Herbie Newell

Herbie Newell

Herbie Newell serves as the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services, holds an MBA in Accounting from Samford University and brings years of experience from his work as an independent auditor at WAKM Companies, LLC. Serving as Lifeline's Executive Director since 2003, Herbie has significantly expanded international outreach, obtained licensure in 17 states, and led the establishment of the foster care arm. A passionate advocate, he co-founded (un)adopted in 2009, focusing on equipping orphaned children with life skills for community transformation. Herbie, also the author of "Image Bearers: Shifting from Pro-birth to Pro-Life," emphasizes that being pro-life extends beyond opposing abortion, urging a broader ethic that includes fighting for racial equality and embracing every individual with the love of Christ. Herbie and his wife, Ashley, reside in Birmingham, Alabama, and are the parents to three children.

Appears in 550 Episodes

The Vest Family: How a tragic event brought understanding and perspective

The Vest Family: How a tragic event brought understanding and perspective

Today on the podcast, we are joining you with a special story from our annual fundraising event in Birmingham, Alabama. The Vest family shared not only of their intern...

The Anderson Family's Unforgettable Adoption Journey – Part Two

The Anderson Family's Unforgettable Adoption Journey – Part Two

Today on the podcast, Kenny and Kristen Anderson join us again with an update on their adoption. In August, we talked with the Andersons as they were about to head to ...

Surviving the Holidays: Part Two

Surviving the Holidays: Part Two

Today, Angela Mains joins the Defender Podcast to talk through practical tips for helping your child successfully navigate the dysregulation of the holidays. The holid...

Surviving the Holidays: Part One

Surviving the Holidays: Part One

Today, Angela Mains joins the Defender Podcast to talk through surviving the holidays with children who come from hard places. We know when parents can stay grounded, ...

An adoption story...ten kids later and seven brought home through adoption

An adoption story...ten kids later and seven brought home through adoption

Today on the podcast, Pastor Chris Johnson and his wife, Alicia Johnson, join the podcast to share their adoption story. They have ten children and adopted seven of th...

Zac Rowe from Gateway Church - From Pain to a Purpose

Zac Rowe from Gateway Church - From Pain to a Purpose

Today on the podcast, Zac Rowe joins to talk about his personal connection to adoption and the work the church he helps lead, Gateway Church, is doing for adoption. GU...

Justice for Orphans - Sandra Flach

Justice for Orphans - Sandra Flach

Today on the podcast, Sandra Flach joins to talk about Justice for Orphans, the nonprofit she founded. GUESTSandra Flach founded Justice for Orphans, a nonprofit minis...

A Conversation with Todd Unzicker

A Conversation with Todd Unzicker

Today on the podcast, Todd Unzicker, Executive Director of North Carolina Baptist Convention, talks about the church pressing in and caring for orphans and vulnerable ...

How can churches fill in the gap when families are in need?

How can churches fill in the gap when families are in need?

Today on the podcast, Nancy Osborne and Brent Eliason join and talk about Harbor Families and how the Lord is working through this ministry. Many families do not have ...

Special Needs Adoption - The Rinehart Family's Story

Special Needs Adoption - The Rinehart Family's Story

Today on the podcast, the Rinehart's join and share their story of how special needs adoption has impacted their life for the better. Three of their nine children were...

A Conversation with our Romanian Partner

A Conversation with our Romanian Partner

Petry Groza, Lifeline's partner in Romania, joins the podcast to share about Regen, his ministry to orphans and vulnerable children in Romania. He and his family work ...

Willie and Korie Robertson - NEW Movie, The Blind

Willie and Korie Robertson - NEW Movie, The Blind

Korie and Willie Robertson join the Defender podcast to talk about the new movie about their family, The Blind, coming out as a limited release on Thursday, September ...

A story of redemption, hope, and open adoption

A story of redemption, hope, and open adoption

Renee Eggebraaten, her son, and his birth mom join the Defender Podcast to share their journey of hope, redemption, and open adoption.GUESTRenee Eggebraaten lives in R...

