November 21, 2025 • 36 mins
What if the hardest day of your life became the first step toward your calling? That’s the heartbeat of Renee's conversation with her faith filled friend Amanda West, a mother of two who loved fiercely, lost suddenly, and learned to soar by leaning into God’s strength and a faithful community. Her story begins with a marriage built on showing up at 110% and pivots into the raw aftermath of widowhood, where breath-by-breath perseverance meets the conviction that only moments and relationships endure.
Amanda opens up about her faith journey, from growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness to encountering the Holy Spirit through a single worship song. Saying yes to Jesus meant excommunication and a decade apart from her parents, yet it also meant the discovery of grace and the freedom from earning love through deeds. She shares how Scripture, especially Isaiah 40:31, became a lifeline, teaching her to wait on the Lord and rise like an eagle in the face of overwhelming loss.
We also dig into the practical side of healing: how friends, neighbors, and church family carried visible and invisible burdens; how serving others sparked fresh joy; and what dating after loss really looks like when grief arrives in waves. Amanda’s candid wisdom helps anyone navigating widowhood, single parenting, or starting again with a tender heart. She explains why mixed-age discipleship groups transform singles ministry, how churches can support without turning community into courtship, and why God wastes none of our stories, especially the heavy ones.
If you’re wrestling with love, loss, faith, or the courage to try again, this episode offers honest hope and grounded tools. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs strength for the next step, and leave a review to help others find the conversation. Then tell us: which moment spoke to you most, and why?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Renee Richel (00:07):
Hi, I'm Renee Richel, the founder and
president of 1 True Match.
I'm here to help you find andcultivate the love of your life.
For over a decade, I'vededicated my life to the
importance, purpose, and dynamicof human relationships.
My team and I are disciplinedby faith, love, and integrity to
help our clients find thequality relationships they've
(00:28):
always dreamt of.
Each week I will be sharing thetools and tips I've learned
that have rooted my success as amatchmaker with other leaders
around the world.
Hello loves.
Welcome back.
I am beyond excited to besitting here with a very, very
(00:48):
special guest right here next tome, Amanda West, who is a dear
friend and sister in Christ.
That I cannot wait for her toshare her incredible story and
journey that she has walked toget us to sitting on these
chairs today, sharing her storywith all of you and the world to
(01:12):
be a light, an inspiration, andencouragement.
So welcome, Amanda.
Amanda West (01:17):
Thank you.
Thank you for having me.
It's an honor to be here.
Renee Richel (01:20):
So when I met Amanda, I don't even know, maybe
almost a year ago or so.
Not very long, but I got tohear your journey and your story
and uh, you know, your walk, Iguess I would say, with your
faith.
Today, what I want to do isobviously ask you more questions
and for you to share with ouraudience how through the thick
(01:45):
of things, you can still findhappiness in joy.
So, Amanda, not only is shebeautiful, she is a mother of
two young, incredible children,a boy and a girl.
And she had found the love ofher life.
Uh, and at a young age that sheis, not disclosing what how old
(02:07):
we are, right?
She is also a widow.
And we have so many of ourclients and just in general,
matches and God that has broughtus widows.
Um, so I'm excited for you toshare with our audience what
it's like to be a single mom,but also find true love, but
also be navigating through thegrieving period and to be ready
(02:31):
to be out there and date and andhave that confidence with the
Lord in you and through you.
So let's start off by askingjust some questions uh that I
feel are really important thatare here to share.
Well, let's go.
I'm looking forward to it.
So, how has both love and lossshaped your life today?
Amanda West (02:53):
Very much so.
Both have.
Um, I was married to my belatedhusband, Paul, for nine and a
half years.
And hands down, it was it wasmy and has been my favorite
chapter of life.
And it was because our lovestory was so beautiful.
And it wasn't that it was easy,it wasn't perfect by any means,
(03:15):
but we were both in 110%.
No matter what it was, weshowed up for each other, which
I think is what it's all aboutat the end of the day.
Yeah.
And he just had such abeautiful way of looking at life
and living life to the fullest.
Um, he had a beautiful way ofloving me, loving the kids, and
also loving everyone around him,which I think it's kind of lost
(03:40):
in the track sometimes.
We get in a red of day-to-daylife and and forget what life
truly is about, right?
So then when I lost him, thatwas, of course, a really
defining moment in life, right?
Not something that you wouldever see coming.
And I think the biggest thingthat I took from it almost
(04:03):
immediately is that it's themoments that make everything.
You can't take anything withyou.
Nothing.
Renee Richel (04:12):
That's true.
Amanda West (04:13):
And the only thing you leave behind, truly, that's
worth anything is the memories.
So, what are we doing tocultivate those relationships
within our family and withinevery person that we speak to
and come in contact with?
What does that lastconversation look like?
Right?
(04:33):
Right, because you just neverknow.
You never know.
And what kind of impact can youhave on them?
Not just not just in the littlethings, but are you leaving
behind little little trickles ofof Jesus?
Do they see Jesus in you as youwalk away?
Renee Richel (04:47):
Which I'm sure your kids do every day, and you
instill that in them, justhearing about the kids and just
in general, how much heart theyhave from mom, and I'm sure they
still feel the spirit of dadoverlooking them now, right?
Absolutely, absolutely.
Amanda West (05:03):
So tell me, how did you guys meet?
We met in Virginia Beachactually at a surfing contest,
which I do not surf, I still donot surf.
Um, I was I hopped in on agirls' trip and I happened to be
living in Tampa and I wasmoving to Jacksonville, and I
(05:28):
assumed when I met him that helived in Virginia Beach.
I didn't know anything abouthim, but it was like lightning
struck when I met him.
And he happened to share inconversation that he lived in
Neptune Beach.
And I was like, Really?
He goes, Where do you live?
And I said, Well, I live inTampa, but I moved into
Jacksonville in a few months.
(05:50):
And we dated a few months longdistance, and then once I moved
to town, that was it.
The rest was his painted abeautiful story for your
connection.
Renee Richel (06:01):
Yes.
Well, I love that because ouraudience is either in a
relationship, they areprayerfully praying and waiting
to meet that person.
And we always want to know whenand where did God strike you,
right?
Both of you to fall in love.
So I love to hear that.
Can you share with us yourstory of coming to know Christ,
(06:22):
which I know you have a veryinteresting path in that
journey?
Amanda West (06:26):
I do.
I will um I'll try to condenseit.
So I was raised Jehovah'sWitness, and I started
questioning the truth, probablyin my teenage years, but it was
shut down very quickly by myparents.
This this is the way, this ishow we will do things in this
household.
So at 19, I really was like, Iam going to dive into this.
(06:50):
And Jehovah's Witnesses havetheir own Bible, but they say
it's the same as King James,just a little more translated,
easier to read.
So I got the King James Bibleout and I just started digging
in.
And it didn't take long for meto figure out that, you know,
there's words changed and verseshere that ultimately changed
(07:10):
the entire scripture meeting.
So in that time frame, I alsohad a really good friend invite
me to church.
And Jehovah's Witnesses, theyare completely against attending
any other church.
That is really the ultimatesin.
I had been invited multipletimes through friends in school
(07:31):
that were Christians to come andvisit their church, and it was
that is just not an option.
But in this time of me tryingto find answers and digging for
what the real truth was with theLord, I said yes to her.
