You are invited to a conversation with the Bonnet Prayer Gang (BPG)! Join Shekinah, JohnnaNichelle and TscienaTown as they talk about identity in Christ, life as an entrepreneur, and how to navigate conversations of faith with friends, family, and colleagues.
Get a peek into BPG's weekly call of inspiration, support, and topics around navigating everyday life with Christ at the center.
Let's get right into todays' Truths & Promises.
Visit our Podcast page to listen online, Google Podcast Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
Show Notes:
Get To Know Our Guests:
Matthew 10:32-34: "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."
1 Timothy 1:7-8: "They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. We know that the law is good if one uses it properly."
1 Thessalonians 2:2: "We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition."
Philippians 1:14: "And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear."
Ephesians 3:12: "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."
Get Caught Up with Episode 3: From the Walters' Couch: It's been a year, but why did we get married so fast?
From the Walters' Couch: It's been a year, but why did we get married so fast? - Transcription
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Shekinah: Hey, y'all, and welcome to this week's episode of the truths and promises podcast. Today, we will be having our first BPG, AKA the Bonnet Prayer Gang conversation. So I have two of my really great friends. We've been praying together since maybe the start of the pandemic, somewhere in there that March, somewhere between March 2020 and June 2020, we started praying together and really just seeing the faithfulness of God. And during those conversations, we've also been able to have, or during those prayer times, we've also been able to have some really great conversations, and we wanted to open that up to everyone else. And now, as I think about my correction of prayer time versus conversations. Yeah. During those conversations with God, we've also been able to have really good conversations with each other. And so, we wanted to open that up to folks. So first, let me allow Johnna and Tsciena to take a moment to introduce themselves. Johnna, you want to let us know who you are.
Johnna: Yeah. Well, first, thank you so much for having us. It's so interesting to be doing this in podcast format. Like you said, we've been talking on the phone, on zoom for almost two years now. Amazing. Crazy. But I am Johnna, I'm a wife. I am a believer. I'm a dog mom to the sweetest little angel, Nala. And I am also a Dallas-based digital content creator. So I create faith-based and lifestyle content primarily on Instagram and YouTube. And then in addition to that, I run a digital brand agency called Be the Message. So there, I offer brand strategy, digital consulting, and web design services. So very excited to chat about all the things today.
Tsciena: Okay, well, hi everyone. My name is Tsciena. I'm also really excited that we're bringing our girl chats to the podcast. Let's see, so I'm also a believer. I am a self-proclaimed foodie. I love to travel and share my food experiences. I work in digital marketing and social media, right now in the finance industry. And I also work with the church and, I like to do some consulting here and there on the side. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to our discussion this evening.
Shekinah: Yeah, I'm really excited to have y'all here. , both Johnna and Tsciena have been connected to 1140Glory since the very beginning. I think Johnna might've been the first person to hear the term 1140 Glory as we were creating, the first website for 1140, and then Tsciena was there from the very first conference and got to see the conference go grow from there.
Shekinah: So, yeah, I'm really excited to have y'all and excited that we've been able to like maintain this friendship. And, now bring this and introduce it to the rest of the world as you two know, and to let our listeners know today, the premise behind our Bonnet Prayer Gang conversation today is actually related to my dissertation defense back in March of 2021. And. I, as I mentioned to y'all during that time, and since then, I really struggled with whether or not. Or how exactly I would acknowledge God and, more specifically, how I would acknowledge Jesus during that defense. You know, so I had my acknowledgment section. I shouted out the Bonnet Prayer Gang, my husband, my parents, all of the folks that helped me achieve that milestone. And during that moment, I also just had to stop and give honor to God and Jesus, more specifically, because I didn't want any confusion about who I was talking about. And, yeah, you know, I kind of struggled with the fact that that was so hard to do. And I think we've talked about this same sort of thing, in relation to our businesses, our professional life, how to sort of bring those two identities together instead of always separating them. I know for a long time it was Shekinah the Academic, Shekhinah, the minister, author, and whoever else, and really creating this, this wall of separation. And so I want to have this conversation, which I think is really rooted within Matthew 10:33, which says, "but whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my father in heaven."
Shekinah: And so I'm happy I did not disown Jesus on that day, where there were, I don't know how many hundred people watching me defend my dissertation. I actually had the opportunity to acknowledge Him. Right? And reading back over the scripture makes me so happy that I did. So I kind of want to kick off this conversation with a simple question of what does it mean or what does it look like to have an identity that's rooted in Christ?
Shekinah: Whichever one of you wants to answer first or give your thoughts there.
Tsciena: Yeah. So I think it is as simple of a question as this is; I think it can get really complex. Like you said, I think it's one thing outside of our maybe professional atmosphere or social atmosphere to say, yeah, "I'm a Christian," but you know, what does that mean to have a rooted identity in Christ? And I really think at the core of it, at least for me, it's not having that identity separation, right? It is having God at the center of everything that we do, you know, I think of the scripture that says anyone in Christ is a new creation. So when we become a new creation, we're not just a new creation at home. We're not just a new creation at church. You know, we're a new creation in our entirety.
And so I think part of really having a rooted identity is understanding that in every decision that we make, every relationship that we pursue, every friendship, every conversation that we have that our kingdom identity is at the forefront of that.
