Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn't is the thoughtful work of Stephen McAlpine. In this chat, Steve discusses the cultural shift we find ourselves in where the Christian ethic is increasingly considered a moral wrong by the secular world. He also shares how he came to trust Jesus and his plan to publish a follow-up book in 2023.    Steve is a pastor and writer from Perth who has an interest in helping Christian organisations such as schools and...

Alison Muchira's story includes her journey from trusting Jesus as a young girl in Kenya to life in church ministry alongside her husband, Isaac. She shares about the ups and downs of ministry, church planting, moving cities, raising and schooling children, and letting go. Alison supports her husband in church ministry in a small seaside town in Kenya where Alison serves in the roles of women's and children's ministry.  *** Alison Muchira lives with her husband in Niani, Kenya where they...

Well-loved psychologist and author of The Reconnected Heart: How Relationships Can Help Us Heal, Dr Jonathan Andrews joins Taryn on the podcast today. They discuss his journey to faith, his time at L'Abri in his 20s, and his work in helping people overcome relationship injuries. Dr Andrews is also the director of the Heart in Mind psychological practice in Brisbane. It is his belief that the most helpful step we can take in life is to live with our hearts in our minds - that is, to live each...

Co-host and founder of The Lydia Project, Tori Walker, is our guest today! In this episode, Tori chats with Taryn about her journey to faith - which began when she was invited to a local youth group - and the road the Lord has led her on since then.  Tori lives in Brisbane and is a member of Ann St Presbyterian Church. She has studied at theological college and has worked as a pastor with school students and uni students.  For some of her week, Tori runs a business that consults with the...

Abuse in the church is, sadly, rife. It is in the light of this that Dr Diane Langberg has penned her latest book, Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church. In this chat, Dr Langberg discusses her journey to faith and her years of clinical work with trauma victims, including those impacted by church hurt.  Dr Diane Langberg is globally recognised for her 50 years of clinical work with trauma victims. She has trained caregivers on six continents in responding to...

Nina Hampton chats to Taryn about her battle with cancer and her story of faith. In this chat, Nina shares how her cancer journey led her to not only begin to better understand the connection between mind and body, but also to trust Jesus with every moment of her life. Nina’s journey has led her to start a personal Instagram account (@faith_love_and_breastcancer ) where she shares her story with others.

Barbara and Stacy Reaoch put the mother-and-daughter-in-law relationship under the microscope (starting with their own) in their new book, Making Room for Her (B&H Publishing). In this Lydia Project Book Club chat, Barbara and Stacy share their wisdom and failures - from over 20 years of forming a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law bond - as well as Biblical insight into growing healthier, God-glorifying in-law relationships.  Making Room for Her is available at all leading bookstores,...

In our first two-part episode, our guest, Dutchy Holland, shares about God’s goodness through significant childhood abuse and mental health struggles. In part two, Dutchy’s story continues with another unexpected crisis that inadvertently answered a prayer for patience. .

In this episode, Taryn chats to the man behind our Book Club partner, The Wandering Bookseller. Karl shares about his love for books and how The Wandering Bookseller came to be. He also speaks about his struggle with anxiety and God's hand in helping him deeply grasp his love and forgiveness. Karl and The Wandering Bookseller are again offering 15% off all The Lydia Project book club books for 2022.    *** Karl Grice has been matching books with people – and people with books – since...

Jan and Chrissy began meeting together when Chrissy began a traineeship at her local church. Their one-to-one disciplining relationship developed over the course of the year, bringing them both much joy, encouragement, and growth. In this episode, Taryn chats with Jan and Chrissy about the value of mentoring relationships among women and how they grew both relationally and spiritually in their 5 years of meeting together regularly.

Growing Together: Taking Mentoring Beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests by Melissa B Kruger is a gem of a book. Listen as Tori and Taryn unpack the value of this book for women of all ages. If you have ever considered one-to-one mentoring relationships as something you may be interested in AND if it's the last thing you have ever wanted to do, this is a book worth reading.  Available from The Wandering Bookseller with a 15% discount using the code LYDIA15.   Can't see clickable links?...

