June 5, 2025 • 58 mins
In this powerful episode of Hope Unlocked, Kristin welcomes Julie Nowacki, founder of Fierce Princess Warriors and a bold voice in advocacy, healing, and youth intervention. Julie shares her raw journey and a miraculous turning point that launched her into her God-given calling. From leading worship nights to founding a creative arts and therapy center, Julie unpacks how saying yes to God—despite fear—opened doors to reform, rescue, and restoration. A must-listen for women called to rise in courage, calling, and reformation.
Julie's Contact Info:
Website - convergentpromotions.com
Email - julie.nowacki@gmail.com
Resources:
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast.
I'm your host, kristen Kurtz,and I'm also the founder of New
Wings Coaching.
I help and empower wildheartedand adventurous women of faith
feeling caged and stuck, unlocktheir true purpose and potential
, break free from limitationsand thrive with confidence,
courage and hope.
If you're curious to learn moreabout coaching with me, head to
newwingscoachingnet and be sureto explore the show notes for
(00:38):
ways to connect with me further.
Get ready to dive in as weuncover empowering keys and
insights in this episode.
So tune in and let's unlockhope together.
Welcome to the Hope Unlockedpodcast.
I'm Kristen Kurtz, your host.
I pray this episode is like aholy IV of hope for your soul.
Please help me.
Welcome Julie Nowatzki to theshow today.
(00:58):
I am just excited to have herhere.
I feel like it's been a longtime coming and we actually got
connected on social media.
I think it was a few years ago,I can't remember, but you know
you meet those people where youhave kind of this instant
connection.
We have a lot of I don't knowcrossover similarities but yet
(01:19):
differences, and it was justsuch a blessing to meet and
connect with her and I'm just soexcited to have her come on and
share her story here today.
So, julie, would you be open tojust sharing a little bit more
about you and who the Lord callsyou?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, absolutely, and it is so much fun to be on your
show today, because I knowwe've been trying to schedule
this for a long time and it justseems like our schedules would
just keep not allowing to makeit happen.
So here we are.
This is perfect today.
April 24th, 424.
And before I share a little bitabout it, the Lord, just you
(01:57):
know, highlighted those numbersto me when we got this scheduled
.
And then, as I was looking up ascripture, john 424, god is
spirit and his worshipers mustworship in the spirit and in
truth.
And that already just spoke tome.
So a little bit about myself.
You know, I was raised as aChristian in a Christian home.
(02:18):
We did music ministry on theroad, my family and I did when I
was younger, and then I startedworking for a Christian record
company helping manage anddevelop artists, and so I did
that for 20 years.
But before I ended up sayingfarewell to that career, I went
into a identity crisis and whatI call it is purpose depression.
(02:41):
So we can, we can, talk aboutthat a little bit.
I've been married for 21 years.
We have a 15-year-old daughterand we are just enjoying life
with her before she getslaunched into her next, yeah,
world-changing assignment thatthe Lord has on her life.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So excited to be here .
Well, yeah, if you could goback to that purpose word you
just shared, I feel like there'ssomething on that that is a big
part of your story, right?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Yes, absolutely.
So.
We ended up having amiscarriage when Audrey, our
daughter, was about two and ahalf three years old, and it
really was a very hard time inour life because my husband and
I were really not on good terms.
We were on the verge ofdeciding whether or not we were
going to continue on in thismarriage, and so when I found
(03:33):
out I was pregnant, I got reallyangry with the Lord and I
started agreeing with some liesand fear immediately set in.
We ended up losing the baby andfrom the moment of conception,
it was not a healthy pregnancy.
So thankfully, the Lord allowedme to know that and to know that
(03:54):
.
You know I did not cause it,but I ended up going into the
doctor and, you know, saying,gosh, we are not ready to add to
our family, we need an option.
And so I ended up having an IUD, and the IUD literally made me
go crazy.
For 10 months I was ridden withfear, anxiety, depression,
(04:17):
suicide ideation.
I was out of my mind, and itwas a point where I had to
really ask the Lord.
Okay, god, it's not about whatI'm doing, it's about who I am.
And for so long my identity waswrapped up in what I was doing,
(04:38):
because I started working forthe record company at a very
young age and it was my parents'record company record company
at a very young age.
And I um, it was my parents'record company, so I got
promoted, promoted, promotedinto a very top leadership
position at a very young age,managing artists that were 20 to
30 years older than me.
So I could not do that anymorebecause I was literally, um,
(05:00):
just my brain was was scrambledand I was trying to fight for my
own life and fight against justeverything that was going on.
And so the Lord, I really liketo tell people, took me through
that Joseph season of knowingthat it's not about what we're
doing, but it's about who we are, and so what I tell people is I
(05:20):
really had that come to termswith my purpose and what I was
called to do, and how was Igoing to get from point A to
point B without being able to dowhat I was doing?
So that's why I call itdepression, because I didn't
know what I was going to do,right.
(05:41):
So that's kind of where thatterm comes from.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, so you were.
You were in the industry for 20years and that's what you knew.
So you came into this point oflike I don't even know who I am
anymore.
What did that look like for youto walk through it tangibly?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
What it looked like was.
I was very unfamiliar with itbecause, um, you know, I helped
people get through their areasof brokenness to formulate
messages, and I really didn'thave, I would say, a compassion
for others that had gone throughreally traumatic experiences,
because I really hadn't, and soI kind of just did the thing.
(06:22):
I really operated from a placeof performance and production to
the point where I could nolonger perform, I could no
longer produce, and that's, Ithink, where I had to again get
to that place of okay, lord.
So if I'm not capable of doingthis, then who am I, aside from
(06:45):
what I'm doing, because that'show I'm known, by getting things
done and I can't do anything.
It was so hard to even go into agrocery store.
I remember we had a Bible studythat was at our church and you
know I have dear friends thereand I was so scared of walking
into that room.
(07:05):
I was paralyzed with fear, andwhen I was able to get enough
courage, I was really good atposturing, pretending and posing
, but I was okay.
But really, in reality, therewas a dark cloud that was over
me that, even though people werespeaking truth and praying over
(07:27):
me, nothing was penetrating.
There was such a strongholdover my heart and over my mind
that I could not receive.
There was a blockage.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Wow, and you determined, I'm guessing, like
in prayer, that it was the rootof it was going back partly to
that IUD.
Oh, yes, the shift in hormonesand all of that is kind of what
you determined.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yes, absolutely.
Because one night I was sittingon our stairs and I had a knife
in my hand and I was cutting my, my, um, my wrist because I was
in so much pain internally andI was wanting out of this life.
And so I remember walking intomy daughter's room and this is
(08:18):
not something I'm proud of, butI'll be honest.
I remember walking into mydaughter's room she was three
years old at the time.
This is how insane I was.
I walked in my daughter's room,saw how she was lying and tried
to figure out how, if I'm goingto kill myself, I'm not going
to leave my daughter or myhusband without a mom or a wife.
(08:39):
So I'm going to basically endthis family line.
And I remember the Lord, verygently, he.
I remember hearing IUD and Isaid, okay, iud.
And and I remember Googling,how do I take this IUD out?
(09:02):
Yeah, because I am literallygoing to make a choice that's
going to destroy a family and somuch of my future and my
daughter's future, my husband'sfuture.
But I am desperate and so Iremember, I remember Googling it
and it said, well, this is avery dangerous thing to do and
(09:23):
it may kill you.
And I remember saying, well, ifit kills me, then that's what
it's supposed to be.
And, by the grace of God, I did.
I took that IUD out.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
At that moment.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
At that moment.
And when I went into my doctor,he's like, oh so, how is your
birth control IUD work?
And I said, yeah, not work, andI took it out.
He's like, oh so how's yourbirth control IUD work?
And I said, yeah, not work, andI took it out.
He said what you know, youcould have killed yourself.
You know you could have.
Like I'm like, yeah, I was soat a point where I had to have
something different and overlike probably, I don't know a
(10:00):
couple days, a few days, Istarted noticing a difference a
couple days, a few days, Istarted noticing a difference.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Oh my gosh, oh yeah, I'm just thinking of how many
women out there have this andthey have no idea that that is a
potential of, if they'reexperiencing symptoms like
you're, you had experienced,because was that even something
that was like mentioned to youwhen you got it that there could
be this type of side effect?
Speaker 1 (10:28):
well, this is the interesting thing.
So a lot of people are familiarwith morena and this was a
little version of morena calledskyla.
I was the very first one inthat office to ever have skyla.
Oh, my gosh.
I don't even know if it's stillon the market, but what I do
know is that Skyla was removed.
(10:50):
So, yeah, um, it really wasn'ttalked about, I mean, because I
mean, of course you know theysay it's gonna kind of, you know
, disrupt your hormones and Ihad been on birth control before
and you know, ortho tricyclingand I didn't have any anything,
um, but this one definitely didnot respond well to um, what was
(11:13):
going on.
And then I ended up, um, yeah,making that decision.
And then I also remember, afterkind of everything started
getting a little bit back tonormal, the Lord was like I need
you to say yes to something I'masking you to do.
And I was like, lord, this doesnot make any sense.
Why am I saying yes to a makeupcompany?
I don't even wear makeup, Idon't even know what I'm doing
(11:35):
with makeup.
And I said yes.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
And.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
I was literally like promoted three times within a
month.
That's how I started FiercePrincess Warriors, because I
said we, as women, have to behonest with what's going on.
It doesn't matter what we seeon the outside, it doesn't
matter how strong of a person welook.
You know, we look like we are.
If we are not honest with eachother, then we are literally
(12:02):
giving ground to the enemy tocontinue to wreak havoc.
And so I started fierceprincess warrior, started
worship nights in the community,started gathering the women
together and then startedsharing my testimony wow, and
how?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
how soon after did all this like come to be this?
Yes, after your experience,like removing the I IUD.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
It was pretty.
It was pretty instant.
It was like, let me think mymom had a hope unleashed
conference and I was like, mom,why am I going to hope unleashed
?
I have no hope.
And literally a few days beforethat conference there was,
there was a silver lining and agrace got dropped on me and I
(12:44):
ended up just coming alive.
It was like whoa, I feelcompletely different.
It was like I can't even, Ican't even explain what happened
.
It's like my whole life justcame back to life.
