Help & Hope

Lisa Kowal heard the diagnosis of breast cancer and recognized she was about to begin a hard journey into the scary land of Cancer. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, also a breast cancer survivor, Lisa shares her journey in a way that will help equip those coming behind her to face this enemy with strength. Lisa and Sharon talk about some of the practical things they did to minimize the power of cancer in their lives, as well as some tips for dealing with the aftereffects of treatment. Have you just heard those words, “You have breast cancer”, or d...

Imagine hearing these words: “Make no mistake: without treatment, this is fatal.” Katy Bowser Hutson heard this message from her oncologist, who made it clear that without aggressive treatment, Katy would die. She did not hear any optimism in her doctor’s voice. Katy’s diagnosis was inflammatory breast disease, and it was relentless in attempting to take over her body. In this conversation, Sharon Betters, herself a breast cancer survivor, talks with Katy about her journey, how writing poetry helped her express her deepest fears, and how seeing her feelings and emotions take shape on paper gave them less con...

"Breast cancer".

The very words are terrifying.

The first thing Sharon did when she heard that diagnosis was to find a woman who had already traveled through the foreign land of cancer. As Sharon said, "I needed a guide—someone to help me navigate the maze of unknown terrain." It is Sharon's hope that through this interview, she and her husband Chuck can come alongside you as you walk this new pathway. In this interview, you'll hear some practical ways to take the terror out of the word "cancer," and how to face your journey wi...

“Who am I? What is my purpose? I thought I could have it all and I do. But I am restless, I feel like I’m missing something.”

Statistics show many American women are weary, struggle with depression, and self-medicate with alcohol, flattery, etc. Suicide rates for women are on the rise. What’s happening? More importantly, what’s the resolution? In this conversation, Jen Oshman, author of Enough About Me, and Help & Hope host Sharon Betters talk about the problem, the diagnosis, and the treatment for this low-grade anxiety that often disrupts our thinking, whether in joyful or...

In this episode of the Go Ask Your Mother mini-series on the Help & Hope Podcast, Sharon Betters talks with author, speaker, and counselor Christina Fox about one of the tender and often surprising transitions of motherhood: learning to let go as our children become adults.

Drawing from Christina’s recent Daily Treasure devotions, this conversation explores the fears, grief, identity shifts, and spiritual stretching that come when a mother’s role begins to change. Christina shares honestly from her own experience as a mother of adult sons, including the lessons God is t...

*The statistics below are from 2017, the year this episode was first published.*

Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of 47,000 people. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54. There were more than twice as many suicides (47,173) in the United States than there were homicides (19,510). Sadly, suicide is trending upward, increasing 31% in the past eighteen years. Suicide among males is nearly four times higher than among females...

The third leading cause of death in 15-to-24-year-old’s...suicide and depression amongst our teens is a topic that cannot be ignored in our culture. This is an honest conversation with two professionals who have helped teens and families through these struggles. Parents and teens alike will benefit from strategies to help teens find hope in the darkness of depression.

The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, by visiting helpandhopenow.org. You can also download the FREE mobile app, Help an...

Depression affects more than 15 million American adults – 6.7% of the population 18 or older. Twenty percent of teens experience depression before adulthood and 70% will have more than one episode of depression before adulthood. 8.3% of these teens suffer depression for at least a year.

Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression.

Untreated suicide is the leading cause of suicide, and suicide is the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 – 24.

These overwhelming statistics demonstrate that depression is a broad life crisis with many unique circumstances. Similarly, in this interview, Danielle’s story demonstrates that d...

Do these words haunt you: "Mom, Dad, I don't want your rules and morals. I don't want to act like a Christian anymore! And I'm not going to." Barbara Juliani (then Barbara Miller) made this declaration at the age of 18. As her father desperately attempted to reason with her, Barbara grew more resentful, choosing a path of immorality that only deepened her parents' pain.

Such a declaration from a child, no matter their age, creates havoc and soul-searching in the hearts of their parents, who often ask, “What did I do wrong?”

In this conversation with...

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 hang around and take over our thinking? The answer is no! Co-hosts Sharon Betters and Heidi Nequist talk to Lauren Whitman, counselor, author, speaker, and mother, about when parents feel like failures. But they don’t stop with the bad news. They also discuss how Jesus can qu...