And I showed up at church and Iwalked in, and I will never
(07:52):
forget that they were singingthe song Hosanna.
And Jehovah's Witnesses do notlisten to Christian music, they
have their own songbook andworship that they do.
So I really had never heardChristian music.
So just it was like chills allover my body.
And immediately tears juststarted streaming.
(08:14):
And I couldn't even tell youwhy in that moment.
But I did realize reallyquickly that what I had just
experienced was the Holy Spiritfor the first time in my entire
life.
Renee Richel (08:25):
That was amazing.
Amanda West (08:26):
And I sat down, I listened to the sermon, it was a
beautiful sermon.
And when I left that day, Ifelt two things.
I felt loved, and I felt like Iwas a good person, and I had
never experienced that.
And you were how old at thisage?
(08:48):
I was probably about 19 or 20.
Okay.
Renee Richel (08:52):
Which is a huge pinful moment in your life.
Chapters.
Amanda West (08:56):
Yes.
So moving forward that day, Idrove away and I was like, Lord,
I do not know what I have beentaught my whole life, but I do
know it's not the truth.
And I am just going to let youcontinue to lead me.
And that was the resolutionthat I made that day.
And I just kept leaning in.
And in time, elders within thechurch asked, you know, what are
(09:23):
you doing?
You're not attending.
So I was honest and said, I'vebeen attending another church.
And within within weeks, therewas an announcement made that I
was no longer one of Jehovah'sWitnesses from the platform.
And when that happens, it'sexcommunication.
No one speaks to you, you'recompletely cut off.
So I lost my parents and I wasvery close to my mom.
(09:47):
Um, all of my friends that Ihad grown up with, the majority
of my community.
I had my friends at work, butreally my whole life had been
surrounded by that.
And I just thought, I'm notgonna live by something that's
not the truth.
So I just continued to lean inon God.
I was also married, was marriedat a very young age.
(10:09):
And um, in time it was divorce,and then God led me to move to
Jacksonville and in the midst, Imet Paul in the midst of that
move, which was just such abeautiful blessing.
And Paul told me he was like, Ireally think you would love my
church here locally, that I've Ihaven't been attending very
(10:30):
long, but I would love for youto come along.
So I did, and we attended 1122together, and I immediately felt
like I was getting answers tothe questions that I had.
Renee Richel (10:42):
I love that.
Amanda West (10:43):
It was very much so truth about the Bible, speaking
truth about the word, which Iloved.
And it was not, I would saywithin a few months that Pastor
Joby was speaking about he wasspeaking about the deeds.
There's so it's so often thatwe live by deeds in life and
(11:06):
what that gets you, what a gooddeed gets you.
And I lived my whole lifefeeling like I had to do all
these good deeds to get to thepot of gold, right?
And he's like, there isnothing, there is nothing that
you can do that will earn yourway to heaven.
Renee Richel (11:24):
That's true.
Amanda West (11:25):
It's actually insulting to the Lord to think
that there is something that youcan do to earn your way there.
And when he said that, it wasit all clicked to me.
And it was like a weight hadjust been taken off of my
shoulders, and I knew rightthat.
And was this before you weremarried?
It was before Paul and I weremarried.
(11:47):
Yes.
Okay, yes.
Renee Richel (11:48):
So just little affirmations.
Amanda West (11:50):
Little affirmations, right?
And it was in that moment thatI accepted Jesus as my Lord and
Savior, and it wasn't long afterthat that I made the public
declaration.
Renee Richel (11:57):
That's awesome.
I love it.
Amanda West (11:59):
Amazing.
And of course, it's been, youknow, a beautiful journey every
since.
Renee Richel (12:03):
And that give everybody the timeline.
Amanda West (12:04):
How long ago was that 12, 13 years ago.
Okay.
Yeah.
And I will say I went a decadewithout having my family in my
life.
They did, my parents are backin my life.
And they are still practicingJehovah's Witnesses.
But I have and no doubt thatone day they will walk with me.
Renee Richel (12:27):
And I wish that.
Well, we're gonna continue topray for that too.
And it's just the power of God,right?
Uh putting that bridge outthere that you were so faithful
in prayer to create thatrelationship to rebond for the
sake of your kids and everythingelse.
So I just love that they arenow back in your life and that
God has healed that relationshipto be strong again, too.
(12:51):
So we'll pray for that as well.
In what ways did the body ofbelievers buoy you after your
husband passed?
Amanda West (12:59):
That question puts tears in my eyes because when I
look back at even before Paul'spassing and truly think about
it, I'm like, God was puttingthings into play for me before I
ever would have known.
And not only did I have thechurch and my church community
(13:20):
that was there for meimmediately, right?
And I had long-lasting friends.
I have a wonderful street thatI live on.
Two of my dearest friends liveright on my street.
So I really was surrounded withincommunity people.
Yeah.
But the one thing that I didn'trealize that I had was the
(13:43):
community.
I knew when I moved here that Ihad moved to a beautiful place
and it took time to buildrelationships, right?
But I really had no idea thecommunity that I had surrounding
me.
And God, God put that right infront of my face.
I mean, everyone pulledtogether.
And even though I grievedprivately and people gave me
(14:04):
that space, I had no doubt thatI wasn't surrounded with so much
prayer and people being willingto do anything and everything
that me and the kids needed atany moment in time.
Renee Richel (14:16):
I love that.
It was it's so it just alsogoes to show the deep
relationships that you've spenttime planting the seeds and
growing, right?
Too.
Because I hear so many timesfrom widows is like, you know, I
mean, people are there, butthen they're not months down the
road afterwards.
And it's like who's there tostill uplift you and support you
and and really just be yourrock through what's new in your
(14:40):
life to come, too.
Yes.
Amanda West (14:41):
So I love that.
Yes, it's interesting you saythat because I did hear that
often in the beginning.
Be prepared, like you're gonnahave a ton of support right now,
and then it drips off.
And in some ways, it's a it wasdefinitely a change of support,
right?
Like everyone's not rightthere, like coddling bringing
you dinner or something.
Um, but to this day, I stillfeel like anybody and everybody
(15:08):
is just right there and ready tostep in if I ask for help.
Renee Richel (15:12):
I love that.
Amanda West (15:12):
I love that.
Renee Richel (15:14):
Since you are such a light to so many people,
which that's why I wanted tobring you on.
We're gonna do so many morethings together to empower
individuals that not only havegone through, you know, being a
single parent, being widowed,being divorced.
I mean, you can speak to somany people going through the
emotional roller coaster, havingtheir faith, and you know,
being born again is um what isan encouraging word you would
(15:38):
like to share with others thathas faced um unexpected
tragedies?
Amanda West (15:45):
I would say so often when things get hard,
people quit.
And I would say don't quit.
Fight harder, fight harder.
And in those beginning moments,especially in the beginning
moments of loss and and grief, Imean you are just you are you
(16:07):
are hanging on for every momentof breath, honestly.
And if you just lean in to God,he's right there.
He doesn't go anywhere.
We create these boundaries, hehas no boundaries, he's ready,
willing, and able at all momentsto be there for us and lean in
and just know that there is joyon the other side of this.
(16:30):
He promises you that there willbe joy, and the more you lean
in, you you ultimately justbecome like he takes the steps
for you, he carries it out foryou.
And it's not to say that itwon't be hard, there will be
hard days, there will be hardtimes.
