PODCAST · religion
The Defender Podcast
by Lifeline Children's Services
The Defender Podcast collection is a ministry of Lifeline Children's Services where we seek to equip the body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children and families. We hope this collection will provide encouragement, inspiration, and ways to connect with others who have a heart for the orphan.
Episodes
-
From Rural South Africa to the Supreme Court: Palmer Williams at The Table
Rick Morton, Herbie Newell, and Chelsea Sobolik welcome attorney and advocate Palmer Williams, a partner at Holtzman Vogel and former general counsel of the ERLC. Palmer traces her heart for vulnerable children from her own childhood experience of need, through summers and a gap year serving at a...
-
What You Need To Know About South Carolina's Foster Care Emergency
Over 3,400 children are in foster care in South Carolina, and some are staying in government offices because no homes are available. Rob, Herbie, and Ford discuss the need for families for teens and sibling groups, how to discern a call to foster, and practical ways to support foster families....
-
Saying Yes to Hard: Foster Care, Community, and the 30 Percent Rule
Rick Morton, Emily Richards, and Herbie Newell sit down with Greyson Holt, a Lifeline family therapist in North Carolina, who is also a foster and adoptive mom and grew up as a sibling in an adoptive family. Greyson shares how a third-grade calling grew into a career, why the community around a...
-
Does Adoption Have a PR Problem?
On this episode of The Table, host Dr. Rick Morton and the full panel, Chelsea Sobolik, Emily Chapman Richards, and Herbie Newell, welcome Lauren McAfee, founder and CEO of Life Collective, PhD student in ethics and public policy, and adoptive mom of three. Lauren shares how her passion for life...
-
An Adoptee's Teddy Bear Epiphany | Simon Benn, Thriving Adoptees
Simon Benn was adopted at five weeks old in 1967 and grew up in England always knowing his story. At 40, an unexpected burst of anger during a horse whispering course brought buried feelings about his birth mother to the surface. Nine years later, a letter in his adoption file changed everything....
-
God Doesn't Waste Anything: Katie Adams on Faith, Family, and International Adoption
Katie Adams, manager of Lifeline's expat adoption program, joins Dr. Rick to trace her path from a childhood on Fort Benning through a faith awakening in high school, a major shift from nursing to social work at Samford, and a season of service with kids with special needs. She shares how a…
more -
Opening the Doors: How One Church Is Rewriting the Story for Kids Aging Out of Foster Care
In this episode of the Defender Podcast, Executive Director Herbie Newell and Ford sit down with Tommy DeRamos of Shades Mountain Baptist Church to talk about Heritage Builders, a Lifeline-created, church-run mentoring program for teens in foster care. Tommy shares how a small monthly meeting…
more -
Why Fewer Kids Are Coming Home Through Adoption in 2025
On this episode of The Defender, Rob, Herbie, Karla, and Ford unpack the newly released 2025 intercountry adoption numbers, down to 973 children from 1,172 the year before. They break down why the drop isn't about declining need but about a harder process: older kids, sibling groups, more complex...
-
From Orphan to 'Baby Whisperer': Vikram's Story
Vikram grew up in a leper colony in Rajasthan before being taken in by a Christian orphanage that eventually became home to over a thousand kids. On this episode of What's Your Story, he shares his journey from orphan to Bible college graduate to houseparent over 450 children, and how a wandering...
-
16 Kids, One Brother's Sacrifice
This summer Lifeline had sixteen kids come to the US for two weeks through the international hosting program, most of whom had already been passed over by families both in Colombia and abroad. On this episode of The Defender, Karla shares what happens from the airport arrival to the hard goodbye,...
-
God Doesn't Waste Anything: Katie Adams on Faith, Family, and International Adoption
Katie Adams, manager of Lifeline's expat adoption program, joins Dr. Rick to trace her path from a childhood on Fort Benning through a faith awakening in high school, a major shift from nursing to social work at Samford, and a season of service with kids with special needs. She shares how a…
more -
Unstoppable: The Bamberg Sisters' Journey from China to Auburn
Rick Morton sits down with sisters Ava and Lily Bamberg, both adopted from China and now students at Auburn University, home to the nation's only collegiate power soccer team. Ava and Lily share how they found their way to Auburn, what power soccer looks like on the court, and what it took to...
