Shows
Ask Dr. BettersWhy Won't God Take Away My Same-Sex Attraction? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, “All my life I’ve been attracted to the same sex, going back to early childhood (elementary school age). I’ve heard we’re born straight, gay, or bi. I’ve heard as a Christian that it’s a sin. I believe it is. I have never acted upon with it another man, only in thought and through fleshly pleasures. I am saved and baptized. I believe in God, in Christ. I’ve accepted Him as my creator and Savior and Lord. But I’m torn between why I’m gay and why He has nev...
2026-02-1310 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow to Avoid Sexual Sin | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "How do you avoid sexual sin when you are single and unmarried? You know what the Scripture says about it. But you know also that the other person is only interested in one thing. It will lead to the consummation of the relationship before marriage, and results from a low standard, one would assume or say."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He find...
2026-02-0608 min
Help & HopeSame-Sex Attraction, Part 1: A Pastoral ResponseWhat’s the Christian Church to do? Western Culture not only accepts but also celebrates same-sex attraction as an appropriate and normal lifestyle. Are people who do not accept homosexuality as right and appropriate hateful and small-minded? In this frank conversation, Dr. Chuck F. Betters leads a conversation with three pastors about how the historical response of the local church to homosexuality and those in a gay relationship has contributed to an environment that is not conducive to demonstrating the Gospel. These pastors offer their own observations and understanding of the real application of the Gospel, not just to th...
2026-02-0426 min
Ask Dr. BettersShould Christians Report Abuse Even If Forgiveness Is Given? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters, in response to "Will I Know My Abuser in Heaven?", answers the question, "I feel that abusers get away with their actions both on Earth and in Heaven. As a Christian, I know I need to forgive my abuser, but where is the justice for those of us left scarred by the abuse? I believe not all sins are equal. Christians should speak up and report abuse—spiritual forgiveness doesn’t eliminate legal consequences."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assi...
2026-01-3011 min
Help & HopeSexual Abuse: Hope Blooms After the Storm - One Woman's Story - A Conversation with Dr. Terry EcclesWhat happens when a four-year-old gets an unwanted education in the darker side of humanity and experiences sexual abuse at the hand of her father? In this powerful, sometimes difficult-to-hear interview, Dr. Terry Eccles takes the listener into the abyss of the sexual abuse she experienced beginning at the age of four. This interview gives hope to the abused but also gives a window into the soul of the abused in a way that will better equip the listener to walk alongside the victim of abuse.The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can...
2026-01-281h 13
Ask Dr. BettersMy Fiancée Was Sexually Abused. How Do I Prepare for Our Wedding Night? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "I am getting married in a month, and I just found out my fiancée was sexually abused as a child. Knowing this, how should I prepare for my wedding night and our first year of marriage?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with...
2026-01-2305 min
Help & HopeSex Trafficking: I Am Not For Sale! A Conversation With Edie RheaEdie’s father died when she was four years old, so when her mother brought a new man into her home, she welcomed him as her father. When she was nine years old, this man began regularly raping her in her home. By the time she was twelve, he was taking her to hotel rooms where he trafficked her to men and women for the purpose of sex until she was seventeen. How does a child recover from such monstrous treatment? Edie’s story offers help and hope to anyone who has been sexually abused and shines a light on t...
2026-01-2139 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Do I Find Direction in a Toxic Environment? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Hello, I am a college-age female, and I feel that God has left me. I feel like I always tried to follow his path even when none of my family went to church. I felt all my life that God was telling me to go one direction in ministry and then, when it was time to apply for schools and I told people, they told me that was not my calling. I feel like I don't have direction anymore and no one cares about me. I feel like God has put...
2026-01-1610 min
Help & HopeHuman Trafficking - A Path to Freedom - A Conversation with Ana StevensonChuck interviews Ana Stevenson, the founder of Path2Freedom, where Chuck and his wife Melanie are currently serving as House Parents at the Magnolia House. Ana felt a calling to start a ministry for girls rescued from human trafficking in 2015. Ana shares that "millions of children are being exploited annually in the global commercial sex trade. That number became real for me when I met the 'one'. No longer a number, she had a beautiful face, she had a name, but most importantly she has a hope and a promised future." Tune in to hear Ana's story and the...
2026-01-1426 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhy Would God Create a World with So Much Evil? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "My only question is this, and no one has been able to answer it so far. If God knew there would be murderers and people tortured and blown up and raped, etc., why would he create this world even if it’s only temporary? I can’t believe that God would allow that kind of suffering to exist, knowing beforehand it would. You may say it’s free will and we chose it. That well may be true, but he’s omniscient and knew that murderers and torture would exist. Why would yo...
2026-01-0916 min
Help & HopeTrauma Can Not Rob You of Your Identity - A Conversation with Fawn VolkertFawn Volkert's journey from sexual abuse as an infant to trying anything and everything to survive to a place of joyful thriving will stay with you for a long time. Just when you think her story could not get any worse or even more compelling, Fawn takes us deeper into her journey to a place of healing and strength. In this conversation with Chuck L. Betters, Fawn shares how her story of trauma has formed her into the person she is today. Chuck and Fawn have a candid conversation, not only about her personal story but also about trauma...
2026-01-071h 00
Ask Dr. BettersWhy Am I Not Comforted by God in My Grief, Pain, and Suffering? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "What if the pain of life has become too hard to bear? What if there have been too many substantial losses to handle life? Will we simply die with broken hearts in the end? God hears us and tells us so in scripture, so why can't we seem to be comforted?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that...
