Ep. 427 – Consistent Parenting, Taking the Edges Off a Strong-Willed Girl's Personality & Good Leadership

What does it look like to raise a girl who is both bold in her convictions and wise in how she uses her voice?  In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Natalie Ambrose sits down with attorney and advocate Alexandra Gaiser of Alliance Defending Freedom for a powerful conversation about raising daughters who are prepared to lead with truth, courage, and grace. In a world where cultural conversations are growing louder and more complex, girls are being called to step into leadership earlier than ever before.  Alexandra shares her personal journey into the legal field and her passion for defending constitutional freedoms, offering insight into how God can use both faith and profession to make a meaningful impact. Together, Natalie and Alexandra explore how parents can guide strong-willed, outspoken girls to channel their boldness in ways that reflect Christ and create lasting influence.  This episode also offers practical encouragement for families raising girls who feel called to leadership, advocacy, or public service. From preparing for careers in law to developing character, wisdom, and discernment at a young age, this conversation highlights the importance of intentional discipleship long before adulthood.  In a culture that often confuses volume with influence, this episode reminds us that true leadership is rooted in truth, shaped by humility, and sustained by faith. When girls are grounded in God's Word, they can step confidently into the roles He has prepared for them—bringing light, clarity, and courage to the world around them.    Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:    Micah 6:8   1 Timothy 4:12   Joshua 1:9   Proverbs 31:8–9   Colossians 4:6   Matthew 5:14–16    To learn more about Alexandra Gaiser and the work of Alliance Defending Freedom, be sure to visit their adflegal.org  Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com.    To find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.    

What happens when the things we most desperately want to change are the very things we cannot control? For mothers, the desire to protect our daughters, fix what hurts, and help their stories turn out well can easily become an exhausting pursuit of control. But what if true peace doesn't come from finally getting everything under control—it comes from knowing Who is?  On this special bonus episode of Raising Godly Girls, host Rachael Culpepper welcomes bestselling author, Bible teacher, and Proverbs 31 Ministries founder Lysa TerKeurst for a powerful conversation inspired by her new book, Making Peace with What I Can't Control. Lysa draws from her own difficult circumstances and decades of helping women navigate life's hardest moments to unpack why we reach for control, the deeper longings that fuel it, and what it looks like to surrender what we cannot control to a trustworthy God.  For moms, this struggle can become especially personal when it involves a daughter. As girls grow, they make their own choices, face their own challenges, and experience circumstances their mothers cannot always prevent or fix. Rachael and Lysa explore how moms can discern what God has actually entrusted to them—and what they need to release back to Him. They also tackle an important distinction: surrendering control doesn't mean caring less, becoming passive, or stepping away from the God-given role of motherhood. It means learning to trust God more deeply while continuing to love, pray, guide, and faithfully show up.  If you're carrying a circumstance, relationship, fear, or outcome you desperately wish you could change, this conversation offers a gentle invitation to ask: Is this actually mine to carry? Because there will be things we cannot change, choices we cannot make for our daughters, and outcomes we must ultimately place in God's hands. The good news is that we don't have to carry what God never asked us to carry. Tune in to discover how surrender can lead not to resignation, but to freedom, deeper faith, and the peace that comes from trusting the One who loves our daughters even more than we do.    Scriptures Referenced:  Proverbs 3:5–6  Philippians 4:6–7  1 Peter 5:7  Matthew 6:25–34    To learn more about Lysa's ministry work and to get her new book, visit lysaterkeurst.com.  Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.         Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org. 