It was like a spiritualdefibrillator, um, and I
awakened.
And then I remember going tothat conference and I was
sharing with the women like whatI had literally just come out
(13:07):
of, like I had no hope, I wassuicidal, I was depressed, I was
anxious.
I was able to share and impartwhatever God was doing in that
moment to these women.
And then, three days later, Igot back to that same place of
okay, I don't know what that was, but I'm back to being hopeless
again, to that same place ofokay, I don't know what that was
, but I'm back to being hopelessagain.
(13:28):
And so it wasn't like it was.
It wasn't like instantaneoushealing, it was a progressional
healing that the Lord still saidI have work to do because
you're still operating from thisplace of performing for your
identity and I will not have yoube there.
I want you to know that you arewho you are, and what you are
(13:48):
does not matter, because I loveyou for who you are and that's
all about whose we are.
So, but it was a 10 month, Iwould say, um, the whole journey
was December of 2014 or 2015,.
I think it's 2015,.
I ended up saying yes andstarting Fierce Princess
(14:12):
Warriors.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Well, tell us a little bit more about Fierce
Princess Warriors.
What is that to those who don'tknow what that is?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yeah.
So Fierce Princess Warriors isagain one of those things just
kind of like you, kristen, whenwe just hear something that the
Lord is asking us to say yes toand we don't really understand
what we're doing or why we'resaying.
Yes, fierce Princess Warriorswas really developed again to
speak truth and identity overwomen and for us to be honest.
(14:41):
But it was also just like forwomen to know that our spiritual
authority and identity is inChrist, and out of our
relationship with him he invitesus into freedom, into all areas
of our hearts and then whateverwe're called to impact and it's
based off the scripture Hebrews4.11, for the word of God is
(15:05):
living and active, sharper thanany two-edged sword, piercing to
the division of soul and ofspirit, of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts andintentions of the heart.
And that just became aninternational group that we've
had incredible praise reports ofwomen not being able to get
(15:26):
pregnant.
They've had amazing pregnancies, blessed births, we've had
healings take place.
It's just a group of womencoming together and supporting
each other just to call themhigher into their authority and
identity.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
It's beautiful Now.
Is that local or online, orboth?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
No, it's, it's online , it's a Facebook group, um.
And then from that, we starteddoing local community worship
nights and we would involveworship all different you know,
all different churches.
And then we would do creativearts, we would have dancers, we
would have painters, we wouldhave spoken word.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
We literally were just bringing the women together
of my community and sayinghere's the place you belong and
we want to be coming alongsideof you and supporting you well,
so this has been about about 10years, is that right?
It took about 10 months for youto come out of that time, right
(16:23):
?
Yeah, I'm thinking like John 10, 10, like life and life
abundance.
So now you're having this, youhave this complete shift, right?
And who did he show you youwere created to be?
Once you came out of that time,I was like you know, 10 months
technically represents time ofbirthing.
So who was created to be?
Speaker 1 (16:46):
I know and that's and that's something that I think
you know I never really had theopportunity to discover while I
was working for the company.
So that's the other thing.
I ended up quitting my job withthe company after 20 years in
February of 2016, and startedwalking to an unknown journey,
because I never really focusedon me.
(17:07):
I focused on others and makingsure that they were being who
God called them to be and helpedlaunch them into their destiny.
So I mean, he really he really,over time, has started to kind
of unveil who he created me tobe.
But really, it really it's myposition of being a daughter of
his first and foremost and then,out of that, calling others
(17:31):
into just identity.
And I mean now what I'm doing.
I've had people prophesy overme about Deborah and Esther's
and you know all the, all thosewords that we get, but it's
really the Lord's called me toum really be a reformer and
reform things, um, out of justthe um justice call that I have
(17:55):
on my life.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Tell us a little bit more about that.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Well, you know, part of when I came out of um, just
that season, I went up to a dareto be event with Natalie Grant
and Charlotte Gamble and I willnever forget Natalie was talking
about you to ask him what isgoing to basically burn bright
(18:28):
in your life and how can wepartner with something that you
know breaks God's heart?
So, lord, break my heart forwhat breaks yours right, and the
Lord just like dropped in myspirit.
I want you to partner in thismission, I want you to be a part
of this.
And so, um, you know, startedsupporting her in that.
But then I went the next step,further and I started finding
(18:51):
out who in my community is doingthis work, helping the girls
that are, you know, wanting toget out of this life or those
that had been rescued.
And to make the long story short, I started partnering with an
organization um organization andstarted working with girls
rescued from human traffickingand started to get to know their
stories, started to walk themthrough healing, started to just
(19:12):
see them for who they are, nothow they can be used.
And so, again, that's wherekind of the justice started
coming up.
I'm like, oh no, this is ofGod's kids Like they will not be
taken advantage of.
And from that you know that'swhen I started getting the
download of opening up thecreative arts and therapy center
(19:34):
for kids.
Little did I know it was goingto be for youth suicide
prevention, until somethinghappened locally in our
community.
The justice side of me said noton my watch, these are our
youth.
And then it's just kind oftranspired into multiple
different endeavors that I'minvolved with now and it's just
(19:55):
one step in front of the next,not knowing where God is leading
me.
But I say yes.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Can you say that again?
Somebody needs to hear that.
But I say, yes, can you saythat again Somebody?
Speaker 1 (20:07):
needs to hear that which part.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
The last part, the the.
The last part, the taking astep saying yes.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Yeah.
So it's like it's just the Lordleading us one step at a time,
not knowing where those stepsare taking us, but saying yes
and trusting in Him and justbeing obedient to go in those
areas that maybe you've nevereven thought about going,
because it's not about what youthink you're doing in that area,
it's about who God needs you tobe in that area to occupy some
(20:40):
of these areas and territories.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yes, you know these, these areas and territories.
Yes, well, I feel like somebodymight be just wondering, like
I'm not qualified to do any ofthat, like can you, can you just
talk about that a little bit,like how did you ever face kind
of, um, well, I, I don't, Ican't do that, you know, I, I
(21:03):
don't know Right, absolutelyyeah.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
When he called me to start up a creative arts and
therapy center for kids, youknow I have a PR media
background in artist managementand then, of course, I started
my own uh conversion promotions,which is based off of um John
17 and really um coming togetherin spirit and truth.
So I didn't have a mentalhealth background.
I was like Lord, the communityalready is kind of like what is
(21:29):
Julie doing now?
Like now I'm going to come inand I'm going to say, oh, we're
going to start a creative artsand therapy center for kids.
So absolutely I did not feelqualified.
I have a college education, Ihave a GOD.
I mean I have a high schooldiploma in college, but I tell
people I don't need a collegedegree, I have a GOD who places
(21:50):
me in positions that I don'tfeel qualified for.
So I mean, when I was asked tostart working on campaigns and
start managing politicalcandidates, I didn't have any
experience.
I didn't go to any campaignschool, I didn't go to any
legislative like college to geta degree in political science.
I did not know what I was doing.
(22:11):
Right, but it's not about usbeing qualified.
It's that phrase where it saysGod doesn't called.
What is it?
He doesn't um, he doesn't callthe qualified.
He equips the what is it?
Oh?
Speaker 2 (22:24):
it's.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
He doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the
called yes, yeah, or god doesn'tcall the equipped, he equips
the called right.
So both of those.
Again, it's not about what wethink we're qualified to do,
it's the qualifier and the coo,theco, the chief commanding
officer who says it's time toenlist.
(22:45):
Will you say yes?
And part of the bootcamp isdoing the thing.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Exactly, exactly, and I love that, I think.
I mean, I think that's part ofwhy we connected so much is
because of that, the willingnessto say yes when it looks I mean
, literally it looks kind ofcrazy and sometimes we have to
even remind ourselves.
Like we say yes, and it maylook crazy, but at the end of
(23:14):
the day, like, like you said,the, you know people have
letters behind their names thatthey put on their emails, and
for me me too it's like the g od, like you want to ask me what
my qualifications are exactly,probably the best one you could
ever come up with if you ask meexactly.
Yes, yep, exactly well, and twowhen a producer.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
You know when a producer came to me and he's
like, hey, julie, I want to do amovie, can you help me with
this?
I've never been part ofproducing a movie, but because I
know people and because I knowhow to get people excited about
things that they might not beexcited about before, then I was
a production and castingcoordinator for a film and then
it moved into additional filmpromotions, and so it really is
(23:58):
not about where you think youneed to go.
It's about where does God needyou to go?
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Man, so many keys here you're dropping.
So when you look back, likewhich one of these yeses would
you say were kind of the mostcrazy and maybe you were a
little hesitant to step into?
Speaker 1 (24:19):
easy and maybe you were a little hesitant to step
into, um, I would say it wasdefinitely, um, the art and
therapy center for kids.
Um, just because it literallywas a blueprint that the Lord
had given me.
And then it became real,tangible and real when, um, my
husband's dad took his own life.
(24:40):
And so when we were, when I waskind of given that blue front
and was down at School ofCreativity at Bethel, I came
back and I was really excitedand I started to engage the
different counselors and thedifferent artists and saying,
hey, could we see something likethis happen?
So I was really wanting them totake it on and then kind of
(25:01):
create a coalition out of itbecause of their experience and
professionalism.
And then, two days after I spokeat a conference on literally
how the Lord healed anddelivered me from this season
that I went through, that Josephseason, we received a call that
my husband's dad had taken hisown life and his name was Rod.
(25:22):
And so the Lord said I'm goingto redeem and I'm going to
reclaim this, this incident, andthe Lord is going to get, you
know, the glory and it's notgoing to be about what the enemy
did.
So, um, he's like, yeah, youknow that creative art therapy
center for kids and this kind ofdialogue I'm having with the
(25:43):
Lord.
He's like, yeah, you'resupposed to do that.
I said God, I'm not like what,like why?
And then he gave me the nameElrod.
Well, he gave me the name Rod.
I wanted to, you know, I wantedto memorialize my husband's dad
and I said, lord Rod Center, isthere something different?
And then he started showing melike Elohim El Shaddai and I was
(26:11):
like, oh, elrod.
And then he gave me the acronymempowering lives, reclaiming
our destiny.
And we had that open for fiveyears and countless kids and
families were restored and kids'lives were saved because we
just said, said yes, we had nomoney in the bank.
