I’d like to invite you into the experiences of People Raised in Intense Christian Environments who have deconstructed their faith—some of them are Missionaries’ Kids, some of them Pastors’ Kids, some simply from deeply spiritual homes. Understanding is often a building block for love.
[This article also exists in podcast form. You can listen to it on Pondering Purple, HERE.] It seems appropriate, in this first article of 2022, to be writing about pain. The world has been wracked with the kind of upheaval we never could have imagined just three years ago. It has compounded the suffering […]
In memory of Marilyn June Scribner June 9, 1930 – December 24, 2021 I reluctantly headed out to a women’s gathering at Blanchard Alliance Church shortly after I moved back to the States eleven years ago. I’m a introvert, so the thought of stepping into a circle of well-established social connections was daunting. But I […]
[A previous version of this article focused on the losses and grief Missionaries’ Kids experience. It can be found here. This version explores the same topic from the perspective of a broader population, as life can be brutal and none of us are immune to pain.] This article is not a nine-step plan detailing how […]
[This article is available in audio format on the Pondering Purple podcast.] This is a companion piece to my article titled “Ten Most Valuable Mindsets for MKs.” In that one, we looked at what MKs can do to set themselves up for a healthier, more self-aware and centered life. In this one, we’ll explore ten […]
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AUDIO VERSION: Prefer listening to reading? This article is available in audio format on the Pondering Purple Podcast. You can access it by searching for it by name on your favorite podcast platforms or directly through this link – Listen Now. “That is not Jesus.” I find myself repeating those words in coffee shops, […]
A few weeks ago, the hosts of the Transformed and Transformational podcast asked me if I’d be open to an interview about MKs and TCKs and—of course—my response was an enthusiastic yes! I’ve posted the audio below. It goes without saying that forty minutes is not enough time to fully unpack the complexity of MKs […]
[This article is available in audio format on the Pondering Purple podcast.] I wish my parents had read an article like this one before I was born into the world of missions. But there was little awareness about mental health—especially juvenile mental health—in the Christian world of the 60s, 70s and even 80s. In some cases, there […]
[NOTE: I’ve written on the topic of singleness several times before, addressing the differences among us (here), recognizing that singles are still sexual beings (here), and encouraging us to consider five basic practices that might foster flourishing and wholeness (here).] I am a single woman. It’s not an affliction and it certainly isn’t a […]