Ericka Andersen
11 min read ⭑
“As a Christian woman who has found great life and encouragement through the church, I wanted to understand why women were leaving. I found incredible support from my church family as I worked through sobriety and early motherhood. In fact, I couldn’t imagine having done it without them! I wanted to speak to these women and help them find congregations that would be right for them.”
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
I grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, which is known for being where 1980s rock star John Mellencamp lives. Interestingly, part of the music video for “Small Town” was filmed in front of the “Welcome to Bloomington” sign. Thus, I always identify with being a small-town girl, and my favorite hometown restaurant experience speaks to that as well.
As a kid, my family lived on a tiny little street with only about five houses. Within walking distance was a breakfast establishment called Ladyman’s Cafe that had been around for decades. In fact, one of the women who worked the counter had been there for 50 years!
Every year on my birthday, my dad and I would walk to Ladyman’s for breakfast. Since I had two sisters, this was very special. Even on a school day, we would go and have that special morning together. This was probably about the time he began sharing his optimistic life wisdom a la John Maxwell. My dad has always told me I could do anything I put my mind to, and it was likely during one of these special birthday breakfasts that his inspiration began to seep into my soul.
Ladyman’s shut down years ago, and by the time I was 10, we had moved to a bigger house. But whenever I pass by that block while visiting my hometown, I remember those sweet mornings with my dad and the ride we would take on his motorcycle after we finished.
Bloomingpedia
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
I was taking a bath the other day and my daughter wanted to dip her toes in the water and sit with me. I was a little irritated at first because I’d planned to read a book and relax. At 4 years old, she’s a handful, but the moment I attempted to shoo her out, she said “I just want to be with you, Mommy.”
Well, that’ll do it. I threw my book across the room and settled in for some quality time with my little girl. Though we talk often, there was something about being in this enclosed space with warm water, just us girls chatting, that opened her up in a new way. She began chatting with me about friends at school, Christmas presents, and all manner of preschooler fodder.
I then asked her, “Who was your favorite person to see at church this morning?” I had been the teacher in her class that day, and she said, “You, Mommy, you were my favorite person at church today!”
The gratitude in my heart for being this angel’s mother at that moment exploded. She didn’t have to do anything for me to love her, to want to be with her, or to cherish her. And those moments always remind me of God’s love for us as our Father. Sometimes we think of him as so disconnected from us—but he isn’t.
He just wants to be with us.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
American culture is saturated with alcohol. Every party, plan, or event includes alcohol, and moms especially are encouraged to drink to ward off stress. I fell prey to the lies of our alcohol-infused culture and spent years in an unhealthy relationship with the substance. It could calm me down, soothe my anxiety (for a time), and seemingly make problems disappear. Unfortunately, the negative side effects outweighed the positive.
I often felt like I was making excuses, unable to say no, and using alcohol as an escape method. Some nights, I’d wake up with headaches or be unable to sleep. I would dip into depressive episodes and obsess over when alcohol would or would not be available.
It became the ultimate coping mechanism for me.
For many years, I thought about quitting, but it felt impossible. I felt alone and like I couldn’t talk to anyone about my feelings. Slowly but surely, I began to Google, seek out tidbits of advice, and consider what it would be to get sober. While it still felt impossible, the small steps I took ultimately led me to books, online communities, and real-life conversations that empowered me to make better choices.
Today, I am more than two years sober and going strong.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
For the past three years, I’ve been super dialed into the inner workings and purpose of the local church. When I needed to find a new church after moving to a new town years ago, I found a small community I loved but had never thought much about the entity of the church itself. My new pastor was a church-planting leader who taught others how to start new churches, which I found fascinating. Why did we need more churches? Weren’t there already a lot? This question led me to research the church and why church plants attract more unbelievers. I then went on to discover how the rate of church attendance has been decreasing for years and, more recently, among women at a quicker pace than ever before.
As a Christian woman who has found great life and encouragement through the church, I wanted to understand why women were leaving. I found incredible support from my church family as I worked through sobriety and early motherhood.
In fact, I couldn’t imagine having done it without them!
I wanted to speak to these women and help them find congregations that would be right for them. I’m passionate about educating people about the purpose of the local church and why God calls us to it. Not only that, but I also want to ensure that people know what an incredible difference a faith community makes in terms of mental health benefits, relationships, generosity, and so much more. I want those who have been hurt by a church in their past to feel seen and heard. I want to offer women ideas and alternatives to what they have experienced in the past if it’s not right for them now.
Church community changes individuals, families, communities, and society. I love women and want them to know they are welcome back into the family of God just as they are. That’s the heart behind my book, Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church and the Church Needs Women, which is set to come out in January 2023. You can get an early sneak peek by downloading a free chapter here!
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
I had been working on a book related to the opioid crisis and how the loss of faith contributed to what some of the addicted were experiencing. But something felt off about my idea. I couldn’t get into a rhythm with it, and I wasn’t sure how to get moving. I often pray before I start working on something meaningful. On one particular day, I was diving into some statistics for an article I was working on.
That’s when I caught wind of a statistic stating that the number of women attending church had gone down from 48% to 31% in the past 10 years. I stopped in my tracks. What was going on here? I began reading the report and searching for more information on these numbers. Could this be right?
In the span of just a few moments, I felt certain God was telling me that this was my book. I can even picture myself at my kitchen table when the thought hit me. I knew it could be nothing but the Holy Spirit. That’s how I was inspired to write Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church and the Church Needs Women.
