What's it like to navigate an international adoption? When the Lord puts a call on your heart to adopt, what are the practical next steps? In this episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Abundant Life members, Rob and Tatum Poettgen to talk about their real-life experience of adopting a child from another country. They give you tips for navigating an international adoption. For more information on our Foster & Adopt Ministry and resources available to foster and adoptive families at Abundant Life, go to livingproof.co/family.

The ideal situation is not always reality. In America today, almost half our children are raised in a home that is either a single parent household, a blended family, or being raised by a family member that is not the biological parent. Single parenting can come with lots of challenges. But there is hope. In today's episode of the Abundant Life Family Ministry Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Pastor Phil Hopper to give spiritual encouragement for single parents who are trying to walk the path and commit their children to Jesus. Pastor Phil gives practical and godly advice for single parents who have struggled with heartache and disappointment but want to raise their kids in a Christian home and teach them how to love Jesus. For more information on how to WIN at raising godly children, go to livingproof.co/family.Resources mentioned in today's episode include: Regeneration, a 12-step healing and recovery program designed to help guide you through personal struggles of all kinds, including anxiety, depression, and much more. For more information on Regeneration at Abundant Life, go to livingproof.co/regeneration.DivorceCare:DivorceCare is a 13-week group designed to help people who have gone through or are going through a divorce or separation find hope and healing. For more information on DivorceCare, go to livingproof.co/get-involved/groups/divorce/DivorceCare4Kids: Abundant Life also offers DivorceCare4Kids, a 13-week program for children ages 5–12 whose parents are going through separation and divorce to cope with the losses they are feeling. The activities, games, and music are designed to help children manage their emotions and communicate with their parents. The ministry parallels the adult DivorceCare group, covering the same subjects on a child’s level. livingproof.co/get-involved/groups/divorce/

Same Sex Attraction–parents often don't know how to respond to their kids if they open this discussion. Kids often don't know how to walk this journey and hide in secrecy, carry this burden alone. In this Episode of the Family Ministry Podcast, our host Bill Hildebrand sits down with Abundant Life member, Noah Mills. Noah is a Believer who has struggled with these very issues and is actively walking this journey while staying staying strong in his faith. He gives his insights to teens and young adults – and their parents on how to navigate this topic with both love and truth. For more resources on how to build a family that lasts, go to livingproof.co/family.

Sometimes helping our young children find the right words to communicate their emotions and feelings can be tricky. In this Episode of the Family Ministry Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Natalie Berry, a Licensed Counselor in the Abundant Life Counseling Center who specializes in counseling children. She shares her tips and tools she uses to help you communicate with the younger children in your life. For more tools to help you build a family that lasts, visit us at livingproof.co/family

Meet the Hildebrands, the “unlikely couple.” In this episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, our hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand give us a glimpse into their lives as we hear some of their story – from their call to Jesus, call to ministry, commitment to marriage, and most recently their call to Abundant Life. Bill and Jen discuss the challenges they faced, and lessons learned as they built their marriage and their family. We hope their story will help your family as you navigate this journey. Go to livingproof.co/family for more resources to help you "Build a Family that Lasts."

As adult children, how can we help our parents navigate some of the difficulties of aging? In this episode of the Abundant Life Family Podcast, our host Bill Hildebrand talks with Vickie Mears, Abundant Life Member and experienced hospice and bereavement caretaker, and Russell Fracassa, Abundant Life Member, and expert in elder law, share the heart side as well as the legal side of this stage of life.

Grandparents have the opportunity to uniquely impact the spiritual lives of their grandchildren. In this episode, Abundant Life Family Podcast hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand talk with Janel Doll, a grandmother of 10 and 20-year volunteer in children’s ministry. Janel talks about her experiences and gives us all pointers on the intentional influence grandparents can have on the spiritual lives of their grandchildren.

The most important relationship in our lives outside of Jesus is our spouse. As couples begin to think about marriage, it’s necessary to do the work – before and during – to ensure that marriage is built upon a solid foundation. In this episode, Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Young Adult Pastor Jonathan Clark and his wife Sydney, and Scott and Lori Ridings, to give us their insight into helping couples approach this significant stage of life.

Parenting skills and tactics must continue to grow as our children grow. We parents toddlers differently than we would parent our teens and as our children leave home and become adults themselves, our parenting must move from instruction and discipline to become more of a coach. In this episode, our Abundant Life Family Podcast hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Bill and Karen Ward – who have 5 adult children of their own – to share wisdom and insight about how we can adapt our parenting styles as our children become adults and coaching them through this life-change.

