The Natasha Crain Podcast

My guest today, Dr. Jonathan Morrow, says college usually doesn’t create a faith crisis; it reveals one that was already happening beneath the surface. But when students set foot on campus, the worldview pressures are everywhere, and most students simply aren't prepared for what they're about to encounter at every level of campus life.

Jonathan is the Director of Cultural Engagement and Student Discipleship at Impact 360 Institute and the author of Welcome to College. In this episode, we discuss: 

Why students often drift from faith before college
How screens and social media quietly disciple young people
The “death by a thousand nudges” effect on worldview
Warning signs parents should watch for
The hidden worldview assumptions in general education classes
Which majors tend to create the biggest worldview challenges
Why Christian colleges present their own challenges
What parents should prioritize when choosing a college
How to help students build a faith they truly own

Whether your child is heading to college this fall or is still years away, this conversation will help you think more carefully about preparing the next generation for what they'll encounter on the college campus. 

Learn more about Jonathan Morrow and Welcome to College:
https://www.jonathanmorrow.org/
https://www.amazon.com/Welcome-College-3rd-Centered-Changing/dp/0825452511

Follow and donate to Equipping the Persecuted:
https://equippingthepersecuted.org/

Learn more about Cross Examined Instructor Academy:
https://cia.crossexamined.org/

Today I’m joined by author, speaker, and former US congressional candidate Heidi St. John to discuss the growing and destructive influence of progressivism, socialism, and communism in America...and why Christians should care about saving this country. We connect the dots between leftist ideologies and their unbiblical worldview foundations by considering their assumptions about human nature, moral authority, societal goals, the role of government, the nature of the family, the definition of justice, and more.

Leftist ideologies aren't merely political. They are profoundly theological. This conversation will challenge you to think more deeply about why America’s founding principles still matter and how they intersect with biblical teachings on the nature of reality.

Learn more about Heidi St. John and check out her podcast and resources at: https://www.heidistjohn.net/

Learn more about how Christians should advocate for righteousness in society with my latest book, When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square https://www.amazon.com/When-Culture-Hates-You-Persevering/dp/0736984313 

Learn more about Summit Ministries and save $500 when you register for a session in Colorado or South Carolina by March 31 with code NATASHA26: https://www.summit.org/natasha

In today’s Christian culture, it often feels like the biggest offense isn’t unbiblical teaching—it’s pointing it out. But if the New Testament is clear that Christians are to divide truth from error, why are so many Christians uncomfortable with public discernment?

Today I offer 10 reasons why, using backlash to my recent Unshaken Faith episode with Alisa Childers and Melissa Dougherty as a case study. In that episode, we reviewed the New York Times bestselling book Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. Almost immediately we starting hearing the familiar responses:

"Christians shouldn't criticize each other so much." 
"Content like this destroys unity in the church."
"You should have gone to him first."
"If you took the time to dig into his other resources,  you would understand what he meant."
"But it's been helpful to me."

Here I explain why these critiques and several others don't hold up to biblical scrutiny. Check out our full episode on Practicing the Way here:
https://youtu.be/YcaRbsDiJEQ?si=YDHjeXFACPFbcLaM
Subscribe to my new YouTube channel (and watch this episode) here: https://www.youtube.com/@Natasha_Crain

After Trump’s election, many believers assumed cultural hostility toward biblical values in the public square was fading. But subsequent events—from the public celebrations of Charlie Kirk’s murder to backlash tied to Christian support for Trump—have shattered what was always an illusion.
On this one year anniversary of the release of my book When Culture Hates You, Frank Turek and I discuss what Jesus said about culture’s perennial hatred of Christians, why the anger hasn’t gone (and won’t go) away, why Christians are increasingly blamed for cultural and political unrest (most recently with ICE), and why this moment cannot be explained by politics alone. 
SHOW NOTES:
Get my book, When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square www.amazon.com/When-Culture-Hates-You-Persevering/dp/0736984313
Frank's website, CrossExamined: crossexamined.org/
Donate to CrossExamined: donor.crossexamined.org/
Frank's new kid's book with Brave Books, Milo's Mission: www.bravebooks.com/frank

Are today’s kids ministries actually helping—or unintentionally hurting—the faith of the next generation?

Today I’m joined by family ministry veteran Dr. Josh Mulvihill for a candid, biblically grounded conversation about seven key problems in modern kids and youth ministry and why Christians can no longer afford to ignore them.

Drawing from Scripture, church history, and current research, Josh challenges some of the most unquestioned assumptions in evangelical churches today, such as age-segregated worship, attractional entertainment models, and the growing confusion between the church’s role and parents’ God-given responsibility to disciple their children.

This conversation is not a hit piece on kids ministry. Both of us love and support children’s and youth ministry when they’re aligned with Scripture. Instead, we hope this episode will be a wake-up call for parents, pastors, grandparents, and church leaders to evaluate how their churches can better reach the next generation.

SHOW NOTES:

Go to summit.org/natasha to learn about Summit Ministries' conferences for kids ages 13-22 and use code NATASHA26 to get $500 off an in-person conference when you register by March 31.

Josh's website and podcast: https://gospelshapedfamily.com/

Josh is the Executive Director of Church and Family Ministry at  Renewanation: https://www.renewanation.org/

Josh is a board member of Awana: https://www.awana.org/

Get Josh's book, "Family Ministry: How Your Church Can Shepherd Parents and Grandparents to Make Disciples": https://www.amazon.com/Family-Ministry-Shepherd-Grandparents-Disciples/dp/1951042093

For more on how Dr. George Barna assesses the worldview of survey respondents, see: https://natashacrain.com/what-is-a-biblical-worldview-with-george-barna/.

Learn more about my three apologetics books for parents and teachers: https://natashacrain.com/books/

Curricula recommended by Josh:
Bright https://britecurriculum.com/
Gospel Story https://martymachowski.com/book/gospel-story-curriculum/