From a crisis pregnancy to finding new life in Jesus

From a crisis pregnancy to finding new life in Jesus

Today on the podcast, Kathryn Barnhill, adult adoptee, joins the podcast to share her adoption story. She speaks to her experience as an adult adoptee and her journey ...

Milestones of Adoption

Milestones of Adoption

Today on the podcast, Claire Davis and Jennifer Travis join the podcast to talk about supporting children as they journey through various milestones of adoption. GUEST...

When a Church in Kansas and Ministry in India Partner Together

When a Church in Kansas and Ministry in India Partner Together

Today on the podcast, Jeremy Wynne joins the podcast to talk about being a global partner with Lifeline and the difference being made in India. GUESTJeremy Wynne is th...

What God is Doing Through Heritage Builders

What God is Doing Through Heritage Builders

Today on the podcast, Aren Williams, Jason Williams, and Brendt Banks join to talk about the work they do and have witnessed the Lord do through Heritage Builders. GUE...

(un)adopted's Guatemala Church Partner

(un)adopted's Guatemala Church Partner

Today on the podcast, Jose Salazar joins to talk about his church's partnership with Lifeline and ways they are able to extend the gospel to vulnerable children. This ...

Four Years Later...and the Anderson's are Meeting their Child in China!

Four Years Later...and the Anderson's are Meeting their Child in China!

Today on the podcast, the Anderson family joined the podcast to talk about their waiting journey over the last 3.5 years to meet their daughter in China and that the w...

Conversation with Josh Benton at Send Relief

Conversation with Josh Benton at Send Relief

Today on the podcast, Josh Benton joins to talk about Send Relief and the work they are doing to provide disaster relief, minister to women in crisis pregnancies, and ...

Back to School & Effects of Bullying

Back to School & Effects of Bullying

Today on the podcast, Kemonia Brown and Kara Clark join to talk about bullying and the effects on children as school starts back. GUESTKemonia Brown joined the Lifelin...

Conversation with Dr. Ed Litton

Conversation with Dr. Ed Litton

Today on the podcast, Dr. Ed Litton joins to talk about leading his church to care for vulnerable children and families in their community. This interview occurred at ...

Conversation with Steven Curtis & Mary Beth Chapman

Conversation with Steven Curtis & Mary Beth Chapman

Today on the podcast, Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman along with Kristin Parks join the podcast. They talk about the new Show Hope room at Lifeline that our Counse...

Spiritual Development in Kids From Hard Places

Spiritual Development in Kids From Hard Places

Today on the podcast, Angela Mains joins the podcast to talk about spiritual development in kids who have come from hard places, including trauma, neglect, and any adv...

Cultural Significance of an Adoptee's Story

Cultural Significance of an Adoptee's Story

Today on the podcast, the Catania family will be joining to talk about empowering children brought home through adoption to pursue learning about their culture and bac...

A Sibling's Perspective of Adoption

A Sibling's Perspective of Adoption

Ivy Todd joined the podcast to talk about her perspective on being a sibling of a child brought home through adoption. She also speaks from her professional expertise ...

Conversation with Dr. David Prince

Conversation with Dr. David Prince

Today on the podcast, Dr. Rick Morton, Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline, interviews Dr. David Prince at the Southern Baptist Convention this year. They talk ab...

Anniversary of Dobbs Decision

Anniversary of Dobbs Decision

Today on the podcast, we celebrate the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, which placed the decision for life back on our states and made 24 states' restrictions or ban...

Harbor Families & Family Preservation

Harbor Families & Family Preservation

Nancy Osborne, Senior Director of Foster Care and Family Preservation at Lifeline Children's Services, joins the podcast today to talk about Lifeline's family preserva...

School's Out for the Summer!

School's Out for the Summer!

School's out for the summer! Angela Mains, Senior Director of Clinical Services (MA, LPC-S, TBRI® PRACTITIONER, THERAPLAY® PRACTITIONER) at Lifeline Children's Service...