This week's guest Helen Smallbone shares the remarkable story of her family's journey from Australia to America, the unexpected hardships they faced, and the ways God faithfully provided along the way. As the mother of seven, including Rebecca St. James and Joel and Luke of for KING & COUNTRY, Helen reflects on the intentional work of raising a family, the significance of everyday faithfulness, and the legacy of prayer. Erin and Helen also discuss trusting God's goodness when life doesn't make sense, recognizing His presence in the smallest moments, and believing in His faithfulness even before we can see how the story will unfold.
Key Takeaways
- How God can use closed doors, unexpected hardships, and ordinary circumstances to lead us into something we never could have imagined
- The significance of a mother's often unseen work and the lasting impact of intentionally loving, encouraging, and praying for our families
- Why recognizing God's provision in the small, everyday moments can strengthen our faith through difficult seasons
- What it means to trust God's goodness even when we're still standing in the middle of loss, without answers or a clear picture of what comes next
About Helen
Helen Smallbone grew up in Australia as the daughter of a Methodist minister and the youngest of four children. Even though she grew up in church, her faith became real in her mid-teens when she committed her life to Christ at a Billy Graham Crusade in Sydney.
Trained as an Occupational Therapist, Helen’s greatest desire was to serve God and become a wife and mother. At age 20, she married the love of her life, David Smallbone, and over the next 14 years, they added seven children to their family.
In 1991, after experiencing a financial crisis in Australia, the Smallbone family relocated to the Nashville, TN, area, where David began a career in music management for Christian artists. This new adventure required every family member to place their trust in God and live by faith.
In Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family (K-LOVE Books, April 12, 2022), Helen shares how the Smallbone family learned to let God lead – which has included living outside the box of American cultural norms. Her book describes God’s constant faithfulness and provision during the lean years after their arrival in the United States. Helen recounts stories that vividly describe how the family worked together to make ends meet, found support in new friends and neighbors, homeschooled on the road, and grew closer with every challenge they overcame.
Helen’s love for God and family has only grown stronger as she and David have supported their children’s creative career paths. Their daughter, Rebecca St. James, and two of their sons, for KING & COUNTRY stars Luke and Joel Smallbone, have collectively earned five Grammys.
When not busy with her children and grandchildren, Helen is dedicated to sharing her passion and love for God with those around her. She is the co-founder of MUMlife, mumlife.org, a ministry of “mothers uplifting mothers,” and co-host of the MUMlife Community Podcast. David and Helen Smallbone live just outside of Nashville with a small menagerie of animals.
Connect with Helen
Website:
https://www.helensmallbone.com/
Book:
Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family
Movie:
Unsung Hero
Social Media:
IG: @helensmallbone
FB: Helen Smallbone
Connect with Erin
IG @erincuccio
www.erincuccio.com
hello@erincuccio.com
Order Any of Erin's Books HERE
