Spring Issue-Church Girl CEO Magazine by dfpublishing

MARCH 2022

MAGAZINE

Church Girl CEO

IN THIS ISSUE KEARN CROCKETT CHERRY, QUEEN OF "BUTTS IN THE SEATS"

SPRING ISSUE

SPRING TRAVEL DESTINATIONS CONFESSIONS OF A FOODIE...AND MORE! LEADERSHIP IN MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT "VICTORY TALK"

CONTRIBUTORS CEO/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DEBORAH FRANKLIN SENIOR EDITOR JC GARDNER

Cover Page and Special Feature: Kearn Crockett Cherry, Queen of “Butts in the Seats” by Deborah Franklin

Featured Columnists

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A Drink From The Well Spiritual Corner: Debrayta Salley

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Confessions of a Foodie: JC Gardner

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Travel & Tourism: Tracy Shorter

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Beauty and Fashion: Nichelle Johnson, Kolor Beauty

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Soul Focused: Latanya Henry-Smith, Ph.D., LSSP

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Leaders in Ministry Spotlight: Victory Talk Radio by JC Gardner

A Letter from the Editor-in-Chief Deborah Franklin Wow!!! Who me? That’s all that kept running through my mind when I realized that March 2021 was the ﬁrst publication of Church Girl CEO Magazine. Through all of the challenges and diﬀerent cover looks, we are still here making history as we celebrate Women’s History Month. I never thought of being in the magazine business, but here I am. This journey has made me want to learn more on how to be a leader in this industry while assisting women to have their voices heard. The voices of women are ringing louder than ever before. Women are stepping up to be leaders in a variety of industries that were male dominated for so long. They are speaking up for their rights and demanding equality. Women are seeking more opportunities and are not afraid of doing it alone and most of all, they are unapologetically living and walking in their truth.

to let anyone distract me, discourage me or belittle me from reaching my goal. I am strong enough, smart enough and bold enough to be a leader in ministry and media. I can see clearly now what God has called me to do. I will keep pressing on until I reach the mountain top with God as my guide. Church Girl CEO’s: Join me in reaching for the top and striving to be dynamic leaders in ministry and business. I look forward to serving you and making history together for years to come. Yours in Christ,

I am woman, hear me ROAR! I'm roaring after everything that God has for me, and I’m not going 4

Stand OUT! By Debrayta D. Salley Scripture Reference: Matthew 10:30-31 Depending on the date this issue is published, the 1st Quarter of 2022 has either wrapped up or is coming to a close. That sure went by fast! It serves as reminder that time is of the essence and waits for no one. As we move toward Resurrection Sunday (i.e., Easter Sunday) and the close of the Lenten Season, many will have committed to “giving up something” for 40 days, whether it was something that one thoroughly enjoyed or something that was no longer beneﬁcial for their wellness in body, soul, or spirit. Regardless of the time of year, making changes for the better is always in order. Surprisingly, change is often resisted by some, but there is no

have been the same, but it’s the secret ingredients I add that make

growth and expansion anywhere without it. For example, I spent

the dish stand out as my own.

many years trying to mold my purpose and business into what I saw others building instead of unapologetically tapping into the

As we move further into this year and beyond don’t make any

uniqueness of my individual calling. Remember, we are all God’s

moves in life or business without sprinkling your Secret Sauce all

children but are each uniquely designed and molded distinctly. In

over it. The detail our Heavenly Father used in making us wasn’t so

fact, according to Matthew 10:30-31, the hairs on our heads are

we would hide it under a bushel, blanket, or mask. We were

numbered and our worth is more valuable than many sparrows.

created in His Image and given a little something extra to cause us

And with that comes a special ﬂavor or secret sauce if you will that

to Stand Out amongst the crowd. It’s the Lord’s Doing – Embrace

should get sprinkled on anything you Make, Do, Say, Touch or

It! STAND OUT!

