ReStoried

In this special episode of Restoried, we’re coming together as the four directors of HopeBridge to launch something that is deeply personal to us: our new campaign and heart posture, “For the One.” This conversation is really about what has been forming in us for a long time—how we see people, how we do ministry, and how we stay anchored in the middle of work that can often feel overwhelming in scale. We talk about how easy it is to slip into a “numbers mindset,” especially in the nonpr...

In this episode, we’re taking time to reflect on some of our favorite takeaways from Mobilize Ohio 2026. Every year, we’re amazed by the way God shows up in this space, and this year was no different. Our theme was Surrounded, and it was powerful to see each speaker bring that to life through their own stories and experiences. It all came together in a way that felt both grounding and deeply encouraging. We hope everyone who attended left feeling refreshed and re-energized to cont...

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and in this episode of Restoried, we sit down with author, speaker, and advocate Stephanie Ellison to talk about the realities of child abuse, especially the parts we don’t always see. Stephanie shares pieces of her own story growing up in instability, navigating trauma, and learning how those experiences shaped her as both a child and an adult. She helps us understand how kids cope in different ways, some becoming quiet and unseen, others acting ...

In this episode, we are having a conversation on a powerful concept many child welfare workers feel but don’t always have language for: moral injury. We unpack the difference between simple burnout and the deeper, soul-level injury that happens when we know what compassionate, ethical care should look like, yet are forced to operate inside systems that often make that impossible. We reflect on how this plays out across social work, foster care, and kinship care, where both worker...

In this episode, we sit down with Kirsten Smith, Summit County Coordinator for Hope Bridge, to hear her incredible journey as a mother of nine adopted children from foster care. Kirsten shares openly about her family’s story, beginning with her and her husband Josh navigating infertility and feeling God’s call toward adoption. She reflects on bringing home sibling groups, the challenges of raising children from trauma, and the unexpected ways God has provided for their family, including a mir...

In this episode of Restoried, Brian and Anne revisit the spiritual formation practice of Pilgrim Feast, a rhythm inspired by the biblical feasts where God’s people gathered to remember His faithfulness and celebrate together. Pilgrim Feast invites families to reframe vacations and special time away as gifts from God; moments to worship, reconnect, and intentionally celebrate His goodness. Anne shares how her family prayerfully planned a focused trip with their four older children after ...

Foster care doesn’t just enter a home; it enters a marriage. With Valentine’s Day approaching, this episode of Restoried opens an honest conversation about how foster care changes marriage when court dates, therapy, and survival replace date nights and quiet conversations. Lisa is joined by her husband JJ as they reflect on eight years as licensed foster parents and over a decade supporting children and families in foster care. They share how foster care changed their marriage, from com...

Today, we’re continuing our spiritual formation series by talking about the discipline of generosity. Jesus has so much to say about generosity in the Bible, and we’re reminded that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. We discuss how generosity isn’t just a spiritual concept; it also has real mental and physical benefits, backed by science. We’re also joined by Lewis Yoder, Executive Director of the Christ Foundation, who shares how their organization lives out genero...

This week, we’re replaying one of our favorite conversations with Trisha White Priebe, an adult adoptee, writer, and speaker, and a mainstage speaker at Mobilize Ohio 2026. As we lead up to Mobilize Ohio, this week we’re replaying a powerful conversation with one of our mainstage speakers, and next week we’ll be sharing a brand-new episode featuring another Mobilize Ohio mainstage speaker. These conversations are meant to help prepare our hearts and minds for what’s ahead and highlight the vo...

In our annual December end-of-year update episode, we take time to reflect on all the incredible ways God has been moving through Hope Bridge over the past year. This season has brought so much growth and blessing, like settling into our new home at the Compassion Center, launching new support groups, introducing The Bridge to help meet practical needs, and celebrating our first mom graduating from our single mom program. We’ve been able to host more gatherings and events, expand our team, an...

In this episode, we are discussing our next spiritual formation discipline: Pruning & Simplicity. Pruning is about cutting back so we can grow more fruitfully. It’s recognizing the areas of our lives that are chaotic or distracting and making intentional choices to remove them. As we prune, we create space for God to work in us and in those around us. Simplicity goes hand-in-hand with pruning. It’s about streamlining our lives so we can focus on who God is and what He wants fo...

November is National Adoption Month, and we’re taking some time to talk about the real, everyday side of adoption, from one adoptive mom to another. We’re sitting down as two adoptive mamas, one a little more seasoned, one still new to the journey, to talk honestly about what life looks like after adoption. Because let’s be real… once the paperwork is done, everyone tends to assume everything’s smooth sailing. But adoption day isn’t the finish line, it’s just another chapter in a story ...

This November, in honor of Adoption Awareness Month, we’re sharing real stories on the Restoried Podcast about foster care and adoption. Adoption isn’t just paperwork. It’s a journey of faith, trust, and transformation. In this episode, some of our Hope Bridge staff share their own adoption experiences, showing both the challenges they’ve faced and the incredible joys that have shaped their families. Through honest conversation and reflection, you’ll hear what it really means to trust G...