Women Behind the Words deb6y

Date: June 4, 2024
Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Billie Jauss
 
Story Highlight: Join us on The Women Behind the Word as we dive into the busy life of Billie Jauss. Billie is an international speaker, author, and podcast host with over 35 years of experience navigating life as the wife of an MLB coach. Moved by her love for Jesus, Billie’s passion is to help women conquer distractions, find peace amidst life’s busyness, and connect with people so they can share God's love with those He places in their lives.
Billie's journey into this mission stemmed from a profound personal experience. After a devastating end to what she thought was a deep connection, she realized there was a better way to relate to others. This epiphany led her to reflect deeply on the relationships and friendships she had formed over the years. Her "baseball family" proved to be a wellspring of insight, teaching her invaluable lessons about fostering healthy relationships.
Now, Billie shares these insights through her speaking engagements, writing, and podcast episodes, encouraging women to cultivate meaningful connections and live out their faith authentically. Her message is clear: through understanding and intentionality, we can overcome the distractions of daily life and focus on the purposes God has set before us, nurturing relationships that reflect His love and grace.
 
About the Guest (Bio): Billie Jauss is an international speaker, author, and podcast host with over 35 years of experience navigating life as the wife of an MLB coach. Billie is on a mission to help women conquer distractions, find peace in life’s chaos, and connect with people so they can share God with those He has placed in front of them wherever they are.
 
Book Spotlight: Baseball Family: Nine Core Qualities for Developing Healthy Relationships
Life is a whole lot like baseball.
As the wife of a Major League Baseball coach, Billie Jauss discovered firsthand that what happens on the field…often takes place outside the ballpark as well.
In the baseball world, we don’t get to choose the friends we spend time with during the baseball season. They come with the team. Still, the community must be built and relationships fostered. Navigating the different connections is challenging.
How much can we share with those in our circles?
Who are our true, close friends, and who are those who we will only spend time with for a season?
Baseball Family explores four distinct relationships we often encounter: accidental acquaintance, social contacts, kindred spirits, and forever family.
Readers will learn the starting nine core qualities to strengthen each type of relationship. When we learn the virtues of selflessness, inclusion, support, peacemaker, encourager, compassion, respect, trustworthiness, and generosity, we can help cultivate loving relationships with people we may or may not choose.
Step up to the plate and prepare yourself for how to make all your relationships—close and far—flourish.
 
Connect with Billie: 
Author, Speaker, Podcaster
www.billiejauss.com
Newsletter
FB: Billie Jauss
Twitter: @billiejauss
Instagram: billie_jauss
 
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Date: May 28, 2024
Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Melissa Heiland
 
Story Highlight: Today, we are honored to host Melissa Heiland on "The Women Behind The Words." Melissa, a dedicated advocate for life, founded Beautiful Feet International, a global pregnancy care ministry. Her profound commitment to supporting unborn babies and their mothers has led to the establishment of over 100 centers in 31 countries. In our discussion, Melissa shares her awe-inspiring journey from a young teen with a heart for helping unwed mothers to leading an international ministry.
Beautiful Feet International began in 1990 when Melissa and her family served in Costa Rica. Although initially planning to stay, they returned to the US after one year. This marked a pivotal point as they donated a house that became the home base for their burgeoning pregnancy ministry. Over the years, Melissa has seen God's hand at work, expanding their reach and impact far beyond her early visions.
Melissa’s passion is not only for the unborn but also for their mothers, especially those in crisis who are open to the Gospel. Through Beautiful Feet, these women find support answers, and hope in God’s good plan for their lives. Melissa and her husband train churches worldwide, equipping them to serve their communities and share the Gospel.
Reflecting on her 11 years with Beautiful Feet, Melissa remains humbled by the doors God has opened and the lives changed through their work. Her story is a testament to God’s faithfulness in providing for the work He calls us to, even beyond our strength.
 