Yeah. I think it absolutely. Like our salvation is so core to our identity in Christ. And then, as we're growing in relationship with God and get to know his character, we get to know who we are to him, our value, we get to know that he did form us in our mom's wounds. He knows the number of hairs on our head and that throughout the whole Bible, we just see this theme that he's after us and that he wants to commune with us.
And I think, for me really honing in on that really knowing my value to God, the creator of the universe gives me confidence and also clarify as my identity in him and, you know, kind of with what Johnna was saying, we're a new man in Christ, and it's like, we go back to who he created us to be when we were created in his image.
So yeah, I think just having a knowing and an understanding of that is how you reach your identity, and just rooted in Christ.
Shekinah: Yeah, I think that's really big. , the piece of recognizing who you are, as it relates to being a child of God. Like so many times, I feel like we, as people, can get lost in all the things that we do from day to day, that we let that define our identity.
Whereas we have to go back to the scripture. We have to go back to the truth of what the Word of God, what God says about who we are and whose we are. for me having an identity that's rooted in Christ takes me also to this Bible study we've been doing on the book of Numbers that, talks about how God just wants to dwell at the center.
Right? So for me, having a life rooted in Christ means that everything I do, Christ at the center. Now that is easier said than done. That is not my everyday reality. I'm not walking around holier than thou going, "Christ is at the center of everything." But the thought here is that in every single thing that I do, and every step that I take, that it will bring glory to God that I remember that when people are looking at me when people are looking at my work, that it's a reflection of who God is in my life and who I am in God.
And so I like to think that. Having a life centered in Christ is having Christ-centered in your life. That I'm going to him before. I'm going to my own knowledge, intellect, or understanding or wisdom about something that I'm finding ways to make sure that I'm showing light and not necessarily hiding my candle under a bushel, you know, to bring back one of our old childhood songs, and yeah, yeah, I would say that for me is what it really means to have sort of that identity that's rooted in Christ, understanding that he is the center. This doesn't mean he comes first, but this means he is at the center. That means he's in every piece of everything that I do. , so I really think there's a difference between putting God first in your life and putting God at the center of your life and allowing him to be that foundation for everything.
Johnna: Yeah, that's so true. I love that you bring up the study, too, with us in the wilderness because I think when we also think about our identity being rooted in Christ, to know Christ is to know His Word. And I think even through us doing that study together, it's brought so much more clarity and revelation around what that identity is because we're diving so deep into the Word.
So I think, you know, of as important as it is to commune with God and to pray, we also need to be digging into the Word because how can we have a solid identity if we don't actually know the heart of the Father? How can we know the heart of the Father if we don't know his Word? So I love that you brought that up because that study has been like wrecking me in the best way.
Shekinah: I love it. Yeah, no, you know, one of the things that has been the heartbeat of 1140Glory, since it started, it's been, it's been about obeying God, obeying God on every journey that we take, but in order to obey God, you have to trust God. And in order to trust God, You have to know him, and I think knowing him allows you to really know yourself. I think we've talked about this before, but when you're taking communion when we see sort of that first communion in the Bible, it's a moment where Jesus can take your heart and show it back to you in its purest form. That's the moment where he says, you're gonna deny me.
You don't love me the way you say you love me, and it's really taking the time to know Him, to dive into communion with God, to really have that quiet time that we not only get to know Him, but like you say, we get to know ourselves too, which is a very large part of being able to trust God and being able to obey God.
Tsciena: That's good.
Shekinah: Yeah. So on another thing. And I guess the heart of this podcast right now is really about how many people don't talk about their identity as Christians because they feel that it might be unacceptable in different spaces. And my question for y'all is, do you identify with this struggle?
I kind of mentioned mine earlier about not really wanting to mention Jesus during my dissertation defense because I knew some people were Jewish. I knew some people were atheists, and I really just didn't want to offend anyone. And if you do identify with the struggle, how have you overcome it? And maybe if you haven't overcome it, we can talk a little bit about the strategies that we're thinking about, or we're trying to use in order to overcome sort of, this fear of opening up and talking about our Christian identity.
Tsciena: Yeah. So, there's definitely been a time when I struggled with sharing my faith openly. I think I felt maybe just a little insecure about it, but I really think the root was people-pleasing. So I think growing up, you know, in school, around family, I've always liked to kind of set the tone where everyone's comfortable.
Everyone can feel free to be themselves. You know, I've always wanted to be friendly, you know, or appealing to most people because I want acceptance. Right. So like that's where I was. And so I think that definitely fed into my approach to sharing my faith when I was a younger believer and kind of realizing that it's a little controversial to be a Christian and that not everyone will agree with the Bible and, you know, you might get attacked sometimes.
So, I think it's taken time to overcome it, but I think as I, like, as we talked about getting to know God reading the Word, knowing the Word, like knowing that the gospel is a little divisive and that it will ruffle some feathers. I come to accept that, and the peace that I have in Christ kind of just outweighs anything that I face in my work circle, family circle, friends because I know that at the end of the day, we're all going to see Him at some point, you know, like, so I think overcoming it is just honing in on knowing God, knowing the Word and allowing that to build your confidence in different circles.