I can remember the very firstnight that I put the kids to bed
(16:51):
after Paul passed.
And I looked them both dead inthe eye, and I said, This hands
down was probably the hardestday of your entire life.
That's so true.
But we did it with God andtomorrow is going to be the
second hardest day of yourentire life.
But we will do it with God,yes, you can do hard things, and
(17:16):
God will make those hard thingsso much easier if you just lean
in and ask him, ask help, askhim for help.
Yeah, he will give it to you.
Renee Richel (17:26):
Well, I mean, just going back to the beginning of
your story, right?
When God was testing you towalk out in faith in a
completely alone feeling, totrust in him to lead you to
where you are today.
So he's definitely equipped youwith a lot of knowledge and the
best love in this entire earththat we can ever have is God's
(17:47):
love.
Absolutely.
You're making me now cheer upas we think about just the
blessing that you and Paul haveleft in your children for all
the things that they're gonnado.
I can't wait to witness and seewhat they will do in life as
well.
When did you know you wereready to start dating again?
Amanda West (18:06):
So I can't say that there was this aha moment or
light bulb that flashed green.
And I was like, okay, it's timeto do this.
There was definitely not thatmoment.
Renee Richel (18:16):
Other than, of course, when we connected with
you, because we're alwaysrecruiting and scouting, and we
found out about you through adear friend.
Amanda West (18:26):
So I grief is such an interesting thing in the way
that it can come and go.
It's always with you.
But I think that it ultimatelylife just has a way of winding
things and people coming intoyour pathway, right?
And and it just kind of evolvesfrom there.
(18:48):
However, I do think it's soimportant to just read your
feelings and be honest with yourfeelings as to each step that
you take with it.
There were definitely momentswhere I stepped in into dating,
and then I was like, ultimately,it opened up another level of
(19:08):
grief for me.
And I'm like, whoa, these areemotions I haven't experienced
or walked yet.
So there was times that I wouldtake a step back.
And then you come to realize,like, oh, this is something,
these, these em this, theseemotions come with me all along
the journey, right?
So I think it's also a reallyunique way to know if you're
(19:32):
with the right person with whoyou're dating when those
emotions arise.
Are they there to hold yourhand?
Are they there to and and solidwithin themselves when you say,
Hey, I I'm gonna have to have amoment.
This is hard.
I'm in a hard space right now.
Yeah.
And those are moments that youtruly get to know like, is this
the person that that is gonnastand beside me and the hard
(19:53):
moments too?
Because now this is truly apart of my journey for the rest
of my life.
Yeah.
And it gets easier and thewaves are not as often, right?
But that all comes along withit.
And I think I I don'tnecessarily, some people might
feel like that they've had thatgreen light moment, but it was
never a beaming green lightmoment for me as to when to
start dating.
(20:14):
It was just like, okay, life'staking these next steps.
Renee Richel (20:18):
And God is the best navigator to truly let us
know when we're ready andmeeting people in the right
timing, always his timing, likeconnecting, I always say, is
just seeing what he's up toevery day is the joy and
excitement of curiosity.
Absolutely.
Right.
Okay, what is your heartbeatand mission for women ministry?
Amanda West (20:42):
I love this.
It just I'm on fire right nowto help other women and help
lead them and and where they'rewhere life is going to take them
with the Lord.
I think that I just want womento experience the relationship
with the Lord that He's willingand able to give them every
single day.
(21:02):
There is nothing that's morefulfilling than what He can give
us.
Renee Richel (21:07):
Amen.
Amanda West (21:08):
And He gives it to us for free.
We spend so much time pursuingall these things that we think
are going to bring us joy,ultimately, it usually cost us
money as well, right?
It's very true.
He offers it for free, and itis the most fulfilling thing
that we can ever experience inour entire life.
(21:28):
And I just truly, I especiallywomen who have experienced a lot
of loss or a heavy loss.
I look at that and I'm like,oh, God has a calling on your
life because you've been given astory that's not meant to be
laid in vain.
He wants you to speak out andto stand up for it and to use it
(21:49):
for his glory.
Yes.
And I just want to be able tohelp walk women in that journey
and lead them towards the Lordand what he's called them to do.
Renee Richel (21:58):
Which I love to hear that.
And I'm excited for ouraudience to hear a lot more from
you in the future, uh, withjust helping, because you know
what we always say, what ourmission is to change the divorce
rate.
How do we do that?
Starting with the right godlyperson that is ready for true
love, that sees the value andthe um, you know, just the joy,
(22:21):
but also work it takes to behappily and successfully married
to the right person, um, andthen shower that relationship
with encouragement throughouttheir uh journey of love and
marriage, um, to just bring ahappier world together of what
true love is.
Um but it begins with oneself.
(22:42):
And I love speaking, I just dida speaking engagement uh last
night actually with a group ofwomen, uh, giving them hope to
find love again.
And the truth that isincredible in all of them is
that we, when we were praying,how we don't pray for ourselves
often enough.
And we're always praying forother people.
But when we stop and reflectand start to pray for the things
(23:04):
that we need most, and we startand spend time with God to
truly know our own identity,then we can be so much stronger
as soldiers to him, right?
Ambassadors of God building hiskingdom, one person in
community at a time.
And it takes a village, ittakes a village today.
And that's why I'm so excitedyou're here with us.
(23:24):
Because I say to all of us, weneed more help talking to more
people about this love that youfeel that is just so infectious.
When I first met you,obviously, I already just felt
the connection to the HolySpirit and just that just you're
a beautiful person inside andout with all that you've been
through.
It just radiates.
So I'm excited for you tocontinue to speak to all of our
(23:48):
loving hearts out there,whatever journey they're on, to
be a pearls of wisdom andknowledge and encouragement.
How has your life experienceshaped you for to serve others?
Amanda West (24:01):
Well, I definitely believe everything that I've
been through, it's almost like aa cabinet, a filing cabinet,
right?
Of all these little nuggetsthat I've gone through.
And I I know that God justhasn't given those to me to just
leave in that filing cabinet,right?
He wants me to use those tohelp other people.
(24:23):
And throughout the journey, theone thing that I can take from
all of it is that in the hardestmoments, when I was able to
still do for others, instead offocusing on whatever it was that
I was in at the moment, that'swhen the joy came in.
And to correlate those twothings, like here you are with
(24:46):
all of this knowledge of whatyou've walked, and to absolutely
know that in the hardestmoments, the best ways to still
find joy and be able to stepforward is by helping the person
next to you.
I know, hands down, like thatthat is where God's calling is
on my life.
I love that.
I love that.
That's amazing.
Renee Richel (25:07):
Um, how do you think the church in general
walks alongside singles?
Because this is a subject weare constantly talking about.
We are surveying right nowhundreds of churches in the US
to ask them where they're at,feeling like as a company that
is all about the matter of theheart, obviously, and love and
(25:28):
relationships, but it is reallydifficult in churches when it
comes to what's right to do withpeople that are single.
So, how would you say that youthink the church in general
walks alongside of singles, um,whether to be never married,
divorced, or widowed?
Amanda West (25:47):
Well, first I will say I have spent most of my
Christian walk and in the churchbeing married, not single.
So I can't really speak onbehalf of being single in the
church.
Um, I can say that I have hadconversations with my pastor on
what it is to be a widow in thechurch, right?