2026-01-0208 min
Help & HopeHomesick For Heaven - A Conversation with Elyse FitzpatrickHave you ever been away from home and all you wanted was to go home, to your familiar surroundings, you family – your bed? You feel homesick. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Elyse Fitzpatrick describes how a difficult time in her life resulted in her longing for something more. She concluded she was homesick for heaven. Elyse helps us better understand how a biblical view of heaven can be a source of great comfort when life turns upside down. She encourages us to learn more about our eternal destination, just as we would if we were planning a visit to...
2025-12-3132 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Are We to Rejoice in Sorrow? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "How are we to rejoice in sorrow?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Betters and his guests provide clear, biblical answers to life’s pressing questions about suffering and living...
2025-12-2608 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhat Do You Say to a Grieving Person? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "My friend's dad just died. When I am around my friend, I don't know what to say to her. What do you say to a grieving person?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique vide...
2025-12-1906 min
Help & HopeSudden Loss of a Daughter and a Dad's Grief - A Conversation with Mel LawrenzYou start your day thinking it will be like any other. And then a text with four words, “Eva not breathing. Pray.” Within hours, the unexpected death of your daughter propels you and your family down into the deepest sorrow you have ever experienced. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Mel Lawrenz introduces us to his beloved daughter Eva and how her unexpected death led his family into the Land of Grief. In this conversation, Mel talks about giving freedom to people to grieve their way, how lament is a gift, and how his theology gave him the freedom to g...
2025-12-1736 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Do We Say That the Lord Restored Job's Losses? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "How do we say that the Lord restored Job's losses when he lost 7 sons and 3 daughters? I understand he had 10 more children, but how could that possibly be seen as a restoration?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr...
2025-12-1204 min
Help & HopeGrief and Lament - A Conversation with Dr. Frank JamesIs it ever ok to question God’s love or wisdom, especially when you love and serve Him but experience tremendous loss? Dr. Frank A. James, President and Professor of Historical Theology at Missio Seminary in Pennsylvania joins Dr. Chuck F. Betters to talk about this very question. Frank’s story of loss started when his younger brother, Kelly, was trapped in a snow cave on Mt. Hood and an unyielding blizzard prevented rescue. News outlets from all over the world covered the fear and anguish of Frank’s family as they waited for news about Kelly. Frank describes the em...
2025-12-1047 min
Ask Dr. BettersI'm Too Sick to Attend Church - Am I Sinning? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "Due to various health issues, I have not been able to attend church for the past several months, is that sinful?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Betters and his...
2025-12-0507 min
Ask Dr. BettersI Have Chronic Fatigue - How Can I Make Life Meaningful? | Finding Meaning with Dr. BettersIn this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "I suffer from Chronic Fatigue and I am exhausted all of the time. I’m only in my 40’s but I feel like I am wasting my life. I spend most of my time resting and the few things I am able to do during the day I spend most of that time thinking about how soon I can go back to bed. It makes me so sad. How can I still make my life meaningful instead of just a waste?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith stru...
2025-11-2806 min
Ask Dr. BettersCan Prayer Heal the Sick? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, “Does it really matter to pray if we or a loved one is sick? In that God doesn't change his mind. Our lives are already set...does praying to be well actually do any good?”Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and desp...
2025-11-2105 min
Help & HopeAn Unexpected Twist in Life - A Conversation with Erin KauffmanTwenty-nine-year-old Erin Kauffman was enjoying the fruit of years of education and working. She loved her newly purchased home and bought a new car that she could load up with equipment when traveling to school sponsored music events. Erin filled her time with work, music, friends and ministry. Then the unthinkable happened. A driver fell asleep at the wheel and at sixty miles per hour slammed headfirst into Erin’s car. In this moving conversation with Sharon Betters, Erin describes the devastation of realizing the bottom half of her body was crushed, the long rehab, and how this accident ch...
2025-11-1944 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Is God Using My Physical Pain for Good? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "The Bible says that 'God works all things together for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28)'. How is God using my physical pain for good? What good can come from terrible pain that probably will have no end?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a...
2025-11-1410 min
Ask Dr. BettersDoes God Want Me to Stay in an Abusive Marriage? | Ask Dr. Betters - Deconstructing One's FaithIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Within the first weeks of marriage, I knew my husband was abusive. I’ve lived with the abuse for years and I’ve hidden it because I don’t want people to think badly of him – especially his boss. He is very charming in his work and socially. I try not to trigger him, but I’m exhausted and afraid. I was taught God hates divorce. So I feel like that is not an option, but is this what God wants for me?"Find the whole "Deconstructing One's Faith" miniseries...
2025-11-0710 min
Help & HopeHidden Wounds and Scars of Chronic Illness – Is there Hope? - A Conversation with Rosann CoulonRosann has experienced disappointment, pain and loss – but her scars and wounds are not obvious – very much like many of you. Today Rosann lives with the kinds of chronic illness that many of you contend with – often alone in your struggles because they are not visible wounds or scars. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Roseann offers encouragement to fellow travelers, that though the pathway is often hard and you feel hopeless and helpless, there is a light in the darkness and purpose in the pain.The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find m...
2025-11-0536 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Can I Trust God When He Allows So Much Pain? | Ask Dr. Betters - Deconstructing One's FaithIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I was homeschooled and involved in the local church, considered a good kid. During the pandemic, I was isolated and lonely and I discovered a whole other world of beliefs. I question everything about God. Our world is so messed up, so many terrible things happen, including friends who have died from drugs and one who even committed suicide. You say God is sovereign and I can trust Him. But how can I trust a God who doesn’t stop pain? Sometimes I wonder if there is even a God."
2025-10-3112 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Do I Heal After Being Hurt by the Church? | Ask Dr. Betters - Deconstructing One's FaithIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I grew up as a church kid, my parents were leaders in the church. The church was like a second family. But as an adult I am seeing how mean church people are – how they use people – and think nothing of betraying people like my parents. I can’t stand going to church and I have such anger and bitterness. I don’t want to be like this but I can’t let go of the hurt. Help."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss...
