The start of a new year often brings both relief after the holidays and a desire for a fresh beginning. In this episode, mothers are encouraged to make God’s Word a foundation in their home by intentionally teaching the Bible to their children.
You do not need to be a Bible expert or have a perfect routine. This episode offers simple ways to begin learning Scripture together and trusting God to bring forth fruit from the seeds planted.
Key Takeaways
What Scripture Says About God’s Word
Guidance on how to instill God’s Word into the hearts of your children
Suggested Scripture for memorization
An overview of how to teach the Bible to your children from preschool to the teenage years
Trusted Resources
If you would like additional encouragement and resources for raising fatherless children, we would love to connect with you. Visit perspectiveministries.org for more podcast episodes, Bible-based resources, and information on Hope Gatherings in your area.
As the year comes to a close, Lori invites single and widowed mothers to pause, reflect, andremember God's faithfulness. Whether this New Year’s Eve is quiet, heavy, hopeful, or filledwith questions, Lori shares encouragement from Scripture, from her home, and from the ministryGod has built through Perspective Ministries.In this tender episode, she reflects on angels, shepherds, and the Christmas story—then followsMary’s example of “treasuring and pondering” all that God has done. Lori offers simplereflection questions for moms and children, shares her family’s “Year at a Glance” tradition, andopens her own heart about her word of the year, her family updates, ministry milestones, andGod’s continued goodness.Four Practical Takeaways1. Pause and remember God’s faithfulness.2. Reflect as a family using simple questions.3. Notice God’s care in your personal story.4. Look ahead with hope, trusting God’s gentle leading.Connect with Lori and Perspective Ministries● Website: perspectiveministries.org● Email: lori@perspectiveministries.org● Subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform● Share this episode with a mom who may be entering the new year with sorrow, hope, or both.
On Christmas Eve, Lori invites single and widowed moms into the heart of the Christmas story—the Lamb of God who came near. While Christmas Eve is often portrayed as peaceful and serene, many moms raising children with an absent dad experience a night filled with pain, tears, and last–minute responsibilities. Lori offers compassion, biblical truth, and practical encouragement for mothers navigating Christmas with both hope and heartache.Tracing the Lamb of God through Scripture, from Genesis to the Gospels, Lori shows how Jesus has always been God’s plan of rescue and redemption. She reminds moms that Emmanuel, God with us, meets them in the loneliness and the sorrow, offering His presence, protection, and peace.In this episode, Lori shares:- Honest reflections from her own Christmas Eves as a widowed mom - How Jesus, the Lamb of God, appears throughout Scripture:-- Genesis 22 and God’s provision of the ram-- Exodus 12 and the Passover lamb-- Isaiah 53 and the prophecy of the suffering servant- The beauty of Emmanuel—God with us—in sorrow, uncertainty, and in the absence of an earthly dad- Encouragement for single and widowed moms facing fresh grief during the holidaysKey Takeaways:1. Jesus has always been the Lamb of God.2. God comes near to the humble and hurting.3. Emmanuel means you are not alone.4. Your children can experience the hope of Christmas in simple, meaningful ways.Connect with Lori and Perspective MinistriesWebsite: perspectiveministries.orgEmail: lori@perspectiveministries.orgSubscribe to YouTube and your favorite podcast platform!Share this episode with a mom spending Christmas Eve in the quiet ache of what is missing.
As Christmas approaches and the days grow full and emotional, Lori invites single and widowed moms to look at a tender part of the Christmas story—the shepherds. These quiet, ordinary men were the first to hear the news that Jesus, the Savior, had come. Their story offers comfort for mothers raising children without an earthly dad, reminding us that God is our faithful Shepherd who watches, protects, provides, and gently leads those who have young.In this episode, Lori shares from Scripture, from her 26 years of widowhood, and from her heart as a mom who raised eight fatherless children. She highlights the shepherds’ role in the Christmas story and offers six practical ways God shepherds single and widowed mothers today.Key Takeaways:1. The shepherds reveal God’s heart for the overlooked and overwhelmed. He sees single and widowed moms who feel unnoticed and promises to be their Shepherd, watching over their families.2. God gently leads mothers who have young. He guides you one step at a time, equips you with wisdom, and holds you when you feel weak.3. Six comforting ways God shepherds moms raising children with an absent dad.4. Encouragement for mothers in fresh grief who are facing Christmas with tears and questions.Scriptures Mentioned:Isaiah 30:15, 40:11Psalm 68:5Proverbs 27:23Luke 2:8–20John 10:11Hebrews 13:20–21Connect with Lori and Perspective MinistriesWebsite: perspectiveministries.orgEmail: lori@perspectiveministries.orgSubscribe to YouTube and your favorite podcast platformShare this episode with another mom who needs to know she is not alone this Christmas
Single and widowed moms often hear well–meaning phrases like, “Your daddy is now your guardian angel.” In this episode, Lori gently unpacks what Scripture really says about angels, clarifies common misunderstandings, and offers comforting, hope–filled truth you can share with your children.
