Newborn Promise Podcast

Real testimonies from parents who discuss why and how they adopted, with great advice for prospective adoptive parents. Hear from Julie Russi on open adoption through a private Christian agency, and Chris & Shauna Stockhaus who participated in the Foster-to-Adopt Program in Contra Costa County, CA.

For many, starting a new family can bring up unexpected memories from the past. For Jill Cooper, trying to get pregnant in her 30s reminded her of the decision she made to have an abortion in her 20s. Today, Jill shares about how facing shame and anger head on, confronting the lies she believed about God, and running to a relationship with Christ ultimately healed her spiritually.

Miscarriage is not often talked about, even among friends. But it is an all too common experience for many couples, and they never forget the pain of loss. Several women share their stories, which include touching discoveries of God’s personal care for them in their grieving.

The Newborn Promise Project is designed to help husband and wife spiritually assess for the exciting new season of building your family. This major life transition can be the perfect timing to permit God to heal and transform you in the most beneficial way. Meet the lead developers—Callie Grant, Audra Haney, and Charissa Kolar— and discover the Newborn Promise Project resources for you and your church.

With more than 400,000 children in the foster system nationwide, more couples are stepping up to meet the need to care for them. In this episode, Chrystal Smith, founder and executive of Foster Village, explains the process, the challenges, and the measures her own family took that made all the difference. Chrystal's advice relates to families already having children, couples who have been through infertility, and those just starting out. She discusses one common factor that is vital to success for all.

Grow in your prayer life as a parent by growing your understanding of what prayer means to God. As the author of Praying the Scriptures for Your Children, Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens, and Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children, Jodie Berndt has learned that, "Each age and stage lets me know I'm not finished praying. We say, 'You never stop being a parent and you never stop praying.'" Through her personal experiences and her travels speaking nationwide, Jodie has assembled vital biblical knowledge about prayer, which she tenderly—and often humorously—shares in love with others. This is our most foundational Newborn Promise Podcast episode.

With more than 400,000 children in the foster system nationwide, more couples are stepping up to meet the need to care for them. In this episode, Chrystal Smith, founder and executive of Foster Village, explains the process, the challenges, and the measures her own family took that made all the difference. Chrystal's advice relates to families already having children, couples who have been through infertility, and those just starting out. She discusses one common factor that is vital to success for all.

Bluebonnets are radiant wildflowers that grow from the poorest of soil. Hear Meg Calvin describe how she came up with the analogy for the children she serves who come from troubled homes. Meg offers practical steps that anyone can take to help such children, and shares how the local church can be a supplemental family that showers them with God's grace as they grow.

If laughter is humanity's most effective weapon, as Mark Twain said, then Holly Mackle wields a powerful force to help parents cut through the everyday messes of life. In this episode, host Audra Haney and Holly discuss her new book "Same Here, Sisterfriend: Mostly True Tales of Misadventures in Motherhood," and how to keep a lighter outlook because, "We might as well laugh!"

We know that our babies are fearfully and wonderfully made, and come in awe-inspiring packages. But, it's hard to know exactly what's going on in your baby's brain or how to interact with them from the first few months of life. In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Kelsey Myers talks with Newborn Promise Podcast Host Audra Haney about your baby's neurobiology and how interaction from the earliest days helps shape mental and spiritual health.

Do you come from a broken family? If you are a living, breathing human, the answer is "yes." Listen as Dave Brandolini, the executive pastor of Austin Ridge Bible Church, in Austin, TX talks about his early life growing up with divorce and how the Gospel matured him into a Dad who could lead a thriving, faithful family. Dave gives practical advice for moms and dads that will break the cycle of despair, benefitting generations to come.

For many parents, overcoming fear or anxiety may seem impossible at this stage of life. It’s so natural to envision the worst and fret over the unimaginable in our parenting. But this episode’s guest, Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and author, Micca Campbell, says walking through the very pit of tragedy has helped her chose a life of faith instead of fear. As she shares her testimony, parents will be both inspired by the bravery in her personal testimony and equipped with practical advice to conquer their every day fears.

Songwriter, recording artist, and worship leader Matt Maher shares the heart and inspiration behind his latest album "Echoes". Influenced by both his children and the sudden loss of his father while recording, Matt explains how both the generation before and the generation coming behind shaped the message of his music. Matt also tells new parents about the greatest lessons he's learned about fatherhood and how it has profoundly impacted his faith.

When new babies are born, new parents are born--and new grandparents too! In this episode, Margy Tripp, wife of Dr. Tedd Tripp and co-founder of Shepherding the Heart Ministries, shares encouraging and challenging advice for grandparents. Pulling from her experience with her nine grandchildren, Margy leaves grandparents with the assurance that their role is valuable and their influence immense.

In this episode, songwriter and recording artist Brandon Heath shares the excitement surrounding his wife Siebe’s pregnancy with their daughter and how expecting their first child has shaped his newly released album Faith Hope Love Repeat. Brandon also talks about replacing fear with faith and how he plans to let God’s hope and love shape his growing family.