I met a licensed professionalcounselor through a mutual
friend and the lord, just quickin that relationship and we
ended up forming it within twoweeks of meeting um, and so
(26:35):
again, it's just like I, I can't, I, I can't make this stuff up
and I don't do it to boast youknow of what I'm able.
It's what God can do Most of hisgrace.
When he puts his grace, theoperational power of God comes
on an assignment that he wantsyou to say yes to, and when he
(27:00):
asks you to release it, then youneed to release it and don't
hold on to it, because then youwill have the old grace and
things will be hard.
And I told Mary and I said wewill not strive to make
something happen because we willhave to strive to sustain it,
and I will not go back into theperformance production of just
(27:22):
the striving.
And we stayed true to that tothe very end.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Yeah, oh my gosh, that is so true.
I look to that all the time.
I think somebody at one pointhad said whatever you build in
striving, you have to maintainin striving.
And I came out of that world ofstriving and go, go, go, go,
you know, and just generationalon my end.
It's like in my blood to bekind of a workhorse and to go
(27:51):
through that, you know,transformation it's for me.
It was uncomfortable, Was ituncomfortable for you to kind of
it's almost recalibrating, youknow.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Yes, yeah it's.
I mean it absolutely is.
It's undoing a mindset that youhave.
And then you feel like you'relazy when you're not doing
anything, yeah, yeah, becauseyour body is literally on
autopilot for produce, produce,produce, produce.
And then when you're notproducing and you're resting,
then you feel guilty that you'renot producing.
(28:23):
So, it is a lot of mentalgymnastics that go on and the
spiritual warfare I mean it'salso warfare because the Lord is
trying to undo so that he canplace new things.
But it means we have to beintentional about letting go of
things that we may feel like,well, we need to hold on to
these because they're ours.
(28:43):
It's like no they're not.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Well, I was just.
I was curious, as you.
You know we're stepping intothese places.
I often I love coming alongsidegals who are like doing wild
and crazy things and like didyou have people like in your
corner that were cheering you on, or did you have a lot of
people going?
What are you doing, like whatis Julie Where'd?
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Julie go.
You know, I've been, I've beenvery blessed to have a, an
amazing group of women around methat, yes, has cheered me on me
, that, yes, has cheered me on,and it's a small and mighty
group and that I'm very thankfulfor.
(29:27):
Because there are some that, yes, they don't get it and I'm not
going to try to convince them,because if they're more
concerned about what I'm doingthat God has called me to do and
they have more time to thinkabout it, then they obviously
are not doing what it is thatGod is calling them to do.
Because I don't have time to bea police on other people's
lives and ministries and theirassignments.
(29:49):
I just don't.
And so I don't tolerate it andI don't engage in it and I don't
extend any emotional energytowards it because it's
counterproductive.
Extend any emotional energytowards it because it's
counterproductive.
It's not going to change If Godsends me, you know, home, and
(30:11):
he says, hey, I've asked you todo this, but fear has kept you
from doing it and I will notallow the fear of man.
So I, I think some people thathave a hard time with um, just
man's approval.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
I think they have a hard time understanding why I'm
not intimidated by man, but Ithink it's because of what I've
walked through in my life andI've had, you know, I've been
sat down by Christian leaderstelling me that I'm doing too
much and I need to sit down andstop.
But I take that in.
But then there's a fire in methat gets lit because I will not
(30:46):
allow someone to tell me whatto do when God has asked me to
do something.
And there's an increase andthere's, just like this,
confirmation after confirmation,like, yes, there's wisdom.
Absolutely, I seek wisdom andcounsel on you know things and I
make sure that you know.
Two or more agree and there is alevel of maturity that I have
(31:08):
learned along the ways, butagain that I've learned over
time.
Did I make mistakes?
Absolutely.
Was I a bird let out of a cagewhen I left the company and I
could do anything and everything?
Yes, absolutely.
When I left the company and Icould do anything and everything
?
Yes, absolutely.
But it's made me who I am todayand there's a grit that I have
that no one can can take.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Absolutely.
I mean, I think of how manytruly.
I mean I could think of severalpeople that I've talked to in
the last few weeks who, whetherfamily or, you know,
acquaintances, that reallystruggle with that fear of man.
What would you say to them?
You know, like to to really getdelivered of that.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Yeah, well, I think it has to do with again where is
your identity and are youexpecting someone to approve of
you and what you're doing?
And you're trusting in themmore than you are trusting in
God and you're depending on themmore than you are on God.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
And.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
I would say that honestly, you know, the Lord is
the one who wants to.
He wants to enter in thoseareas, he wants to be the one
that we trust and depend fullyon.
And so when we put thatexpectation on man, we're
setting ourselves up because wewill be disappointed, we will be
(32:31):
taken advantage of, we will bemisled, we will be mistreated,
and I think it just gets to thepoint where it's happened enough
and you're like forget it, likeI'm not going to allow someone
to keep me from doing what Godhas called me to do.
So there is this level of ofcourage and again I think it has
to do.
(32:52):
You know, I've been, like Isaid, I've been raised in a
Christian home my entire life.
I've been working for Christianministry my entire life.
And now I'm going into thesespaces where I'm not going in as
a Christian.
I'm going in because they seesomething that I have, that they
want for me to be part of whatthey're doing.
(33:12):
And it looks a lot different.
So I tell you what right now,Kristen, I'm probably going to
have a lot of religious peoplecoming after me because I'm not
starting new projects orinitiatives, essentially, that
are faith based.
I had someone ask me.
They said, well, is this a?
Um, a Christ centered, you knowprogram?
I said, well, Christ is in meand I'm in the center of it.
(33:34):
So, yeah, it's Christ centered,but is it?
Is it saying that it's likefaith based and it's it's Jesus
all over?
No, because where I'm at in mylife right now, the Lord is
utilizing me in very strategicways and I have to have wisdom
and discernment as to when I saysomething.
It's that quote that says youknow, preach the gospel, but use
(33:56):
words when only necessary.
That's where I'm at right now,in a very strategic place that I
do not lead with.
I love Jesus, Right, Right, Ido love Jesus, but it's like
going into those territorieswhere you will get.
You will get kicked out beforeyou even have a chance to be in
(34:17):
the room.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
Yeah, that is so good .
I'm just thinking you know,like you're a ninja, just seeing
like going in, like a ninja,can you, could you give an
example of like what that lookslike stepping into those places,
and you don't have to likedisclose exactly you know going
or what you're doing, butsomebody who's like, well, how
(34:40):
would I even do that?
Like, what does that look like?
Speaker 1 (34:43):
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean for me.
I know I have a huge governmentcall.
In my life I've been trying torun from it, but it continues to
follow me.
So, going into those spaces ofgovernment where there's a lot
of political power at play andthere's a lot of conversations
that seem somewhat distorted andconfused because the other side
(35:07):
and the agenda is really loud,and so I study the opposite side
.
You know, it's like you studythe other side and what they're
doing so that you can bring insome very strategic language
that gets them to realize, wow,they know what they're talking
about and not what I think Iwant to say.
(35:29):
So when you are in those roomsand you hear the conversations,
not always are you sayingsomething, but you are paying
attention to the language.
So then you, when you feel likethe Lord is kind of impressed
upon you to say something, yousay it and it's like that sharp
double-edged sword that justgoes in and you're not saying
(35:50):
anything.
That really is different.
But because we have authorityin what we speak, because Jesus
is inside of us, the Holy Spiritis inside of us.
It counters the things that arebeing discussed and I've seen
literally people and theirconversations shift after I say
(36:11):
something and there's such likea.
I don't know how to explainthis, but it's actually.
It's very interesting, becauseI feel more intimidated and
insecure when I'm speaking to agroup of pastors and leaders
than when I'm speaking togovernment officials.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
That's so interesting .
What do you sense that is?
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Religion.
It's the religious spirit thatI'm coming up against, because
I'm not doing it in a way thatsome pastors and leaders would
approve of.
Now I'm a licensed minister,but I don't go into rooms saying
I'm a licensed minister.
I'm here to talk to you.
I don't need any title.
I don't need.
I mean, people call me pastor,apostle, whatever they can call
(36:55):
me, whatever they want.
I don't need that to be able tospeak or to be acknowledged.
Say that again.
You know a lot of pastors aredoing a lot of damage or they're
expecting a level of allegiancebecause they're a pastor, and
(37:15):
when I was younger, pastors werenever authoritative figures in
my life because we traveled toall these different churches.
We were like the guests of thehouse, so we would always get
invited to the pastor's house.
We would get invited out withthe pastor.
So I have never seen a pastoras someone who tells you what to
do or someone that you need toget approval from.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Never, yeah, and it seems like that's been upticking
quite a bit.
Wouldn't you say yes?
Hmm, well, what is the solution?
You are a solutionist, I loveyour solution.
So what would you say to peoplewho are finding themselves in
(37:57):
situations like that?
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Well, I mean, I think it's simple.
It's be who God is calling youto be for that day and again.
It's not something about sayingthe right thing, performing the
right way.
It's about intentionality, andthat's going to come from
intimacy.
It has to come from ourintimacy behind closed doors and
(38:22):
a lot of peeling back layers, alot of undoing mindsets, a lot
of replacing our indoctrinationIf you've been in the church for
a while, not being afraid toask questions, not being afraid
to hold others accountable whenyou have relationship and
there's trust built.
(38:43):
Yeah, I think we have to be socareful who we allow to speak
into our lives, because there'stoo many that are doing it for
personal agenda and motive.
Yeah, yeah, and relationship isbuilt at the speed of trust.
So if you don't have trust withthat person and you feel like
you're getting manipulated,controlled, coerced, you need to
(39:07):
pay attention and not just goalong with it because they're in
leadership or they're a pastoror they're an authoritative
figure.
Listen to that still smallvoice.
If there's a check in yourspirit, then check.
Why is there a check?
Speaker 2 (39:22):
Right, check the check.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
Yeah, spirit, then check.
Why is there a check Right?
Check the check.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Yeah, check the check Exactly.
It's so good.
I mean, we just really have tobe so discerning.
There's so many voices, there'sso much noise and it can sound
good.
Right, things can sound good.
But is it God, is it his foryou, like, is this his best for
you, right?
Speaker 1 (39:46):
Well, the devil comes disguised as an angel of light.