-
140 Million Orphans: Inside Lifeline's Global Network
This episode features Herbie Newell, Ken Norwood and Ford Reasons with guest Miguel Zayas, Senior Director of Global Orphan Care at Lifeline, to unpack how Lifeline serves orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide without exporting an American model. Miguel explains the GOC network's three…
more -
Real Church, Real Gospel: A Ugandan Pastor's Journey from Prosperity to Truth
Rick Morton sits down with Pastor Rafael Kajjubi of King Jesus Church in Busega, Uganda, a longtime friend and ministry partner of Lifeline Children's Services. Rafael shares his story of growing up in the aftermath of civil war and the AIDS crisis, his early exposure to the prosperity gospel…
more -
Why Do We 'Run for One'?
In this lighthearted episode of The Defender Podcast, the team shares the heart behind Lifeline’s annual Run for One, a fundraising event supporting global orphan care and mobilizing the Church to care for vulnerable children around the world. Along with plenty of humor, they encourage listeners…
more -
The Heart Behind Domestic Adoption
In this episode Lifeline Children’s Services Vice President of Domestic Programs Christy McSegers shares her personal journey to adoption ministry and provides an overview of Lifeline’s domestic adoption program. Listeners will hear how Lifeline supports women facing unexpected pregnancies…
more -
We Visited 19 States in 19 Days-Here's What We Learned Part 2
This episode of The Table by Lifeline Children's Services serves as Part 2 of the team's reflection on their 19 States in 19 Days journey. While sharing some funny, some behind-the-scenes or just a few favorite memories from the road, the hosts focus primarily on how they witnessed churches and...
-
Lifeline's 19in19 Recap Part 1
Herbie Newell, Rob Ingram and Ford Reasons reflect on their recent 19-day road trip through 19 states, where they visited Lifeline ministry partners and pregnancy resource centers across the country. They share memorable and humorous experiences from the journey, including racing across a…
more -
She Was Adopted and Called—Now She's Helping Thousands of Foster Children Heal | Anna Leah Jolly - The Table, Ep. 9
Miss Mississippi Anna Leah Jolly (Part 2): Adoption, Emotional Intelligence Tools & Gospel-Centered Connection | The Table In Part Two of The Table (Lifeline Children’s Services), host Rick Morton continues his conversation with Anna Leah Jolly—Miss Mississippi, dance studio owner, author, and...
-
3 Guys, 19 States, and 153 Million Reasons!
How an epic road trip is helping 153 million orphans! Thats what happens when 3 guys try to visit all 19 states where Lifeline has a physical office in just 19 days! On this episode of the Defender Podcast, Herbie and the team pull back the curtain on the most ambitious road trip in Lifeline's...
-
The Bold Movement to Bring Hope to Vulnerable Children
Summer is here, and Lifeline has a full lineup of ways to engage, serve, and celebrate what God is doing on behalf of orphans and vulnerable children. In this episode, host Ken Norwood is joined by Lifeline President Herbie Newell, Ford Reasons, and Rob Ingram to walk through everything you need…
more -
Defending Every Child: The Truth About International Adoption
DESCRIPTION Is international adoption still a viable path for Christian families? In Episode 2 of the Defender Podcast, host Ken Norwood sits down with Herbie Newell (President & Executive Director, Lifeline Children's Services), Carla Thrasher (VP of International Programs), and Ford Reasons to...
-
We're Back: Defending the Fatherless in 2026
The Defender Podcast is officially rebooted. Hosted by Rob Ingram, Ken Norwood, Herbie Newell, and Ford Reasons, we're back with a simple mission: give you practical, gospel-rooted tools to defend the fatherless in about 10 minutes a week. In Episode 1, we introduce the new crew, unpack the...
