Raising Godly Girls

American Heritage Girls

For over 30 years, American Heritage Girls® has come alongside families and youth ministry leaders in offering Christ-centered, girl-focused character development. Through the Raising Godly Girls® Podcast, presented by American Heritage Girls, listeners get to tap into the advice that seasoned AHG leaders have gleaned over three decades of ministering to girls. Plus, hear from industry experts with solutions to a broad range of issues impacting today's girls. Get Biblically-sound and actionable tips from fellow parents, volunteers, and thought leaders on how to raise up a girl after God's own heart.

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    Ep. 445 – What is a Girl's 'Civic Duty' in our Modern Age?

    What does "civic duty" actually mean—and would your girl know how to answer if you asked her? In a culture where words like citizenship, responsibility, leadership, and service can feel increasingly distant from everyday life, Christian parents have an important opportunity to help their daughters understand what it means to faithfully steward the place God has given them.  On today's Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden unpack the difference between civic duty and civic responsibility and explore why both matter when raising girls with a Biblical Worldview. From obeying the laws of the land to voluntarily stepping into leadership and service, Rachael and Melissa help parents connect everyday citizenship with a deeper calling to seek the good of their communities. And as Veterans Day approaches, they consider how honoring those who have served can become a practical lesson in sacrifice, responsibility, and love of neighbor.  You'll also hear a Raising Godly Girls Minute from AHG Founder & Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay on respecting veterans—and the powerful question every parent should be ready to answer: "What do we do now, Mom?" Rather than stopping at gratitude, families can turn that gratitude into action by attending Veterans Day events, participating in flag ceremonies, serving veterans, listening to their stories, praying for veterans and their families, and looking for meaningful ways to serve within their own communities.  But civic responsibility requires more than knowing how to be a good citizen. Rachael and Melissa talk about helping girls understand the purpose of laws and government, the importance of civic literacy, and the Biblical tension that arises when human laws conflict with God's Word. They also explore what it looks like to prepare a girl for the sacrifice, courage, training, and perseverance that leadership requires. Whether God calls her to military service, public leadership, community service, or simply faithful citizenship in her everyday life, your girl can learn that leadership is not about gaining power or a platform—it's about following God's lead and serving others well.  Raising Godly girls means preparing them not only to know where they live, but to understand how they can faithfully serve where God has placed them. This week, help your daughter see citizenship through a Biblical Worldview—and begin building the courage, wisdom, responsibility, and willing heart she'll need to lead well.    Two Things to Remember:  It's good to obey the law of the land, but connect your girl's identity as a Christ-follower to why we are called to live responsibly as citizens.  If your girl steps into leadership—or even military service—build her courage and faith, because leadership involves risk and sacrifice. God can use a willing life to bless others.    Scriptures Referenced:  Jeremiah 29:7  John 15:13    Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.   Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

  2. 3d ago ·  Video

    Ep. 444 – What U.S. Military Veterans can Teach Your Girl & Your Community

    What does your girl see when she sees someone in military uniform? A stranger? A hero? Someone to thank? Or perhaps an opportunity to understand what it means to serve, sacrifice, and lead?  With Veterans Day approaching, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden are taking a closer look at the important place veterans hold in our communities—and how Christian parents can help their girls develop a heart of reverence and respect for those who have served. From learning about the six branches of the United States Military to understanding the sacrifices made by servicemen, women, and their families, this conversation gives parents practical ways to help girls recognize the courage and commitment behind the uniform.  But honoring veterans is about more than saying, "Thank you for serving." Rachael and Melissa explore what a Biblical Worldview teaches us about military service, peace, protection, citizenship, and leadership. As parents, we can help our girls understand that while war was never part of God's original design, sin means conflict is a reality—and God calls His people to serve faithfully wherever He places them. Girls can learn to appreciate the courage required to protect others while also developing wisdom about what it means to follow and honor leadership.  The conversation also moves beyond the uniform. Veterans continue serving in churches, workplaces, neighborhoods, and families, bringing valuable leadership, discipline, teamwork, and a deep understanding of service into their communities. Through everyday encounters with veterans, participation in parades and ceremonies, family stories, and intentional prayer, parents can teach their daughters to recognize sacrifice and respond with gratitude.  This Veterans Day, invite your girl into a deeper understanding of what it means to honor those who have served. Help her understand the calling, respect the sacrifice, and follow wise leadership with a willing heart. Because raising Godly girls includes teaching them not only to love their country, but to steward their citizenship with courage, wisdom, gratitude, and a heart surrendered to God.    Three Things to Remember:  Help your girl understand a military serviceman or woman's calling to defend the nation against enemies foreign and domestic.  Give honor to each veteran for their unique sacrifice.  Respect and follow wise veteran leadership with a willing heart.    Scriptures Referenced"  Joshua 1:9  Romans 12:10    Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.   Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