2025-10-2413 min
Help & HopeFlourishing in Every Season of Life - A Conversation with Carol ArnoldIn the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace: Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a storyteller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Carol Arnold. Carol was eighty-three years old at the time of the interview. She travels the world continuing the work of the organization her husband started, Equipping Pastors. Surely Carol is a model of flourishing in old age as she regularly gets on a plane in order...
2025-10-2226 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Can I Know for Sure I’m a Christian? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I am terrified. I am not a Christian. I asked Jesus into my heart when I was a child, and I went to church with my family whenever the doors were open. But now that I’m an adult, I see how sinful I am, and when I ask God to forgive me, I don’t feel anything. I can’t ask anyone for help because they think I’m a wonderful Christian woman. How can I know for sure I’m a Christian?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own fa...
2025-10-1712 min
Ask Dr. BettersAm I Going to Hell If I Don’t Feel Close to God? | Ask Dr. Betters - Deconstructing One's Faith SeriesIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I asked Jesus into my heart when I was a child. I am in my twenties and nothing about the Christian faith is attractive to me – I question whether there is even a God. Am I going to hell?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world...
2025-10-1016 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhy Did God Command the Death of Innocents in 1 Samuel 15? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Hi Dr. Betters, can you explain 1 Samuel 15, where God says to kill all the Amalekites and kill babies, animals, etc.? It's hard to get my head around it. Many thanks."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a...
2025-10-0308 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Can Satan Be Everywhere at Once? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Hi Dr. Betters. Would you please speak some on how Satan can be so influential everywhere at once, yet he is only a fallen angel, not a god? I've struggled with this because only Jesus is omnipresent. Thank you, and God bless."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted....
2025-09-2611 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Do I Handle People Using God’s Name in Vain Constantly? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "How do I deal with so many people using God’s name in vain? It seems so many people use the Lord’s name in vain. I’ve noticed many of them wear crosses in their jewelry. Should I always ask them to please not do that?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be...
2025-09-1906 min
Ask Dr. BettersWill We Still Feel Emotions in Heaven? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "When we’re in heaven, will we be able to feel emotion or just always be happy? Emotions are what make us human."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Better...
2025-09-1208 min
Ask Dr. BettersMust a Woman Wait for Her Children’s Father to Die Before Remarrying? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Dr. Betters, I have a question about relationships and marriage. A woman has been in a 17-year relationship without marrying and has two children, and the father of the children leaves her for another woman. The woman finds salvation, and lives by God's commandments. Can she marry a good Christian man? Or must she wait until the father of her children passes away to be eligible for marriage under God’s law? She has never been married before or currently and wishes to marry one day, if it is God’s will...
2025-08-2915 min
Ask Dr. BettersIs Our Death Time Already Set by God? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Is our death time and place fixed?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Betters and his guests provide clear, biblical answers to life’s pressing questions about suffering and living...
2025-08-2205 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhat Does Job 33 Say About How God Speaks to Us? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Hi, can you share your understanding of Job 33? How does God speak to us?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Betters and his guests provide clear, biblical answers to life...
2025-08-1513 min
Ask Dr. BettersIs It Dangerous to Wait Until Just Before Death to Repent? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Dr. Betters, I hope you are well and having a blessed day. I am concerned about my best friend because she plans to repent just before she dies. I told her that she couldn’t outsmart Lord Jesus. How can I explain to her from a biblical point of view that she needs to be genuine in her repentance? Please help me with the answer. Thank you so much. Take care, and God bless."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixt...
2025-08-0808 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhat Does God Think About Being Separated But Not Divorced? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "What does God think about being separated from your husband but not divorced?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Betters and his guests provide clear, biblical answers to life’s pres...
2025-08-0111 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhy Didn’t God Want to Save Me? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I feel like God never wanted to save me. Despite my prayers and efforts to connect with Him, I experienced rejection and despair. I was told that my righteousness was in vain, and I constantly felt abandoned in my spiritual struggles. It seems cruel that God would create me only to separate me from Him eternally. If He could intervene in my life for other matters, why not for my soul? I don’t understand why He chose to treat me this way."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his ow...
2025-07-2510 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhy Would God Let Me Stay So Lonely? | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I am very lonely these days without a husband and children who are very busy with their own lives to visit. My old friends are no more, leaving me alone all the time. I have prayed that God would bring someone into my life to have someone to talk with and hang out with on occasion, not necessarily a life companion, just a friend, but he has not answered me. Why? If we were created to have fellowship with others, why would he not bring someone into my life to help...
2025-07-1108 min
Ask Dr. BettersIs My Son Truly Saved? Looking Into the Soul | Ask Dr. BettersIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Dr. Betters, I am a born-again Christian (I believe you remember me), and I raised my children as such, and they made a profession of faith around 8 years of age. Now, at 42, he has embraced science, UFO, and other such worldly answers while searching for something to believe in. He vacillates between the two. After listening to him and showing him the fallacy of his judgment, I asked him clearly, "Whom do you choose?" After evading and modifying the question, I return to the question, "Whom do you choose this day?"...
2025-07-0410 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhy Is the Book of Enoch Not in the Bible? | Biblical Canon ExplainedIn this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Why is the Book of Enoch not considered a true book from God? Did Jesus mention the book of Enoch in Mathew 22: 29-30? If the book of Enoch is not true, then how did Jude refer to Enoch's Prophecy in Jude chapter 1:14-15?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted....
2025-06-2706 min
Ask Dr. BettersDo We Have to Clean Ourselves Up in Order to Be in the Category of Someone Who Has Truly Repented??In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "Is repentance leaving all sin and then getting saved? I still smoke cigarettes!! Does that mean I’m not truly repented and saved? Do we have to clean ourselves up in order to be in the category of someone who has truly repented??"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.