What do you do when your strong-willed daughter pushes back, challenges your opinion, or seems determined to turn every disagreement into a battle? On this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden put consistency under the spotlight and explore how parents can lead strong-willed girls without breaking their spirit—while helping them develop the wisdom, resilience, and leadership skills God can use for His Kingdom.  Parenting a strong-willed girl can sometimes feel like navigating a minefield of opinions, emotions, and potential power struggles. But Biblical parenting isn't about finding a formula that guarantees the right outcome. It's about faithfully seeking the Lord, staying connected to His Word, and depending on the Holy Spirit for wisdom in the moment. Rachael and Melissa unpack the tension between overly rigid approaches and overly permissive parenting, reminding parents that consistent, steady leadership can provide the security a strong-willed girl needs to flourish.  In a Raising Godly Girls Minute, AHG Founder & Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay encourages parents to embrace respectful disagreement and remember that their daughters will inevitably develop opinions of their own. Rather than treating every difference of opinion as a battle to win, parents can model the respect, grace, and humility that build lasting relationships. Rachael and Melissa then explore practical ways to parent through conflict, including maintaining a steady response, asking whether an issue is truly a "hill worth dying on," and making genuine prayer together a place where both parent and daughter can seek the Lord's wisdom.  The conversation also highlights an important truth for parents of strong-willed girls: consistency builds trust. When parents respond with gentleness and steadiness rather than allowing a daughter's outbursts to dictate the emotional temperature of the home, they demonstrate what secure leadership looks like. Over time, those repeated moments of respect and consistency can help a girl learn to navigate disagreement with wisdom rather than simply reacting from emotion.  Listeners will also hear how American Heritage Girls provides girls ages 5 to 18 with opportunities to develop Christlike character, serve others, and grow into confident leaders. Through AHG Troops, the Raising Godly Girls parent resource, and resources such as the Social-Emotional Health Emphasis and Embracing Emotions Chat Sessions, families can find encouragement and practical support as they navigate the many challenges of girlhood.  For every parent wondering how to respond when their strong-willed daughter digs in her heels, this episode offers a hopeful reminder: the goal isn't to win every argument. It's to faithfully walk alongside the girl God has entrusted to you, building trust over time and helping her learn to respond to conflict with wisdom, respect, humility, and prayer.    Three Things to Consider:  Build trust and loyalty over time by consistently respecting your daughter, especially during conflict.  Not every disagreement is worth the battle—ask whether the issue is truly a "hill worth dying on."  Make genuine, humble prayer together a place where both you and your daughter can seek God's wisdom and find common ground.    Scriptures Referenced:  Proverbs 15:1  Proverbs 26      Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.       Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.    

What happens when your strong-willed, opinionated girl discovers the world of "hot takes," rage bait, memes, and unpopular opinions? On this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden explore why these bite-sized cultural opinions can be so appealing to girls—and how parents can help their daughters develop something far more lasting: Biblical wisdom, character, and integrity.  In a culture where humor, likes, outrage, and social influence can reward the loudest or most provocative opinion, Christian girls need to learn how to discern what is worth embracing and what should be left behind. Rachael and Melissa unpack what it means to live "in the world and not of the world," reminding parents that a Biblical Worldview doesn't mean a girl has to lose her sense of humor or cultural awareness. Rather, it means learning to recognize the dignity of every person as an image-bearer of God and knowing when a trend crosses the line into humiliation, cruelty, or disrespect.  In a Raising Godly Girls Minute, AHG Founder & Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay compares today's endless stream of hot takes to "junk food" for the heart and mind. Drawing from Proverbs 2:1-6, she encourages parents to help their daughters develop an appetite for the deeper, timeless wisdom found in God's Word. Rachael and Melissa then offer practical ways to shepherd strong-willed girls through cultural trends: familiarize yourself with what she's talking about, invite her into conversation through questions rather than immediate statements, and connect the conversation back to God's character and wisdom.  The episode also highlights how parents can give strong-willed girls an "on-ramp" into Biblical conversations by respecting their growing agency while still providing a clear framework for wise decision-making. Instead of simply shutting down an unfamiliar opinion or trend, parents can help their daughters slow down, ask questions, examine the consequences, and consider how their choices reflect the character of Christ.  Listeners will also hear how American Heritage Girls equips girls ages 5 to 18 to grow in character, Biblical leadership, and integrity. From the GRIT with Grace Girls Leadership Curriculum to AHG's partnership with AXIS Christian Parenting, families have resources designed to help girls navigate culture with courage, discernment, and a Biblical Worldview.  For parents raising strong-willed girls, this conversation offers encouragement that those big opinions and bold personalities don't have to be a problem to solve. With faithful guidance, they can become strengths that God uses to develop women of conviction, wisdom, courage, and grace.    Three Things to Consider:  When a hot take or cultural trend lands in your home, take time to understand it before leading your daughter through it.  Approach strong-willed girls with questions that invite conversation rather than immediately making statements that can shut the conversation down.  Connect cultural conversations to God's character and help your daughter consider the implications of her choices before giving her room to make the next move.    Scriptures Referenced:  Proverbs 2:1-6    Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.       Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.    

