Raising Godly Girls

Pornography isn't just a boys' issue anymore—and Christian parents need wisdom, discernment, and courage to talk about it with their daughters. 

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden continue the conversation surrounding pornography and sexually explicit content, taking a closer look at how girls are increasingly encountering and engaging with explicit material. With technology placing this content closer than ever through phones, streaming platforms, gaming, and social media, how can parents respond without allowing fear to take the lead? 

The conversation begins with a powerful reminder: our girls need parents who are aware, but not afraid. When explicit content enters a girl's world, curiosity and shame can quickly collide. That's why creating an ongoing culture of trust and openness matters so much. Rather than waiting for a crisis, parents can establish themselves as safe people their daughters can come to when—not if—they encounter something harmful. 

Rachael and Melissa also explore the difference between parenting as a "prison warden" and parenting as a shepherd. Parents cannot control every influence their daughters will encounter, but they can guide, equip, pray, and continually point their girls back to their identity in Christ. Instead of beginning with shame or behavior modification, this conversation encourages parents to begin with God's design for their daughter's body, relationships, heart, and identity. 

You'll also hear a Raising Godly Girls Minute from Patti Garibay on the realities of pornography exposure, along with practical encouragement for Christian parents seeking to cultivate healthy conversations about sexuality. Plus, discover resources from American Heritage Girls and trusted ministry organizations designed to help parents disciple girls toward truth, wisdom, and integrity. 

This is a difficult conversation—but Christian parents don't have to approach it alone or live in fear. With the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, the truth of God's Word, and confidence in Christ's redemptive power, we can shepherd our girls with both courage and grace. 

 

Two Things to Consider: 

Pornography is a big topic, so approach under God's design for your girl guided by His Word, the Bible. Begin with her identity in Christ before you address behaviors. 


Fear tricks parents into thinking we have to control everything. But God wants us to move as a shepherd not a prison warden. A shepherd is aware of the danger but not afraid. A shepherd guides, equips, and empowers. 



 

Scriptures Referenced: 

1 Corinthians 6:18–20  


Proverbs 4:23 


 

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.

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.