The hosts welcome Kathy Hoback, the disability support services coordinator at Metropolitan Community College, to talk about ways to help children with disabilities and special needs in the education system. A disability is anything that affects one or more major life functions, including learning. One of the best things parents who have children with special needs can do when navigating their education is to be proactive. That looks different depending on the age and whether a student is in the...
Apr 08, 2025•25 min•Ep. 51
The Hildebrands welcome Paytn Schumer, the Student Ministry Director at Abundant Life, and Meg Gasper, the Children’s Event Coordinator at Abundant Life, to talk about the importance of summer camp. The hosts talked about how summer camp changed their lives. Jen was saved at a Vacation Bible School event as a child, and she learned to really follow God and grew a relationship with Him at summer camp. That camp is also where she met Bill, so it has a special place in their hearts. Bill spoke abou...
Mar 25, 2025•24 min•Ep. 50
Roger Sprouse, a financial advisor, joins the Hildebrands to discuss financial planning for families. Roger has been working in the financial sector for 30 years, and he shares with the Hildebrands how he and his wife prepared their children financially for the world. Some of the ways Roger says he and his wife financially planned for their family were: Always making it a focus to go to a good, wise church Having open communication with your children Make giving to the Lord a priority Roger spok...
Mar 11, 2025•29 min•Ep. 49
Dr. Cary Corely, a family counselor, joins the Hildebrands to discuss helpful ways parents should respond when their child says they are struggling with same-sex attraction. Dr. Corely discussed the importance of not saying or doing anything definitive in that conversation about same-sex attraction. He encouraged parents to take time to think and process while still expressing love for the child. This gave the Holy Spirit the time to help the parents understand how He wanted them to respond. Whe...
Feb 25, 2025•28 min•Ep. 48
The Hildebrands welcome Carolyn Asher, a counselor at Abundant Life, to discuss children’s grief and loss and ways for parents to help them through that process. Jen shared about losing her brother after a long battle with cancer. She asked Carolyn about the ways to help her children grieve the loss of their uncle. Carolyn says it’s just as important for parents to learn how to grieve so they can help with their children’s grief and loss. She outlined the five stages of grief: Denial Anger Barga...
Feb 11, 2025•27 min•Ep. 47
Les Norman, a former Kansas City Royals player and host of the radio show, “Breakin’ the Norm,” joins the hosts to talk about parenting and sports. Les talked about how when he was growing up, sports were an escape. He wanted to be part of something that was joyful and happy instead of the fighting and abuse he saw at home. When he was married, he talked with his wife about parenting their children while he was an MLB player. Les knew he didn’t want to raise his children while on the road. He re...
Jan 28, 2025•32 min•Ep. 46
Matt and Jocelyn Kepner joined the hosts to talk about the importance of fostering and adopting. They talk about Matt’s difficult upbringing. He bounced around houses from the time he was 15 years old until he was an adult. When Matt married Jocelyn, he was worried about being a good father because he didn’t have any good examples while growing up. Jocelyn brought up fostering. They prayed about it, seeking guidance on making such a large commitment and if it would be right for their family. Lat...
Jan 14, 2025•26 min•Ep. 45
Toshaun Avery, the Student Pastor at Abundant Life joins the hosts to talk about dealing with family conflict, especially for families with teenagers. Toshaun encourages parents to remember relationships are the foundation. He says they need to be honest with themselves about where they’ve invested in their child’s life and if they really know their teen. Toshaun says when handling family conflict, parents should answer the following questions for themselves: What do you want them to know when a...
Dec 31, 2024•26 min•Ep. 44
The hosts sit down with Dr. Jeff Cox, the Executive Pastor of Missions and Counseling at Abundant Life, to talk about anxiety’s impact on parenting. Dr. Cox says social media is behind one of the shifts he’s seeing in counseling children. A few years ago, depression was the biggest issue children were facing. Now, it’s anxiety. One of the biggest drivers of anxiety is social media. Social media drives comparison, which is the thief of joy and where anxiety thrives. Forty years ago, parents didn’...
Dec 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 43
The hosts welcome Brandon and Susan Fields, members of Abundant Life, who are raising three young boys. The Fields talk about their journey to becoming parents and the choices they have made to raise their children God’s way. Before having children, the Fields were both pharmacists, working 40 hours a week, living in what they thought was their dream home. After having their first son, they both felt compelled to make changes, like downsizing their home, so they could focus more on parenting. Th...
