Faith in Parents – Details, episodes & analysis

Kate and Matt believe they are normal people. Matt knows how to slot motorway bridges into place and Kate is a medical engineer who can juggle twins. Their super power is that they are trying to reach neighbours, colleagues and not-yet-friends with the good news of Jesus. 

We hear the stories of frightening five year olds doing forceful evangelism and little one's praying over friends in the classroom. There is a ton of top tips including Amy saying it's alright just to sob at the school gate, Kate finding a better use for the class WhatsApp group and Matt being bold every Monday morning. 

In short, none of them are confident, but all of them are trusting Jesus to bring the miracles. We can all be normal families who bumble along taking every opportunity for the King.

Links:

https://www.brfonline.org.uk/products/refresh

Hosts: 

Ed Drew - Director of Faith in Kids
Amy Smith – Writer for Faith in Kids

Join Ed, Amy and Nay Dawson as they talk through a Christian approach to Halloween for parents. We can use Halloween as an opportunity to talk to our children about fearless faith, living distinctively and loving generously. It is also the one time when our community knocks on our door. How can we love them, offer them something of Christ without compromising our deep conviction that Christ is the light of the world?

People: 

Ed Drew - Director of Faith in Kids
Amy Smith – Writer for Faith in Kids
Nay Dawson - Nay is the founder of Passion for Evangelism. PfE exists to empower, encourage, and equip women to share the good news of Jesus with God-given confidence and creativity. 

Quote from Nay:

“It may well be that we don’t trick or treat ourselves. My two daughters get really scared of that kind of stuff. But we were so busy last year. All we were doing was constantly filling up this box to give away ‘gift bags of light’. If you’re unconvinced, go back to Scripture to see what is says about being light of the world, and if Jesus is the light of the world, we have this incredible opportunity to bring light into darkness and point to the light on this dark night.”

 
If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with us at podcast@faithinkids.org. We won't read out your emails on the podcast if you don't want us to, but we'd love to hear your stories and feedback.  We would love to speak to some families or share your stories on social media, be brave and get in touch!

Genuinely, we love hearing from folks, and helps us feel less like we are speaking into the void - do send us a friendly hello on email or socials, it might just make our day!

Support the show (http://www.faithinkids.org) 

 Last Episode in our Understanding Autism Series. Thanks for the brilliant response- we’re so glad it’s been a helpful topic.

In this episode we hear from Dr Léon van Ommen of Aberdeen University Dept of Divinity & Religious Studies who is involved in a unique Centre for Autism and Theology.

We also hear from Charlotte who gives a wonderfully helpful insight as an Autistic Mum to 2 kids.

Ed and Amy are there to ask the big questions.

People:
Ed Drew - is the Director of Faith in Kids.

Amy Smith - is a writer for Faith in Kids.

Dr. Léon van Ommen - lecturer in Practical Theology at Aberdeen University. Leon is also involved in a unique Centre for Autism and Theology on campus. Married with two children, he also loves coffee, fruit trees and donkeys.

- Resources -
Popular level:

• Arnold, Mark. 2022. How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church: Creating a Place of Belonging and Spiritual Development for All.
• Memmott, Ann. 2021. “Welcoming and Including Autistic People in Our Churches and Communities.”

Theological but quite accessible for non-academics:

• Macaskill, Grant. 2019. Autism and the Church: Bible, Theology, and Community.
• Van Ommen, Armand Léon. 2022. “Re-Imagining Church through Autism: A Singaporean Case Study.” Practical Theology 15 (6): 508–19.

The Heavier Stuff:

• Brock, Brian. 2019. Wondrously Wounded: Theology, Disability, and the Body of Christ.
• Van Ommen, Armand Léon. To be published in Sept/Oct 2023. Autism and Worship: A Liturgical Theology of Availability.

Our most requested podcast topic CONTINUES! Autism, parenting and the church. A new mini series over 3 podcast episodes is here to help

This week, Autism and God’s Family.  With our friends from “Through  The Roof” we consider how to make church a more welcoming place as we break down some of the common barriers faced.

Listen in for helpful advice from Kate and Triona’s own experience. Sophie and her daughter Phoebe who is autistic are also back being brilliant. Ed and Amy are there to ask the questions!

People:
Ed Drew - is the Director of Faith in Kids.

Amy Smith - is a writer for Faith in Kids.