-
Foster Care's Biggest Problem Isn't What You Think
In this episode of The Table, Rick Morton is joined by Chelsea Sobolik and Emily Richards to discuss the nuanced and often messy realities of child welfare, foster care, reunification, and community engagement. They explore how relational poverty and community connections impact vulnerable…
more -
Every Child Made in God's Image: Why This Changes Everything in Adoption
Most conversations about transracial and transcultural adoption miss one vital piece: the heart of every child is made in God's image—and that's where the true starting point lies. If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about whether to adopt across cultures or felt overwhelmed by the complexity…
more -
When Family Ties Conflict With a Child's Safety: What the System Gets Wrong
We're glad you are joining our discussion on the hidden complexities of kinship care and discover how faith, community, and wisdom can transform the way we care for children through the foster care system. We're exploring critical aspects family support in complex situations involving kinship…
more -
When Protection Becomes the Problem
Welcome back to The Table! In this second episode, Rick Morton gathers with Emily Richards and Herbie Newell to continue our vital discussions on child welfare. We explore various aspects of the child protection system and the critical role of family support in these complex situations. Join us…
more -
Can the Church Really Change Child Welfare? These Leaders Say Yes
Child Welfare is broken worldwide. Is there hope? We say yes, and it's found right in our communities in the form of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ In this inaugural episode of The Table, host Rick Morton (SVP of Engagement, Lifeline Children's Services) gathers three of the most respected...
-
A Season of Change: Defender Podcast Update
After eight incredible years, the Defender Podcast is taking a short sabbatical. In this episode, Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton reflect on the journey so far, share exciting plans for the future, and discuss how the podcast will continue to equip and encourage the body of Christ in orphan…
more -
Adoption & Advocacy with Kirti Pickard
In this episode of The Defender Podcast, we welcome Kirti Pickard—adoptee, advocate, and podcast host—who shares her powerful adoption journey and how it fuels her passion for serving vulnerable children. Adopted from India at the age of four, Kirti has a deep, firsthand understanding of the...
-
Faith, Family, and Foster Care with Jamie Finn
🎙️In this episode of The Defender Podcast, we welcome Jamie Finn—author, nonprofit leader, and advocate for vulnerable children. As a foster and adoptive mom, she shares her journey, the biggest challenges foster families face, and how the Church can offer meaningful support. Jamie and her...
-
5 Years Waiting for China Adoption
In this episode of The Defender Podcast, Herbie Newell is joined by Karla Thrasher, Lifeline’s Senior Director of International Adoption, to discuss the heartbreaking impact of China’s five-year suspension of international adoptions, which left 400 children—many with special needs—waiting for...
-
Adoption Counseling Redefined: A New Resource from Lifeline
In this episode of The Defender Podcast, Christy Mack Segars, Vice President of Domestic Services at Lifeline Children’s Services, introduces the new Design Adoption Counseling Certificate, a free online resource created in partnership with Stand For Life. This course equips counselors, church...
-
Sarah Gable Seifert on Faith, Entrepreneurship, and EveryLife
In today's episode of The Defender Podcast, Rick Morton welcomes Sarah Gable Seifert, co-founder of EveryLife—the first pro-life diaper and wipe company in America. Sarah shares her journey from life-changing experiences at JH Ranch to pivotal roles at Public Square and a pregnancy resource…
more -
The Changing Landscape of the Pro-Life Movement: A Conversation with Jor-El Godsey
In this episode of The Defender Podcast, Herbie Newell is joined by Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International, to discuss the evolving landscape of the pro-life movement. Heartbeat International is at the forefront of supporting pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, and adoption...
-
Championing Life in 2025
In this first episode of 2025, Herbie Newell is joined by Pastor Chris Johnson, Lifeline Children's Services' Senior Director of Church Partnerships, to discuss the significance of Sanctity of Human Life Month. Pastor Chris, a seasoned pastor and adoptive father of seven, shares how valuing and...
-
Love: Advent Week 4 – Reflecting Christ's Sacrificial Love
In this final episode of our Advent series, Herbie Newell reflects on the greatest gift of Christmas—God’s love. He shares a powerful story from Lifeline Children's Services that beautifully exemplifies sacrificial love and the transformation it can bring. Exploring the scriptures from Luke and...
-
The Waiting Season: Lessons from Advent and Adoption
In this special Christmas episode of The Defender Podcast, Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton reflect on the profound lessons of Advent and their parallels to adoption and foster care. Together, they discuss the challenges and joys of waiting—whether for the fulfillment of God's promises, the...
-
Joy: Advent Week 3 – The Shepherd's Song of Praise
In this Advent edition of The Defender Podcast, host Herbie Newell reflects on the joy found in the true meaning of Christmas. As we approach the third week of Advent, we examine the shepherds’ joy at the birth of Jesus—not a happiness tied to circumstances, but a deep, eternal joy rooted in…
more -
Best of 2024: Opening Hearts and Homes – The Hart Family's Foster Care Journey
In this special Best of 2024 episode, originally aired on May 15, 2024, we revisit a heartfelt conversation with Matthew and Makyna Hart, ministry leaders from Movement Church in Madison, Alabama. Together for 13 years and serving as Worship Pastor and Family Pastor, respectively, the Harts are...
