Living in the Light with Laura Leigh

Today Laura Leigh concludes the summer season, “Hope in the Light”, with an encouraging word to carry us into the fall season.

In this episode she reads the last day of the Rise Collective study, “Hope & Holiness- a Study through the Book of 1 Peter”, bringing scripture to the forefront of this season’s end, and giving you a parting word of the living hope in the name of Jesus.  She closes it out with a prayer over you and this generation to step into their identity as children of the most high God- living lives of holiness in Him.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13

In this episode we are talking about all things creativity and art—from the theology of God as a creator to the Holy Spirit empowering artists. Today I sit down with my friend Corinne who is a talented writer and integral member of our church. We discuss the darkness that Jesus delivered her from into His light, the impact of teachers and mentorship in encouraging our gifts, and the Renaissance community here in NYC. Corinne shares about the journey of the Renaissance community, the beauty she has seen in the artists there, and what it looks like to be a redemptive artist in your work even if it’s not explicitly about faith.

Laura Leigh and Corinne describe times they’ve been encouraged by the Holy Spirit working through the hands of artists they know, and Corinne encourages us all to be creative—no matter our professions.

Today we continue our series with a focus on leading well and the humility that produces perseverance when Jesus is at the center. In this episode, Laura Leigh sits down with Faith Eury Cho, founder of the Honor Summit – a ministry dedicated to centering and empowering young Asian American women in the church.  We talk about Faith’s incredible story of how she came to know Jesus and her journey into her calling as a pastor and shepherd in the Church throughout her 17 years of ministry. We dive into her experience as an Asian American woman in the Church, and she gives us encouragement of what it looks like to lead in a time such as this. She talks about faith in the waiting, the weight of leadership, how to stay strong in ministry, and her hope for young AAPI women in the Church.

LINKS: 

This is an episode about finding healing in Christ.

Today on the podcast Laura Leigh sits down with her friend and fellow Broadway performer, Amanda Jane Cooper.  You may know Amanda from the Broadway and National Tour of Wicked where she played the role of Glinda. In this episode, Amanda shares her testimony of coming to know and love Jesus, and the eternal hope she has found in surrendering her life to Him.

They dive into her journey walking through deep struggles and suffering, and the power of Christ in bringing her into freedom.  Laura Leigh and Amanda spend time talking about their mutual struggle with body image, and how God has been faithful to bring them from the dark and into His light. Amanda shares more of what her journey to healing has looked like and the role of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit in reclaiming what God has called good.

We are praying this conversation is helpful in knowing that you are not alone.  We also hope that it is  encouraging as Amanda shares her journey to freedom in the name of Jesus and how God rescued her from a way of life that she thought she might have to just manage forever.

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In producing this episode there were prayerful steps taken in an effort to go above reproach with handling this topic of conversation respectfully and tenderly.  Do know that we get into some vulnerable details in sharing our stories of freedom from destructive patterns related to body image.

Resources for recovery:

Today on the podcast I sat down with both friend and pastor Ashley Anderson.  Ashley pastors at Church of the City New York and is someone who I respect and honor as a sister in Christ, as a communicator and teacher of God’s Word  and as a shepherd and leader in the Church.

Today we are talking about Biblical suffering and how Jesus, the suffering servant, is the ultimate example for us as His followers.  Ashley shares some story from her journey following Jesus and the surrender that has led to life and the passion she has for helping people walk in obedience to Jesus.

We lean into breaking ties with sin, the companionship of Christ in suffering, endurance through faith, and the glory of God that is on display as we entrust ourselves to him amidst the suffering.

One of the greatest gifts we’ve been given by God is relationship.

Relationship with Him and life lived in relationship with others

In today’s episode we talk about the humility of Christ and how the love of God seen through the Gospel demonstrates for us how to love in relationships.

Judy shares stories from her journey following God and how walking with Jesus has guided her understanding of how to love freely and sacrificially.

