Velvet Ashes Legacy Podcast

What happens when the life God calls us to also reveals just how weak and insufficient we feel? In this conversation, Sarah sits down with Heather, the voice behind Liturgies for Life Abroad, to explore the unexpected ways God meets us in our weakness. Heather shares honestly about the challenges of cross-cultural life, the struggle to find worth beyond productivity, and how the practice of liturgy has given her words to pray when she couldn't find her own. Together, they explore the gift of vulnerability, the beauty of shared prayers, and the reminder that we are never alone in our struggles. This is an invitation to bring our whole selves to Jesus—messy, weary, and weak—and discover that His strength is more than enough.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Eine Blume⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music! ⁠Give⁠ to the work of Velvet AshesWe are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast. Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. We are grateful to the RCA Global Mission for sponsoring this podcast. A sewing machine and a training class. For one woman in India, that's a business, an income, and a future for her children. This Christmas, give a gift that sparks change and points people to Christ—our eternal hope. Through Gift of Hope, a project of RCA Global Mission, you can start a woman's sewing business in India, send a child to school in Kenya, or give medical care to a village in Brazil. Visit giftofhope.rca.org to shop all gifts. Gift of Hope. Share the hope you have in Christ today.Heather is the creator and writer behind Liturgies for a Life Abroad. She has lived overseas with her family, doing nonprofit work in Southeast Asia since 2015. In 2021, Heather began writing and sharing liturgies and reflections on cross-cultural life through Instagram. That little corner of social media has grown into a place where sojourners from every corner of the globe can find solidarity, hope, and words of prayer for the moments when they don't have their own. Learn more about Heather and her books and liturgies at liturgiesforalifeabroad.com.

In this episode, Deepika and Kelli introduce us to the remarkable life of Dr. Ida Scudder, a third-generation medical missionary in India whose encounter with three women facing childbirth without access to female doctors changed the course of her life. Ida went on to earn her medical degree and return to India, where she founded a hospital and medical school for women in Vellore. Join us as we explore Ida’s story, her calling, and the lasting legacy of a woman who saw a need and responded with courage, compassion, and creativity. Also in this episode, Denise and Sarah talk about celebrating Halloween on the field, what they are afraid of, and what's coming up at Velvet Ashes. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ and InstagramFeatured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by ⁠⁠⁠Eine Blume⁠⁠⁠. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music! Give to the work of Velvet AshesWe are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast. Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Check out the Unplugged RetreatDeepika Srivastava is Director of Church Relations for the Vellore Christian Medical College (CMC) Foundation, building partnerships with churches committed to global mission. Born at CMC, she is grateful to help advance Dr. Ida Sophia Scudder’s legacy by empowering the next generation and promoting compassionate, whole-person medicine. She also serves as a Deacon at Bethany Memorial Reformed Church, supporting people across New York City. She enjoys the beauty of God’s creation and hiking with her husband and adult children.Kelli Gilmore serves as the coordinator for marketing and communications for RCA Global Mission. She finds great joy in helping missionaries share their stories of how God is moving in their parts of the world and being part of their mission work through writing, editing, video work, and graphic design. When not working, she enjoys reading, completing DIY projects, and spending time with her husband, two daughters, and one year old pup. Ida and the Three Visitors bookFree curriculum to supplement the bookEdison to India 5K

What exactly is Velvet Ashes, and who is it for? In this episode of the Velvet Ashes Legacy Podcast, Denise and Sarah pull back the curtain and invite you into the heart behind the ministry.Velvet Ashes began with a simple desire: for women serving cross-culturally to have a place where they could be known and understood without having to explain every layer of their lives. More than a collection of resources, Velvet Ashes began as a community of women—and the ministry has continued to grow out of that community. Denise and Sarah talk about the women they serve, the joys and challenges they hear about, and why creating spaces for honesty, connection, spiritual formation, and sustainable joy matters so much.From the blog and podcast to Connection Groups, retreats, cohorts, the app, and membership, they share the many ways women can find a place at the Velvet Ashes table. Whether you're brand new to Velvet Ashes or have been around for years, consider this your invitation to pull up a chair, meet the women behind the ministry, and discover a space where you don't have to explain yourself.Learn more about ⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by ⁠⁠Eine Blume⁠⁠. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠ or wherever you get music! We are grateful to ⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast. Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

This month, Denise and Sarah jump into the topic of jealousy. Using stories from Helen Roseveare, Isabel Kuhn, Elisabeth Elliot, and Amy Carmichael, they dig into the potential disguises of jealousy and comparison, and chat what to do if you see jealousy coming up in your life. We hope you join us for this conversation! Learn more about ⁠Velvet Ashes⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠Facebook⁠ or ⁠Instagram⁠Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by ⁠Eine Blume⁠. Check out more from them on ⁠Apple Music⁠ or wherever you get music! We are grateful to ⁠Barnabas International⁠ for sponsoring this podcast. Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠here⁠. Isobel Kuhn: Episode 2 (in two parts) Helen Roseveare: Episode 5Amy Carmichael: Episode 6Elisabeth Elliot: Episode 7

