Today's guest, Dr. Amanda McNeil, brings a remarkable combination of academic excellence and hard-won personal experience to the conversation about grief, loss, and healing. With a BA in Psychology from Southeastern University, an MA in Christian Counseling, and a Doctorate in Psychology and Theology from Heritage University and Seminary, Amanda has devoted over a decade to helping others navigate life's darkest seasons. She serves as an ordained Associate Pastor at City of Life Church in Orlando, Florida, where she was ordained in 2012, and is a Licensed Pastoral Counselor and Temperament Counselor with the NCCA. As a Certified SYMBIS Facilitator, she has guided hundreds of couples through premarital counseling over the past fourteen years, helping marriages thrive through healthy communication and intimacy.
But Amanda's credentials only tell part of her story. As a young teenager, she experienced devastating family tragedy when her father died unexpectedly, and it was this profound loss that ignited her passion for helping others find hope amid heartbreak. Together with her husband Justin and their miracle son, Amanda has overcome the challenges of blended family dynamics, personal tragedy, grief, and infertility—experiences that give her an authentic, authoritative voice of hope. Her latest book, Overcoming the Overcast: Navigating the Storms of Grief with God, is a love letter born from these experiences, offering practical wisdom, theological depth, and the reassurance that the Son of God is always shining, even when we cannot see or feel Him through the clouds.Due to a video issue, only Mark’s audio is available in this episode.
Amanda McNeil's Website:https://www.amandacmcneil.com
Free First Chapter of "Overcoming the Overcast":https://www.amandacmcneil.com/free
Additional Resources Mentioned:- Book: Overcoming the Overcast: Navigating the Storms of Grief with God-
Church: City of Life Church, Orlando, FL
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