Podcast · Kids & Family

Timeless Parenting

by Growing Faith & Mothers Union Sydney · English · Kids & Family

Real conversations across the generations exploring God's wisdom for modern families. Find out more: Growing Faith (a ministry of Youthworks): www.growingfaith.com.au Mothers Union Sydney: www.musydney.org.au

New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 52 min
Latest: 17 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

17 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 4 min

026 - Literacy, books and reading. With Kat Ashton Israel.

In this episode of Timeless Parenting, we had a great chat with Kat Ashton Israel, early childhood educator, mother-of-five and contributor to Parenting in God's Family , about the importance of literacy, books and reading for our children. We discussed questions like: What is literacy and why is it important? Why should Christian parents care about literacy? What are some everyday ways to foster pre-literacy in our babies and toddlers? How can we help to prepare our preschoolers for starting school? What if our children struggle to learn to read? How can we encourage a reluctant reader? How…

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Earlier episodes 25 most recent

E25 · 20 Aug 2026 · 1 hr
025 - Learning about Christian fatherhood. With Andrew Horsfield and Dan Connor.
In this episode of Timeless Parenting, we spoke to two Christian fathers about the lessons they have learnt along the way. Andrew Horsfield is a father of three adult sons and Dan Connor (Harriet’s husband) has four sons aged 16 down to five. They shared honestly about: the role confusion facing modern fathers how understanding God’s fatherhood can help the unique role that Christian dads can play how dads can gain confidence in caring for their children how mums can support dads’ involvement with their kids how Christian dads can encourage one other how to manage when your own dad was not a…
E24 · 16 Jul 2026 · 59 min
024 - Simple habits for building mental health. With Alexis Hudson.
In this episode we spoke with Christian psychologist Alexis Hudson about how to build up our family's mental health 'immunity' through practising four simple habits. We began by discussing how everyday habits can build up psychological resilience for hard times—for us and our children. Alexis emphasised how this framework, which is drawn from positive psychology but aligns with the Bible, helps us to keep a balanced perspective—acknowledging both the positives as well as the negatives of life. For each habit, we spoke about what the research says, how this fits with our Christian values, and…
E23 · 18 Jun 2026 · 45 min
023 - Christ-anchored parenting in a changing world. With Al James.
In this crossover episode with Al James from the Effective Ministry podcast we spoke about how Christian parenting is a balancing act. It involves balancing—or holding in tension—a number of different truths about the context in which we are raising our children. We need to view our family life through the different 'lenses' or layers of where we are in God's plan of salvation. We are raising our children in creation —within the natural, created order of human life. But we are also raising our children as finite beings in a fallen world , where sickness, death, sin and confusion mean that…
E22 · 14 May 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
022 - Thinking Christianly about technology. With James and Simone Boswell.
In this episode we discussed how to think Christianly about technology from a variety of perspectives. Our guests were James Boswell, a 'technologist' and long-time consultant in the tech industry and his wife, Simone, who home schooled their six children as well as supporting many other young families in their parenting. Ann contributed her expertise in neurology and her experiences running parenting seminars with MU Sydney, and Harriet confessed to being a very reluctant tech user. Bringing these different perspectives together, we discussed: - What are the down sides and risks of…
E21 · 9 Apr 2026 · 51 min
021 - Contentment when life is tough. With Kate Morris, Mary O'Brien and Jess Habib.
This episode was recorded live at the Mothers Union Sydney Seminar on February 27, 2026 at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney. In the final session of the day, Harriet Connor hosted a panel of three guests about finding contentment when life is tough. Our guests were Kate Morris, who is raising two neurodivergent children, Jess Habib, who lives with a chronic illness and Mary O'Brien, who has seen adult children wander from the faith. Our guests shared with honesty and genuine faith about the lessons their tough times have taught them about themselves, God and Christian community. Whether you are…
