The Parenting for Faith podcast

What does it mean to be made in the image of God and how can we help our children and teenagers understand it? In today’s episode, Anna chats with Taylor Bentliff about what this means for how we see ourselves, relate to others and care for the world around us. From a helpful jigsaw puzzle picture of how God is restoring his image in us, to finding a balance between feeling we need to be perfect and believing we never need to change, Taylor explores how we can talk about the image of God without piling on guilt or pr...

What happens when we discover our children have a very different picture of God from the one we expected? In this episode, Anna chats with Chloe, Mark and Toro about trying the Key Tool of Unwinding with their children and teenagers, and what they discovered along the way. From imagining God as a pixelated character to wrestling with big questions about free will, prayer and whether God is in control, these families share honest stories of the conversations they’ve had. They explore how to listen with curiosity, gently broaden children’s understanding of God and know when to ask some...

What picture of God are our children building from the things they hear, see and experience? In today’s episode, Anna and Jess introduce the third of the Five Key Tools: Unwinding. Along with Parenting for Faith founder, Rachel Turner, they explore how we can help our children and teenagers develop a healthy, balanced view of who God is. From noticing the little comments children make about God to asking open questions and listening with curiosity, discover how to explore what your child thinks without turning it into a right-or-wrong conversation. Discover practical ideas for gently broadening their understanding of Go...

How can we help our children and teenagers see how the stories of the Bible fit together and what they have to do with their own lives? In today’s episode, Jess chats with Andrew and Charlotte Ollerton about their family resource, God’s Story, Our Story, and why helping children see the Bible as one big story can make such a difference. From making Bible time feel less like a lesson to talking about the tricky parts of Scripture, Andrew and Charlotte share practical ideas for exploring the Bible together, asking questions and connecting what we read with everyday life...

In this episode, Anna chats with Dan, Julie, Rachel and Thomas about the Key Tool of Framing and the different ways they’ve tried it out with their children and teenagers. From tricky questions about church and faith to conversations about money, identity, death and everyday situations, hear how these families are learning to bring God into what’s already happening. You’ll hear honest stories, simple ideas and plenty of encouragement to just give it a go and trust God to grow the seeds we plant. Links: The Five Key Tools Journey https://www.brfresources.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/produc...

How can we help our children and teenagers see where God is in the middle of everyday life? In today’s episode, Anna and Jess introduce the second of the Five Key Tools: Framing. Along with Parenting for Faith founder, Rachel Turner, they explore how we can help our teenagers and children make sense of their experiences with God in the picture. Without needing to have all the answers, discover how simple things like pointing out where you see God, explaining the ‘why’ behind what you do, encouraging questions and curiosity, and sharing your own experiences can help young people and ch...

How can we share our faith with our children and grandchildren in everyday life, without feeling we need to have all the answers? In this episode, Jess talks with Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin about Creating Windows, sharing stories from family life, the people who shaped her faith and simple ways to help teens and children catch a glimpse of God’s love. From praying together and sharing Bible stories to talking about the news and singing around the house, discover how faith can be included the ordinary moments of everyday life. The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, CD, MBE, was born and ra...

How can we give our children little glimpses into our relationship with God? In today’s episode, Anna chats with Emma, James and Gemma about the Parenting for Faith tool of Creating Windows, sharing honest stories and simple ideas for helping children see what life with God can look like in everyday family life. Without pressure to get it right or needing to have all the answers, discover how small, everyday glimpses of our relationship with God can help children of all ages find their own ways of connecting with him. Links: Join us on The Five Key Tools Journey! ht...

What if our children and teenagers don’t need to see a perfect faith, but a real one? In today’s episode, Anna and Jess introduce the first of the Five Key Tools: Creating Windows. Along with Parenting for Faith founder, Rachel Turner, they explore how children and teenagers can discover what life with God looks like by seeing and hearing how the adults around them connect with him in everyday life. From talking about how you pray when you’re struggling, to sharing where you’ve noticed God during the day, they look at how small, natural glimpses into our rela...

What if looking after ourselves could also help our children? In today’s episode, Anna chats with Christian fitness coach David Donaghue about the connections between faith, fitness and family life. They explore the pressure to put ourselves last, the power of small and sustainable habits, and how our children learn from what they see us doing. David is a Christian fitness coach, with a varied experience including church leadership. David's work includes helping busy parents improve their health and fitness with close support and accountability! Links: To join in with The Five Key Tools Journey, head to our webpage ht...

What if you don’t have to be a perfect Christian parent for your children to know God? In today’s episode, Anna and Jess are joined by David and Laura to talk honestly about the key truths behind the Parenting for Faith approach and what they’ve looked like in their own families. They explore the pressure to get Christian parenting ‘right’, the freedom of knowing that God is already at work in their children’s lives, and what it means to help children and teenagers take their next step with God. Links: Join The Five Key Tools Course Journey! htt...

