March312026
Ep6: Courage2Thrive — On this month’s episode, Rev. Dr. Robert Flanagan interviews Lauren Breeden, Director of Formation and Families
About our guest: Lauren Breeden serves as Director of Formation and Families and is part of The Falls Church Episcopal’s senior leadership team. She is known for innovative formation, curriculum writing, and developing holistic programs that equip people of all ages to engage deeply in the exploration of faith.
Before entering church leadership, Lauren spent twelve years combating domestic minor sex trafficking as an investigator, including undercover work, and as an educator and advocate for survivors. Today, she brings that experience into her ministry and public work, helping churches and communities better understand trafficking, support survivors, and respond to exploitation with courage and justice.
Lauren joined The Falls Church Episcopal as the Director of Children’s and Family Ministries in August 2018. She has more than 10 years of experience working with children in both church and non-profit settings. She most recently worked at Holy Comforter Episcopal in Vienna, VA, as their Director of Children’s Ministries. With extensive experience working with children and creating diverse and innovative curricula, Lauren has confirmed her calling to Children’s and Family Ministries. Believing in a holistic approach, she looks at children, parents, teachers, and volunteers as part of one inclusive family — the Body of Christ — equipping the future of the church.
For Lauren, being at The Falls Church Episcopal is a dream come true. As a child, she attended The Falls Church Day School before moving to South Florida. Upon returning to Virginia as a teenager, she fell in love with children’s ministry while volunteering with her mom at The Falls Church Episcopal. She says that coming to work here as the Director of Children’s and Family Ministries “feels like coming home.” Lauren is a lover of coffee, chocolate, and sports – particularly the Red Sox. She finds rest in the mountains and is blessed with an incredible group of friends and family, and a spunky pup named Tommy. Learn more: thefallschurch.org
Father Bob asks Lauren:
- Describe your spiritual journey. How did you go from a high school kid to a seminary student at a prominent US seminary?
- What drew you to work on behalf of minors who have been sexually exploited?
- What did that work involve?
- From your work experience, how would you describe courage?
- How did your desire to attend seminary come about?
- What would you like to see the Church do or say in light of revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein Files?
- What do you see the future for Christianity?
About our host: An esteemed Episcopal priest and author, Father Bob has dedicated his life to spiritual transformation and caring for others.
With a profound connection to his faith and an unwavering commitment to helping those in need, he has touched countless lives through his ministry, writings, and teachings. Bob’s book, “Letters of an Unexpected Mystic,” was a 2023 Selah Book Award finalist in the Bible study category.
Learn more: robertdflanagan.com
In his first-person spiritual journal, 
He knows that we do that by relating well to ourselves and others, the world and its various creatures and places—and God. “We thrive when we relate to who and what is around us in a healthy manner. We can discover ourselves—who we are—in beautiful, elegant, hope-filled, positive ways,” says 