Build. As someone who can get around a little in the kitchen, this reminds me of how I may see the required ingredients for a recipe, but always tweak it to my taste and liking. The focus and goal may

Debrayta D. Salley aka “Dee” Life Mentor Coach is the Founder of Debrayta Salley Enterprises where she writes to “Empower Paths, Support Growth and Inspire Change.” She Blogs and serves as a Certiﬁed, Transformational Life Coach. She has also written multiple books, blogs, and magazine articles. Dee seeks to empower and support others in gracefully journeying through the various seasons of life. Subscribe to her Blog: www.deelifmentor.com Various Opportunities to Stay Connected: https://linktr.ee/DebraytaDSalley Email: debraytasalleyenterprises@gmail.com. 5

Spring into Color Beauty Evolution By Kolor Beauty

eyeshadow quad 747-MÉDITERRANÉEN ($65) has alluring combination of neutral hues—shimmering beige, golden peach, copper pink and bronze chocolate. OMG beauties this combination is giving me so much life. As an artist I love when one quad invites every ethnicity to have fun with it. If your spring and summer are full of lots of travel and you want to travel light, then the OMBRE PREMIÈRE LAQUE ($36) will be your companion. It is a liquid shadow that comes in 4 shades, Rayon, Quartz Rose, Desert Wind and Vastness. They are a must have for my world travelers. I’m so happy to see you in this New Year 2022. Are you ready to shed some clothes and spring into some new ideas and ways to display your best natural self? Well, as I have said over and over many times before the natural sultry look is your best friend in this New Year. It seems that the vacation look with a pop of color is just the right touch needed to express your conﬁdence! Now ladies we are not hiding ourselves in layers and layers of makeup to hide our imperfections. Instead we are going to explore silhouette colors and techniques that exude your raw beauty. I am so excited about this, because if there’s one thing COVID has taught me is to appreciate my raw beauty. So the spring is going to lead us into a maze of eye shadows of island golds, ombre strokes of bronze in many shades, tinted lip color in neutrals, and the “you made me blush” cheeks. It is a perfect approach to standing in the truth of your natural beauty. Accompanying all your beauty needs, it looks like perfumes will be an even more important part of your beauty collection. So with that being said let’s get started with my favorite things. You all know that I am a huge CHANEL lover. I am, because CHANEL does not mind doing whatever it takes to meet beauty luxury at every age. The Limited Spring Collection

I mentioned in my last article that I would be featuring some beauty lines that have made a name for themselves and proven to be contenders in the beauty world. This month I am featuring The Crayon Case. The CEO and Creator Supa Cent has truly accomplished her goal in providing a beauty line for woman of all economical representation. The names alone of her products are inspired by all things associated with school. For instance, HALL PASS ($7.15) is a colorful array of lip-glosses of pinks, neutrals and earthiness. CHALK DUST ($20) is setting powder that is perfect for all skin types and comes in all skins tones. Last but not least, the SHARP ME PEN LINER ($5.50), the blackest in liquid liner. The fine point will allow you to achieve a precise line, fine or dramatic; whichever suites your personal taste. If you have young ladies that are in your life that love makeup as much as you do, this line is perfect if you want to stay within a very modest budget. I love the energy that this line represents. Finally, when it comes to perfume, no one does it better than CHANEL. Some spring and summer favorites to add to your vacation are CHANCE EAU FRAÎCHE 3.4oz retails ($125), CHANCE EAU VIVE 1.7oz ($95), and of course it is hard not to think of CHANEL N°5 L'EAU. Ladies I know that since COVID we have become more and more in love with internet shopping but I would encourage you, when you are feeling safe and comfortable enough, to visit the stores in person so that can have a more intimate, upclose-and-personal experience with each product before you make your decisions. As the serious shoppers that we are, we always want to be completely satisfied with purchases! Happy Shopping Beauties! Your 2022 is coming into Bloom Beautifully!

Nichelle Johnson aka Kolor Beauty…

Nichelle has over 25 years of experience in the Make Up industry. She has worked with some of the top cosmetic lines such as MAC, Estee Lauder, Fashion Fair and Beneﬁts Cosmetics. She is currently freelancing as an Estee Lauder Expert throughout the MD, DC, VA, & DE Corridor where she teaches women skin care and makeup daily routine techniques. 13

