Rick Morton

Rick Morton

As Vice President of Engagement, Rick Morton shepherds the ministry’s outreach to individual, church, and organizational ministry partners as well as the ministry’s commitment to publishing resources that aid families and churches in discipling orphans and vulnerable children. Prior to Lifeline, Rick served for 15 years as a college and seminary professor, and he also served local churches in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He is an accomplished writer and sought after speaker. Most notably, Rick is the co-author of the popular Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-centered Adoption and Orphan Care and the author of KnowOrphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology. Rick and his lovely wife Denise have been married for over 32 years, and they have 3 children, all of whom joined their family through international adoption. God has continued to grow their family, and he now enjoys the role of “Doc” to his precious granddaughter!

Appears in 565 Episodes

A Heart of Thanksgiving: Reflecting on God’s Goodness Through All Seasons

A Heart of Thanksgiving: Reflecting on God’s Goodness Through All Seasons

As 2024 draws to a close, Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton reflect on the significance of cultivating gratitude, even amidst life’s challenges. Drawing from Scripture...

Empowering Churches to Care: A Conversation with Andy Cook of Promise 686

Empowering Churches to Care: A Conversation with Andy Cook of Promise 686

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton welcome Andy Cook, President and CEO of Promise 686, a ministry dedicated to equipping churc...

Anchored in Faith with David E. Prince

Anchored in Faith with David E. Prince

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, co-host Dr. Rick Morton sits down with David E. Prince at this year’s 2024 Southern Baptist Convention to discuss the importan...

Engaging the Vulnerable: A Conversation with Josh Benton of Send Relief

Engaging the Vulnerable: A Conversation with Josh Benton of Send Relief

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, Dr. Rick Morton and Herbie Newell sit down with Josh Benton, National Vice President of Send Relief, recorded live at the Sout...

From Frustration to Hope: Helping Kids Thrive in Learning

From Frustration to Hope: Helping Kids Thrive in Learning

On today's episode of the Defender Podcast, Rick Morton sits down with Ann Maura Hinton, Director of Bridge Educational Services, to discuss how families can move from...

Orphan Sunday: A Call to Action for the Church with Pastor Chris Johnson

Orphan Sunday: A Call to Action for the Church with Pastor Chris Johnson

In this special episode of The Defender Podcast, host Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton are joined by Pastor Chris Johnson, Lifeline’s Senior Director of Church Partne...

Understanding Bullying: Equipping Families for Tough Conversations

Understanding Bullying: Equipping Families for Tough Conversations

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, Dr. Rick Morton and Angela Mains, Lifeline's Director of Clinical Services, dive into the complex issue of bullying. With the ...

Adoption, Faith, and God's Perfect Timing

Adoption, Faith, and God's Perfect Timing

In this heartfelt episode of The Defender Podcast, host Dr. Rick Morton sits down with his longtime friend, Dr. Casey Williams, pastor of North Trenholm Baptist Church...

Parenting Through Back-to-School Stress

Parenting Through Back-to-School Stress

As the new school year begins, many parents feel overwhelmed by changes and new routines. In this episode of The Defender Podcast, we welcome Lynne Jackson, co-founder...

Understanding FASD: Navigating Challenges and Building Awareness with Sandra Flach

Understanding FASD: Navigating Challenges and Building Awareness with Sandra Flach

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, we welcome Sandra Flach, a devoted mom of eight, including five adopted children—one through kinship and four internationally....

Lifeline's R(un) for One and The Ōnin Group

Lifeline's R(un) for One and The Ōnin Group

Join us on this episode of The Defender Podcast as we dive into Lifeline Children Services' annual event, the R(un) for One. Host Rick Morton is joined by special gues...

Faith in Action: How First Baptist Woodstock is Caring for Vulnerable Families

Faith in Action: How First Baptist Woodstock is Caring for Vulnerable Families

In this episode of the Defender Podcast, Rick Morton sits down with Rick Young, Family Pastor, and Matt Lawson, Executive Pastor, from First Baptist Church Woodstock, ...

2024 Mid-Year Ministry Update: Celebrating Lifeline’s Impact

2024 Mid-Year Ministry Update: Celebrating Lifeline’s Impact

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, hosts Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton provide a mid-year update on Lifeline Children's Services' ministry efforts in 2024, c...

Back-to-School: Nurturing Minds and Souls with Christian Education

Back-to-School: Nurturing Minds and Souls with Christian Education

In this episode of the Defender Podcast, host Dr. Rick Morton discuss back-to-school challenges and the importance of education with guests Ann Maura Hinton, Director ...

