Shaping Families

Faith of our Mothers

Our special Mother’s Day episode features Brenda Girton-Mitchell, who is a lawyer, a teacher, and a pastor, as well as a justice and advocacy director for a national religious organization. She has worked tirelessly for others in need and she attributes that strength to her mother who raised her and her six siblings on her own.

Listen - Transcript - Study Guide

Just Sayin'

Emily Ralph

This is a story about a mother. This is a story about a mother who received the news with a tear instead of a smile. This is a story about a mother who chose life when her family, friends, even her doctor encouraged her not to.

Current Offer
“100 Years From Now” is a bookmark that reminds Moms that what matters most is not how much money or status they have, but because they are important in the life of a child.  The bookmark offers 100 brief phrases to use to praise your kids.

Websites
Girton-Mitchell Associates—Brenda Girton-Mitchell's website

"My Turn" speaker, Emily Ralph leads worship music at Swamp Mennonite and helps run a media company.

National Alliance on Mental Illness FaithNet—Mentioned in Burton's Blog, this is a division of NAMI that discusses the connection between mental health and faith.

Online
National Coalition for the Homeless

Books
Dear Mom, Thank you for Everything, Bradley Trevor Greive

The Power of a Positive Mom, Karol Ladd 

Mojo Mom: Nurturing Yourself While Raising a Family, Amy Tiemann

Beyond Homelessness: Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement, Steven Bouma-Prediger 

The Homeless, Christopher Jencks

Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America, Mike Yankoski 

Support
Find a Counselor  - National Board of Certified Counselors

Find a Psychologist – American Psychological Association

A complex study, this relationship between faith and brain disease.

Since this is mental health month, I’m continuing blogging about this issue. When we began production of our television program on mental illness, we contacted a number of national organizations that make mental health issues their priority. I was pleasantly surprised to find that nearly all the national associations we contacted recognized faith as an important component in dealing with mental health.

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and we’re talking with Risdon, a man who has lived his life with bipolar disorder. Because of his personal encounters with the justice system and his own experience with mental illness, Risdom (who earned a PhD in Criminology) teaches at a university and trains corrections officers across the country.

Weeknight Paella

Treat your family to this easy one-dish meal. The recipe comes from Jodi Nisly Hertzler, mother of three, writer, and one of the testers for all of our recipes. She also answers questions about Mennonites sent to our companion website and authored the book, Ask Third Way Café, 50 Common and Questions about Mennonites. Jodie says even her picky children like this recipe.

• Shaping Families Update - May 12
• Shaping Families Update - May 5
• Shaping Families Update - April 28
• Shaping Families Update - April 21

The Shaping Families free offer from this week’s program is no longer available. Visit our online store at www.MennoMedia.org/store if you would like to purchase the item offered. Some items are not offered on the store.