2025-06-2008 min
Ask Dr. BettersAdmission Compared to the Rewards in Heaven?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I have been studying Heaven and trying to understand admission versus the rewards in Heaven. A preacher/teacher explained that Heaven is like going to a football game. Our ticket - Jesus gets us inside the stadium. Our life - deeds - our fruit determines where we sit. On the 50-yard line or in the nosebleed section in the end zone. Is this simple analogy valid? Thanks for all you do."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has...
2025-06-1308 min
Ask Dr. BettersIsn't God a Title, Not a Name?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, a response to "Is saying Oh my God blasphemy?": "Isn't God a title, not a name? I mean, his name is not God. If you said Jesus, that would be saying his name in vain or saying Yahweh."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world fill...
2025-06-0605 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow to Deal with Chronic Pain?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "How can we be expected to live with a disability that causes us constant pain when heaven is there? How can I not want an end to my pain without going against God's plan for my miserable existence?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world fill...
2025-05-3010 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Do I Find Hope in Darkness?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I know I need to be in the Word and praying, but I am in such a dark place, filled with sadness. How do I find hope?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique vide...
2025-05-2309 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhat Should You Do When You Can't Pray?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "What should you do when you cannot pray? I have reached the point a few times when I felt so sad, lost, and overwhelmed that I could not even pray. I reached out to others to pray for me at those times, but I still felt really isolated."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sove...
2025-05-1609 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Does God Bless the Hurting?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "How does God really bless people who are in pain, people who are hurting? What does it mean to be blessed by God?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Bett...
2025-05-0906 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Can I Trust God?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "I recently lost my job - I was very successful, seemed to be on top of my game and now I am in financial ruin - I’ve lost everything, my job, my house and now my wife is leaving me too - how can I trust God when everything is being taken away no matter how much I pray?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decade...
2025-05-0206 min
Ask Dr. BettersIs My Mom Crying in Heaven?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "What happens if you have a mom in heaven and you know you are going to hell? Does that mother see her child from heaven and weep, or is that child wiped out of the mother's mind, never to be remembered at all?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted....
2025-04-2508 min
Ask Dr. BettersHow Do I Do It?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "How can I maintain or strengthen my relationship with God during grief?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Betters and his guests provide clear, biblical answers to life’s pressi...
2025-04-1810 min
Ask Dr. BettersWill We All Fit?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "There are 8 billion people on earth and 3 billion in China. Is that enough space for us in heaven? It makes me wonder, so many humans on earth, and everyone has a different view of God. My question is, can 8 billion people fit into heaven? The more people on earth the more I question God’s existence."Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds...
2025-04-1109 min
Ask Dr. BettersWhere Can I Find Help?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "How do I find resources to help me with my grief?"Grief Resources: https://markinc.org/grief-resourcesDr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Betters and his guests prov...
2025-04-0410 min
Help & HopeWhen Parents Feel Like Failures - A Conversation with Lauren WhitmanIf you’re a parent, it’s likely you have had more than one sleepless night reviewing the mistakes and perceived failures of that day. We resign ourselves to carry the emotions of fear, guilt, shame, and regret for the rest of our lives. But do we have to just let these emotions hang around and take over our thinking? The answer is no! Co-hosts Sharon Betters and Heidi Nequist talk to Lauren Whitman, counselor, author, speaker, and mother about when parents feel like failures. But they don’t stop with the bad news. They also discuss how Jesus can qu...
2025-04-0243 min
Ask Dr. BettersDo I Need Help?In this episode, Dr. Betters answers the question, "How do I know if I need a counselor while experiencing grief?"Dr. Chuck Betters, drawing from his own faith struggles—especially the tragic loss of his sixteen-year-old son, Mark—has assisted countless individuals facing similar challenges over more than five decades of ministry. He finds hope in the belief that God is sovereign and can be trusted.In a world filled with brokenness and despair, "Ask Dr. Betters" is a unique video forum where Dr. Betters and his guests provide clear, biblical answers to life’s pressi...
2025-03-2809 min
Help & HopeDrugs, Violence, Homeless, Abuse, and a Hunger for Something More - A Conversation with Miho KahnIn this conversation with Sharon Betters, Miho Kahn and her husband share the story of Miho’s journey into a world of drugs, violence and abuse. At the age of fourteen, Miho pushed against the boundaries of her parents’ quiet life and struck out on her own, telling her sister, “Don’t try to find me.” As you listen, you might think, “This story could be a compelling movie” as you imagine a young girl hitch-hiking alone across America and exposing herself to danger and abuse. Miho shares the story of her drug addiction, rape, co-dependency, abortion - and all of this ha...
2024-08-2137 min
Help & HopeWhen Drugs Steal Your Life - A Conversation with Shelley TribbittIs it possible to break free from drugs after a lifetime of addiction? Shelley Tribbitt says yes. After using drugs for over thirty years, Shelley broke free from the drugs, but then had to face the obstacle of the collateral damage that she had done to her family and friends. In this poignant interview, Shelley describes the devastation drug use brought on her family, including the loss of the custody of her children. Her daughter, Bay, joins the conversation, and describes how she reconciled with her mother, and why she never gave in to the temptation of drug use...
2024-08-1641 min
Help & HopeWhen You Love a Prodigal - A Conversation with Judy DouglassPerhaps one of the hardest pains for a parent to endure is when a child makes dangerous choices that are sure to lead to life-changing consequences. Judy Douglass, author of When You Love a Prodigal, knows this anguish first hand yet her story focuses on how parenting her son Josh drove her to the heart of Jesus where she learned truths about herself and the life—transforming power of God’s grace. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Judy talks about how it was in the darkness that she discovered the power of prayer. Judy’s story is not only i...