In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Miho Kahn and her husband, David Wiedis, share the story of Miho’s journey into a world of drugs, violence, and abuse. At the age of fourteen, Miho pushed against the boundaries of her parents’ quiet life and struck out on her own, telling her sister, “Don’t try to find me.” As you listen, you might think, “This story could be a compelling movie” as you imagine a young girl hitch-hiking alone across America and exposing herself to danger and abuse. Miho shares the story of her drug addiction, rape, co-dependency, abortion -- and all of...

Gary Episcopo joins us on the Help & Hope podcast to share how God used his love for motorcycles and the brotherhood and comradery of motorcycle clubs to lead him into a life of demonstrating the love of Jesus to the "one percenters", or outlaw gangs. Growing up, and even into adulthood, Gary struggled with many of the same temptations of these men and women, and his understanding of the deep mercy God extended and continues to extend to him compels him to see many of these gang members as family who need the same mercy he has received. Gary...

Sharon Betters interviews GRAMMY winner Laura Story, who shares details of how her life took an unexpected turn when her husband, Martin, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The fairytale life she had dreamed of was no longer possible, yet Laura found a "better broken" with Jesus. Laura's story will remind listeners while your situation might never change or get better, with Jesus, YOU can.

The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, by visiting helpandhopenow.org. You can also download the...

Thousands of families quietly and lovingly care for children with special needs. Though the days are often long and hard, many find joy in their calling and would not trade their calling for anything. Kara Dedert and her family reflect this joy in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of caring for their son and brother, Calvin. In her introduction to her blog, Kara writes, “You’ll find me writing about the good, gritty, grace-y parts of faith, family, and home. I’m married to Darryl and we have five kids. One of our sons has severe disabilities from Zika. It’s b...

In this inspiring podcast, former baseball star, Dave Dravecky, and Dr. Chuck F. Betters talk about how cancer destroyed Dave’s successful baseball career and Dave’s struggle to deal with not only the loss of his career but understanding his true identity.

In the 1980s, Dave Dravecky was a long-sought-after relief specialist. His pitching helped key the San Diego Padres' Word Series run. After a few years in San Diego, Dravecky moved on to San Francisco, where he was a key part of their World Series run.

However, things in 1989 would take a bitter turn...

Jim and Karen Weaver’s international adoption journey led them to welcoming not one, but two boys into their family, making them parents of four daughters and two sons. In this transparent interview, Jim and Karen share the highs and the lows of their journey, from how they began their adoption adventure, to the realization that life would never go back to the normalcy of raising four daughters, to how the extreme emotional meltdowns created chaos in their home but also taught them about their own hearts. Through their story, listeners will get a glimpse into the reality of th...

When you first meet Sue, you sense she is a woman who lives life through a kind and steady grid. Yet, still waters run deep, and for over thirty-plus years Sue and her husband have parented three sons, one of whom was born with Down Syndrome and a brain injury. Joseph will never care for himself in any way. He is totally dependent on his parents for his well-being. In this conversation, you will hear the story of a mother who has experienced a life crisis that is painful, sometimes hard to talk about, sometimes experienced in isolation, yet...

When a son, sister, or grandchild begins to behave in unexpected and disturbing ways, family members hope it is simply a phase. For some, it is instead a life-time illness – schizophrenia. The diagnosis of schizophrenia can bring shock, fear, and worry to everyone involved. But in the midst of the numerous challenges, hope doesn’t have to die. 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...

The words “You have a mental illness” bring fear, uncertainty, sometimes shame, loneliness, and even hopelessness. Christine Chappell heard those words as a young woman. They helped her understand many of her struggles with depression and self-harming behavior, but they also took her into a foreign land where she had no road map. Christine talks to Sharon Betters about how her journey began as a young adult until she knew if she didn’t get help, she might take her own life. While her diagnosis helped make sense of her disturbing emotions, it also confronted her with numerous decisions about...

How do you face each day after a diagnosis of ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, knowing you will not survive longer than eighteen months – two years? Pastor Dale Meador joins Sharon and Chuck Betters to answer this question and more as he describes how each day reminds him that he cannot beat this disease. He knows his time on this earth is short. But, for Dale, this disease has renewed his confidence in heaven and God’s perfect love. In this conversation, Dale gives us a glimpse into how he is not only preparing himself but also his family...