Dec 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 42
The hosts welcome back Josh and Dixie Paul. They are members of Abundant Life, who’ve raised two kids while Josh worked in the Navy as a psychiatrist. They continued their conversation about dealing with family trauma and how it can impact relationships. Josh compared dealing with family trauma to swimming upstream. It’s going to be hard, tough and exhausting at times, but it’s going to be worth it in the end. Dixie talked about how her family trauma affected her husband and kids. It led to her ...
Nov 19, 2024•28 min•Ep. 41
Josh and Dixie Paul, members of Abundant Life, have raised two boys while Josh worked in the Navy as a psychiatrist. They join the hosts to talk about their past and the impact of family trauma on relationships. how trauma can impact families. In Josh’s work as a psychiatrist, he works with people dealing with PTSD and trauma. He says everyone’s response to trauma is personal. What might feel huge to one person might not be a problem for another. The Hildebrands share their experiences with fami...
Nov 05, 2024•29 min•Ep. 40
Chad and Chelsea Glover are raising three girls- two are in middle school, and the youngest one is in second grade. Chad is the Executive Teaching Pastor at Abundant Life and the Crossroads campus pastor. They join the hosts to talk about the importance of intentional parenting. They share resources through Abundant Life while also giving book recommendations. They encourage listeners that great parenting takes intention. The key is having a map that informs you and validates that you are going ...
Oct 22, 2024•35 min•Ep. 39
Kelsey Knutson-Leedy, the Special Needs Coordinator at Abundant Life, is raising a child with special needs. She joins the hosts to share her experience and the lessons she’s learned through special needs parenting. Kelsey talks about the resources she’s using to raise her stepson. She says the key is to have a strong community around while parenting a child with special needs. Being able to celebrate “wins” with parents who get it is really important in special needs parenting. Bill mentioned h...
Oct 08, 2024•25 min•Ep. 38
After raising three girls to adulthood, Todd and Angela have much wisdom to share on helping girls mature into women. They join the hosts to talk about celebrating a girl’s rite of passage. Angela shares about the resources she used to raise her girls. She encourages listeners to do what best fits their family when it comes to a girl’s rite of passage. The key is to be intentional about the way you do it! Girls need their parents to be present when they are processing emotions and changes. Angel...
Sep 24, 2024•24 min•Ep. 37
In this episode of the Abundant Life Family podcast, hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand are joined by Drew Davis, the director of Equipped Outdoors. Drew and his wife, Charissa, use Equipped Outdoors as a ministry to introduce families to God’s creation in the outdoors. They believe that while objects and gifts come and go, experiences can last for a lifetime. We only have a short period of time with our kids. How can you create family experiences with your kids so you can be their primary source of ...
Sep 10, 2024•29 min•Ep. 36
Join Bill and Jen Hildebrand as they continue their conversation with Scott and Lori Ridings about building a blended family. Scott and Lori share some important lessons they learned while blending their families. They were intentional with the language they used to talk about their family, which allowed them to build trust with their kids. Scott and Lori share how they worked to connect with their kids by making time and space for conversations when the kids were ready. They share stories about...
Aug 28, 2024•25 min•Ep. 35
Join Bill and Jen Hildebrand as they dive deep into the complexities of building a blended family with special guests, Scott and Lori Ridings. This episode explores the challenges and triumphs of combining two families into one, offering practical advice and inspiring stories. Discover the importance of faith, communication, and setting boundaries as you navigate the journey to a harmonious blended family. Learn how to create lasting bonds, support your children, and prioritize your marriage. Pe...
Jul 30, 2024•29 min•Ep. 34
In this episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand are joined by Doug Geiger, Director of Counseling at Abundant Life, to explore how families can effectively use the five love languages to navigate difficult conversations and build stronger relationships. In this insightful episode, Bill, Jen, and Doug delve into the practical application of the five love languages. They discuss how understanding and speaking each other's love languages can help family member...
Jul 18, 2024•22 min•Ep. 33
Welcome to Episode 32 of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, titled "The Parenting Toolbox." Join host Bill Hildebrand as he converses with Dale Hudson, Abundant Life Children's Pastor, on equipping Christian parents with essential tools to teach their children the Gospel and foster a relationship with Jesus. In this episode, Dale and Bill emphasize the importance of parents modeling their own love for Jesus at home, and how kids and student ministry can support but not replace this crucial aspect...