Perhaps one of the biggest steps, and most official steps our kids take from childhood to adulthood is high school graduation. This can be a time filled with trepidation, anxiety, excitement, and all of the above. In this episode, hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Student Pastor Toshaun Avery to talk about how we can use this time to keep the lines of communication open and prepare our students to leave home. For more information and resources about preparing your children to leave home, go to livingproof.co/family.

As Christian parents, seeing our children grow up to become adults who love the Lord is perhaps our greatest desire. In this episode, Bill and Jen Hildebrand sit down with Les Norman, as he shares his childhood story, and how God is helping him break chains of sin and abuse as he raises his own children. Les shares how he guided his children through a Rite of Passage to intentionally share with them what it means to be a Man of God and gives you practical tools to help you incorporate this important Mile Marker in your own parenting journey.

Can parents really be prepared for their kids to enter "adolescence?"  What are some key things parents can do to walk their child through this stage? In this episode, Abundant Life Family Podcast hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand talk with Dr. Jeff Cox, Abundant Life Executive Pastor of Counselingwill share his wisdom and knowledge on this tricky stage and give parents tips to help navigate typical challenges that arise – including how, and when, to broach the “sex” talk from a Christian worldview. It is so important to help children prepare spiritually, emotionally, and physically for adolescence. Between the ages of 10 and 12, we begin to introduce these concepts to kids as they attend church ministries and activities.

One of the greatest privileges that comes with being a parent is the opportunity to lead your kid to the Lord! Abundant Life Family Ministry Podcast hosts, Bill and Jen Hildebrand talk with Pastor Chad Glover on how we can guide our children through this process, even at a young age. Pastor Chad helps us to understand that even though we are not perfect parents, God wants to use us in their spiritual formation, no matter our background or story! For more information tools and resources on guiding your children through salvation and baptism, go to livingproof.co/family. An important milestone in the life of every person is salvation and baptism. For the child growing up in a Christian home and in the context of a local church, a decision point is often reached between the ages of 7 and 11. This decision may also occur later in life. Between Mile Marker 1 and Milestone 3, we partner with and equip you to lead your kids toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which leads to salvation. You are encouraged to attend a seminar that teaches the biblical truth about salvation and baptism and are equipped and given resources to Initiate Weekly Conversations with family devotions in their homes where these principles are taught. To make this Mile Marker memorable and special, you can include a Spiritual Birthday that focuses on the child’s date of salvation and a family celebration at and following the child’s baptism event. You are encouraged to invite family, friends, and those who spiritually influence the child.

Whether public school, homeschool, private school, or another option, heading off to school is an important Mile Marker to the formation of our children. Every child has unique and differing needs throughout their stages of education and growth. In this episode, Abundant Life Family Podcast hosts Bill and Jen Hildebrand talk with experienced parents Rob and Tatum Poettgen and Pastor Pat Koontz to glean insight from their experiences on preparing their children for school and the challenges and celebrations that come along with this important mile marker. If you are looking for more resources to help guide your children through the school years, head to livingproof.co/family.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way that they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it.”  In this episode our hosts, Bill and Hen Hildebrand, chat with Abundant Life Independence Campus Pastor, Steven Branch about the importance of the Child Dedication ceremony and what it means to commit your child and your parenting to the Lord. For more information on Child Dedication, go to livingproof.co/family.  The first Mile Marker is child dedication. This is a ceremony that normally occurs for parents who have children between birth and one year of age. You will learn how to become primary faith trainers for your children and accept the responsibility. Resources and learning opportunities are provided for new parents desiring to dedicate their children to the Lord. During the ceremony, the church body commits to partner with the parents in the faith development of the child for the duration of the journey.

Every Christian parent wants tools and tips to help them raise their kids in a way that creates resilience while also connecting with them. They want to know how to point them to Jesus in everyday situations so their kids come to know Him personally. This parenting journey is a marathon, not a sprint. And you need someone to walk alongside you, encouraging you to stay the course and grow into the parents God designed you to be.This podcast is designed to help parents cultivate an environment in their home that helps families WIN…Walk the path of discipleshipInitiate weekly conversations by intentionally setting aside regular time to read God’s Word and worship togetherNever miss a God moment by intentionally connecting spiritual truths to everyday life