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 564 Episodes

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...

The Wates Family's Foster Care Journey

The Wates Family's Foster Care Journey

Today on the podcast, in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, Katherine and Garrett Wates join the podcast to talk about their journey as foster parents.GUESTKatherin...

Mothering with Scarlet Hiltibidal

Mothering with Scarlet Hiltibidal

Today on the podcast, in honor of Mother's Day and Birth Mother's Day coming up, Scarlet Hiltibidal, an international adoptive mom, joins and shares about her journey ...

Navigating Grief Part 3 - Adult Adoptee Perspective

Navigating Grief Part 3 - Adult Adoptee Perspective

We are glad you joined us for part three of the grief series! Julie Scott, an adult adoptee, recently shared her testimony at Rooted in Love, Lifeline's conference for...

Part 2: Summers Family Story - Raising a Child with Autism

Part 2: Summers Family Story - Raising a Child with Autism

We are glad you joined us for part two of the podcast with the Summers family! Today, we are joined by Katie and Taylor Summers who adopted their son, Jonas, from Hung...

Part 1: Summers Family Story - Raising a Child with Autism

Part 1: Summers Family Story - Raising a Child with Autism

Today, we are joined by Katie and Taylor Summers who adopted their son, Jonas, from Hungary. They talk about the gift of adoption and the blessings and challenges of b...

Conversation with Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum

Conversation with Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum

Today, we will be talking with Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum, authors of their new book called Reclaimed Compassion: The Adoptive Parent's Guide to Overcoming Blocked...

Celebrating Easter

Celebrating Easter

Today, Dr. Rick Morton and Herbie Newell will be leading us through a discussion talking about our risen Savior and celebrating Easter. GUESTDr. Rick Morton is the VP ...

Navigating Grief Part 2 - Birth & Foster Parents

Navigating Grief Part 2 - Birth & Foster Parents

Today, in part two of the grief series, we will be talking about navigating grief in context of the gospel and from the perspective of birth families and foster famili...

Navigating Grief - Adoptive Family Perspective

Navigating Grief - Adoptive Family Perspective

Today we will be talking about navigating grief in context of the gospel and from the perspective of an adoptive parent. GUESTLane Jackson is an adoptive mom at Lifeli...

Social Work Month and an Adoption Story

Social Work Month and an Adoption Story

In honor of National Social Work Month, one of Lifeline's amazing social workers, Susannah Ayers, joins the podcast alongside of Jeremy Simpson, Lifeline's Senior Dire...

International Women's Day - Our Global Partners

International Women's Day - Our Global Partners

In honor of International Women's Day, two of our global partners join the podcast to talk about the difference God is making through the work they have done and the w...

Samaritan's Purse - Kristy and Edward Graham

Samaritan's Purse - Kristy and Edward Graham

Edward and Kristy Graham join the podcast today to share about the work of Samaritan's Purse in orphan care and caring for vulnerable children. They share about their ...

International Adoption & NEW North Macedonia Program

International Adoption & NEW North Macedonia Program

Karla Thrasher, Senior Director of International Adoption and Jana Lombardo, Director of International Programs, join the Defender podcast with Dr. Rick Morton to talk...

Marriage & Parenting in Accordance with the Gospel

Marriage & Parenting in Accordance with the Gospel

Today on the podcast, Micah and Jamie Steele, a Lifeline adoptive family, talks about their journey in marriage and parenting, specifically children who were brought h...

Allison Centofante - Being Pro-Life Every Day

Allison Centofante - Being Pro-Life Every Day

Today on the podcast, Allison Centofante joins Herbie Newell and Rick Morton to talk about pro-life advocacy and how you can do that in every day life. The fight for l...

The Power of Play

The Power of Play

In this episode, Ann Maura Hinton, Program Director of Bridge Educational Services at Lifeline, joins the podcast. Dr. Rick Morton, the vice president of engagement at...