See You in September

Some doors God won’t open, not because He’s punishing you, but because the current version of you can’t sustain what’s on the other side.Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy talk about why God cares more about formation than performance. They dig into pruning (John 15), discipline (Hebrews 12), the difference between conviction and shame, contentment, how character growth shows up in marriage, and why charisma without character is dangerous in leadership.If this conversation spoke to you, follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with a friend. We’d love to see you at Opendoor Church, in person or online.Musicbed SyncID: MB01TRVVXSOVQNL 

You're busy, but are you effective? In this episode of Here For It, Pastors Aaron and Lauren get honest about a season that's tested them both: the difference between a full calendar and a fruitful life.They talk through what busyness actually hides (fear, insecurity, the need for affirmation), how striving differs from abiding, and why saying yes to good things can quietly cost you the people who matter most. Aaron shares the story of stepping back from nearly 90 nights of travel a year, and Lauren walks through what overcommitment does to marriage connection long before you notice the drift.If your calendar is full but your life doesn't feel fruitful, this conversation is for you.Subscribe to Here For It for honest conversations on marriage, ministry, and following Jesus in real life.Musicbed SyncID: MB01TRVVXSOVQNL

This August, Lauren and I are stepping away for a sabbatical, so Here for It will be off for the month. We will be back with new episodes soon, starting with a five week series on marriage that is sure to give us plenty to unpack together. Hope you and your family have a great summer. We would appreciate your prayers.

Something new is coming from Opendoor Church. Better Together is a podcast built around the belief that we grow best when we hear from many voices, not just one. Each season will bring in different guests, facilitators, elders, and staff to speak into different seasons of life.The first season is for young adults, unpacking the hard and often disorienting shift from youth group to college ministry to adulthood.Subscribe to Better Together now at opendoorchurch.com so you're ready for episode one.

Are you avoiding a conversation because it feels easier than having it? If you've felt the tension build in your marriage, your family, or your leadership because something never got said, this episode is for you.Pastor Aaron and Lauren Kennedy get honest about what avoidance actually costs: resentment, emotional distance, and broken trust. They talk through their own marriage, the fear of saying it wrong, and why the conversation you keep avoiding never actually goes away. It grows.You'll hear practical ways to step into hard conversations without waiting for the perfect moment, how to name what you're feeling before you say it out loud, and why speaking the truth in love isn't as complicated as it feels once you understand what love actually means.Peace isn't the absence of tension. It's the result of dealing with it the right way.New episodes of Here for It drop every month. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. opendoorchurch.com

You're tired. But it might not be because your calling is too heavy. It might be because you've picked up things God never asked you to carry.In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy get honest about one of the most common and least-talked-about sources of burnout: false responsibility. They walk through how carrying other people's emotions, outcomes, and growth creates exhaustion that no amount of rest can fix, and what it actually looks like to put it down.They cover where this shows up in leadership, marriage, and everyday life, and they don't just talk theory. They talk about their own patterns, their own counseling journeys, and the daily decisions that make the difference between operating in grace and grinding through mercy.In this episode:Why burnout often isn't from your assignment, it's from what you picked up along the wayThe difference between a burden and an assignment. How people-pleasing, fear of man, and an identity rooted in being needed keep you overloadedWhat the hula hoop illustration reveals about what's actually yours to carryPractical resets and truth anchors to help you release what isn't yoursScriptures referenced: Galatians 6:5, Matthew 11:28-30, 1 John 4:16New episodes of Here for It drop every month. Subscribe so you don't miss one.

Everyone wants to find the right person. But most people haven't stopped to ask the right questions.In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy get honest about what actually matters when you're navigating relationships and dating. They're not handing out a checklist or a formula. They're talking about the three things that tell you more about a person than a personality test ever could: their intimacy with Jesus, their character, and how they handle their finances.They also get into why you shouldn't marry someone's potential, how to find wise counsel instead of just friend counsel, and why the most important thing you can do before getting into a relationship is shore up your own identity first.Whether you're dating, thinking about it, or just trying to figure out what healthy even looks like, this one is worth your time.