So why are we surprised?
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Yeah, Such times.
So I love like just even thelast.
Like I said, I think it's beena few years that we've been
connected, but it's been reallyexciting to just hear little
snippets of what's happening inyour life.
So what, what's happening now?
Like, what is Julie up to now?
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Yeah.
So what's happening now is I'vebeen placed in a community
position where I get to offerresources to our community,
which is such an amazingopportunity because it's what
I've been doing, what I'mpassionate about doing.
Bring me a problem.
I want to help solve it.
(40:32):
I want to get you connected tothe right people.
I don't like people feelingstuck or I don't like people
feeling like there isn't asolution.
So I've been also stepping intoa lot of advocacy with youth.
So I've been coming alongsideof families and working through
some challenges with runawayyouth, with girls being human
(40:53):
trafficked, with ones that arein prison, and I've just been a
voice of encouragement andtenacity with families.
So my heart is really for thisnext generation.
I really am passionate aboutseeing this generation just live
out their full potential, andso there's some other
(41:14):
initiatives that I'm working onthat will impact youth.
Another one is a suicideprevention.
That's a worldwide organizationthat I'm chair of policy and
advocacy for.
So I've been doing a lot morein the government space and kind
of getting to the root of whywe have the dysfunction we have
(41:36):
here in Oregon with our justdepartments and kind of asking
some questions and stayingpretty resilient and holding
people accountable.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
So and do you have a lot of people like coming
alongside you to to help?
I know you're like a mobilizer,which is amazing.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
Yes, yeah, so I have, um, I do, and what's really
neat is Megan and I and I knowyou've had her on we are doing
she Leads Oregon, which is apart of she Leads America.
So it's a national organizationwhere women come together and
bring faith-based solutions tomodern day challenges and really
(42:19):
the intercessors and theinfluencers are interconnecting,
and so we've been doingincredible stuff with that as
well.
But then we also started CrisisIntervention Coalition, and
that's another thing where we'retrying to put boots on the
ground for these differentcrises and bringing these
coalition teams around thedifferent areas where people are
(42:42):
passionate about.
So that's kind of been in theworks since November of 2023.
And Megan and I are just reallystewarding that and just really
trusting in the Lord for histiming.
But the people that he brought,he's brought along the side of
us and we're just, you know,just incredible.
Yeah, we're just incrediblythankful that we have women that
(43:05):
do want to see change.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
So, yeah, great things to come, Since you're
heading up these initiatives.
Um, what do you need Like ifsomebody is listening and
they're like, how can I help?
Or what?
What do you need help with?
How can people help if they'reled to?
Speaker 1 (43:23):
So my thing that I'm just getting ready to kind of
release I really have done itkind of more on the back end,
just with my kind of spiritualadvisors and just asking them is
we need crisis interventionrooms for these runaway youth,
for those that are coming offthe streets after being
(43:45):
trafficked and they want out ofthe life, and for women escaping
domestic violence and they havechildren or they don't have
children?
Because what I have found isthat when people, you know, uh,
suggest shelters um, that's thelast place they want to go, and
with the agencies and all oftheir data and all of their
(44:06):
reporting that they need to do,the questions and the
assessments that they're askedto complete prior to even
getting into a safe place, isjust asinine.
And so my thing, my passion, isthe 12 to 17 year old group,
and so I'm starting to work onthis program called safe haven
(44:28):
rooms, where it allows rooms tobe sponsored by business and
businesses and churches.
So when a crisis arises and weneed immediate placement for a
runaway youth or someone thatwants off the streets, because
we had a situation like that,and we need immediate placement
for a runaway youth or someonethat wants off the streets
because we had a situation likethat and we couldn't find her
housing that they have a placeto go and it's a safe place and
(44:49):
they can decompress and they canrest and they're not bombarded
with questions because they arecoming out of fighting to
survive.
So, that's my initiative rightnow is really creating these
safe haven rooms.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
Wow.
So where would they like?
Would it be housing or likehotels, Like?
What does that tangibly looklike?
Speaker 1 (45:14):
Yeah, I appreciate that.
You know it can look like.
You know housing, it can behotels.
I know when we had a mom thatwas escaping, we ended up
rallying some people togetherand they helped get three nights
of a hotel, because her abuserwas was very dangerous and we
even had to call the police andsay, okay, this is his vehicle,
(45:34):
we need you to patrol this.
She's never left and she'sscared for her life and the kids
are scared, and she's scaredfor her life and the kids are
scared.
And so, yeah, I've also talkedto a business owner who, um, you
know, purchases homes for, uh,sober living, and there's
conversation about having a homeset aside for this.
So, um, really, it's one ofthose things that I do not feel
(45:57):
qualified at all to be in thisspace.
I don't know anything about allof this, but what I do know is
there's a need, and as long as Ikeep getting the need out there
, the Lord's going to connectwith the right ones who know how
to make this happen no,seriously, like I want to just
repeat what you said, like Idon't know, but basically god
(46:20):
knows and he'll give you thepeople that do know yeah,
because it's much.
it's much greater than anythingthat I am able to even think
about doing, but all I know isthese are our kids, these are
our future leaders.
We're failing them, and I'veheard that time and time again
from the youth that are caughtup in the systems, and it breaks
(46:41):
my heart, because these arelarge agencies that are getting
funded to help, but when acrisis arises, they're rarely
there.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
Safe haven, and is this starting in your state and
you foresee it going like to theunited states and potentially
global?
Is this what I'm seeing?
Speaker 1 (47:07):
you know, it's really interesting when things like
this happen, because of howconnected I am and you get this
as a connector.
Because of how connected I amand you get this as a connector,
that, um, I'm just saying, lord, here's my small fish.
(47:28):
I don't know what I'm doing.
All I know is that you droppedthis in my spirit and I
responded and I created.
You know what I need to do toshare what it is and whatever
you do with it as far asmultiplication and impact, it's
yours.
Speaker 2 (47:40):
That's so good.
I mean, I, I feel like there'sjust there's so much on this
because you know, you do hear alot of.
You know, at least in my areathere's there's sober homes,
there's a lot for, you know,addiction recovery.
But I do know I did interviewsomebody locally here, stephanie
Page.
She has a she's on mission, youknow, to combat human
(48:04):
trafficking and wants to have ahome, you know, eventually, and
that's it's been a big dream.
It hasn't happened yet.
But yeah, you know, I don't.
You know I don't know the innerdepths of that world either.
I don't know the inner depthsof that world either.
I want to be obliterated myself.
I know that there's others outthere who have a heart for it.
(48:24):
So if you are listening and youhave any connections, please
reach out to Julie in any ofthese areas that she's immersed
in.
As you can hear, it's not justone thing and as you can hear,
it's not just one thing.
And I want to highlight thatbecause I think a lot of times,
at least in my world and youknow people that I've worked
with and encountered, you knowthe world would say just do one
(48:47):
thing, just narrow it in.
Do the one thing, and you guyscan probably hear, julie is like
Proverbs 31 woman.
She's got her hands in somethings, and yet I can tell that
there's like she's resting,she's taking time to be with the
Lord.
So what does that look like foryou?
(49:07):
I feel like we just need to gohere because maybe somebody is
like well, she's a mom, she's,you know, got her hands in all
of the things that she'smentioned, like how does this
even function?
Speaker 1 (49:26):
How does she?
Yeah, no, that's a good, that'sa good question.
And again I go back to you know, when the Lord asked Mary right
, I mean to carry his son.
To carry his son, my goodness,I don't think she felt very
qualified, and so she treasuredthose things and she pondered
them in her heart.
And so it's not all aboutsharing everything right away,
(49:49):
it's not about getting it out tothe masses, it's about
intentional purpose of God.
You're asking me to stewardsomething that I don't feel
capable of doing, so you'regoing to have to teach me.
It's literally being in schoolof the spirit.
And I would say that you know,kristen, when I did the job last
(50:11):
year, when I was going back andforth to Florida to help open
up a school, and I ended up, youknow, resigning from that job
to Florida to help open up aschool, and I ended up, you know
, resigning from that job.
It took me a couple of monthswhere I really was just
downtrodden.
I was like Lord, I thought thiswas it, but again he had to
bring me back to knowing whose Iam, in him.
(50:32):
So it's not a formula, it's aday-to-day encounter, doing life
with the Lord.
It's just, I cannot say itenough.
It's like invite the Lord intoevery step of your day, every
process, and say, lord, show me,it's all about doing, saying
(50:58):
what the Father is doing andsaying, and that's my thing.
I only do what the father isdoing and if I don't feel like
he's in it for me personally, Idon't agree with it and I say no
to a lot of things, especiallyhaving a PR company.
I am inundated with people thatwant me to help promote their
(51:20):
book, their ministry, theirproduct, and I say no a lot.
Because, again, my directionright now, and it's taken a
while for me to get here andthat's why there is a lot of
facets of my life that you'rehearing, but a lot of the things
that I've shared I'm no longerdoing, and so the Lord is really
(51:42):
honing me in on this age group,the 12 to 17 year olds.
So if I am asked to do somethingand I don't see it impacting
this age group, I'm out.
I won't say yes because I haveto say no.
So someone else says yes.
Sometimes our yeses, if we dothem just oh my gosh, no one
(52:05):
else will do it.
You're actually taking awaysomeone else's opportunity to be
bold and courageous and stepinto an area where maybe they
don't feel qualified but becauseyou said yes, they don't get
that opportunity.
Don't feel qualified butbecause you said yes, they don't
get that opportunity.
So we cannot hoard in thekingdom.
We cannot just take it all andnot disperse it, like we are
(52:25):
kingdom resourcers and kingdomresources.
But we have to know is this agiving or is this a receiving
season?
Yeah, absolutely, and we haveto know how to do both to
operate fully.
Speaker 2 (52:42):
So much goodness I you know I actually was
commending somebody earliertoday because she was provided
some you know what on paperwould look like some really
amazing opportunities.
But they would completely beout of alignment.
And you know, at times it'shard to say no to those things.
But I said to her girl I am soproud of your, I call it.
(53:03):
Know your no, because N-O iswithin the K-N-O-W.
You have to know your no, right?
You get warmed up in that.