E20 · 15 Jan 2026 · 52 min
020 - Family goals and priorities for a new year. With Christine Jensen.
In this summer edition of Timeless Parenting, we spoke with our guest, Christine Jensen, about setting goals and priorities for ourselves and our families. We reflected on questions like: What worldly priorities can influence our parenting? Why isn't happiness a good aim for our children? How can we set goals for our family when so much is out of our control? What is a better aim for our children than achievement or success? How can we love our children as God loves us? What are some good personal, daily goals? This conversation will help you to get intentional about living out your…
E19 · 11 Dec 2025 · 1 hr
019 - Knowing God better through reading the Bible. With Cass Backhouse.
In this episode we talked with the host of HerTheology podcast, Cass Backhouse, about the value of parents, especially mums, reading and studying the Bible. We spent some time reflecting on why it's worth investing in our relationship with God by reading his word. But then we turned to the problem: it can be so hard! We talked through some questions like: How can I adjust my expectations for Bible reading to my season of life? Does it have to be a 'quiet' time? Does it have to look the same every time? What are the benefits of doing a Bible reading plan? What if reading the Bible feels dry…
E18 · 13 Nov 2025 · 58 min
018 - Prayer and its place in our families. With Wendy Lin.
In this episode we got practical about prayer with our guest, author and mother-of-three, Wendy Lin. We spoke about how we experienced (or didn't experience) Christian prayer in our families of origin and how we decided to approach it with our own children. We discussed questions like: What is prayer? Why should we pray if God already knows everything? How can practise both routine and spontaneous prayer? How does God answer prayer? How can we do family prayer when we're not confident? What should we do if our spouse is not a keen Christian? How can busy parents find time to focus on prayer…
E17 · 16 Oct 2025 · 53 min
017 - Extracurriculars: balancing busyness, church and community connections. With Anthony Penn.
In this episode we chatted with father of four, Anthony Penn, about the issue of extracurricular activities (things like sport, music, dance and drama) that our kids might want to get involved in outside of school. We talked about the good things these activities can teach our children and the benefits of our whole family getting involved in the community organisations that run them. We talked about how our Christian values shape our approach to extracurricular activities and how we can make sure that church is not just squeezed in as an optional extra. We discussed how to navigate hard…
E16 · 18 Sep 2025 · 52 min
016 - Foster care: God's love in action. With Anglicare.
In this episode Ann talks with Nicole Martin, Head of Foster Care, Adoption & Family Support at Anglicare, as well and two current foster mums: Robyn and Kate. Together they share a compelling vision of how churches and Christian families can show the love of God to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Ann asked our guests a number of questions including: - Why do some children need to enter foster care? - What is the relationship like between foster parents and birth parents? - How has fostering impacted your own biological children? - What are the different types of foster…
E15 · 14 Aug 2025 · 56 min
015 - Bringing our kids' anxiety to God. With Dr Sarah Allen.
In this conversation we speak with Dr Sarah Allen, a GP with a special interest in anxiety disorders, about the feelings we call anxiety, worry or fear, especially as experienced by our children. Sarah helps us to understand the difference between 'everyday' kinds of worry and clinical anxiety disorders - and what we should do if we think we or our children are suffering from the latter. We talk about how the Bible sheds light on this topic in helping us to understand God's purposes in our and our children's suffering. Sarah encourages us to see how anxiety can actually present an…
E14 · 17 Jul 2025 · 58 min
014 - A Christian approach to neurodivergence. With Kate Morris and Dave Whittingham.
In this episode we talk with Kate Morris and Dave Whittingham, who both have first hand experience of living with neurodivergence and/or supporting neurodivergent children. Kate Morris also brings a wealth of knowledge from her studies and research in this field. Our guests' insights are enlightening, educational and very encouraging. We cover questions like: - What do the terms 'neurodiversity' and 'neurodivergence' mean? - What language is most helpful when referring to neurodivergent people? - Why might parents seek a diagnosis for their child? Is it detrimental to 'label' them in this…
