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Jen Bradbury
Aug 03 · 5 min read

The fantasy youth ministry candidate

Popular youth ministry author and speaker, Doug Franklin, who I greatly respect, recently posted this on social media:

I often get calls from churches seeking great youth ministry candidates for their open positions. They are all looking for the...

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#breastfeeding #marriage #motherhood #parenting #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jul 17 · 5 min read

On not being welcomed at church

Last Sunday during worship, I sat in the comfort room with my two-year old, Kendall, in tears.

To be clear, I was the one in tears, not her.

We’d gone into the cry room to nurse. When we returned to the sanctuary, she started chattering. A LOT...

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#toddlers #parenting #church #worship #breastfeeding #baptism #books #youth ministry #Community #student leadership #culture of welcome #Pandemic

Jen Bradbury
Jan 15 · 5 min read

The story behind CALLED

Two and a half years ago, I transitioned out of a 10-year call that I loved.

The decision to leave was NOT an easy one. It’s one I struggled with a lot… And along the way, I did what I always do: I turned to books for guidance.

I dutifully read...

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#transitions #vocation #youth ministry #Called #books #The Youth Cartel #breastfeeding #maternity leave #Pandemic #death #baptism #church #marriage

Jen Bradbury
Dec 28 · 5 min read

God with us

In the doctor’s office, when Hope writhed in pain,
God was with us.

Through Hope’s pediatrician, who called ahead to the ER to pave the way,
God was with us.

In the emergency room, when we waited for answers,
God was with us.

Through the Linus...

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#children #grief #breastfeeding #motherhood #parenting

Jen Bradbury
May 31 · 5 min read

Notes from the Pandemic: Exhaustion

This week has broken me.

George Floyd.

The protests.

The looting.

The pandemic.

It’s left me feeling exhausted.

And I’m someone who knows what exhaustion feels like.

I’ve felt the complete and utter exhaustion that defines a first trimester...

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#death #pregnancy #racism #Pandemic #privilege #breastfeeding

Jen Bradbury
Mar 29 · 5 min read

Notes from the Pandemic: There Will Be Joy

Yesterday, I had a pretty awful mental health day. I spent much of the days in tears. Since writing has always been how I've processed and made sense of the world, I decided to write about the experience. The simple act of writing did my heart and...

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#joy #Pandemic #breastfeeding #parenting

Jen Bradbury
Jan 20 · 5 min read

8 tips for transitioning older kids into their big sibling role

In the days leading up to the birth of our second daughter, Kendall, our oldest daughter, Hope, would often curl up in my shrinking lap and fearfully ask, “Will you still love me after the baby comes, Mama?”

Of course, I reassured her that I...

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#grace #sisters #children #babies #breastfeeding #motherhood #parenting

Jen Bradbury
Sep 05 · 5 min read

8 ways to help families with babies worship

We currently have an 8-week old and a 4-year old, which makes getting to church a challenge. Because we want to cultivate a strong faith in our kids, attending church is a priority for us. But doing so is HARD. Based on our experience, here are 8...

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#Community #church #babies #breastfeeding #parenting #faith formation #worship

Jen Bradbury
Aug 27 · 5 min read

Fearfully and wonderfully made breasts

“She’s beautiful.”

Img 2012

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve heard someone say this about my newborn daughter, Kendall. It is, after all, what you say when you meet a new baby.

It’s also what my faith says about newborns. According to the ...

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#Women #church #c-section #babies #breastfeeding

Jen Bradbury
Jul 14 · 5 min read

The life we're building

Today, I'm linking up with Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

This week's prompt: Build.

Five Minute Friday 4 300x300

Days before leaving for our Peacemaking Trip, I was struggling with...

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#Five Minute Friday #vocation #breastfeeding #motherhood #parenting #Missions

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Tags

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Latest Posts

  • The fantasy youth ministry candidate
  • On not being welcomed at church
  • The story behind CALLED
  • God with us
  • Notes from the Pandemic: Exhaustion
  • Notes from the Pandemic: There Will Be Joy
  • 8 tips for transitioning older kids into their big sibling role
  • 8 ways to help families with babies worship
  • Fearfully and wonderfully made breasts
  • The life we're building

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