Having been married for over 30 years, Judy speaks into the Biblical principle of mutual submission in relationships and in marriage.  Judy and Laura Leigh lean into the wisdom from the book of 1 Peter Chapter 3 bringing insight on what it means to serve one another in love and how in doing so we are showing the world around us the beauty of Christ.

In today’s episode Olivia and Laura Leigh are diving into spiritual parenting and the role spiritual mothers and fathers play in our lives as disciples of Jesus. Today we talk about what the Bible says about being disciples and making disciples, and the joy found in growing up into our salvation, becoming spiritual parents for others.

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Olivia Munn-Shirsath is a passionate communicator of the Word, currently serving as Teaching Pastor at Wellspring Church in Queens, NY. With over a decade of frontline urban pastoral experience through the Salvation Army amidst the homelessness and recovery communities, she is well equipped to address a wide range of issues, and is convinced the Bride of Christ is the solution. Olivia is a mentor, a worship leader, and the co-author of The Uprising.

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” - 1 Peter 2:1-3

Hi, we are so glad you’ve joined us to kick off Season Four of Living in the Light! This season will be all about Hope in the Light, offering encouragement to cling to Jesus in challenging seasons of our life. Today we sat down with RCW Assistant and Best Friend, Ánh-Mai Zubia, who is taking over the mic to ask Laura Leigh some questions. Laura Leigh dives into her heart behind starting the online community Rise Collective Women, and how its growth has glorified God and redeemed her past experiences with community. Ahn-Mai and Laura Leigh talk about what’s coming next with Rise Collective and how it ties into the podcast, and what you can expect in Season Four. Together they dive into what it looks like to be fearless in God, and how the Lord is teaching that to Laura Leigh in this season, as well as what it looks like to be justified by grace. They wrap up with a reminder about the power of the Bible and what it can teach us all about how Jesus lived in community, and how we can, too.

Big news for you today - Season 4 is officially launching NEXT Tuesday, 7/19!  We are so excited to spend the summer with you as we talk about hope in the light.

In today’s episode Laura Leigh shares about new podcast season - what to expect and how to join us in her new study - Hope & Holiness, a study through the book of 1 Peter.

Next week we are kicking it off with an interview from Laura Leigh as she invites a friend to sit down and ask her some deeper questions surrounding hope in the brokenness of her own story, and various struggles that have fueled her faith in Jesus.

This is our first official Rise Collective study and there are discipleship groups both ONLINE and in person in NYC.  Sign up today!

Welcome back to episode 3 of our bonus season, where Laura Leigh sits down with Jess Johnston, co-author of “I’ll Be There, But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants.” In this episode, we dive into friendship, and how God provides us with community.  In the same way that Jesus calls us His friend, He calls us to be friends to those around us.

Laura Leigh and Jess talk about the way online communities have shaped their own friendships, and the importance of balancing them with in-person communities. They bond over having to take that first brave step of inviting people in when you need community, and how significant humility can be in making that jump.  Jess emphasizes how special real and authentic friendships are, and explains in her own words the value of “sweatpants friends.”

What are you free to do because your dream died?  What if knowing who you are and why you’re here changes everything? In today’s episode Laura Leigh sits down with Scott Erickson as they talk about his journey as an artist and a follower of Jesus, and the discoveries he made living through this question.

Today they lean into his story and the message of Say Yes, Scott’s most recent book.  He dives into deeper conversation about how the future bursts with possibilities if you’re willing to say yes to the gift of life on the other side of the death of a dream.

Scott Erickson is a touring painter, performance artist and creative curate who mixes autobiography, aesthetics, and comedic narrative to create experiences that speak to our deepest stories.

For the first of our Season 4 bonus episodes, Laura Leigh sits down with Shauna Niequest, self-titled bookworm, storyteller, and passionate gatherer of people. She is the New York Times best-selling author of “Cold Tangerines, Bittersweet, Bread & Wine, Savor,” and “Present Over Perfect,” and she just released her newest book, “I Guess I Haven’t Learned that Yet.” In today’s episode, Shauna delves into how humbling herself as a beginner and letting go of the need to be an expert has helped both her writing and faith journey. Shauna talks about how true fearlessness is trusting in God and doing things even while you’re afraid. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes the importance of living lightly and exercising practices of silence and solitude, adding how difficult it is to hear God’s spirit inside of you when you’re sprinting through your life. Shauna reflects on her own experiences and how moving forward through change, releasing control and learning to ask for help can aid young women in seasons of transitions, or seasons of darkness.

