Today, we take on the topic of submission with Robyn McKelvy , who shares encouragement and biblical truth to help us understand God's word on this issue. Robyn is a pastor's wife and speaker, as well as an author of a few little books on marriage topics. She and her husband Ray have ten children and live in the Nashville, TN area, where Ray pastors Christ for the Nations Church. I first heard of Robyn through the Revive Our Hearts conferences , where she has spoken a few times. She's a gracious...
May 17, 2019•30 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Bethany and WE team members Alyssa Donovan and Katie Morin sit down for a candid conversation about financial security. We talk about contentment, trusting God, hardship, and God's abundant provision. You can connect with us on our Women Encouraged webpage, as well as on Instagram and Facebook . Thanks for listening! Support the show...
May 10, 2019•35 min•Season 3Ep. 30
In this episode, Bethany discusses with author Maggie Combs what it means to be an "unsuper" woman, as a mother and a wife. Maggie shares from her book Unsupermommy, and we chat about seeing our weakness correctly in Christ, dealing with our idols of expectation, as well as practices for abiding in Him, and some great thoughts about date night. Be sure to follow Maggie on Instagram for excellent regular encouragement! Today our podcast is sponsored by Alberta Computers. We're so grateful to Deeg...
Apr 11, 2019•29 min•Season 3Ep. 29
In this episode, Bethany talks with writer and author Abigail Dodds about her excellent book (A)Typical Woman and what it means to be a courageous Christian woman. Abigail shares biblical definitions of woman, Christian, and discusses the identity we carry as believers in Jesus Christ. Abigail believes, as we do at Women Encouraged, that Christian women are truly called to live free and unashamedly, unembarrassed about God's word, and with hearts that love the standard God sets for us in Scriptu...
Apr 04, 2019•37 min•Season 3Ep. 28
We're back for season 3! Author Michelle Van Loon joins Bethany to chat about her newest book, Born to Wander: Recovering the Value of Our Pilgrim Identity. Bethany and Michelle discuss several different topics, including what it means to follow Jesus even when we stay in one place, what it is to have the identity of a pilgrim, as well as "holy remembering", knowing that God remembers His people. This episode is graciously sponsored by Dental Care Centre . We are very grateful to them for sponso...
Mar 28, 2019•40 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Today, we're chatting with writer Abbey Wedgeworth about everything from the shame that we might experience postpartum, fear and anxiety in pregnancy, and just facing hormonal changes in general in the light of the gospel and the hope that Jesus brings us. Abbey's insight as a young wife and mama will be sure to encourage you at whatever stage of motherhood you’re in. I’m excited for you to listen in as she fleshes out the ways that God meets us and changes us through his word and by the power o...
Nov 12, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Today, I sit down to talk with Lisa Jacobson, author and founder of Club 31 Women , about some key elements of a thriving marriage. We talk through her article 25 Things it Takes To Make it to 25 Years , and after the interview, Alyssa and I sit down to chat about a few of those things and how we’ve been personally impacted by them or growing in them. As always, you can find show notes for this episode on our website womenencouraged.ca and a link to some of Lisa’s articles and books there. Suppo...
Oct 29, 2018•50 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Today we are sharing our conversation with Adriel Booker, writer, speaker and author of the book Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss . Even with the increase in openness on this topic, miscarriage remains a tender subject that is often difficult to process and discuss. Adriel and I discuss so much about miscarriage, everything from the sense of loneliness that a woman may experience, the way that grief changes us, and the way we can live with gospel hope in the alr...
Oct 18, 2018•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Today, we’re sharing a conversation I had with Tim Challies about his book Devoted: Great Men and Their Godly Moms . Tim is not only an author, he’s also a blogger at challies.com and book reviewer, and serves as one of the pastors at Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto. In this episode, I’m talking with Tim about his book, and some of the men and women noted in it, but we also chat about the common cultural burdens of isolation and fear of failure that many Christian mothers carry. After my inte...
Oct 08, 2018•57 min•Season 2Ep. 23
In this episode, Hunter Beless and Bethany talk about facing transitions and life changes from a gospel perspective, bible literacy, the connection between community and the gospel and our need to invest in the community that God has created for us- the church. Hunter is such an encourager and we know you’re going to be blessed and convicted by what she has to say! After the interview Brittany and Bethany talk about how the gospel answers our challenges and barriers with community building and g...