Katie Mobbs - is Team Leader for the Through the Roof “Roofbreaker” project which aims to equip, encourage and resource  volunteer disability champions in churches and ministries across the UK. Based in Cardiff, Katie has Cerebral Palsy and is a wheelchair user. Katie has a background in health and social care law and  disability advocacy in the public and third sector. Katie works alongside people with a range of disabilities and access needs, through her work with  Through the Roof and in her local church. She has a passion to see people Access, and Belong within the church family and be Commissioned to use their gifts and skills for God’s Kingdom.

Triona Brading -  is a Roofbreaker volunteering with Through The Roof, she has a passion for integration and inclusion having grown up aware of her Dad’s disability, and working as a PA for a friend with a learning disability when she was 17. Triona studied Drama at DeMontfort University in Leicester, during which she was diagnosed as autistic herself and also spent time as an ambulatory wheelchair user, due to an illness. After recovering and graduating, Triona worked in disability arts before moving into the education sector. She currently works in a primary school supporting children with SEMH needs and mentoring neurodivergent kids on a 1:1 basis. Outside of work, Triona loves teaching the 2-4 year olds in her church, and oversees the SEND provision for REVIVE (Co-Mission’s annual festival).

Sophie Killingley - is a freelance artist specialising in lettering, cartooning and writing. She loves to letter/calligraphise  (made up word alert) on just about any surface with any pen. These amusing, satirical and uplifting offerings are added almost daily to her Instagram page. Her cartoons and illustrations are quirky offerings of satire, humour and heart from her perspectives on mental health, being an autism parent, and the niche madhouse which is Christian culture.

Her work can be found here Sophie has designed a creative spiritual journal called Draw Near.

Phoebe Killingley - is Sophie's  amazing 15 year old daughter. She is autistic. But above all else she is a precious child of God, who trusts him to be leading her through life, just like the rest of us.

Resources Mentioned in the Show:

• Home - Through the Roof
• Ten Ways Churches Can Help Those With Autism - Through the Roof
• A Welcoming Place - Autistic Young People in Church - Through the Roof

We all have  different and particular needs and expectations. In all likelihood we have someone autistic in our church, or know someone parenting a child with autism. It can feel like we can't help, or we don't know what to do.

Feel reassured and confident, we have a three part mini-series exploring the world of autism to help you. This first episode is full of stories from Mark Arnold. We also hear from Sophie and her daughter Phoebe who is Autistic. Our brilliant guests help us explore, understand and feel reassured.

There is the usual fun, so join Ed and Amy as they ask the hard questions that you've sent in.

People:
Ed Drew - is the Director of Faith in Kids. He is the author of Meals with Jesus, the Wonder of Easter and The Adventure of Christmas.

Amy Smith - is a writer for Faith in Kids.

Mark Arnold (The Additional Needs Blogfather) - is the Additional Needs Ministry Director for Urban Saints’ pioneering additional needs ministry, including training, consultancy, conference speaking and resourcing. He is co-founder of the ‘Additional Needs Alliance’, a learning and support community of almost three thousand organisations, children’s & youth workers, parents and more who are passionate about inclusion and belonging in the UK and beyond. Mark is founder of ‘The Dads Fire Circle’, a place for dads and dad figures for children, young people and young adults with additional needs to gather, share and support each other. . Mark is the author of ‘How To Include Autistic Children And Young People In Church’.

Mark is dad to James, a 20-year-old Autistic young man, who journeys with Epilepsy, Learning Difficulties and Anxiety.

Sophie Killingley is a freelance artist specialising in lettering, cartooning and writing. She loves to letter/calligraphise  (made up word alert) on just about any surface with any pen. These amusing, satirical and uplifting offerings are added almost daily to her Instagram page. Her cartoons and illustrations are quirky offerings of satire, humour and heart from her perspectives on mental health, being an autism parent, and the niche madhouse which is Christian culture.
Her work can be found here Sophie has designed a creative spiritual journal called Draw Near.

Phoebe Killingley is Sophie's  amazing 15 year old daughter. She is autistic. But above all else she is a precious child of God, who trusts him to be leading her through life, just like the rest of us.

Resources mentioned in the show:

• 1000 gifts by Ann Voskamp
• Welcome to Holland (a poem) by Emily Perl Kingsley

The book is here! Yes thats right, and we went live! TO THE WORLD! But its ok, you can still join the conversation!

Ed is joined by Mary (Ed's Wife) and Carl (Ed's Editor) as they talk about how we can use 'Raising Confident Kids' in our homes with our kids. Mary questions Ed's stories, Carl gives us an insight into how long it takes Ed to send in an email, and you asked some questions! Which were answered!