I think I've just become more confident as a person in general. , because I know who I am in Christ, so yeah, it's taken some time.
Johnna: That's so good. Yeah. I can definitely relate. I feel like I grew up as a Grade A people pleaser. And even to this day, it's something that I have to continually go back to God and check my own heart about because it's hard, especially, you know, in a world where so much is on display for the public.
We share so much, whether it's on social media or just out and about, where there's a lot more room for criticism and judgment. And so I think that's something that I've like continually had to work to overcome. And I'm really comforted in a way, but also just kind of challenged by, the fact that Jesus himself was arguably one of the most hated men in history, you know, and if we're trying to be molded into his likeness and our goal in this life is to be like Christ.
Then we just simply aren't going to be accepted by everyone. And if we are trying to be accepted by everyone, then it's like, are we trying to be molded into his image? Are we trying to mold his image into a way that allows us to be accepted by everyone? And it's such a, it's such a heart check kind of question.
And I have to ask myself that a lot, especially sharing my faith online. Like, you know, am I staying true and not, am I not necessarily, you know, being, not compassionate, but am I staying true to my convictions while understanding I can do it in a way that's loving. And even when I do, it's still not going to be accepted by everyone, and that's just gotta be okay.
Tsciena: Yeah. I just want to add also the Holy Spirit will be on your neck if you're a believer and you keep holding it in, and you'll get tired of that anyways. So you might as well just the obedient.
Johnna: So true. Oh my gosh.
Shekinah: Yeah, no, I've definitely had those times where I'm like, dang it. I should have said something, and I didn't say anything. And then it's heavy on you for like days until you actually take the time to just repent about it. And I knew that would have happened with that dissertation defense. I knew I would have been at dinner later on that evening, going, "dang it, I should've said something. I didn't say anything." and I will say I am so grateful that I said something because there were a number of people that afterward literally reached out just to say that was very beautiful to see you acknowledge Jesus.
Some people said, "I could have never, I would have never." But that really encouraged me to live out my faith more boldly. And I was like, you don't know how I was shaking in my boots before I did that. But like that was confirmation for, okay, even if it was just for these two or three people that I needed to open my mouth and actually profess this, great, you know, I like how Tsciena said that the gospel is divisive.
Because that's a fact like I was afraid of offending people, but the gospel is offensive, and it just sorta is what it is. And you know, this takes me back to Matthew 10:32-34, which is where we sort of started this episode. And in verse 34, it says, "do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth."
Now, would it be more peaceful for me? Not to have said anything probably for some people, but Jesus said I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. And when he said that as I was reading through different commentaries, it really was about the type of knife that divides that cuts away. You know, the part of whatever it is, whether it's the chaff where the part of the fish you want and the bones that you don't want, you know?
And, and that's what, that's what the gospel does. It's going to make people stand out. Those who are for him and those who are against him, like it's going to be very clear as it was on the day that he went to the cross in an everyday sense. So I, you know, again, I feel the weight and heaviness to actually just speak out about faith in who God is in different ways.
Shekinah: I think about it. I have some scriptures for y'all, 1 Timothy 1:7-8, that let us know that God fills us with the Holy Spirit, who is bold and courageous. I think Tsciena may have said something about knowing God and being able to build confidence from that. That's who the Holy Spirit is.
So we don't have to muster courage or strength on our own. We can simply submit to the Spirit of God that lives on the inside of us to be able to give us that mighty boldness that we need; in 1 Thessalonians 2:2, it tells us that God emboldens us to proclaim the gospel without fear.
He hasn't given us a spirit of fear but of love. And so I reflect back on what Johnna was just saying about, okay, I'm going to speak what God has called me to speak. I'm not going to speak it in a condemning spirit, but I'm going to speak it in love because it's the love of God that convicts and that draws people closer to him.
So that's all we have to do is lean on that. And I think for us, For those of us who are believers, it's important to know that boldness is contagious, and that's sort of the story and testimony that I just shared that after I did that, there are now folks I work with that are like, okay, so how can we be more bold in our workplace about our relationship with Christ, even though this might be unpopular?
Like what can we do to show our relationship and our love for Christ. And I, you know, I wrote this out when we are bold for Christ and enduring hardships for our faith, others are provoked to do the same. And this is coming from Philippians 1:14. So, and then the last scripture I have was Ephesians 3:12, which says in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
So again, the boldness already lives on the inside of us. And we've just sort of gotta lean into that.
Johnna: Yeah, that's so good. I love what you said. , to Tsciena, when you were talking about how the Holy Spirit really will convict you when you don't, you know, when you don't share the gospel, or you don't use those opportunities that He's given you.
And I remember, I don't know if I've told you guys this I might have, but I had a dream one time. And in this dream, like I had gotten to the end of my life and I was looking at a screen and on the screen, all of these moments started coming up. It would be me hugging a friend or having a conversation with a family member.
Johnna: And at first, I was like, oh, this is so beautiful. And all of a sudden, this heaviness came over me, and in the dream, God was like, do you know what you're watching? And I was like, and then I started feeling it, and all of a sudden it just clicked, and he told me this was every single opportunity that you had to share the gospel and you didn't.