Dreaming with God and believing him for immeasurably more when things are going well is one thing, but what do we do when we find ourselves in the valley?  When we aren’t sure how we are going to see to the end of the waiting?

Today’s episode is about having faith and hoping in God in times of trouble. My sweet friend Dreem Sharif is on the podcast with me today and we share our story of how God answered a specific cry for “help” and brought me hope through Dreem’s prayers and encouragement.She also shares her powerful testimony of how she has experienced Jesus take her from the dark and into the light and hope of Christ.

God is always taking us somewhere, and we can trust that, as it says in Philippians 1 v 6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

We all feel scared at times to step into the dream God has placed on our hearts and to do what He is asking us to do.

Today I invited one of my dearest friends, Ánh Mai Zubia on the podcast to talk about what the Lord is teaching her this year when it comes to hearing God and walking in obedience to what He is calling us to. We talk about facing the fears we all have around showing up for the dreams the Lord places on our hearts and how to avoid paralysis by over-analysis by taking up the strength and courage found only in God alone.

The enemy tries to keep us cut off at the knee, but in Christ we choose to receive the hope, courage, commitment and love found in Him. Let’s be women that love God with our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength more we would love sitting in our own fear and in our own self wallowing.

Today’s episode is about cultivating a heart of thankfulness.

Grab a cup of coffee and your Bible and download your thankfulness reflection guide. Join me as we thank God for all of the ways He has provided for us over this past year.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. -Psalm 100:4

God what are YOU going to do to glorify yourself and to advance the Kingdom in my lifetime that you want ME to be a part of?

We all have assignments from God and specific dreams He has given us to carry His name and His plan of salvation to the world.

Join me as I sit down with my friend and mentor Jayme Thompson as we talk about looking for where God’s moving, seeking the Spirit, and joining Him there.

We also talk about leaning into our individual giftings and the joy found in the process of walking in obedience to where calling us to participate.

There is joy in the everyday fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and I believe this episode will encourage you to seek Him with your life and your calling.

God has always delighted in using the faith of ordinary people to carry His extraordinary plan of salvation to the world.

When the Lord gave me this dream a few years ago, I had no idea what He had in store. And then God reminded me that He truly is the King of the Universe.

Join me as I continue sharing the unfolding story of the Rise Collective House. This week I tell the story of my journey walking with God in the search for property and how God restored my faith and gave me the endurance to believe Him.

Today’s episode will build your faith as we ponder the life of Hannah in the Bible and how God used her passionate prayers for His glorious plan of redemption.

Believing God for immeasurably more begins with our surrender.  In today’s episode Rebekah Lyons joins the conversation to talk about saying “yes” to God and living a surrendered life. We talk about what it means to lay everything down and to accept the invitation to follow Jesus into the unknown. As God’s beloved children we can trust that He wants immeasurably more for us as we abide in Him.

We also talk about:

-How God uses our freedom to set others free

-Surrender in seasons of painful pruning, long-suffering and unmet expectations.

- Letting go and letting God love you.

LINKS from the show:

If we believe that Jesus is truly enough, why do we spend all these hours trying to be enough?

Colossians 1:17

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

The pressure is off. Because of his grace, all things hold together. It is by the grace of God and through our faith in Him where we find immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. (Eph 3:20-21).

Today Ruth Chou Simons joins the conversation to encourage us with the Gospel of grace.   As we continue this season of immeasurably more and talk about believing God for the dreams He has put on our hearts, it’s foundational that we remember what it is we are all searching for, why nothing here truly satisfies and the gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ.  The grace of God has always been the vehicle by which God wants our hearts.