Key Takeaways for Moms:
1. Do our loved ones become angels when they die?
2. Angels in Scripture
3. Angels in our lives today
4. How to teach our children about angels
Scriptures Mentioned:
Psalm 34:7, 91
Matthew 18:10, 22:30
Luke 2:8–20, 20:35–36
2 Corinthians 5:8
Hebrews 1:14
Revelation 5:11–12; 7:11–12
Connect with Lori and Perspective Ministries:
Website: perspectiveministries.orgEmail: lori@perspectiveministries.org
Subscribe to the Raising Fatherless Kids podcast and YouTube channel, and share this episode with a mom who is wondering how to talk with her children about angels and their loved ones in heaven.
In this heartfelt Christmas-season episode of Raising Fatherless Kids, Lori shares the pivotal moment when God whispered, “You are just the mom.”
For every mother feeling the pressure to fill the void of an absent dad—through death, divorce, or desertion—this conversation is a reminder that you do not have to do it all. God’s presence is enough.
Lori is joined by her son Evan, who offers practical wisdom for moms raising sons without a father, with insightful encouragement for every stage of a boy’s growth from toddler to young man. Together, they share stories, laughter, and truth about letting go of perfection, resting in God’s peace, and trusting Him to father your children in ways you never can.
Key Takeaways
You are just the mom—and that’s enough You cannot be both mom and dad. God never asked you to fill that role. He is the Father to the fatherless, and He will fill every gap.
Simplify the season Christmas does not have to look perfect. Focus on peace over perfection. Choose simplicity, invite others in, and make room for God’s presence.
Raise sons with grace and space Let your boys be boys. Give them room to grow, to fall, and to rise again. Affirm them, pray for them, and respect them; your influence matters deeply.
Trust God’s faithful fatherhood You are called to mother with faith, not fear. God is working in your children’s hearts, shaping them into who He created them to be.
Stay Connected Stay connected for more hope-filled encouragement by subscribing to the Raising Fatherless Kids podcast and visiting PerspectiveMinistries.org or following Perspective Ministries on social media.
As Thanksgiving approaches, many single and widowed moms feel the pain of an empty chair at the table, a tender reminder of who is missing. This heartfelt episode offers hope and gentle guidance for moms navigating grief, change, and new traditions.
Whether you are facing your first holiday without your husband or walking through another year of absence, you are reminded that God’s grace meets you right where you are. His presence fills the quiet spaces with peace that surpasses understanding.
Give sorrow a seat. Acknowledge the empty chair and the memories it represents. Allow tears and laughter to coexist.
Gratitude and grief can sit side by side. Giving thanks magnifies God’s goodness, even in hard seasons.
Look ahead with hope. Trust God for the strength, provision, and peace you need in the days ahead. Allow grace for yourself, your children, and others as God writes a new chapter in your story.
Practical tips and encouragement, offering grace for tomorrow.
Stay Connected Stay connected for more hope-filled encouragement by subscribing to the Raising Fatherless Kids podcast and visiting PerspectiveMinistries.org or following Perspective Ministries on social media.
Key Takeaways
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 Takeaways
Beliefs shape behavior
A 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 Father
Even 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 Connected
For 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 Takeaways
God 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 Mentioned
Psalm 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 Highlights
Lori 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 Moms
You 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 story
2. Scripture transforms the heart and mind
3. Admitting our weakness and trusting God for His strength is important to remember4. Learning to replace lies with God’s eternal truth
Watch Chris Britt’s dramatic presentation of The Gospel of Matthew: www.tgom.info
Previous episode 183: Finding Hope When Earthly Fathers Fail: Truth Moms Can Trust — Chris Britt’s testimony of finding God as his Father
Encouragement for Moms
God’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 gravesite
Important biblical teaching on life after death
Encouragement for divorced moms walking their children through absence
Suggested Resources
Single 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 Apon
Key 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 Ask
The Value of a Mentor Podcast Episode 49 with Guests Evan Apon and Dave Inabnit
The Investment of a Mentor Podcast Episode 52 with Guests Brandon Apon and Eric Helms
Scripture 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 68:5
The 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 Takeaways
Final 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 Takeaways
God 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-Exist
Connect with Lori:
Website: www.perspectiveministries.org
Social Media: @perspectiveministries
Other 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 Catherine
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.
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 ways
Endurance weight that builds spiritual stamina
Both 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:
Contact 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 management
Strategies for meal planning, laundry routines, and managing paperwork
Encouragement for navigating grief alongside daily parenting responsibilities
Special Resources Mentioned:
Newborns and Grief with Brittany Brooker and Julie Thomason Podcast Episode 08
Call to Action: Share your own organizational tips or solo-parenting wisdom on our social media pages!
Connect with Lori:
Website: www.perspectiveministries.org
Social Media: @perspectiveministries
Remember, 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.