Confessions of a Foodie By JC Gardner creamy and oozing with cheese, but no eggs! That’s right, no eggs. Eggs work as a binding agent, which is fine, but if you find your macaroni and cheese to be tight or stiff, it’s probably because of too many eggs and not enough liquid or creamy cheese types. Also, if you overbake the dish, it will dry it out. Let’s take a delectable detour to some proteins. I love all kinds of fish, shellfish, poultry, lamb, and beef. My mother used to tell a story of me being not yet five years old in a restaurant asking for a T-bone steak, also known as a porterhouse. Makes me smile every time because this foodie is still cooking it and seeking out restaurants that can deliver on a fantastic porterhouse! Let me share with you that salmon is also right up there with a protein I love to make sing. The thing about salmon is it can be ready in minutes with little to no prep, unlike fried chicken that really needs marinating time to bring out those finger-lickin’ good flavors. At the end of this article is my salmon recipe for your enjoyment. Lastly, let’s give some love to those vegetables! Collard greens, cabbage, broccoli, green beans, a good-old salad – you have to erase what you thought you knew about vegetables because they’ve come a long way. What is listed here are just a few. I remember crying at the dinner table when I was younger because I really thought broccoli was a bush of some sort. Like why would mama give me bushes/trees to eat? And I believed that Brussels As a lover of food, I am definitely drawn to cooking shows, recipes, and experiencing flavors from around the globe. I also love to burn in the kitchen, experimenting with southern favorites and also new ideas, like Chicken Tiki Masala, one of my favorite Indian dishes, which is a delectable delight of Greek yogurt, heavy cream, chicken, and various herbs and spices. A YouTube video* helped me navigate this dish, and I’ve made it several times over with great success and there are never any leftovers! My other love (and there are many) is making Caribbean food, primarily from my father’s Jamaican heritage. Curry chicken, rice and peas, curry goat, jerk chicken – I consistently keep all of the ingredients to make these dishes in the house at all times because I never know when I want to visit the “islands.” Another best-loved dish is macaroni and cheese. There are soooo many macaroni and cheese recipes out there. The kind I prefer is

sprouts were created in the devil’s garden, assaulting my tastebuds and making me gag. I grew up under the rule that what was put on your plate you had to eat, so there wasn’t any in-between where that was concerned. As I matured, I came to love broccoli but me and those sprouts became archenemies…until several years ago. I was out to lunch with a dear friend, and she was eating them like they were the best thing ever. After some coaxing…and I trusted her immensely…I tried them. I kept having that Dr. Suess rhyme playing in my head: I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam I Am. ** But…they were delish! There were simply sliced, lightly sauteed, and tossed in like either Italian dressing or a vinaigrette. I’ve also had them (and cooked them) stir-fried in a little olive oil (or bacon grease) and garlic. After about 5 – 7 minutes (I like mine with that crunch), add a little salt and pepper to taste. You can then kick it up a notch by mixing in some diced ham, and/or bacon bits and top with mozzarella cheese.

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Teriyaki Sauce with Pineapple) For garnishing: Parsley Flakes or Fresh Parsley (Green Onions are another great substitute)

The tools: 1. Layer a baking sheet (with sides, not ﬂat like for cookies) with aluminum foil 2. Spray foil with cooking spray

Yes, baby, Brussels sprouts for the win! I could really go on with my love for cooking; after all, I did do some catering for a few years, but let me tell you, that is some hard work. Right now, I mostly stick to “catering” for my friends and family. Over the pandemic, I’ve also stepped up my baking skills.

Fish Preparation: 1. Lay salmon on a prepared baking sheet 2. Sprinkle Old Bay or Creole Seasoning on top. For thicker pieces, you can do top and bottom. 3. Generously squeeze lemon juice on top 4. Coat/Brush on Teriyaki Sauce

I just want to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone when it comes to cooking and don’t be scared to play in the kitchen; search YouTube for all kinds of recipes and give it a try. You might surprise yourself with what you can create.

Cooking the Fish: Typically, this takes up to 15 minutes depending on your oven and the size of your ﬁsh. Note: Do not exceed 20 minutes. The caramelizing of the teriyaki sauce is a good indicator of it being done.

Broiled (Atlantic) Salmon I love Atlantic salmon, but this will work with either variety of salmon. I also remove the skin.

Ingredients (regardless of size): • Fresh lemon juice • Old Bay or Creole Seasoning • Teriyaki Sauce (Recommend a sweet version, i.e., Lawry’s

2. 3. 4.

Place under the broiler on the top rack. If you have a “low” broiler setting, select that option. Check it in 10 minutes. Teriyaki sauce should look caramelized or very brown and should be slightly bubbly. If you only have one broiler setting, check it after 8 minutes. Add additional 3 minutes with each check. When it’s done, remove it from the oven and use the garnish of your choice.

JC Gardner is an award-winning, bestselling author, speaker, writing coach and ghost writer. She has written several books, along with contributing to numerous publications. Helping aspiring authors bring their projects to life through her writing coaching program is a blessing and a gift. As a speaker, she uses faith, humor, and real-life examples to serve women who are ready to rediscover their destiny.