About Our Guest (Bio): Melissa Heiland, wife and mother of six, and grandmother of twelve, holds degrees in education and curriculum from Wake Forest University and the University of Central Missouri. A former missionary with the International Mission Board, she has led mission teams since 2000. As the Founder and President of Beautiful Feet International, she oversees the operation of over 100 international pregnancy centers.
An accomplished author and speaker, Melissa has contributed extensively to educational and devotional materials, including a training manual for pregnancy centers and devotionals for new and pregnant mothers. Her dedication to life and the Gospel has been recognized with several awards, including the EvanTell Matthew 4:19 Award and the Heartbeat International Servant Leader Award.
Melissa's life and ministry emphasize the power of trusting God through all circumstances, inspiring listeners to embrace their calling and impact lives for eternity.
 
Book Spotlight: A Mother's Journey: Devotional for Pregnancy
This 40-week devotional, corresponding to each week of pregnancy, is a testimony to the wonders and depth of God's love and grace to pregnant women and children in the womb. It serves as both a devotional and a pregnancy journal, providing a warm, engaging biblical journey that offers comfort and encouragement. Each chapter is tailored to match the stages of your baby’s development, enriching your connection with the growing life inside you.
The readings include Scripture verses, reflective journal prompts, and practical information about your baby's development, making this book a comprehensive guide for expectant mothers seeking spiritual and emotional nourishment. Whether you are experiencing pregnancy with a partner or on your own, "A Mother’s Journey" reassures you of the compassionate presence of God throughout this transformative period. It’s a wonderful resource to deepen your relationship with your baby, yourself, and your heavenly Father during the life-changing adventure of pregnancy.
 
Connect with Melissa:
Instagram: Beautiful Feet International (@beautifulfeetintl) • Instagram photos and videos
Email: bfidiroperations@gmail.com 
Website: http://beautifulfeetinternational.com
 
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Date: May 21, 2024 
Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Julie Sunne
 
Story Highlight: Welcome to today’s inspiring episode of "The Women Behind The Words." We're joined by Julie Sunne, whose personal journey beautifully illustrates the profound love and faithfulness that God offers, especially during times when we carry burdens that seem too heavy to bear alone.
Julie’s life was marked by trauma when she experienced the devastating loss of her first child through miscarriage, an event followed by others. This series of profound losses spiraled her into a deep battle with depression. It was during this dark period that she received a message from God through a dream, which sparked a significant transformation in her heart.
Her narrative provides hope and encouragement to those feeling weary or discouraged. Julie’s experiences showcase the extraordinary love of God and His constant presence in our lives, even amid immense challenges. Her faith was not only restored but also strengthened through the birth of her daughter, Rachel, who despite significant disabilities, reflects God’s love in her kindness and interactions with everyone she meets.
Today, Julie will share her compelling journey, exploring how her life has been transformed through her daughter’s example of unconditional love.
 
About Our Guest (Bio): Julie Sunne has a powerful story of finding real hope amidst life's significant challenges. Her struggles include enduring multiple miscarriages and raising her adult daughter with significant intellectual disabilities. Julie’s insights have been featured in various print and online platforms, including Proverbs 31 Ministries, Guideposts, and her blog at juliesunne.com. She lives in rural northeast Iowa with her husband, David, and is a mother to four children.
 
Book Spotlight: Sometimes I Forget: 60 Reminders of Hope for Your Hard Day
In this book, Julie Sunne offers 60 reflections that encourage readers to rest in the hope of God, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. Drawing on her desperate moments, Julie intertwines prayers, stories, and reminders of God's attributes, providing comfort and reassurance that God is faithful to His promises. Through these pages, readers will gain a deeper understanding of who God is, how He loves us as His children, and why we can trust in His promises through all of life’s valleys. This book is a resource for anyone needing to remember the reasons we have hope in God, no matter the challenges we face.
 
Connect with Julie: 
Website: https://juliesunne.com/
Instagram: Instagram.com/Julie Sunne
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliesunne/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/stores/Julie-Sunne/
Blog: https://juliesunne.com/blog/
 
Stay Connected: Subscribe to Debbie Dufek’s newsletter for updates on new podcast episodes, monthly insights, and upcoming events. Stay engaged and informed with all of Debbie’s inspiring projects. 