  3. 6d ago ·  Video

    Ep. 443 - Guiding Girls Toward Sexual Integrity in a Digital World with Greta Eskridge

    In today's digital world, conversations about pornography, sexual integrity, and healthy relationships can feel overwhelming for parents—but avoiding them isn't an option. As girls encounter increasingly sexualized messages through social media, entertainment, advertising, and online culture, they need parents who are prepared to respond with both Biblical truth and Christ-centered grace.  In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, AHG Founder & Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay welcomes author, speaker, and homeschooling mom Greta Eskridge for an honest, hope-filled conversation about equipping girls to navigate a hypersexualized culture. Drawing from her years of ministry and the heart behind her book It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn, Greta offers practical wisdom for helping families build a foundation of sexual integrity rooted in God's design rather than fear or shame.  Together, Patti and Greta discuss how pornography and sexualized media shape a girl's understanding of identity, beauty, relationships, and self-worth. They explore why these conversations should begin earlier than many parents expect, how to establish healthy technology boundaries, and how the Gospel offers lasting hope and healing for girls who have already been exposed to explicit content. Greta also closes the conversation by praying a beautiful prayer of courage and hope over parents navigating these important discussions.  No parent will have every answer, but God faithfully equips mothers and fathers to shepherd their daughters with wisdom, compassion, and truth. This encouraging conversation will remind you that protecting your girl's heart isn't simply about guarding against harmful influences—it's about pointing her toward the freedom, healing, and abundant life found in Jesus Christ.    Scriptures Referenced in this Episode:  Psalm 119:9-11  Philippians 4:8  Romans 12:1-2  1 Corinthians 6:18-20  1 John 1:9    To read Greta's new book, listen to her podcast, and learn more about her work, simply visit gretaeskridge.com  Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.       Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

  4. Oct 29 ·  Video

    Ep. 442 – The Growing Issue of Explicit Content in Today's Girls' Lives

    Pornography isn't just a boys' issue anymore—and Christian parents need wisdom, discernment, and courage to talk about it with their daughters.  In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden continue the conversation surrounding pornography and sexually explicit content, taking a closer look at how girls are increasingly encountering and engaging with explicit material. With technology placing this content closer than ever through phones, streaming platforms, gaming, and social media, how can parents respond without allowing fear to take the lead?  The conversation begins with a powerful reminder: our girls need parents who are aware, but not afraid. When explicit content enters a girl's world, curiosity and shame can quickly collide. That's why creating an ongoing culture of trust and openness matters so much. Rather than waiting for a crisis, parents can establish themselves as safe people their daughters can come to when—not if—they encounter something harmful.  Rachael and Melissa also explore the difference between parenting as a "prison warden" and parenting as a shepherd. Parents cannot control every influence their daughters will encounter, but they can guide, equip, pray, and continually point their girls back to their identity in Christ. Instead of beginning with shame or behavior modification, this conversation encourages parents to begin with God's design for their daughter's body, relationships, heart, and identity.  You'll also hear a Raising Godly Girls Minute from Patti Garibay on the realities of pornography exposure, along with practical encouragement for Christian parents seeking to cultivate healthy conversations about sexuality. Plus, discover resources from American Heritage Girls and trusted ministry organizations designed to help parents disciple girls toward truth, wisdom, and integrity.  This is a difficult conversation—but Christian parents don't have to approach it alone or live in fear. With the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, the truth of God's Word, and confidence in Christ's redemptive power, we can shepherd our girls with both courage and grace.    Two Things to Consider:  Pornography is a big topic, so approach under God's design for your girl guided by His Word, the Bible. Begin with her identity in Christ before you address behaviors.  Fear tricks parents into thinking we have to control everything. But God wants us to move as a shepherd not a prison warden. A shepherd is aware of the danger but not afraid. A shepherd guides, equips, and empowers.    Scriptures Referenced:  1 Corinthians 6:18–20   Proverbs 4:23    Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.  Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

  5. Oct 27 ·  Video

    Ep. 441 – What are the Truly Scary Things Christian Parents should be Concerned About this Halloween?

