Living Single with Yana Jenay

Does God Really Care Who I Sleep With? Jun 07, 2023

In this episode, Yana sits down with Sam Allberry to have a conversation about same sex attraction, sex, singleness, and the idea that you can’t be christian and same sex attracted. More specifically, Sam & Yana talk through what it looks like to put same sex attraction back in the gospel framework, the difference between sin and temptation, and untangling our sexuality & our identity.

Guest Bio : Sam Allberry is a pastor, apologist, author and speaker. He is the author of a number of books, including Is God Anti-Gay?; What God Has to Say About Our Bodies; Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With?; and 7 Myths about Singleness. To get more connected with Sam, join him :

https://samallberry.com/

Instagram : @samallberry
Twitter : @SamAllberry

Resources :

Scriptures referenced in this episode : Psalm 34:18. Hebrews 10:24-25.

Books referenced in this episode :

Us vs. Us by Andrew Martin

Why does God care who I sleep with? by Sam Allberry

Follow Me :

Instagram | Website | Patreon

Patreon : Through patreon we offer additional resources (discussion questions, access to the episodes early, etc.). To learn more about supporting this ministry and podcast go to : https://www.patreon.com/LivingSinglewithYanaJenay.

A Conversation: Saved, Single, and Same-Sex Attraction May 24, 2023

In this episode, Yana continues her conversation with Johnathan and Kat on the realities of being a Christian who experiences same-sex attraction. Johnathan and Kat share honestly about finding ultimate fulfillment and satisfaction in Christ and the blessings and hardships of navigating same-sex attraction in the context of Christian community due to gender norms within the church. Whether you experience same-sex attraction or not, you need to listen to this conversation to learn what the church needs to do differently in order to love, disciple, and care well for the same-sex attracted.

Resources :

Scriptures referenced in this episode :

1 Corinthians 6:9; Psalm 51; 1 John; John 8; Psalm 37; Ecclesiastes 1:1.

Follow Me :

Instagram | Website | Patreon

Patreon : Through patreon we offer additional resources (discussion questions, access to the episodes early, community facebook group, etc.). To learn more about supporting this ministry and podcast go to : https://www.patreon.com/LivingSinglewithYanaJenay.

A Listening: Saved, Single, and Same-Sex Attracted May 10, 2023

In this episode, Yana sits down with her friends Jonathan & Kat to hear about who they are and their stories. Jonathan points to the value of friendship and accountability through his season of exploring what following Jesus meant for him, even down to his sexuality. He shares the hope and joy found in forfeiting what his flesh felt like it genuinely needed, and in the forfeiting his soul and heart found what it actually needed and was longing for. Kat shares about her experience and story of coming to know Jesus. She shares about learning to trust the Lord and that He is not scared of her flaws and sin, but more so pursues her because of those things. In Jonathan and Kat’s stories, we hear about their moment of realizing that Christ is the answer to having a fulfilled life, and that it is not through our sexual desires being fulfilled.

Resources :

Scriptures referenced in this episode :

John 10:10; Psalm 139.

Follow Me :

Instagram | Website | Patreon

Patreon : Through patreon we offer additional resources (discussion questions, access to the episodes early, community facebook group, etc.). To learn more about supporting this ministry and podcast go to : https://www.patreon.com/LivingSinglewithYanaJenay.

Selah Apr 26, 2023

In this episode, Yana takes a moment to pause and shares some of her reflections from the previous episodes about sex, sexuality, and singleness. It’s clear that sis has been challenged as in these months away from the podcast, she’s allowed God to go to work on her heart. Yana invites us in to hear how the Lord has been shaping and molding her desires to align more with His will and helping her to recognize His sufficient grace in the midst of fighting temptation, being pruned, and recognizing patterns.

Resources :

Scriptures referenced in this episode :

Genesis 4:7; Romans 6:6-7; Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Corinthians 3:10; Psalm 139:23-24; & John 15:1-8.

