Raising Fatherless Kids

In this heartfelt episode, Lori Apon welcomes her son, Evan, to share what it was like to grow up without a dad and how God became his Father. Together, they encourage moms raising sons to move from a victim mentality to a victorious mindset rooted in truth. You will be reminded that even when Dad is absent, God is present and powerful to redeem your child’s story.Key TakeawaysBeliefs shape behaviorA victim mentality begins with false beliefs like “I can’t overcome.” Moms can help their sons replace those lies with truth from God’s Word, which leads to hope and confidence.God is the true FatherEven without an earthly dad, sons can find identity, strength, and direction in their heavenly Father, who promises to be faithful.Moms are powerful influencers Your example of faith, gratitude, and perseverance speaks louder than words. When you live in victory, your children learn to do the same.From pain to purpose God can turn every hard place into a platform for His glory. Encourage your children to trust His plan and walk forward in hope.Stay ConnectedFor more encouragement and resources for single and widowed moms, visit PerspectiveMinistries.org. You can also follow Perspective Ministries on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for weekly inspiration, podcast updates, and stories of hope.

In this special episode marking the beginning of Raising Fatherless Kids on YouTube, host Lori Apon takes us back to where it all began—the story behind the podcast and Perspective Ministries. Lori shares her personal journey from wife to widow, mothering eight young children after tragedy, and the hope she found in God’s promise from Psalm 68:5: “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows.”Whether you’re a single mom, a widow, or raising children who’ve lost or been abandoned by their dad, this episode offers biblical encouragement, honest reflection, and a list of 25 things to expect when raising children with God as Father.Key TakeawaysGod will be faithful.When in transition, God is at work.Expect God to father your children.Expect to grow as a warrior and a woman of prayer.Expect hope to rise.Scriptures MentionedPsalm 68:5 – God is a Father to the fatherless and Defender of the widow.Psalm 18:34–36 – He trains our hands for battle and strengthens us.Isaiah 40:11 – He gently leads those with young.Hebrews 11:1 – Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.Matthew 11:30, Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 40:31, Ephesians 6, James 1 – Encouragement for weary hearts.Episode HighlightsLori recounts the night God’s Word in Psalm 68:5 became her family’s anchor.How Perspective Ministries began with one widow’s obedience to trust God through pain.The pivotal—not darkest—day that changed everything.25 lessons learned from raising eight children without an earthly dad.Encouragement for moms to expect God’s presence, provision, and promises to hold true.Encouragement for MomsYou are not alone. God is with you, and He will father your children. You are a visual aid to the world of His glory. He is using your story and your children’s lives to display His faithfulness and love.For more hope-filled resources, visit PerspectiveMinistries.org or follow @PerspectiveMinistries on Instagram and Facebook.

In this heartfelt episode, Lori welcomes back Chris Britt, who previously shared his story of growing up with three dads—but discovering the steadfast love of one perfect Father. Today, Chris returns to share how memorizing Scripture transformed his life, reshaped his purpose, and became the foundation for leading his family of four boys.From leaving behind a promising acting career in Los Angeles to portraying Jesus in the Atlanta Passion Play, Chris testifies to how God redeems our gifts for His glory. His story reminds single and widowed moms that God’s Word truly is life-giving—sharpening our faith, replacing fear with truth, and strengthening our hearts for every season of parenting.1. God redeems every chapter of our story2. Scripture transforms the heart and mind3. Admitting our weakness and trusting God for His strength is important to remember4. Learning to replace lies with God’s eternal truthWatch Chris Britt’s dramatic presentation of The Gospel of Matthew: www.tgom.infoPrevious episode 183: Finding Hope When Earthly Fathers Fail: Truth Moms Can Trust — Chris Britt’s testimony of finding God as his FatherEncouragement for MomsGod’s Word is not just for the mind—it is an anchor for the heart and a foundation for your home. When you hide Scripture in your heart and the heart of your children, you are equipping your family to stand strong in truth and hope.Key Takeaways Resources Mentioned For more information and helpful resources, check our website, PerspectiveMinistries.org, and follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