Catch up on the Live event now!

People:
Carl Laferton - is Editorial Director at The Good Book Company and is a member of Grace Church Worcester Park, London. He is the best-selling author of The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross and God's Big Promises Bible Storybook, and also serves as series editor of the God's Word for You series. Before joining TGBC, he worked as a journalist and then as a teacher, and pastored a congregation in Hull. Carl is married to Lizzie, and they have two children.

Ed Drew - is the Director of Faith in Kids. He is the author of Meals with Jesus, the Wonder of Easter and The Adventure of Christmas.

Mary Drew - is Ed's Wife!

Get the book here:

• Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World

This is the one were we're brave and talk about our bodies and Sex! Eeek!

Thankfully we can be easily put to rest as we have Patricia Weerakoon, a Christian Sexologist, helping us think through what we say, how we say it, and when to say it.

Laugh at Ed and Amy's awkwardness and be encouraged by this episode, Parents really are the first resort on all things for their kids!

People:
Patricia Weerakoon - is a sexologist, academic author and speaker focusing on healthy sexuality and relationships. After a 22-year career as an academic at the University of Sydney, she retired. Since retirement she has followed her passion to educate people of all ages on good holistic sexual health by speaking and writing in the area from a Christ focussed Biblical framework.

Ed Drew - is the Director of Faith in Kids. He is the author of Meals with Jesus, the Wonder of Easter and The Adventure of Christmas.

Amy Smith - is a writer for Faith in Kids.

Resources:
You and me by the book (for 4-7 year olds)

Birds and Bees by the book  (for 7-10 year olds)

Growing up by the book (for 10-14 year olds)

Teen sex by the book (for 15-18 year olds)

Talking sex by the book (for Parents)

The special guest is... Ed Drew! He's written a book. It's out!

Hear the Editor's guide to writing a book, Amy's top tips for the little people in your head and Ed's desire to avoid being the guru with the radical hot take. This episode is all about helping parents to help their children know 'who they are' before 'how they should behave.'

People:
Ed Drew - is the Director of Faith in Kids. He is the author of Meals with Jesus, the Wonder of Easter and The Adventure of Christmas.

Amy Smith - is a writer for Faith in Kids.

Lets talk about those sporty kids. How do we balance sports and church? What about modelling Christ-likeness? How do we parent sporty kids, when there isn't a sporty bone in our body?

Join Ed, Amy as they chat with Ian Lancaster (Lancs) from Christians in sports about how we can support our kids and help them navigate the world of sport. Ed and Amy spill the beans in parenting blunders, and Lancs helps them, and us, with some practical tips.

Resources highlighted in this podcast:

• To receive a copy of the free booklet for parents from Christians in Sport go here.
• Christians in Sports’ resources
• Listen to this podcast with Gaynor, a Mum of top-level teenagers, talking about how she has navigated the issue of Church and the clash with sport on Sundays.
• Listen to this podcast with Sally, a Mum with four children, all of whom have been on Elite sport pathways.
• Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World by (our own) Ed Drew

People:
Ian Lancaster - Ian was on the books of Carlisle United FC as a young professional and is now a football coach at grassroots level. He is a parent of three sporty children. Part of Ian’s role within Christians in Sport over the years has been to help establish their work with young people who compete in a sports club or team or are on an elite performance pathway.

Ed Drew - is the Director of Faith in Kids. He is the author of Meals with Jesus, the Wonder of Easter and The Adventure of Christmas.

Amy Smith - is a writer for Faith in Kids.

In this two-part episode of the Faith in Parents podcast, something a little different happens… Ed and Amy find themselves on the other side of the conversation!

They’re joined by Jason, who brings the real-time wonderings of a parent trying to figure it all out. How do we help our kids with friendships? What does it look like to talk about Jesus at home? And what do we do with the guilt when it feels like we’re not getting it right?

Across these two episodes, Ed and Amy reflect on their own parenting journeys — what’s been hard, what’s surprised them, and how they’ve kept going with Jesus through it all. It’s a conversation full of honesty, wisdom, and grace.

Expect encouragement, a few laughs, and a reminder that however it’s going, you are still God’s Plan A for your kids.

People: 

Ed Drew - Director of Faith in Kids

Amy Smith - Writer for Faith in Kids

Jason Heron - Digital Lead at Faith in Kids, an ordained minister with the Elim Pentecostal Church, and co-host of The Parenting Tools Podcast.