Books : Live No Lies : John Mark Comer

Follow Me :

Instagram | Website | Patreon
Patreon : Through Patreon we offer additional resources (discussion questions, access to the episodes early, community facebook group, etc.). To learn more about supporting this ministry and podcast go to : https://www.patreon.com/LivingSinglewithYanaJenay.

Singleness and the New Year Jan 11, 2023

There is no other holiday that causes just about everyone on the planet to be reflective more than the start of a new year, considering where they are in relation to where they want to be. This process can bring about all kinds of emotions--shame, disappointment, despair, pride, anger, etc. It can also cause many of us to go into the new year with a "carpe-diem-seize-the-day" kind of energy that can be more harmful than good.

In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by music artist and worship leader, Jordan Welch, to talk about the pros and cons of goal setting, the gift of journaling, and the necessity of self-reflection for spiritual growth while also sharing times when they tried to take their relationship status into their own hands and will for it to change.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villados

Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Blackburn

Knowing Godby J. I. Packer

**Disclaimer: This episode was recorded prior to the recent exposure of the Enneagram personality tool being of demonic origins.

Singleness and Advent Dec 20, 2022

Advent is the arrival of a notable person or event. During this ng this season we celebrate the arrival of the advent of our Savior, Jesus—Emmanuel. However, this celebration is also filled with waiting as we eagerly look for Christ, the Victor, second arrival. In the meantime in between time, many of us singles are also waiting for another kind of advent—the arrival of our long awaited boo. In this episode, my good friend, Anteneshia Sanders, and I talk about each one of these kinds of advents while also pondering how they are similar and different. More About Our Guest: Anteneshia is from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and currently lives in Wake Forest, NC. She is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she earned a Master of Divinity in Ministry to Women. Anteneshia prides herself on being a contemporary Church Mother and using her gifts in writing and shepherding to build up those in her church community. She is also an author and poet. You can find her writing at anteneshiasanders.com and in her poetry book, I Still Can't Swim. In addition to these works, Anteneisha is the owner of a small apparel business called Church Mother, where she celebrates women in ministry and the Black Church tradition. You can find her shop here.

It's Hard Out Here For Us Too (Part 2) Dec 02, 2022

Here is the rest of the hilariously authentic conversation Yana Jenay has with her friends Bree, Portia, and Cleo about their struggles and victories with sexual sin.

Bonus Episode: How to Prepare for Awkward Holiday Conversations Nov 18, 2022

As a single person, going home for the holidays can be quite anxiety-inducing. Particularly when you are fearfully anticipating the kinds of questions, you may be asked about your relationship status. One of the ways you can prepare yourself when going into an environment where you might be met with uncomfortable questions is to think through some ways you can thoughtfully respond.

In this episode, Yana Jenay shares some tips on how to prepare for Awkward Holiday Conversations and provides you with some prepared statements on how to answer questions like:

"When you gone get a man?"

"When you gone give me some grandbabies?"

"Where's that girl you brought to thanksgiving last year?"

She also encourages those who are feeling particularly fragile and angry in this season to invite some trusted family members to run interference. Remember being mindful of how you are feeling and asking for help is a sign of maturity. Ask for help when needed.

P.S. This episode was last-minute. No edits. Beware of some coughing. 😬

It's Hard Out Here (Part One) Nov 16, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by some of her closest friends, Bree, Portia, and Cleo, for a conversation about their struggles with sexual sin. This conversation is a good balance of honesty and hilarity. And this episode is just part one.

The Struggle is Real Nov 02, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay passes the mic to her good friends, Kinshiro Shimochi and Macklyn Mosely, for them as men to have a candid conversation about lust, pornography, and masturbation. Press play not only hear these two men bravely share their struggles with sin but also hear how they find hope and freedom through their relationship with Christ.

Men Talking Back to Purity Culture Oct 19, 2022

Oftentimes, conversations about Purity Culture center around its effects on women. However, many of the teachings out of Purity Culture have been harmful for men as well. Picking up from the last episode on Purity Culture, Yana Jenay sits down with her friend, Kinshiro Shimochi to hear how growing up in Purity Culture affected how he understood himself, sex, and relationships with women.