What if helping our children and teenagers know God isn’t about getting everything right? In today’s episode, Anna and Jess introduce the Five Key Tools Course and along with Parenting for Faith founder, Rachel Turner, they explore Key Truths at the heart of the Parenting for Faith approach. They look at how God is already at work in the lives of our children and teenagers, why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to faith, and how parents and carers can support their children’s relationship with God without trying to engineer it. Links: Parenting as a Church Leader on Thursday...

September can feel like a fresh start, but what if we don’t need to get everything sorted? In today’s episode, Jess and Anna chat about letting go of the pressure to have it all together and instead noticing where God is in the everyday moments and finding simple ways to journey through family life with him. They also introduce the Five Key Tools Journey and invite you to join them. Links: Join us on The Five Key Tools Journey https://www.brfresources.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/five-key-tools-course-parenting-for-faith We would love to know how Parenting for Faith has help...

Summer camps can be incredible moments of growth, but how can we help faith become real when everyday life begins again? In today’s episode, Anna talks with author and pastor Alistair Chalmers about how parents and carers can nurture the conversations, questions and moments that help faith last beyond the summer. Alistair offers some practical tips to help teenagers grow in faith in through the ordinary, everyday moments of life after a summer camp experience. Alistair is Pastor of Ferniehill Evangelical Church and author of ‘Road Map to Jesus’ & ‘Living for Jesus’. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two da...

Summer can come with a lot of pressure to make every moment count, but what if we let go of the 'shoulds' instead? In today’s episode, Anna and Jess explore simple, everyday ways to notice God already at work in your family this summer, without adding another thing to your to-do list. Links: Book onto our Five Key Tools Course starting in September - https://www.brfresources.org.uk/products/five-key-tools-course-parenting-for-faith?srsltid=AfmBOoqKjt4Kclt7e0yjFGkerQBjKP4w87LQV6Jxj7bsUQeD0H1h2JMG S14 E1, Where did you see God today? https://brfonline.org.uk/programs/parenting-for-faith-podcast?cid=4596135&permalink=po...

In today’s episode, Jess talks with play therapist Lizzie Miller about why play matters far beyond childhood. Together they unpack how play helps us all (adults and children alike), how it can give us an insight into our teen and children’s lives and how God designed us to play. Whether you're parenting toddlers or teenagers, this episode encourages us to notice the unique ways your child is wired, embrace moments of connection, and discover how God can meet us through something as simple and profound as play. Lizzie Miller is a Play and Creative Arts Therapist who is pass...

Change is inevitable and comes for us all no matter our age - whether it is starting a new school, moving house, welcoming a new sibling or changes in friendships! In today's episode, Anna and Jess explore how we can help children and teenagers navigate moments of change with God at the centre. Links: The new Five Key Tools coming in September, sign up here -https://www.brfresources.org.uk/products/five-key-tools-course-parenting-for-faith?srsltid=AfmBOoq093y03Crhq1SmHzizOOR_245JQzRMMn4F_9_x1vQW4UjQaNDK Transitions - https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/transitions/ We would love to know how Parenting for...

In today’s episode, Anna is joined by The Clewer Initiative director Lois Bosatta to explore the reality of modern slavery and exploitation in communities across the UK. Together they identify what exploitation can look like, the warning signs parents and carers should be aware of and how we can have age-appropriate conversations with children and teenagers about trust, vulnerability and staying safe. Trigger warning: this episode is focused on modern slavery but there is no in-depth detail included. Links: The Clewer Initiative https://clewer.org.uk/ Fearless from Crimestoppers https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fearless Modern Slavery Awareness Module from The Cl...

What do you do when your child asks a question that leaves you scrambling for an answer? In this episode, Anna and Jess revisit one of Parenting for Faith’s most-loved tools for handling tricky faith questions with confidence. Using the simple four-step framework of What do you think? What do we know? What do we not know? How do I handle it?, they explore three challenging questions that many children and teenagers ask: Why does God let bad things happen? Why doesn’t God answer every prayer? Why are Christians sometimes hypocrites? Rather than trying to have all the answ...

In today’s episode, Anna is joined by author, blogger, and church leader Tim Challies. Based in Canada, Tim serves as an elder at Grace Fellowship Church and has spent decades writing and teaching about faith, culture, and the Christian life. His latest children’s book, God’s Great Big Global Church, grew out of a personal project travelling the world to experience how Christians worship across different cultures. This conversation explores how we can help children see beyond their immediate world and understand their place in God’s global family. Tim shares how the book invites kids to: Discover how Chri...

Church with kids can sometimes feel like something to get through, but what if it could be so much more? In today’s episode, Anna and Jess explore how to help children and teenagers notice God in church, not just sit through it. From simple ways to frame the experience before you arrive, to spotting God at work during the service, to meaningful conversations afterwards, there are practical ideas to help your family engage more deeply. Whether church feels life-giving or really challenging right now, this episode is packed with encouragement and small, doable steps to help you make the mo...

