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 573 Episodes
An Adoptee's Teddy Bear Epiphany | Simon Benn, Thriving Adoptees
Simon Benn was adopted at five weeks old in 1967 and grew up in England always knowing his story. At 40, an unexpected burst of anger during a horse whispering course ...
God Doesn't Waste Anything: Katie Adams on Faith, Family, and International Adoption
Katie Adams, manager of Lifeline's expat adoption program, joins Dr. Rick to trace her path from a childhood on Fort Benning through a faith awakening in high school, ...
Opening the Doors: How One Church Is Rewriting the Story for Kids Aging Out of Foster Care
In this episode of the Defender Podcast, Executive Director Herbie Newell and Ford sit down with Tommy DeRamos of Shades Mountain Baptist Church to talk about Heritage...
Why Fewer Kids Are Coming Home Through Adoption in 2025
On this episode of The Defender, Rob, Herbie, Karla, and Ford unpack the newly released 2025 intercountry adoption numbers, down to 973 children from 1,172 the year be...
From Orphan to 'Baby Whisperer': Vikram's Story
Vikram grew up in a leper colony in Rajasthan before being taken in by a Christian orphanage that eventually became home to over a thousand kids. On this episode of Wh...
16 Kids, One Brother's Sacrifice
This summer Lifeline had sixteen kids come to the US for two weeks through the international hosting program, most of whom had already been passed over by families bot...
Unstoppable: The Bamberg Sisters' Journey from China to Auburn
Rick Morton sits down with sisters Ava and Lily Bamberg, both adopted from China and now students at Auburn University, home to the nation's only collegiate power socc...
140 Million Orphans: Inside Lifeline's Global Network
This episode features Herbie Newell, Ken Norwood and Ford Reasons with guest Miguel Zayas, Senior Director of Global Orphan Care at Lifeline, to unpack how Lifeline se...
Real Church, Real Gospel: A Ugandan Pastor's Journey from Prosperity to Truth
Rick Morton sits down with Pastor Rafael Kajjubi of King Jesus Church in Busega, Uganda, a longtime friend and ministry partner of Lifeline Children's Services. Rafael...
Why Do We 'Run for One'?
In this lighthearted episode of The Defender Podcast, the team shares the heart behind Lifeline’s annual Run for One, a fundraising event supporting global orphan care...
She Was Adopted and Called—Now She's Helping Thousands of Foster Children Heal | Anna Leah Jolly - The Table, Ep. 9
Miss Mississippi Anna Leah Jolly (Part 2): Adoption, Emotional Intelligence Tools & Gospel-Centered Connection | The Table In Part Two of The Table (Lifeline Children’...
Foster Care's Biggest Problem Isn't What You Think
In this episode of The Table, Rick Morton is joined by Chelsea Sobolik and Emily Richards to discuss the nuanced and often messy realities of child welfare, foster car...
Every Child Made in God's Image: Why This Changes Everything in Adoption
Most conversations about transracial and transcultural adoption miss one vital piece: the heart of every child is made in God's image—and that's where the true startin...
When Family Ties Conflict With a Child's Safety: What the System Gets Wrong
We're glad you are joining our discussion on the hidden complexities of kinship care and discover how faith, community, and wisdom can transform the way we care for ch...
When Protection Becomes the Problem
Welcome back to The Table! In this second episode, Rick Morton gathers with Emily Richards and Herbie Newell to continue our vital discussions on child welfare. We exp...
Can the Church Really Change Child Welfare? These Leaders Say Yes
Child Welfare is broken worldwide. Is there hope? We say yes, and it's found right in our communities in the form of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ In this inaugu...
A Season of Change: Defender Podcast Update
After eight incredible years, the Defender Podcast is taking a short sabbatical. In this episode, Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton reflect on the journey so far, shar...
Adoption & Advocacy with Kirti Pickard
In this episode of The Defender Podcast, we welcome Kirti Pickard—adoptee, advocate, and podcast host—who shares her powerful adoption journey and how it fuels her pas...
Faith, Family, and Foster Care with Jamie Finn
🎙️In this episode of The Defender Podcast, we welcome Jamie Finn—author, nonprofit leader, and advocate for vulnerable children. As a foster and adoptive mom, she shar...
Sarah Gable Seifert on Faith, Entrepreneurship, and EveryLife
In today's episode of The Defender Podcast, Rick Morton welcomes Sarah Gable Seifert, co-founder of EveryLife—the first pro-life diaper and wipe company in America. Sa...