E13 · 12 Jun 2025 · 48 min
013 - The what, why and how of discipline. With Jocelyn Loane.
In this episode we talk with Jocelyn Loane about the thorny topic of discipline. We explore what biblical discipline really means - it's not just punishment for a past wrong, but rather the loving, intentional, wholistic, long-term process of modelling, encouraging, training and correcting our children to help them mature towards godliness. We talk about: - What is discipline? - Why do parents need to discipline? - How can discipline go wrong? - Is it OK for Christian parents to smack (or not to smack) their children? - How can we best respond to our children's bad behaviour? Links:…
E12 · 15 May 2025 · 59 min
012 - How conflict offers opportunities for growth. With Jane Gibb.
In this episode we talk with Jane Gibb, an experienced life and conflict coach, about the many aspects of personal conflict, especially within marriages and families, and how it can help us grow. We had an insightful, practical and wide-ranging conversation about: - What is conflict? - Should Christians expect conflict? - What are the different ways people naturally respond to conflict and why? - Where do we experience conflict in our families? - What steps can we take to work through personal conflict in a healthy way? - What are some principles for managing conflict in our marriages? - How…
E11 · 10 Apr 2025 · 54 min
011 - When children wander from the faith. With Kat Ashton Israel and Al James.
In this episode we speak with guests Kat Ashton Israel and Al James about the heavy topic of when children wander from the Christian faith. We explore the reasons why Christians can be uncomfortable discussing this topic; the impact it has on parents (and their faith) when a child 'wanders' and how the church can best support families in that situation. We also take an in depth look at the tension between our responsibility as parents to raise our children in the faith and the reality of God's sovereign action in salvation. We explore helpful responses to our children's questions and doubts…
E10 · 20 Mar 2025 · 44 min
010 - Equipping our kids to stand firm and stand out. With Al James and Beth Braga
This episode was recorded live at the Mothers Union Sydney Seminar on February 28, 2025 at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney. In the final session of the day, Al James and Beth Braga had a conversation about why teens and young adults are dropping out of church and the Christian faith, and what parents can do about it. They spoke about the key factors that, under the sovereignty of God, have been shown to help kids develop a robust, coherent and liveable faith that stays with them into adulthood. This conversation is packed with helpful research, real life examples and biblical encouragement.…
E9 · 16 Jan 2025 · 51 min
009 - Holidaying well. With Sam Hudson.
In this 'summer edition' we spoke with Sam Hudson from Youthworks' Getaways program about holidaying well as a family. We talked about why we can find it hard to prioritise family holidays, what God's word has to say on the topic and how holidays can strengthen Christian families in their faith and relationships. Finally, we explored some practical tips for holidaying well, even if our budget is tight or things don't go to plan. Links: Youthworks Getaways : offering immersive outdoor adventures and experiences that strengthen family bonds and celebrate God's creation. Growing Faith :…
E8 · 12 Dec 2024 · 46 min
008 - Keeping technology in its place. With Daniel Sih.
We spoke with author and podcaster Daniel Sih about why Christian discipleship should include being intentional in our family's use of technology. We talked about the effects of tech overuse on children and their learning, the importance of creating 'tech-healthy' rhythms and 'going slow' with introducing new tech to kids. We finished with an encouraging reminder that no matter what, we can always keep coming back to God's unending grace. Links: Parenting in God's Family: Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Issues , which contains a chapter on 'The art of tech-healthy parenting' by our guest,…
E7 · 7 Nov 2024 · 51 min
007 - Family rhythms and traditions. With Mary O'Brien and Jocelyn Loane.
In this episode we chat with our guests Mary O'Brien and Jocelyn Loane about what the Bible says about family traditions, how repeated rhythms can benefit our families, and how we can keep our focus on relationships rather than 'rules' amidst it all. We then share some practical ideas and examples of the kind of daily, weekly and yearly rhythms that can draw Christian families closer to God and closer to each other. Links: An Arrival to Celebrate: Fun Advent devotions for busy families unwrapping God’s big Bible plan by David and Janice Whittingham. Parenting in God's Family: Biblical Wisdom…