Don't Wait - The Time To Start Is Now! Meet Kearn Crockett Cherry By Deborah Franklin been in healthcare for over 35 years, but it was Him that pointed my husband and I to PRN Home Care. I have enjoyed doing events and conferences since my days in Germany, but it was God who showed me that was one of my callings, especially in 2019 when He told me to go back to producing my own conferences. He then gave me book anthologies to do. Though I thought I was the wrong person for the job, He has shown me diﬀerent. My gift (Prov 18:16) is producing stages for people to share their story or testimony. Why do they call you the The Queen of Butts In The Seats? The Butts in the Seats Queen came from the fact that I have been producing events and conferences for over 20 years. I have been fortunate that God always send the people. It is very important to me that people show up in order to receive. What are some of the biggest challenges in your business and how do you overcome them? One of the challenges in any business is change. You as a business owner must be willing to pivot. Pivoting didn't start with the pandemic; it's a must in business in order to survive.

Speaker, 14x #1 best-selling author, and award-winning businesswoman, Kearn Crockett Cherry is a female tycoon with a "leg-up" in successful entrepreneurship. Laying to rest any stigma surrounding the stagnancy of female leadership in the Deep South, Kearn has enjoyed more than two decades of excellence, as the CEO of a thriving health care business on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.

What advice would you give someone who wanted to be a coach? Make sure you are coaching from your gifts and talents (Prov. 18:16). when you operate from here, you will be able to help others with ease and make money in return. Don't wait. The time to start is now. If you don't have a coaching program, hire a coach and create your program now. Don't be like the servant in Matthew

What motivated you to start your business? All of my businesses have been driven by God. I have 10

25:14-30 who buried his talent. This is a parable about sitting on your talents. God gave everyone gifts and talents to use. What does "Church Girl CEO' mean to you? A woman who puts Jehovah God and his son, Jesus first. He is the head of their household. She pays her tithes and offering. She is a woman of integrity; she walks in faith not talk-faith. You know her by the fruits she bares. She understands that it is required that we give testimony about what God is doing in our lives so God can get the Glory! What upcoming projects are you working on now for us to get involved in? Level Up Summit is March 25-27, 2022: to be a speaker - www.speakatlevelup.com or www.time2levelup.com. "Undefeated" Anthology looking for 100 women at www.undefeatedwomen.com. Any additional information you would like to share? I have a group coaching program - "Create Your Own Profitable Event" launching April 29 - www.kearncherry.com/coaching. Kearn is a familiar face on several Magazine covers. Recently featured on Black Enterprise, VIP Magazine, Speakers Magazine, Sheen Magazine, and her very own, are amongst her favorites. Connect with Kearn http://www.kearncherry.com/www.time2l evelup.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/kearncherry/ https://www.facebook.com/KearnCherry http://youtube.com/kearncherry https:// www.instagram.com/kearncherry/ https://twitter.com/KearnCherryPRN 11

Spring Cleaning Declutter Your Life By Latanya Henry-Smith, Ph.D, LSSP Spring cleaning brings images of washing windows, cleaning rugs, wiping

and how to continue to build those things that were repaired. Here

walls, organizing closets, etc. Why do it? Obviously, a clean house. This

you are putting things in place, creating systems to build what remains

annual ritual also decreases stress, increases energy, and saves time. Spring

after the Edit. During this time, you may need to move for your new

cleaning lowers the stress of our mess by decreasing the amount of clutter

job; ﬁnd a new daycare provider; block some people and/or change

and the physical signs of stress (headaches, ulcers, etc.). These same beneﬁts

your phone number, or even change your locks and security codes.

occur when we declutter our lives too.

Arrange may include preparing your home for guests; organizing the guest room to also function as a home oﬃce. To Arrange is to get

Decluttering our lives can seem overwhelming, especially when we try to do

things ready and organized.

everything at once. Instead, take small steps until your life is decluttered. The C.L.E.A.N.TM acronym gives a ﬁve-step process to declutter your life. It

Nourish: This is the phase where you commit time, money, and

takes time but is doable. Follow the C.L.E.A.N.TM process and gain more

energy. After you Arrange, you Nourish.

energy, time, and less stress.

