Help & Hope

MARKINC Ministries

The Help & Hope Podcast guests address life's darkest circumstances that are often difficult to discuss, yet need to be faced as we help one another walk by faith. These are the real-life testimonies of people who have walked through these experiences and have found their strength in Christ.

  1. 1d ago

    When Mom Is Sick: Chronic Illness, Motherhood, and Trusting God – A Conversation with Lauri Hogle

    This Help & Hope conversation is part of our mini-series Go Ask Your Mother. In this series, we are asking the kinds of questions many younger women wish they could ask a mother, an older woman, or a trusted friend who has walked a little farther down the road. Today we will talk with Lauri Hogle about chronic illness, motherhood, marriage, work, identity, worship, and the hard grace of learning to receive help. We will also talk about how Lauri is now walking with her married daughters as they grieve the loss of children through miscarriage and stillbirth and experience their own chronic illnesses. Lauri is an author, musician, wife, mother, and grandmother whose life has been marked by both deep suffering and steady faith. Years ago, as a young mother of three little girls, Lauri began experiencing frightening and mysterious symptoms. Pain, weakness, headaches, vision loss, numbness, and exhaustion changed almost every part of her daily life. There were days when she could not hold her children, play the piano, cook meals, or do the ordinary tasks most mothers simply push through. Lauri’s story is not a simple story of sickness followed by an easy answer. Though God did provide important medical help, her journey with chronic illness has continued through many years and many crises. Yet through it all, the Lord has strengthened her faith, deepened her worship, and taught her what it means to belong to Christ when life is fragile and the body is weak. For every young woman who is trying to care for children while her own body is failing, for every wife or mother who wonders if she is still useful when she cannot do what she once did, and for every woman who needs to know that Jesus sees her in the hidden places of suffering, Lauri’s story will offer help and hope. The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, by visiting helpandhopenow.org. You can also download the FREE mobile app, Help and Hope, by using this link: https://subsplash.com/markincministries/app, or by searching Help and Hope in your mobile app store.  For MARKINC to continue to offer these helpful FREE resources, we need your help!! Please donate to MARKINC Ministries and invest in offering these helpful resources to those in need of hope. Safely donate on the website, mobile app, or by using this link https://markinc.org/donate/. Comment your questions on any of the videos! We cannot wait to hear from you all! Thank you for all of your support, and welcome to the MARKINC Family! We have this hope (Jesus) as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure… Hebrews 6:19 Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    When Mom Is Sick: Chronic Illness, Motherhood, and Trusting God – A Conversation with Lauri Hogle
  2. Oct 21

    Breast Cancer — My Journey – A Conversation with Lisa Kowal

    Lisa Kowal heard the diagnosis of breast cancer and recognized she was about to begin a hard journey into the scary land of Cancer. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, also a breast cancer survivor, Lisa shares her journey in a way that will help equip those coming behind her to face this enemy with strength. Lisa and Sharon talk about some of the practical things they did to minimize the power of cancer in their lives, as well as some tips for dealing with the aftereffects of treatment. Have you just heard those words, “You have breast cancer”, or do you know someone who is fighting cancer right now? This conversation is for you. The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, by visiting helpandhopenow.org. You can also download the FREE mobile app, Help and Hope, by using this link: https://subsplash.com/markincministries/app, or by searching Help and Hope in your mobile app store.  For MARKINC to continue to offer these helpful FREE resources, we need your help!! Please donate to MARKINC Ministries and invest in offering these helpful resources to those in need of hope. Safely donate on the website, mobile app, or by using this link https://markinc.org/donate/. Comment your questions on any of the videos! We cannot wait to hear from you all! Thank you for all of your support, and welcome to the MARKINC Family! We have this hope (Jesus) as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure… Hebrews 6:19 Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Breast Cancer — My Journey – A Conversation with Lisa Kowal
  3. Oct 14

    Now I Lay Me Down to Fight: Breast Cancer – A Conversation with Katy Bowser Hutson

