The Counter Culture Mom Show with Tina Griffin

Wende Gaikema was totally blindsided when her son, Matthew, committed suicide at just 22 years old, weeks from graduating from Texas A&M University. Navigating the journey of extreme grief in the aftermath of Matthew’s death was unfathomably painful. In retrospect, Wende offers practical wisdom for many of the common issues faced by those experiencing traumatic loss. She discusses the reality of grieving with the hope of Christ - the rawness, bitterness, and pain throughout the healing process. She also highlights the need for others to come alongside those who are grieving, surrounding them for the long haul with loving arms and empathetic hearts. Wende is the founder of Coach Wende and the author of an insightful book, From Heartache to Hope: Navigating the Choices in Your Suicide Loss Journey.

TAKEAWAYS

1 Thess. 4:13-14 reminds us that we do not grieve as people with no hope

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34

There are many layers of emotional shrapnel to deal with in the aftermath of suicide

Contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via call, text, or chat if you need help at 988lifeline.org

🛠 TOOLS AND RESOURCES FROM EPISODE

Pop Culture Purge Tour: text TOUR to 55444

From Heartache to Hope book: https://amzn.to/4grWegu

While We’re Waiting: https://whilewerewaiting.org/

988 Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

🔗 CONNECT WITH WENDE GAIKEMA

Website: https://www.coachwende.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wende.gaikema

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Jenita Pace was in such a deep depression that she attempted suicide and ended up hospitalized for ten days. God’s miracle was that her husband forgot his pager and went home to retrieve it, only to stop Jenita from taking her life moments before! Today, she’s a therapist and a professor, but the road to healing was not easy. Jenita talks about the long, slippery slope that can lead to suicide and the lies that we tell ourselves to justify suicide as the only option - when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Time and healing have highlighted the truth in Jenita’s life: Christians carry the Holy Spirit within them. Every human life is precious and has meaning. God can and will use anyone willing. Salvation is not earned; it’s a gift. God loves us just as we are, and in Him, we have infinite value and worth.

TAKEAWAYS

Jenita wrote a devotional, The Healing Name of Jesus: Find Freedom from Depression and Anxiety

Often, the church misunderstands mental health and, as a result, fails to address it

The lies Satan tells us are that “we aren’t worth it,” and that God “can’t use us,” but our pain is our testimony, and our story can save others

Contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via call, text, or chat if you need help at 988lifeline.org

🛠 TOOLS AND RESOURCES FROM EPISODE

Covenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/TheHealingChurchFREEBook

Jenita’s story video: https://bit.ly/4wI6KWx

The Healing Names of Jesus book: https://amzn.to/4xnPsy5

988 Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

🔗 CONNECT WITH JENITA PACE

Website: https://threeriversmn.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threeriverscounseling

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenitapace/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenitapace8770

📢 THIS EPISODE SPONSORED BY

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Waveguard (get 20% off with code TINA): https://waveguard.com/tina

Equipping The Persecuted: http://equippingthepersecuted.org/

🔗 CONNECT WITH COUNTER CULTURE MOM

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Jason Sautel was a firefighter in Oakland, California, when his world came crashing down. As he watched a suicidal man jump to his death off the Oakland Bay Bridge, Jason came face-to-face with his own demons, and there was only one way out: Jesus Christ. Today, Jason is a retired firefighter, a Christian, and the author of a book that gives many people hope: The Rescuer - One Firefighter’s Story of Courage, Darkness, and the Relentless Love That Saved Him. Jason shares the harrowing stories of darkness on the streets of Oakland, confronting the worst kinds of tragedies, and how the grace of Jesus Christ and the good news of the Gospel saved his own life. He wrote his book to let people know they’re not alone in their pain. There is a way out: hell is real, but so is Jesus, and so is the hope of salvation and eternal life.