Arranged your time, energy, and resources. That may mean budgeting for coﬀee, lunch,

Feed what has been

and/or dinner dates; paying for additional

Clarify: What are your life goals? What gives you joy? If your goals and/or

job-related training and/or travel. Nourish may mean scheduling

joy-makers are unclear clarify them. If you do not have life goals or a joy list,

regular phone calls, emails, or face time with others. It could mean

create one.

expending energy by doing favors. In this phase, you do what is necessary to maintain all that was Arranged. When you Nourish, you

Line Up: Do the people, jobs, etc. line up with where you want to go in life,

make things happen. If you ﬁnd it diﬃcult to Nourish something,

and do they bring you happiness? Consider everything that you give time

repeat the cycle, Clarify, Line Up, Edit, Arrange and Nourish. Repeat

and energy to; ensure they align with your life goals and joy.

C.L.E.A.N.TM until you can Nourish with peace and joy.

Edit: Anything that does not Line Up; repair or remove it from your life.

C.L.E.A.N.TM is a process that requires small steps and time. By

When you Edit, consider the cost to you. Is this relationship, job, etc. worth

following C.L.E.A.N.TM you can declutter your life, decrease stress

your time energy, love, health? Editing takes time because you have to

and increase your time, and energy.

carefully consider the cost. This is not a rushed decision. Once you decide to repair or remove, make a reasonable plan as to how you will proceed. For example, if you need to fix a relationship, plan how and when you will do it: in person, a letter (snail or email), face time? How long will it take to make amends? If you decide to leave your job, consider your current skills, the job market, and finances. Do you have the skills needed to get another job? Do you have a current resume that reflects your skills? Do you have enough money in your bank account to sustain you and your family until you have new employment? Remember these decisions are based on whether or not they Line Up. Arrange: After you Edit (remove and/or repair), you must Arrange what is left. In this phase, you are preparing for the changes to come because of the Edit. You determine how to move forward with everything that was removed

Latanya Henry-Smith, Ph.D, LSSP Founder, Sapphire Emerald Solutions & Associates sapphireemeraldsolutions.com

Dr. Latanya Henry-Smith is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology who provides psychoeducational assessments, counseling, and consultations in Texas public schools. Her passion is to bring healing to children and their families as they navigate through school and life.

Are We There Yet? Planning Your Next Road Trip With Your Kids By Tracy Shorter As Spring Break and the Summer season approach, here are some tips for road trip travel with kids. Whether you travel by air, rail or car, it’s important to have a plan to keep your little ones entertained. Nobody wants to keep hearing the question, “Are we there, yet?,” so let’s talk about a few things to consider that will make your next road trip memorable.

4. Questions to consider when planning a road trip with kids are: 1.

From the moment you leave home your vacation can start, so looking for hot spots to visit along the way can be lots of fun. For instance, if you are traveling from Georgia to Disney World in Orlando, you don’t want to miss the peach stands. Or if you are traveling from Tampa to Orlando, you should consider making a pit stop and check out Dinosaur World. The fossil digs and life-size dinosaurs will be fun for kids, and it has such a serene environment for adults.

How many hours will it take to reach your destination?

When traveling with young kids, consider starting your travels at night when going to destinations that are six to eight hours away. I remember family visits to Detroit from Alabama with my 4-year-old daughter; we speciﬁcally plotted the trip to leave at midnight, so that our daughter would sleep through half of the trip. When morning arrived and she began to awake, we were ready to stop for breakfast and do the switch for the next driver. One thing to remember is that it takes a great side kick to help the driver stay focused at night and avoid missing any exits. 2.

Will you include excursion stops along the way or just wait until you arrive at your destination?

What type of car will you be using for the trip?

It is important that your vehicle has plenty truck space and can carry all the luggage and souvenirs you will get from your trip. It is nothing more uncomfortable than taking a long drive and not having enough space around your seat. If your everyday vehicle will not give you that extra space, consider renting a larger vehicle or downsizing your luggage options. Traveling with kids does require some games and entertainment, so you need space in your vehicle to spread out but remain safe. 3.

What items will be needed to entertain those traveling?

For any road trip, snacks and movies can be essential to the peace of the car. When packing snacks, be sure to include everyone’s favorites. Purchasing them ahead of time is also a huge money-saver. Making these purchases at local gas stations along the way can be very expensive. One fun way to present snacks to kids is shown below; consider using a clear box with dividers, so you can give your kids a variety all at one time.