(26:09):
And through thoseconversations, ultimately I'm
I'm like, I'm here to help.
What can I do to help?
Because I know for a man, it isso difficult for him to be able
to know what it's like to feelwhat a widow is going through
(26:29):
and what she needs.
Ultimately, only another widowwould know what a what a widow
really needs, right?
Right.
And a pastor's there to prayfor you and what can I do to
support you, right?
And I have teams to love on youand all of those things.
But ultimately, out of thoseconversations, the church was
like, we would love for you tolead a discipleship group for
(26:51):
widows.
And that was born this year.
And it's been, it's been reallyincredible to watch that and
watch the women come in andwatch that grow and be able to
love on everyone and build thatcommunity because that is truly
what widows need is communitywith one another and learning to
what are these next steps thatI'm taking to walk in life and
have questions that other peoplecan't necessarily answer,
(27:14):
right?
Renee Richel (27:15):
Right.
Kind of like some churches willhave what I hear a lot of our
matches clients, whatever, havegone through, which is like a
divorce care kind of life group.
Right.
Right?
Grieving and going through theloss of divorce, which in your
case is like grieving and goingthrough the loss of a spouse,
which are two totally differentscenarios.
However, they're both grievingin different ways.
(27:35):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
You know, I mean, in the past,uh churches had certain single
groups for certain agedemographics.
And I get it, right?
Because you don't want to putan 80-year-old with a
20-year-old or whatever.
However, I do also feel likethe intention of these groups
are not to match.
As a matchmaking company, I'mliterally saying that it should
(27:58):
be about fellowship and teachingthem something, obviously,
through the word of the Lord andbiblical and scripture and all
of that.
But the things, it doesn'tmatter what age you are.
It doesn't.
I've I mean, I my favoriteevents are where I put single
date, engaged, and marriedpeople all together.
And we're you know, raisingmoney for a cause for something
(28:20):
that is building God's kingdom,but also because you know,
whatever age you are, everybodyhas a story.
And my youth learn from mywiser, and my wiser are reminded
of what youthful dating used tolook like, right?
Not dating each other, butbeing there as accountability,
being there as support, beingthere as mentors to each other.
(28:42):
Because I think that's an artthat's really lost, that the
young kids don't know what todo.
And I feel like some of myolder, you know, singles are are
just also they don't know howto then get back into the dating
world, right?
Again, it's not about dating,it's about having something to
offer of knowledge, education,support for the singles.
(29:02):
Um, and so many churches wetalk to are like, you know, at
the end of the day, we got intoministry.
We want to be there to lead ourcongregation, our community,
and support them.
Right.
We just also can't betherapists and we don't want
hookups, and drinking is notsomething they want to promote,
and they don't want to deal withheartbreak when it doesn't work
out.
And so I get it.
It's such a difficult topic andsubject among the churches.
(29:25):
I mean, there are churches outthere that are just for singles,
right?
And what do you do?
Then you leave when you're nolonger in that place.
And it's something that rightnow we are trying to grasp and
get an idea of like how can usas a company also help these
churches to have the material touh give them strength,
encouragement, and power, youknow, uh knowledge through these
(29:47):
life groups so that it's not soage restricted that if you turn
a certain age, you're no longerpart of this club, but it's
more meant to be fellowship.
Amanda West (29:56):
I think that's great.
And I know within ourdiscipleship.
Group.
It's of all ages, up to 70,down to like mid 30s, I would
say.
And I think that's one of thegreatest things is that you do
have the olders mixed with theyoungers, and there's so much
wisdom that comes from theolder, right?
And there's also some that haveremarried, but are just coming
(30:19):
because they want to help otherswalk it.
They've walked it.
It's it's really it's sowonderful because there's so
much wisdom, and and they cananswer questions about dating
and what that looked like forthem, right?
As they led into a newrelationship.
And I just I think there'sthere is so much that comes from
mixing ages sometimes andletting that grow.
(30:39):
I agree.
And I can't, I honestly cannoturge women enough if you are an
all, but instead of necessarilylooking to the pastor, looking
to the church as what can theydo for me in this situation?
But if you've had time thatyou've walked this journey for
some period of time and you havewisdom under your belt, it's
(31:01):
time to step up.
What can you do to help inthese scenarios?
It's not just about the god theBible calls God calls the
church to help the widows.
Who's the church?
Right?
We're the church, right?
Renee Richel (31:17):
Exactly.
Exactly, which I love that.
And you know, I think thattitle, single, is a label that
nobody really necessarily wantsto advertise, right?
Like that's why when we doevents, we try to do it for all
because we don't nobody wants towalk and be like, oh, there's
the single people, right?
Like if something's wrong withthem, which there's not.
I always think like this label,right?
In my singlehood, I have to behonest, it was some of the best
(31:41):
years of my life.
Not that it's not now, right?
Being in a relationship, butum, it is it was some of the
most intimate time because I hada lot more time to have my
relationship with God, right?
Yes, and didn't get caught upin the busyness of all the other
things that you do as much.
And, you know, to my singlesper se out there, I think that,
(32:04):
you know, it's something that itjust there it shouldn't, it
shouldn't be a label.
And you definitely should notbe going into any type of life
group and feeling like, okay,I'm single, maybe I'll meet this
person.
Like they always say, don't gointo churches shopping for love,
right?
You're supposed to be going into find the fellowship in the
community.
But even like when we'reintroducing people, I tell
(32:26):
everybody, don't go into thistrying to figure out is this
gonna be somebody I'm gonnamarry today?
Go into it with the mindset ofGod is bringing me somebody
amazing.
I want to have a curious mindand see how he leads this
connection.
Absolutely.
Period at the end.
And I think that's what theproblem is in today's
singleness, because they arejust their eyes are open, their
(32:48):
friends are telling them you'vegot to find somebody.
And so that's what if we canchange the title for singles to
something else so they go intoit with an open mind of
curiosity fellowship of otherlike-minded individuals, that
would change the entire dynamicof what I feel like these single
life groups could really be.
I couldn't agree more.
(33:08):
We're gonna work on thattogether, right?
I love it.
What scripture verse or passageworship song in particular
encourage you, encourages youthe most?
Amanda West (33:21):
One of the scriptures that has stuck out to
me throughout my walk sinceI've lost Paul is in Isaiah.
It's Isaiah 40, 30, and 31.
Okay.
And he speaks about waiting onGod, and your strength will be
renewed, and you will have wingsthat mount up like an eagle.
(33:43):
And I cannot tell you how scaryit is when you are in the
beginning stages of a huge loss,and how intense and
overwhelming life looks movingforward.
You feel like it's just thisbomb has gone off and you don't
(34:05):
even know what's in front ofyou, right?
But if you lean in for God'sstrength, if you can imagine,
picture an eagle in the sky, andwhen he spreads out those
wings, he soars.
But if he pulls those wings in,and the more he pulls them in,
he just it's not long, pullsthem all the way in.
(34:27):
Where's he gonna be?
On the ground.
Have faith like an eagle,spread those wings, and you will
not just fly, you will soar.
Renee Richel (34:38):
I love that, and be able to get back up and fly
again, right?
That's awesome.
That's a great, that is a greatimage.
I love that.
That's that's amazing.
So, to everyone out therelistening to this, I hope that
this podcast has resonated withyou through Amanda's beautiful
story that God has equipped herto be strong, to be a light for
(35:01):
your future ahead, since God hastruly equipped her from the
beginning of his plan for her,for the future of what he has in
store.
