You Were Made for More

Contentment. Contentment is trusting that God has the best in mind for you no matter where you are in life.

Sarah Parker is a 34-year-old professional living in Columbia, South Carolina. She graduated from Clemson in 2011. She owns a small business and loves serving her hometown! Covenant Services is a female-owned and led business, with a fully-female staff. She is an aunt to three nephews and a niece who she adores. Sarah Parker is passionate about Jesus and showing others that the “not yet married” life is not second best. She loves people, all things Clemson, her German Shepard Attila, and her double name! This conversation with Sarah discusses topics like singleness, living out God's call on your life, and how to trust God in seasons where you can't really see Him working. We loved having Sarah Parker on the #YouWereMadeForMorePodcast and we're so excited for you to hear our chat!  

Here are some things we mentioned during this episode: 

• Singled Out For Good
• Sarah Parker's Business
• Sarah Parker's Instagram (You'll want to follow her! Promise!)

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

This unique episode will feature a discussion on what it means to have a Biblical perspective regarding sexual purity, and we're so excited to let you hear this conversation.  Today's host will be Sammie's husband, Juan!

You've heard Sammie mention Juan before, but a little bit of background on him is that he graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and now serves as an Admissions Counselor for Waynesburg University. After leaving South Florida in 2015 and spending some time in Philadelphia, Juan ended up in Waynesburg, PA in 2017 to serve as youth director, where he met Sammie on a mission trip. Juan has a passion for others knowing and following Jesus and is currently pursuing his MBA, while raising his daughter, Ofie.

Brendan Byham studied Christian Ministry at Geneva College in Beaver Falls Pennsylvania where he received his Bachelor's in Christian Ministries. Since then, he has married his wife, Rhetta, received his M. Div, and has served as a pastor in Jefferson, PA. Brendan loves to experience God through the Scriptures, and he and his wife Rhetta are expecting a baby girl this summer.

And finally, you'll hear from Mike Baily. For 18 years, Mike Baily has been helping businesses at Baily Insurance Agency and serves currently as a fourth-generation owner. Mike really strives to serve people in every aspect of his life - including his business. Mike has been deeply invested in the community of Waynesburg for years and spends his free time raising his eleven children with his amazing wife, Cari. That's right - 11 children - ages 7 months to 20 years old! He has discipled his kids faithfully and many of them are now following Jesus on their own. Mike and Cari have served as mentors to and are Sammie and Juan's dear friends.

Here are some topics the men will cover in this episode: what the Bible says about sexual purity, sex and marriage, sexual sin, sexual attraction and orientation, and teaching kids about sexual purity.

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

At Abundant Life, we're passionate about equipping students to believe that they were made for more - that their identity changes everything - the way they live, the choices they make, and how they live into relationships. That they were made for more. 

Recently, an article was published by Caleb Morell critiquing how Christians often talk about identity, under the provocative title, “Stop Finding Your Identity in Christ.”

Here's what we cover in this episode:
1. Is “finding your identity in Christ" unbiblical?
2. How do we rightfully connect our identity with the identity of creation - in other words, how do we rightfully connect our identity with the Creator, without turning into a postmodern attempt at self-discovery?
3. How should our realization of our identity in Christ change our relationships with other people?

Some key takeaways from our conversation:

• We need to teach the creation story as if it is definitive about what it is to be human.
• WHAT DOES THE IMAGE OF GOD MEAN IN LIGHT OF THE LARGER STORY? That is the question we have to hone in on. For many, the "image of God" is a piece of trivia and not a deep reflection of Scriptural truth. 

John Stonestreet serves as President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview - the Colson Center exists to help you understand your place in God's story and serve God with clarity, confidence, and courage. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. Before coming to the Colson Center in 2010, John served in various leadership capacities with Summit Ministries and was on the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College (TN). John has co-authored four books: A Practical Guide to Culture, Restoring All Things, Same-Sex Marriage, and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN). He and his wife, Sarah, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO. Connect with John at BreakPoint.org, or follow him on Twitter (@jbstonestreet).

Here are some things we mentioned during this episode: 

• The Colson Center 
• Strange New World   by Carl R. Trueman
• John's response to Morell's article

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
 
In today's episode, we have the opportunity to hear from Georgette Forney, the president of Anglicans for Life. She is also the co-founder of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, an effort to raise awareness about the physical, spiritual, and emotional harm abortion does to women and to let those who are hurting from abortion know help is available. Georgette had an abortion at age sixteen and later experienced healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation after going through an abortion recovery program. Through that, she developed a greater understanding of the negative impact abortion has on women and the need to highlight the issue as an abortion survivor.

Georgette is going to share with her heart on why teaching kids about the sanctity or sacredness of life is important and practical ways to do so. You can read more about her organization (which is Abundant Life's parent organization) and her background by visiting the website below! Georgette has deep and intimate knowledge of what the Bible says about these topics and she's walked through them herself as a mom & wife. 