Written by Tracy Shorter Shorter Route Travel P.O. Box 994 Birmingham, Alabama 35201 tracy@shorterroutetravel.net 16

Victory, Sweet Victory By JC Gardner few months, I told God I needed help, and he showed me who were to be my helpmates: my Sisters in Christ, Chiara Noble “Ya’ Girl Key,” (my co-host), and Lisa McDaniel who I have known for almost thirty years. Our most amazing producer is my husband and our pastor, Rev. Phillip A. Miller, Sr. We could not be on air without him. JG: How do you manage to be both active i n t he church, h aving a family, and running your show weekly? LADY J: This is a loaded question for me. It is not easy and requires a lot of prayers, time management, late nights, sacriﬁce, calendars, post-its, and support from others. As a wife, mother, hands-on grandmother of four, sister, and friend, my time was already not my own. I was already in ministry at one of the larger AME churches in Baltimore prior to my husband establishing his own church. I juggle a lot.

Meet awe-inspiring Partners, Sisters-in-Christ, and Entrepreneurs Jacqueline B. Miller “Lady J“ and Chiara “Key” Noble who are lighting up the airwaves with their Victory Talk podcast. They are proof positive that when you follow through with God’s masterful blueprint for your life, blessings abound on the other side.

KEY: It is a work in progress, but it takes a lot of careful planning. I use Sunday as my guide for planning. I know I have the podcast on Friday and Bible study Wednesday nights. Those nights are quick meals for the kids. I love to keep busy; I almost feel like I function better in chaos if there is such a thing. I think the diﬀerence for me is feeling like I am somewhat in control of how much I take on and being careful to avoid feeling overwhelmed or burned out.

DF: How has cheesecake changed your life? SB: I get to bring joy to the world every day! My desserts make people smile and even for a second, they can be happy! It brings me joy to bring other people joy.

JG: What has been the most rewarding part of having a podcast?

JG: How did you start your podcast, “Victory Talk?”

LADY J: I ﬁnd the most rewarding part of having a podcast to be, the knowledge and awareness that we are able to bring to our viewers. Topics like Autism and Mental health that can be taboo to talk about or children that lose parents at an early age I get excited when couples share about marital journeys the good the bad and the ugly. Everyone has a story that can be a blessing to someone.

LADY J: “Victory Talk” chat show is structured around the act of spontaneous conversation. Our desire is to help us all grow, speak, and live a victorious life! Victory Talk was created to help us not only “talk the talk” but to also walk what you talk. Overall, we want people to LIVE their own truth and be proud of it. The way it got started, I had been praying and seeking the Lord for a word to minister to His people on Sunday morning in May 2020, as I co-pastor our church. The Lord reminded me of the assignment he had given me back in 2019 then again at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. All week, I kept seeking Him for a word. Finally, when He spoke again, I could hear God clear as day tell me, I won’t give you a word until you do what I told you to do. “BE OBEDIENT!!!” Three times, I replied with all my excuses as to why I couldn’t, from God you know I don’t really like talking to people, I only preach because you made me, I prefer to be in the background, I stumble over my words when under pressure, I don’t like the way I look on camera, my mouth is crooked, my eyes are slanted and uneven, not to mention I have no idea what to do.

KEY: The most rewarding part for me is that it comes naturally. Being able to connect with our audience on a personal, intellectual, or spiritual level is everything. Creating an atmosphere of laughter and love while also educating folks on health and wellness and how to eﬀectively navigate through married life is so important and extremely rewarding. LADY J & KEY: At times developing content and coming up with fresh content can be challenging. You never want to be boring or repeat the same thing over and over. I feel like Victory Talk does a really good job of staying relevant and cutting edge. JG: What advice do you have for those who want to start their own podcast?

I went back and forth with the Lord until that Friday night, I gave in and said, “Yes.” Within a matter of a few hours, Victory Talk was born, from the name to everything else. As it grew over the next

LADY J: I strongly encourage anyone who is thinking about starting 18

a Podcast to make sure you have an amazing support team. Whether it’s a co-host, PR person, or producer. No man/woman is an island.

been “whipped” metaphorically speaking which inspires us to do what needs to be done. HE told me to do it, so I am!!! HE said I can, so I can!!!

KEY: Plan, plan, plan. You cannot just throw this thing together. Coming up with an idea is great but making that idea come to life is not always easy. Branding is a huge part of it, as well as content and ﬁguring out your target audience.

