Celebrating TEN YEARS
of serving families!
Our story is really YOUR story too!
We have come so far, but there is so much more work to do!
Can you believe it’s been ten years since the Messy Family Podcast began? It all started when young families asked us to share our experiences in marriage and parenting. “You should start a podcast!” they said. We had no idea what that meant—but we said yes.
On our anniversary in January 2015, we started our podcast, and we didn’t expect much. With ten kids and a very full life, we hit record in faith, hoping to encourage a few families like ours. We called it “Messy Family” because we knew the truth: God isn’t put off by our mess—He meets us in it.
Why “messy”? Because family life is beautiful, chaotic— and sacred.
We thought maybe just our relatives would tune in. But within a year and a half, over 5,000 people were listening every month. That would increase to over 25,000 monthly over the next few years. We had no marketing, no big budget—just a clear need for encouragement and support in the trenches of marriage and parenting.
We believe that parents are doing the most important work in the Church today, and your gift makes it possible for us to keep showing up for them.
Let's write the next part of our story together!
Since 2015……
- …we have spoken IN PERSON to over 23,000 parents. How many can we reach in the next 10 years?
- …there have been 2.8 MILLION downloads of the podcast. Can we double that in the next five years?
- …over 2,000 parents have taken our courses, including Women Wonderfully Made, Dads versus Wild, the Family Board Meeting, and Messy Family University. We want to grow that to 100,000 by 2035.
- …we have 200 monthly donors today. What if we had the stability of 500 in the next three years? What could God do with us?
Your gift of $50, $100 or $250 helps us reach more families who need encouragement, wisdom, and hope. Just as we gave God our small offering of service ten years ago, we know that He will multiply the impact of any gift you can give!
Your donation today will impact families like these:
"I’ve been listening since 2015. I was raised Catholic, but faith wasn’t at the forefront. When I went to college and into my 20s, I fell away from the church, but after becoming pregnant with my son, I found your podcast and have been listening ever since. You guys have given me such amazing tools, and I’m so thankful for your podcast! I met my husband at the end of 2015, we were married in the summer of 2017, and now we’ve welcomed 4 additional children! Your podcast gives us such amazing ideas to help our family grow in our faith, and we’re so thankful for you all!"
"Your ministry has literally changed my life."
"My parents divorced and my grandparents have passed, so I don’t have the intimacy of a relationship modeled in my life. Listening to you all fills that in a unique way. The podcasts give me a lot of confidence and affirmation. I also learn from you and get ideas to implement so I can discipline and love my kids more fully."
"Your ministry has literally changed my life. I attended your event in the U.K. earlier this year after my wife has been a listener for years. I had such a powerful experience that it has driven me to explore my faith and really open my heart to God. I had a further powerful experience at mass later where God touched my heart and showed me that the love I have for my children is just a fraction of what he has for me. I'm currently in the RCIA course and am looking to be received into the Church next Easter."
Reaching these parents changed the trajectory of their children and even their grandchildren. You can have an exponential impact!
Thank you gifts
- Every donor gets an Advent Book!
- $50 or more, you will receive one of our newly released T-Shirt (choose your style in the follow up email)!
- $100 or more, you will receive our brightly colored Yeti 20 oz Rambler Mug
- $25/mon or $250+, you will receive all of the above plus a year long membership to the Messy Family Neighborhood!
- $50/mon or $500+, you will receive all of the above plus an additionally Yeti!
Additional Giving Options:
For donations by transfer of stock or IRA accounts, planned giving, matching gifts or any donation larger than listed, please contact us directly using our Contact form.
Donate by mail:
The Messy Family Project
117 S. Hollywood Blvd #140
Steubenville, OH 43952
Make sure to include your email when you mail your donation so we can properly track your support and recognize your donation.
The Messy Family Project, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization, has not provided any goods or services, in whole or in part, to you in consideration for your contribution. If you wish to claim the tax deductibility of this gift in the U.S., please retain this acknowledgment letter for your files.
The Messy Family Project’s EIN number is 83-0884341.
Will you partner with us?
We love hearing these testimonies from couples but there are so many more that need our help!
A one-time gift of $250 will help us reach 10 new families.
A monthly donation of $25 will help us reach 12 new families.
This is our premium gift for donors of $250 or $30/mon and it includes our MFP Advent book, O Antiphon wooden ornaments, Epiphany House Blessing Kit, yummy speciality snacks, a sweet children’s book and more, all chosen to show our gratitude to you and your family this Christmas season!
In addition to all the above, you’ll receive complimentary membership to our community, the Messy Family Neighborhood, with access to all our online content, monthly date nights, and support from other families who share your values.
Get what you need to celebrate Advent when you give a gift of $150 or $25/month. Receive our signature Advent box, complete with Advent candles, our new and improved Advent guide book, ornaments and much more to assist you and your family in creating many wonderful memories and traditions this Advent and Christmas season!
In addition to all the above, you’ll receive complimentary membership to our community, the Messy Family Neighborhood, with access to all our online content, monthly date nights, and support from other families who share your values.
With a one-time gift of $125 or more you will receive our brightly colored Yeti 20 oz Rambler Mug that will make everyone see that YOU are embracing your sacred calling (as you sip your latte!)
For a gift of just $100 we’ll send you our Advent Necessities box, with everything you need for a simple, yet prayerful Advent season. Advent candles included! You will get our MFP Advent book along with a full set of wooden Jesse tree ornaments and candles for your Advent wreath
For a gift of any amount you will receive in the mail our very popular Advent & Christmas Traditions Book, “Prepare the Way of the Lord: Celebrate Advent and Christmas the Messy Family Way”
With a one-time gift of $50 or more you will receive immediate life-time access to our brand new miniCourse on overcoming vices in parenting.
In Two by Two we’ll walk through how common vices show up in family life—and how God wants to use them to make you holy.
With personal stories, practical wisdom, and reflections, this course helps you see that your vocation is the very path to sainthood. This includes 8 videos, scriptures, and reflection questions, all online.
With a one-time gift of $100 or more you will receive our brightly colored Yeti 20 oz Rambler Mug that will make everyone see that YOU are embracing your sacred calling (as you sip your latte!), as well as access to our new mini-course, Two by Two.
With a one-time gift of $250 or more you will receive high-quality fleece pullover or zip up jacket, perfect for tackling the challenges of family life—plus as access to our new mini-course, Two by Two!
“There has never been a more urgent time for a new mission to support parents, marriage, and family life. It takes parents to raise a child, not a legion of professional experts, as helpful as they can sometimes be. I believe that the Hernons have stepped into the role of being a mentor and guide for parents at just the right time.”