And when I woke up, I was just so shaken by that. And, you know, I don't want to be looking at the people that I love, or even just people that I come into contact with. And I knew there was an opportunity there, and I didn't take it. And so sometimes that just comes to the forefront of my mind and, you know, it empowers me to then take that step, whether I am fearful in that moment or not, but just to do it anyway, and to be obedient because you just never know who's salvation could be on the other side of.
Tsciena: Yeah. And I'm kind of, as you're saying that, Johnna, I imagine there's probably someone listening, wondering, like, what does it look like for the Holy Spirit to nudge me to talk to someone? Like, what is that experience like? Do you guys have examples?
Shekinah: That's a good question. It's hard. This is a tough one to describe, but a really good question for me, sometimes it really is just like a heaviness, like a burden, you know, like that tossing and turning you get at night. When you think about worlds or current events, and you just can't shake it. , sometimes that's what a nudge feels like to me; it's just like heavy.
Like I can sometimes physically feel it. A flutter of my heart or just like the pounding of it. It's like, all right, I gotta do this now or never. And, sometimes, that's what it's like for me. , it can be a consistent dream that I continue to have, or, somehow the same thing keeps coming up over and over again, whether it's in conversation, that's happened a lot with us where we'll like, get on the prayer line and pray about something and then I'll go have a conversation with two or three other people.
And they're going through the exact things we were just praying and talking about. , and that is like one of those moments where I'm going, okay, Holy Spirit. Like, what do I say? What do I share based on what we just prayed about and what we just read about in your scripture this morning? Like, how do I share this with someone else who may or may not be a believer but is obviously going through the same thing?
So yeah, I would say to sum that up, sometimes it's just the heaviness, right, you can't shake.
Johnna: Yeah. I really identify with that sort of heaviness too. And it's almost like if you're an empath or, you know, you consider yourself to be an empathetic person. Sometimes it's just when you're in conversation with someone they're sharing their heart with you, and it's almost like you can feel exactly not only what they're saying, but what they're not saying; you can truly feel what they're experiencing.
And I think those are moments where those opportunities may come to share your faith or to let them know. Hey, I've felt something like this before, and this is how I navigated through that. So sometimes it's just like having, or being a safe space for someone to share their heart and then using that as the opportunity to then go forth and share.
Tsciena: Yeah. And I'll say, you know, Johnna, your dream it's it has me shook, you know, I think this idea of missing those opportunities. And I think sometimes I go back and forth, like, is God telling me to do this? You know, but that's probably just me feeling nervous or, you know, kind of pushing back. And your dream is like such a reminder to just lean into those moments.
Cause I think when I do, as I'm talking, I literally feel I'm not in the driver's seat anymore. Like, I don't really know what I'm going to say. Like, I know it's going to be related to God, but I don't really have the words. And I think God just kind of takes over in those moments. So,, that's such a good reminder. Really powerful.
Shekinah: Yeah. I think that's being what the scripture talks about, about being emboldened by God. Like, and I've definitely had those experiences where it's like, all right, I don't know what I'm about to say to this person, but I feel led to say something. So I'm going to say something. And then by the end of it, they're like, whoa, that's exactly what I need in.
And then I'm like, can you tell me what I say it because I actually don't know what I just said to you. I'm like, I need you to run it back to me because maybe I need it too, it is absolutely a crazy experience. You said what? You've seen that before?
Tsciena: You've asked me that before, and I think it was at an 1140 conference, and it was so specific, broke me down. And then I'm talking to you later. She's like, I don't even know what I said.
It was like, you ran my life. Well, I guess God did, but yeah.
Johnna: That's when you know it's the Spirit for real when you can't even remember what you said after.
Shekinah: yeah, no, that, and that's true submission, you know, and that's, that's real faith too, is just like, all right, I'm going to open my mouth and Holy Spirit, you speak through me because I don't even know what to say.
And I actually remember that Tsciena, because I definitely called you up to the altar, like, I just appreciated your sacrifice of coming to the conference and being an apart that I was like, God, give me a word. Just give me anything to say. I don't care. I didn't know what I was about to say to you. And still to this moment, I don't really remember all of it, but I remember the confirmation of you saying, you know, and I think that just lets us know too, that.
The Spirit is subject to the prophet, right? Which means that we can choose to activate that anointing in our life, right. This isn't saying like everyone's a prophet, but we can operate under different anointing that anointing to prophesy, that anointing to minister, and evangelize. If there is a desire in your heart to do so, oftentimes God has put that desire there, and he can fulfill that desire.
And all we have to do is lean in and say, all right, I submit it all to you. Just make it happen. However, you will. And then we see God deliver on that, you know? , yeah, it really is a beautiful thing. So how have you all ministered to your friends and family? , even though the fears and feelings of, okay, they probably don't want to hear this, at Thanksgiving or Christmas or, as I'm visiting them for their birthday.
How have you all allowed sort of God to shine through you?
Johnna: I would say a lot of it for me, one of them, I don't know that it's the easiest way, but it's a way that. I feel it resonates deeply with people that I'm close to is by sharing my testimony by reflecting back because sometimes I think it can come off when we're sharing the gospel. Like we are holier than thou or we've always lived
Shekinah: and I ain't.
Johnna: Look, me either. And I'm like, no, I was a heathen. Like I need you to understand.