Whether you are a widowed mom considering a visit to the grave of your child’s dad or a divorced single mom helping your children process the absence of their father, this decision is one of the most tender parts of parenting after loss. In this heartfelt and biblically grounded episode, Lori offers practical wisdom and spiritual guidance to help you discern what is best for your family. Together, you will learn how to prepare your children emotionally, approach the experience if you choose to go, and anchor their hearts in God’s unshakable truth about life, death, and eternity.Practical tips for deciding to visit the grave and what to consider if you choose to go to the gravesiteImportant biblical teaching on life after deathEncouragement for divorced moms walking their children through absenceSuggested ResourcesSingle Mom Considerations for Fall and on Halloween Podcast Episode 131 with Lori AponWhere’s Daddy? Helping Moms Answer Hard Questions Podcast Episode 169 with Lori AponKey Takeaways:If this conversation spoke to your heart, we invite you to explore more resources designed to support and encourage you on this journey. Visit PerspectiveMinistries.org to find practical tools, biblical encouragement, and a community that understands. You can also follow Perspective Ministries on social media or subscribe to the Raising Fatherless Kids podcast for more hope-filled conversations that will help you and your children walk forward in faith.

Parenting a son without an active father in his life can feel overwhelming, isolating, and heavy — but it is not a journey a mother is meant to walk alone. This episode offers biblical encouragement and practical guidance for single and widowed moms navigating the unique challenges of raising boys on their own. Through honest reflection and actionable wisdom, it explores how to release the pressure of doing everything yourself, trust God’s faithful presence, and intentionally build a circle of support that will shape your son’s future. Loosening your grip is not letting go — it is entrusting your son to the One who loves him most and will be faithful to complete the work He has begun.Invite others in. Look for godly men, mentors, and couples already in your life and intentionally welcome them to speak into your son’s story.Create rhythms of faith. Lead your home spiritually with regular conversations about God’s character, daily prayer, and simple mother-son devotionals.Surrender what you can’t control. Write down fears, plans, or expectations that weigh on you and commit them to God in prayer.Speak life over your son. Remind him often that he is loved and encourage him to watch for God’s activity in his life.Other Resources:The Importance of Mentors and How to AskThe Value of a Mentor Podcast Episode 49 with Guests Evan Apon and Dave InabnitThe Investment of a Mentor Podcast Episode 52 with Guests Brandon Apon and Eric HelmsScripture Encouragement“For with God nothing will be impossible.” — Luke 1:37 “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy habitation.” — Psalm 68:5The absence of a father changes your family’s story, but it does not define its future. As you release what you cannot control and trust God with the rest, you will watch Him provide in ways you never expected. He is with you. He is for you. And He loves your son more than you ever could.Key TakeawaysFinal EncouragementFor more information and helpful resources, check our website, PerspectiveMinistries.org, and follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

This episode concludes our series on one of the most painful lies widows and single moms often believe—that it was somehow our fault our husband died, or that our children are growing up without their dad because of something we did or failed to do. Regret is real, but it never gets the final word. God does, and He is our Redeemer.We will look at the character of God as Redeemer, explore how to rest in His care, and share practical encouragement for guiding our children when regret creeps in or when they begin to believe the lie that their father’s absence is somehow their fault.Key TakeawaysGod is our Redeemer: From Exodus to Ruth, Isaiah to the New Testament, Scripture reveals God’s heart to redeem, restore, and make new. Redemption is not only what God does—it is who He is.Scriptural Anchors of Redemption: Job 19:25, Psalm 103:4, and 1 Peter 1:18–19 assure us that redemption is God’s promise and His nature.Helping Children Process Regret: Recognize the lies children may believe about their father’s absence and gently replace them with biblical truth about God’s love and presence.Practical Tools for Moms: Model honesty before God, replace lies with truth, affirm children’s love for their dad, and encourage expression and lament as steps toward healing.Living in Trust: Show your children how to rest in God’s redeeming care by pointing out His provision and sharing testimonies of His restoration in your own life.Every widow, every single mom, every child has a Redeemer. Even when loss feels final and regret whispers lies, God redeems, restores, and renews. Regret does not have the final word. Christ our Redeemer does. May you and your children walk in His redeeming love.Other Resources:Link to Pt. 1-2