    Halloween may be filled with costumes, candy, and spooky decorations, but there are some very real dangers parents need to be talking about long after October 31. In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden take a candid look at pornography and explicit content—and the ways girls can encounter it through smartphones, tablets, social media, entertainment, literature, and even the family television.  For Christian parents, the answer cannot be fear, shame, or simply hoping their daughters never encounter inappropriate content. Rachael and Melissa encourage parents to approach this difficult subject with Biblical discernment, courage, and compassion. God's design for girls, their bodies, relationships, and sexuality does not change simply because culture becomes more accepting of explicit content. At the same time, parents need to create homes where girls know they can bring difficult experiences into the light without fearing rejection or condemnation.  The conversation gets especially practical as Rachael and Melissa discuss what parents can do when a girl is accidentally exposed to pornography or explicit material. Rather than allowing shame to drive a girl into secrecy, parents can establish clear expectations, encourage girls to tell a trusted adult, use appropriate technology boundaries, and have ongoing age-appropriate conversations about what they are seeing and hearing. The goal isn't to raise girls who are frightened by the darkness, but girls who are grounded enough in God's truth to recognize it and know where to turn.  This episode also offers hope for families who have already encountered pornography or explicit content—including parents carrying their own history or testimony. Truth and grace belong together. Parents can address sin honestly while reminding their daughters that what they encounter does not define them, shame does not have the final word, and God's grace makes redemption and restoration possible. As Rachael and Melissa remind listeners, silence can be mistaken for acceptance, so Christian parents need the courage to engage these conversations and continually point their girls back to the Lord's good design.    Two Things to Remember:  Holding to the Lord and His design might make you out of sync with cultural trends, but God's desire is truly for your girl's deepest good in Him.  A hands-off approach to culture, trends, and entertainment is no longer an option. Have courage to directly address explicit content your girl sees, always leading her back to the Lord's design and His heart rather than simply planting fear in her mind.    Scriptures Referenced:  Psalm 19:8  Psalm 51:10  James 1:17  Matthew 19:1–9    Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.        Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

  6. Oct 24 ·  Video

    Ep. 440 – Adoption and Intentional Faith: Trusting God in Every Step with Lauren McAfee

    What does it look like to live with intention when life doesn't go according to plan?  In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Melissa Bearden sits down with author and speaker Lauren McAfee for a heartfelt conversation about faith, perseverance, and the beauty of living purposefully in every season. Through her personal journey—including her experience with adoption—Lauren shares how God meets us in moments of uncertainty, disappointment, and waiting, and invites us to trust Him more deeply.  Together, Melissa and Lauren explore what it truly means to live with intention as a Christian woman. In a culture that often encourages busyness and comparison, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that intentional living begins with surrender—aligning our daily choices, priorities, and perspective with God's greater purpose.  This conversation also expands the understanding of what it means to be pro-life, highlighting the call not only to value life, but to actively care, support, and walk alongside others with compassion and conviction. Lauren shares how her faith has been shaped through both joy and hardship, offering encouragement for moms and daughters navigating seasons of confusion or unmet expectations.  Whether you're raising a young girl or guiding a daughter into adulthood, this episode will equip you to lead with intentionality—pointing her toward a life rooted in Christ, marked by purpose, and sustained by hope.  Because when we trust God with every step, even the uncertain ones, He faithfully shapes a story far greater than we could imagine.    Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:    Proverbs 3:5–6   Romans 8:28   James 1:2–4   Galatians 6:9   Psalm 37:23–24   Colossians 3:23–24    To learn more about Lauren's work, visit laurenmcafee.com   To connect with the Stand For Life Movement, visit standforlife.com   Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com.      To find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.

    Ep. 440 – Adoption and Intentional Faith: Trusting God in Every Step with Lauren McAfee
  7. Oct 22 ·  Video

    Ep. 439 – Faithful to God's Vision for Vulnerable Kids: Teaching Your Girl How to Support & Love through Action