    Imagine hearing these words: “Make no mistake: without treatment, this is fatal.” Katy Bowser Hutson heard this message from her oncologist, who made it clear that without aggressive treatment, Katy would die. She did not hear any optimism in her doctor’s voice. Katy’s diagnosis was inflammatory breast disease, and it was relentless in attempting to take over her body. In this conversation, Sharon Betters, herself a breast cancer survivor, talks with Katy about her journey, how writing poetry helped her express her deepest fears, and how seeing her feelings and emotions take shape on paper gave them less control.  You don’t have to be a breast cancer warrior woman to be encouraged and challenged by Katy’s perspective and beautiful expression of her journey through poetry. She captures her breast cancer perspective in the title of her book, Now I Lay Myself Down to Fight. Every woman facing a diagnosis of breast cancer will resonate with Katy’s battle cry. Katy Hutson is the author of Now I Lay Myself Down to Fight. The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, by visiting helpandhopenow.org. You can also download the FREE mobile app, Help and Hope, by using this link: https://subsplash.com/markincministries/app, or by searching Help and Hope in your mobile app store.  For MARKINC to continue to offer these helpful FREE resources, we need your help!! Please donate to MARKINC Ministries and invest in offering these helpful resources to those in need of hope. Safely donate on the website, mobile app, or by using this link https://markinc.org/donate/. Comment your questions on any of the videos! We cannot wait to hear from you all! Thank you for all of your support, and welcome to the MARKINC Family! We have this hope (Jesus) as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure… Hebrews 6:19 Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Now I Lay Me Down to Fight: Breast Cancer – A Conversation with Katy Bowser Hutson
  4. Oct 7

    Breast Cancer — An Interview with Chuck and Sharon Betters

    "Breast cancer". The very words are terrifying. The first thing Sharon did when she heard that diagnosis was to find a woman who had already traveled through the foreign land of cancer. As Sharon said, "I needed a guide—someone to help me navigate the maze of unknown terrain." It is Sharon's hope that through this interview, she and her husband Chuck can come alongside you as you walk this new pathway. In this interview, you'll hear some practical ways to take the terror out of the word "cancer," and how to face your journey with hope and courage. It is Chuck and Sharon's prayer that this message will be one more tool that equips you for the days ahead. The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, by visiting helpandhopenow.org. You can also download the FREE mobile app, Help and Hope, by using this link: https://subsplash.com/markincministries/app, or by searching Help and Hope in your mobile app store.  For MARKINC to continue to offer these helpful FREE resources, we need your help!! Please donate to MARKINC Ministries and invest in offering these helpful resources to those in need of hope. Safely donate on the website, mobile app, or by using this link https://markinc.org/donate/. Comment your questions on any of the videos! We cannot wait to hear from you all! Thank you for all of your support, and welcome to the MARKINC Family! We have this hope (Jesus) as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure… Hebrews 6:19 Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Breast Cancer — An Interview with Chuck and Sharon Betters
  5. Sep 30

    Enough About Me! – A Conversation with Jen Oshman

    “Who am I? What is my purpose? I thought I could have it all and I do. But I am restless, I feel like I’m missing something.” Statistics show many American women are weary, struggle with depression, and self-medicate with alcohol, flattery, etc. Suicide rates for women are on the rise. What’s happening? More importantly, what’s the resolution? In this conversation, Jen Oshman, author of Enough About Me, and Help & Hope host Sharon Betters talk about the problem, the diagnosis, and the treatment for this low-grade anxiety that often disrupts our thinking, whether in joyful or sorrowful seasons. In her book, Jen says, “We 21st century women have been running on ourselves, rather than on our God. We've been running on self-help, self-empowerment, and self-actualization. The fuel of self has run out, and that's why we're tired and discouraged and even in crisis. Enough about me. And enough about you. If we want to keep running, we need to run on the fuel we're made for — God Himself. We will indeed be restless until then.” (Enough About Me, Jen Oshman, page 48) Friends, join Jen and Sharon as they talk frankly about the reasons for the restlessness and dissatisfaction in a culture that demands we “do it all” and how we find our way back to God’s purpose for each of us. The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, by visiting helpandhopenow.org. You can also download the FREE mobile app, Help and Hope, by using this link: https://subsplash.com/markincministries/app, or by searching Help and Hope in your mobile app store.  For MARKINC to continue to offer these helpful FREE resources, we need your help!! Please donate to MARKINC Ministries and invest in offering these helpful resources to those in need of hope. Safely donate on the website, mobile app, or by using this link https://markinc.org/donate/. Comment your questions on any of the videos! We cannot wait to hear from you all! Thank you for all of your support, and welcome to the MARKINC Family! We have this hope (Jesus) as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure… Hebrews 6:19 Be sure to connect with us on social media! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Enough About Me! – A Conversation with Jen Oshman
  6. Sep 23