Perhaps you’ve felt the heavy weight of regret—those “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” moments that whisper lies and leave you feeling responsible for things you could never control. In this episode of Raising Fatherless Kids, Lori unpacks the crucial difference between conviction from the Holy Spirit and condemnation from the enemy. Understanding this distinction changes everything.Conviction leads us to restoration, hope, and freedom in Christ. Condemnation leaves us in shame, despair, and fear. The good news? God is our Redeemer. He restores, rescues, and makes all things new.Understanding the difference between conviction and condemnation, and why it matters for healing.Recognizing conviction as the kindness of God that leads to repentance, freedom, and life.Identifying condemnation as the enemy’s voice that accuses without hope and keeps us stuck in guilt.Remembering God’s sovereignty over life and death which brings peace in the midst of regret.Key Takeaways:Scripture References: John 16:8 • Romans 2:4 • Psalm 103:10, 4 • 2 Corinthians 7:10 • Romans 8:1 • Revelation 12:10 • Job 19:25If you missed Part One in this series, Regret Meets Redemption, be sure to go back and listen. And join us next week for Part Three, when Lori shares how to help your children walk through their own regrets with the truth that Christ is Redeemer.

Lori opens a special three-part series, Regret Meets Redemption, addressing lies that widows, single moms, and even children often believe and how God's attributes dismantle those lies. Today’s lie is the belief that we could have done something to keep our children from growing up without their dad. Knowing God as our Redeemer shatters that lie and brings hope.Through Scripture, personal reflection, and encouragement, Lori points listeners to God's character as Redeemer. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible tells the story of redemption, and this truth brings clarity, comfort, and assurance when the weight of regret presses in.Understanding regret and grief, and learning to discern when natural regret turns into a lie.The sovereignty of God over life and death, with Scripture that confirms our days are set by Him (Job 14:5; Psalm 139:16; 1 Samuel 2:6).Why combating lies with the truth of God’s character as our Redeemer is essential, and how redemption brings freedom and peace (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19).In this episode, Lori will discuss:Takeaway: Regret may whisper lies, but God’s truth speaks louder. Your Redeemer lives—and His truth has the final word.For more information and helpful resources, check our website, PerspectiveMinistries.org, and follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

What does it mean to grow up fatherless when you technically have dads in and out of your life? How can God reveal Himself as Father through confusing, absent, or painful circumstances?Lori Apon sits down with Chris Britt to hear his powerful testimony of growing up with multiple “dads”— a biological father he barely knew, an adoptive father who struggled with alcohol, and eventually a stepfather who modeled love and service. At only twelve years old, Chris learned life-changing truths about his family’s past, but at the same time, he encountered the God who promises to be a Father to the fatherless.God uses painful family circumstances to reveal His faithful presence.Generational sin does not have to define the future. A praying mother and grandmother can plant seeds of faith that bear fruit in a child’s life.Children who grow up fatherless can discover that God Himself is their steady, unchanging Father.Chris reminds us that even when earthly fathers fail or disappear, God never leaves or forsakes His children. His story is one of grace, healing, and redemption, showing us that we can trust God with our children’s stories, even when circumstances feel overwhelming.✨ Be encouraged, moms: God sees you. He knows your children. He is faithful, and He has a plan for their lives.Absent Dad, Present Father – Lori’s upcoming book includes Chris’s story and 30 other testimonies of how God meets the fatherless with His faithful presence.Key Takeaways:Resources Mentioned:Listen & Share:If this episode encouraged you, could you share it with another mom or friend who needs hope today? Be sure to subscribe so you do not miss Part 2, where Chris shares how Scripture memory and prayer became an anchor for his soul (and yes, he has memorized the gospel of Matthew).

When Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15), he was leaving a blessing for generations to come. But what happens when Dad is no longer there to make that declaration over your home? Can a mom take this stand for her family? The answer is yes—absolutely yes.In today’s episode, Lori Apon encourages moms to boldly proclaim this truth over their homes and children, even in the absence of a father. Drawing from Joshua’s life and God’s faithfulness, Lori reminds us that you do not walk this journey alone. God Himself steps in as a Father to the fatherless, covering your family with His strength, presence, and peace.You will be encouraged to:Understand the depth of Joshua’s declaration and how it applies to your family today.Discover the importance of the blessing of speaking faith over future generations.Find practical ways to lead your children to serve the Lord.This episode offers biblical examples and real-life encouragement. It calls you to anchor your family in God’s promises and declare boldly, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”Seek and Savor - A Podcast by Tara Dickson, Let Joy and Sorrow Co-ExistConnect with Lori:Website: www.perspectiveministries.orgSocial Media: @perspectiveministriesOther Resource:Takeaway Blessing to Speak over your children: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I bless my children in the name of Jesus so they will grow to know Him, love Him, and follow Him all the days of their lives. May our home be filled with God’s presence, peace, and truth, and may future generations rise up to serve Him faithfully.

If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. You are not alone.In this tender and needed conversation, Lori welcomes Catherine to share her deeply personal journey of loss by suicide. Catherine opens up about the night she lost her brother, the emotional and spiritual aftermath, and how God’s presence met her in the darkest places of grief.This episode offers gentle encouragement for those walking through the pain of suicide loss and brings biblical clarity to common misunderstandings surrounding suicide and salvation. It is also a message of hope for anyone who may be struggling today, reminding each listener that healing is possible and that God is near.Catherine also introduces her new book, Hope, Hurt, and Healing. This powerful resource helps readers experience Jesus in the wake of suicide and points them to the God who comforts, restores, and redeems.Whether you are grieving, supporting someone through loss, or feeling overwhelmed by despair, this conversation is an invitation to anchor your hope in the unchanging love of Christ.Main Takeaways:Understanding the Complexity of Loss by SuicideCatherine shares her personal story of losing her brother and the emotional, spiritual, and relational weight that comes with this kind of grief.Disputing Misconceptions with Biblical TruthFrom false assumptions about salvation to the isolating lies of the enemy, Catherine highlights the importance of clinging to the truth of God’s Word in the midst of sorrow.Introducing Hope, Hurt, and Healing Catherine’s new book is a heartfelt resource for those grieving suicide loss, offering comfort, truth, and the reminder that God is present and faithful through every part of the journey.Resources Mentioned: Hope, Hurt, and Healing: Experiencing Jesus in the Wake of Suicide by CatherineIf you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. You are not alone.For more information and helpful resources, check our website, PerspectiveMinistries.org, and follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

Many single moms already feel the exhaustion setting in just a few weeks into the school year. The demands pile up, unexpected challenges arrive, and the weight feels impossible to carry. In this episode of Raising Fatherless Kids, Lori Apon offers hope and encouragement for the days when you feel like you cannot make it another step.Through personal stories, Lori explains the two kinds of weight God allows in our lives:Growth weight that stretches us in healthy waysEndurance weight that builds spiritual staminaBoth can feel overwhelming, but both can produce fruit when we lean into God’s strength. You’ll also hear how to identify the lies that creep in during hard seasons and replace them with truth so you can endure with hope.Key Takeaways:Recognize the type of weight you’re carrying. Combat lies with truth..Take it one moment at a time.Links and Resources:Hope GatheringContact Lori: lori@perspectiveministries.org

As summer fades into the school year's structure, single and widowed moms often face increased demands. Lori offers gentle encouragement and practical strategies for creating manageable routines and simple systems to bring peace and order to your home and heart. Whether you're overwhelmed by grief or daily tasks or simply need encouragement in solo parenting, this episode provides relatable wisdom and grace-filled guidance.Practical Takeaways:Practical tips for everyday organization and home managementStrategies for meal planning, laundry routines, and managing paperworkEncouragement for navigating grief alongside daily parenting responsibilitiesSpecial Resources Mentioned:Newborns and Grief with Brittany Brooker and Julie Thomason Podcast Episode 08The Importance of a Support SystemCall to Action: Share your own organizational tips or solo-parenting wisdom on our social media pages!Connect with Lori:Website: www.perspectiveministries.orgSocial Media: @perspectiveministriesRemember, you're doing important work, and you're not alone. The Lord bless you as you continue raising your fatherless children with strength, love, and grace.

