Season 7 Finale: Ask Us ANYTHING!
- Krista Bontrager
- Oct 17
- 6 min read
Join Monique Duson and Theology Mom (Krista Bontrager) for our annual wild and unfiltered Q&A as we wrap season 7 of All The Things. From shoe drama to smashing idols like Jehu, we spill it ALL! Then we're off for a holiday recharge—back in January with MORE rollicking convos.
Tonight was the Season 7 Finale and our annual "Ask Us Anything" episode! We are grateful for another year of bringing important topics and guests to the show. Thank you for following the ministry and engaging with us! We will continue the conversations with Season 8 in the New Year!
The highlights from tonight’s Q & A are below:
Q. What are you most grateful for in each other?
Krista: Grateful for Monique’s sense of humor, which helps her face difficulties with levity, a trait Krista has learned from her.
Monique: Appreciates Krista’s intelligence, particularly her ability to discuss complex topics like philosophy and logic, such as the concept of "the one and the many."
Q. What was your favorite episode or favorite guest of the season?
Krista: Enjoyed her conversation with Andrew T. Walker due to her long-standing desire to discuss topics with him, particularly natural law. A scheduling mix-up allowed her to ask more questions, which she found rewarding.
Monique: Highlighted her episode with Joe Rigney on "toxic empathy," appreciating his directness and the discussion around his book The Sin of Empathy.
Q. What are the most pressing needs for the ministry?
Monique: Emphasized the need for wisdom to lead and speak well, followed by financial support to fund projects, reach people, and write. She stressed that these are genuine needs, not just spiritual platitudes.
Krista: Echoed the need for wisdom and finances to support the Center for Biblical Unity’s mission.
Q. What are your natural and spiritual gifts, and how do you use them in ministry?
Krista: Identified spiritual discernment and teaching as her primary spiritual gifts, using them to help others discern truth. Natural gifts include baking (e.g., grinding wheat for bread) and enjoying country music and history, though she humorously questioned if these count as gifts.
Monique: Also identified discernment as a key spiritual gift, shared with Krista, which helped form their friendship. Natural gifts include writing poetry, dancing, and humor (described as “pettiness” with quick comebacks).
Q. If you could have any Old Testament character as a guest, who would it be?
Krista: Chose Jehu, wanting to ask why he didn’t fully eliminate the golden calves in Dan and Bethel, despite his zeal in destroying Baal’s idols.
Monique: Picked Jael, admiring her boldness in driving a tent peg through Sisera’s head, humorously aspiring to be a “digital Jael.”
Q. Is Monique dating?
Monique: Confirmed she is not dating, referencing a recent podcast with Teasi Cannon on singleness. She humorously rejected the idea of having a “gift of singleness,” citing cultural challenges in dating, particularly in California.
See resources for podcast link!
Q. What books have helped you understand opposing viewpoints?
Krista and Monique: Recommended books listed on the Center for Biblical Unity’s website (centerforbiblicalunity.com/books). Specific mentions:
How to Be an Anti-Racist and How to Be a Young Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi (Monique is using the latter in a teen book group paired with scripture and Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington).
Is Everyone Really Equal? by Özlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo.
Books by James Cone (Black Theology, Black Power, God of the Oppressed, The Cross and the Lynching Tree), key to understanding black liberation theology.
The Queering of the American Child (non-Christian perspective).
Krista noted these books help understand social justice and progressive mindsets, often paired with scripture for balance.
Q. If you had to live outside California, where would you go?
Both: Chose Tennessee (Nashville, Franklin, Spring Hill area) for its appeal, with Monique also considering Alabama for cost-effectiveness.
Q. What advice would you give for raising a teen for the Lord?
Monique:
Raise them to be courageous, modeling courage as parents.
Ground their identity in Christ, not in race, nationality, or achievements.
Teach them scripture and engage cultural issues (e.g., her book group on How to Be a Young Anti-Racist uses scripture to address topics like whiteness or microaggressions).