2024-08-0949 min
Help & HopeMotorcycles, Jesus, and the One Percenters - A Conversation with Gary EpiscopoGary Episcopo joins us on the Help & Hope podcast to share how God used his love for motorcycles and the brotherhood and comradery of motorcycle clubs to lead him into a life of demonstrating the love of Jesus to the one percenters or outlaw gangs. Growing up and even into adulthood, Gary struggled with many of the same temptations of these men and women and his understanding of the deep mercy God extended and continues to extend to him compels him to see many of these gang members as family who need the same mercy he has received. Gary...
2024-07-3132 min
Help & HopeReclaiming Greatness Over Addiction - A Conversation with Darryl and Tracy StrawberryBaseball great Darryl Strawberry readily acknowledges that people often think two things when they hear his name: Darryl was a great ball player, and Darryl lost it all to drugs. In this interview, Darryl and his wife Tracy share their story of drug addiction and how they found a pathway to restoration and wholeness. Their transparent responses to hard questions will challenge listeners to examine their own lives. It’s our hope that their redemption story will offer help and hope to others who are at the bottom of life, and ready to make choices that can only lead to...
2024-07-241h 17
Help & HopeAddiction and Hope - A Conversation with Ben FullerDue to generations of hurt in his family, country music singer Ben Fuller turned to cocaine and alcohol at a young age. He got involved in a devastating drug-fueled relationship which led him to understand better, the other side of addiction. And then, he abruptly lost his best friend to a heroin overdose, and his entire outlook on life shifted. In this Help & Hope conversation with Sharon Betters and Danielle Cantler, Ben talks about how a move to Nashville to pursue a career as a country singer in late 2018 transformed his life. He shares how a family friend invited...
2024-07-1733 min
Help & HopeWomen and Pornography: Breaking the Chains - A Conversation with Jessica HarrisMention pornography and most people think, “That’s a problem for men.” Yet 76% of 18 – 30 year old American women report that they watch porn at least once a month. Three percent of all women say they either thought they might be addicted or are unsure if they are addicted to pornography. This equates to three million women.* These stats are from 2018, so it’s safe to say the numbers are growing. Is there help for women addicted to pornography? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Jessica Harris says yes! Jessica shares her own story of how pornography drew her in when she w...
2024-07-1032 min
Help & HopeMarried to an Alcoholic - A Conversation with Julie SanfordJulie Sanford is a Recovery Mentor for wives of alcoholics. She is a wife and mom of three who found herself in a situation she never wanted to be in as the wife of an alcoholic. After several years of living in chaos, feeling alone, and unseen, she is now using her journey to help other wives of alcoholics navigate their husband’s addiction. She came to realize that it was not only her husband that needed recovery, but she also needed support. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Julie shares not only her story but hope and encouragement fo...
2024-07-0333 min
Help & HopeFinding Joy in the Hard Places with Autism - A Conversation with Paul And Jill MillerPaul and Jill Miller welcomed their sixth child, daughter Kim, into their home in 1982. It became apparent at a young age that Kim was behind in her developmental milestones. Kim was also non verbal. Kim was diagnosed as having autism, a diagnosis that was just beginning to be recognized by doctors. Kim’s diagnosis not only created enormous stress on their family, but also isolated Jill as she learned how to parent their precious child. In this remarkable conversation Paul and Jill take us back to those early days and how Kim’s life has taught them life-changing spiritual trut...
2024-06-1951 min
Help & HopeA Father's Love for a Son with Special Needs - A Conversation with Steve DemmeMarriage can be difficult under any circumstances, but adding a child with special needs adds a whole new level of challenges. In this wide-ranging conversation Steve Demme, shares his passion for helping build strong marriages, but in particular wants to offer help and hope to fathers, and even more specifically to fathers of children with special needs. Steve’s special relationship to his son, Johnny (who has Down Syndrome) shines through in this transparent interview and offers help and hope not only to fathers, but to anyone who longs to know God as Daddy. Steve Demme’s BioSteve and his...
2024-06-1246 min
Help & HopeWhen Church Hurts - A Conversation with Megan HillNeglect. Rejection. Sin. Conflict. Change. It’s difficult to attend church when you’ve suffered some of your deepest hurts.Megan Hill understands that church can be hard. In this conversation, Sharon Betters and Megan talk about why church hurt can be so devastating, the root of church hurt, people in the scriptures who experienced church hurt and how they responded to the priceless gift of community, and reasons to pursue life in a local church even when it hurts. Megan gently leads wounded people on a pathway to peace as she encourages us to explore the sour...
2024-06-0527 min
Help & HopePieces to Peace: Loving a Prodigal Daughter - A Conversation with Julie MaloneChildren raised in the same family sometimes grow up with very different responses to life. Such is the story of Julie Malone and her beautiful daughter, Allie. Julie and her husband, Tim loved their lives as parents and Tim’s ministry to teens. But their idyllic life would take a turn into a foreign land of broken places. Julie says, "I am very thankful for my childhood as I came to know and love the Lord as my savior at a very young age. I really never knew a day without Jesus in my life. I married Tim, and we...
2024-05-2939 min
Help & HopeI Forgive You - A Conversation with Wendy AlsupMany people have experienced betrayal, someone violating your trust perhaps by lying, cheating, some kind of abuse, putting their own interests ahead of yours when they promised otherwise. Betrayal affects every part of our hearts, often in ways we don’t understand at first. Some hurts we carry with us to the day we die because they are so deep and seem impossible to resolve. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Wendy Alsup shares the impact of betrayal from her own life, not only through an unwanted divorce but also in her church life. But Wendy doesn’t leave us i...
