Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

For today’s episode, you’ll hear from Matt Menzel. Matt is the lead pastor of Centre Church in downtown Vancouver. He and his wife, Melissa, are completely caught up in a vision for the renewal of Jesus’ church in their city. Matt’s greatest joy is to experience the presence of Jesus in daily life and to see Christ do the things that only he can do. Matt truly is making this happen, and you’ll understand how when you hear this beautiful and inspiring conversation.

Episode notes:

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

For today’s episode, we have the joy of introducing Dede Nicholson, a team member at Focus on the Family Canada. Dede shares her journey of rediscovering the importance of the Sabbath and how she truly experienced God’s rest as a busy mother.

Episode notes:

Work-Life Balance digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/work-life-balance-free-pdf

Drawing Closer to God Through Spiritual Disciplines video series

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/spiritual-disciplines

Kerith Retreats

https://kerithretreats.ca/

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2020 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today, you’re in for an inspiring conversation with Daniel Im. Daniel is a pastor, Bible teacher, writer, and podcast host with a passion for the local church. He serves as the lead pastor of Beulah Alliance Church and is the author of several books, including his latest, The Discipleship Opportunity: Leading a Great-Commission Church in a Post-Everything World. He is currently undertaking a Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation and Relational Neuroscience. Daniel and his wife, Christina, lives in Edmonton, AB, and their three children.

Episode notes:

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today’s episode features Mike and Kim Anderson. Mike and Kim jumped into blended family life back in 2001 after dating for a short time. They knew roadblocks would pop up along the journey, but they didn’t anticipate how challenging it would be. They began supporting blended family couples shortly after their wedding and have had the privilege of supporting hundreds of couples for more than two decades. Mike and Kim are trained by Ron Deal, one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the United States. Through their podcast, Blended Family Breakthrough, and their work as life coaches, they empower and equip blended families on both sides of the border.

Today’s conversation is facilitated by Len DenBraber, chief operating officer at Focus on the Family Canada.

Episode notes:

Blended Family Breakthrough

https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com

Blended family resources

https://focusonthefamily.ca/blendedfamilies

Parenting in a Blended Family video series

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/parenting-in-a-blended-family

Helping Blended Families Thrive digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/helping-blended-families-thrive

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today’s episode features Jenni Colwell. Jenni serves as the Director of Children and Family Ministries for the British Columbia and Yukon District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. She is passionate about nurturing the spiritual formation of children and equipping the pastors and leaders who serve them. Jenni and her husband, Mark, have been married for 31 years and are blessed with four adult children, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Episode notes:

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Today’s episode is all about building a stronger team, and in this case, that team is your marriage. If team-building activities work in uniting coworkers and near strangers, how much more will it do for you and your spouse?

Episode notes:

Helping Couples Thrive digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/helping-couples-thrive

100+ great date ideas

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/100-great-date-ideas

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2020 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

For today’s episode, it’s our pleasure to introduce Jason Weening. Jason and his wife, Alli, have been married for 20 years and are blessed with 10 children. He speaks to dads and moms encouraging them to be intentional in their most important organization – their family! He is the author of two books: a fiction adventure book for kids, Danger in the Jungle, and a humorous non-fiction book, Yes, Dear...I’m Watching Them: Stories of Injury and Adventure from the Frontlines of Dadhood. He co-hosts the Helping Men Thrive podcast and supervises the care of hens, ducks, cows, and vegetables on their small hobby farm in southern Saskatchewan. Find him at HeyDads.ca.

Episode notes:

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

HeyDads.ca

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome back to The Thriving Family, a podcast from Focus on the Family Canada. If you’re new to the show, this is the place where family, faith, and culture intersect. Our first season explored communication and conflict in relationships. For season two, we looked at how our Heavenly Father heals our scars. Now, for season three, we are talking about God’s full life for you. We sat down with ministry leaders, coaches, entrepreneurs and content creators from across Canada, and I’m so excited for you to hear these conversations.