Shekinah: Been there, done that.
Johnna: Like, yes, exactly. So I think in doing that and sharing, you know, as honestly and transparently as possible, Our testimony. I think that's what ends up resonating with people because it reminds them, like, Hey, we're all people I'm not coming to preach off of a stage to you.
And talk down to you. I'm here to tell you that God brought me from here to here, you know, and that's not just something that he desires for me. That's something that he desires for all of his children. So I really think like tapping into my testimony has been a powerful way when I don't know, you know what else to say?
Tsciena: Yeah, I have to agree. It's our testimonies are so powerful. And I think I've learned that, especially with close friends and family, you can't be afraid to be broken in front of them. So that they see the testimony in the making. You know, I think you guys know these past year, a couple of years has been pretty tough, and the people closest to me, they've watched my testimony, even if I'm not sharing everything.
But, they know that where I was a year from now is a world of difference from where I am now. And like, throughout that time I've shared, God has done this, that isn't like, he's restored me. He's healed me. You know, like he is bringing this, he's working this together. He opened this new job opportunity.
So, I think even if they're not believers, they can't really deny that, that genuine response to God that we have, especially when they just see you down and out, you know? So, I think just by sharing our testimony, and I also wanted to mention it's weird, but I almost feel held accountable by friends and family that aren't believers.
It's kind of funny how that works. Yeah. But yeah,
it's like, they will like kind of check you and it's like, okay. You know, and
I also, you know, I think that's, those are the main people that I'm called to.
And so I feel that pressure, that, you know, I was positioned, I was born into
this family. I met these friends here for a reason, and that's, that's heavy to me.
Shekinah: Yeah. Like knowing that your call to. The family you were born into, that's a cut them off, but to support them and to help them and to introduce them to the Father, same with friends. Right. And they can see, they can see those journeys. Yeah. Johnna, which thinkin'
Johnna: yeah, I was just thinking about what you said, Tsciena. I mean, reiterating, sharing our testimony, but also, they're looking at your life. They see you on a day-to-day basis, whether you're sharing it or not, they're going to see you, like you said, when you're down and out, and they're going to watch how you react, and they're going to watch how you rely totally on the Lord in those times.
And that is such a testament to your faith, probably even more so than just your words could be there watching this. In action. So I definitely feel that. And I also feel like the accountability that comes with that. And I mean, I don't know about you guys, but for me, honestly, sometimes it's hard to share the gospel with those that are closest to us.
Like, I feel like it's easier sometimes to talk about Jesus to thousands of people on the internet than it is like with my very closest friends and family. And so, I mean, it's definitely something where I have to ask, well, if God put me here and he put these people around me, you know, what is my life saying to them?
Or what am I sharing with them? Not just with strangers that I may never actually encounter in real life.
Tsciena: Yeah.
Shekinah: Yeah. I mean, the scripture does talk about how a prophet is not accepted in his own home. And I wonder how much that relates to us in our own little circles sometimes. And honestly, I mean, there are friends that let's be real. Like I'm not actively trying to get them saved. I'm not seeking to evangelize to them, but I do want to live a life in front of them; that is a picture of God's glory because
that's me at least planting a seed. Someone else might come along, plant some more seeds. Someone else might water it. Then someone else will actually prune and help them grow in the Word.
Perhaps that's not my role, but my role is just to plant the initial seed. And I've seen that with some of my friends who, "yeah, girl, I read your book" or, "yeah, I thought about this thing you said to me and ended up giving my life to God," like a year later or something it's like, oh, I ain't even
know.
Like, he ain't even call me and tell me you were doing that. But, it, you know, the way that you live your life sometimes it's that non-verbal communication. That means so much. Cause like you all say people are looking at how we respond and how we react. And it's not even, I don't think it's only the tough times because I will admit that, you know, I've had some trying times in life.
Shekinah: As someone prophesied to me a few years ago, like God has miraculously given me a pretty peaceful life. I mean, it has not been perfect by any means, but it is definitely been a life of peace. I, you know, I remember as a child looking and searching, I had someone telling me, like, you don't know the real meaning of faith until you've gone through something in life.
And I, I actually resent that comment because then I spent like a number of years searching for
things to go through and like went through things unnecessarily, ended up being like Jonah, where I sort of, Went to Nineveh. It's just, just because, you know, went to Nineveh, like back and forth in between the two, and just looking for something and go through some reason to have a testimony. But really, my testimony has been how sweet and how good God really is, how faithful he is. And that in itself and giving honor to God and glory to God, I think in itself is its own testimony. I had someone tell me, oh, the only reason you have any of these things is because you worked really hard for them, and even in that moment, I was like, ah, no, like I couldn't have worked hard for this. If it
wasn't for God giving me the strength to be able to work hard for this, you know like it's still all points back to him. And I think in the good and the bad, the perfect, the ugly, we can still live a life that always points back to him that never glorifies ourselves.
And that is another way to sort of minister to those who are closest to us. That may be wont sit down and listen to us, preach a sermon to them, but will watch how we live our lives out. So that's it. That's a good, a good point to bring up.
Johnna: Yeah. And I think that's kind of what happened with your dissertation, right? It's like, that is such a huge accomplishment. And in that moment, you could have been like, You know, I worked so hard...