Talking Back To Purity Culture Oct 06, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by Rachel Joy Welcher and Bethany Lauren for a conversation on Purity Culture and how to deconstruct it thoughtfully. Rachel Joy Welcher (@racheljwelcher) is a poet and author who currently works as an editor at Fathom Magazine and Lexham Press. Rachel also received her Master of Letters in Theology from the University of St. Andrews, where her research led her to write the book: Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality. Bethany Lauren (@simply_bible) is a writer and speaker. She loves teaching people how to read and study the Bible through her Instagram account. She also makes "good trouble" on the gram by speaking by helping others think well about theological ideas that may be worthy of biblical deconstruction, purity culture being one of them.

In this episode, these women not only get nerdy about purity culture, but they also get real as they discuss the different ways their lives have been both positively and negatively impacted by purity culture. They also end their time rejoicing in the gospel that frees us from shame and considering how we can do better at passing down an ethic of purity that is more in step with the gospel and God's vision for sex.

Take a listen and consider joining us the Talk Back following this episode on October 13, 2022, at 8 pm by becoming a Patreon subscriber at $10 or more monthly.

Did God Really Say? Aug 24, 2022

When it comes to sex, many of us have read the Bible's commands about sex and ask, "Really? Did God really say that? Is He serious?" We've asked this question because living in a sexually charged world, it's sometimes hard to take God's commands about sex seriously, asking, "Has God seen the world? Is living out His sexual ethic as put forth in Scripture even possible?" In this episode, Yana Jenay takes us to the garden of Eden to reflect on the first time in history the words of God were questioned. Using the narrative of Genesis 3 as a case study, she presents a few ways we, like Eve, have rejected God's definition of what is good and allowed a distorted view of Him to lead us astray. She will discuss how viewing God's commands about sex as oppressive, patriarchal, homophobic, and impossible is ultimately rooted in our view of God. Why? Because, you see, when we trust the character of God to be good, it becomes easier to trust His commands are also good. Press play to hear more.

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To get the reflection guide and/or join the Talk Back Discussion (9/1 @ 8pm) subscribe to The Living Single with Yana Jenay Patreon Page

Biblical Passages discussed in this episode: Genesis 6:1-6; Genesis 3:1-7; Ephesians 1:15-22

Books mentioned in this episode: Yinka Were is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn and Talking Back to Purity Culture by Rachel Joy Welcher

Listen to a full sermon on "Did God Really Say?" from Yana Jenay

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More About the Host, Yana Jenay

Yana Jenay Conner is a writer and Bible teacher who seeks to help others think well about faith and culture. By God’s grace, she has served in full-time ministry for the past fifteen years in both the church and parachurch context and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She currently serves at Vertical Church as the Discipleship Director and hosts a podcast called Living Single. You can find more of her writing and teaching at yanajenay.com or by following her on IG @yanajenay.

Bonus Episode: Dear Church Girl Aug 10, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay sits down with two of her close friends, Janetta Oni and Anteneshia Sanders, for a candid conversation about Beyoncé’s “Church Girl.” Though this song felt like an anthem for many women, it didn’t quite resonate with them in the same way. In this episode, they share their initial reactions, sobering reflections, and reveal how this song represents how many women are seeking to break free from purity culture, heal from church hurt, and even deconstruct the faith that was, at times, poorly handed down to them.

Are We Asking the Right Questions About Sex? Jul 27, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay asks the question, "Are We Asking the Right Questions About Sex?" She discusses how oftentimes, people are asking the "who," "what," and "when" questions and how though these are good questions to ask, maybe the better question to ask is, "why sex?" Why did God create it? It's possible that when we answer the "why" question, the "who," "what," and "when" questions become easier to answer and easier to follow.

Additional Show Notes:

(1) You can register for the Jude 3 Project's Courageous Conversation Conference using this link.

(2) Join Yana Jenay for this episode's Talk Back on August 4th at 8 pm by becoming a Patreon subscriber at $10 a month or more using this link.

