Episode Summary What happens when God asks you to do something you never would have thought of yourself? In this Podapalooza episode of the Junk to Jewels Podcast, Georgette Beck sits down with Carol McGehe — founder of the Living Forward Ministry for Widows at The Vine Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, and author of Becoming a Widows’ Advocate. Here’s the surprise: Carol has never been a widow. A retired mathematics teacher and professor, she was happily enjoying retirement — pickleball, tutoring, and co-writing an award-winning Christian historical novel with her husband, Larry — when, standing in her church foyer four and a half years ago, she sensed God say, “You need to start a new widows ministry.” Her question was, “Why me?” The answer that followed: “Why not you?” What began with six to eight women in a friend’s living room has grown to 57 widows, supported by a 58-member volunteer care team. Carol explains “widows fog” — the forgetfulness, indecision, and disorientation so many widows experience — and tells of one widow who spent two years seeing neurologists before learning that what she felt was a normal part of the journey. She shares real (and painful) things people have said to grieving widows, why a book written for non-widows has become a comfort to widows themselves, and the first steps any church or individual can take to begin a widows ministry. Georgette shares her own story of laughing when a pastor first asked her and Scott to lead a divorce care ministry — and how, a year later, saying yes and serving where the need was strengthened their marriage, too. Episode Chapters 00:00 Welcome and introducing Carol McGehe 01:27 The call: “You need to start a new widows ministry” 04:08 Starting small — six to eight women in Heidi’s living room 06:40 Obedience: when God calls, He equips 07:50 What “Living Forward” means (and who named it) 10:31 Understanding widows fog 13:54 What not to say — “Stop Before You Say” 16:18 A book for non-widows that comforts widows, too 17:58 How to start a widows ministry in your church 19:15 Favorite reads and scripture 21:29 From 6 to 57 widows — and a 58-member care team 22:27 Closing and next steps Key Takeaways You don’t have to have walked the road to walk alongside someone. Carol isn’t a widow — she simply obeyed, and God supplied the people, tools, and energy as the ministry grew. Widows fog is real. Trouble concentrating, making decisions, or keeping commitments is a common part of loss — not a sign that something is wrong with you. Presence beats perfect words. Bumbling with the wrong words hurts, but staying away altogether is even worse. Sometimes quiet is best. Grief has no timeline. Some widows find their “new normal” in two or three years; others are still struggling at fourteen. Widow care is community care. Living Forward pairs a safe place to share (with more laughter than tears!) with a dedicated care team. Memorable Quotes “I know it’s Him when I would never have thought of it myself.” — Carol McGehe “When God calls you to do something, I believe He equips you.” — Carol McGehe “We laugh more than we have tears.” — Carol McGehe, on Living Forward gatherings “I wrote the book for people like me, who have never been a widow.” — Carol McGehe “You serve where the need is.” — Georgette Beck “Our culture doesn’t do loss very well.” — Georgette Beck Books, Scripture & Resources Mentioned Becoming a Widows’ Advocate: Expressing True Friendship to the Widows in Your Life by Carol McGehe — includes the “Stop Before You Say” chapter, voices of real widows, and a step-by-step guide for churches launching a widows ministry. Bulk pricing for churches available. In Search of My Heart (In Search series, Book 1) by Larry & Carol McGehe — award-winning Christian historical novel. The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis & John Eldredge — Carol’s favorite; she recommends the audiobook read by John Eldredge. Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (KJV) Modern Widows Club — its president spoke during the Sunday Carol’s church set aside to highlight the ministry. Connect with Carol McGehe Carol invites pastors, church leaders, and anyone with a heart for widows to reach out personally — she loves helping people get started. Website: McGeheBooks.com Becoming a Widows’ Advocate (ordering & bulk church pricing): McGeheBooks.com/Widows_Advocate/ Facebook: facebook.com/insearchseries Instagram: com/mcgehebooks YouTube: youtube.com/@McGeheBooks In Search of My Heart on Amazon: amazon.com/Search-My-Heart-Book/dp/B0CKYH1X67 Connect with Georgette Beck Book — Junk to Jewels: co/d/0etqV85U Instagram: instagram.com/georgette.beck/ Facebook: facebook.com/GeorgetteBeckWriter LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/georgette-beck-7a659387/ Twitter/X: com/GeorgetteMBeck TikTok: tiktok.com/@georgette2038 YouTube: youtube.com/@georgettebeck9168 Community & updates: GeorgetteBeck.com Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Podchaser, iHeartRadio, Listen Notes, and YouTube. Subscribe, share, and leave a review — it means the world! ABOUT THE GUEST, THE HOST & THE SHOW About Carol McGehe Carol McGehe is the founder of the Living Forward Ministry for Widows at The Vine Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, and the author of Becoming a Widows’ Advocate: Expressing True Friendship to the Widows in Your Life. Though she has never been a widow herself, Carol answered God’s call to start a widows ministry four and a half years ago. What began with a handful of women in a living room has grown to 57 widows supported by a 58-member care team, and Carol now enthusiastically helps churches and individuals begin widows ministries in their own communities. A retired mathematics teacher and professor, Carol received the Presidential Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, and she describes her career as being as much about mentoring young people as teaching math. She and her husband, Larry, are co-authors of the award-winning Christian historical novel In Search of My Heart, the first book in the In Search series. A self-described connector and “resource person,” Carol enjoys traveling, Bible study, tutoring mathematics students, playing pickleball, boogie boarding, and spending time with friends. About Georgette Beck Georgette Beck is an award-winning author, podcast host, lay minister, mentor, and entrepreneur on Florida’s Treasure Coast whose calling is to inspire, encourage, educate, and bring hope. Her memoir, Junk to Jewels: A Journey from Brokenness & Despair to Beauty & Delight (Fedd Books, 2024), received an International Impact Book Award in the Inspirational/Transformational category and was named a Semi-Finalist in the 2025 Royal Palm Literary Award Competition with the Florida Writers Association. Georgette is the host of the Junk to Jewels Podcast and the Founder & President of Bella Healing Hearts Foundation, a nonprofit supporting single-parent families through mentorship, education, and scholarships. She is also a Realtor with Beach Front Becks at Beach Front Mann Realty in Jensen Beach, serving alongside her husband, Scott. A wife, mom, stepmom, daughter, sister, and grandmother of nine, Georgette teaches the Four C’s — Contemplation, Community, Caring, and Contribution — and lives by her signature message: Nothing is wasted. About the Junk to Jewels Podcast The Junk to Jewels Podcast was inspired by Georgette’s first book, Junk to Jewels: A Journey from Brokenness & Despair to Beauty & Delight. Launched in December 2023 and now with more than 100 episodes recorded, the podcast inspires, educates, encourages, motivates, and gives hope to listeners as they heal from their past, in the present, for their future. Georgette shares her heart on all “heart matters” — divorce, loss, abandonment, rejection, insecurity, self-esteem, remarriage, blended families, stepparenting, suicide, abortion, life purpose, faith, disappointment, depression, happiness, joy, hope, grief, sorrow, health, and more. Episodes include stories from Georgette’s life, affirmations, scriptures and quotes, wisdom from other authors and books, and guest speakers sharing their own junk-to-jewels stories. Produced and created by Georgette Beck. Follow along to be inspired, encouraged, and receive hope daily! About the Podapalooza Series Podapalooza is a live, virtual podcast marathon in which podcast hosts are paired with VIP guests for back-to-back interviews in the event’s “Podatorium.” Georgette said yes to the invitation from a friend — “you say yes to life opportunities” — and recorded a full day of conversations with guests from all over the world, an answer to her prayer to meet people and collect their stories. Carol’s interview was recorded at Podapalooza on June 10, 2026.
