In this powerful and timely episode of Priorities on Purpose, Melissa sits down with Bri Stensrud, author of Start with Welcome and Director of Women of Welcome, for a conversation that every Christian needs to hear—especially those who call themselves pro-life.
Bri shares her journey from traditional pro-life advocacy into a deeper, more biblical understanding of whole-life advocacy, challenging listeners to care for the unborn and the immigrant, the orphan and the refugee, the poor, the widow, the imprisoned, and the unseen.
This conversation isn’t about politics—it’s about conviction, compassion, and obedience to what Scripture actually says. If you're ready to let go of fear, stop othering people, and start loving your neighbor like Jesus does, this episode will stretch and encourage you in the best way.
✨ Key Takeaways:
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[00:00] - Holy Spirit-Led Conversation Begins Melissa shares how this episode took a different turn than expected—and why it’s exactly what we need.
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[05:20] - Reading Start with Welcome Melissa reflects on how Bri’s book opened her eyes and changed her perspective on immigration.
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[07:42] - What It Means to Be Whole Life Bri explains how her pro-life work expanded into a broader biblical call to care for the vulnerable.
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[18:31] - God's Call to the Church We revisit what Scripture says about the “quartet of the vulnerable”: the orphan, widow, sojourner, and the poor.
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[29:18] - Real Stories That Shifted Everything Bri shares heart-wrenching experiences with young migrant girls that reshaped her view of advocacy.
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[36:00] - Where Do We Start? Simple, practical first steps for Christians who feel convicted but overwhelmed.
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[52:32] - Breaking Through Fear and Inaction Melissa and Bri challenge listeners to get out of their comfort zones and do something with their compassion.
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[59:10] - How to Join Women of Welcome Learn how to plug into a nonpartisan, Christ-centered community of women passionate about biblical hospitality and justice.
Grab the Book: Start with Welcome: The Journey Toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation Explore Women of Welcome: www.womenofwelcome.com
Connect with Melissa:
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Website: melissabatt.com
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Instagram: @melissabattofficial
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Want to learn more about working together 1 on 1: https://bit.ly/3RbfwJf
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