(3) Scripture passages mentioned in episode: Psalm 16 (not 18); Psalm 51; Psalm 139; Genesis 1-2

In The Beginning, God Created Sex Jul 13, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay talks with her friend Omar King to hear his personal story and glean from his insights about sex as a theologian and counselor, who has worked with men and women who have struggled with sexual sin and addictions. They cover everything from what they learned as kids about sex, shame, purity culture, and what God designed sex to be in the beginning.

Sex Education 101 Jun 29, 2022

WE BACK!!!! Welcome to Season 2 of Living Single with Yana Jenay! This season we are going to be talking about sex, sexuality, and singleness. Though this can be a sensitive and polarizing conversation for folks, Yana Jenay feels that it would be highly irresponsible and cowardly to NOT have a robust conversation about sex, sexuality, and how the two impact a single person's ability to be content and celebrate their relationship status. However, before we jump into conversations about sex, same-sex attraction, abstinence, masturbation, and more, we need to establish a shared definition of sex. In this episode, Yana Jenay shares what she discovered on the internet in her search for a basic clinical definition of sex and her sexual education (or the lack thereof) growing up in a conservative Christian home. This episode is for all the grown-ups out there whose parents didn't sit them down to have the sex talk. Click play to hear more, and be sure to head over to Patreon to support the podcast and reserve your spot for the Episode One's Talk Back on July 7th. Here's the Patreon Link.

Season 2 Trailer Jun 22, 2022

What's good, yall?! We back!!!! Season Two is currently loading and I can't wait for us to jump into a conversation with you about sex, sexuality, and singleness. Yep, we're going there. But, because these topics can be sensitive and bring up a lot of questions, each episode is going to be followed by a conversation for Patreon subscribers. Join my Patreon Crew today by using this link.

First Episode Launches: June 29th

First Conversation: July 7th

It's Only Just Begun... Apr 02, 2022

Friends! We have only just begun! Though Season One is coming to an end, there are so many episodes ahead! In this episode, Yana Jenay shares about the highs and lows of podcasting, why she's taking a month off, what listeners can expect in Season Two, and how you can help make Season Two possible by becoming a Patreon subscriber. Become a subscriber today by using the following link: Living Single With Yana Jenay Patreon Page

Black Single Female Mar 16, 2022

Yep. We're doing it. We're having an uncomfortable yet necessary conversation about being black, female, and single. In the 2010 Census, it was reported that 71% of black women have never been married. 71%! This number is telling a story and Yana Jenay is joined by Ekemini Uwan to talk through some of the factors that contribute to this disparity. However, the goal isn't to gripe and moan, but to rather understand the roots of these factors to provide a space for black women to grief, find language for their pain, and consider how their story can find refuge in the pages of Scripture.

P.S. If you are not black, female, or married, please know this episode is also for you. Use it as an opportunity to understand the unique ways your black sisters in Christ are navigating singleness and as a model for how to navigate your unmet desires.

Also, you can pre-order Truth's Table:The Black Women's Musing on Life, Love, and Liberation using this link: https://bookshop.org/books/truth-s-table-black-women-s-musings-on-life-love-and-liberation/9780593239735

When I Long For Marriage The Most Mar 11, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay gets real and shares tends to long for marriage the most in the midst of transition and decision making.

Singleness and Kingdom Building Feb 16, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay talks with Lisa Fields, founder and president of the Jude 3 Project. They talk everything from serial dating, breakups, Tyler Perry movies, and the intersection between singleness and apologetics. Press play to get in on the conversation.

Singleness and Homeownership Feb 09, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay shares her journey to homeownership and the conversation she had with real estate agent and investor, Erika Brown, that helped jump start the process. If you ever thought that homeownership was out of reach for you, in this episode, Erika shares how you can make homeownership a reality by sharing her story and sharing a few tricks of the trade. She also talks about how she is using real estate as a means to solve problems in her community. Sis is buying back the block, providing jobs and affordable housing for folks in her community.
Whether or not real estate is something you're interested in, this is a great conversation for singles (and marrieds) to consider how God is calling them to use their talents, time, and treasure to solve problems in their community. Let's not be like that one guy who took his talent and hid it. Let's seek to multiply it for the good of others. Press play to hear more and join the conversation.