Krista:
Avoid over scheduling teens with sports and academics, allowing time for hobbies and relaxation (valued from her homeschooling experience).
Focus less on grades and college as the ultimate goal, emphasizing a Christian worldview and life purpose over specific careers.
Encourage entrepreneurial thinking and a vision for life rooted in faith.
Q. What advice would you give a middle schooler to grow in the Christian life?
Monique:
Read the Bible, ideally with an older mentor.
Limit screen time to engage in real-life activities (e.g., biking, talking with friends).
Learn to think independently and be courageous, not just following the crowd.
Krista:
Make strong Christian friends to support faith.
Read the Bible with an adult mentor for guidance.
Q. Who are your dream guests for the podcast?
Krista:
Linda Seiler (upcoming on Theology Mom podcast!).
Andrew T. Walker (again, for deeper discussions).
Allie Beth Stuckey (tried but couldn’t get past gatekeepers).
Plans to host non-Christians for an “other side cast” to engage different worldviews.
Monique:
No specific dream guests; prefers guests tied to timely topics or book releases.
Expressed interest in John Cooper (Skillet) and Judge Marilyn Milian from The People’s Court for her focus on justice.
Q. If you didn’t have the Center for Biblical Unity, what would you be doing?
Monique: Likely would have pursued a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) for mental health work, possibly aiming for a PsyD.
Krista: Would have returned to Christian higher education, teaching as a professor, a goal she considered after her kids grew up.
Q. What was the most miraculous aspect of how God brought you together in ministry?
Krista: The existence of the ministry itself, sparked by an off-handed conversation with Alisa Childers in 2020. A pivotal moment was Krista stepping back from a joint interview on critical race theory (CRT), allowing Monique to shine, leading to viral exposure via Nancy Pearcey and Natasha Crain, and rapid ministry growth.
Monique: God’s grace in changing her worldview from advocating “horrible things” to a biblical perspective, and the global family formed through the ministry, connecting people from the UK, South Africa, Singapore, and Japan.
Q. What do you do for leisure?
Monique: Enjoys deep cleaning her house, spending time with her brother’s family, and watching The People’s Court for its insights on justice and societal brokenness.
Krista: Bakes bread, watches baseball with her husband, lifts weights, plays pickleball, and enjoys long drives.
Q. Do you listen for the Holy Spirit to guide your content?
Monique: Not always, but she prays about significant posts, especially on challenging Christian topics. She sometimes deletes posts after feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit.
Krista: The Holy Spirit plays a significant role in content creation, helping her avoid sensationalism driven by YouTube’s algorithm. She disciplines herself not to chase views, trusting God to bring the right audience, with her husband providing feedback.
Q. Is there pressure to produce content to stay relevant?
Both: Acknowledged pressure to comment on trending stories (e.g., race issues) for views, but prioritize ministry over YouTube fame. They can’t address everything due to other commitments (writing, speaking), distinguishing their work from full-time YouTubers.
Q. How should I engage a family member with a progressive mindset and bring them back to faith?
Monique: Start with prayer, take it slow, and let the family member lead conversations, responding with gentle inquiries (“Tell me more”) rather than confrontation.
Krista: Emphasized preparation (e.g., studying like Allie Beth Stuckey’s Jubilee appearance), engaging in bite-sized conversations, and trusting the Holy Spirit for outcomes. Shared an example of planting seeds that influenced someone years later without her knowledge.
Resources:
Do you have a copy of our book, Walking in Unity? Grab a copy for yourself, your pastor, small group leader, or a friend!
Check out our recommended resources on our website:
Monique's discussion on singleness with Teasi Cannon:
Monique's 2020 interview with Alisa Childers (aka the interview that started it all!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwyJk1G_Dm0
Come visit us next month!
MAVEN Conference in Indianapolis, IN on Saturday, November 8th.
Register here: https://www.mavenconferences.com/indiana
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