In a culture increasingly defined by division, how can Christian parents teach their daughters to think biblically about race, identity, justice, and unity? On this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Patti Garibay welcomes public theologian, author, speaker, and seminary professor Dr. Krista Bontrager for an honest and hope-filled conversation about raising girls who can engage difficult cultural conversations with both truth and grace. With conversations about race and identity reaching girls at younger ages—and often through frameworks centered on division, group identity, and power—many Christian parents feel unsure about how to respond. Krista helps parents distinguish between race and culture, understand humanity through the lens of Scripture, and recognize how the Gospel reshapes the way Christians understand identity, belonging, and unity. Together, Patti and Krista explore how parents can have age-appropriate conversations about racism and injustice without surrendering Biblical truth or allowing cultural ideologies to become the foundation of their daughters' worldview. This conversation also equips parents to help their girls navigate tribal thinking, difficult conversations at school and online, and a world that often encourages people to find their deepest identity in group belonging. Rather than retreating from these challenging topics, parents can teach their daughters to engage them with discernment, confidence, compassion, and a firm understanding of who they are in Christ. Krista reminds families that the Gospel is the ultimate equalizer—and that Christian unity is rooted not in cultural agreement, but in the truth that we are one body in Christ. If you want to raise a daughter who can pursue unity without compromising Biblical truth, this episode offers practical encouragement and Gospel-centered clarity for the journey. Discover how to move beyond cultural talking points and equip your girl to see herself, others, and a divided world through the transforming lens of Scripture.   Scriptures Referenced: · 1 Corinthians 8:6 · Ephesians 4:4–5 Learn more about Krista Bontrager's work at centerforbiblicalunity.com . Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com.    To find or start an AHG Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.

What does it look like to pursue Biblical unity in a world that seems to reward outrage, polarization, and constant disagreement? And how can Christian parents teach their daughters when to stand firm on essential Biblical truth—and when to graciously let something go?  On this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden take a "flip the script" approach to conflict, exploring what it means for Christians to make the Gospel their common ground. From church disagreements and theological debates to friendship conflicts between girls, they unpack the difference between healthy, Scripture-grounded discussion and the kind of strife that slowly pulls believers apart. The goal isn't to avoid every conflict, but to learn how to navigate disagreement with truth, wisdom, humility, and love.  Rachael and Melissa also explore how the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit gives Christians a beautiful picture of what unity can look like among God's people. They challenge parents to help their girls focus first on what unifies them with others rather than immediately spotlighting their differences. Through the Raising Godly Girls Minute, parents will also discover a simple but powerful strategy for helping girls navigate friendship conflict: learning to consider the other person's perspective. Understanding someone else's point of view doesn't mean abandoning Biblical convictions—it can help our girls become wiser, more gracious, and more Christlike in the way they respond.  As Rachael and Melissa bring the conversation into everyday family life, they remind parents that we may not be able to control another person's words, choices, or reactions—but we can take responsibility for our own hearts, words, actions, and responses. With Scripture as our common ground, Christian families can model a different way of handling disagreement and show girls that Biblical unity doesn't require uniformity. It requires a shared commitment to Christ and a willingness to pursue peace "so far as it depends on you." Tune in and discover how your family can help bring Biblical unity into friendships, churches, families, and a divided world.   Three Things to Consider:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit commune as One, so we should too.  Focus on what unifies us as the Church rather than what divides us.  As Christians, let the Bible be our common ground.    Scriptures Referenced:  Deuteronomy 6:4  1 Corinthians 8:6  Colossians 4:6  Romans 12:18    Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.  Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org. 

In a culture that rewards outrage, celebrates division, and often encourages people to cancel rather than reconcile, how can Christian families teach girls to pursue Biblical unity? While conflict is inevitable, the Gospel offers a better way—one marked by grace, humility, truth, and the unshakable bond believers share in Christ.  In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden explore what true Christian unity looks like and why it's essential for today's girls. Together, they unpack the difference between standing firm on foundational Biblical truth and holding personal preferences with open hands. They also discuss how parents can model healthy conflict resolution, help daughters navigate difficult friendships, and cultivate hearts that seek peace instead of polarization.  As girls learn to anchor their identity in Christ rather than opinions or social approval, they become women who can extend grace, bear with one another in love, and reflect the character of Jesus in every relationship. This encouraging conversation reminds families that unity doesn't require uniformity—it begins with the Gospel and grows as believers choose humility, forgiveness, and love.    Two Things to Consider:  Help your daughter build her identity on the unchanging love of Christ rather than shifting opinions or preferences.  Encourage an "extra grace required" mindset, reminding your daughter that healthy friendships and Christian community are strengthened through patience, forgiveness, and love.    Scriptures Referenced:  Romans 8:31–39  Galatians 6:2  Romans 12:9–10  1 Corinthians 1:20–25  James 1:19  Galatians 5:22–23    Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.  Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.     