And I can't wait to witness italongside of you as you inspire
so many other people.
If you would like more answersor just have questions that you
would love to hear from Amandaor us to speak about in another
(35:24):
podcast, please write us.
And uh, we cannot wait to haveyou on to answer more questions
and speak life into so manyother women and just in general
with her own journey.
We hope that you have anincredible week and can't wait
for our next chat.
It's been another great talk onthis episode of 1 True Talks by
(35:47):
Renee Richel.
I look forward to our nextchat.
Please write in your questionsand comments so I can be sure to
talk about whatever it is youwant to discuss in our next
upcoming episode.
Lots of love.
God bless, XOXO.
Hi, I'm Renee Richel, the founder and
president of 1 True Match.
I'm here to help you find andcultivate the love of your life.
For over a decade, I'vededicated my life to the
importance, purpose, and dynamicof human relationships.
My team and I are disciplinedby faith, love, and integrity to
help our clients find thequality relationships they've
(00:28):
always dreamt of.
Each week I will be sharing thetools and tips I've learned
that have rooted my success as amatchmaker with other leaders
around the world.
Hello loves.
Welcome back.
I am beyond excited to besitting here with a very, very
(00:48):
special guest right here next tome, Amanda West, who is a dear
friend and sister in Christ.
That I cannot wait for her toshare her incredible story and
journey that she has walked toget us to sitting on these
chairs today, sharing her storywith all of you and the world to
(01:12):
be a light, an inspiration, andencouragement.
So welcome, Amanda.
Amanda West (01:17):
Thank you.
Thank you for having me.
It's an honor to be here.
Renee Richel (01:20):
So when I met Amanda, I don't even know, maybe
almost a year ago or so.
Not very long, but I got tohear your journey and your story
and uh, you know, your walk, Iguess I would say, with your
faith.
Today, what I want to do isobviously ask you more questions
and for you to share with ouraudience how through the thick
(01:45):
of things, you can still findhappiness in joy.
So, Amanda, not only is shebeautiful, she is a mother of
two young, incredible children,a boy and a girl.
And she had found the love ofher life.
Uh, and at a young age that sheis, not disclosing what how old
(02:07):
we are, right?
She is also a widow.
And we have so many of ourclients and just in general,
matches and God that has broughtus widows.
Um, so I'm excited for you toshare with our audience what
it's like to be a single mom,but also find true love, but
also be navigating through thegrieving period and to be ready
(02:31):
to be out there and date and andhave that confidence with the
Lord in you and through you.
So let's start off by askingjust some questions uh that I
feel are really important thatare here to share.
Well, let's go.
I'm looking forward to it.
So, how has both love and lossshaped your life today?
Amanda West (02:53):
Very much so.
Both have.
Um, I was married to my belatedhusband, Paul, for nine and a
half years.
And hands down, it was it wasmy and has been my favorite
chapter of life.
And it was because our lovestory was so beautiful.
And it wasn't that it was easy,it wasn't perfect by any means,
(03:15):
but we were both in 110%.
No matter what it was, weshowed up for each other, which
I think is what it's all aboutat the end of the day.
Yeah.
And he just had such abeautiful way of looking at life
and living life to the fullest.
Um, he had a beautiful way ofloving me, loving the kids, and
also loving everyone around him,which I think it's kind of lost
(03:40):
in the track sometimes.
We get in a red of day-to-daylife and and forget what life
truly is about, right?
So then when I lost him, thatwas, of course, a really
defining moment in life, right?
Not something that you wouldever see coming.
And I think the biggest thingthat I took from it almost
(04:03):
immediately is that it's themoments that make everything.
You can't take anything withyou.
Nothing.
Renee Richel (04:12):
That's true.
Amanda West (04:13):
And the only thing you leave behind, truly, that's
worth anything is the memories.
So, what are we doing tocultivate those relationships
within our family and withinevery person that we speak to
and come in contact with?
What does that lastconversation look like?
Right?
(04:33):
Right, because you just neverknow.
You never know.
And what kind of impact can youhave on them?
Not just not just in the littlethings, but are you leaving
behind little little trickles ofof Jesus?
Do they see Jesus in you as youwalk away?
Renee Richel (04:47):
Which I'm sure your kids do every day, and you
instill that in them, justhearing about the kids and just
in general, how much heart theyhave from mom, and I'm sure they
still feel the spirit of dadoverlooking them now, right?
Absolutely, absolutely.
Amanda West (05:03):
So tell me, how did you guys meet?
We met in Virginia Beachactually at a surfing contest,
which I do not surf, I still donot surf.
Um, I was I hopped in on agirls' trip and I happened to be
living in Tampa and I wasmoving to Jacksonville, and I
(05:28):
assumed when I met him that helived in Virginia Beach.
I didn't know anything abouthim, but it was like lightning
struck when I met him.
And he happened to share inconversation that he lived in
Neptune Beach.
And I was like, Really?
He goes, Where do you live?
And I said, Well, I live inTampa, but I moved into
Jacksonville in a few months.
(05:50):
And we dated a few months longdistance, and then once I moved
to town, that was it.
The rest was his painted abeautiful story for your
connection.
Renee Richel (06:01):
Yes.
Well, I love that because ouraudience is either in a
relationship, they areprayerfully praying and waiting
to meet that person.
And we always want to know whenand where did God strike you,
right?
Both of you to fall in love.
So I love to hear that.
Can you share with us yourstory of coming to know Christ,
(06:22):
which I know you have a veryinteresting path in that
journey?
Amanda West (06:26):
I do.
I will um I'll try to condenseit.
So I was raised Jehovah'sWitness, and I started
questioning the truth, probablyin my teenage years, but it was
shut down very quickly by myparents.
This this is the way, this ishow we will do things in this
household.
So at 19, I really was like, Iam going to dive into this.
(06:50):
And Jehovah's Witnesses havetheir own Bible, but they say
it's the same as King James,just a little more translated,
easier to read.
So I got the King James Bibleout and I just started digging
in.
And it didn't take long for meto figure out that, you know,
there's words changed and verseshere that ultimately changed
(07:10):
the entire scripture meeting.
So in that time frame, I alsohad a really good friend invite
me to church.
And Jehovah's Witnesses, theyare completely against attending
any other church.
That is really the ultimatesin.
I had been invited multipletimes through friends in school
(07:31):
that were Christians to come andvisit their church, and it was
that is just not an option.
But in this time of me tryingto find answers and digging for
what the real truth was with theLord, I said yes to her.
And I showed up at church and Iwalked in, and I will never
(07:52):
forget that they were singingthe song Hosanna.
And Jehovah's Witnesses do notlisten to Christian music, they
have their own songbook andworship that they do.
So I really had never heardChristian music.
So just it was like chills allover my body.
And immediately tears juststarted streaming.
(08:14):
And I couldn't even tell youwhy in that moment.
But I did realize reallyquickly that what I had just
experienced was the Holy Spiritfor the first time in my entire
life.
Renee Richel (08:25):
That was amazing.
Amanda West (08:26):
And I sat down, I listened to the sermon, it was a
beautiful sermon.
And when I left that day, Ifelt two things.
I felt loved, and I felt like Iwas a good person, and I had
never experienced that.
And you were how old at thisage?
