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Which is it: quality time or quantity time? Is one more important than the other when it comes to raising kids?

Listen in for the answers with award-winning author, speaker, life coach, and frequent media guest Dr. Mel Tavares. Dr. Mel provides expert insight on this topic along with practical ways for busy parents to invest their time wisely in their growing families.

Dr. Mel holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling and has 35 years of experience working with families professionally and in ministry. She is an award-winning author and board-certified mental health coach and life coach and she and her husband live in Connecticut. They have seven adult children and eleven grandchildren.

You can access Dr. Mel's books, articles, and resources, along with her coaching services by visiting her website: https://www.drmeltavares.com/

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Today we talk missions with Melissa Heiland, founder and president of the missions organization Beautiful Feet International. Melissa has led missions teams since 2000 and offers helpful ways parents can lead and encourage their children to get involved with missions, based on her insight and years of real world experience. God's heart is still for missions. As parents we can lead the charge in cultivating a family with a missions heart.

Here are some of Melissa's recommendations:

• Read missionary biographies aloud with your kids
• Start by serving locally through a soup kitchen or pregnancy resource center
• Make praying for missionaries a regular part of your family prayer time
• Serve and support organizations like Angel Tree and Samaritan's Purse
• Find books and journals written about missionaries specifically for children

Melissa's book is also a fantastic resource on short term missions. Prepare yourself and your family with this 31-day devotional that focuses on Scriptures, stories, and prayers to ready you for God's work. Get Set: A Spiritual Preparation for Short-term Mission Partners is available on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Get-Set-Spiritual-Preparation-Short-Term/dp/0976764555

Melissa Heiland is a wife, mother of 6, and grandmother of 12. She’s an author, speaker, and missionary, and holds degrees from Wake Forest University and the University of Central Missouri with specialties in education and curriculum and instruction. Melissa is the Founder and President of Beautiful Feet International, a mission organization that starts international pregnancy centers. Beautiful Feet has over 100 pregnancy ministries in over 30 nations. Melissa has led mission teams since 2000 and is the recipient of the 2014 EvanTell Matthew 4:19 award and the 2022 Heartbeat International Servant Leader award. Her passion is teaching others to share the Gospel and to protect life. It was a pleasure talking with Melissa on 5-Minute Parenting! Be sure to visit her website for more information about her ministry and links to her books.

Visit Melissa's website: https://www.beautifulfeetinternational.com/

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

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Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Join 5-Minute Parenting for a special guest, fellow Ambassador author Alexandra ("Alex") Jensen, who will share simple strategies for discipling young children from her real-world experience as a busy mom of three.

"Alex" is author of A Place of Grace for Moms of Littles, helping moms navigate the messy moments of motherhood, while connecting with God's heart. Alex is a Steering Team Leader for the MomCo. Organization (formerly MOPS), and has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a Minor in Creative Writing, and a Master’s degree in Math and Science Education. She is a former Elementary school teacher, wife, stay-at-home mom, and antiques dealer. When Alex is not busy changing a diaper, packing lunches, or sneaking in a few pages of reading for her book club, she enjoys quilting.

Be sure to visit her website, order her book, and follow her on social media: www.instagram.com/authoralexandrajensen
www.facebook.com/Authoralexandrajensen
www.alexandrajensen.org

Link for Alex's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Place-Grace-Moms-Littles-Sanctified/dp/1649606931

Additional Resources:

Awana https://www.awana.org/

The MomCo (Formerly MOPS) https://www.themom.co/home

Veggie Tales Podcast https://veggietales.com/podcast/

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Welcome back to 5-minute Parenting - tips to help you raise competent, God-confident kids! Join Host Karen Ferguson as she discusses the Power of Praying God's Word over our children.

God's Word is a weapon against our enemies. Jesus used the Word to defeat Satan in the wildnerness. God promises in Isaiah 55:11 that His Word will not return void, but will complete what He desires. Listen in and be encouraged to pray God's promises and blessings over your kids and grandkids, it makes a difference in their lives!

Also, be sure to download the FREE resource: Prayers for raising positive, godly children in a negative, ungodly world. You'll receive 14 special prayers aligned with specific Bible verses about godly character qualities we'd all like to see in our children and grandchildren.