In today’s episode, we will be watching and listening to a re-run of a podcast episode where Esther Kuku shares about how to share faith as part of a stepfamily. She gives insight into her experience and where God has been a part of that. Esther’s book is available to buy on BRF Resources. Links: ‘Stepping Up: A devotional for stepfamilies’ by Esther Kuku https://www.brfresources.org.uk/products/stepping-up?_pos=1&_sid=4e1580282&_ss=r Send us your questions, stories and ideas for future episodes at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at [email protected] We would...

In today’s episode, we join Anna at the book launch of “Spiritual Health” written by Rachel Bedford. Along with Ben Atkins, Anna and Rachel explore what spiritual health really means - the “you of you” that Jesus longs to care for. They talk about what it means for raising and leading children and young people. Rachel Bedford is a teacher, preacher and ordained Church of England minister. She is Vicar at Greyfriars, Reading. Links: Esther Kuku’s book - Stepping Up https://www.brfresources.org.uk/collections/new-titles/products/stepping-up?srsltid=AfmBOoqSn6K4Gn6vI4kqmdo1Nz7W-_535_2TKlvfKLAISEpATfBEK0UT Rachel Be...

In today’s episode, Anna and Jess explore how the Parenting for Faith Five Key Tools can help parents and carers support children and teenagers through exam season and other high-pressure moments. They share practical ideas for different ages and stages, as well as encouragement to parents who are feeling overwhelmed. Links: 5 Key Tools Summary for exams and tests - https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/key-tools-for-tests-and-exams/ Parenting as a Church Leader Course on Thursday 15th October https://www.brfresources.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-courses/products/parenting-as-a-church-leader-day-2 Parenting Children for a Life of Purpose video (I’m Not Finished Yet) - ht...

In today’s episode, Jess is joined by Pete Greig to talk about prayer. Pete shares how modelling an authentic prayer life shapes children’s faith more than anything we say and why helping children hear God for themselves builds a real, lasting relationship with Him. Together, they explore how bringing prayer into everyday moments helps children recognise God at work in all of life. Pete Greig is the bewildered founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement, an award-winning author of ten books and a co-host of the much-loved daily devotional Lectio 365. He and his wife Sammy, a professional counsellor, are Foun...

In today's episode, Anna and Jess explore what to do when your child or teenager asks to watch a new show or movie. They offer a practical four-step "decide with God" framework, helping parents and carers move away from quick reactions and towards equipping their children with lifelong discernment skills. Links: ● Websites for Christian perspectives on media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/, pluggedin.com and https://www.movieguide.org/ ● Decide with God 4-step process https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/decide-with-god/ ● Milk Analogy https://brfonline.org.uk/programs/parenting-teens-for-a-life-of-faith?cid=4473191&permalink=catch. ● We would love to know how Parenting for Faith ha...

In today’s episode, Jess talks with Hannah Miller. Hannah Miller is the founder of Sidekick and the creator of The Purpose Pursuit™ course and book. An award-winning speaker, author, podcast host, and accredited coach, she helps people and organisations uncover their strengths, navigate change, and pursue purpose. Together, they discuss what pursuing purpose can look like for parents and carers, as well as offering advice and encouragement on how to help teenagers pursue purpose too. Hannah shares how helping children identify their purpose as children of God, and the gifts God has given them, can begin from a very youn...

In today’s episode, Jess and Anna discuss how to help our kids have a faith that lasts. We don't have a magic formula or secret sauce that guarantees your child will stay connected to God throughout their life (sorry!) but we do know some things that help them grow a deep and rooted faith with will help it better withstand the storms of life. Links: Send us a voice note! https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/podcast/ Five Key Tools https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/tools/ The Deeper Rooted Lasting course https://brfonline.org.uk/programs/deeper-rooted-lasting Teenagers an...

We normally take a break from the podcast over the holidays but today we’re bringing you a bonus of something a little bit different. Anna Hawken speaks to Martha Shrimpton from Spring Harvest about how we capture what’s great and build on the momentum of weeks like Spring Harvest. Martha is an actor, presenter and author who has worked within creative arts for many years. She is the director of Nimbus Collective, which encourages individuals, families and churches to connect with God in creative ways. She also works as the Creative Coordinator at Spring Harvest and leads The Big...

In today’s episode, we speak to Triona Brading, Lois Bunyan and Claire Wood, authors of Belonging without Barriers, which is a brand new book from BRF Ministries. Their book casts a vision of inclusion and full belonging within our churches and other Christian communities for those with additional needs. We chat about what that looks like in practice for those of us with children or teenagers with additional needs and those of us in churches who want to be better at welcoming people. Links: Buy Belonging without Barriers https://www.brfresources.org.uk/belonging-without-barriers Follow Belonging without Barriers on In...

