Living Single with Yana Jenay

In this episode, Yana sits down with her friends Jonathan & Kat to hear about who they are and their stories. Jonathan points to the value of friendship and accountability through his season of exploring what following Jesus meant for him, even down to his sexuality. He shares the hope and joy found in forfeiting what his flesh felt like it genuinely needed, and in the forfeiting his soul and heart found what it actually needed and was longing for. Kat shares about her experience and story of coming to know Jesus. She shares about learning to trust the Lord and that He is not scared of her flaws and sin, but more so pursues her because of those things. In Jonathan and Kat’s stories, we hear about their moment of realizing that Christ is the answer to having a fulfilled life, and that it is not through our sexual desires being fulfilled.  Resources :  Scriptures referenced in this episode : John 10:10; Psalm 139.  Follow Me :  Instagram | Website | Patreon Patreon : Through patreon we offer additional resources (discussion questions, access to the episodes early, community facebook group, etc.). To learn more about supporting this ministry and podcast go to : https://www.patreon.com/LivingSinglewithYanaJenay. 

In this episode, Yana takes a moment to pause and shares some of her reflections from the previous episodes about sex, sexuality, and singleness. It’s clear that sis has been challenged as in these months away from the podcast, she’s allowed God to go to work on her heart. Yana invites us in to hear how the Lord has been shaping and molding her desires to align more with His will and helping her to recognize His sufficient grace in the midst of fighting temptation, being pruned, and recognizing patterns.  Resources :  Scriptures referenced in this episode : Genesis 4:7; Romans 6:6-7;  Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Corinthians 3:10; Psalm 139:23-24; & John 15:1-8. Books : Live No Lies : John Mark Comer Follow Me :  Instagram | Website | PatreonPatreon : Through Patreon we offer additional resources (discussion questions, access to the episodes early, community facebook group, etc.). To learn more about supporting this ministry and podcast go to : https://www.patreon.com/LivingSinglewithYanaJenay.

There is no other holiday that causes just about everyone on the planet to be reflective more than the start of a new year, considering where they are in relation to where they want to be. This process can bring about all kinds of emotions--shame, disappointment, despair, pride, anger, etc. It can also cause many of us to go into the new year with a "carpe-diem-seize-the-day" kind of energy that can be more harmful than good. In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by music artist and worship leader, Jordan Welch, to talk about the pros and cons of goal setting, the gift of journaling, and the necessity of self-reflection for spiritual growth while also sharing times when they tried to take their relationship status into their own hands and will for it to change.  Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villados Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Blackburn Knowing God by J. I. Packer **Disclaimer: This episode was recorded prior to the recent exposure of the Enneagram personality tool being of demonic origins.  

Advent is the arrival of a notable person or event. During this ng this season we celebrate the arrival of the advent of our Savior, Jesus—Emmanuel. However, this celebration is also filled with waiting as we eagerly look for Christ, the Victor, second arrival. In the meantime in between time, many of us singles are also waiting for another kind of advent—the arrival of our long awaited boo. In this episode, my good friend, Anteneshia Sanders, and I talk about each one of these kinds of advents while also pondering how they are similar and different. More About Our Guest: Anteneshia is from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and currently lives in Wake Forest, NC. She is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she earned a Master of Divinity in Ministry to Women. Anteneshia prides herself on being a contemporary Church Mother and using her gifts in writing and shepherding to build up those in her church community. She is also an author and poet. You can find her writing at anteneshiasanders.com and in her poetry book, I Still Can't Swim. In addition to these works, Anteneisha is the owner of a small apparel business called Church Mother, where she celebrates women in ministry and the Black Church tradition. You can find her shop here.

Here is the rest of the hilariously authentic conversation Yana Jenay has with her friends Bree, Portia, and Cleo about their struggles and victories with sexual sin.  

In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by some of her closest friends, Bree, Portia, and Cleo, for a conversation about their struggles with sexual sin. This conversation is a good balance of honesty and hilarity. And this episode is just part one. 

