Parenting, Special Needs, Caregiving MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Special Needs, Caregiving MARKINC Ministries

Help for Parenting Children with Disabilities

In this conversation, Sharon Betters and Steph speak as two friends, as they talk about the fact that a child with disabilities might be different but is not “less than”. Sharon and Steph discuss how hurtful comments from others might be a reflection of their own hearts and the need for each of us to learn more about the lives of those parenting children with disabilities. Listen in as Steph challenges us to consider how we respond when around a child with disabilities. Do we recognize them as deserving of the same love and care as a child without disabilities? Does your church enfold such families into the body of Christ? Steph shares how a biblical worldview of disabilities, that is, God’s view, will transform your heart.

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Special Needs, Parenting MARKINC Ministries Special Needs, Parenting MARKINC Ministries

The Thorn of Autism

Nearly aborted, graciously adopted and later abandoned, Lori Sealy has traveled the road of atheism and lived a life of autism. Lori was diagnosed with Autism as an adult and not long after that diagnosis learned her son had autism as well. In this interview, parents of a young man who has autism ask Lori the questions burning in the hearts of other parents with high functioning children that struggle every day with the "thorn of autism."

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Parenting, Special Needs, Caregiving MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Special Needs, Caregiving MARKINC Ministries

Finding Joy In The Hard Places With Autism

Paul and Jill Miller welcomed their sixth child, daughter Kim, into their home in 1982. It became apparent at a young age that Kim was behind in her developmental milestones. Kim was diagnosed as having autism, a disorder that was just beginning to be recognized by doctors. Kim’s diagnosis not only created enormous stress on their family, but also isolated Jill as she learned how to parent their precious child. In this remarkable conversation Paul and Jill take us back to those early days and how Kim’s life has taught them life-changing spiritual truths and led them to fall deeper in love with Jesus.

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Parenting, Illness, Emotions MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Illness, Emotions MARKINC Ministries

Schizophrenia - Through a Mother’s Eyes

In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Simonetta Carr shares the story of her beloved son, Jonathan, and her experience of caring for him as he struggled with schizophrenia. Simonetta doesn’t sugarcoat the enormous challenges and emotions that were non-stop. She talks about how she fervently prayed for Jonathan, the fears she had to confront, and how the church came alongside Jonathan and her in this battle. You may not have a loved one with schizophrenia but Simonetta and Jonathan’s story will give you insight into the enormous battle facing families with such a diagnosis.

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Parenting, Teens MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Teens MARKINC Ministries

Raising Sexually Healthy Kids

The world’s culture is continually pushing an anything goes sexuality on our children. What’s a parent to do in order to help their children navigate their sexuality, social media, the ever present temptation of pornography, the continuous bombardment of our sexually explicit  culture. In this Help and Hope resource, Dr. Betters and Sharon interview Dan and Heather Wilson.

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Parenting, Emotions MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Emotions MARKINC Ministries

Motherhood, Shame & Guilt

Barbara Juliani and Jane Anne Wilson join Sharon Betters to talk about those feelings every mother experiences at one time or another. This conversation follows an interview with Barbara about prodigal children. Barbara and her father Jack Miller co-authored Come Back, Barbara, a raw and transparent story of Barbara’s rebellion against her parents and their faith and her journey “back home”. Whenever a child rebels or disappoints

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Emotions, Parenting MARKINC Ministries Emotions, Parenting MARKINC Ministries

When Parents Feel Like Failures

If you’re a parent, it’s likely you have had more than one sleepless night reviewing the mistakes and perceived failures of that day. We resign ourselves to carry the emotions of fear, guilt, shame, and regret for the rest of our lives. But do we have to just let these emotions… read more

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Parenting, Emotions, Teens MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Emotions, Teens MARKINC Ministries

Anxious Teen? You Can Help!

In this Help & Hope interview, Jessica Thompson, author of How to Help Your Teens with Anxiety, talks to Sharon Betters about some of the root causes of anxiety and offers practical tips for how parents can get their kids talking about anxiety and how they come alongside of their children during their teen years.