2024-05-2233 min
Help & HopeHealing What You Can't Erase - A Conversation with Christopher CookDid you know 40 million adults suffer from depression, and 4 in 10 US adults have developed high levels of stress and anxiety since the start of the pandemic? 58% of those are young adults. Clearly, we have a mental health crisis in America. In this conversation, Christopher Cook, author of Healing What You Can’t Erase and host of the WinToday podcast, and no stranger to deep depression, says anxiety acts like a smoke alarm, demanding we find the source of the smoke and deal with it. He uses the acronym SEED to help us understand the 4 steps to uncovering the root ca...
2024-05-1536 min
Help & HopeConflict with Adult Children - A Conversation with Gaye ClarkOne in four adults are estranged from their parents, so says one 2022 study. According to another study 11% of mothers ages 65 – 75 with two or more grown children were estranged from at least one of them. Most of the time, the seeds for these conflicts were planted during the growing up years of the young adults. Gaye Clark, who is the author of Loving Your Adult Children, The Heartache of Parenting and the Hope of the Gospel talks to Sharon Betters about the seeds of these conflicts and how parents can navigate these tumultuous relationships,starting with personal repentance. This co...
2024-05-0143 min
Help & HopeThe Widow's Journey - A Conversation with Gayle Roper“So who am I now that there’s only one place at the table…one pillow with a head dent, one towel damp after a shower? There’s only one toothbrush in the holder. The seat is never left up anymore. I can still write Mrs. in front of my name, but I’m no longer in a marriage relationship. You need two people for a marriage, and there’s only me.” These words, written by our guest, Gayle Roper, capture the longing of every widow. Has a widowed friend ever said, “I wish you could understand the loneliness…how every minute I...
2024-04-1835 min
Help & HopeHope in the Midst of Grief - A Conversation with Nancy GuthrieIn this wide-ranging interview between two mothers who have experienced the grief of the deaths of their children, Nancy Guthrie transparently answers questions asked by Sharon Betters. From how to push the question “why” through the grid of God’s love and sovereignty to practical counsel for protecting marriages assaulted by grief, Nancy doesn’t flinch. Nancy’s loss of two children uniquely qualifies her to offer help and hope in sorrow’s darkest night. No matter how shattered the heart, there is hope in the midst of grief.The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries...
2024-04-1045 min
Help & HopePreparing to Die Well - A Conversation with Elizabeth TurnageSomeone has said there are only two sure things in life – death and taxes. While this is meant to be funny, the part about death is true. Each one of us will die, yet not many of us intentionally prepare for that unique part of our journey. In this conversation, Elizabeth Turnage, author of Preparing for Glory, talks to Sharon Betters about the “art of dying”. Elizabeth answers questions like: How does Jesus show us how to prepare ourselves and our loved ones for our death; how do we say “enough” to medical intervention; what information and documents we should pre...
2024-04-0331 min
Help & HopeDepression in Motherhood - A Conversation with Christine ChappellAfter trying everything she could to stop her slide into a dark depression, young mother Christine Chappell tearfully told her husband she needed help and admitted herself to a facility. In her book, Midnight Mercies, Walking with God through Depression in Motherhood, Christine describes this heartbreaking season but does not leave us in the dark. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Christine transparently tells how depression strangled her and drove her to a point of hopelessness – and yet, the Lord did not abandon her. Christine and Sharon talk about the emotions of depression and how one leads to the ne...
2024-03-2731 min
Help & HopeDisability, Death, Guilt and Grief - A Conversation with Susanna MusserIn this moving and sometimes emotional conversation, Sharon Betters talks to Susanna Musser and her friend and counselor, Heidi Scott, about the sudden, accidental death of Susanna’s adopted son, Tommy. Susanna and husband Joe and their entire family welcomed Tommy into their home even though he had severe disabilities. No strangers to raising a child with disabilities, Tommy quickly experienced unconditional love. Yet God often calls us to hard places that are much more difficult than we expected. Through circumstances no one could have imagined, Tommy died. Susanna, with the help of her counselor, Heidi, shares the story of...
2024-03-201h 00
Help & HopeSame-Sex Attraction - A Conversation with Dr. Rosaria ButterfieldDo you have questions about same-sex attraction? Is it wrong? Is it ok? Are you struggling with same-sex attraction personally? Is your child?Chuck and I recently had the privilege of asking these questions and many more of Dr. Rosaria Butterfield, nationally known speaker and author of Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert. Dr. Butterfield's down to earth, compassionate, common sense and biblical approach to same-sex attraction resulted in a conversation that we wish everyone could hear. We live in a culture that challenges us to reexamine long held convictions and decide if what we believe is...
2024-03-131h 05
Help & HopeCaring for my Husband with Alzheimer's - A Conversation with Pam BentonPam Benton started noticing small changes in her pastor husband. Though Wilson had retired, he had agreed to serve as interim pastor in another church for eighteen months. Eighteen months turned into five years. Pam’s concerns grew when Wilson started using notes for his sermons. Since both of their mothers had Alzheimer's, Pam and Wilson did not hesitate to get their doctor’s opinion, hoping for a simple answer, but knowing Alzheimer's was not unlikely. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Pam describes how a diagnosis has changed the direction of their plans for retirement, how important it is t...
2024-03-1228 min
Help & HopeRelationships - Are They Worth It? - A Conversation with Ellen DykasRelationships can be so hard and sometimes painful. Are they worth it? What are some of the pitfalls of relationships? How can our expectations of others sabotage our relationships? When someone we care about disappoints us, and they will, what questions should we be willing to ask ourselves to determine how to proceed? How can God use disappointments and broken relationships for our good? Is there ever a time to just walk away? Sharon Betters asks Ellen Dykas these questions and more. All of us struggle with relationships. We know this conversation will encourage and equip you to not...