Prayer is the door we enter to discover God’s heart of unending grace and the home we have always wanted.  The place where we can crawl into our Father’s lap and find our purpose.

In today’s episode we are leaning into a topic that is foundational to our lives as followers of Jesus and that is PRAYER.  It’s through prayer where we learn to trust that God has immeasurably more for us through His Son Jesus. As I am watching God grow and develop this dream He put on my heart through Rise Collective Women, He continues to teach me so much about the power of prayer and the gift of communicating with Him.

If you struggle with prayer, find yourself doubting the effectiveness of prayer, or want to know if God even hears you when you pray, this conversation will encourage you today.

Dr. Derwin L. Gray joins the conversation today to talk about what prayer is and to help us lay a theological foundation for our understanding. Dr. Gray is the founding and lead pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped community just south of Charlotte, North Carolina. He has written several books, including the bestselling The Good Life and most recently God, Do You Hear Me?.

Links from the show!

This season on the podcast I am telling the story of how God has been birthing this dream he put on my heart a few years ago and I am inviting you, as a listener, to join me for the journey as we watch this story unfold.

Listen in for a reading of John 14 verses 1-18.

This is an episode about the Holy Spirit as our divine counselor and comforter.

We need Spirit filled counselors in our lives to guide us as we walk in the way of wisdom.

It was the kindness of God to bring me a counselor who is also my friend.

Kathryn has been a huge encouragement to me over the past year as she has walked with me in discipleship.  With consistent presence, the Holy Spirit through Kathryn has given me preserving faith and endurance in the many highs and lows that have come alongside trusting God with this dream.

In today’s episode she shares her perspective on this unfolding story.  We share how God brought our stories together, what our relationship has looked like, and practical advice on pursuing and seeking Godly counsel in your own life!

The last episode of Season 2 was supposed to be my conversation with my dear friend Kelsey Linnartz. I tucked it away and saved it for you guys, and today you will hear that conversation from May of this year.  But, there’s more!

Three months have passed, and Kelsey has seen God bring new life in her story in ways she never would have imagined were possible. Halfway through the episode we will jump to a conversation Kelsey and I just recently recorded from my apartment in Manhattan!

Kelsey’s faith and friendship in the waiting has continued to encourage me and remind me of God’s faithfulness.

As we embark on a season of believing in God for immeasurably more, I wanted to begin here.  This episode will remind you of the HOPE you have in Jesus Christ as you trust Him for all He has in store for you in your own story.

I’ll be back next Tuesday with the first solo episode of the season!  Excited to share the story unfolding in my life and in Rise Collective.

Don’t miss this episode!  This woman has lived decades of life as a follower of Jesus exercising her gifts and passions for storytelling  and creativity in Hollywood.  Karen works as an independent film producer and has recently concluded a 4 year term on the national board of the Producers Guild of America.

In addition to her work in storytelling, Karen’s heart for the Lord and for the entertainment industry led her to founding and creating the Hollywood Prayer Network, a nonprofit organization seeking to build a bridge of love and respect between Christians in the Church and professionals in Hollywood, through prayer.  She believes our industry dramatically shapes our world and that Christians should work excellently and share the love of Christ everywhere they go.

In today’s episode Karen shares her personal story of Jesus capturing her heart and how that propelled her into a life and career encouraging artists and creatives to walk in their purpose as followers of Jesus, carrying the gospel to the world. She is committed to mobilizing Christians to pray for the people, projects and issues in the entertainment industry with an attitude of love.

We also talk about:

• Jesus as the greatest storyteller and the adventure in following Him.
  
• How to say “no” and the gift of the Holy Spirit in navigating a career in storytelling.
  
• Walking with the Lord and letting Him lead and guide you.

Listen to the end of the episode for some guided prayer.

This episode will encourage you to come to Jesus with faith like a child! Today on the show you hear from 13 year old Broadway star, Anna Haller. What you should know about Anna is that she starred in the Broadway production of Disney’s Frozen as Young Elsa in 2019 performing around 70 times. Anna shares her Broadway story and what she learned in the process as well as her journey as a follower of Jesus and how the Lord continues to set her free by His grace.  This girl may be young, but she has faith that can move mountains.  Listen and be encouraged by her pure and unashamed love for the Lord.