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Parenting, Special Needs, Caregiving MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Special Needs, Caregiving MARKINC Ministries

Adoption and Children with Special Needs: A Hard Calling Filled With Joy

In this transparent interview,  Jim and Karen share the highs and the lows of their international adoption journey, from how they began their adoption adventure, to the challenge of finding the new normal for their family. Listeners will get a glimpse into the reality of adoption and how it draws you closer to Jesus. 

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Parenting MARKINC Ministries Parenting MARKINC Ministries

Helping Hurting Children

Darby Strickland’s children’s books, Something Sad Happened, and Something Scary Happened, are designed to not only help children deal with trauma but also equip their parents. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Heidi Nequist, and Darby Strickland, Darby answers multiple questions about how to help a hurting child like:

  • How does a child suffer deep loss or experience fear after a traumatic event? 

  • How do you help that child? How is a child’s response different than an adult’s? 

  • What are signs your child is frightened or deeply grieving?

  • and more…

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Parenting MARKINC Ministries Parenting MARKINC Ministries

Motherhood and Its Idols

How can good parenting motives turn into idols? What should we do when we discover that our motives for doing good things for our kids just might be wrong?  In this conversation, Christina Fox addresses these parenting concerns and much more.

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Grief, Parenting MARKINC Ministries Grief, Parenting MARKINC Ministries

Miscarriage: Deeply Traumatic, Tragically Common

In this conversation,Jessalyn Hutto brings hope to women who grieve the loss of their children through miscarriage. She offers a priceless gift to those women coming behind her who have experienced such deep loss. Jessalyn reminds listeners that Jesus cares very deeply about every child who is lost to miscarriage and He cares very deeply about every mother who is deprived of that life.

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Faith, Caregiving, Parenting, Special Needs MARKINC Ministries Faith, Caregiving, Parenting, Special Needs MARKINC Ministries

Prayers for Your Baby or Child in a Medical Crisis

As a baby grows in the womb, we often hear, “I don’t care if it’s a boy or girl, as long as the baby is healthy.” Sadly, sometimes, frightened parents hear the words from their doctor, “I’m sorry, but your baby….” You fill in the blank. In this conversation with Jessika Sanders and Erik Schumacker, co-authors of In His Hands: Prayer for Your Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis, we talk about how…

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Relationships, Parenting MARKINC Ministries Relationships, Parenting MARKINC Ministries

The Mother-In-Law Dance

This conversation between Annie Chapman and Sharon Betters will help guide daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law through the sometimes difficult maze of “sharing” a man. Annie Chapman is the author of The Mother-In-Law Dance and knows from experience how challenging it can be to get along with your mother-in-law.

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Parenting, Faith MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Faith MARKINC Ministries

When Church Hurts

Neglect. Rejection. Sin. Conflict. Change. It’s difficult to attend church when you’ve suffered some of your deepest hurts. Megan Hill understands that church can be hard. In this conversation, Sharon Betters and Megan talk about why church hurt can be so devastating, the root of church hurt, people in the scriptures who experienced church hurt and how they responded to the priceless gift of community, and reasons to pursue life in a local church even when it hurts. Megan gently leads wounded people on a pathway to peace as she encourages us to explore the source of our struggles, find ways to express our sorrow…

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Parenting, Faith MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Faith MARKINC Ministries

Pieces to Peace, Loving a Prodigal Daughter

Children raised in the same family sometimes grow up with very different responses to life. Such is the story of Julie Malone and her beautiful daughter, Allie. Julie and her husband, Tim loved their lives as parents and Tim’s ministry to teens. But their idyllic life would take a turn into a foreign land of broken places. Julie says,

“I am very thankful for my childhood as I came to know and love the Lord as my savior at a very young age. I really never knew a day without Jesus in my life. I married Tim, and we had 4 beautiful little girls. We were raising our kids to know Jesus. We were a close family. Life was good. But Tim and I often wondered how and when real suffering would enter our lives…

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Parenting, Faith MARKINC Ministries Parenting, Faith MARKINC Ministries

Conflict with Adult Children

One in four adults are estranged from their parents, so says one 2022 study. According to another study, 11% of mothers between the ages 65 – 75 with two or more grown children were estranged from at least one…

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