Date: May 14, 2024 
Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Maureen Miller
 
Story Highlight: Join us on The Women Behind the Words for a refreshing life story of Maureen Miller. Maureen, a dedicated Christian, grew up in a home where Jesus was not only talked about but deeply loved. Prayer with her mother was a nightly practice she and her sister enjoyed so much. She considered Jesus her best friend from as far back as she could remember. 
Despite her strong Christian upbringing, Maureen began to stray during her junior high years, making wrong choices with her boyfriend. She struggled with living a life of secret sin while trying to maintain the appearance of a pure Christian. This pattern continued through high school until they parted ways for her senior year. She later married her childhood sweetheart. 
Maureen shares a recurring pivotal moment she calls her "window story," where she experiences a profound sense of isolation and hypocrisy. After many years, in 2005, God called her back to this window, despite its association with pain and barrenness. Here, she heard Jesus tell her to “turn around”. She turned around, shifting her focus from herself and others to Him. This marked the beginning of a deep work of healing and sanctification in her life.
Through a vision of herself chasing butterflies with a net, Maureen understood her calling to capture women's attention and share the words of Jesus with them. Her ministry now revolves around sharing words of hope and redemption with women who, like herself, may feel isolated and stuck in sin.
Maureen currently resides in the hills of North Carolina on what she lovingly calls Selah Farm, her “hobby farm”, alongside her husband, seeking God's guidance daily and allowing Him to direct her steps and her writing. She collaborates with various publications and is a regular writer for Guideposts' "All God's Creatures."
 
About our Guest (Bio): Maureen Miller has been wife to Bill for 35 years, is mother to three “born-in-her-heart” children, and is Mosie to two grand-girls (with a third on the way). A teacher by degree, Mo (as many call her) has been writing almost all her life—enjoying plays, poetry, and short stories as a child; essays and term papers in high school and college; and devotions, essays, and articles as an adult.
She doesn’t recall a time when she didn’t love Jesus, but she came to a new understanding of God’s boundless love when she was in her early twenties and newly married. Part of the healing work He did in her heart was to show her how He desired to use her—through the gift of words, both written and spoken—words that He would give that she might share with others. And the purpose? To transform lives through a relationship with Jesus and be set free.
Maureen is an award-winning author. She’s published in more than twenty collaborative books, including the annual Guideposts devotional All God’s Creatures. She has articles and devotions, both in print and online, and writes for her local newspaper. 
She’s finishing her first novel, Gideon’s Book, and has written one children’s book, Daisy the Circus Dog. She also blogs regularly—telling of God’s extraordinary character discovered in the simple, ordinary things of life at www.penningpansies.com.
Though an introvert, Maureen’s a lover of people. She’s been called a “connector,” as she has a way of connecting people for God’s greater purposes. She loves to encourage and cheer others on in their pursuit of God and the gifts He’s given them.
A lover of dogs, books, and movies that make her cry, daisies, and other wildflowers, Maureen believes each day is preparation for all the beauty Heaven will hold, and she can’t wait to meet Jesus!
Connect with Maureen:
Email: adaisy4you@gmail.com
Website: https://penningpansies.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maureen.miller

Date: May 7, 2024
Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Lee Ann Mancini 
 
Story Highlights: Lee Ann Mancini discusses her heartfelt mission to guide parents in nurturing their children's faith from an early age in "The Women Behind The Words." She emphasizes the crucial role of parents as primary faith educators, advocating for homeschooling to instill biblical values and prepare children to face modern societal challenges. Citing alarming statistics from George Barna's research, she highlights the widespread doctrinal confusion among Christian youth, underlining the need for robust Christian leadership across societal pillars such as government, media, academia, and the church.
Mancini shares personal insights and strategies from her book "Raising Kids To Follow Christ," including the importance of engaging with children on spiritual matters from a young age to foster critical thinking and a strong personal faith. She discusses the significance of role-playing with children to prepare them for challenging conversations they may encounter in public schools. Additionally, Mancini touches on the importance of unconditional love, truth-telling, and being a living example of faith to one's children. The podcast is a comprehensive guide for parents eager to lay a solid spiritual foundation for the next generation.
 