Here are some things we mentioned during this episode: 

• Anglicans for Life website
• Anglicans for Life "Just Like Me" Resource
• Charlotte Lozier Institute's Fetal Development Resource 

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

This month's bonus episode features Dave Wright, who currently serves as the Coordinator for Student Ministries for The Anglican Diocese of SC. Dave has a rich history in youth ministry ranging all the way from Cheshire, England, to the suburbs of Chicago. Dave has led youth ministry training in the UK, Canada, and across the USA, and written numerous articles for youth ministry publications in the UK and USA. 

After seeing Dave's passion for intergenerational youth ministry and believing that it really adds value to the life of the Church, Sammie asked him to come on and join us to share how the church can foster these relationships and provide us with practical steps to do just that. There are many decisions in the life of the church that needs to be guided by the importance of these relationships, and it is only through education that we can start moving in the right direction. I'm so thankful for Dave and his wisdom. If you are listening and you're interested in connecting with him, his contact info can be found in the links below!

Here are some things we mentioned during this episode: 

• Dave's Blog
• Engage Website 

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

In this episode, Sammie talks about what it can look like to create a biblical family culture and gives practical tips to implement these in your own home. We take the time to break down and define "family culture," "biblical family culture," and the hallmark between the two.

"This is, perhaps, the greatest signature quality of a biblical family culture – willingness to flex and change as we are convicted by the Word and the Spirit."

Here are some things we mentioned during this episode: 

• Intergenerational Ministry Blog 
• Jefferson Bethke's Book - Take Back Your Family

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

In this episode, you'll hear from Sammie as she talks to students who attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C. in January 2022.

She gives a rundown about why our relationships, our sexuality, and every part of who we are were made by God - which is precisely why it matters so much how we live and what we stand for.

If you're interested in learning more about the 2023 March for Life and ySummit - follow us on social media! We'll post all the info about registration and updates there. We'd love to have you join us!

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

In today's episode, we're talking about why our worth is SO important in determining how we live in our relationships, who we are, what we believe, and the decisions we make. 

Cynthia J. Wood, J.D., serves as the National Operations Coordinator for Feminists for Life of America - their goal is  to make sure every woman knows the truth - that they deserve better than abortion. 

Prior to FFL, she worked for the federal government for 35 years as a trainer for numerous workshops, including Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH), Effective Communication, and team-building and leadership workshops. Cynthia received a law degree from University of Houston Law Center in 1999. She has been a Bar Member of the D.C. Court of Appeals, Virginia, and Florida. She is married and has four children.

Here's some things we mention in the episode:

• Feminists for Life
• Preamble of the Declaration of Independence
• Link to Cynthia's Teaching

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

On today's episode of the podcast, Sammie chats with Madison McQuary, who is a Christian, creator, writer, High School Family & Consumer Science Teacher, and a passionate fashion blogger! Madison shared an Instagram post that caught our attention and we couldn't help but reach out to her to be on the show. 

In today's episode, we talk about some "unpopular opinions!" Here's what we cover: 
-"Cancel culture" and the danger of censorship
-Why open dialogue is important 
-Abortion, freedom, and practical ways to give women support, hope, and encouragement
-Human trafficking 
-The real and scary nature of women's healthcare
-Modern-day feminism and why it's harmful
-Roe v. Wade and the sexual revolution - let's get educated about these! 

Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:

• Madison's Instagram (@missmadisonlynn)
• Madison's website 
• Sharon McMahon's website - the best site for nonpartisan government facts, learning about controversial issues in order to form your own educated opinions
• Human Trafficking Resources 
  • Operation Underground Railroad
  • Exodus Cry
  • International Justice Mission
  • Love146 
• Business of Being Born Documentary
• Business of Birth Control Documentary
• Book: Subverted: How I Helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women's Movement
• Movie: Roe v. Wade

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

In this episode of the podcast, you will be #blessed to hear from my dear friend, Georgia Scott. Georgia and I met while doing the Pittsburgh Fellows program, but she currently is living in Sewickley, PA and is a graduate student studying at Geneva College. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh,  PA. She loves reading a good book, Jesus, chips and salsa, and spending time with the people I love. Her goal in life (which I love!) is why I asked her to be on the podcast! She desires to walk alongside people as they discover their path to flourishing, and in a world that can seem so very heavy on most days, I wanted her to encourage you in your own path to flourishing. Turn your volume up and enjoy our conversation - let's "have some fun & demystify mental health," as Georgia would say. ✨ 

Here are some things we mentioned in this episode:

• Georgia's blog and website 
• Whole Sealing Healing Instagram: @wholesoulhealingco
• Georgia's post about body image

Be sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.

You Were Made for More Social Media: 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram