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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. Mackenzie is a South Carolina native who has called New York her home for 10 years. She has had the honor of performing on Broadway and tour in the revivals of Cats, Pippin and Anything Goes. She is actively involved with Church of the City NY and she owns a small graphic design business called KenziScript (check it out HERE!). Sign up for my weekly newsletter here (insert form sign up HERE!) Want more information about my Bible Study Community?  Sign up HERE to join us!

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. Sponsor a Compassion child HERE Or you can text YOURLIGHT to 83393.  You’ll get a text back with a link to sponsor! Shop Judith & James HERE

Why does God give us boundaries? Dustin tells his personal story of growing up struggling with sexuality, not feeling comfortable in his own skin as a boy and the confusion he experienced when it came to understanding his individual interests, passions, and desires.  He shares his journey of searching and experimentation and how it led him to discover that nothing in this world could satisfy him but Jesus. We talk about the gift of God’s boundaries.  How they are for our good, our protection, and for the saving of our lives. Be encouraged by the reminder that following Jesus isn’t just abiding by a set of rules, it is leaving everything we thought we loved for a personal relationship with our Savior who loves us more than we can comprehend. “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” -Psalm 16:6 Join me at the end of the episode as we open the Word of God to Galatians Chapter 3 and talk about salvation by grace and through faith in Jesus. Want to join my Bible Study Community?  Sign up HERE! Sponsor a child through Compassion International today!  Just text YOURLIGHT to 83393.  You’ll get a text back with a picture of a child and a link.  Click that link and follow the steps to start sponsoring.

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: -Go to compassion.com/lauraleigh and sponsor a child today.  Choose a child and be a part of transforming their life—releasing them from poverty in Jesus name. -Text YOURLIGHT to 83393.  You’ll get a text back with a picture of a child and a link.  Click that link and follow the steps to start sponsoring. Join the college girls community HERE

In today’s episode I have the honor of talking to Kate Battistelli - former Broadway performer, author of The God Dare: Will You Choose to Believe the Impossible, and mother to internationally praised and GRAMMY award winning worship artist, Francesca Battistelli. If you need a fresh drink of faith today, this conversation will remind you that God is a God of the impossible! In today’s episode she tells her story of when she first met the light of Jesus and how the Lord and His Word has and continues to change her life. We talk about God’s patience, developing the gifts He’s given us and having faith and believing that God is who He says He is. I pray that you leave this episode remembering that God has called you for such a time as this to walk in the light and to rise up and shine! Check out Kate’s Book HERE Join my Online Bible Study community HERE Beth Moore’s Book - Believing God HERE

Today we get to the heart of things.  I am so excited for you to meet my friend and award winning filmmaker, writer, and producer, Alexandra Boylan!  Listen in as Alexandra tells her story of moving to LA at 19 to become an actress, being homeless and living out of a car, and her journey to giving up everything to the Lord and feeling called to found and create her own production company, MirrorTree Productions, where she has produced numerous feature films. Alexandra is passionate about producing women-led, faith-based films and we talk about her new teen-girl film, Switched, and the heart behind the project - sharing the love of Jesus and encouraging people to lead with love. “There isn’t anybody you couldn’t love if you knew their story” -Mary Lou Kownacki Lead with Love Resources Check out more of Alexandra’s films HERE!  Sign-up for my weekly newsletter HERE!  Join the Bible Study community HERE! At the end of the episode we open the Word of God and learn about the greatest commandment in the whole Bible: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” -Luke 10:27

You are going to love this conversation with artist, author, musician, and internationally loved poet, Morgan Harper Nichols. Morgan’s popular Instagram feed has garnered a loyal online community, and she is the author of All Along You Were Blooming, a book of poems and art she created in response to the personal stories submitted by her friends and followers.  In today’s episode we talk about the Wisdom of Jesus and the joy found in walking in the light of the divinely creative and loving life He lived. Morgan shares her journey in artistry and the place from which she creates all her work- the grace and hope we’ve been given in this world as followers of Christ. This conversation will give you permission to create with courage and to let yourself feel and process your deepest aches in the presence of God. Morgan has also performed as a vocalist on several GRAMMY-nominated projects and written for various artists, including a Billboard #1 single performed by her sister, Jamie-Grace. Be inspired by Morgan’s art here! Shop Morgan’s online store here! Want to join the Bible study community? Sign up HERE Subscribe to my weekly newsletter HERE