E6 · 10 Oct 2024 · 47 min
006 - Schooling: positive starts and positive partnerships. With Kat Ashton Israel.
In this episode, we chat with Kat Ashton Israel, preschool educator and mother-of-five, about: how to decide whether our child is ready to start school, how to prepare them for their first day, how to build a positive partnership with our child's educators, and how to navigate conflicts and concerns that may arise. Links: Parenting in God's Family: Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Issues , which contains a chapter on 'Weighing up different types of schooling' by Emily Cobb and two chapters by our guest, Kat Ashton Israel. Growing Faith articles: 'Should I let my children attend an Aboriginal…
E5 · 12 Sep 2024 · 56 min
005 - Helping kids develop a healthy gender identity. With Patricia and Kamal Weerakoon
In this episode, Christian sexologist Patricia Weerakoon and her son, theologian Kamal Weerakoon, spoke with Harriet Connor and Al James from the Effective Ministry Podcast. We spoke about the changes in our society that have given rise to transgender ideology, about the many factors that can contribute to children experiencing gender-related distress, about the most effective ways of managing gender dysphoria and about how parents can promote a healthy, biblical understanding of gender that is grounded in biology, yet free from restrictive gender stereotypes. Parents will come away from…
E4 · 15 Aug 2024 · 41 min
004 - Helping kids develop a healthy sexuality. With Patricia and Kamal Weerakoon
In this episode, Christian sexologist Patricia Weerakoon and her son, theologian Kamal Weerakoon, spoke with Ann Cunningham and Al James from the Effective Ministry Podcast. We spoke about the secular, hyper-sexualised world our children are growing up in, how the Bible offers a much more positive message about sex, and how parents can start talking to their children about sex in a healthy and natural way. Parents will come away from this conversation feeling encouraged and equipped. Links: Youthworks Media stocks all of Patricia's books for families: You and Me by the Book Birds and Bees by…
E3 · 18 Jul 2024 · 45 min
003 - How to help our kids stick with Jesus. With Al James.
In this episode, we talk with Al James from Youthworks about what the research tells us about how to help our children stick with Jesus and his church. While there are no guarantees or 'silver bullets', these three things could be called the 'silver shavings' that Christian parents ought to prioritise. Links: Growing Faith Mothers Union Sydney . Listen to past Mothers Union Christian seminars on Soundcloud . Youthworks Media Big Picture Parents Theme music: Soul's Getting Wet by Ali Maegraith. Produced by Ali Maegraith and Gerard Masters. Available on SoundCloud .
E2 · 13 Jun 2024 · 44 min
002 - Doing church well, even when it's hard. With Al James
Episode 2 - Doing church well, even when it's hard. With Al James In this episode of the Timeless Parenting podcast, hosts Harriet Connor ( Growing Faith ) and Anne Cunningham ( Mothers Union Sydney ) discuss the importance of prioritising church as a family and share practical tips for making it a positive experience, even when it's challenging. Joined by Al James ( Youthworks Ministry Support ), they explore the benefits of intergenerational relationships in faith retention, strategies to involve children in church activities, and how to navigate common obstacles such as Sunday sports and…
E1 · 16 May 2024 · 38 min
001 - Has parenting become harder? With Christine Jensen
In our very first episode, you will meet co-hosts Harriet Connor from Growing Faith and Ann Cunningham from Mothers Union Sydney and find out why they have started the Timeless Parenting podcast. Together with their guest Christine Jensen, Ann and Harriet explore whether parenting has become harder over time. They talk about the challenges of modern parenting, such as technology, information overload, social media, busyness and loneliness. But they also reflect on how knowing God, drawing on the Bible's wisdom and belonging to a church community can help. Links: Growing Faith Mothers Union…

About Timeless Parenting

Timeless Parenting is a English kids & family podcast from Growing Faith & Mothers Union Sydney. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Growing Faith & Mothers Union Sydney
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 52 min
Latest episode: 17 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1747563307

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