(08:48):
I was probably about 19 or 20.
Okay.
Renee Richel (08:52):
Which is a huge pinful moment in your life.
Chapters.
Amanda West (08:56):
Yes.
So moving forward that day, Idrove away and I was like, Lord,
I do not know what I have beentaught my whole life, but I do
know it's not the truth.
And I am just going to let youcontinue to lead me.
And that was the resolutionthat I made that day.
And I just kept leaning in.
And in time, elders within thechurch asked, you know, what are
(09:23):
you doing?
You're not attending.
So I was honest and said, I'vebeen attending another church.
And within within weeks, therewas an announcement made that I
was no longer one of Jehovah'sWitnesses from the platform.
And when that happens, it'sexcommunication.
No one speaks to you, you'recompletely cut off.
So I lost my parents and I wasvery close to my mom.
(09:47):
Um, all of my friends that Ihad grown up with, the majority
of my community.
I had my friends at work, butreally my whole life had been
surrounded by that.
And I just thought, I'm notgonna live by something that's
not the truth.
So I just continued to lean inon God.
I was also married, was marriedat a very young age.
(10:09):
And um, in time it was divorce,and then God led me to move to
Jacksonville and in the midst, Imet Paul in the midst of that
move, which was just such abeautiful blessing.
And Paul told me he was like, Ireally think you would love my
church here locally, that I've Ihaven't been attending very
(10:30):
long, but I would love for youto come along.
So I did, and we attended 1122together, and I immediately felt
like I was getting answers tothe questions that I had.
Renee Richel (10:42):
I love that.
Amanda West (10:43):
It was very much so truth about the Bible, speaking
truth about the word, which Iloved.
And it was not, I would saywithin a few months that Pastor
Joby was speaking about he wasspeaking about the deeds.
There's so it's so often thatwe live by deeds in life and
(11:06):
what that gets you, what a gooddeed gets you.
And I lived my whole lifefeeling like I had to do all
these good deeds to get to thepot of gold, right?
And he's like, there isnothing, there is nothing that
you can do that will earn yourway to heaven.
Renee Richel (11:24):
That's true.
Amanda West (11:25):
It's actually insulting to the Lord to think
that there is something that youcan do to earn your way there.
And when he said that, it wasit all clicked to me.
And it was like a weight hadjust been taken off of my
shoulders, and I knew rightthat.
And was this before you weremarried?
It was before Paul and I weremarried.
(11:47):
Yes.
Okay, yes.
Renee Richel (11:48):
So just little affirmations.
Amanda West (11:50):
Little affirmations, right?
And it was in that moment thatI accepted Jesus as my Lord and
Savior, and it wasn't long afterthat that I made the public
declaration.
Renee Richel (11:57):
That's awesome.
I love it.
Amanda West (11:59):
Amazing.
And of course, it's been, youknow, a beautiful journey every
since.
Renee Richel (12:03):
And that give everybody the timeline.
Amanda West (12:04):
How long ago was that 12, 13 years ago.
Okay.
Yeah.
And I will say I went a decadewithout having my family in my
life.
They did, my parents are backin my life.
And they are still practicingJehovah's Witnesses.
But I have and no doubt thatone day they will walk with me.
Renee Richel (12:27):
And I wish that.
Well, we're gonna continue topray for that too.
And it's just the power of God,right?
Uh putting that bridge outthere that you were so faithful
in prayer to create thatrelationship to rebond for the
sake of your kids and everythingelse.
So I just love that they arenow back in your life and that
God has healed that relationshipto be strong again, too.
(12:51):
So we'll pray for that as well.
In what ways did the body ofbelievers buoy you after your
husband passed?
Amanda West (12:59):
That question puts tears in my eyes because when I
look back at even before Paul'spassing and truly think about
it, I'm like, God was puttingthings into play for me before I
ever would have known.
And not only did I have thechurch and my church community
(13:20):
that was there for meimmediately, right?
And I had long-lasting friends.
I have a wonderful street thatI live on.
Two of my dearest friends liveright on my street.
So I really was surrounded withincommunity people.
Yeah.
But the one thing that I didn'trealize that I had was the
(13:43):
community.
I knew when I moved here that Ihad moved to a beautiful place
and it took time to buildrelationships, right?
But I really had no idea thecommunity that I had surrounding
me.
And God, God put that right infront of my face.
I mean, everyone pulledtogether.
And even though I grievedprivately and people gave me
(14:04):
that space, I had no doubt thatI wasn't surrounded with so much
prayer and people being willingto do anything and everything
that me and the kids needed atany moment in time.
Renee Richel (14:16):
I love that.
It was it's so it just alsogoes to show the deep
relationships that you've spenttime planting the seeds and
growing, right?
Too.
Because I hear so many timesfrom widows is like, you know, I
mean, people are there, butthen they're not months down the
road afterwards.
And it's like who's there tostill uplift you and support you
and and really just be yourrock through what's new in your
(14:40):
life to come, too.
Yes.
Amanda West (14:41):
So I love that.
Yes, it's interesting you saythat because I did hear that
often in the beginning.
Be prepared, like you're gonnahave a ton of support right now,
and then it drips off.
And in some ways, it's a it wasdefinitely a change of support,
right?
Like everyone's not rightthere, like coddling bringing
you dinner or something.
Um, but to this day, I stillfeel like anybody and everybody
(15:08):
is just right there and ready tostep in if I ask for help.
Renee Richel (15:12):
I love that.
Amanda West (15:12):
I love that.
Renee Richel (15:14):
Since you are such a light to so many people,
which that's why I wanted tobring you on.
We're gonna do so many morethings together to empower
individuals that not only havegone through, you know, being a
single parent, being widowed,being divorced.
I mean, you can speak to somany people going through the
emotional roller coaster, havingtheir faith, and you know,
being born again is um what isan encouraging word you would
(15:38):
like to share with others thathas faced um unexpected
tragedies?
Amanda West (15:45):
I would say so often when things get hard,
people quit.
And I would say don't quit.
Fight harder, fight harder.
And in those beginning moments,especially in the beginning
moments of loss and and grief, Imean you are just you are you
(16:07):
are hanging on for every momentof breath, honestly.
And if you just lean in to God,he's right there.
He doesn't go anywhere.
We create these boundaries, hehas no boundaries, he's ready,
willing, and able at all momentsto be there for us and lean in
and just know that there is joyon the other side of this.
(16:30):
He promises you that there willbe joy, and the more you lean
in, you you ultimately justbecome like he takes the steps
for you, he carries it out foryou.
And it's not to say that itwon't be hard, there will be
hard days, there will be hardtimes.
I can remember the very firstnight that I put the kids to bed
(16:51):
after Paul passed.
And I looked them both dead inthe eye, and I said, This hands
down was probably the hardestday of your entire life.
That's so true.
But we did it with God andtomorrow is going to be the
second hardest day of yourentire life.
But we will do it with God,yes, you can do hard things, and
(17:16):
God will make those hard thingsso much easier if you just lean
in and ask him, ask help, askhim for help.
Yeah, he will give it to you.
Renee Richel (17:26):
Well, I mean, just going back to the beginning of
your story, right?
When God was testing you towalk out in faith in a
completely alone feeling, totrust in him to lead you to
where you are today.
So he's definitely equipped youwith a lot of knowledge and the
best love in this entire earththat we can ever have is God's
(17:47):
love.