Such a joy to have Kennedy Caughell, my friend and star of the Broadway National Tour of Beautiful the Carole King Musical, on the show today! Listen in as we talk about the beauty of imperfection and the power and freedom found in having a perfect heavenly Father.  We dive into the topic of prayer and how we, as followers of Christ, are given the gift of communicating with God and being fully known and loved by Him.  Do you ever wonder - How do I talk to God? What is prayer? Why pray? At the end of the episode I am opening up my Bible to the passage of scripture, Matthew 6:9-13 and breaking down what Jesus taught His disciples about how to pray. College Girls for Christ Community - SIGN UP HERE  Subscribe to my weekly newsletter!  Source Material Referenced: If Gathering - If Collective - {Lesson 3}

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!  At the end of the episode I dive into the humility of Jesus as we open the Word and walk through Philippians 2:3-11.  Subscribe to my newsletter HERE for weekly show notes!

This week on the show I sit down with Ashley Bratcher, star of the box office hit, Unplanned, the inspiring true story that chronicles the transformation of a Planned Parenthood clinic director to pro-life advocate. Ashley tells us her personal story of getting to the end of herself, letting go of her plans and surrendering her life and career to Christ. We talk about her journey to discovering that her very own life was spared on an aboriton table and how one opened door changed her life forever.  Ashley is passionate about telling redemptive stories on screen as an actor and is currently producing her own feature film. Listen in and hear how Ashley has found strength and courage in believing that God truly has a purpose and a plan for every detail of our lives. Join me at the end of the episode as we open the word of God to Psalm 139 and stand in awe of the goodness of our Creator God. Read the passage here! Download the YouVersion Bible App here! Follow Ashley! @_ashleybratcher

What does it mean to really live in the light?  How do I step into the light God has for me? What happens when I don’t feel seen? Broadway Performer, Author, Speaker, Bible Teacher, and Graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Allison Allen, answers these questions today and you don’t want to miss it! Listen in as Allison tells her story of falling in love with storytelling as she fell in love with Christ.  She shares how the theatre has been a huge part of her journey getting to know the Ultimate Storyteller- Jesus, and how finding Him led to truly finding herself. Be encouraged that our greatest weaknesses are the places where He shines His light best! Click here for Allison’s books! Subscribe to my newsletter for show notes, scripture from the show, and some fun updates each week!

We have our second Glinda on the show today!  Another southern belle who rides the bubble, this girl has been traveling around the country with the Broadway National Tour of Wicked. In today’s episode Allison tells her story of being released into this dream role and soon after receiving the news of a cancer diagnosis.  She talks about how God’s grace sustained her and how, even through the scariest of times, she was able to find strength and peace in relationship with Jesus and the power of prayer.  If you feel discouraged because of bad news, Allison reminds us that no matter what the circumstances look like, we can trust that God truly has the very best plan for our lives. Struggling trusting that God has a plan? At the end of the show I’m breaking down the infamous passage of scripture Jeremiah 29:11 and bringing you some truth to cling to as you walk out this week. Subscribe to my newsletter HERE for show notes, scripture from the show, and some fun updates each week from me! Lets connect: Instagram: @lauraleighturner Email: podcast@lovelauraleigh.com Blog: lovelauraleigh.com

Ashley is not afraid to share what God says is true.  In today’s episode I’m sitting down with my friend Ashley LaLonde and we talk about her journey growing up in the faith in New York City, falling in love with musical theatre, studying at Harvard and pursuing a career as a performing artist. But, it doesn’t stop there! We get real and dive deep into her personal story of how God has redeemed her understanding of intimacy. Listen in to hear more about her journey to surrendering her heart to the Lord.  Join me at the end of the episode as we walk through this passage of scripture:  John 1:1-5  Ashley’s recommended listen: "Sexual Wholeness" - Touré Roberts  Click HERE to subscribe to my weekly newsletter!  Lets connect:  Instagram: @lauraleighturner  Blog: lovelauraleigh.com