Raising Godly Girls

Halloween may be filled with costumes, candy, and spooky decorations, but there are some very real dangers parents need to be talking about long after October 31. In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden take a candid look at pornography and explicit content—and the ways girls can encounter it through smartphones, tablets, social media, entertainment, literature, and even the family television. 

For Christian parents, the answer cannot be fear, shame, or simply hoping their daughters never encounter inappropriate content. Rachael and Melissa encourage parents to approach this difficult subject with Biblical discernment, courage, and compassion. God's design for girls, their bodies, relationships, and sexuality does not change simply because culture becomes more accepting of explicit content. At the same time, parents need to create homes where girls know they can bring difficult experiences into the light without fearing rejection or condemnation. 

The conversation gets especially practical as Rachael and Melissa discuss what parents can do when a girl is accidentally exposed to pornography or explicit material. Rather than allowing shame to drive a girl into secrecy, parents can establish clear expectations, encourage girls to tell a trusted adult, use appropriate technology boundaries, and have ongoing age-appropriate conversations about what they are seeing and hearing. The goal isn't to raise girls who are frightened by the darkness, but girls who are grounded enough in God's truth to recognize it and know where to turn. 

This episode also offers hope for families who have already encountered pornography or explicit content—including parents carrying their own history or testimony. Truth and grace belong together. Parents can address sin honestly while reminding their daughters that what they encounter does not define them, shame does not have the final word, and God's grace makes redemption and restoration possible. As Rachael and Melissa remind listeners, silence can be mistaken for acceptance, so Christian parents need the courage to engage these conversations and continually point their girls back to the Lord's good design. 

 

Two Things to Remember: 

Holding to the Lord and His design might make you out of sync with cultural trends, but God's desire is truly for your girl's deepest good in Him. 


A hands-off approach to culture, trends, and entertainment is no longer an option. Have courage to directly address explicit content your girl sees, always leading her back to the Lord's design and His heart rather than simply planting fear in her mind. 


 


Scriptures Referenced: 

Psalm 19:8 


Psalm 51:10 


James 1:17 


Matthew 19:1–9 


 

Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.       

Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

What does it look like to live with intention when life doesn't go according to plan? 

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Melissa Bearden sits down with author and speaker Lauren McAfee for a heartfelt conversation about faith, perseverance, and the beauty of living purposefully in every season. Through her personal journey—including her experience with adoption—Lauren shares how God meets us in moments of uncertainty, disappointment, and waiting, and invites us to trust Him more deeply. 

Together, Melissa and Lauren explore what it truly means to live with intention as a Christian woman. In a culture that often encourages busyness and comparison, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that intentional living begins with surrender—aligning our daily choices, priorities, and perspective with God's greater purpose. 

This conversation also expands the understanding of what it means to be pro-life, highlighting the call not only to value life, but to actively care, support, and walk alongside others with compassion and conviction. Lauren shares how her faith has been shaped through both joy and hardship, offering encouragement for moms and daughters navigating seasons of confusion or unmet expectations. 

Whether you're raising a young girl or guiding a daughter into adulthood, this episode will equip you to lead with intentionality—pointing her toward a life rooted in Christ, marked by purpose, and sustained by hope. 

Because when we trust God with every step, even the uncertain ones, He faithfully shapes a story far greater than we could imagine. 

 

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode: 

 

Proverbs 3:5–6  


Romans 8:28  


James 1:2–4  


Galatians 6:9  


Psalm 37:23–24  


Colossians 3:23–24 


 

To learn more about Lauren's work, visit laurenmcafee.com  

To connect with the Stand For Life Movement, visit standforlife.com  

Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com.     To find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.

What does it mean to become an agent of God's grace and love in the life of a vulnerable child? Adoption can be a beautiful picture of the Gospel, but not every family is called to become an adoptive family. The good news is that every Christian family can play a meaningful role in supporting children, adoptive parents, and the communities surrounding them. 

On this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose explore the Biblical heart behind adoption and what it means to reflect God's love for children who need a safe, secure place to belong. From open and closed adoption to domestic and international adoption, they unpack some of the different paths families may encounter while emphasizing the deeper reason Christians can approach adoption: the Gospel itself. Scripture tells us that through Jesus, we have been welcomed into God's family and given the identity of His beloved children. 

The conversation also offers encouragement for families who have a heart for adoption but have not been called into the adoptive-parent journey themselves. Rachael vulnerably shares how God has helped her understand that she can still participate in the blessing of adoption through prayer, financial support, serving adoptive families, and investing in ministries that care for vulnerable children. Through the Raising Godly Girls Minute, Patti Garibay highlights practical ways families can support those walking through adoption, including prayer, financial generosity, and creative opportunities for girls to celebrate and bless adoptive families. 