And you said you've been honedin, you know really getting what
I call alignment with yourassignments, like you're, you're
gonna know it, and then there'sgonna be times where we might
(53:24):
kind of like go sideways andthen he'll bring us back.
Yeah, yeah, you're kind.
Yeah, yeah, you're thankful tothat.
He is fun.
You know every day, like saidto just be available, like what
is, what are we doing today?
Lord, it's so interesting,doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (53:42):
Yeah, he's.
He's the one who has our ordersof the day.
Speaker 2 (53:46):
So good, well, we'll wrap up Um.
We'd love to have you on againsometime um to share again if
you're led to um, but would yoube open to sharing with that one
that's listening today?
Is there anything else that youwould like to speak over that
one who's listening, any wisdomor encouragement?
And then would you pray us outtoday?
Speaker 1 (54:08):
Absolutely.
Yeah, I just feel like you know.
The Lord just wants you to knowthat you're doing well and that
there is a just a level of justgrace on your life, and to not
compare yourself with others andalso don't compete.
(54:35):
Also don't compete.
We need to collaborate togetherbecause we have a world that is
asking for answers and we havethat spiritual antidote.
So don't try to be in someoneelse's shoes.
Really ask the Lord who am I inyour eyes and what is it that
(54:59):
I'm supposed to be doing?
And keep your hands open.
Don't type this things, becausewhen the Lord wants you to drop
them, it's because there'ssomething in someone else that
he wants you to, um, get to knowand just be in alignment with.
So, lord, I do.
I just thank you for today, god.
I thank you that you are justsuch a father that you love us
(55:25):
so well, lord, and I just pray,lord, that just your love would
penetrate the hearts and mindsof those that are listening.
Today, god, we do pray for anunlocking.
If there are blockages or ifthere are things that people
need to let go of or there hasbeen false identities placed on
them, god, we ask that you wouldreveal your identity to them,
(55:48):
lord, and that by knowing whoyou are and whose they are, god,
you would start to heal thoseplaces where people have placed
expectations on them for thingsthat may be personally motivated
by others' desires and ways ofliving in the flesh and not the
(56:10):
spirit.
And we just pray, lord, thatyour word would come alive and
that, just everywhere they look,they would be able to encounter
you and see in a different way.
Lord, we ask for new sight, newears to hear, a new mouth to
speak and a new mindset to knowthat we operate from a heavenly
(56:34):
perspective and we want to seeheaven on earth.
Lord, we want to see yourkingdom come.
So, lord, I just ask that, evenas I pray today, lord, that
things would just illuminate,that things that may have looked
dark, that there will start tobe seen new colors of light, and
(56:55):
that we are called to bringlight into darkness.
And as one light goes into adark room, it just fills up.
So, lord, give us boldness,give us faith, give us courage
to say yes, even when we don'tknow what we're saying yes to.
So I just bless those that arelistening, bless the families,
(57:15):
bless the assignments, bless theministries, bless the jobs,
bless everything that we'redoing, lord, because we are part
of your family and we thank youand praise you in Jesus' name.
Speaker 2 (57:25):
Amen.
Thank you, julie, and thank youfor being a brave voice.
Who's setting so many free?
I'm going to close with theanchoring verse for Hope
Unlocked, and it's May the Godof hope fill you with all joy
and peace and believing so that,by the power of the Holy Spirit
, you may abound in hope.
And that's Romans 15, 13.
So I will be back with anotherepisode next week and I will be
(58:02):
sure to add Julie's contactinformation to the show notes,
so definitely reach out if youhave questions.
Have a great day.
Bye.
Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast.
I'm your host, kristen Kurtz,and I'm also the founder of New
Wings Coaching.
I help and empower wildheartedand adventurous women of faith
feeling caged and stuck, unlocktheir true purpose and potential
, break free from limitationsand thrive with confidence,
courage and hope.
If you're curious to learn moreabout coaching with me, head to
newwingscoachingnet and be sureto explore the show notes for
(00:38):
ways to connect with me further.
Get ready to dive in as weuncover empowering keys and
insights in this episode.
So tune in and let's unlockhope together.
Welcome to the Hope Unlockedpodcast.
I'm Kristen Kurtz, your host.
I pray this episode is like aholy IV of hope for your soul.
Please help me.
Welcome Julie Nowatzki to theshow today.
(00:58):
I am just excited to have herhere.
I feel like it's been a longtime coming and we actually got
connected on social media.
I think it was a few years ago,I can't remember, but you know
you meet those people where youhave kind of this instant
connection.
We have a lot of I don't knowcrossover similarities but yet
(01:19):
differences, and it was justsuch a blessing to meet and
connect with her and I'm just soexcited to have her come on and
share her story here today.
So, julie, would you be open tojust sharing a little bit more
about you and who the Lord callsyou?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, absolutely, and it is so much fun to be on your
show today, because I knowwe've been trying to schedule
this for a long time and it justseems like our schedules would
just keep not allowing to makeit happen.
So here we are.
This is perfect today.
April 24th, 424.
And before I share a little bitabout it, the Lord, just you
(01:57):
know, highlighted those numbersto me when we got this scheduled
.
And then, as I was looking up ascripture, john 424, god is
spirit and his worshipers mustworship in the spirit and in
truth.
And that already just spoke tome.
So a little bit about myself.
You know, I was raised as aChristian in a Christian home.
(02:18):
We did music ministry on theroad, my family and I did when I
was younger, and then I startedworking for a Christian record
company helping manage anddevelop artists, and so I did
that for 20 years.
But before I ended up sayingfarewell to that career, I went
into a identity crisis and whatI call it is purpose depression.
(02:41):
So we can, we can, talk aboutthat a little bit.
I've been married for 21 years.
We have a 15-year-old daughterand we are just enjoying life
with her before she getslaunched into her next, yeah,
world-changing assignment thatthe Lord has on her life.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So excited to be here .
Well, yeah, if you could goback to that purpose word you
just shared, I feel like there'ssomething on that that is a big
part of your story, right?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Yes, absolutely.
So.
We ended up having amiscarriage when Audrey, our
daughter, was about two and ahalf three years old, and it
really was a very hard time inour life because my husband and
I were really not on good terms.
We were on the verge ofdeciding whether or not we were
going to continue on in thismarriage, and so when I found
(03:33):
out I was pregnant, I got reallyangry with the Lord and I
started agreeing with some liesand fear immediately set in.
We ended up losing the baby andfrom the moment of conception,
it was not a healthy pregnancy.
So thankfully, the Lord allowedme to know that and to know that
(03:54):
.
You know I did not cause it,but I ended up going into the
doctor and, you know, saying,gosh, we are not ready to add to
our family, we need an option.
And so I ended up having an IUD, and the IUD literally made me
go crazy.
For 10 months I was ridden withfear, anxiety, depression,
(04:17):
suicide ideation.
I was out of my mind, and itwas a point where I had to
really ask the Lord.
Okay, god, it's not about whatI'm doing, it's about who I am.
And for so long my identity waswrapped up in what I was doing,
(04:38):
because I started working forthe record company at a very
young age and it was my parents'record company record company
at a very young age.
And I um, it was my parents'record company, so I got
promoted, promoted, promotedinto a very top leadership
position at a very young age,managing artists that were 20 to
30 years older than me.
So I could not do that anymorebecause I was literally, um,
(05:00):
just my brain was was scrambledand I was trying to fight for my
own life and fight against justeverything that was going on.
And so the Lord, I really liketo tell people, took me through
that Joseph season of knowingthat it's not about what we're
doing, but it's about who we are, and so what I tell people is I
(05:20):
really had that come to termswith my purpose and what I was
called to do, and how was Igoing to get from point A to
point B without being able to dowhat I was doing?
So that's why I call itdepression, because I didn't
know what I was going to do,right.
(05:41):
So that's kind of where thatterm comes from.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, so you were.
You were in the industry for 20years and that's what you knew.
So you came into this point oflike I don't even know who I am
anymore.
What did that look like for youto walk through it tangibly?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
What it looked like was.
I was very unfamiliar with itbecause, um, you know, I helped
people get through their areasof brokenness to formulate
messages, and I really didn'thave, I would say, a compassion
for others that had gone throughreally traumatic experiences,
because I really hadn't, and soI kind of just did the thing.
(06:22):
I really operated from a placeof performance and production to
the point where I could nolonger perform, I could no
longer produce, and that's, Ithink, where I had to again get
to that place of okay, lord.
So if I'm not capable of doingthis, then who am I, aside from
(06:45):
what I'm doing, because that'show I'm known, by getting things
done and I can't do anything.
It was so hard to even go into agrocery store.
I remember we had a Bible studythat was at our church and you
know I have dear friends thereand I was so scared of walking
into that room.
(07:05):
I was paralyzed with fear, andwhen I was able to get enough
courage, I was really good atposturing, pretending and posing
, but I was okay.
But really, in reality, therewas a dark cloud that was over
me that, even though people werespeaking truth and praying over
(07:27):
me, nothing was penetrating.
There was such a strongholdover my heart and over my mind
that I could not receive.
There was a blockage.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Wow, and you determined, I'm guessing, like
in prayer, that it was the rootof it was going back partly to
that IUD.
Oh, yes, the shift in hormonesand all of that is kind of what
you determined.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yes, absolutely.
Because one night I was sittingon our stairs and I had a knife
in my hand and I was cutting my, my, um, my wrist because I was
in so much pain internally andI was wanting out of this life.
And so I remember walking intomy daughter's room and this is
(08:18):
not something I'm proud of, butI'll be honest.
I remember walking into mydaughter's room she was three
years old at the time.
This is how insane I was.
I walked in my daughter's room,saw how she was lying and tried
to figure out how, if I'm goingto kill myself, I'm not going
to leave my daughter or myhusband without a mom or a wife.
(08:39):
So I'm going to basically endthis family line.
And I remember the Lord, verygently, he.
I remember hearing IUD and Isaid, okay, iud.
And and I remember Googling,how do I take this IUD out?
(09:02):
Yeah, because I am literallygoing to make a choice that's
going to destroy a family and somuch of my future and my
daughter's future, my husband'sfuture.
But I am desperate and so Iremember, I remember Googling it
and it said, well, this is avery dangerous thing to do and
(09:23):
it may kill you.
And I remember saying, well, ifit kills me, then that's what
it's supposed to be.