    NEW Help & Hope Story: Letting Go as Our Children Become Adults – A Conversation with Christina Fox

    In this episode of the Go Ask Your Mother mini-series on the Help & Hope Podcast, Sharon Betters talks with author, speaker, and counselor Christina Fox about one of the tender and often surprising transitions of motherhood: learning to let go as our children become adults. Drawing from Christina’s recent Daily Treasure devotions, this conversation explores the fears, grief, identity shifts, and spiritual stretching that come when a mother’s role begins to change. Christina shares honestly from her own experience as a mother of adult sons, including the lessons God is teaching her about releasing control, listening more, praying faithfully, and trusting the Lord with the lives of her children. Together, Sharon and Christina consider how God’s unchanging character anchors mothers in changing seasons, how prayer remains a powerful expression of love, and how the gospel gives grace to moms who look back with regret or feel unsure as they navigate this new stage. This conversation offers biblical encouragement for every mother learning to entrust her adult children to the God who loves them even more than she does. Christina Fox received her undergraduate degree from Covenant College and her master’s in counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She is a retreat speaker, content editor for enCourage, and the author of multiple books, including Closer Than a Sister: How Union with Christ Helps Friendships to Flourish, Idols of a Mother’s Heart, and Like Our Father: How God Parents Us and Why That Matters for Our Parenting. She also works in alumni relations for Covenant College. Christina prefers her coffee black and from a French press, and enjoys antiquing, hiking, traveling, and reading. She lives in Chattanooga with her husband, where they are empty nesters. You can find her at @christinarfox. The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, by visiting helpandhopenow.org. You can also download the FREE mobile app, Help and Hope, by using this link: https://subsplash.com/markincministries/app, or by searching Help and Hope in your mobile app store.  For MARKINC to continue to offer these helpful FREE resources, we need your help!! Please donate to MARKINC Ministries and invest in offering these helpful resources to those in need of hope. Safely donate on the website, mobile app, or by using this link https://markinc.org/donate/. Comment your questions on any of the videos! We cannot wait to hear from you all! Thank you for all of your support, and welcome to the MARKINC Family! We have this hope (Jesus) as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure… Hebrews 6:19 Be sure to connect with us on social media! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    NEW Help & Hope Story: Letting Go as Our Children Become Adults – A Conversation with Christina Fox
  7. Sep 16

    Mental Illness & Suicide – A Conversation with Judy Springer

    *The statistics below are from 2017, the year this episode was first published.* Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of 47,000 people. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54. There were more than twice as many suicides (47,173) in the United States than there were homicides (19,510). Sadly, suicide is trending upward, increasing 31% in the past eighteen years. Suicide among males is nearly four times higher than among females. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports in 2017) These statistics are startling. Judy Springer doesn’t need statistics to reveal the anguish and pain of mental illness and suicide. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, she tells how she has lived it and continues to live with the aftermath of suicide. After a lifetime of the unrelenting pain of mental illness, Judy’s beloved husband, Scott, took his own life. Judy shares their story as a way to redeem some of the pain of Scott’s struggle to find healing and death. She is confident Scott would want her to transparently tell their story as a way to offer help and hope to others. This story will not only offer help and hope to those struggling with mental illness but equip others to walk beside them. The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, by visiting helpandhopenow.org. You can also download the FREE mobile app, Help and Hope, by using this link: https://subsplash.com/markincministries/app, or by searching Help and Hope in your mobile app store.  For MARKINC to continue to offer these helpful FREE resources, we need your help!! Please donate to MARKINC Ministries and invest in offering these helpful resources to those in need of hope. Safely donate on the website, mobile app, or by using this link https://markinc.org/donate/. Comment your questions on any of the videos! We cannot wait to hear from you all! Thank you for all of your support, and welcome to the MARKINC Family! We have this hope (Jesus) as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure… Hebrews 6:19 Be sure to connect with us on social media! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

    Mental Illness & Suicide – A Conversation with Judy Springer

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Help & Hope Podcast guests address life's darkest circumstances that are often difficult to discuss, yet need to be faced as we help one another walk by faith. These are the real-life testimonies of people who have walked through these experiences and have found their strength in Christ.

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