Connections Podcast

Deborah Porter is the ultimate mom coach who knows that motherhood can be hard, and it's harder when you do it alone. Sherri Crandall and Deborah talk through her 3C Approach - gaining clarity, building confidence and manifesting courage. Their conversation will help you set up good sytems and help navigate the big questions we ask ourselves as moms and leader: What do I do? Who am I? and What do I need? Visit Deborah's website (deborahporter.net) to download lots of free stuff (like Virtual Learning Tips, the "Confident Mom" ebook, and 12 Home/Life Balance Hacks).  Connect directly with her on Instagram -  @mom_coach_deborah. 

Join Jennifer Iverson and her guest, Nicole Yenter as they talk through 4 simple things we can each do to improve our mental health. Nicole is a licensed counselor in the state of Mississippi. She has been a middle school counselor, worked in rehabilitation centers, a teen girls home, churches, camps, and coffee shops.  **If you are struggling with anxiety or depression or other mental health issues that need more attention than the four things we talk about today, we encourage you to seek professional assistance. Contact your doctor or visit nami.org for resources in your area.Links mentioned in this episode: Encanto movieTiktok mom forgets her child’s birthday 

Join Sherri Crandall and her guest, Alisa Keeton, the founder of Revelation Wellness. Alisa encourages us to step out of the obsess/neglect patterns we tend to live in and start to think, feel and choose good things for our body, mind and spirit. It starts with making a practice of reconnecting with the God who made you. Remember, listener, you are God's good idea. Find more from Alisa, including health challenges, videos and podcasts at revelationwellness.org. 

Often we have big plans and set big goals, only to drop them just a few days later. Join Jennifer Iverson and her guest, Andrea Fortenberry, to talk about the 4 keys to goal planning. It all starts with answering the question, "What's the quickest way to eat an elephant?" If you are a MOPS leader, access our goal-setting resources below: 1. Download a goal setting worksheet 2. Watch our Goal Setting video lesson as part of our Online Leader Training and Certification3. If you are a MOPS or MOMSnext coordinator, join the Cohort Community today. Find more from Andrea on her blog or podcast, The Perfectionist's Guide to Mothering. andreafortenberry.com

Join Kelli Jordan and Jennifer Iverson for a few minutes of fun as they talk about their favorite things from 2021 and look forward to what's coming for 2022.  What's your favorite happening from this past year? Tag us @MOPSLeaders and tell us all about it!

At our core, each of us knows we were made to be loving. Jesus demonstrated perfect love, and while we aren't perfect, we are called to love like Jesus. If we love Jesus, loving others is something we can’t help but do, because it becomes part of who we are. Let's talk about what it means for love to be our logo. Share your own story of how love is your logo at leaders@mops.org or on Facebook or Instagram. 

 In this episode, Jennifer Iverson and Kelli Jordan focus on rest. What do we need to rest from? What are the things that inhibit our rest? How can we better manage those things? Let's talk about how important rest is in your parenting and your ministry.  We mention the book Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Daulton-Smith. For leaders, we mention a great meeting idea for your groups that you can find at leaders.mops.org/mom-curriculum.

In this episode, Jennifer welcomes Danica Golden, MOPS Philanthropy Officer. Danica gives us practical advice on how to live like a servant, aware and ready to give and serve. She encourages us to live in a posture that believes that love gives, embrace an "I GET to give" attitude and allow our unique stories to be a window that helps us find where God is calling us to be generous.Book Mentioned: Your New Money Mindset: Create a Healthy Relationship with Money by Brad Hewitt and James MolineLearn more about giving to MOPS at mops.org/giving or email: give@mops.orgDownload your free Advent guide at mops.org/advent

Sherri Crandall encourages us to consider what next bold step we should each take.  Destiny Leahy, Global Ministry Developer for Africa, shares her story of bolding showing up, learning and praying for the women of Africa. We currently have over 210 MOPS groups in Africa and have groups in more than 70 countries. Visit leaders.mops.org/global-sisterhood for more information or email globalsisterhood@mops.org to find out how you can support groups today! 

Jennifer Iverson and Sarah Ferraro explore how to create an atmosphere of community in your group. What does it mean to create a "Sisterhood of Motherhood?" Mentioned in the Podcast: The Listening Life by Adam S McHughLeading Discussion training video from MOPS International 

Is our closed-handedness keeping us from giving and receiving all we could at home, in our MOPS group or in the world? Sherri Crandall chats with our guest, Ashley Abercrombie, about how we all have issues, problems and pain but we are not alone in our struggles. Follow Ashley on insta at  @ashabercrombie

Hey leaders, you have what it takes! As MOPS leaders around the world kick off their MOPS year, join Kelli, Sherri and Mandy as we talk about understanding your value as a leader, embracing the value of the MOPS experience, and accepting the challenge to start and end well.  (Watch this as a webinar at leaders.mops.org/webinar)

Join host Sherri Crandall and our guest, Meredith King, as they remind us that we are desperately dependent and should be continuously connected to God. When we forget that, things become heavy burdens. meredithkingblog.com

Join Kelli Jordan and Andrea Fortenberry for as we reconsider and remember the reason we do what do - in ministry, in our jobs, in life. Let's talk about how important it is to focus on the WHY and learn some practical tips for keeping our focus so that the main thing stays the main thing.  (Watch this as a webinar at leaders.mops.org/webinar)

Servant Leadership is not a leadership style; it is a leadership philosophy, and the Bible has a lot to say about this philosophy.  With this in mind, join Kelli and Melodi as we talk about what servant leadership actually looks like. Servant leadership isn’t about what you do – it’s about how you think. Servant leaders lead with Jesus as their example and with others in mind. Verses mentioned: Mark 10:42-45; Philippians 2:3-5; Galatians 5:13. 

Join Jennifer Iverson and her guest, Kelli Jordan, as they talk about what collaboration is, what a collaborative team looks like and how to develop a team that works together in order to reach your goals. Collaboration is a simple concept but it isn’t just a single event, It needs to be a consistent part of your team culture. If you are a MOPS leader, visit leaders.mops.org/for-your-team for more resources. 

This episode is dedicated and designed for our fearless MOPS leaders! Jenn and Kelli will walk through all the resources that come in your All For Love Group Experience Kit. Listen to all the great things waiting for you and for the moms that come to your group. Renew your MOPS group today and we'll get this kit to your doorstep ASAP! Renew at mops.org/renew and find all of our resources at leaders.mops.org/theme-resources. For more info about our new MOPS theme, listen to Episode 61. 

Sherri Crandall asks her guest, Dr. Craig Smith, why he loves MOPS and how it is has impacted his church and community. If you are a MOPS leader, listen in and then share it with a pastor! 

We are launching season 5 of Connections: The Podcast with Sherri Crandall and MOPS CEO, Mandy Arioto. Join them as they discuss the process for developing the MOPS yearly theme and hear their hope for this big year.  Visit mops.org/sneak-peek to see a few of the things we have planned for the 2021-22 MOPS year. 

This is the year we had to arise as mothers in ways we never imagined. We focused on believing we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that embracing the fact that motherhood is a catalyst - not a constraint. Join Jennifer Iverson and friends as they consider these questions from the last MOPS year: During the Decide to Rise year, we wanted moms to know that they were fearfully and wonderfully made. How has that fact impacted you this past year?How did you get physically or mentally stronger this year?What is one way that you did your work in the past 12 months?Chasing joy meant actively seeking out joy. How have you reclaimed joy and shared it with others?Celebrate with us and then use these questions to celebrate with the moms in your group!