And, by the grace of God, I did.
I took that IUD out.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
At that moment.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
At that moment.
And when I went into my doctor,he's like, oh so, how is your
birth control IUD work?
And I said, yeah, not work, andI took it out.
He's like, oh so how's yourbirth control IUD work?
And I said, yeah, not work, andI took it out.
He said what you know, youcould have killed yourself.
You know you could have.
Like I'm like, yeah, I was soat a point where I had to have
something different and overlike probably, I don't know a
(10:00):
couple days, a few days, Istarted noticing a difference a
couple days, a few days, Istarted noticing a difference.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Oh my gosh, oh yeah, I'm just thinking of how many
women out there have this andthey have no idea that that is a
potential of, if they'reexperiencing symptoms like
you're, you had experienced,because was that even something
that was like mentioned to youwhen you got it that there could
be this type of side effect?
Speaker 1 (10:28):
well, this is the interesting thing.
So a lot of people are familiarwith morena and this was a
little version of morena calledskyla.
I was the very first one inthat office to ever have skyla.
Oh, my gosh.
I don't even know if it's stillon the market, but what I do
know is that Skyla was removed.
(10:50):
So, yeah, um, it really wasn'ttalked about, I mean, because I
mean, of course you know theysay it's gonna kind of, you know
, disrupt your hormones and Ihad been on birth control before
and you know, ortho tricyclingand I didn't have any anything,
um, but this one definitely didnot respond well to um, what was
(11:13):
going on.
And then I ended up, um, yeah,making that decision.
And then I also remember, afterkind of everything started
getting a little bit back tonormal, the Lord was like I need
you to say yes to something I'masking you to do.
And I was like, lord, this doesnot make any sense.
Why am I saying yes to a makeupcompany?
I don't even wear makeup, Idon't even know what I'm doing
(11:35):
with makeup.
And I said yes.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
And.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
I was literally like promoted three times within a
month.
That's how I started FiercePrincess Warriors, because I
said we, as women, have to behonest with what's going on.
It doesn't matter what we seeon the outside, it doesn't
matter how strong of a person welook.
You know, we look like we are.
If we are not honest with eachother, then we are literally
(12:02):
giving ground to the enemy tocontinue to wreak havoc.
And so I started fierceprincess warrior, started
worship nights in the community,started gathering the women
together and then startedsharing my testimony wow, and
how?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
how soon after did all this like come to be this?
Yes, after your experience,like removing the I IUD.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
It was pretty.
It was pretty instant.
It was like, let me think mymom had a hope unleashed
conference and I was like, mom,why am I going to hope unleashed
?
I have no hope.
And literally a few days beforethat conference there was,
there was a silver lining and agrace got dropped on me and I
(12:44):
ended up just coming alive.
It was like whoa, I feelcompletely different.
It was like I can't even, Ican't even explain what happened
.
It's like my whole life justcame back to life.
It was like a spiritualdefibrillator, um, and I
awakened.
And then I remember going tothat conference and I was
sharing with the women like whatI had literally just come out
(13:07):
of, like I had no hope, I wassuicidal, I was depressed, I was
anxious.
I was able to share and impartwhatever God was doing in that
moment to these women.
And then, three days later, Igot back to that same place of
okay, I don't know what that was, but I'm back to being hopeless
again, to that same place ofokay, I don't know what that was
, but I'm back to being hopelessagain.
(13:28):
And so it wasn't like it was.
It wasn't like instantaneoushealing, it was a progressional
healing that the Lord still saidI have work to do because
you're still operating from thisplace of performing for your
identity and I will not have yoube there.
I want you to know that you arewho you are, and what you are
(13:48):
does not matter, because I loveyou for who you are and that's
all about whose we are.
So, but it was a 10 month, Iwould say, um, the whole journey
was December of 2014 or 2015,.
I think it's 2015,.
I ended up saying yes andstarting Fierce Princess
(14:12):
Warriors.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Well, tell us a little bit more about Fierce
Princess Warriors.
What is that to those who don'tknow what that is?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yeah.
So Fierce Princess Warriors isagain one of those things just
kind of like you, kristen, whenwe just hear something that the
Lord is asking us to say yes toand we don't really understand
what we're doing or why we'resaying.
Yes, fierce Princess Warriorswas really developed again to
speak truth and identity overwomen and for us to be honest.
(14:41):
But it was also just like forwomen to know that our spiritual
authority and identity is inChrist, and out of our
relationship with him he invitesus into freedom, into all areas
of our hearts and then whateverwe're called to impact and it's
based off the scripture Hebrews4.11, for the word of God is
(15:05):
living and active, sharper thanany two-edged sword, piercing to
the division of soul and ofspirit, of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts andintentions of the heart.
And that just became aninternational group that we've
had incredible praise reports ofwomen not being able to get
(15:26):
pregnant.
They've had amazing pregnancies, blessed births, we've had
healings take place.
It's just a group of womencoming together and supporting
each other just to call themhigher into their authority and
identity.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
It's beautiful Now.
Is that local or online, orboth?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
No, it's, it's online , it's a Facebook group, um.
And then from that, we starteddoing local community worship
nights and we would involveworship all different you know,
all different churches.
And then we would do creativearts, we would have dancers, we
would have painters, we wouldhave spoken word.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
We literally were just bringing the women together
of my community and sayinghere's the place you belong and
we want to be coming alongsideof you and supporting you well,
so this has been about about 10years, is that right?
It took about 10 months for youto come out of that time, right
(16:23):
?
Yeah, I'm thinking like John 10, 10, like life and life
abundance.
So now you're having this, youhave this complete shift, right?
And who did he show you youwere created to be?
Once you came out of that time,I was like you know, 10 months
technically represents time ofbirthing.
So who was created to be?
Speaker 1 (16:46):
I know and that's and that's something that I think
you know I never really had theopportunity to discover while I
was working for the company.
So that's the other thing.
I ended up quitting my job withthe company after 20 years in
February of 2016, and startedwalking to an unknown journey,
because I never really focusedon me.
(17:07):
I focused on others and makingsure that they were being who
God called them to be and helpedlaunch them into their destiny.
So I mean, he really he really,over time, has started to kind
of unveil who he created me tobe.
But really, it really it's myposition of being a daughter of
his first and foremost and then,out of that, calling others
(17:31):
into just identity.
And I mean now what I'm doing.
I've had people prophesy overme about Deborah and Esther's
and you know all the, all thosewords that we get, but it's
really the Lord's called me toum really be a reformer and
reform things, um, out of justthe um justice call that I have
(17:55):
on my life.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Tell us a little bit more about that.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Well, you know, part of when I came out of um, just
that season, I went up to a dareto be event with Natalie Grant
and Charlotte Gamble and I willnever forget Natalie was talking
about you to ask him what isgoing to basically burn bright
(18:28):
in your life and how can wepartner with something that you
know breaks God's heart?
So, lord, break my heart forwhat breaks yours right, and the
Lord just like dropped in myspirit.
I want you to partner in thismission, I want you to be a part
of this.
And so, um, you know, startedsupporting her in that.
But then I went the next step,further and I started finding
(18:51):
out who in my community is doingthis work, helping the girls
that are, you know, wanting toget out of this life or those
that had been rescued.
And to make the long story short, I started partnering with an
organization um organization andstarted working with girls
rescued from human traffickingand started to get to know their
stories, started to walk themthrough healing, started to just
(19:12):
see them for who they are, nothow they can be used.
And so, again, that's wherekind of the justice started
coming up.
I'm like, oh no, this is ofGod's kids Like they will not be
taken advantage of.
And from that you know that'swhen I started getting the
download of opening up thecreative arts and therapy center
(19:34):
for kids.
Little did I know it was goingto be for youth suicide
prevention, until somethinghappened locally in our
community.
The justice side of me said noton my watch, these are our
youth.
And then it's just kind oftranspired into multiple
different endeavors that I'minvolved with now and it's just
(19:55):
one step in front of the next,not knowing where God is leading
me.
But I say yes.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Can you say that again?
Somebody needs to hear that.
But I say, yes, can you saythat again Somebody?
Speaker 1 (20:07):
needs to hear that which part.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
The last part, the the.
The last part, the taking astep saying yes.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Yeah.
So it's like it's just the Lordleading us one step at a time,
not knowing where those stepsare taking us, but saying yes
and trusting in Him and justbeing obedient to go in those
areas that maybe you've nevereven thought about going,
because it's not about what youthink you're doing in that area,
it's about who God needs you tobe in that area to occupy some
(20:40):
of these areas and territories.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yes, you know these, these areas and territories.
Yes, well, I feel like somebodymight be just wondering, like
I'm not qualified to do any ofthat, like can you, can you just
talk about that a little bit,like how did you ever face kind
of, um, well, I, I don't, Ican't do that, you know, I, I
(21:03):
don't know Right, absolutelyyeah.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
When he called me to start up a creative arts and
therapy center for kids, youknow I have a PR media
background in artist managementand then, of course, I started
my own uh conversion promotions,which is based off of um John
17 and really um coming togetherin spirit and truth.
So I didn't have a mentalhealth background.
I was like Lord, the communityalready is kind of like what is
(21:29):
Julie doing now?
Like now I'm going to come inand I'm going to say, oh, we're
going to start a creative artsand therapy center for kids.
So absolutely I did not feelqualified.
I have a college education, Ihave a GOD.
I mean I have a high schooldiploma in college, but I tell
people I don't need a collegedegree, I have a GOD who places
(21:50):
me in positions that I don'tfeel qualified for.
So I mean, when I was asked tostart working on campaigns and
start managing politicalcandidates, I didn't have any
experience.
I didn't go to any campaignschool, I didn't go to any
legislative like college to geta degree in political science.
I did not know what I was doing.
(22:11):
Right, but it's not about usbeing qualified.
It's that phrase where it saysGod doesn't called.
What is it?
He doesn't um, he doesn't callthe qualified.
He equips the what is it?
Oh?
Speaker 2 (22:24):
it's.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
He doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the
called yes, yeah, or god doesn'tcall the equipped, he equips
the called right.
So both of those.
Again, it's not about what wethink we're qualified to do,
it's the qualifier and the coo,theco, the chief commanding
officer who says it's time toenlist.
(22:45):
Will you say yes?
