out the resources below to educate yourself further on this topic:

QPR Training: Question, Persuade, Refer

ASK Suicide Prevention Training

AFSR Support Groups

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Call or Text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

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Have you heard it said that “a parent is only as happy as their unhappiest child”? We know that when you have an unhappy or hurting child, life feels heavy and hard and you may not know how to respond. As part of the Parenting in the Weeds series, Lynn Roush and Austin Conner explore a much needed topic: how to connect with your child when they’re hurting. 

Parents often want to avoid painful feelings in their kids, hoping that they will go away on their own. Or, they jump in to fix the hurt and bypass the opportunity to connect with their child. We want to equip you to lean into your child’s heart when you sense that they are in emotional pain.

This conversation looks at what hurts kids both inside and outside of the home, how to recognize hurt in your child, how to respond to your child’s pain and the relevant topic of recognizing warning signs for suicide. Austin and Lynn offer practical ways to be present, build resilience, and model God’s love to your children through life’s pain. 

You can download our free Managing Your Emotions guide at withyouintheweeds.com to help you and your child identify their feelings. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter where we include more questions to ask your kids to open up the door to meaningful dialogue. 

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Are you learning the delicate dance of parenting adult children? So are we! As part of the Parenting in the Weeds series, John Tinnin and Lynn Roush explore how to set loving, effective boundaries that foster independence while maintaining a healthy relationship. They also discuss why setting boundaries with adult kids is easier said than done.

The key principles they cover are:

Boundaries are loving not controlling

Be a mentor, not a manager

Communicate clearly, consistently, and calmly

Offer grace, not guilt trips

Respect their autonomy

As you watch your adult child make choices, and even mistakes, this episode will help you keep the big picture in mind and model open, honest communication with your kids no matter how old they are.

Book recommendation: Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children by Allison Bottke 

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In this episode of With You in the Weeds, hosts John Tinnin and Austin Conner focus on how to guide your children toward a relational connection with Jesus. They explore four developmental ingredients for spiritual growth, what content to teach, the role of lived experiences, and how to handle kids who resist faith talks—all while emphasizing God’s grace and the power of humble parenting.

You will be encouraged to learn that “a humble parent is better than a perfect parent.” And you’ll see that your role as a parent is a unique opportunity to model God’s grace in a way that will make a deep impression on your child, even when you make mistakes.

If you’re worried about whether your child will learn to love and follow Jesus, this episode will bring relief and perspective that God is not only working through you, he works apart from you, and will accomplish his purposes in your child’s heart.

Resources for you:

Setting Parents Free

Come Back, Barbara - A Father’s Pursuit of a Prodigal Daughter

Bibles

Elementary: The Jesus Storybook Bible & The Biggest Story Bible

Elementary/Middle School: NIV Kids’ Visual Study Bible

High School: NIV Teen Study Bible

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In this episode of our ongoing series, Parenting in the Weeds, we invite Paula Tinnin (John’s better half!) to the podcast for the first time. In this timely episode, John and Paula sit down with Austin to reflect on lessons learned from their own dating experiences as well as the advice they gave their daughters when it came to dating and relationships.

You will hear them share candidly about:

Their own dating and relationship history

Setting healthy boundaries for your children’s dating experiences

Practical guidelines for opposite-sex relationships at every age 

Advice for present-day dating dilemmas parents are facing

You’ll want to listen in to hear about John & Paula’s rocky relationship beginnings, their wisdom and practical advice for parents with kids at various ages, and for the informative ‘lightning round’ of current, real-life dating questions and answers.

After listening you’ll get better insight into specific principles to apply, and be motivated to set healthy age-appropriate boundaries for your kids while building trust in them during the challenging dating years.

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Ever wonder what your kids really think about your parenting? In this unforgettable episode of With You in the Weeds, hosts Lynn and Shay Roush hand the microphone to their own kids—Jack (25), Emma (21), and Owen (19)—for a raw, unscripted conversation. Inspired by the viral “We Listen and We Don’t Judge” social media trend, this episode offers parents a rare glimpse into the minds of their kids and practical ways to deepen connection.

Lynn and Shay’s kids open up about cherished childhood moments, from college football Saturdays with Dad to carefree cul-de-sac playtime and memorable family vacations along Lake Michigan. They also share tougher times, like experiencing the stress of family health crises, tense disagreements in their teen years, and the pressures of growing up as pastor’s kids. 

Jack, Emma and Owen reflect on their unique bond, and express appreciation to their parents for fostering trust and freedom to learn from mistakes, even as they wrestled with sports expectations, making major life decisions and navigating the unique pressures brought on by social media.

It wraps with an enlightening “We Listen and We Don’t Judge” speed round, where confessions range from sneaky PlayStation subscriptions to a wild car incident over leftover Chinese food. This episode is a must-listen for parents seeking to create grace-filled, open ended conversations with their kids—no matter their age.

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