Shekinah: I hustled...
Johnna: You know, and people would have been like, yup, she sure did. And that's all her, but you took one of the biggest accomplishments of your life and then pointed it straight back to the Father.
And I do think that even in those moments, that's such a huge Testament to our identity and to our faith. And it's so encouraging to people, in addition to those hard times,
Tsciena: and I guess as you're saying that, Johnna, it reminds me how rare that is for someone to give all the glory to God because even in churches, people are soaking up the glory that belongs to God.
Is this that type of podcast? You know, I think even. Just like our whole society how it's built out. Like we see after success after success, and we just don't get all the glory. Look at me. I did this. So it is really beautiful to see you, Shekinah, get to that wonderful place in your career. And even beyond
that into, you know, your next steps and still give glory to God.
That's rare. I don't think I've seen that a lot. I'm just thinking...
Shekinah: we need to, we need to do that. I think more often, I think we're so used to crying out to God when something is going wrong. That we give glory to God when something's gone
wrong, and he's fixed it. But we forget to cry out to God, even when things are going right.
Shekinah: And you know, I really, I give credit to my mom for this perspective that I have. Cause
whenever from a child, I would run home and say, look, mom, I got straight A's, and she would say glory to God. And then she would be like, good job, baby. I'm proud of you, but it was never, oh my God, you're so smart. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
It was always glory to God. Even to this day, getting my job offers, glory to God. What more is God going to do? Like it had nothing to do with me, my research, and none of those accolades, my degree, it was always glory to God. And I think I've taken on that perspective and everything I do, every award I've gotten.
I've literally, I can remember time after time, just like falling to my knees and crying out and being like, thank you, Jesus, for this, because there's just no way I expected any of these things to happen. And so I think, you know, it's from that, that place of humility that we've got to, we've got to offer, thanks to God.
We've got to cry out to God, even when things are perfect and right, because then when things
get tough, at least, you know how to do it, you know, versus things being rough and tough and you, you've never taken the moment to really cry out to God, even in a good time. , then you're really trying to figure out how do I cry out?
How do I fix this, and how do I let go of my own intellect and wisdom, to lean into what God is
sharing and, and how he's moving. So. Yeah, you're right. And yes, it is the
kind of podcast you could come for people's necks. It's fine.
Yeah, I like that. All right. So one of the last things I definitely want to cover, we talked
about family. We talked about identity in Christ. We talked about sort of the fear of sharing our Christian identity and how we have to have sort of that mighty boldness and God-confidence to be able to share more boldly.
I want to know how we sort of integrate this Christian identity into our everyday lives, into our
businesses. Both of you have been entrepreneurs and maybe thought about this in different ways. How we integrated into our professional lives and especially if our brands or businesses are not faith-based, or at least we don't think they're faith-based.
How should, how should we be pursuing God even about those things?
Tsciena: Yeah. So I guess the first scenario that comes to mind is just professionally, like in a traditional work setting. I feel like other believers have kind of modeled to me what this looks like. So, when I worked at an ad agency, there was a woman who set up a group in Slack; it was a
prayer group.
And every morning, she would send out a devotional with scripture and also take prayer requests. So anyone that was going through something, if someone heard about it, dropped it in there, or if someone in the group, you know, needed prayer, they mentioned for what. And people were vulnerable. Like people shared more serious things.
And I think I've spoken with both of you about how sometimes I like to set boundaries in my work life and not be as transparent about what I'm going through, but I think that experience taught me that you
can create the space for that. And sometimes you will need to be vulnerable, maybe share a testimony or share a prayer request and really just kind of leave it in God's hands, you know, unless you feel like a full stop from the Holy Spirit, you know?
So, I think in a professional setting, you can kind of create that space and look for other believers to partner with. And then, in talking with unbelievers, you know, for me, that's kind of like more as we're
building rapport, building relationship, as we're having conversation, you know, kind of getting that familiarity first and then kind of, Being open to bring up, like, if they're going through something like, Hey, can I pray for you?
Which feels awkward sometimes. But, I have done that, and I did pray for them. They were open to it. I think most people are, honestly, especially these days. , so that's like in a traditional work setting.
Yeah.
Johnna: What a co-worker. That's amazing. Like, I haven't really been in the corporate setting very much. I've always operated within like small businesses. So I didn't even know people were out here doing stuff like that. Like that's yeah. That's amazing.
Tsciena: And you know what, since I left, the same woman, she does the same devotionals as an email thread. So, people who leave the company, she asked them to her email list, and it continues. So I still get those devotionals.
Shekinah: Wow.
Johnna: That's so cool.
Shekinah: Lord, make me bold like that. I'm trying to be like that.
Johnna: Hmm, that's such a good question. I think coming from the side of like owning a business, I think knowing that my faith is the foundation of my business. Is going to set it apart. So even the way that I run it am I operating with integrity?
Am I exemplifying the fruits of the Spirit to my clients. Am I joyful? Am I peaceful, patient, kind? You know, like even if I'm not directly talking about things of the faith, I'm still running my business
in such a way that you should know that there's something different about it, because this is God's business at the end of the day.