I have loved getting to witness her faith in our Rise Collective Women online Bible Study community!

I am so excited to be back with you for SEASON 2 of the podcast! You are going to love my conversation with LA based actress, screenwriter and singer/songwriter, Cozi Zuehlsdorff.

Come listen and stand in amazement with us as we acknowledge the GLORY of our God. We talk about what it means to see His glory for what it is and live and work from a place of being secure in our identity in Him. I thought it was powerful when Cozi said “If you don’t accept that every good breath that leaves your body is God’s and God’s alone...then it’s what you bring to the table..it’s up to you to fight for the credit.” When we believe that God is the glorious one, then we desire to give HIM the honor and praise, and are released from fighting for our self-worth. We are worthy because He says we are.

Cozi is best known in the film world for her role as Hazel in the feature films "Dolphin Tale” and “Dolphin Tale 2”. On TV, she was a staple on shows such as Disney’s “Liv & Maddie”. In 2018 she starred opposite Broadway star Heidi Blickenstaff as Ellie Blake in the Disney Channel Original Movie “Freaky Friday”. Cozi has also experienced success in the pop, singer/songwriter and EDM worlds, both as a writer and artist. Streams-to- date for her releases total over 200 million!

I’ve missed you and am so excited to be back for Season 2 of Living in the Light! In today’s episode I share some of my own journey over the past year. From making my Broadway debut in Mean Girls, being uprooted from NYC and coming home to Arkansas to later finding out our show would be closing.

We have all experienced loss in this season. It’s real.  But living in the light of Christ we have purpose and HOPE, no matter the circumstances, because we know the end of the story.  We know that in Him we have everything.

LAST EPISODE OF SEASON 1 and Mackenzie drops the mic in our conversation today!  Mackenzie shares her personal struggle with depression and anxiety and how the Word of God has sustained her through some of the darkest seasons of her life.

From a village in Kenya to New York Fashion Week, this is a story of how one woman’s generosity, boldness, and love for African artistry and design brought women from the streets to sustainability in the name of Jesus.

Today you’ll hear from my friend Anna Taylor who founded and runs the nonprofit James 127 and the fashion company Judith and James.  James127 Foundation brings God's hope to widows and orphans through artistry by providing free sewing training to vulnerable women in Kenya. James127 was founded on the bible verse James 1:27 which states, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Through James 127, the widowed women learn to create beautiful products that lead to a sustainable means to provide for themselves and their families.

Anna is an Arkansan and has given up everything here to bring art made in Kenya and the stories of the women whose hands are at work into the light.

Why does God give us boundaries?

This time has been tough on all of us, but it has and is devastating the poor.  In today’s episode, Keewani-Cook shares her story of growing up in poverty in the Philippines and the hopelessness she lived through as a child. When she was 7 years old Keewani was invited to participate in Compassion International’s child development program at a local church. Through the love, support, encouragement and care she received from her sponsors and program staff, her life began to change drastically.  Compassion was the door to the light of Jesus for her and her family and sponsorship made it possible for Keewani to receive an education, a university degree and an entirely new life.

How can you sponsor?

Two ways:

We have a Broadway legend on the show today, friends! In today’s episode Quentin Earl Darrington shares his story of being loved by God and carrying that into everything he does and every story he tells. He shares how he has experienced the Lord through developing and bringing new characters to life in some of his most iconic Broadway roles. 

Quentin brings truth and wisdom about what it means to humbly live out the love of Jesus - picking up your cross, dying to yourself, and following Christ. 

Quentin Earl Darrington was most recently seen on Broadway as Agwe in the Tony Award winning revival of Once On This Island for which he earned a Grammy nomination. He made his Broadway debut in the Tony nominated revival of Ragtime, starring as Coalhouse Walker Jr. and was also seen as Old Deuteronomy in the Broadway revival of CATS, among many other roles!