About Our Guest (Bio): Lee Ann Mancini hosts the award-winning podcast “Raising Christian Kids,” available on all major platforms and streaming on KHCB Radios uplifted station. She shares expert godly advice, biblical-based wisdom, and insightful tools for parenting children to bring them closer to Jesus. Lee Ann is also an award-winning Christian children’s author and an executive producer of the animated series “Sea Kids” which can be viewed on Answers.TV, PureFlex, Right Now Media, and See Kids TV. This series is based on her children’s books about cute colorful sea creatures who learn about God’s morals and values and how to live those daily. She is the author of the new book “Raising Kids To Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God.” Lee Ann and her husband, Guy, have two adult children and make their home in Southern Florida. 
 
Book Spotlight: "Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God" by Lee Ann Mancini is an insightful guide that empowers parents, grandparents, teachers, and mentors to nurture a profound faith in children amidst modern cultural complexities. Drawing on decades of experience and Biblical principles, the book provides practical strategies for addressing children’s doubts, fears, and questions, and suggests methods for managing emotions and actions. Mancini combines insights from leading Christian thinkers with accessible apologetics and engaging activities that connect children with Christ, making this book a comprehensive toolkit for fostering a deep, unwavering faith and empowering parents to be spiritual champions in their children’s lives.
 
Connect with Lee Ann:
Website: https://leeannmancini.com
Sea Kids: https://seakidstv.com 
Email: inquire@rckids.org 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-ann-mancini-901b84b4/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Kids-Follow-Christ-Instilling-ebook/dp/B0C8C6XV8H?ref_=ast_author_mpb
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Ann-Mancini/e/B014O72BG0

Date: April 30, 2024
Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Naomi Fata
 
Story Highlight: Today on "The Women Behind the Words," we welcome Naomi Fata as we dive in together on homeschooling while running a home business as a sewist. Naomi shares how God led her to begin a business that was once only a dream and combined it with a teenage longing to school her children at home under the same roof. She candidly shares her journey, the values she has set for her schooling and business, and how the Lord has abundantly blessed both. You'll walk away with lots of practical tips on homeschooling, scheduling, simplifying in many areas, what to keep and what to consider off-loading, balance, boundaries, mental wellness, the importance of taking the time to prioritize, running a business amid family, how to nurture your husbands and marriage, and making it all work together so smoothly. In closing, Naomi said, “What you believe is valuable will be integrated in.”
 
About the Guest (Bio): Bio: Naomi Fata is an author, professional sewist, and homeschool mom of three. Also, Naomi writes God’s Corner for her local newspaper and is passionate about inspiring others to use their God-given gifts in their circle of influence. 
She is the author of Beyond Head Knowledge: Knowing Christ Who Satisfies Our Hearts and is the creator of two sewing-themed journals. Her next book Stitching Your Story Piece by Peace is a 13-week devotional about pursuing the peace of God, which will be released in October 2024. 
 
Book Spotlight: Beyond Head Knowledge: Knowing Christ Who Satisfies Our Hearts 
Do you desire close fellowship with God but don’t sense His presence? 
Have you ever questioned the reality of the Christian faith, wondering why you don’t have the joy and peace promised in Scripture? As the daughter of a pastor and saved since age four, Naomi longs to follow God, but He seems distant and far away. Though she practices the disciplines of the Christian faith—Bible reading, prayer, and Scripture memory—these do not satisfy her thirst to know God.
Beyond Head Knowledge is the true story of a young woman grasping the promise of Jeremiah 29:13–14, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” and the discoveries of her heart she made along the way.
Connect with Naomi:
www.naomifata.net
underhiswing.nomes@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomifata
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NaomiFataSews/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@naomifatasews
Monthly Newsletter https://birdsend.page/forms/7446/2TZ7mP7EF through Christian Resource Ministry. 
Bi-weekly Sewing Circle email http://eepurl.com/dyK9fz