In the final episode of Together with God, Ed and Gareth reflect on starting the podcast, share some highlights from the back-catalogue of interviews, and talk a little about their own journeys. Thank you all for listening!
In today’s podcast, we chat with Claire Hailwood, Director of Content for ‘Home for Good’ (https://homeforgood.org.uk/). We explore with Claire the history of Home for Good and her own story of adopting and fostering children and young people. We also discuss the importance of the church in welcoming vulnerable young people and how all who follow Jesus have a role to play. For the ‘Make Room’ resource mentioned by Claire, visit https://homeforgood.org.uk/resource/make-room.
In this episode, we chat with Gail Adcock, Family and Intergenerational Development Officer for the Methodist Church. This is our second conversation with Gail, and we explore issues emerging from her book, The Essential Guide to Family Ministry (BRF, 2020), including the relationship between family and church, the importance of intergenerational relationships, and how churches might begin their own ministries to families. For info on Gail’s book, visit https://www.brfonline.org.uk/products/the-essential-guide-to-family-ministry-a-practical-guide-for-church-based-family-workers
In this month’s episode, we chat with Lou Woolcock, the Families Coordinator for Youth for Christ (https://yfc.co.uk/louisewoolcock/). We chat with Lou about the importance of the family in faith formation, helping young people to become ‘faith explorers’ in their homes, and how to help families engage with the Bible. For further information about the ‘Family Bible’ mentioned in this episode, visit www.biblesociety.org.uk/good-news-bible-family-edition-resources. For more info about Youth for Christ, visit https://yfc.co.uk/.
For this month’s longer Christmas edition, we chat with Ed Drew from Faith in Kids (https://faithinkids.org). Among other topics, we explore parenting as an adventure of faith, the challenges to passing on faith in today’s society, and the importance of saying sorry to our children. We also discuss the work of Faith in Kids and share some ideas and resources for Advent and Christmas.
In this month’s interview, we chat with James Cary, comedy writer, podcaster and author (Including of The Gospel According to a Sitcom Writer). We chat with James about his reasons for home schooling, the role of education in forming faith, and helping children to see the world through a Christian perspective. To find out more about James and his work, visit www.jamescary.co.uk.
Sarah Holmes lectures in Early Childhood Studies at Liverpool Hope University and runs the website www.nuturingyoungfaith.org. In today’s podcast, we talk with Sarah about her recent research report on the changing nature of children and family ministry. Exploring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we discuss issues of intergenerational church, connecting with families, and how churches can best empower parents in helping their children grow in faith.
In this month’s conversation, Ed and Gareth give an update on the future of the podcast, introduce a new research centre at Cliff College (https://cliffcollege.ac.uk/about-cliff-college/centre-ycf-mission-ministry), and discuss the impact that lockdown has had on their families.
In this month’s interview, we speak with Erica Payne, a trainer with Innovisata (https://innovista.org), a charity that grows leaders in hard to reach places. We explore youth ministry in disadvantaged areas, the role of raising up leaders, and how churches can cross boundaries in ministry and mission. We also explore what all this might mean for families.
Andy Lawley works with Hope UK (www.hopeuk.org), a charity that equips young people to make drug-free choices. In today’s interview, we explore with Andy the impact of drugs on young people and advice for parents, youth workers and churches in responding to this issue.
Rachael Newham is the founder of mental health charity ThinkTwice (www.thinktwiceinfo.org) and author of Learning to Breathe: My Journey with Mental Illness (SPCK, 2018). In today’s conversation we explore issues of mental health, the emotional life of teenagers, the importance of the body, and how parents and churches can better support those affected by mental health issues.
In today’s episode, we interview Tina English, Director of Embracing Age, a faith-inspired charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people. We explore with Tina the importance of valuing older people within the church and society, helping different generations relate to one another, and how Christian families and churches can better support older people. For Embracing Age, visit www.embracingage.org.uk. For Care Home Friends, visit www.carehomefriends.org.uk.