Absolutely.
You're making me now cheer upas we think about just the
blessing that you and Paul haveleft in your children for all
the things that they're gonnado.
I can't wait to witness and seewhat they will do in life as
well.
When did you know you wereready to start dating again?
Amanda West (18:06):
So I can't say that there was this aha moment or
light bulb that flashed green.
And I was like, okay, it's timeto do this.
There was definitely not thatmoment.
Renee Richel (18:16):
Other than, of course, when we connected with
you, because we're alwaysrecruiting and scouting, and we
found out about you through adear friend.
Amanda West (18:26):
So I grief is such an interesting thing in the way
that it can come and go.
It's always with you.
But I think that it ultimatelylife just has a way of winding
things and people coming intoyour pathway, right?
And and it just kind of evolvesfrom there.
(18:48):
However, I do think it's soimportant to just read your
feelings and be honest with yourfeelings as to each step that
you take with it.
There were definitely momentswhere I stepped in into dating,
and then I was like, ultimately,it opened up another level of
(19:08):
grief for me.
And I'm like, whoa, these areemotions I haven't experienced
or walked yet.
So there was times that I wouldtake a step back.
And then you come to realize,like, oh, this is something,
these, these em this, theseemotions come with me all along
the journey, right?
So I think it's also a reallyunique way to know if you're
(19:32):
with the right person with whoyou're dating when those
emotions arise.
Are they there to hold yourhand?
Are they there to and and solidwithin themselves when you say,
Hey, I I'm gonna have to have amoment.
This is hard.
I'm in a hard space right now.
Yeah.
And those are moments that youtruly get to know like, is this
the person that that is gonnastand beside me and the hard
(19:53):
moments too?
Because now this is truly apart of my journey for the rest
of my life.
Yeah.
And it gets easier and thewaves are not as often, right?
But that all comes along withit.
And I think I I don'tnecessarily, some people might
feel like that they've had thatgreen light moment, but it was
never a beaming green lightmoment for me as to when to
start dating.
(20:14):
It was just like, okay, life'staking these next steps.
Renee Richel (20:18):
And God is the best navigator to truly let us
know when we're ready andmeeting people in the right
timing, always his timing, likeconnecting, I always say, is
just seeing what he's up toevery day is the joy and
excitement of curiosity.
Absolutely.
Right.
Okay, what is your heartbeatand mission for women ministry?
Amanda West (20:42):
I love this.
It just I'm on fire right nowto help other women and help
lead them and and where they'rewhere life is going to take them
with the Lord.
I think that I just want womento experience the relationship
with the Lord that He's willingand able to give them every
single day.
(21:02):
There is nothing that's morefulfilling than what He can give
us.
Renee Richel (21:07):
Amen.
Amanda West (21:08):
And He gives it to us for free.
We spend so much time pursuingall these things that we think
are going to bring us joy,ultimately, it usually cost us
money as well, right?
It's very true.
He offers it for free, and itis the most fulfilling thing
that we can ever experience inour entire life.
(21:28):
And I just truly, I especiallywomen who have experienced a lot
of loss or a heavy loss.
I look at that and I'm like,oh, God has a calling on your
life because you've been given astory that's not meant to be
laid in vain.
He wants you to speak out andto stand up for it and to use it
(21:49):
for his glory.
Yes.
And I just want to be able tohelp walk women in that journey
and lead them towards the Lordand what he's called them to do.
Renee Richel (21:58):
Which I love to hear that.
And I'm excited for ouraudience to hear a lot more from
you in the future, uh, withjust helping, because you know
what we always say, what ourmission is to change the divorce
rate.
How do we do that?
Starting with the right godlyperson that is ready for true
love, that sees the value andthe um, you know, just the joy,
(22:21):
but also work it takes to behappily and successfully married
to the right person, um, andthen shower that relationship
with encouragement throughouttheir uh journey of love and
marriage, um, to just bring ahappier world together of what
true love is.
Um but it begins with oneself.
(22:42):
And I love speaking, I just dida speaking engagement uh last
night actually with a group ofwomen, uh, giving them hope to
find love again.
And the truth that isincredible in all of them is
that we, when we were praying,how we don't pray for ourselves
often enough.
And we're always praying forother people.
But when we stop and reflectand start to pray for the things
(23:04):
that we need most, and we startand spend time with God to
truly know our own identity,then we can be so much stronger
as soldiers to him, right?
Ambassadors of God building hiskingdom, one person in
community at a time.
And it takes a village, ittakes a village today.
And that's why I'm so excitedyou're here with us.
(23:24):
Because I say to all of us, weneed more help talking to more
people about this love that youfeel that is just so infectious.
When I first met you,obviously, I already just felt
the connection to the HolySpirit and just that just you're
a beautiful person inside andout with all that you've been
through.
It just radiates.
So I'm excited for you tocontinue to speak to all of our
(23:48):
loving hearts out there,whatever journey they're on, to
be a pearls of wisdom andknowledge and encouragement.
How has your life experienceshaped you for to serve others?
Amanda West (24:01):
Well, I definitely believe everything that I've
been through, it's almost like aa cabinet, a filing cabinet,
right?
Of all these little nuggetsthat I've gone through.
And I I know that God justhasn't given those to me to just
leave in that filing cabinet,right?
He wants me to use those tohelp other people.
(24:23):
And throughout the journey, theone thing that I can take from
all of it is that in the hardestmoments, when I was able to
still do for others, instead offocusing on whatever it was that
I was in at the moment, that'swhen the joy came in.
And to correlate those twothings, like here you are with
(24:46):
all of this knowledge of whatyou've walked, and to absolutely
know that in the hardestmoments, the best ways to still
find joy and be able to stepforward is by helping the person
next to you.
I know, hands down, like thatthat is where God's calling is
on my life.
I love that.
I love that.
That's amazing.
Renee Richel (25:07):
Um, how do you think the church in general
walks alongside singles?
Because this is a subject weare constantly talking about.
We are surveying right nowhundreds of churches in the US
to ask them where they're at,feeling like as a company that
is all about the matter of theheart, obviously, and love and
(25:28):
relationships, but it is reallydifficult in churches when it
comes to what's right to do withpeople that are single.
So, how would you say that youthink the church in general
walks alongside of singles, um,whether to be never married,
divorced, or widowed?
Amanda West (25:47):
Well, first I will say I have spent most of my
Christian walk and in the churchbeing married, not single.
So I can't really speak onbehalf of being single in the
church.
Um, I can say that I have hadconversations with my pastor on
what it is to be a widow in thechurch, right?
(26:09):
And through thoseconversations, ultimately I'm
I'm like, I'm here to help.
What can I do to help?
Because I know for a man, it isso difficult for him to be able
to know what it's like to feelwhat a widow is going through
(26:29):
and what she needs.
Ultimately, only another widowwould know what a what a widow
really needs, right?
Right.
And a pastor's there to prayfor you and what can I do to
support you, right?
And I have teams to love on youand all of those things.
But ultimately, out of thoseconversations, the church was
like, we would love for you tolead a discipleship group for
(26:51):
widows.
And that was born this year.
And it's been, it's been reallyincredible to watch that and
watch the women come in andwatch that grow and be able to
love on everyone and build thatcommunity because that is truly
what widows need is communitywith one another and learning to
what are these next steps thatI'm taking to walk in life and
have questions that other peoplecan't necessarily answer,
(27:14):
right?
