In Their Shoes

Welcome to our new blog! In this episode I talk a little bit about events in the next few months, and introduce you to the sister to this podcast series, In Their Shoes Blog. http://intheirshoesblog.wordpress.com.

To follow along with my sabbatical experience, you may want to also subscribe to http://fabrisabbatical.wordpress.com. (You'll learn more about that in this episode as well.)

Stay subscribed! New episodes will be in the works during our short hiatus until May--so get ready for some great new interviews coming your way!

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:12:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (25)

Welcome to 2012, the Year of Speaking Up! The purpose of this podcast is to get you informed and engaged in issues having impact upon women and girls worldwide. Hopefully, that means you'll decide you need to become an advocate! In this episode, I provide a list of tips and tricks for being an effective advocate, both from my own experience and what I've learned from others. Let us know about your own advocacy efforts by leaving us a comment!

You can find information about the events I mentioned in this podcast at www.abwministries.org, click on "Events."

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:36:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (46)

Lament is found throughout Scripture. There's an entire book of Lamentations, of course, but lament is also present in the Psalms and prophets, as well as in the New Testament (the gospel of Mark has striking examples of lament throughout the crucifixion story). But often in our contemporary Christian life, we've moved away from the concept of lament and, instead, act in stoic politeness. Rev. Valerie Andrews, on the other hand, feels that lament is a key part of our faith. In this episode, Sandy and Rev. Andrews address Scriptures of lament, the role of lament in our faith, and offer suggestions for planning a service of lament in your women's ministry.

(Thanks to Virginia Holmstrom for recording the introduction and conclusion statements to this episode as Sandy lost her voice this week due to a cold.)

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:23:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (73)

Friendship House of Christian Service in Billings, Montana, seeks to address the root causes, systemic issues, and habits that can contribute to the cycle of poverty. In my conversation with Jeromy Emerling, executive director of Friendship House, he describes the innovative programs that help participants look at their circumstances and relationships through a new lens, building tools for better self-determination and improving the community as a whole.

Jeromy recommends the following resources for a more deep understanding of the cycle of poverty:

Aha Process, "A Framework for Understanding Poverty," by Ruby Payne, at http://www.ahaprocess.com/. (Note: this was referred to in the episode as "Aha Institute.")

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:29:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (53)

Terri Simpkins has been engaged in prison ministries for several years; working through Kairos Prison Ministry International, Terri and her husband help organize spiritual retreats, Christian discipleship classes, family visitation events, and post-release mentoring with women in the prison system. In this episode, Terri talks about the many issues facing incarcerated women and their families, and how churches can engage in these crucial ministries.

For more information about Kairos Prison Ministry International: http://kairosprisonministry.org.

For more information about "The If Project": http://www.theifproject.org.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [27:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (60)

Karen Smith, program director of the New Life Center Foundation in Chiang Mai, Thailand, talks with AB Women's Ministries executive director Virginia Holmstrom about the challenges facing ethnic minority women in Thailand and what New Life Center is doing to help women meet those challenges.

For more information about the New Life Center, visit www.nlcfoundation.org.

For more information about the Break the Chains and Stop the Pain national mission project of AB Women's Ministries, visit www.abwmbreakthechains.org.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [19:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (81)

Our lives often give shape to our ministries, and Deacon Agnes Kiah is living proof of that. A survivor of domestic violence herself, Deacon Kiah now serves in ministry with victims of domestic violence in many ways. A volunteer at Laurel House, a women's shelter, Deacon Kiah has also founded a ministry on domestic violence, Hagar Ministry, at her church, Saints Memorial Baptist Church in Bryn Mawr, PA. Join us for this conversation between AB Women's Ministries executive director Virginia Holmstrom and Deacon Agnes Kiah about how churches and individuals can support victims of domestic violence.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [19:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (96)

Immigration and immigration reform are constantly in the news these days. In this episode, AB Women's Ministries Executive Director Virginia Holmstrom talks with Rev. Aundreia Alexander on the topic. Rev. Alexander serves as the director of the Office of Immigration and Refugee Services of American Baptist Home Mission Societies, ABCUSA. Virginia and Aundreia discuss myths and facts about immigration, its particular impact upon women, the DREAM Act, and how you can become more informed and involved in the issue.

For more information and resources about immigration and immigration reform from a Christian perspective, click here.

For information about the DREAM Act and DREAM Sabbath, click here.

Email Aundreia at aundreia.alexander@abc-usa.org  to receive alerts related to immigration, or call her at (610) 768-2430.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [31:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (119)

Debra Fields, Community Education & Prevention Supervisor at the Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, draws on her experience working with both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence in the workshops and seminars that she leads on the issue. Debra and I spoke particularly about helping teens learn about healthy relationships early--how to draw boundaries, giving and expecting respect, and other behaviors and attitudes that will help protect them from becoming abusers or abused themselves.

For more information about the Sojourner Family Peace Center: http://www.familypeacecenter.org/

To find materials on the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Campaign, visit http://dvam.vawnet.org.

For "Domestic Violence: What Churches Can Do," visit http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [29:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (135)

Debbie and Jim Kelsey are American Baptist missionaries in Italy, engaged in cross-cultural ministries and theological training in Italian churches. Additionally, Debbie is in ministry with young women at risk for, or victimized by, human trafficking. Debbie and I had the opportunity to speak together during the ICAP Global Conference in Wisconsin last May; in our conversation, she describes the situation facing immigrant women in Italy as well as her ministry with Italian Christian churches around an outreach to women in prostitution and preventative education in the congregations.

For more information on Debbie and Jim's ministry in Italy, including journal entries and photos, visit www.internationalministries.org and click on "People"--you'll see the Kelseys in the list that appears there.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [26:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (153)