KEY: God is my ﬁrst inspiration. He gives me the ideas and the vision for all that I do, and I follow where he leads. He blesses me beyond belief, exceeding my expectations and never ceases to amaze me. I love him with my whole heart. Secondly my husband. He inspires me to do better and to feel better. He shares in my sacriﬁce. He encourages me to be the best version of me that I can be every day. He helps me understand that it’s okay to be misunderstood. To not be so hard on myself. To keep getting up when the wind has been knocked out of me. To keep giving it all I’ve got until my last breath…and so I do.

JG: What are your other roles? LADY J: After a lengthy recovery period from back surgery, the Lord saw fit to relieve me of my 20-year corporate job and now I’m a Co-Founder, Co-Pastor, and First Lady of Victorious Living Faith Ministries, Marriage Coach, Entrepreneur, Author, Writer, Student, and Talk Show host. In 2005, I became an entrepreneur and started, “JACKIE Blessed Events” event coordinating and making affordable floral arrangements for weddings, parties, prom flowers, and funerals. I also have a side business writing obituaries and putting together programs. I am a writer for the online blog called, “Friday at Sundown.” KEY: I am an ordained minister at Victorious Living Faith, which is a nontraditional church, located in Maryland under the leadership of Pastor Phillip A. Miller Sr. I am a Program Manager by profession, so I get to work my ministry on and off the job, and I am ecstatic about that. I am a newly published author and a volunteer for “Love the Hopeful” an organization geared toward providing services to the homeless. I am also a volunteer with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Like Lady J, I am a writer for an online blog called Friday at Sundown, a collection of stories, poems, and discussions designed to help you unwind from the week. JG: Share with us any published literary works. LADY J: I have been a part of two collaboration books under Church Girl CEO founder Deborah Franklin, “You Got This” and “MOSAICS....Made From Beautifully Broken Pieces.” I am currently working on a solo book and a collaboration journal with the sisters of Victory Talk. We have an article in ibronze magazine and monthly articles in Fridays At Sundown. Amazingly enough, both these opportunities were birthed through the Victory Talk Show. KEY: Along with Jackie, I was part of “MOSAICS....Made From Beautifully Broken Pieces.” When I tell you God put that thing in order and the pieces fit together so well, you would probably not believe me. I am forever grateful for the opportunity not only to become published, but to tell my story to the world. This journey was one of facing my fears and insecurities, truly letting go, and receiving all that God would have for me. JG: Who or what is your inspiration? LADY J: Honestly, this will sound so cliché, but it’s the absolute truth. God is my motivation and inspiration. I am scared of GOD! I have had moments that I wanted to give up, moments when I felt like who am I to think I can start and be successful at a podcast, preaching, teaching, coaching, or leading. Then I think, I don’t want to disappoint God. Not to mention His wrath. Have you ever had a God-whipping? We as God’s children from time to time have 19

JG: What are your favorite quotes? LADY J: A few of my favorite quotes are: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”….Maya Angelou “When they go low, we go high” … Michelle Obama KEY: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style”-Maya Angelou “Storms make trees take deeper roots”-Dolly Parton JG: What does it mean to be a Church Girl CEO? LADY J: IT means strength and support. Having a whole network of women that support, encourage, and push you to do better and be better is life-changing. Since connecting with this group of women, I have been challenged to achieve new heights in my personal as well as ﬁnancial growth in life. There is so much POWER in Church Girl CEO, and I really appreciate the group and one-on-one training. Sisterhood is everything and to have a group of like-minded women who don’t have the crab mentality -- there is no telling what we can accomplish together and individually. KEY: To me, it means to be bold, to be daring, to be unapologetically authentic. To walk in your calling and to share your gifts with the world so that no one gets left behind. To be my sisters’ keeper. To stand out, not fall in line. To be an ambassador for Christ while at the same time helping others to achieve their maximum potential. Like a boss.

CONTACT: Chiara “Key” Noble: On the web: http://Vlfminstrys.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chiara.noble.1 Twitter: @Keybaby81 Instagram: Keybaby81/ Chiara Noble Email: chiara.noble@vlfministrys.org CONTACT: Jacqueline B. ~Jackie “Lady J” Miller: On the web: http://Vlfminstrys.org/ Facebook: @ victorytalk or https://www.facebook.com/jackie.y.miller Twitter: @JackieLadyJ1 Instagram: JackieLadyJ1/ Jackie Miller Email: jmblessedevents@vlfministrys.org