What if something as simple as a shoebox could change a life forever?  In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Patti Garibay shares a powerful and inspiring conversation with Izabella McMillon, whose life was transformed after receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox as a young girl growing up in Romania. What began as a simple gift became a doorway to the Gospel—and ultimately, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Together, Patti and Izabella explore how God uses even the smallest acts of obedience to accomplish His greater purposes around the world. From limited access to the Gospel in certain countries to the challenges children face in places where Christianity is not widely accepted, this episode helps families better understand the global need—and the incredible opportunity to respond.  You'll also hear how American Heritage Girls is making an impact, with Troops packing over 27,000 shoeboxes in 2025 alone. This conversation offers practical and creative ways for families to participate in Operation Christmas Child, while helping girls develop compassion, generosity, and a heart for missions.  Whether you're packing your first shoebox or continuing a family tradition, this episode will remind you that God sees every act of kindness—and He can use it to change a life for eternity.  Because when we give with love, we're not just sending a gift—we're sharing the hope of the Gospel.    Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:  Matthew 28:19–20   Mark 16:15   2 Corinthians 9:7   Proverbs 22:9   Isaiah 6:8   Romans 10:14–15    To learn watch Izabella's Full Circle Story, click HERE.  To participate in the AHG-OCC Shoebox Challenge, click HERE.   Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.        Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.       

Serving others doesn't have to feel like another item on the family to-do list—it can become one of your family's greatest joys. When parents intentionally create opportunities to serve together, they're not only meeting practical needs, they're also building lasting memories, strengthening family bonds, and teaching daughters what it looks like to live with the heart of Christ.  In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose explore how families can make service a joyful rhythm of everyday life. From hilarious stories of family service projects to practical ideas for engaging children of every age, this conversation encourages parents to see service not as an obligation, but as an act of worship that brings people together and points others to Jesus.  Together, Rachael and Natalie share simple ways to cultivate a servant-hearted family culture, including beginning every service opportunity with prayer, keeping the focus on loving God and loving others, and embracing laughter along the way. They also discuss the lasting impact that serving side by side can have on a girl's confidence, compassion, and lifelong faith.  Whether your family is volunteering at church, serving neighbors, partnering with a local ministry, or participating in American Heritage Girls' National Day of Service, this episode will inspire you to discover that some of life's sweetest memories are made when your family says "yes" to serving together.    Three Things to Consider:  Begin your family's service opportunities with prayer and praise, inviting God to shape your hearts before you begin serving.  Keep the purpose of every act of service centered on loving God and loving others, even when the work becomes challenging.  Create joyful memories by making service a shared family adventure where laughter, teamwork, and Christlike love go hand in hand.    Scriptures Referenced:  Matthew 6:3–4  Matthew 5:16  Matthew 22:37–39  Matthew 25:31–40    Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com.     To find or start an AHG Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.     

As girls settle into the rhythms of a new school year, one of the greatest gifts parents can give is a heart that delights in serving others. But a servant's heart doesn't develop by accident—it grows as girls learn to see needs, respond with compassion, and understand that every act of kindness can point others to Christ.  In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose explore how parents can cultivate a lifestyle of service in their daughters from the earliest years through the teen years. Together they discuss practical ways to help girls discover their God-given gifts, serve with humility, and understand that true service isn't about earning praise—it's about reflecting the heart of Jesus.  You'll also hear encouragement to make service a natural part of your family's rhythm, why serving alongside others often deepens both faith and friendships, and how American Heritage Girls continues to equip girls to put their faith into action through meaningful service opportunities in communities across the nation.  Whether your daughter loves organizing, creating, encouraging, leading, or quietly helping behind the scenes, God has uniquely designed her to make an eternal impact. This episode will inspire your family to embrace the simple but powerful truth that one willing "yes" to God can change lives.    Three Things to Consider:  Every girl has unique God-given gifts that can be used to serve others and glorify Christ.  Celebrate your daughter's Christlike heart—not just her helpful actions—so she connects service to her identity in Jesus.  Serving alongside family, church, and Christian community helps girls develop a lifelong love for putting God's love into action.    Scriptures Referenced:  Mark 12:41–44  John 6:3–14  Acts 8:26–39  Galatians 6:10  Matthew 5:16  1 Corinthians 15:57    Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com.    To find or start an AHG Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.