2024-02-2838 min
Help & HopeMarriage And Caregiving: Making It Work - A Conversation with Barbara ThompsonThe week the Covid sheltering in place began, Barbara Thompson and her husband, Mark, moved from Louisiana, where they had lived for most of their lives, to Mississippi. Barbara and Mark desire is to finish and age with grace. They now live near their son and his family. Caregiving for Barbara’s parents was a ministry priority until her mother and father both passed away in August 2020. Barbara’s great joy is to, as she defines it, “sit on the bleachers” for women - praying, listening, connecting, and rejoicing as these women grow in grace. She’s a proud “spiritual mo...
2024-02-2125 min
Help & HopeWhen You're Never Enough - A Conversation with Sarah IvillWe all want to be beautiful and successful. Often this desire pushes us off a cliff into concluding we are never enough. And sometimes these feelings lead us into addictions in our pursuit of beauty and success. At least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States. Perhaps you are one of them or you know someone suffering from an eating disorder. In this Help & Hope interview Sarah Ivill, talks with Sharon Betters about her own struggle with an eating disorder and how it reflected her view that she was never...
2024-02-1431 min
Help & HopeFlourishing in a Season of Loss - A Conversation with Dianne BalchWe live in an anti-aging culture – subtle and not so subtle messages convince us aging is bad – do everything you can to hang on to youth. But no matter how hard we try, our bodies continue to age. Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters co-authored a book, Aging with Grace: Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture because they believe our Creator, God, promises we will flourish in our old age. At the end of each chapter, a woman at least 70 years of age tells her story of what flourishing in old age looks like for her. Go to agingwithgrace.online to watc...
2024-02-0729 min
Help & HopeGod's Presence in Suffering - A Conversation with Glenna MarshallInfertility, ministry conflict, chronic pain – experiencing just one of these life crises can be all consuming. But all of them at the same time – and more? How does a woman not just survive, but thrive? Glenna Marshall, author of The Promise is His Presence: Why God is Always Enough, joins Sharon Betters to share her journey that has taken her to some very broken places. But as you will hear, she discovered priceless treasures as she struggled to make sense of it all. The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope...
2024-01-3132 min
Help & HopeLife Lessons from a CEO - A Conversation with Marvin "Skip" SchoenhalsImagine taking on the responsibility as CEO of a failing business – not just any business but a corporation that was inches from being closed forever. In this conversation, Pastor Chuck L. Betters talks with Skip Schoenhals, the man who led WSFS Financial Corporation from the brink of failure to being the leading independent bank serving the greater Philadelphia and Delaware region with a local presence and national subsidiaries. Skip readily admits his faith in Jesus guided every aspect of this daunting journey and gave him help and hope at his lowest points. Skip freely shares how his challenging personal jo...
2024-01-2454 min
Help & HopeLiving with Grief and Thriving After Loss - A Conversation with Clarissa MollWhen Clarissa Moll’s young husband, Rob, died unexpectedly, she soon realized she was a crossroads. Would she walk toward hope or slide into hopelessness? In this conversation with Sharon Betters Clarissa answers such questions as: Is there any way to prepare for such a tragedy? Are there stages for grief? What kind of work can grief do in our hearts that grows the fruit of the spirit? How is it helpful to “welcome” an emotion like fear – how does dissecting an emotion help us keep those emotions in check – or should we even try to keep them in check? Wha...
2024-01-1736 min
Help & HopeFaith that Doesn't Quit - A Conversation with Andrea HerzerAndrea Herzer, a woman well acquainted with long-term debilitating health issues, having spent the last twenty years with multiple illnesses including regional pain syndrome and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, joins Sharon Betters for this Help & Hope podcast. Numerous times Andrea experienced moments of hope only to have it dashed by another diagnosis, another setback. Certainly, her heart was a fertile place for bitterness and anger to grow. Yet, in Andrea, you are going to meet a woman who discovered incurable faith and a longing to share that pathway to life with others suffering from pain and life-debilitating diagnoses. Through her su...
2024-01-1046 min
Help & HopeA Painful Past - Healing and Moving Forward - A Conversation with Lauren WhitmanAbuse, deep loss, broken relationships, grief, self-inflicted pain – is it possible to experience healing from a painful past? Lauren Whitman, author of A Painful Past – Healing and Moving Forward, answers this question and much more. For instance, why would anyone want to dig up their past? Isn’t it better to “let sleeping dogs lie”? Can we forgive and forget? How does our view of God influence our journey toward healing? How do you know when to ask a counselor for help? And how does having a counselor make the journey a little clearer? If you or someone you know is st...
2024-01-0333 min
Help & HopeOrganizing Your Life and Legacy - A Conversation with Elizabeth Turnage“A silver wave is coming,” says author and speaker Elizabeth Turnage. Baby boomers are facing the hardest challenge of their lives – how to die well. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Elizabeth challenges listeners to take steps now to make it easier for loved ones after they die. Elizabeth shares how her dad died without any intentional preparation of affairs or instructions for his children. She compares his response to death, to her mother’s and how she prepared a folder of important papers and instructions with a list of 5 steps to immediately take upon her death. Elizabeth describes how her...
2023-12-2726 min
Help & HopeAbuse in the Church - A Conversation with Darby StricklandListen as Pastor Chuck L. Betters interviews Darby Strickland, a biblical counselor who specializes in helping victims of abuse. For years, Darby has served women in oppressive marriages. With her new book, Is it Abuse?, she writes to anyone who wants to help, regardless of their level of experience. In this podcast, Darby and Chuck discuss her new book and how to identify the toxic entitlement that drives abusive behavior and to better understand its impact on victims. Darby and Chuck discuss how churches can better minister to abuse victims, especially in the context of church leadership. Darby shares...