In this episode, Yana Jenay passes the mic to her good friends, Kinshiro Shimochi and Macklyn Mosely, for them as men to have a candid conversation about lust, pornography, and masturbation. Press play not only hear these two men bravely share their struggles with sin but also hear how they find hope and freedom through their relationship with Christ. 

Oftentimes, conversations about Purity Culture center around its effects on women. However, many of the teachings out of Purity Culture have been harmful for men as well. Picking up from the last episode on Purity Culture, Yana Jenay sits down with her friend, Kinshiro Shimochi to hear how growing up in Purity Culture affected how he understood himself, sex, and relationships with women.

When it comes to sex, many of us have read the Bible's commands about sex and ask, "Really? Did God really say that? Is He serious?" We've asked this question because living in a sexually charged world, it's sometimes hard to take God's commands about sex seriously, asking, "Has God seen the world? Is living out His sexual ethic as put forth in Scripture even possible?" In this episode, Yana Jenay takes us to the garden of Eden to reflect on the first time in history the words of God were questioned. Using the narrative of Genesis 3 as a case study, she presents a few ways we, like Eve, have rejected God's definition of what is good and allowed a distorted view of Him to lead us astray. She will discuss how viewing God's commands about sex as oppressive, patriarchal, homophobic, and impossible is ultimately rooted in our view of God. Why? Because, you see, when we trust the character of God to be good, it becomes easier to trust His commands are also good. Press play to hear more.  ---- To get the reflection guide and/or join the Talk Back Discussion (9/1 @ 8pm) subscribe to The Living Single with Yana Jenay Patreon Page Biblical Passages discussed in this episode: Genesis 6:1-6; Genesis 3:1-7; Ephesians 1:15-22 Books mentioned in this episode: Yinka Were is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn and Talking Back to Purity Culture by Rachel Joy Welcher  Listen to a full sermon on "Did God Really Say?" from Yana Jenay ---- More About the Host, Yana Jenay Yana Jenay Conner is a writer and Bible teacher who seeks to help others think well about faith and culture. By God’s grace, she has served in full-time ministry for the past fifteen years in both the church and parachurch context and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She currently serves at Vertical Church as the Discipleship Director and hosts a podcast called Living Single. You can find more of her writing and teaching at yanajenay.com or by following her on IG @yanajenay.

In this episode, Yana Jenay sits down with two of her close friends, Janetta Oni and Anteneshia Sanders, for a candid conversation about Beyoncé’s “Church Girl.” Though this song felt like an anthem for many women, it didn’t quite resonate with them in the same way. In this episode, they share their initial reactions, sobering reflections, and reveal how this song represents how many women are seeking to break free from purity culture, heal from church hurt, and even deconstruct the faith that was, at times, poorly handed down to them.

In this episode, Yana Jenay asks the question, "Are We Asking the Right Questions About Sex?" She discusses how oftentimes, people are asking the "who," "what," and "when" questions and how though these are good questions to ask, maybe the better question to ask is, "why sex?" Why did God create it? It's possible that when we answer the "why" question, the "who," "what," and "when" questions become easier to answer and easier to follow.  Additional Show Notes: (1) You can register for the Jude 3 Project's Courageous Conversation Conference using this link. (2) Join Yana Jenay for this episode's Talk Back on August 4th at 8 pm by becoming a Patreon subscriber at $10 a month or more using this link. (3) Scripture passages mentioned in episode: Psalm 16 (not 18); Psalm 51; Psalm 139; Genesis 1-2

In this episode, Yana Jenay talks with her friend Omar King to hear his personal story and glean from his insights about sex as a theologian and counselor, who has worked with men and women who have struggled with sexual sin and addictions. They cover everything from what they learned as kids about sex, shame, purity culture, and what God designed sex to be in the beginning. 