This year is to be one with a focus on relationships - women to women, across the sexes, within the church, with our communities and as Christians in an increasingly hostile world. Join us this year as we chat with Christian women about their personal stories of Christ at work.  The episode that follows this one will be Tori and Taryn discussing the book Growing Together: Taking Mentoring from Small Talk and Prayer Requests by Melissa Kruger. Still available from The Wandering Bookseller...

Joanne Hobbs is the CEO of Teen Challenge Qld, a ministry helping young people from addiction to hope. Tori Walker chats with Jo about how she ended up in this position, and how God is at work through the ministry.   EPISODE NOTES:   Joanne Hobbs is the CEO of Teen Challenge Qld, a ministry helping young people from addiction to hope. Tori Walker chats with Jo about how she ended up in this position, and how God is at work through the ministry.   LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS...

EPISODE NOTES: Whether you are a new Christian, or have been for a while and feel in need of a refresher, "Need to Know” will give you the essentials—what you really need to know if you’re going to follow Jesus. Host Tori Walker chats with Gary Millar about his work at the Queensland Theological College, as well as his most recent book, “Need to Know”.   This practical and easy-to-read book shows readers how letting the fundamental truths of the gospel take root in our hearts changes...

As an Aboriginal Christian Leader who is a descendant of the Waka Waka peoples, Brooke Prentis uses her talents and experience to lead Common Grace, a movement of people pursuing Jesus and justice.  Tori Walker talks with Brooke about her family background, how she came to know Christ at uni, and why she is so passionate about the work she leads at Common Grace.

What does it actually mean to disciple someone? What is ministry supervision? And why should every ministry have it? These are some of the questions that Sarah Balogh answers in her chat with Taryn today on The Lydia Project. Sarah has a psychology practice in the Blue Mountains in Sydney, which she loves, but she also loves discipling women, caring for people in ministry in her role as a ministry supervisor, enjoying her family and supporting her husband in his role as the CEO of the Gospel...

Host Tori interviews Jo Gibbs on what the crosscultural life is like and how chronic fatigue affected that. Jo talks about the ministry roles that she has been in as well as how she came to understand who Christ is and what He had done for her.

Linda Poole chats to Taryn about finding joy in Jesus and longing to be someone who chooses gratitude and thankfulness even when times are hard. Linda speaks about her years in cross-cultural mission where she and her family served as part of a hospital mission in South Sudan. She speaks of the transition back to Australia and the struggle that was. She also speaks to how God is growing her today in her ministry to her children, her church and as a facilitator for Pioneers, Australia.

EPISODE NOTES: "Sometimes we ask What is God's will for my life? when we should really be asking Who should I be? The Bible has an answer: Be like the very image of God." Hosts, Tori Walker and Taryn Hayes chat about Jen Wilkin's book In His Image. Jen Wilkin is an American speaker, writer, and teacher of women's Bible studies with 20 years of experience in ministry. Her book, In His Image, explores ten characteristics of who God is - holy, loving, just, good, merciful, gracious,...

In this episode, Jill shares with Taryn her gratitude for the pain, hurt, sorrow and grief because of how God has shaped her and her husband through some of the more difficult moments in life and ministry.

Host Tori Walker chats with Marion Birchley about life and student work in PNG.

When Kate became serious about her Christian faith, she chose to explore mission work abroad. Little did she realise that a 5-month mission trip would turn into a lifelong ministry that involved a cross-cultural marriage, three children, and a venture into authoring books and supporting other Christian women in their writing. Grief, heartache, and much uncertainty are just some of the things that Kate shares with Taryn. Listen as they chat about her journey and God’s incredible compassion and...

Catherine Parks grew up with a love for reading biographies. Now she is the author of Empowered, Strong and Real: The Surprising Secret to Deeper Relationships as well as a contributing author to the book, Beautifully Distinct. She lives in Nashville, with her husband, and two children, where she attends a church and helps to lead the worship there. Host Tori Walker interviews Catherine Parks, who is one of the Contributors to the book “Beautifully Distinct”. Beautifully Distinct aims to...