Forward Podcast

As America celebrates 250 years of independence, how should Christians think about patriotism in an increasingly divided culture? In this episode, Thomas and Kari discuss the balance between loving our country and maintaining ultimate allegiance to Christ. Join us as we explore how believers can guard against idolatry, live as citizens of heaven, and faithfully steward the freedoms God has given us for the sake of the Gospel.

In this episode of the Forward Podcast, Kari discusses the unrealistic expectations many women carry every day. From feeling like you have to do it all, to the pressure of comparison, appearance, motherhood, and keeping everyone happy, women often live under burdens God never intended them to bear.
 
Join us as we talk about finding freedom from unrealistic expectations, embracing God’s grace, and discovering that your worth is not found in perfection, but in Christ. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, behind, or simply not enough, this episode is for you.

Every family faces pressure to be perfect. Perfect memories. Perfect kids. Perfect schedules. Perfect social media posts.
In this episode, we discuss four unrealistic expectations that can rob families of joy: believing every moment should be magical, thinking good parents never struggle, comparing ourselves online, and equating busyness with success.
The truth is that healthy families aren’t perfect, they’re growing. Join us as we talk about finding contentment, embracing the mess, and focusing on what truly matters.

Join us for this re-run episode as we explore gender roles in families and marriage. We'll dive into what biblical gender roles are and how we can support one another in understanding and embracing these roles in a healthy and meaningful way.

(Rerun) In this episode of our podcast, Thomas and Kari Shepherd, a husband-and-wife team, dive deep into the topic of overcoming toxic negativity. They explore how a negative mindset can infiltrate our lives, relationships, and workspaces, leading to a spiral of discouragement and despair. Together, we share practical steps and biblical wisdom to combat negativity, reclaim joy, and foster a positive, faith-filled outlook.

This week on the Forward Podcast, Pastor Thomas tackles a subject many men silently wrestle with every day, unrealistic expectations. Modern men are carrying enormous pressure. Be successful. Be strong. Be spiritual. Be emotionally stable. Lead your family perfectly. Never struggle. Never slow down. Never fail. But what happens when the expectations we place on ourselves... or the ones culture places on us, become impossible to carry? In this episode, we have an honest conversation about comparison, burnout, leadership pressure, marriage expectations, spiritual fatigue, and the hidden weight many men carry quietly. We discuss how social media, culture, and even our own pride can create standards God never intended us to live under.

Graduation is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. In this episode of the Forward Podcast, Thomas and Kari talk about the “next steps” every graduating senior should think about as they enter a new season of life. From faith and friendships to purpose, pressure, and staying grounded in a changing world, this conversation is full of practical encouragement for graduates and those investing in them.

Thomas and Kari sit down for one of their deepest conversations yet as they discuss the phrase, “Mother Knows Best.” In a culture that constantly redefines motherhood, they explore what Scripture says about the spiritual influence, wisdom, burden, and responsibility of a godly mother.
This episode dives into the unseen emotional weight moms carry, the spiritual atmosphere they create in the home, and the challenges of raising children in today’s culture. They also tackle difficult questions about anxiety, social media, exhaustion, guilt, discipleship, and what biblical motherhood truly looks like in real life.
Whether you are a mom, have a mom, or are raising a family, this conversation will encourage you to value the God-given influence of faithful motherhood.
Be sure to like, subscribe, and share the episode with someone who has impacted your life through faithful motherhood.

This week we’re talking about a painful but important topic: how to move forward when a leader you respected falls morally or ethically. We’ll walk through practical ways to process the hurt, grieve well, and keep moving ahead.  

What happens when you step away from the noise? In this episode, we share what we learned from taking a full week off social media—and the results were deeper than we expected. What started as a simple break quickly revealed how much of a hold it can have on our time, attention, and even our hearts.
Without the constant scroll, we found more clarity, more presence, and more time with the Lord. Prayer became more intentional. Time in the Word increased. Conversations felt more meaningful. It wasn’t just a break—it was a reset.
If you’ve ever felt distracted, overwhelmed, or just spiritually dry, this episode is a challenge and an invitation. Step back. Reevaluate. And consider taking your own social media fast. You may be surprised what God does when you make space for Him.