WE BACK!!!! Welcome to Season 2 of Living Single with Yana Jenay! This season we are going to be talking about sex, sexuality, and singleness. Though this can be a sensitive and polarizing conversation for folks, Yana Jenay feels that it would be highly irresponsible and cowardly to NOT have a robust conversation about sex, sexuality, and how the two impact a single person's ability to be content and celebrate their relationship status. However, before we jump into conversations about sex, same-sex attraction, abstinence, masturbation, and more, we need to establish a shared definition of sex. In this episode, Yana Jenay shares what she discovered on the internet in her search for a basic clinical definition of sex and her sexual education (or the lack thereof) growing up in a conservative Christian home. This episode is for all the grown-ups out there whose parents didn't sit them down to have the sex talk. Click play to hear more, and be sure to head over to Patreon to support the podcast and reserve your spot for the Episode One's Talk Back on July 7th. Here's the Patreon Link. 

What's good, yall?! We back!!!! Season Two is currently loading and I can't wait for us to jump into a conversation with you about sex, sexuality, and singleness. Yep, we're going there. But, because these topics can be sensitive and bring up a lot of questions, each episode is going to be followed by a conversation for Patreon subscribers. Join my Patreon Crew today by using this link.  First Episode Launches: June 29th First Conversation: July 7th

Friends! We have only just begun! Though Season One is coming to an end, there are so many episodes ahead! In this episode, Yana Jenay shares about the highs and lows of podcasting, why she's taking a month off, what listeners can expect in Season Two, and how you can help make Season Two possible by becoming a Patreon subscriber. Become a subscriber today by using the following link: Living Single With Yana Jenay Patreon Page

Yep. We're doing it. We're having an uncomfortable yet necessary conversation about being black, female, and single. In the 2010 Census, it was reported that 71% of black women have never been married. 71%! This number is telling a story and Yana Jenay is joined by Ekemini Uwan to talk through some of the factors that contribute to this disparity. However, the goal isn't to gripe and moan, but to rather understand the roots of these factors to provide a space for black women to grief, find language for their pain, and consider how their story can find refuge in the pages of Scripture.  P.S. If you are not black, female, or married, please know this episode is also for you. Use it as an opportunity to understand the unique ways your black sisters in Christ are navigating singleness and as a model for how to navigate your unmet desires.  Also, you can pre-order Truth's Table:The Black Women's Musing on Life, Love, and Liberation using this link: https://bookshop.org/books/truth-s-table-black-women-s-musings-on-life-love-and-liberation/9780593239735

In this episode, Yana Jenay gets real and shares tends to long for marriage the most in the midst of transition and decision making. 

In this episode, Yana Jenay talks with Lisa Fields, founder and president of the Jude 3 Project. They talk everything from serial dating, breakups, Tyler Perry movies, and the intersection between singleness and apologetics. Press play to get in on the conversation.

In this episode, Yana Jenay shares her journey to homeownership and the conversation she had with real estate agent and investor, Erika Brown, that helped jump start the process. If you ever thought that homeownership was out of reach for you, in this episode, Erika shares how you can make homeownership a reality by sharing her story and sharing a few tricks of the trade. She also talks about how she is using real estate as a means to solve problems in her community. Sis is buying back the block, providing jobs and affordable housing for folks in her community. Whether or not real estate is something you're interested in, this is a great conversation for singles (and marrieds) to consider how God is calling them to use their talents, time, and treasure to solve problems in their community. Let's not be like that one guy who took his talent and hid it. Let's seek to multiply it for the good of others. Press play to hear more and join the conversation.

In this episode, Yana Jenay sits down with her friend and roommate, Bree Carnes, who has taught her how to truly live single. Press play to hear who God has used their friendship to encourage them in singleness, pursue adventure, and check off some of the things on their marriage bucket list. Bree also provides a guide for how to answer some of the awkward and eye-rolling questions singles can encounter while out in the wild with the marrieds. It's a really good listen.