In today’s episode, Anna & Jess explore how to tell the ‘big story of the Bible’ to teens and children, especially around Easter. They offer a simple framework to help explain the full story of the Bible (don’t worry, there are only six points!). The Key Tools of Creating Windows, Framing and Unwinding are talked about in examples of how to help your children and teens with understanding the whole story of the Bible. Links: Parenting Children for a Life of Faith omnibus: Helping children meet and know God by Rachel Turner https://www.brfresources.org.uk/collections/parenting/products...

In today’s episode, Jess is talking to Gemma Hunt. Gemma is an award-winning TV presenter, children’s author and public speaker, best known for her long-standing work on CBBC and CBeebies, alongside presenting Songs of Praise and BBC Education programmes. Drawing on her own faith, family life and passion for others to have confidence, Gemma now supports adults, teens and children through storytelling, coaching and conversations. Gemma shares about her own journey with confidence and how is has developed through self-reflection and remembering her identity in God. Jess and Gemma talk about what confidence (or lack of it!) is like...

In today’s episode, Anna and Jess talk about the complex topics of sin, shame and guilt. They acknowledge that whilst we might have different theological views or backgrounds, as parents and carers we want to make sure that our children and teens have a good understanding of these concepts in a way that helps them continue to connect with God and build relationship with Him. They use the Parenting for Faith Key Tools of Unwinding and Chat & Catch to help unpack these ideas and equip you with how to talk to the children in your life about them. Links: BR...

In today’s episode, Anna talks with Joe, the founder of KICK, a charity that transforms young people’s lives, with God’s love, through sport and support. They take an honest look at the current experiences of young people and talk about how the work of KICK, as well as the church community can help. Using the Parenting for Faith tools of Windows & Framing, they offer a way for parents and carers to be able to connect with their teen as well as connect them with God. Links: KICK https://kick.org.uk/ Parenting as a Church Leaders Course online...

As Valentine’s Day rolls around, Anna and Jess chat about romance and relationships. They explore how we can help our children and teenagers have a God-focused view of their lives and see how relationships might fit in with that. They chat about the various ways the media has shaped what our young people believe are ‘successful relationships’. They've got some tips and ideas of how to talk about it all, without pressure or awkwardness. They share how to use the Parenting for Faith tools of Framing and Unwinding to tackle this topic with the children and teens in your life...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Krish Kandiah to talk about hospitality and what it can look like in everyday family life. Dr Krish Kandiah is the director of Sanctuary Foundation, an author, social entrepreneur and broadcaster amongst many other things! Together with his wife Miriam they are adoptive parents, birth parents and foster parents. Krish shares how his heart for hospitality was modelled by his mum’s generous, open-door approach - showed him what loving others really looks like, even in the face of racism. We chat about how hospitality can be part of ordinary family life: from...

Sleep can be one of the most vulnerable parts of family life. When the house is quiet and the lights go out, worries can feel bigger, fears can surface, and everyone is a little more tired than they’d like to be. In this episode, Anna and Jess explore how God meets us and our children in those moments - even in the dark. Using the Parenting for Faith Key Tools, they talk about unwinding unhelpful ideas about sleep and darkness, framing what’s really going on at bedtime, and creating simple ways for children to chat and catch with God...

In today’s episode we speak to Rachel Turner about keys truths that all parents and carers need to hear. Rachel Turner has worked within church leadership and family, youth and children’s ministry for over 20 years. After serving full-time in multiple churches, she then went on to found Parenting for Faith in partnership with BRF Ministries. Through her and her team’s work, they have created multiple online courses, resources and a podcast to enable parents and carers to disciple their children and for church leaders to create a parenting for faith culture within their communities. She is an intern...

In today’s episode, Jess and Anna chat about how to use the question ‘Where did you see God today?’, as we start 2026. It’s a great question to ask yourself and opens up lots of opportunities to create windows and frame (two of the Five Key Tools of Parenting for Faith) for the children and young people in your life. Anna is the Parenting for Faith Ministry Lead and has been getting to grips with Parenting for Faith for the last 15 years, the last 8 of those working at BRF Ministries. Jess is the Development & Relationship Lead at Parenting for Faith. S...

In today’s episode we speak to Becky Sedgwick, author of Grandparenting for Faith and co-presenter of the Grandparenting for Faith course about the power of the grandparent generation. Listen and share with friends and relatives this Christmas and please also share the episode within anyone who might appreciate hearing it. This is a recording of a webinar on the Church Support Hub. Links: Buy the Grandparenting for Faith course for Christmas - either for people to do at their own pace or join the zoom course run by our team Tuesdays at 7pm starting on 27 Jan. https://www.parentingforfaith.br...