What is an Altar Night, and why does it matter right now?In this powerful conversation, Pastor Aaron shares the heart behind Altar Nights at Opendoor Church and why he believes God is calling us back to something deeper. This isn’t about creating a moment; it’s about creating space for God to move.We talk about:What actually happens during an Altar NightWhy physical obedience matters in your faith journeyHow to move from routine to real encounterWhat to do if you don’t “feel” anythingWhy hunger for God changes everythingIf you’ve ever felt stuck, disconnected, or just hungry for more of God—this conversation is for you. God is still moving. The question is this: are we making room? Join us for Altar Nights at Opendoor Church Come expectant. Come hungry. Come ready. Share this with someone who needs a fresh encounter with God.Find out more info at: https://opendoorchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/category/104215

Some of what you're fighting isn't yours. It was planted long before you got here.In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy tackle two topics that don't get nearly enough airtime in church: generational iniquities and soul ties. Not the spooky, hocus-pocus version. The real, practical, scripturally grounded version that shows up in marriages, families, and the patterns people can't seem to break no matter how hard they try.They walk through what the Bible actually says about iniquity passing through generations, what soul ties are and why they're not always sexual, and what it looks like to apply the blood of Jesus to the things in your life that keep pulling you backward.This one will probably turn on some lights. Come ready to do some honest looking.

For the first time on Here For It, Pastors Aaron and Lauren sit down with guest Dr. Ashley Hudson, a Christian therapist, researcher, and mama in process who specializes in mental and sexual health.This honest and necessary conversation tackles one of the most avoided topics in church and family life: how to disciple kids and teens around sexuality without shame, fear, or silence.Dr. Hudson explains the difference between purity culture and biblical purity, reframing sexual discipleship as desire formation, not desire suppression. Instead of a one-time “talk,” she encourages parents to think in terms of ongoing, age-appropriate conversations that begin far earlier than most people expect.Aaron and Lauren bring their pastoral and parenting perspective into the conversation, sharing what they’ve learned raising teenagers, why pretending these issues do not exist causes more harm, and how safety, humor, honesty, and curiosity build trust over time.The episode also covers:• Dating boundaries for Christian singles • Preparing for marriage after a sex-negative upbringing • Postpartum mental health and intimacy challenges • Why many women suffer silently with sexual pain • How couples can rebuild connection through conversation and attunementThis episode is practical, theological, and pastoral, offering hope and tools for parents, couples, singles, and church leaders who want to handle this topic with wisdom and courage.In This Episode, You’ll Hear: • Why sexual discipleship starts day one, not at puberty • The difference between Purity Culture and Biblical Purity • Desire formation vs desire suppression • How to create safe, ongoing conversations with kids and teens • Why silence in church creates shame instead of holiness • Healthy boundaries for Christian dating • Preparing for marriage when your upbringing was sex-negative • Postpartum depression, intimacy pain, and why awareness matters • Why attunement, not correction, builds trust and intimacy • Practical tools parents can use right nowResources for parenting sexuality shared by Dr. Ashley HudsonBooks for Kids and Families: • Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds https://a.co/d/0rnomUO • God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies https://a.co/d/6CCsySF • God’s Design for Sex Series (4-Book Set)Stan Jones & Brenna Jones https://a.co/d/8XL4EWu • It’s So Amazing!: A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families https://a.co/d/2lDvY9wParent Resources and Tools: • Pearl In Process Resource Libraryhttps://pearlinprocess.podia.comHelpful Instagram Posts: • https://www.instagram.com/p/CoshokBMYPI/?igsh=NXdnMnFuNjJyMWVn • https://www.instagram.com/p/CovGmBGBATm/?igsh=MWlxeGYwMXhmcDRwNA==Helpful Reminder:Nature and wildlife provide natural, organic opportunities to teach kids about procreation in calm, age-appropriate ways.Episode GuestDr. Ashley Hudson Therapist | Researcher | Coach in Mental and Sexual HealthWebsite: https://pearlinprocess.comResources: https://pearlinprocess.podia.comInstagram: @pearlinprocess