    What does it mean to become an agent of God's grace and love in the life of a vulnerable child? Adoption can be a beautiful picture of the Gospel, but not every family is called to become an adoptive family. The good news is that every Christian family can play a meaningful role in supporting children, adoptive parents, and the communities surrounding them.  On this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose explore the Biblical heart behind adoption and what it means to reflect God's love for children who need a safe, secure place to belong. From open and closed adoption to domestic and international adoption, they unpack some of the different paths families may encounter while emphasizing the deeper reason Christians can approach adoption: the Gospel itself. Scripture tells us that through Jesus, we have been welcomed into God's family and given the identity of His beloved children.  The conversation also offers encouragement for families who have a heart for adoption but have not been called into the adoptive-parent journey themselves. Rachael vulnerably shares how God has helped her understand that she can still participate in the blessing of adoption through prayer, financial support, serving adoptive families, and investing in ministries that care for vulnerable children. Through the Raising Godly Girls Minute, Patti Garibay highlights practical ways families can support those walking through adoption, including prayer, financial generosity, and creative opportunities for girls to celebrate and bless adoptive families.  Rachael and Natalie also explore the often-overlooked network surrounding adoption and foster care, including CASA and Guardian ad Litem volunteers, churches, community ministries, and everyday families willing to step in with meals, supplies, encouragement, advocacy, and practical help. Parents will discover age-appropriate ways to help their daughters move from simply seeing a need to becoming active agents of grace. Whether a family is adopting, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for a way to serve vulnerable children, there are countless opportunities to put faith into action and let their light shine. Tune in for an encouraging reminder that when God leads a family into an adoption journey—or into the village surrounding one—He is faithful to equip them for the work He has given them.    Two Things to Remember:  If you're an adoptive family, your journey is filled with opportunities to see God's faithfulness—and to receive the help and support He provides through the people around you.  If you and your girl want to support adoption, there are many ways to get involved. Let creativity, compassion, and the Lord's leading turn your family's care into action.    Scriptures Referenced:  1 John 3:1  Ephesians 1:5  Psalm 68:5–6  Matthew 5:16      Visit raisinggodlygirl.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.        Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

    Ep. 439 – Faithful to God's Vision for Vulnerable Kids: Teaching Your Girl How to Support & Love through Action
  8. Oct 20 ·  Video

    Ep. 438 – Has the Family Pro-Life Stance Changed in Modern Times? Understanding a Biblical Perspective

    What does it mean for a Christian family to truly live out a Biblical view of the sanctity of life? In a culture where conversations about life, abortion, pregnancy, foster care, adoption, and human dignity can feel increasingly complicated, parents have an important opportunity to help their daughters understand that every human life is created by God, bears His image, and has value.  On this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose explore what it looks like to develop a Biblical Worldview on the sanctity of life and move beyond conviction into compassionate action. Rather than allowing cultural arguments, difficult circumstances, or exceptions to shape a family's understanding of human dignity, Rachael and Natalie encourage parents to begin with Scripture, seek the Lord in prayer, and view every life through the lens of God's character and design.  The conversation also expands the pro-life discussion from protecting preborn life to caring for vulnerable children and families. Through the Raising Godly Girls Minute, Patti Garibay highlights practical ways families can support children in foster care—from connecting with local churches and community organizations to meeting tangible needs through service projects. Rachael and Natalie discuss how families can cultivate a heart for life in age-appropriate ways, helping younger girls recognize babies and children as gifts, honor older generations, appreciate people from different backgrounds, and ultimately learn to see others as image bearers of God.  Most importantly, this episode challenges families to recognize that Biblical belief is meant to lead to action. Parents can start by examining Scripture and praying together, then look for established ways to serve foster families, adoptive families, and vulnerable children in their own communities. And if a needed ministry or care framework doesn't exist, families may have the opportunity to prayerfully step forward and help create one. Tune in for an encouraging conversation about raising girls who not only understand the sanctity of life, but who are prepared to live out the love, compassion, service, and courage their faith calls them to demonstrate.    Two Things to Remember:  Develop your family's worldview on the sanctity of life from God's Word, through the lens of His character, rather than from personal conviction alone.  Belief is active—find a way to support vulnerable children and foster families in your church or community, or prayerfully become the ones who help create that opportunity.    Scriptures Referenced:  Psalm 139:13–16  James 1:27  Isaiah 1:17  Genesis 1:26–27  Deuteronomy 6:4–9    Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.        Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

    Ep. 438 – Has the Family Pro-Life Stance Changed in Modern Times? Understanding a Biblical Perspective
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About

For over 30 years, American Heritage Girls® has come alongside families and youth ministry leaders in offering Christ-centered, girl-focused character development. Through the Raising Godly Girls® Podcast, presented by American Heritage Girls, listeners get to tap into the advice that seasoned AHG leaders have gleaned over three decades of ministering to girls. Plus, hear from industry experts with solutions to a broad range of issues impacting today's girls. Get Biblically-sound and actionable tips from fellow parents, volunteers, and thought leaders on how to raise up a girl after God's own heart.

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