And part of the bootcamp isdoing the thing.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Exactly, exactly, and I love that, I think.
I mean, I think that's part ofwhy we connected so much is
because of that, the willingnessto say yes when it looks I mean
, literally it looks kind ofcrazy and sometimes we have to
even remind ourselves.
Like we say yes, and it maylook crazy, but at the end of
(23:14):
the day, like, like you said,the, you know people have
letters behind their names thatthey put on their emails, and
for me me too it's like the g od, like you want to ask me what
my qualifications are exactly,probably the best one you could
ever come up with if you ask meexactly.
Yes, yep, exactly well, and twowhen a producer.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
You know when a producer came to me and he's
like, hey, julie, I want to do amovie, can you help me with
this?
I've never been part ofproducing a movie, but because I
know people and because I knowhow to get people excited about
things that they might not beexcited about before, then I was
a production and castingcoordinator for a film and then
it moved into additional filmpromotions, and so it really is
(23:58):
not about where you think youneed to go.
It's about where does God needyou to go?
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Man, so many keys here you're dropping.
So when you look back, likewhich one of these yeses would
you say were kind of the mostcrazy and maybe you were a
little hesitant to step into?
Speaker 1 (24:19):
easy and maybe you were a little hesitant to step
into, um, I would say it wasdefinitely, um, the art and
therapy center for kids.
Um, just because it literallywas a blueprint that the Lord
had given me.
And then it became real,tangible and real when, um, my
husband's dad took his own life.
(24:40):
And so when we were, when I waskind of given that blue front
and was down at School ofCreativity at Bethel, I came
back and I was really excitedand I started to engage the
different counselors and thedifferent artists and saying,
hey, could we see something likethis happen?
So I was really wanting them totake it on and then kind of
(25:01):
create a coalition out of itbecause of their experience and
professionalism.
And then, two days after I spokeat a conference on literally
how the Lord healed anddelivered me from this season
that I went through, that Josephseason, we received a call that
my husband's dad had taken hisown life and his name was Rod.
(25:22):
And so the Lord said I'm goingto redeem and I'm going to
reclaim this, this incident, andthe Lord is going to get, you
know, the glory and it's notgoing to be about what the enemy
did.
So, um, he's like, yeah, youknow that creative art therapy
center for kids and this kind ofdialogue I'm having with the
(25:43):
Lord.
He's like, yeah, you'resupposed to do that.
I said God, I'm not like what,like why?
And then he gave me the nameElrod.
Well, he gave me the name Rod.
I wanted to, you know, I wantedto memorialize my husband's dad
and I said, lord Rod Center, isthere something different?
And then he started showing melike Elohim El Shaddai and I was
(26:11):
like, oh, elrod.
And then he gave me the acronymempowering lives, reclaiming
our destiny.
And we had that open for fiveyears and countless kids and
families were restored and kids'lives were saved because we
just said, said yes, we had nomoney in the bank.
I met a licensed professionalcounselor through a mutual
friend and the lord, just quickin that relationship and we
ended up forming it within twoweeks of meeting um, and so
(26:35):
again, it's just like I, I can't, I, I can't make this stuff up
and I don't do it to boast youknow of what I'm able.
It's what God can do Most of hisgrace.
When he puts his grace, theoperational power of God comes
on an assignment that he wantsyou to say yes to, and when he
(27:00):
asks you to release it, then youneed to release it and don't
hold on to it, because then youwill have the old grace and
things will be hard.
And I told Mary and I said wewill not strive to make
something happen because we willhave to strive to sustain it,
and I will not go back into theperformance production of just
(27:22):
the striving.
And we stayed true to that tothe very end.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Yeah, oh my gosh, that is so true.
I look to that all the time.
I think somebody at one pointhad said whatever you build in
striving, you have to maintainin striving.
And I came out of that world ofstriving and go, go, go, go,
you know, and just generationalon my end.
It's like in my blood to bekind of a workhorse and to go
(27:51):
through that, you know,transformation it's for me.
It was uncomfortable, Was ituncomfortable for you to kind of
it's almost recalibrating, youknow.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Yes, yeah it's.
I mean it absolutely is.
It's undoing a mindset that youhave.
And then you feel like you'relazy when you're not doing
anything, yeah, yeah, becauseyour body is literally on
autopilot for produce, produce,produce, produce.
And then when you're notproducing and you're resting,
then you feel guilty that you'renot producing.
(28:23):
So, it is a lot of mentalgymnastics that go on and the
spiritual warfare I mean it'salso warfare because the Lord is
trying to undo so that he canplace new things.
But it means we have to beintentional about letting go of
things that we may feel like,well, we need to hold on to
these because they're ours.
(28:43):
It's like no they're not.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Well, I was just.
I was curious, as you.
You know we're stepping intothese places.
I often I love coming alongsidegals who are like doing wild
and crazy things and like didyou have people like in your
corner that were cheering you on, or did you have a lot of
people going?
What are you doing, like whatis Julie Where'd?
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Julie go.
You know, I've been, I've beenvery blessed to have a, an
amazing group of women around methat, yes, has cheered me on me
, that, yes, has cheered me on,and it's a small and mighty
group and that I'm very thankfulfor.
(29:27):
Because there are some that, yes, they don't get it and I'm not
going to try to convince them,because if they're more
concerned about what I'm doingthat God has called me to do and
they have more time to thinkabout it, then they obviously
are not doing what it is thatGod is calling them to do.
Because I don't have time to bea police on other people's
lives and ministries and theirassignments.
(29:49):
I just don't.
And so I don't tolerate it andI don't engage in it and I don't
extend any emotional energytowards it because it's
counterproductive.
Extend any emotional energytowards it because it's
counterproductive.
It's not going to change If Godsends me, you know, home, and
(30:11):
he says, hey, I've asked you todo this, but fear has kept you
from doing it and I will notallow the fear of man.
So I, I think some people thathave a hard time with um, just
man's approval.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
I think they have a hard time understanding why I'm
not intimidated by man, but Ithink it's because of what I've
walked through in my life andI've had, you know, I've been
sat down by Christian leaderstelling me that I'm doing too
much and I need to sit down andstop.
But I take that in.
But then there's a fire in methat gets lit because I will not
(30:46):
allow someone to tell me whatto do when God has asked me to
do something.
And there's an increase andthere's, just like this,
confirmation after confirmation,like, yes, there's wisdom.
Absolutely, I seek wisdom andcounsel on you know things and I
make sure that you know.
Two or more agree and there is alevel of maturity that I have
(31:08):
learned along the ways, butagain that I've learned over
time.
Did I make mistakes?
Absolutely.
Was I a bird let out of a cagewhen I left the company and I
could do anything and everything?
Yes, absolutely.
When I left the company and Icould do anything and everything
?
Yes, absolutely.
But it's made me who I am todayand there's a grit that I have
that no one can can take.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Absolutely.
I mean, I think of how manytruly.
I mean I could think of severalpeople that I've talked to in
the last few weeks who, whetherfamily or, you know,
acquaintances, that reallystruggle with that fear of man.
What would you say to them?
You know, like to to really getdelivered of that.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Yeah, well, I think it has to do with again where is
your identity and are youexpecting someone to approve of
you and what you're doing?
And you're trusting in themmore than you are trusting in
God and you're depending on themmore than you are on God.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
And.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
I would say that honestly, you know, the Lord is
the one who wants to.
He wants to enter in thoseareas, he wants to be the one
that we trust and depend fullyon.
And so when we put thatexpectation on man, we're
setting ourselves up because wewill be disappointed, we will be
(32:31):
taken advantage of, we will bemisled, we will be mistreated,
and I think it just gets to thepoint where it's happened enough
and you're like forget it, likeI'm not going to allow someone
to keep me from doing what Godhas called me to do.
So there is this level of ofcourage and again I think it has
to do.
(32:52):
You know, I've been, like Isaid, I've been raised in a
Christian home my entire life.
I've been working for Christianministry my entire life.
And now I'm going into thesespaces where I'm not going in as
a Christian.
I'm going in because they seesomething that I have, that they
want for me to be part of whatthey're doing.
(33:12):
And it looks a lot different.
So I tell you what right now,Kristen, I'm probably going to
have a lot of religious peoplecoming after me because I'm not
starting new projects orinitiatives, essentially, that
are faith based.
I had someone ask me.
They said, well, is this a?
Um, a Christ centered, you knowprogram?
I said, well, Christ is in meand I'm in the center of it.
(33:34):
So, yeah, it's Christ centered,but is it?
Is it saying that it's likefaith based and it's it's Jesus
all over?
No, because where I'm at in mylife right now, the Lord is
utilizing me in very strategicways and I have to have wisdom
and discernment as to when I saysomething.
It's that quote that says youknow, preach the gospel, but use
(33:56):
words when only necessary.
That's where I'm at right now,in a very strategic place that I
do not lead with.
I love Jesus, Right, Right, Ido love Jesus, but it's like
going into those territorieswhere you will get.
You will get kicked out beforeyou even have a chance to be in
(34:17):
the room.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
Yeah, that is so good .
I'm just thinking you know,like you're a ninja, just seeing
like going in, like a ninja,can you, could you give an
example of like what that lookslike stepping into those places,
and you don't have to likedisclose exactly you know going
or what you're doing, butsomebody who's like, well, how
(34:40):
would I even do that?
Like, what does that look like?
Speaker 1 (34:43):
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean for me.
I know I have a huge governmentcall.
In my life I've been trying torun from it, but it continues to
follow me.
So, going into those spaces ofgovernment where there's a lot
of political power at play andthere's a lot of conversations
that seem somewhat distorted andconfused because the other side
(35:07):
and the agenda is really loud,and so I study the opposite side
.
You know, it's like you studythe other side and what they're
doing so that you can bring insome very strategic language
that gets them to realize, wow,they know what they're talking
about and not what I think Iwant to say.
(35:29):
So when you are in those roomsand you hear the conversations,
not always are you sayingsomething, but you are paying
attention to the language.
So then you, when you feel likethe Lord is kind of impressed
upon you to say something, yousay it and it's like that sharp
double-edged sword that justgoes in and you're not saying
(35:50):
anything.
That really is different.
But because we have authorityin what we speak, because Jesus
is inside of us, the Holy Spiritis inside of us.