In this episode of Raising Fatherless Kids, Lori shares a powerful promise from the Word of God specifically for children growing up without an earthly father. Drawing from Proverbs 23:10–11, Lori reminds moms that God has not forgotten their children—He personally defends the field of the fatherless.With warmth and wisdom, Lori explains the significance of ancient boundary stones and fields and what they represent today: identity, protection, provision, and purpose. This timeless truth offers encouragement as families begin a new school year—God will fight for your children, and no plan of the enemy can prevail against His promises.Key Takeaways:Practical teaching and application of God's promises to defend the fatherlessGuidance for single moms teaching this promise to fatherless childrenFamily Devotion TipScripture Focus: “Do not move the ancient boundary or go into the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you.” – Proverbs 23:10–11Connect with Perspective Ministries: https://perspectiveministries.org

As the school year begins, it is the perfect time to pause and reflect on the words we speak over our children—and ourselves. In this episode, Lori shares a powerful parenting tip that helped shape the way she encouraged and corrected her children as a young mom raising eight kids.You will be challenged to reframe phrases like “good girl” or “bad boy” and instead use language that separates identity from behavior. Lori also explores how deeply rooted identity is—in Christ, not in performance—and how this truth brings freedom, hope, and healing.Whether you are parenting toddlers or teenagers, this episode will inspire you to choose words that build up, affirm truth, and point your children to their value in God's eyes.Key Takeaways:A simple but transformative shift in the way we praise and correctThe difference between labeling behavior and labeling identityWhy our identity in Christ is secure, no matter our mistakes or circumstancesEncouragement for moms to speak truth over themselvesResources Mentioned:Lullaby Albums by Christy Nockels: Be Held: Lullabies for the Beloved The King Who Never Sleeps: Anthems for RestEncouragement for Moms:"You are not defined by what you do or do not do. Your identity is rooted in Christ, and that is unchanging—even on the hard days."For more information and helpful resources, check our website, PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

What happens when your faith begins to unravel? When the solid ground beneath you suddenly shifts? In this powerful conversation, Lori welcomes author and chaplain Catherine McNeil to discuss her latest book, Mid-Faith Crisis, co-written with Jason Hague. Drawing from personal experience and spiritual insight, Catherine gently guides listeners through the stages of faith and reminds us that even in the darkest valleys, God is near.Key Takeaways:The four stages of faith: Inherited, Confident, Mid-Faith Crisis, and Conscious FaithHow to help children navigate their own crisis of faith, especially when walking through griefEncouragement for moms whose teens or adult children are wrestling with doubt or walking away from churchInsights on church hurt, forgiveness, and rediscovering communityWhat matters most at the end of life—and how to live with a legacy of love todayRecommended Resources:Mid-Faith Crisis: Finding a Path Through Doubt, Disillusionment, and Dead Ends by Catherine McNeil and Jason HagueNothing is Wasted podcast episode featuring Katherine and JasonCatherine McNeil is a chaplain, author, and speaker passionate about discovering God’s redemptive work in ordinary life. She lives near Chicago with her husband, three children, and a thriving garden. Catherine is the author of several books, including Mid-Faith Crisis, and was the project editor for The Message Women’s Devotional Bible. She holds an MA in human service counseling and is completing her Master of Divinity at North Park Theological Seminary.Follow her for more encouraging reflections on faith, gardening, and chaplaincy life:https://www.facebook.com/catherine.mcnielhttps://www.instagram.com/catherinemcniel/https://www.threads.com/@catherinemcnielFor more information and helpful resources, check our website, PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