Aubri Casey knows what it's like to serve faithfully while quietly carrying more than anyone can see. After over ten years living and serving cross-culturally with her family, unexpected transitions, health challenges, and the weight of ministry reshaped her understanding of what true rest looks like.Now, as Associate Director of Adult Debriefing with TRAIN International, Aubri spends her days helping global workers unpack the stories, losses, and hidden burdens they carry. In this thoughtful conversation, Denise and Aubri explore why Sabbath is more than taking a day off, how intentional debriefing creates space for healing, and why our identity must be rooted in being God's beloved rather than in the work we do.Whether you're feeling burned out, navigating transition, or simply longing to return to rhythms that restore your soul, this episode offers gentle wisdom and practical encouragement for slowing down, paying attention, and receiving God's invitation to rest. Learn more about Velvet AshesFollow Velvet Ashes on Facebook or InstagramFeatured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on Apple Music or wherever you get music! We are grateful to Barnabas International for sponsoring this podcast. Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them here. Learn about TRAIN International Abide Debriefing for Single WomenMissions Beyond Burnout Cohort Aubri served overseas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Budapest, Hungary for 11 years with her husband Chris and two children Lejla and Rudy. Since returning to the states in 2020, she has served with TRAIN International, training and preparing missionaries to go overseas, coaching them to meet their future goals, listening and discerning with them in spiritual direction, debriefing their time abroad, and providing retreat experiences for their rest and renewal. Her passion for education lives on in her role as homeschool mom and as a student of spiritual formation, completing her master’s from Portland Seminary in 2026. She enjoys all things literary, good music, and the glories of nature, preferably all at once and from a hammock.

What does it cost to give your life away quietly?In this month’s Velvet Ashes Legacy Podcast, Sarah sits down with author Jordan Monson to explore the remarkable story of Katharine “Katy” Barnwell—a woman whose influence on Bible translation shaped millions of lives, even though most people have never heard her name.Born in London during the Blitz, Katie’s story begins in the shadow of war and unfolds into a lifetime of faithful, behind-the-scenes service. From learning unwritten languages in Nigeria to helping transform Bible translation into a model that empowered local believers, Katy carried a vision that changed the global church.But her story is also one of cost.The cost of singleness.The cost of obscurity.The cost of staying through hardship, civil war, exhaustion, and years far from home.The cost of offering your gifts fully to God without needing recognition in return.This conversation is a reminder that God has always used ordinary, imperfect people to do extraordinary things.Jordan Monson is an author and the Professor of Missions and Old Testament at Huntington University. He also directs Huntington's Center for Faith Integration and Vocation. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Learn more about our Online Retreat for this year, ⁠Listen: Hear My Voice⁠Check out Jordan's book, Katharine Barnwell: How One Woman Revolutionized Modern MissionsThe new Velvet Ashes book, Yet We Still Laugh, is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble

In this episode of the Velvet Ashes Legacy Podcast, we explore the quiet but powerful theme of feeling like an imposter—especially in the unique spaces women navigate cross-culturally. Through an honest and hope-filled conversation with Jenn Chang, we unpack the tension between calling and doubt, confidence and comparison, and the ways imposter syndrome can take root in our stories.Jenn shares from her own leadership journey, offering insight, language, and encouragement for women who wonder if they truly belong in the spaces God has placed them. This conversation is an invitation to name what feels hidden, to release comparison, and to step more fully into the person God created you to be.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Learn more about Yield Leadership CoachingThe Mission Leaders BlogBlog posts on Women in LeadershipCheck out the Velvet Ashes Membership Community

What are you listening to in the midst of all the noise?The world hums with urgency, headlines, and endless voices—yet beneath it all, there is a quieter invitation: to listen for what is true, steady, and unseen.In this episode, we sit with the weight many are carrying and the sacred practice of tuning our hearts again.We also step into the story of John and Betty Stam—a story marked by courage, surrender, and a faith that echoes far beyond their years.A story that asks us: what does it look like to listen… and to trust… with open hands?Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Learn more about our Online Retreat for this year, Listen: Hear My VoiceCheck out Andrew's book, By Life or by Death: The Life and Legacy of John and Betty StamThe new Velvet Ashes book, Yet We Still Laugh, is available on ⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble

What does it really mean to retreat?In this month’s episode, the entire Velvet Ashes team — Denise Beck, Danielle Wheeler, and Sarah Hilkemann — gathers for a behind-the-scenes conversation about the heart, history, and hope of Velvet Ashes retreats.What started years ago as a simple experiment — an online invitation for women scattered across the globe to step away and meet with God — has grown into a sacred annual rhythm for cross-cultural workers worldwide. In this episode, you’ll hear how retreat first began, how it has evolved over the years, and why it continues to matter so deeply.Danielle shares the heart behind this year’s theme: learning to recognize and respond to God’s voice. In a world filled with noise, fear, and competing messages, so many women ask: How do I know it’s really Him? This retreat gently and honestly explores that longing — creating space to sift through distractions, confusion, and doubt so we can listen more deeply to the One who is always speaking. Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Want to go deeper with the Velvet Ashes community? Learn more about Friends, Circle and Inner Circle levels of membership connection here. Register for this year's Listen Online Retreat.

What does a faithful life look like when the fruit isn’t always visible right away? In this month’s episode, Sarah talks with Jeff Barker about the life of Arlene Schuiteman—a Midwest farm girl whose quiet yes to God carried her across Africa and shaped generations to come. Listen in and be reminded that God is always at work, even when we can’t yet see it.Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Learn more about how to be part of the Velvet Ashes communityCheck out Jeff's books about Arlene on Amazon: Sioux Center Sudan, Iowa Ethiopia, Zambia Home, and Whispers from the Lord: A Missionary Nurse's JournalPerformance of Sioux Center Sudan, a play written about Arlene's lifePerformance of Iowa Ethiopia, a play about another part of Arlene's lifeThe new Velvet Ashes book, Yet We Still Laugh, is available on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Barnes & Noble