Integrating Faith and Education: A Conversation with Dr. David Dockery

Integrating Faith and Education: A Conversation with Dr. David Dockery

In this episode, Dr. Rick Morton interviews Dr. David Dockery at the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Dockery, a member of Lifeline’s pastoral advisory board, shares h...

Pastor Greg Matte on Adoption and Community Impact

Pastor Greg Matte on Adoption and Community Impact

In this episode of the Defender Podcast, hosts Rick Morton and Herbie Newell engage in a heartfelt discussion with Pastor Greg Matte of Houston’s First Baptist Church ...

Casey Stevens on Family, Faith, and Making a Difference with Stand for Orphans

Casey Stevens on Family, Faith, and Making a Difference with Stand for Orphans

Join us as we sit down with Casey Stevens, who shares his family's inspiring journey from facing infertility to adopting their first son, Alek, from Kyrgyzstan in 2016...

Biblical Faithfulness and Caring for Vulnerable Children: A Conversation with Jonathan Leeman

Biblical Faithfulness and Caring for Vulnerable Children: A Conversation with Jonathan Leeman

In this episode of the Defender podcast, Herbie Newell and Rick Morton are joined by Jonathan Leeman from 9 Marks to discuss the importance of biblical faithfulness an...

Faith, Foster Care, and Filmmaking: A Conversation with Jeremy Carlson

Faith, Foster Care, and Filmmaking: A Conversation with Jeremy Carlson

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, recorded  last year at the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, host Rick Morton interviews Jeremy Carlson of WTA ...

From the Heart of a Father

From the Heart of a Father

In celebration of Father's Day, join us for an episode featuring Chip McKenzie, whose life underscores the profound impact of fatherhood through domestic adoption. Chi...

The Blessing of Adoption: A Conversation with the Hart Family

The Blessing of Adoption: A Conversation with the Hart Family

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, host Rick Morton sets the stage for a heartwarming conversation between Lifeline's Senior Director of International Adoption, ...

Adoption, Redemption, Identity: The Story Behind 'Whose Am I?

Adoption, Redemption, Identity: The Story Behind 'Whose Am I?

In this episode of the Defender podcast, we share an interview with children's book authors Jackie Darby and Aixa de López, creators of "Whose Am I? /¿De quién soy?" I...

Building Legacies: Empowering Older Youth in Foster Care with Sean and Jenny Miller

Building Legacies: Empowering Older Youth in Foster Care with Sean and Jenny Miller

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, we explore Lifeline Children's Services' Heritage Builders program alongside guests Sean and Jenny Miller. The Millers share t...

Opening Hearts and Homes: A Journey into Foster Care with Makyna and Matthew Hart

Opening Hearts and Homes: A Journey into Foster Care with Makyna and Matthew Hart

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, we are joined by foster parents Matthew and Makyna Hart. They share their heartfelt journey of opening their hearts and home t...

Mothering with Scarlet Hiltibidal

Mothering with Scarlet Hiltibidal

In this special re-aired episode of The Defender Podcast, we delve into the depths of motherhood with Scarlet Hiltibidal, an international adoptive mom. As we approach...

Embracing Courage: Honoring Birth Mother's Day

Embracing Courage: Honoring Birth Mother's Day

In this episode of the Defender podcast, we honor Birth Mother's Day. Dr. Rick Morton welcome listeners into a special conversation featuring one of Lifeline's Pregnan...

Pathways to Healing: Integrating Therapeutic Approaches

Pathways to Healing: Integrating Therapeutic Approaches

In this episode of "The Defender Podcast," we explore the synergy of therapeutic integration. Lifeline's very own, Angela Mains, talks with host Dr. Rick Morton to unc...

Defending the Vulnerable: Child Abuse Prevention with Julie Lowe

Defending the Vulnerable: Child Abuse Prevention with Julie Lowe

In this episode of the Defender Podcast, hosts Herbie Newell and Rick Morton engage in a discussion on Child Abuse Prevention with guest Julie Lowe, a highly experienc...

Camp Empower: Lifeline's Therapeutic Trauma-Informed Day Camp

Camp Empower: Lifeline's Therapeutic Trauma-Informed Day Camp

In this episode, host Rick Morton is joined by Ann Maura Hinton to delve into the transformative power of Camp Empower, Lifeline's trauma-informed day camp designed to...

Playful Pathways: Nurturing Growth and Hope

Playful Pathways: Nurturing Growth and Hope

In this episode of the Defender Podcast, host Rick Morton delves into the transformative power of play in parenting with guest, Ann Maura Hinton. They explore how play...