The Parenting for Faith podcast

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 Start. Listen in whether you’re attending Spring Harvest or another festival or camp this year or not, as there are ideas that will work for everyone. With a healthy dollop of realism and a lot of laughter, Anna and Martha explore how to: Notice what God did (and is still doing...) Keep the conversation going Bring it into everyday life Links: Help your kids notice and know God at a week like Spring Harvest https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/spring-harvest/ Sign up for Spring Harvest Home https://www.springharvest.org/about-us/news/spring-harvest-home-2026-tickets-now-available Explore creative ways to connect with God at Nimbus Collective https://nimbuscollective.org/ Helping your kids bring home the festival experience https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/helping-your-kids-bring-home-the-summer-christian-festival-experience/ BRF Online App: Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.uscreen.brfonline&hl=en_GBapple%20apps%20store Apple https://apps.apple.com/fj/app/brf-online/id6759056009 Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF Ministries. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

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 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/belonging_without_barriers/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61571833391160 Parenting as a Church Leader Day - https://www.brfresources.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-events/products/parenting-as-a-church-leader-day-2 Check out BRF Online https://brfonline.org.uk/pages/parenting-for-faith Parenting for Faith Additional Needs posts for parents and carers https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/topics/additional-needs/ Parenting for Faith Additional Needs posts for churches https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/topics/additional-needs-and-church/ Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF Ministries. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

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/parenting-children-for-a-life-of-faith-omnibus-helping-children-meet-and-know-god The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross Storybook https://www.eden.co.uk/bibles/childrens-bibles/storybook-bibles/age-4-to-7-childrens-storybook-bibles/the-garden-the-curtain-and-the-cross-storybook/ My Big Story Bible: 140 Faithful Stories, from Genesis to Revelation https://www.eden.co.uk/age-8-to-10-childrens-storybook-bibles/tom-wright-childrens-bible/ The Jesus Storybook Bible https://www.eden.co.uk/the-jesus-storybook-bible-anglicised-edition/ Telling the Whole Story [Parent & Carer version] https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/telling-the-whole-story-facebook-live/ Telling the Whole Story [Church Leader version] https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/telling-the-whole-story/ God is Stranger by Krish Kandiah https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/theology-books/god-is-stranger-9781473648913/ BRF Online App: Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.uscreen.brfonline&hl=en_GBapple%20apps%20store Apple https://apps.apple.com/fj/app/brf-online/id6759056009 Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF Ministries. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

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 when you are parenting and they explore what it looks like in reality to build up a teenager or child’s confidence. Catch Gemma’s bonus clip at https://brfonline.org.uk/ Links: ● Gemma Hunt on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581181046020 ● Gemma Hunt on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gemma__hunt/ ● https://www.gemmahunt.com/ ● Gemma Hunt's See! Let's Be A Good Friend book - https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/christian-books-for-children/christian-fiction-for-children/age-4-to-7/gemma-hunts-see-lets-be-a-good-friend/ ● Gemma Hunt's See! Let's Be Me - https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/christian-books-for-children/christian-fiction-for-children/age-4-to-7/gemma-hunts-see-lets-be-me/ ● Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF Ministries. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

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: BRF Online https://brfonline.org.uk/ Sandbox Analogy https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/sandpits-and-sin/ Milk Analogy https://brfonline.org.uk/programs/parenting-teens-for-a-life-of-faith?cid=4473191&permalink=catch Explaining sin, shame and guilt: Facebook live https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/explaining-sin-shame-and-guilt-facebook-live/ Sin, forgiveness and salvation https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/summary-sin-forgiveness-and-salvation/ 40 ways to start a conversation with God in Lent https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/40-ways-to-start-a-conversation-with-god-in-lent/ Easter side-by-sides https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Side-by-Sides-at-Easter-Springboard.pdf Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF Ministries. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

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 on Wednesday 29th April, more information and booking available here https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/pacl-course-2/ Parenting as a Church Leader Book - https://www.brfresources.org.uk/collections/parenting-for-faith-books/products/parenting-as-a-church-leader-helping-your-family-thrive Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF Ministries. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

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. Links: Parenting as a Church Leaders Course online on Wednesday 29th April, more information and booking available here https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/pacl-course-2/ The Whole Story - https://thewholestory.thinkific.com/ Kate Wharton on Singleness - https://soundcloud.com/parentingforfaith-brf/114-tackling-big-questions-chatting-if-kids-need-verbal-reassurance-and-kate-wharton-on-singleness Boyfriends and girlfriends: Facebook Live - https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/boyfriends-and-girlfriends-facebook-live/ More resources about relationships, sexuality and gender - https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/topics/relationships-gender-and-sexuality/ Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF Ministries. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

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 fostering or adoption, to inviting someone over for a birthday party, or just noticing who might need a welcome at church. Krish reminds us that hospitality is all rooted in knowing that we are loved by God and only then can we love others well. In this episode, we talk about Framing (one of our Five Key Tools) for our children and teenagers. Links: @krishkandiah on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/krishkandiah/?hl=en and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrKrishKandiah/ Framing https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/tool/framing/ The Sanctuary Foundation https://sanctuaryfoundation.org.uk/ Whistlestop Tales: Around the World in 10 Bible Stories https://www.eden.co.uk/whistlestop-tales-krish-and-miriam-kandiah/ Whistlestop Tales: Around the Bible with 10 Extraordinary Children https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/christian-books-for-children/bible-stories-for-children/age-8-to-10-bible-stories/whistlestop-tales-9781399801300/ Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF Ministries. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

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. With honest stories and practical ideas for under-fives, children, teenagers, and parents, this episode is a gentle reminder that you’re not alone - and that God is already there. Links: ● Helping children who have nightmares or who are scared of the dark https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/scared-of-the-dark-helping-our-children-through-the-night/ ● Facebook live with Rachel Turner about sleep https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/post/sleep-struggles-facebook-live/ ● Comfort in the Darkness by Rachel Turner https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/resource/comfort-in-the-darkness-the-book/ ● The Five Key Tools https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/tools/ ● Send us your questions and stories at parentingforfaith.org/podcast or email us at parentingforfaith@brf.org.uk Thank you for listening today. Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF Ministries. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible .If you are able to contribute to the cost of producing this podcast, please click here to give a one-off or regular gift: www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

Rachel Turner, founder of Parenting for Faith and discipleship pastor with 20+ years’ experience, shares practical thinking for families and churches. She explains why parents are the central influencers and how church and home can partner in discipleship. She normalises ups and downs in spiritual journeys and highlights equipping children for real-life hardship.