Living Single Feb 02, 2022

In this episode, Yana Jenay sits down with her friend and roommate, Bree Carnes, who has taught her how to truly live single. Press play to hear who God has used their friendship to encourage them in singleness, pursue adventure, and check off some of the things on their marriage bucket list. Bree also provides a guide for how to answer some of the awkward and eye-rolling questions singles can encounter while out in the wild with the marrieds. It's a really good listen.

Christmas Public Service Announcement Dec 22, 2021

Friend, I know the holidays can be hard. I also know that this time of the year can cause a lot of singles to struggle with feelings of shame, despair, anger, and even depression. Here's a quick PSA to remind you that you are not alone, pay attention to your emotion, take care of yourself and do away with misplace shame and rejoice in the gift of you've been given—Christ and the hope of His second coming.

Stages of Singleness (Cont.) Dec 15, 2021

In this episode, Yana Jenay shares the final stages of singleness: (1) Being Thirsty; (2) Settling; (3) Acceptance; (4) Celebration. She also shares how our view of God and His character impacts our ability to accept and celebrate singleness.

The FOMO is Real Dec 08, 2021

In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by her friend Kinshiro Shimochi for a honest conversation about struggling with FOMO as friends have transitioned from singleness to dating and marriage. They identify where their feelings of FOMO are real or false and share how they've allowed FOMO to hinder their ability to live single.

Stages of Singleness Dec 01, 2021

In this episode, Yana Jenay gets personal and shares the different emotions she has experienced in her journey of singleness. She also shares how God has used the stages of grief to help her process her grief about singleness. In this episode she covers four of the eight stages she believes a single person can find themselves: (1) Suppression; (2) Distraction; (3) Anger; (4) Despair. She will share the other four in a later episode. Click play to listen in!

Lies We Believe About Singleness (Part Two) Nov 17, 2021

Singleness hits different for men. In this episode, Yana Jenay invites singer/songwriter Macklyn Dion to share the male perspective on singleness. And y'all it gets real and real real deep as Macklyn shares honestly about his experiences and the lies he's had to combat internally and externally about singleness.

Lies We Believe About Singleness (Part One) Nov 10, 2021

In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by theologian and Bible teacher, Elizabeth Woodson to talk about the lies we can believe about singleness and the importance of lament in our journey to contentment. Join in on the wisdom and the laughter as these two shares some of the lies they've believed and how God used others to help them to see the truth about their relationship status.

Episode One: Why Living Single Nov 03, 2021

In this first episode, Yana Jenay shares the heart behind the podcast, what you can expect from the forthcoming episodes, and how God used an unexpected person to flip her understanding about her relationship status.

Trailer: Living Single with Yana Janay Oct 31, 2021

My name is Yana Jenay Conner, and I'm starting a podcast. It's called "Living Single with Yana Jenay," and the "Yana Jenay" is not just there for branding purposes.

It's because I want to really invite you into my journey of being single. I want to share with you what it's been like, what it's felt like in the parts of it that were hard and difficult and even the parts that I've really come to enjoy.

And so on this podcast, I'm not going to have a whole bunch of celebrities or people that I don't know. I'm going to have my friends come to the table and share with you some of the things that we've talked about in private, whether it was around the dinner table or on a car ride to Asheville or something like that.

I just want to invite you in to kind of my world. And the point of this podcast is to really talk about singleness. It's not to talk about dating is not to talk about how to get out of being single or how to prepare yourself for marriage.

It's to talk about living single. And because I really want to move the conversation around singleness from being content to celebration. I think there's so many things to celebrate in singleness. So if you're up for it, I hope you'll join me for the first season of Living Single with Yana Jenay.

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