Kate Wharton is a Church of England Vicar and the author of Single Minded: Being single, whole and living life to the full (Monarch 2013). In today’s podcast, we explore with Kate the challenges for single people of living in a marriage obsessed-church and a sex-obsessed society, and how the church – and families within it – can be a better home to the single as well as to the married. We also talk about the importance of modelling the single life to young people and the privilege of being a God-parent. For Kate’s blog, visit http://katewharton.blogspot.com/.
In today’s podcast, we talk with Graham Stanton, Lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley College in Australia (www.ridley.edu.au). We chat with Graham about how faith in the home changes as kids grow older, re-meeting your kids as they age, the importance of mentors, and the relationship between the church and the home in forming faith. For more about Graham, visit www.ridley.edu.au/about-ridley/ridley-people/faculty/graham-stanton. For Graham’s book Families: A Forgotten Factor?, visit https://grovebooks.co.uk/products/y-25-families-a-forgotten-factor
Nathan Blackaby is the CEO of Christian Vision for Men (https://cvm.org.uk) and the author of a number of books, including Founding Fathers (2015) and Iron Men (2016). In today’s interview Nathan shares something of his own story, and we talk about partnership in marriage, modelling faith to our children, and staying close to God. We also discuss the importance of friends and mentors, and creating a boy-friendly church. For Nathan’s books and other CVM resources, visit www.cvm.org.uk/shop/
In this episode, we interview Andy Robertson, a journalist specialising in video games who runs the website www.patreon.com/geekdadgamer. Andy has also recently co-authored the Grove Booklet Exploring Spirituality in Video Games (https://grovebooks.co.uk/products/y-49-exploring-spirituality-in-video-games-encountering-meaning-in-digital-spaces), and is working on the book Taming Gaming (https://unbound.com/books/taming-gaming). We talk with Andy about parenting and video games, managing screen time, finding good quality video games, and games and spirituality. We also mention the websites www.internetmatters.org, www.askaboutgames.com and https://meetcircle.com. You can find Andy on twitter @GeekDadGamer.
Gail Adcock is the Family Ministry Development Officer for the Methodist Church, and helped to produce the ‘We are Family’ report on the changing face of family ministry (www.methodist.org.uk/media/3292/we-are-family-booklet-1017.pdf). In today’s podcast, we talk with Gail about family ministry and family support, the importance of intergenerational church, and helping children and young people grow in faith.
Ruth Jackson is the editor of Premier Youth and Children’s Work (www.youthandchildrens.work), head of Youth Apologetics, and a speaker at this year’s Unbelievable Conference (2018). In today’s podcast, we talk with Ruth about her own journey of faith, the challenges that Christians face today, and the importance of helping young people – in and out of the home – respond to questions that challenge their faith. For some great apologetic resources, visit www.youthandchildrens.work/Apologetics. You can also follow Ruth on twitter @RuthJJackson.
Sam Allberry is a church leader, writer, speaker for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (www.RZIM.org), and co-leader of Living Out (www.livingout.org). In today’s podcast, we explore with Sam the challenges of raising children in a changing culture and the importance of helping kids understand a Christian view of sexuality. We also discuss the importance of grace within the home and the significance of the wider church family for children and youth.
In today’s podcast, we talk to Carolyn Edwards, Lecture in Evangelism, Mission and Ministry at Cliff College (www.cliffcollege.ac.uk) and author of Slugs and Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tales: Helping boys connect with God (Inter-Varsity Press, 2011). We explore children’s spirituality, raising boys in the faith, the imperfection of all families, and ways in which youth workers and churches can work with parents in helping children grow in faith.
Dan Adams, also known as ‘Cutlery Boy’, is one half of the musical duo Awesome Cutlery (www.awesomecutlery.com). In today’s podcast, we talk with Dan about the formative power of music and the importance of linking youth work to family discipleship. We also hear some of Dan’s own story, and explore ideas for incorporating music within family worship. Download Episode!