Since that day, I’ve felt God guiding this process and message. I’ve never doubted that this was the book he called me to write and it was a message that most certainly needs to be heard. Praying about my writing has an invaluable effect on what is produced. If I’m not doing this work with the Holy Spirit, I don’t want to do it at all.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?
As a mom of little kids, I value my quiet, alone time because it doesn’t happen often. If I can get to sleep early enough the night before, I love to wake up earlier than the birds—like 4 a.m.—and spend time with God. It begins with a big pot of coffee. I fill my mug two-thirds with coffee, one-third with milk, a huge glug of cinnamon creamer, and Splenda and then re-warm it so it’s piping hot when I sit down to read.
My spiritual practice on these mornings is nothing exceptional, but it’s my favorite way to connect with God. I’m usually in the middle of a book of the Bible and will start by reading the next chapter. My current Bible is packed with notes, maps, images, and all kinds of “extras” that I love to devour.
I love getting more historical context when I’m reading through the Word.
After my standard Bible reading, I’ll move on to either a devotional or study of some kind. Currently, I’m going through one called Everyday Theology since that’s something I’ve been really excited about lately. The more I learn about theology, the more I want to learn. I’ve realized how little theological education I had growing up and want to rectify that for myself and my kids.
These quiet mornings in my living room are peaceful, life giving, and an awesome foundation to start the day. I wish I could do it every day for an hour!
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources—lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are three resources that have impacted you?
As a voracious reader, I can think of so many books I could rave about, but I’ll do my best to narrow it down! One of my favorite spiritual books in the recent past is Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy. Willard is an incredible writer and brilliant thinker who guides readers through the Bible and how it applies to our lives today. He speaks of being a Jesus follower in a way you don’t hear every day, and I love his push to be an “apprentice” of Jesus. I was underlining something on every page! I highly recommend it to everyone.
Another book that really spoke to me is Appetites by Caroline Knapp. As someone who spent many years dealing with an eating disorder, I identified deeply with Knapp’s story. But it wasn’t just her biography—it was the ideas she addressed about why women never feel fully satisfied and why we use food to control things in our lives.
Knapp’s writing is unmatched and her thoughts deep and careful. It helped me see for the first time that I was not alone in my inner thoughts about satisfaction, body, and desire.
Another great resource for me in recent years has been Mama Bear Apologetics. Navigating culture as a Christian mom these days can be tricky. There are so many issues and conversations that we must confront now that we didn’t have to even 10 years ago. I want to raise strong kids who are confident in their beliefs and able to distinguish truth from lies. I want to raise people who are “in the world but not of it.” But I sure needed some guidance. The Mama Bear Apologetics books and podcast have been instrumental in deciphering some of the confusing cultural issues for me and directing me in how I can help my kids deal with what’s coming in the future as well.
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season—and tell us what it’s done for you.
I really like to know and understand what’s happening in our world and how to respond from a Christian perspective. For that reason, I do stay up to speed on politics, policy, and more. It’s sometimes hard to find trusted voices on these things, so there are a few people I look to for guidance—often in the form of a podcast.
A few people and podcasts I often look to include Church Politics from the And Campaign organization, Allie Beth Stuckey’s Relatable podcast, and sermons from John Mark Comer.
All of these folks have a bit of a different take or perspective—and I don’t always agree with everything they say—but I respect them and value their smart and timely thoughts on issues of the day.
These resources help me get away from social media and consider things from a Christ-like viewpoint so I can honestly and kindly respond in whichever way I should.
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
As a writer, I’m always thinking about the next thing. I’ve recently started a new business—Pitch and Publish—where I train writers through coaching, courses, and editing. I’m hoping to expand this, but I’m not sure I have what it takes to get it fully off the ground!
That being said, I’m also considering what my next book might be about. First, however, I need this new book to sell decently so publishers will want to pick up another one from me! It’s a big cycle.
Regardless, I’m a writer and I can’t stop myself from writing. I recently spoke with an acquisitions editor who was keen on my next idea: a book for Christian women on sobriety.
This is something I naturally talk about in my work, and I share some of that story in my latest book, Reason to Return. But there’s so much to it, and I get a lot of interest in that part of my story. Since I don’t see a ton out there for Christian women on the topic of sobriety, I’m thinking that might be what God is calling me to do for my next move.
As a full-time working mom, author, podcaster, and writing coach, I’m trying to do a lot, but I also want to stay zoned in on what God has for me. I often feel like there is not enough time in the day to do all that I want to do. But I know that 24 hours is all the time God needs to empower me to do what he has called me to.
It’s easy to think that theology is just for scholars, Bible teachers, and pastors. But as Ericka points out, theology truly is for every believer.
Of course, that doesn’t mean we have to read thick, academic books on every biblical topic. (Unless that’s your style!) Instead, it simply involves studying God’s Word, what it means, and why it’s important—including in today’s ever-changing culture.
Not sure where to start? Consider resources like guided Bible studies or ask your pastor for some recommended materials. Or check out our list of top resources mentioned on Rapt Interviews!
Ericka Andersen is the author of Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church & the Church Needs Women. She has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more. She’s an opinion columnist for WORLD Magazine and a reporter at Christianity Today. Ericka is also a wife, mom of two, and owner of Pitch & Publish Writing Company living in Indianapolis, Indiana. She loves sharing about how the faith community changes lives.