And if it's His, it means that you know, I need to operate in excellence and give glory where glory is due. And so I think on a foundational level, that's one way of sort of integrating my faith into my
business is just remembering that my faith is the foundation of this business. And so, I try to operate with that always at the forefront of my mind, and then I think like what you said, Tsciena, when you start to establish rapport with someone and get these, you know, longer-term relationships, oftentimes you end up talking about personal things, maybe something you're struggling with, maybe you have a meeting with them and you just notice that they're a little down that day.
And I think, you know, you do have to use wisdom to know when is the time to share and when it's not. But when you do have that relationship, I've had clients that I have sat in meetings and prayed with, and I've had clients where we've met, and they're like, I can feel God talking through you right now. And so I think as we stay close to God, people are going to see it in us. They should be able to see something different about us.
Shekinah: Yeah, I like that. I also think about how, and, you know, I love that you say that people have said they can hear God talking through you. You know, that just reminds me of how much preparation you've put in over this business, how we get together. And we pray over your business and over each other's professional endeavors. And they're just, you know, there's something about when you seek God concerning, even those things that are worldly quote-unquote or you think he doesn't have to have a hand in, you have all the intellect in the world to be able to run your own business. Right? You have all the resources to be able to do that, but there is something powerful about when you take the time to lean back on God, anyways, that will set your business the way you operate your, just you as a co-worker that will really set you apart in these different settings. I mean, I feel
really encouraged from just talking to y'all and hearing how you all are experiencing the way that God and Christ is being integrated into your work and your workplaces.
And for me, I'm still sort of searching for how to bridge those two and bring them together. I like this Slack channel idea and might steal that. But I also have the opportunity to do some of my work within churches. And so some of the stuff I study around older adults; it's perfect to go into different churches and be able to share that information with the aging population that can use it. Right. And so now I'm exploring opportunities to be able to partner with different churches and bring them this information. And it's nice because it's like I'm seeing my two identities sort of bridge together because I can talk about the scripture, and I can also talk about how to access Medicare home health, and
the two can go together in different ways.
So it, it definitely is, I think a constant, experiment to be able to, to figure out where the two bridge together, but one of those natural fits is praying concerning your business, praying concerning your career, and watching God put you in places that he needs his righteous children to be in. , I know we've talked before, Johnna, about you helping people develop brands and businesses and
having the question of, Did God leads you to do this. And at what point you can actually ask those things to people, you know, and what it means for you to lead people down the path of building a brand that maybe God told them to build, and maybe he didn't tell them to build it and really what that
means. So those are the sorts of things that I'm interested in, how people are really contending within and thinking about and struggling and wrestling with.
Johnna: Yeah, I think specifically, so what just came to my mind is an exercise that we'll do in brand strategy sessions. And it's called the "Golden Circle Concept" by Simon Sinek, who's a pretty renowned marketer and goes into the psychology behind marketing a lot.
And in that exercise, there's like a three-ringed circle and the outside ring is the "what?" So that's what you do. The middle ring is the "how"; that's how you do it. And then the center ring is the "why," why you do it. And I think even in exercises like that, I mean, it's not a faith-based exercise, but I think when we start asking people, well, what's the why.
And if they say, you know, to make money, well, why do you want to make money? What are you going to do with it? And just digging deeper to really figure out what is your motivation behind this is; this for something bigger than yourself, maybe it's legacy for your children or whatever the case may be. But I think even just getting people to think a little bit more introspectively on why am I doing what I'm doing can kind of open up that door for God to reveal to them if their heart's in the right place or not.
Shekinah: Or at all...
Johnna: Yes.
Shekinah: No, that's good. That's really good. I also find it interesting that it's a three-ring circle,
you know? Extra holy self over here was like, Hmm, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Oh man. No, this is good. , so yeah, y'all know, we can stay on here and talk forever, we do
it oftentimes Monday mornings before work for like two hours. So I don't want to hold us here, but I do want you all to give any kind of closing, concluding thoughts to anything pop up while we were discussing. Is there anything burning that you're like, I can't leave without sharing us. You know, we talk about that heaviness of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding you to let him lead and guide you to share a final thought or two with this.
Tsciena: Yeah. So. One, I've really enjoyed this. I love this topic. I feel like it's also unique. You don't really hear a lot of people dig into it. So thank you, Shekinah, for having us. I think a final thought is
perspective. You know, we live in the U.S. you guys know I've brought up the persecuted church before, you know, during our prayer time. And I think when it comes to being rooted in our identity in Christ and sharing the gospel, sharing our testimonies, I think just having that perspective that we kind of have it easier, you know, the stakes are not as high and that there are people willing to be a part of the underground church, willing to face, persecution and still sharing in the face of that. And as it's not to like compare ourselves to other people, but just really keeping that perspective that it is that serious, that it is life or death. And that, if God has souls that we're here to reach, for me that just, it really convicts me to just go ahead and just say something, Yeah.
Johnna: Oh, that's so good. It really is that serious. And I mean, I don't think that's to scare anyone or put fear in anyone's minds, but it is, it's a good reminder. You know, people are out here willing to lay down their lives. Literally for the sake of the kingdom.
Shekinah: Am I saved? Would I do it? Am I saved? Am I actually saved?