FREE Download: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/i6z8x7

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Today we’re talking with award-winning author, illustrator, and podcaster Mistie House who shares about her beautiful children's book series, "The Father's Love." Find out the inspiration behind this series, what she hopes young readers take away from her books, and just for fun: which of her book characters she would like to be for a day and the adenture they would take together.

Mistie House is an everyday Christian woman who is a loving wife, creative mom, and child of God. Along with being an award-winning author, she’s an illustrator and host of the Beloved Bride podcast. Her passion is guiding God’s children to walk with the King through her testimony, teaching, and storytelling. Mistie loves spending quality time with family and friends, sharing her stories, speaking at events, and vacationing with her spouse and children. She lives in Texas with her amazing husband and is a mother of two precious daughters—her shining jewels.

Visit her website and order her books: www.mistiehouseauthor.com

Follow Mistie on social media:

www.facebook.com/mistiehouse.author/
www.instagram.com/mistiehouse/

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Host Karen Ferguson welcomes Kirthana Fanning to the show for an in-depth and uplifting episode on raising bold, confident kids for Christ. Listen in as Kirthana brings encouragement and practical strategies to help parents disciple their kids and foster spiritual growth in the home.

Kirthana is an award-winning children’s author and content creator dedicated to crafting faith-based stories that inspire, uplift, and nurture young readers. With over two decades of experience in media and content creation, she has honed the ability to captivate diverse audiences across various platforms. At the heart of Kirthana's mission is the desire to empower youth with tales of faith and courage, fostering a generation that faces life’s challenges with grace.

In addition to writing, Kirthana is the creator and host of Read Believe Grow TV, a YouTube channel offering wholesome Christian content for kids. Through read-alouds, author interviews, devotionals, Bible stories, inspiring testimonials, and more, she aims to make learning about faith engaging and accessible for young audiences.

To find our more about Kirthana and her books, visit her website at https://kirthanajfanning.com/books

Check out her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadBelieveGrowTV

Special thanks to Kirthana for creating a freebie just for 5-MInute Parenting listeners which you can download here: https://stan.store/KFan_Me/p/get-free-7-day-prayer-guide-for-kids

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Join children's author and 35 year veteran teacher Ellen Kolman on 5-Minute Parenting for a fun object lesson on the character quality of kindness. Listen in as Ellen demonstrates the power of praying specific character qualities over our kids and grandkids, then delights us with a practical and super fun object lesson to help teach our kids about kindness.

Using object lessons is a successful method to teach children abstract and more complex ideas including important spiritual principles, and they make learning more relatable and fun. Share this lesson with your kids and get ready to see their eyes wide open with an 'aha' moment!

Ellen Kolman is an Ohio native and award winning author driven by a passion to teach children the love of Jesus. She has been teaching and entertaining children in the church and Christian school settings for more than 35 years. Her young students inspired her to write stories to help them understand kindness, forgiveness, empathy, and friendship. Her published works include Seeds of Sunshine, and Sunshine Makes a Difference (2024), with two more books under contract: Lennys Team and Crabby Abby the Decorator. Ellen and her husband Andy have five adult children, three grandchildren, and a little white dog named Chip.

Visit Ellen's Website and Order her Books: http://www.ellenkolman.com/

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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Join 5-Minute Parenting Host Karen Ferguson as she discusses putting the focus of Earth Month back where it belongs, onto our Creator God!

The world tries to convince our children that mother earth is in charge of this world, and that we must help save it. As parents and grandparents we can be intentional to take the focus off the fictional character of mother earth, and put it right where it belongs: on God our Creator. We can have fun celebrating Earth Day, but from a Christian perspective.

Rather than remain silent on the issue and leave the lessons to the classroom, or social media thread, let’s use this secular holiday as a teachable moment to point our children to the beauty and intentional design of God’s Creation 🌎

Listen in as Karen shares 3 fun ways to celebrate this day from a biblical worldview, and be sure to download the FREE Let's Celebrate God's Earth activity workbook with 12 pages of fun and meaningful activities you can do with your elementary age children (or younger!).

FREE Download: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t4m8e3

Love this episode? Leave a positive rating/review by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Your reviews are so important and so appreciated! Please share this episode with a friend ❤️

For more information and helpful resources, visit our websites at:

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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