Sep 28, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Our chat today with Lydia Brownback touches on so many different angles of loneliness, contentment, and singleness. Lydia is the author of several books, including a book on the psalms called Sing a New Song and the excellent book Finding God in My Loneliness where she takes on the different kinds of loneliness we face. After the episode, WE vision team member Katie Morin joins Bethany to talk about the way Bible literacy impacts our view of our circumstances, and some practical ways we can come...
Sep 21, 2018•57 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Danielle Hitchen, creator of Catechesis Books and the Baby Believer board books, joins us today to talk about the books she’s designed and created, but more about the heart behind them, and the importance of not being afraid to introduce deep ideas to our little ones. Every Christian parent wants their child to grow up to fully embrace the Gospel and walk with Christ, but it can be difficult to know how to start giving them a good foundation. After the interview with Danielle, Bethany and Alyssa...
Sep 14, 2018•58 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Today, we talk with singer and songwriter Caroline Cobb about the Bible's big story and how we never outgrow the gospel. In 2011, Caroline gave herself a goal to write a song for every book of the Bible in a year. That year of writing set in motion a new passion to tell the stories of scripture through music, faithfully and creatively. Caroline shares about the way knowing the Bible's big story informs the way we see the world, and how it transforms the way we approach God. Support the show...
Sep 07, 2018•53 min•Season 2Ep. 19
In this episode, we talk with author and speaker Melissa Kruger about envy and contentment in Christ. Melissa is wife to Mike, mom to three kids, as well as an author, speaker, and an editor at The Gospel Coalition . After the interview with Melissa, Bethany and Alyssa Donovan talk more about how we can answer our contentment struggles with the gospel, and how Bible literacy aids us in walking out contentment more and more in our lives. Support the show...
Aug 31, 2018•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 18
Bethany and Brittany sat down with the WE blog submissions editor Alyssa Donovan and talked about what we loved and learned through the women who have joined us and taught us in these beginning steps of expanding Women Encouraged to include the podcast and blog. We discuss: how the podcast got started; how the different women have encouraged us in our Bible study; the CC Ladies Bible Reading Challenge; how God has connected women around the world through WE these last few months; embracing the d...
Jul 16, 2018•34 min•Season 1Ep. 17
This week, we are wrapping up the mini series with a Pastor Perspectives episode, where we talk with Pastor Matthew Kruse and women's ministry leader Patti Rosell from Seven Mile Road Church near Boston, MA. Pastor Matt reached out a few months ago to share with the Women Encouraged community about how their church is practicing shepherding and training women in their church. Pastor Matt and Patti have a podcast called Kalos Conversations which is geared towards "helping churches create disciple...
May 19, 2018•43 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Women's Discipleship mini-series: we talk with Katie Roberts and Taylor Turkington from The Gospel Coalition's Women's Training Network . Katie and Taylor share with us how they started The Verity Fellowship in Portland, OR to help disciple women by training them to handle Scripture. We talk about why training women and discipling them is so vital for the Church. However, part of this discussion is some of the practical nature of starting a women's conference. So much prayer and work and plannin...
May 07, 2018•25 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Women's Discipleship mini-series: today, we start a women's discipleship mini-series on the podcast with this conversation with Gretchen Ronnevik about myths surrounding the topic of mentoring. Gretchen joins us to discuss common misconceptions of what it means to mentor women, or to be mentored, and we walk through her article, "7 Myths About Biblical Mentoring" which you can find here . Gretchen shares from her experience as a mentor, and as someone who has been mentored by older women. She's ...
Apr 30, 2018•56 min•Season 1Ep. 14
We know we are supposed to be ministering to those who are suffering but what does that look like practically? Our friend, author and cancer-survivor Marissa Henley joins us to talk about principles and practical ways of ministering to those in the body who are struggling and suffering. Marissa's book "Loving Your Friend Through Cancer: Moving from 'I'm Sorry' to Meaningful Support" released May 31, 2018. Support the show...
Apr 21, 2018•34 min•Season 1Ep. 13
What does it mean to live our lives "on mission"? In this episode, author Gloria Furman explains how God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, and how our whole life is to be lived on mission for Christ, offering the hope of his Gospel to the world around us. Gloria also discusses how being on mission impacts our motherhood, avoiding the dangerous trap of comparison, and living with a resurrection mindset. Support the show...