Renee Richel (27:15):
Right.
Kind of like some churches willhave what I hear a lot of our
matches clients, whatever, havegone through, which is like a
divorce care kind of life group.
Right.
Right?
Grieving and going through theloss of divorce, which in your
case is like grieving and goingthrough the loss of a spouse,
which are two totally differentscenarios.
However, they're both grievingin different ways.
(27:35):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
You know, I mean, in the past,uh churches had certain single
groups for certain agedemographics.
And I get it, right?
Because you don't want to putan 80-year-old with a
20-year-old or whatever.
However, I do also feel likethe intention of these groups
are not to match.
As a matchmaking company, I'mliterally saying that it should
(27:58):
be about fellowship and teachingthem something, obviously,
through the word of the Lord andbiblical and scripture and all
of that.
But the things, it doesn'tmatter what age you are.
It doesn't.
I've I mean, I my favoriteevents are where I put single
date, engaged, and marriedpeople all together.
And we're you know, raisingmoney for a cause for something
(28:20):
that is building God's kingdom,but also because you know,
whatever age you are, everybodyhas a story.
And my youth learn from mywiser, and my wiser are reminded
of what youthful dating used tolook like, right?
Not dating each other, butbeing there as accountability,
being there as support, beingthere as mentors to each other.
(28:42):
Because I think that's an artthat's really lost, that the
young kids don't know what todo.
And I feel like some of myolder, you know, singles are are
just also they don't know howto then get back into the dating
world, right?
Again, it's not about dating,it's about having something to
offer of knowledge, education,support for the singles.
(29:02):
Um, and so many churches wetalk to are like, you know, at
the end of the day, we got intoministry.
We want to be there to lead ourcongregation, our community,
and support them.
Right.
We just also can't betherapists and we don't want
hookups, and drinking is notsomething they want to promote,
and they don't want to deal withheartbreak when it doesn't work
out.
And so I get it.
It's such a difficult topic andsubject among the churches.
(29:25):
I mean, there are churches outthere that are just for singles,
right?
And what do you do?
Then you leave when you're nolonger in that place.
And it's something that rightnow we are trying to grasp and
get an idea of like how can usas a company also help these
churches to have the material touh give them strength,
encouragement, and power, youknow, uh knowledge through these
(29:47):
life groups so that it's not soage restricted that if you turn
a certain age, you're no longerpart of this club, but it's
more meant to be fellowship.
Amanda West (29:56):
I think that's great.
And I know within ourdiscipleship.
Group.
It's of all ages, up to 70,down to like mid 30s, I would
say.
And I think that's one of thegreatest things is that you do
have the olders mixed with theyoungers, and there's so much
wisdom that comes from theolder, right?
And there's also some that haveremarried, but are just coming
(30:19):
because they want to help otherswalk it.
They've walked it.
It's it's really it's sowonderful because there's so
much wisdom, and and they cananswer questions about dating
and what that looked like forthem, right?
As they led into a newrelationship.
And I just I think there'sthere is so much that comes from
mixing ages sometimes andletting that grow.
(30:39):
I agree.
And I can't, I honestly cannoturge women enough if you are an
all, but instead of necessarilylooking to the pastor, looking
to the church as what can theydo for me in this situation?
But if you've had time thatyou've walked this journey for
some period of time and you havewisdom under your belt, it's
(31:01):
time to step up.
What can you do to help inthese scenarios?
It's not just about the god theBible calls God calls the
church to help the widows.
Who's the church?
Right?
We're the church, right?
Renee Richel (31:17):
Exactly.
Exactly, which I love that.
And you know, I think thattitle, single, is a label that
nobody really necessarily wantsto advertise, right?
Like that's why when we doevents, we try to do it for all
because we don't nobody wants towalk and be like, oh, there's
the single people, right?
Like if something's wrong withthem, which there's not.
I always think like this label,right?
In my singlehood, I have to behonest, it was some of the best
(31:41):
years of my life.
Not that it's not now, right?
Being in a relationship, butum, it is it was some of the
most intimate time because I hada lot more time to have my
relationship with God, right?
Yes, and didn't get caught upin the busyness of all the other
things that you do as much.
And, you know, to my singlesper se out there, I think that,
(32:04):
you know, it's something that itjust there it shouldn't, it
shouldn't be a label.
And you definitely should notbe going into any type of life
group and feeling like, okay,I'm single, maybe I'll meet this
person.
Like they always say, don't gointo churches shopping for love,
right?
You're supposed to be going into find the fellowship in the
community.
But even like when we'reintroducing people, I tell
(32:26):
everybody, don't go into thistrying to figure out is this
gonna be somebody I'm gonnamarry today?
Go into it with the mindset ofGod is bringing me somebody
amazing.
I want to have a curious mindand see how he leads this
connection.
Absolutely.
Period at the end.
And I think that's what theproblem is in today's
singleness, because they arejust their eyes are open, their
(32:48):
friends are telling them you'vegot to find somebody.
And so that's what if we canchange the title for singles to
something else so they go intoit with an open mind of
curiosity fellowship of otherlike-minded individuals, that
would change the entire dynamicof what I feel like these single
life groups could really be.
I couldn't agree more.
(33:08):
We're gonna work on thattogether, right?
I love it.
What scripture verse or passageworship song in particular
encourage you, encourages youthe most?
Amanda West (33:21):
One of the scriptures that has stuck out to
me throughout my walk sinceI've lost Paul is in Isaiah.
It's Isaiah 40, 30, and 31.
Okay.
And he speaks about waiting onGod, and your strength will be
renewed, and you will have wingsthat mount up like an eagle.
(33:43):
And I cannot tell you how scaryit is when you are in the
beginning stages of a huge loss,and how intense and
overwhelming life looks movingforward.
You feel like it's just thisbomb has gone off and you don't
(34:05):
even know what's in front ofyou, right?
But if you lean in for God'sstrength, if you can imagine,
picture an eagle in the sky, andwhen he spreads out those
wings, he soars.
But if he pulls those wings in,and the more he pulls them in,
he just it's not long, pullsthem all the way in.
(34:27):
Where's he gonna be?
On the ground.
Have faith like an eagle,spread those wings, and you will
not just fly, you will soar.
Renee Richel (34:38):
I love that, and be able to get back up and fly
again, right?
That's awesome.
That's a great, that is a greatimage.
I love that.
That's that's amazing.
So, to everyone out therelistening to this, I hope that
this podcast has resonated withyou through Amanda's beautiful
story that God has equipped herto be strong, to be a light for
(35:01):
your future ahead, since God hastruly equipped her from the
beginning of his plan for her,for the future of what he has in
store.
And I can't wait to witness italongside of you as you inspire
so many other people.
If you would like more answersor just have questions that you
would love to hear from Amandaor us to speak about in another
(35:24):
podcast, please write us.
And uh, we cannot wait to haveyou on to answer more questions
and speak life into so manyother women and just in general
with her own journey.
We hope that you have anincredible week and can't wait
for our next chat.
It's been another great talk onthis episode of 1 True Talks by
(35:47):
Renee Richel.
I look forward to our nextchat.
Please write in your questionsand comments so I can be sure to
talk about whatever it is youwant to discuss in our next
upcoming episode.
Lots of love.
God bless, XOXO.
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