In this heartfelt episode, Lori encourages single and widowed moms navigating the heat of summer—and the heat of life—to do hard things. Through personal stories, from childbirth to cutting the grass after her husband's death, Lori shares how God used difficult moments to shape her, strengthen her, and reveal His presence in the midst of pain. Whether you are embracing a new reality after loss or facing daily challenges of single parenting, this episode reminds you that you are not alone—and there is purpose in the hard things.Key Takeaways:Your perspective shapes your experience.God speaks in pain.Practical Encouragement to do hard thingsNext Week’s Guest: Catherine McNeil, discussing her newest book and the concept of a mid-faith crisis.Connect: If this episode encouraged you, please consider leaving a review. Questions or topic suggestions? Email: lori@perspectiveministries.org Learn more at www.perspectiveministries.org

In this heartfelt episode, Lori welcomes long-time friend Stacie Kersey to share her powerful story of contentment in singleness and how God led her to adopt two daughters later in life. Stacey offers encouragement for women navigating unexpected seasons, including singleness, loneliness, and motherhood without a husband.Raised in a conservative Christian home, Stacey was deeply influenced by the legacy of her godly grandmother. She shares how her relationship with Jesus became real after college and how God has faithfully guided every chapter of her life, even when it looked very different from what she imagined.Now in her sixties, Stacey reflects on the joys and challenges of singleness, the beauty of spiritual motherhood, and how God used a small act of obedience years earlier to prepare her heart and home for adoption. Her journey reminds us that God sees, God knows, and He always goes before us.Contentment is possible: Singleness is not second best. Stacie shares how God gave her peace and purpose in remaining single.God sees and prepares: Stacie talks about God’s faithfulness in connecting her, a woman without children, with daughters who needed a mother’s love.Loneliness is real — but so is God's presence.Scripture Highlight:“The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” — Psalm 84:11Key Takeaways:For more information and helpful resources, check our website, PerspectiveMinistries.org and follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

In this heartfelt episode, Lori gently guides mothers through one of the hardest truths to navigate as parents: how to teach their children that God is good, even when life feels anything but. Drawing from personal experience and Scripture, Lori shares practical wisdom for walking with your children through seasons of suffering, loss, and deep questions about God's character.Key Takeaways:Helping children with their crisis of faith at a young age. Gentle advice for when children express anger at God or doubt His loveCreative ways to reinforce trust in God through music, testimony, and everyday gratitudePractical steps to lay a foundation of God's Character vs life’s circumstancesResources and Related Episodes:How a Mom Can Help Her Angry, Grieving Daughter Podcast Episode 69 with Erica and Jennifer BoldingTalking with Your Child About Anger Podcast Episode 71Music:You’re Gonna Be Okay - Bethel MusicInto the Sea - Tasha LaytonSubscribe to Raising Fatherless Kids and share this episode with a friend walking through hard questions about God's goodness.Connect with Perspective Ministries: https://perspectiveministries.org

In this timely episode of Raising Fatherless Kids, Lori sits down with Dr. Leonard Sax—author, psychologist, and family physician—for a conversation every mom needs to hear. Drawing from his book Why Gender Matters, Dr. Sax presents groundbreaking research on the biological differences between boys and girls and how those truths can guide moms as they respond to children experiencing gender confusion.This episode equips single and widowed mothers with wisdom, scientific insight, and biblical truth to lovingly and confidently affirm the identity God has given their children.Key Topics:Stanford's research on male and female brain structureHow to respond when your child questions their genderBiblical perspective on male and female identity (Genesis 1:27)Resources:Related Podcast:Intentional Mothering: Parenting Insights with Dr. Leonard Sax (Part One) Podcast Episode 170Books and Articles by Dr. Leonard Sax:Why Gender MattersThe Collapse of ParentingHow Common is Intersex?How Common Is Intersex? And Why Does It Matter?Subscribe to Raising Fatherless Kids and share this episode with a friend walking through hard questions about God's goodness.Connect with Perspective Ministries: https://perspectiveministries.org