Apr 16, 2018•40 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Joining us today is Emily Jensen, Content Director and co-host of the Risen Motherhood podcast. Emily and Bethany talk about what Risen Motherhood is all about, why it's so vital for moms to be in the Word of God, how the Gospel transforms our motherhood, and why we must avoid falling into the comparison trap. Brittany and Bethany talk more about Gospel-transformation in our lives as mothers, and how godly mothering really needs to flow out of living as godly Christians. Support the show...
Apr 06, 2018•47 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Writer and recording artist Glenna Marshall joins us to discuss looking to Scripture to tell us what is true about God and not allowing our circumstances to define who he is. Glenna shares part of her story and what led her to learning to find her security in God. Bethany and Brittany talk together about looking at suffering and trials from a perspective that God is with us and is moving us from glory to glory. Support the show...
Apr 02, 2018•48 min•Season 1Ep. 10
We talk with RightNow Canada co-founder Alissa Golob about what inspired her to become a pro-life activist and why the topic of abortion affects her so personally. Alissa shares her background and story with us and the significant political work she does. We also discuss positive ways to use social media to shed light on the topic of abortion in a way that builds trust with people in our circles. Brittany and Bethany talk about living fearlessly and faithfully and the necessity of standing on th...
Mar 29, 2018•45 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Bible Studies for Busy Mamas author Pam Forster joins us to talk about how busy mamas can study their Bible, even in intense seasons of mothering little ones. Pam shares her story and tips on how to include our children and why this matters so much. Bethany and Brittany talk about the challenges and impact of Bible study in mothering little ones, and how we might need to let go of our ideal of "quiet time", at least for now. Support the show...
Mar 27, 2018•45 min•Season 1Ep. 8
How should we face fear and press on as Christian women? We talk with Hannah Grieser, author of the book The Clouds Ye So Much Dread: Hard Times and the Kindness of God. We discuss how to prepare for difficulties and trials and how thankfulness guards our hearts with peace. Brittany and Bethany talk about rehearsing God's goodness to ourselves, filing our hearts and minds with what is true about Him. We also chat about how we as mothers shape and impact our children and the way they will face di...
Mar 01, 2018•49 min•Season 1Ep. 7
What do we do when everyone else's lives look more fruitful than ours? We had such a delightful conversation with friend, artist and Gracelaced author Ruth Chou Simons about her hashtag #youdonthavetobebloomingtobegrowing. We talk with her about growth in Christ, how to readjust our perspectives when everyone else's lives look more fruitful, and the effect that social media can have on our perception of growth. Support the show...
Feb 23, 2018•44 min•Season 1Ep. 6
We cap off our series on "New Beginnings" with this talk with author and speaker Kristen Kill . We chat about finding our new beginnings, but ultimately our dwelling, in God, who gives us Himself as we come to Him in His word. Kristen spoke at Women Encouraged 2017 and it was a gift to welcome her back to the WE audience for this podcast episode. Support the show
Feb 10, 2018•48 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode, we talk with women's Bible study leader Angi Tuffnell about important elements of getting started with deeper Bible study. Angi talks about how important it is to be in a community of women who are studying the word together, how this impacts us and grows us, and the importance of grace with one another. Support the show
Feb 03, 2018•49 min•Season 1Ep. 4
We chat with women's Bible teacher and author Jen Wilkin about getting started in Bible study, how to avoid the "debit account" mentality, and her new study in Genesis 1-11 called God of Creation . Brittany and Bethany talk about why the debit account thinking hurts us and how thinking differently has helped us. This episode builds on Episode 2 with Becky Pliego, so be sure to give that one a listen! Shownotes and links to more information are available on our website www.womenencouraged.ca Supp...
Jan 27, 2018•49 min•Season 1Ep. 3
We talk to Becky Pliego , Bible teacher and webinar leader for the Bible Reading Challenge , about coming to Christ through reading His word. She talks about practices that help us to keep our eyes on Jesus and what we should do when we don't feel like reading the Bible. Bethany and Brittany discuss avoiding perfectionism and about how participating in the Bible Reading Challenge has impacted them. Support the show...
Jan 20, 2018•56 min•Season 1Ep. 2