2023-12-2021 min
Help & HopeThe Reality of Infertility - A Conversation with Lorie RoeIn 2015, Reproductive Biological Endocrinology reported that 48.5 million couples globally experience infertility. No doubt all of us know of at least one couple who is struggling on how to navigate the maze of infertility treatments as well as the grief when nothing works. Or maybe you’re that person. Our guest today, Lorie Roe, knows this pathway very well because she learned when she was a teenager that she would never bear a child. In this transparent and sometimes emotional conversation, Lorie shares with co-hosts Sharon Betters and Jane Anne Wilson her struggle to understand God’s love and sovereignty as s...
2023-12-1341 min
Help & HopeThe Sound of Freedom in Real Life - A Conversation with Barb BollingerWith the release of the incredible movie, "Sound of Freedom," there is an awakening of the need to address the issue of child trafficking. In this interview, Barb Bollinger, the Director of Development from Path2Freedom where Chuck and Melanie Betters serve as House Parents, shares information about real life child trafficking happening in Southwest Florida and how Path2Freedom is bringing help and hope to these precious young girls. The Help & Hope podcast is produced by MARKINC Ministries. You can find more Help & Hope episodes and all that MARKINC has to offer, b...
2023-12-0650 min
Help & HopeEverything is (Not) Fine - A Conversation with Katie SchnackImagine you must hand over your little baby to strangers for uncomfortable and scary tests. And imagine you know the outcome may not be what you are hoping. Katie Schnack’s son, Shepherd, was born with multiple medical issues along with a rare disease. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Katie shares when she realized that saying everything is not fine was not a sign of weak faith but could actually be a sure sign of dependence on the Lord. With humor and transparency, Katie shares her story of learning what it means to trust the Lord when life is...
2023-11-2935 min
Help & HopeCan You Just Sit with Me? - A Conversation with Natasha SmithDays, months, and years after the loss of her sister, Natasha Smith tried to hide the grief she carried. But the pandemic took away her ability to hide her sorrow and her five-year-old’s response to her unexpected tears gave her permission to grieve – not in a room by herself, but with her daughter.In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Natasha shares how culture insists we “move on” from loss quickly and even how the church is often not equipped to handle sudden outbursts of tears or waves of sorrow. Natasha encourages us to take hope and instruct...
2023-11-2228 min
Help & HopeNow I Lay Me Down to Fight - Breast Cancer - A Conversation with Katy Bowser HutsonImagine hearing these words: “Make no mistake: without treatment, this is fatal.” Katy Bowser Hutson heard this message from her oncologist who made it clear that without aggressive treatment, Katy would die. She did not hear any optimism in her doctor’s voice. Katy’s diagnosis was inflammatory breast disease, and it was relentless in attempting to take over her body. In this conversation, Sharon Betters, herself a breast cancer survivor, talks with Katy about her journey, how writing poetry helped her express her deepest fears, and how seeing her feelings and emotions take shape on paper gave them less con...
2023-11-1533 min
Help & HopeLiving with Grief and Thriving After Loss - A Conversation with Clarissa MollWhen Clarissa Moll’s young husband, Rob, unexpectedly died, she soon realized she was a crossroads. Would she walk toward hope or slide into hopelessness? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Clarissa answers such questions as:Is there any way to prepare for such a tragedy? Are there stages for grief? What kind of work can grief do in our hearts that grows the fruit of the spirit? How is it helpful to “welcome” an emotion like fear – how does dissecting an emotion help us keep those emotions in check – or should we even try to keep them in check...
2023-11-0836 min
Help & HopeFaith Wears Pink – Breast Cancer - A Conversation with Christine Runge WeissChristine Runge Weiss, Founder of Faith Wears Pink, an online support platform for women battling breast cancer, shares how she learned she had breast cancer at the age of forty-four. Her diagnosis followed wave after wave of personal crisis. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, herself a breast cancer survivor, Christine offers hope and practical help to breast cancer warriors. One evening she realized she was helping over twenty women with their questions, fears and the unknowns of their journeys. She decided they all needed a way to talk to each other, so she started a “Breast Friends” Facebook page...
2023-10-1136 min
Help & HopeAnxiety: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - A Conversation with Liz Edrington It doesn’t take much research to realize anxiety is a primary emotion experienced not just by teens but adults. Our guest, Liz Edrington, is no stranger to anxiety. As a teenager, she felt overwhelmed by anxiety. Now she is a mental health counselor and wants to pass on what she’s learned. She has written a 31-day devotional for teenagers called Anxiety: Finding the Better Story. In this conversation, Sharon Betters and Liz Edrington talk about how anxiety affects us negatively but how it can also be a gift, how to come alongside teens who are struggling to navig...
2023-09-1337 min
Help & HopeFaith that Doesn't Quit - A Conversation with Andrea HerzerAndrea Herzer, a woman well acquainted with long-term debilitating health issues, having spent the last twenty years with multiple illnesses including regional pain syndrome and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, joins Sharon Betters for this Help & Hope podcast. Numerous times Andrea experienced moments of hope only to have it dashed by another diagnosis, another setback. Certainly, her heart was a fertile place for bitterness and anger to grow. Yet, in Andrea, you are going to meet a woman who discovered incurable faith and a longing to share that pathway to life with others suffering from pain and life-debilitating diagnoses. Through her su...
2023-09-0646 min
Help & HopeFlourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture - A Conversation with Sharon Betters and Susan HuntThere are many blessings that come with age: retirement, grandchildren, travel, and life experience. Today’s culture, however, marginalizes old age, often portraying it as burdensome and hopeless. Many older women can feel like an encumbrance rather than a blessing to their friends and family members. In this conversation with Chuck L. Betters, while acknowledging aging can be hard and challenging, Sharon Betters and Susan Hunt encourage women to find hope through both real-life and biblical accounts of women who rediscovered gospel-rooted joy later in life. Listeners will be encouraged as they experience afresh a gospel that is big en...
2023-08-3044 min