There is so much we do not know about mental illness, including deep depression that results in the inability to even get out of bed, let alone function in daily life. Many more people than we realize struggle every day to do the next thing with their will because of sadness, a lack of joy and purpose reigning in their hearts. They have tried everything to get better, but nothing helps. Add to this equation the spouse who watches her husband slide into a pit of despair with no explanation. Sadly, Christians often identify a lack of faith or...

How do you find purpose when you are excruciating pain 24/7, survived 7 surgeries, and most likely face more? Add to that your status as a double amputee. In this interview, you will meet Warrior Woman Gracie Rosenberger, who was 17 when she was in an almost fatal car accident. In our conversation, Gracie freely shares what life and marriage is like with such challenges. Gracie’s story reveals a woman of strength and determination in the face of impossible obstacles. She has become an accomplished snow-skier, has performed as a vocalist before presidents, and shared stages with some of America’s bigg...

Corie Weathers, author of Sacred Spaces: My Journey to the Heart of Military Marriage, transparently shares some of her own marriage struggles as the wife of a military chaplain in this far-reaching conversation. Corie was the 2015 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year. One of her responsibilities was to travel on a one-week overseas holiday trip with US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. Corie’s personal goal for this trip was twofold: to better understand her husband’s deployment experiences and to bring other military spouses along through her daily video podcast and eventually her book, Sacred Spaces. Ever...

Andrea Herzer, a woman well acquainted with long term debilitating health issues, having spent the last twenty years with multiple illnesses, including regional pain syndrome and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, joins Sharon Betters for this Help & Hope podcast. Numerous times Andrea experienced moments of hope only to have it dashed by another diagnosis, another setback. Certainly, her heart was a fertile place for bitterness and anger to grow. Yet, in Andrea, you are going to meet a woman who discovered incurable faith and a longing to share that pathway to life with others suffering from pain and life-debilitating diagnoses. Through he...

Lucy Malmberg’s grand adventures in life began when her parents hid her in a blanket-covered box as waited in line to board a plane to America from Ukraine after World War II. Her parents passed on to her a legacy of not only love for America but a passionate love for Jesus. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Lucy freely shares how her faith guided her beloved husband George and her in the co-founding of Wedgewood Pharmacy, now the largest national specialized pharmacy in veterinary compounding and a leader in the animal health industry. Lucy describes the legal ba...

Marriage can be difficult under any circumstances, but adding a child with special needs adds a whole new level of challenges. In this wide-ranging conversation, Steve Demme shares his passion for helping build strong marriages, but in particular wants to offer help and hope to fathers, and even more specifically to fathers of children with special needs. Steve’s special relationship to his son, Johnny (who has Down Syndrome), shines through in this transparent interview and offers help and hope not only to fathers, but to anyone who longs to know God as Daddy. Steve and his wife Sandra ha...

Bryan and his wife Sharon say the diagnosis of severe autism for his son Matthew confronted them with the reality that the future they had planned would never come. In this transparent conversation Bryan touches on how he and his wife went into survival mode, how he initially thought he could “fix” his son, the spiritual struggles they experienced, and the impact of Matthew on their other children and their marriage. Though their journey has been challenging, Bryan offers help and hope to anyone experiencing upheaval through circumstances beyond their control.

The Help & Hope podcast is produced by M...

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. She was also nonverbal. Kim was diagnosed as having autism, a diagnosis 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...

In this interview, two sets of parents speak honestly about how their children with an autistic spectrum disorder impacted their dreams, challenged their marriages, and created chaos in their homes. They also describe their special joys in parenting their children. If you are parenting a child with special needs, you will relate to their transparent descriptions of parenting children with a form of autism. These interviews will also better equip friends and family to come alongside of parents of children with special needs. Included is an interview with Alex, a 16-year-old boy with Asperger Syndrome. Alex hopes his words...

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. Lori is a classical pianist and songwriter whose music gives a transparent view into the intimate struggles of faith and life that she experiences.

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 "...

Remember playing in the sand, your back to the ocean, oblivious of the huge waves heading toward you? Suddenly, a mountain of raging water crashes over your body, and not only are you slammed into the sand, but, before you can catch a breath, another huge wave pulls you out to into a rip tide. Andrea Maher experienced tumultuous life events that threatened to pull her under a raging ocean of grief, shattered dreams, and hopelessness. Her oldest son’s battle with drug addiction ended when drug-induced hypothermia took his life. Several years later, her youngest son made a de...

