Maria Baer joins CCV President Aaron Baer, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and Policy Director David Mahan on The Narrative to discuss her first-hand experience of the drug epidemic in Portland, Oregon, which she chronicled for Christianity Today in her article, "Recovery Ministries Try to Help Portland Get Clean." Maria shares how drug decriminalization has fueled Oregon's addiction crisis, leaving local Christians pleading with the sick–and the state–to let them help.

Before the conversation with Maria, the guys catch up on this week's news, including the Associated Press article highlighting CCV's work to expand Christian education, how CCV's priority bills are progressing in Ohio's Lame Duck session, and what the Statehouse leadership picks mean for next year.

You don't want to miss this week's episode!

Want your questions answered?

If you have any questions about past episodes, news in the media, or general inquiries, submit them to TheNarrative@ccv.org by Wednesday, December 11, for a chance to be featured in an upcoming episode!

More about Maria Baer

Maria is a reporter, writer, and podcaster. She is the co-host of the weekly Breakpoint This Week podcast with John Stonestreet and a writer for Breakpoint. She is also published regularly at Christianity Today magazine, WORLD magazine, and The Gospel Coalition.

Maria is based in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the Ohio University Scripps School of Journalism in 2009. She belongs to Cross City Church with her family and is a volunteer counselor at her local crisis pregnancy center. You can find more of Maria’s published works on her website.

🔊 Talk to Us

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ How are we doing?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you'rehelping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 About The Narrative

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Maria Baer joins CCV President Aaron Baer, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and Policy Director David Mahan on The Narrative to discuss her first-hand experience of the drug epidemic in Portland, Oregon, which she chronicled for <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/11/oregon-drug-decriminalization-portland-ministries-recovery/">Christianity Today</a> in her article, "Recovery Ministries Try to Help Portland Get Clean." Maria shares how drug decriminalization has fueled Oregon's addiction crisis, leaving local Christians pleading with the sick–and the state–to let them help.
Before the conversation with Maria, the guys catch up on this week's news, including the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/christian-private-school-choice-ohio-3c49fe1477a678377ede32e5de5f6db3">Associated Press article</a> highlighting CCV's work to expand Christian education, how CCV's priority bills are progressing in Ohio's Lame Duck session, and what the Statehouse leadership picks mean for next year.
You don't want to miss this week's episode!
Want your questions answered?
If you have any questions about past episodes, news in the media, or general inquiries, submit them to <a href="mailto:TheNarrative@ccv.org">TheNarrative@ccv.org</a> by Wednesday, December 11, for a chance to be featured in an upcoming episode!
More about Maria Baer
Maria is a reporter, writer, and podcaster. She is the co-host of the weekly Breakpoint This Week podcast with John Stonestreet and a writer for Breakpoint. She is also published regularly at Christianity Today magazine, WORLD magazine, and The Gospel Coalition.
Maria is based in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the Ohio University Scripps School of Journalism in 2009. She belongs to Cross City Church with her family and is a volunteer counselor at her local crisis pregnancy center. You can find more of Maria’s published works on her <a href="https://mariaebaer.wordpress.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://url910.ccv.org/ls/click?upn%3Du001.bvMvV8bufniskU3WkRz04OXv9iAlbS2-2FVuvBdTp23xFLiF-2BGKshYCulndw4ZFNaA8nMW_rjcm5BZTlYE6zXnYh59rNes8AgXq3lTUrUlf8nqGTbpeEzgw9XcoAEc4MC-2BAYkjpAo2-2Boyhw-2FGbk-2BHBbtQm1YiaOoYRNQWMJG2uxzudFd5THZStxYiSdmMToPkWgW6bG-2FuGGh5KEWRok68BTyLlXZVJJ7RSAiRUWV2Xi3VIMUccS-2BdyitVvv2C-2Btq5P7Rv71wSvoyBL33vEkjfFnfj5UYg-3D-3D&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1732387705056000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0aOQ48LvB2zuwTH9zaqZTG">website</a>.
🔊 Talk to Us
We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.
👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at <a href="tel:614-769-7077">614-769-7077.</a>
👉  Email us at <a href="mailto:thenarrative@ccv.org">thenarrative@ccv.org.</a>
To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit <a href="https://www.ccv.org/join">CCV.org.</a>
⭐️ How are we doing?
If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!
🔎 About The Narrative
The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.
Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

The Narrative breaks away from the script to reveal the driving forces behind the most important and divisive issues facing our culture today.

Visit CCV.org to learn more.

The Narrative breaks away from the script to reveal the driving forces behind the most important and divisive issues facing our culture today.
Visit <a href="https://www.ccv.org/">CCV.org</a> to learn more.

The Narrative

🔊 Talk to Us

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We host “Ask Us Anything” episodes every season where your questions will be answered on the podcast.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ How are we doing?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative to be insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It really helps us to know what you're enjoying and it brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you'rehelping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 About The Narrative

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives, and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture, and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Visit CCV.org/TheNarrative to learn more.

Produced by Wessler Media.

🔊 Talk to Us
We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We host “Ask Us Anything” episodes every season where your questions will be answered on the podcast.
👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at <a href="tel:614-769-7077">614-769-7077.</a>
👉  Email us at <a href="mailto:thenarrative@ccv.org">thenarrative@ccv.org.</a>
To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit <a href="https://www.ccv.org/join">CCV.org.</a>
<hr>
⭐️ How are we doing?
If you've found any episode of The Narrative to be insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It really helps us to know what you're enjoying and it brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!
<hr>
🔎 About The Narrative
The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives, and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture, and political controversies.
Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.
Visit <a href="CCV.org/TheNarrative">CCV.org/TheNarrative</a> to learn more.
Produced by <a href="https://www.wesslermedia.com/">Wessler Media</a>.

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