Jul 02, 2024•25 min•Ep. 32
As parents, how do we steer our family to success? And what does that success look like? In this episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, host Bill Hildebrand engages in a heartfelt conversation with Rob and Tatum Poettgen about what it means to set up your family for success according to God's plan. Discover how God's definition of success differs from the world's, emphasizing the importance of making His name known on earth. Join us as Rob and Tatum share their family tradition of choosing...
Jun 18, 2024•23 min•Ep. 31
When our lives our busy, it's easy for our soulmates to turn into our emotionally distant roommates, but true, lasting connection to our spouses require intentional effort. Join hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand on the Abundant Life Family Podcast as they welcome Jeff and Barb Nichols, In this episode, the Nichols share their wisdom on strengthening your marriage through building intimacy, fun, and emotional connection. They emphasize the importance of continuous effort and communication in maintain...
Jun 04, 2024•24 min•Ep. 30
Join hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand on the Abundant Life Family Podcast as they delve into the inspiring journey of the Koontz family. With 35 years of marriage and a commitment to faith, trust, and service, Pat and Justine Koontz, along with their adult daughter Tommye, share valuable insights on cultivating a thriving home culture. Discover practical strategies and heartfelt experiences that can empower your family to build lasting bonds grounded in shared values. Tune in for this enriching dis...
May 21, 2024•29 min•Ep. 29
Healing can be painful. It's tempting to ignore our wounds and carry on, but true healing requires facing our hurts head-on. Discover the power of facing emotional pain head-on with hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand on the Abundant Life Family Podcast. Join family counselor Dr. Cary Corley as he delves into navigating past wounds and embracing healing from emotional trauma. In this episode, Dr. Corley emphasizes the importance of confronting our pain to move forward effectively and experience true r...
May 07, 2024•26 min•Ep. 28
Research shows most couples go to marriage counseling about 6 years too late. But sometimes when our relationships get difficult, there's not a major breach of trust. It's the little, every-day annoyances that build up and change our perceptions of each other. But our spouse is not the enemy. In this episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with family counselor, Dr. Cary Corley to talk about how to turn the tide when our relationships start getting...
Apr 23, 2024•23 min•Ep. 27
Sex. For Christians, sex is a topic that's not always talked about. So when couples struggle in the area of sex and intimacy, it can often be hard to seek help. In this episode of the Family Ministry Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Pastor Steve Brown and his wife Jodi. Steve and Jody have mentored many younger couples in the areas of sex and intimacy and Steve teaches on the topic in the Abundant Life Merge Pre-Marital Counseling Class. The Browns share their experience ...
Apr 09, 2024•27 min•Ep. 26
When we get married, we create a brand new family from two existing families. Many times, we grow up with different traditions, expectations, routines, and habits. Sometimes those differences can be easily adapted. Sometimes, it can be more of a struggle. In this episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, our hosts, Bill and Jen Hildebrand chat with Abundant Life Executive Pastor of Campuses, Lance Harrington, and his wife Rebecca Harrington, Johnson County Campus Worship Leader, about managin...
Mar 29, 2024•27 min•Ep. 25
Whether you've been married 30 minutes or 30 years, conflict is inevitable. But it's how we deal with conflict that makes or breaks a marriage. On this episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Jonathan and Angela Buttram and talk about how to handle conflict in a healthy and biblical way. James 4:1 says "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" Whether it's love, respect, significance...
Mar 12, 2024•24 min•Ep. 24
We've all heard it before, "communication is key." But in practice, true communication in relationships and marriage can be difficult. What happens when two different people who grew up in two different households with two different communication models get married? On today's episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand talk with Jonathan and Angela Buttram about intentional, biblical, communication in marriage. The Buttrams share about their journey and learni...
Feb 27, 2024•28 min•Ep. 23
Matthew 28:19 tells us to go and make disciples of all nations. But how do we cultivate a heart for the nations within our families? In this episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Jeremy Brownlee, pastor of missions at Abundant Life, to talk about how we can be intentional with our families to help our kids live on mission. Jeremy shares practical ways he has incorporated cross-cultural service with his own kids and some tips for you as you s...
Feb 13, 2024•27 min•Ep. 22