Julie Sanford is a Recovery Mentor for wives of alcoholics. She is a wife and a mom of three who found herself in a situation she never wanted to be in: the wife of an alcoholic. After several years of living in chaos, feeling alone, and unseen, she is now using her journey to help other wives of alcoholics navigate their husband's addiction. She came to realize that it was not only her husband that needed recovery, but that she also needed support. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Julie shares not only her story but hope and encouragement...

Due to generations of hurt in his family, country music singer Ben Fuller turned to cocaine and alcohol at a young age. He got involved in a devastating drug-fueled relationship which led him to understand better the other side of addiction. Then, he abruptly lost his best friend to a heroin overdose, and his entire outlook on life shifted. In this Help & Hope conversation with Sharon Betters and Danielle Cantler, Ben talks about how a move to Nashville in late 2018 to pursue a career as a country singer transformed his life. He shares how a family friend invited him...

Is it possible to break free from drugs after a lifetime of addiction? Shelley Tribbitt says yes. After using drugs for over thirty years, Shelley broke free from them, but then had to face the obstacle of the collateral damage that she had done to her family and friends. In this poignant interview, Shelley describes the devastation drug use brought on her family, including the loss of the custody of her children. Her daughter, Bay, joins the conversation, and describes how she reconciled with her mother, and why she never gave in to the temptation of drug use, even...

No matter how “innocent” the television program or movie, it seems that the entertainment industry is determined to normalize same-sex attraction, starting with the youngest of children. How does a parent help a child navigate sexuality when so many forces come against a biblical worldview? In this interview, Cooper Pinson of Harvest USA offers practical help so that parents can respond with confidence and wisdom as they help their children understand sexual integrity in a sexually broken world.

For more resources and practical help in raising your child to understand their sexuality in this very difficult culture, visi...

Do you have questions about same-sex attraction? Is it wrong? Is it ok? Are you struggling with same-sex attraction personally? Is your child?

Chuck and Sharon had the privilege of asking these questions and many more of Dr. Rosaria Butterfield, nationally known speaker and author of Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert. Dr. Butterfield's down-to-earth, compassionate, common-sensical, and biblical approach to same-sex attraction resulted in a conversation that they wish everyone could hear. We live in a culture that challenges us to reexamine long held convictions and decide if what we believe is really scriptural or culturally...

There are six key scriptures that specifically address homosexuality. Dr. Chuck F. Betters interviews three pastors about their understanding of how to interpret each one of these Scriptures, not as stand-alone words, but as part of the whole Bible. Listeners will be struck not only by the clear presentation of hard words, but by the Shepherd’s hearts of each of these pastors, Rev. Dan Betters, Rev. Jim Weaver and Dr. Chuck L. Betters. This conversation will equip Christians to better understand and communicate with kindness and compassion a scriptural position on homosexuality. The Scriptures are: Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Ro...

What’s the Christian Church to do? Western Culture not only accepts but also celebrates same-sex attraction as an appropriate and normal lifestyle. Are people who do not accept homosexuality as right and appropriate hateful and small-minded? In this frank conversation, Dr. Chuck F. Betters leads a conversation with three pastors about how the historical response of the local church to homosexuality and those in a gay relationship has contributed to an environment that is not conducive to demonstrating the Gospel. These pastors offer their own observations and understanding of the real application of the Gospel, not just to th...

What happens when a four-year-old gets an unwanted education in the darker side of humanity and experiences sexual abuse at the hand of her father? In this powerful, sometimes difficult-to-hear interview, Dr. Terry Eccles takes the listener into the abyss of the sexual abuse she experienced beginning at the age of four. This interview gives hope to the abused but also gives a window into the soul of the abused in a way that will better equip the listener to walk alongside the victim of abuse.

The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can...

Edie’s father died when she was four years old, so when her mother brought a new man into her home, she welcomed him as her father. When she was nine years old, this man began regularly raping her in her home. By the time she was twelve, he was taking her to hotel rooms where he trafficked her to men and women for the purpose of sex until she was seventeen. How does a child recover from such monstrous treatment? Edie’s story offers help and hope to anyone who has been sexually abused and shines a light on t...