TAKEAWAYS

Dealing with daily tragedy and trauma as a firefighter took a toll on Jason’s life

The reality of hell should give Christians a sense of urgency to save others

Only the relentless power of God can save us from the darkness of our sins

Contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via call, text, or chat if you need help at 988lifeline.org

🛠 TOOLS AND RESOURCES FROM EPISODE

Donate to Counter Culture Ministries: https://bit.ly/4zCeU4s

The Rescuer book: https://amzn.to/4gYtdZL

988 Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

🔗 CONNECT WITH JASON SAUTEL

Website: https://jasonsautel.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GracefullyRescued/

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Waveguard (get 20% off with code TINA): https://waveguard.com/tina

Tiny Revival (get 10% off with code TINA): https://tinyrevival.com/TINA

Faces of Choice: https://bit.ly/facesofchoiceCCM

🔗 CONNECT WITH COUNTER CULTURE MOM

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Dr. Matthew Sleeth is a former emergency room physician who has become one of the most influential Christian leaders in America. He is the executive director of Blessed Earth and the author of a new book, Hope Always: How to Be a Force for Life in a Culture of Suicide. Matthew talks about how he raised his kids in a Christian household, pulled the plug on screens and television, and focused hard on the Word of God. He also discusses the skyrocketing rates of suicide in America, zooming in on the magnitude of an increasingly prevalent problem. His newest book examines the spiritual forces behind suicide and how devoted Christians are far less likely to act on these destructive thoughts. God wants us to choose life, Matthew says, but Satan is constantly attempting to push humans toward death.

TAKEAWAYS

Christians act on suicidal thoughts four times less often than non-Christians

Secular culture presents a hopeless, rudderless picture of life

The voice of suicide is the voice of Satan, the voice of your enemy

Contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via call, text, or chat if you need help at 988lifeline.org

🛠 TOOLS AND RESOURCES FROM EPISODE

Download the CCM App: https://bit.ly/3SBYw3m

Hope Always is Here video: https://bit.ly/4fNU5LP

Hope Always book: https://amzn.to/46wD96O

Hope Always video series: https://bit.ly/4hQatwu

988 Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. MATTHEW SLEETH

Website: https://www.matthewsleethmd.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MSleethMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewsleethmd/

X: https://x.com/MatthewSleeth

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4y1L5ZE

📢 THIS EPISODE SPONSORED BY

Waveguard (get 20% off with code TINA): https://waveguard.com/tina

Capstone Legacy Foundation: https://capstonelegacy.org/

Equipping The Persecuted: http://equippingthepersecuted.org/

Covenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/TheHealingChurchFREEBook

🔗 CONNECT WITH COUNTER CULTURE MOM

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What are the red flags of abusive leadership? Anna Vaughn survived years of spiritual abuse while working for a charismatic but narcissistic ministry leader. After walking away from that ministry with the rest of the interns following her, she went through a period of time when she was angry at God and even questioned His character. But God was good, and He brought her through that season. Now, Anna is the director of Stirred Up Ministries and the author of Caught in the Crossfire. Anna details how she escaped past spiritual abuse, how she felt in the fallout, and how God healed her in the eventual aftermath. Anna was called to continue to work in ministry, but with new eyes and an open heart to help others heal from past spiritual abuse as well.

TAKEAWAYS

Wounds from childhood are often a catalyst for why adults end up with destructive behaviors

Many people get hurt by pastors or churches and blame God

God is not responsible for the sins of fallen humans; we must separate Creator from creation

Once something demonic is exposed, it fights you even harder

🛠 TOOLS AND RESOURCES FROM EPISODE

BARK (get 10% off with code TINA): https://bit.ly/CCMBARK

Caught in the Crossfire book: https://amzn.to/4qsl2YM

🔗 CONNECT WITH ANNA VAUGHN

Website: https://www.stirredupministries.com/

YouTube: https://bit.ly/45z6IEv

📢 THIS EPISODE SPONSORED BY

Capstone Legacy Foundation: https://capstonelegacy.org/

Artza (get 20% off with code TINA): https://bit.ly/3H0uUGG

Equipping The Persecuted: http://equippingthepersecuted.org/

Waveguard (get 20% off with code TINA): https://waveguard.com/tina

🔗 CONNECT WITH COUNTER CULTURE MOM

https://linktr.ee/CounterCultureMom

📺 WATCH OUR PREVIOUS SHOWS

https://theccmshow.lightcast.com/

📲 GET OUR APP & FREE PARENT MEDIA GUIDE

https://counterculturemom.com/download-new-app/

💵 SUPPORT THE MISSION

2025 Recap & 2026 Goals: https://bit.ly/2026CCM

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation: https://counterculturemom.com/partner/