Rachael and Natalie also explore the often-overlooked network surrounding adoption and foster care, including CASA and Guardian ad Litem volunteers, churches, community ministries, and everyday families willing to step in with meals, supplies, encouragement, advocacy, and practical help. Parents will discover age-appropriate ways to help their daughters move from simply seeing a need to becoming active agents of grace. Whether a family is adopting, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for a way to serve vulnerable children, there are countless opportunities to put faith into action and let their light shine. Tune in for an encouraging reminder that when God leads a family into an adoption journey—or into the village surrounding one—He is faithful to equip them for the work He has given them. 

 

Two Things to Remember: 

If you're an adoptive family, your journey is filled with opportunities to see God's faithfulness—and to receive the help and support He provides through the people around you. 


If you and your girl want to support adoption, there are many ways to get involved. Let creativity, compassion, and the Lord's leading turn your family's care into action. 


 

Scriptures Referenced: 

1 John 3:1 



Ephesians 1:5 


Psalm 68:5–6 


Matthew 5:16 


 

 

Visit raisinggodlygirl.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.       

Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

What does it mean for a Christian family to truly live out a Biblical view of the sanctity of life? In a culture where conversations about life, abortion, pregnancy, foster care, adoption, and human dignity can feel increasingly complicated, parents have an important opportunity to help their daughters understand that every human life is created by God, bears His image, and has value. 

On this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose explore what it looks like to develop a Biblical Worldview on the sanctity of life and move beyond conviction into compassionate action. Rather than allowing cultural arguments, difficult circumstances, or exceptions to shape a family's understanding of human dignity, Rachael and Natalie encourage parents to begin with Scripture, seek the Lord in prayer, and view every life through the lens of God's character and design. 

The conversation also expands the pro-life discussion from protecting preborn life to caring for vulnerable children and families. Through the Raising Godly Girls Minute, Patti Garibay highlights practical ways families can support children in foster care—from connecting with local churches and community organizations to meeting tangible needs through service projects. Rachael and Natalie discuss how families can cultivate a heart for life in age-appropriate ways, helping younger girls recognize babies and children as gifts, honor older generations, appreciate people from different backgrounds, and ultimately learn to see others as image bearers of God. 

Most importantly, this episode challenges families to recognize that Biblical belief is meant to lead to action. Parents can start by examining Scripture and praying together, then look for established ways to serve foster families, adoptive families, and vulnerable children in their own communities. And if a needed ministry or care framework doesn't exist, families may have the opportunity to prayerfully step forward and help create one. Tune in for an encouraging conversation about raising girls who not only understand the sanctity of life, but who are prepared to live out the love, compassion, service, and courage their faith calls them to demonstrate. 

 

Two Things to Remember: 

Develop your family's worldview on the sanctity of life from God's Word, through the lens of His character, rather than from personal conviction alone. 


Belief is active—find a way to support vulnerable children and foster families in your church or community, or prayerfully become the ones who help create that opportunity. 


 

Scriptures Referenced: 

Psalm 139:13–16 


James 1:27 


Isaiah 1:17 


Genesis 1:26–27 


Deuteronomy 6:4–9 


 


Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.       

Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

What happens when Christians learn to see the families who are often overlooked? 

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Rachael Culpepper sits down with Debbie Sceroler, Associate Vice President of Domestic Programs with Buckner Children & Family Services, for an important conversation about vulnerable children, single mothers, marginalized families, and the Church's call to respond with compassion. 

Together, Rachael and Debbie explore some of the blind spots that can keep Christians from truly seeing families in difficult circumstances. Rather than approaching vulnerable families with assumptions or judgment, Debbie encourages listeners to lead with curiosity, dignity, humility, and a willingness to walk alongside others for the long haul. The conversation also explores how churches can become genuine communities of support for single mothers and children who may lack a strong network of family and friends. 

As parents raise the next generation of Christian women, there is a powerful opportunity to teach girls not only to notice people who are hurting, but to respond with the compassion of Christ. Rachael and Debbie discuss how families can help daughters develop hearts that see the overlooked, welcome the outsider, advocate for the vulnerable, and serve without a "savior" mentality. 

This episode is ultimately an invitation to move from simply recognizing need to building belonging. Because the Gospel calls Christians to care for people not from a position of superiority, but from the humble understanding that every person bears God's image and every family needs community. 

Whether you're a parent, ministry leader, or simply a Christian looking for a practical way to love your neighbors well, this conversation offers encouragement and tangible next steps for becoming part of a community where vulnerable children and families don't have to walk through difficult seasons alone. 

 

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode: 

James 1:27 


Micah 6:8 


Matthew 25:35–40 


Galatians 6:2 


Romans 12:15–16 


Philippians 2:3–4 


Proverbs 31:8–9 


Psalm 82:3–4 



 

To learn more about Debbie's work and Buckner and discover ways your family or church can serve vulnerable children and families, visit Buckner.org. Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.       

Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.