Johnna: Like I was in, this was a couple of days ago. I was in prayer on Sunday evening, and our pastor was like, I implore you to ask yourselves, do I really love God? So convicted because, of course, I'm like, yeah, I love God. Like, hello. I talk about him all the time, but it's like,
okay, well, what am I doing?
How am I sharing the gospel? What is my life saying? I don't know if y'all have heard that quote; it literally just came to my mind that says, "You are the only Bible that some people will ever
read. What are you saying?" And when I think about that, I'm like, okay, like it, it is that serious. Yeah. We are called higher. And so I think it's so important that we really walk that out, and walk it out in love, you know, there's so many people who are bearing the name of Christ, and they're hateful, they're mean people. And I think we are to kind of stand in that gap and say, "Hey, no, I can still
love you and still share the truth with you," and I'm not condemning you. And I'm not shaming you. I'm, I'm telling you this because I love you. And so I think that's really important to keep in mind too, is there's a lot of people with a really negative connotation of what it means to be a Christian and a lot of them rightfully so, based on how some of these people that claim Christianity have treated them.
And so I think it's important for us as the church to really stand up and be the church to really be about it, you know?
Shekinah: Yeah, no, absolutely. I will honestly say that's one of the reasons. So when I
interviewed for my job here at Minnesota, kept asking me this question of how
are you going to engage with the community? How are you going to engage with the community? I gave them the answer. I thought it was good enough. They asked again, and I was like, okay, well, I'm an ordained minister. And one of my ways of engaging with the community is to visit different churches. And you know, this is how I get integrated into the communities that I've been in as a graduate student.
And they went,"oh my God, are you serious? This is great. Why isn't this on your CV?"
Johnna: Wow.
Shekinah: And I'm going because y'all would probably judge me in the worst ways for being Christian because some of our greatest Christian leaders, quote-unquote, Christian leaders, are
like some of the most difficult people to deal with, like emotionally and morally. Like you have all
these questions about who they really are and what they're really about, because they're not the picture of the scripture that we would expect based on the scriptures, so I think, you know, we didn't talk about that much, but I think that's one of the biggest reasons that I've had fear about sharing my
Christianity with other people is because I know that there are negative connotations associated with being Christian nowadays.
And even though it is considered the majority and the preferred faith nationally and internationally, it's just been twisted so much that some parts of it don't even look like Christ to me anymore. I'm not, I mean, based on the Christ that I see in the scriptures. So, it really is hard to sometimes profess that I'm
Christian.
Like I know sometimes we talk about how it's less about religion. Like I'm not religious, I'm more about my spiritual relationship with Christ. And sometimes that's hard to say, but it's like trying to draw a line between no that's them and all of their condemnation over there. And this is me and all of my love with Christ. We're two separate entities here, and that's, that's really tough, so I think the body
of Christ as a whole still has a lot of work to do, To really present that picture of Christ fully, something else that you, you said, you said something about family that made me think of Matthew 10:37 that says anyone who loves their Father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And I think sometimes our fear of sharing the gospel with family, friends, or even in our workplaces is our love of family, friends, and our careers more than we love God. And so that, that question that your pastor asked you to, to really contend within that moment of do I really love Him, brings me back to this.
You know, I'm not really willing to share about Him. Do I really love Him, or am I denying Him?
A heavy question. One to sit with for the week, but a real one, a real question.
Tsciena: My life...
Shekinah: Y'all know, this is what happens. We get on, we chit-chat. We get to the point where we wreck one another. We cry and pray about it.
And then we cut, we're not gonna pray about it or cry about it on this podcast, but listen, I'm so
excited that ya'll were able to be a part of this BPG, Bonnet Prayer Gang, conversation that we have. , and I hope that y'all are willing to come back. I mean, if not monthly, maybe quarterly, we can have some conversations like this together, and really shake up the sort of conversations that folks are having in this space.
But before we go, I want you all to share how people can connect with you. Johnna.
Johnna: Yeah. So, I'm mostly on Instagram, so feel free to follow me there @JohnnaNichelle. I'll give it to Shekinah so she can put in the show notes, the spelling, but you can connect with me on Instagram via email. My website is JohnnaNichelle.com. So that's where I'll be. Y'all.
Tsciena: Yeah. Shekinah will have the spelling. Please look in the description. My name on social media is Tscienatown. You can find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and I also have a business called The Social Subs, so I just provide social media consultations, talking about things like content strategy, if you're interested, you can email me at hello@thesocialsub.com.
Shekinah: Great. Thanks. Y'all again for being here. , this has been another episode of the Truths &
Promises podcast. We're happy that you all were able to join us. Please, if you like anything that you heard today, be sure to leave us a rating. Subscribe to the podcast. You can follow us on Instagram @Eleven40Glory. That's the word "eleven," the number forty, the word glory, or you can come on over to our website at eleven40glory.com, where you will find the show notes within our blog. And you'll be able to join the conversation there. We also have an online community that right now is on Facebook. So feel free to come on over there and join. They get all the goods before anyone else does. And then lastly, we have a newsletter that goes out monthly. So be sure to pop on over to the website and sign up for that as well. All right, y'all. Well, thanks again for listening to the Truths & Promise podcast, and we will see you all next time.
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