-
Preparing the Way: Advent Week 2 – Making Space for Jesus
In this second week of our Advent series, Herbie Newell reflects on the theme of preparation. As we enter the busy holiday season, he challenges us to pause amidst the chaos and make room in our hearts for the coming of Christ. Drawing from the example of Mary and the humble circumstances of…
more -
Best of 2024: Heartbreaking News: The Future of China Adoptions
In this rebroadcast of one of the best episodes from 2024, The Defender Podcast revisits a powerful conversation between Herbie Newell and Karla Thrasher, Lifeline's Senior Director of International Adoption, about the devastating announcement from the People's Republic of China regarding the...
-
Waiting in Hope: Advent Week 1 – Trusting in God’s Promises
In this special Advent edition of The Defender Podcast, Herbie Newell explores the theme of waiting as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Reflecting on the promises of God throughout scripture—from the Israelites' longing for deliverance to the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus—this...
-
A Heart of Thanksgiving: Reflecting on God’s Goodness Through All Seasons
As 2024 draws to a close, Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton reflect on the significance of cultivating gratitude, even amidst life’s challenges. Drawing from Scripture, they explore themes of God’s enduring goodness, the joy of community, and the peace that comes from Christ. Join this heartfelt...
-
Empowering Churches to Care: A Conversation with Andy Cook of Promise 686
In this episode of The Defender Podcast, Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton welcome Andy Cook, President and CEO of Promise 686, a ministry dedicated to equipping churches to serve vulnerable children and families. Andy shares his journey of starting Promise 686, rooted in the biblical mandate of...
-
Embracing the Call of Adoption During National Adoption Month
Join Herbie Newell and Karla Thrasher on this special National Adoption Month episode of The Defender Podcast as they explore the profound impact of adoption on vulnerable children around the world. Karla, Lifeline's Senior Director of International Programs, shares insights on the evolving...
-
Anchored in Faith with David E. Prince
In this episode of The Defender Podcast, co-host Dr. Rick Morton sits down with David E. Prince at this year’s 2024 Southern Baptist Convention to discuss the importance of staying grounded in faith by reflecting God's love through action. Together, they explore the call to care for vulnerable...
-
Engaging the Vulnerable: A Conversation with Josh Benton of Send Relief
In this episode of The Defender Podcast, Dr. Rick Morton and Herbie Newell sit down with Josh Benton, National Vice President of Send Relief, recorded live at the Southern Baptist Convention in June. Josh shares his insights on the work of Send Relief, a collaborative platform that provides…
more -
From Frustration to Hope: Helping Kids Thrive in Learning
On today's episode of the Defender Podcast, Rick Morton sits down with Ann Maura Hinton, Director of Bridge Educational Services, to discuss how families can move from frustration to hope when it comes to their children's learning challenges. Ann Maura shares insights from her years of experience...
-
Orphan Sunday: A Call to Action for the Church with Pastor Chris Johnson
In this special episode of The Defender Podcast, host Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton are joined by Pastor Chris Johnson, Lifeline’s Senior Director of Church Partnerships and External Advocacy. Pastor Chris shares the inspiring story behind Orphan Sunday, a movement that started in Zambia and...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Defender Podcast collection is a ministry of Lifeline Children's Services where we seek to equip the body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children and families. We hope this collection will provide encouragement, inspiration, and ways to connect with others who have a heart for the orphan.
HOSTED BY
Lifeline Children's Services
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Defender Podcast have?
The Defender Podcast currently has 596 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Defender Podcast about?
The Defender Podcast collection is a ministry of Lifeline Children's Services where we seek to equip the body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children and families. We hope this collection will provide encouragement, inspiration, and ways to connect with others who have a heart for...
How often does The Defender Podcast release new episodes?
The Defender Podcast releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 596 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to The Defender Podcast?
You can listen to The Defender Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Defender Podcast?
The Defender Podcast is created and hosted by Lifeline Children's Services.
URL copied to clipboard!