It counters the things that arebeing discussed and I've seen
literally people and theirconversations shift after I say
(36:11):
something and there's such likea.
I don't know how to explainthis, but it's actually.
It's very interesting, becauseI feel more intimidated and
insecure when I'm speaking to agroup of pastors and leaders
than when I'm speaking togovernment officials.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
That's so interesting .
What do you sense that is?
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Religion.
It's the religious spirit thatI'm coming up against, because
I'm not doing it in a way thatsome pastors and leaders would
approve of.
Now I'm a licensed minister,but I don't go into rooms saying
I'm a licensed minister.
I'm here to talk to you.
I don't need any title.
I don't need.
I mean, people call me pastor,apostle, whatever they can call
(36:55):
me, whatever they want.
I don't need that to be able tospeak or to be acknowledged.
Say that again.
You know a lot of pastors aredoing a lot of damage or they're
expecting a level of allegiancebecause they're a pastor, and
(37:15):
when I was younger, pastors werenever authoritative figures in
my life because we traveled toall these different churches.
We were like the guests of thehouse, so we would always get
invited to the pastor's house.
We would get invited out withthe pastor.
So I have never seen a pastoras someone who tells you what to
do or someone that you need toget approval from.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Never, yeah, and it seems like that's been upticking
quite a bit.
Wouldn't you say yes?
Hmm, well, what is the solution?
You are a solutionist, I loveyour solution.
So what would you say to peoplewho are finding themselves in
(37:57):
situations like that?
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Well, I mean, I think it's simple.
It's be who God is calling youto be for that day and again.
It's not something about sayingthe right thing, performing the
right way.
It's about intentionality, andthat's going to come from
intimacy.
It has to come from ourintimacy behind closed doors and
(38:22):
a lot of peeling back layers, alot of undoing mindsets, a lot
of replacing our indoctrinationIf you've been in the church for
a while, not being afraid toask questions, not being afraid
to hold others accountable whenyou have relationship and
there's trust built.
(38:43):
Yeah, I think we have to be socareful who we allow to speak
into our lives, because there'stoo many that are doing it for
personal agenda and motive.
Yeah, yeah, and relationship isbuilt at the speed of trust.
So if you don't have trust withthat person and you feel like
you're getting manipulated,controlled, coerced, you need to
(39:07):
pay attention and not just goalong with it because they're in
leadership or they're a pastoror they're an authoritative
figure.
Listen to that still smallvoice.
If there's a check in yourspirit, then check.
Why is there a check?
Speaker 2 (39:22):
Right, check the check.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
Yeah, spirit, then check.
Why is there a check Right?
Check the check.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Yeah, check the check Exactly.
It's so good.
I mean, we just really have tobe so discerning.
There's so many voices, there'sso much noise and it can sound
good.
Right, things can sound good.
But is it God, is it his foryou, like, is this his best for
you, right?
Speaker 1 (39:46):
Well, the devil comes disguised as an angel of light.
So why are we surprised?
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Yeah, Such times.
So I love like just even thelast.
Like I said, I think it's beena few years that we've been
connected, but it's been reallyexciting to just hear little
snippets of what's happening inyour life.
So what, what's happening now?
Like, what is Julie up to now?
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Yeah.
So what's happening now is I'vebeen placed in a community
position where I get to offerresources to our community,
which is such an amazingopportunity because it's what
I've been doing, what I'mpassionate about doing.
Bring me a problem.
I want to help solve it.
(40:32):
I want to get you connected tothe right people.
I don't like people feelingstuck or I don't like people
feeling like there isn't asolution.
So I've been also stepping intoa lot of advocacy with youth.
So I've been coming alongsideof families and working through
some challenges with runawayyouth, with girls being human
(40:53):
trafficked, with ones that arein prison, and I've just been a
voice of encouragement andtenacity with families.
So my heart is really for thisnext generation.
I really am passionate aboutseeing this generation just live
out their full potential, andso there's some other
(41:14):
initiatives that I'm working onthat will impact youth.
Another one is a suicideprevention.
That's a worldwide organizationthat I'm chair of policy and
advocacy for.
So I've been doing a lot morein the government space and kind
of getting to the root of whywe have the dysfunction we have
(41:36):
here in Oregon with our justdepartments and kind of asking
some questions and stayingpretty resilient and holding
people accountable.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
So and do you have a lot of people like coming
alongside you to to help?
I know you're like a mobilizer,which is amazing.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
Yes, yeah, so I have, um, I do, and what's really
neat is Megan and I and I knowyou've had her on we are doing
she Leads Oregon, which is apart of she Leads America.
So it's a national organizationwhere women come together and
bring faith-based solutions tomodern day challenges and really
(42:19):
the intercessors and theinfluencers are interconnecting,
and so we've been doingincredible stuff with that as
well.
But then we also started CrisisIntervention Coalition, and
that's another thing where we'retrying to put boots on the
ground for these differentcrises and bringing these
coalition teams around thedifferent areas where people are
(42:42):
passionate about.
So that's kind of been in theworks since November of 2023.
And Megan and I are just reallystewarding that and just really
trusting in the Lord for histiming.
But the people that he brought,he's brought along the side of
us and we're just, you know,just incredible.
Yeah, we're just incrediblythankful that we have women that
(43:05):
do want to see change.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
So, yeah, great things to come, Since you're
heading up these initiatives.
Um, what do you need Like ifsomebody is listening and
they're like, how can I help?
Or what?
What do you need help with?
How can people help if they'reled to?
Speaker 1 (43:23):
So my thing that I'm just getting ready to kind of
release I really have done itkind of more on the back end,
just with my kind of spiritualadvisors and just asking them is
we need crisis interventionrooms for these runaway youth,
for those that are coming offthe streets after being
(43:45):
trafficked and they want out ofthe life, and for women escaping
domestic violence and they havechildren or they don't have
children?
Because what I have found isthat when people, you know, uh,
suggest shelters um, that's thelast place they want to go, and
with the agencies and all oftheir data and all of their
(44:06):
reporting that they need to do,the questions and the
assessments that they're askedto complete prior to even
getting into a safe place, isjust asinine.
And so my thing, my passion, isthe 12 to 17 year old group,
and so I'm starting to work onthis program called safe haven
(44:28):
rooms, where it allows rooms tobe sponsored by business and
businesses and churches.
So when a crisis arises and weneed immediate placement for a
runaway youth or someone thatwants off the streets, because
we had a situation like that,and we need immediate placement
for a runaway youth or someonethat wants off the streets
because we had a situation likethat and we couldn't find her
housing that they have a placeto go and it's a safe place and
(44:49):
they can decompress and they canrest and they're not bombarded
with questions because they arecoming out of fighting to
survive.
So, that's my initiative rightnow is really creating these
safe haven rooms.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
Wow.
So where would they like?
Would it be housing or likehotels, Like?
What does that tangibly looklike?
Speaker 1 (45:14):
Yeah, I appreciate that.
You know it can look like.
You know housing, it can behotels.
I know when we had a mom thatwas escaping, we ended up
rallying some people togetherand they helped get three nights
of a hotel, because her abuserwas was very dangerous and we
even had to call the police andsay, okay, this is his vehicle,
(45:34):
we need you to patrol this.
She's never left and she'sscared for her life and the kids
are scared, and she's scaredfor her life and the kids are
scared.
And so, yeah, I've also talkedto a business owner who, um, you
know, purchases homes for, uh,sober living, and there's
conversation about having a homeset aside for this.
So, um, really, it's one ofthose things that I do not feel
(45:57):
qualified at all to be in thisspace.
I don't know anything about allof this, but what I do know is
there's a need, and as long as Ikeep getting the need out there
, the Lord's going to connectwith the right ones who know how
to make this happen no,seriously, like I want to just
repeat what you said, like Idon't know, but basically god
(46:20):
knows and he'll give you thepeople that do know yeah,
because it's much.
it's much greater than anythingthat I am able to even think
about doing, but all I know isthese are our kids, these are
our future leaders.
We're failing them, and I'veheard that time and time again
from the youth that are caughtup in the systems, and it breaks
(46:41):
my heart, because these arelarge agencies that are getting
funded to help, but when acrisis arises, they're rarely
there.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
Safe haven, and is this starting in your state and
you foresee it going like to theunited states and potentially
global?
Is this what I'm seeing?
Speaker 1 (47:07):
you know, it's really interesting when things like
this happen, because of howconnected I am and you get this
as a connector.
Because of how connected I amand you get this as a connector,
that, um, I'm just saying, lord, here's my small fish.
(47:28):
I don't know what I'm doing.
All I know is that you droppedthis in my spirit and I
responded and I created.
You know what I need to do toshare what it is and whatever
you do with it as far asmultiplication and impact, it's
yours.
Speaker 2 (47:40):
That's so good.
I mean, I, I feel like there'sjust there's so much on this
because you know, you do hear alot of.
You know, at least in my areathere's there's sober homes,
there's a lot for, you know,addiction recovery.
But I do know I did interviewsomebody locally here, stephanie
Page.
She has a she's on mission, youknow, to combat human
(48:04):
trafficking and wants to have ahome, you know, eventually, and
that's it's been a big dream.
It hasn't happened yet.
But yeah, you know, I don't.
You know I don't know the innerdepths of that world either.
I don't know the inner depthsof that world either.
I want to be obliterated myself.
I know that there's others outthere who have a heart for it.
(48:24):
So if you are listening and youhave any connections, please
reach out to Julie in any ofthese areas that she's immersed
in.
As you can hear, it's not justone thing and as you can hear,
it's not just one thing.
And I want to highlight thatbecause I think a lot of times,
at least in my world and youknow people that I've worked
with and encountered, you knowthe world would say just do one
(48:47):
thing, just narrow it in.
Do the one thing, and you guyscan probably hear, julie is like
Proverbs 31 woman.
She's got her hands in somethings, and yet I can tell that
there's like she's resting,she's taking time to be with the
Lord.
So what does that look like foryou?
(49:07):
I feel like we just need to gohere because maybe somebody is
like well, she's a mom, she's,you know, got her hands in all
of the things that she'smentioned, like how does this
even function?
Speaker 1 (49:26):
How does she?
Yeah, no, that's a good, that'sa good question.
And again I go back to you know, when the Lord asked Mary right
, I mean to carry his son.
To carry his son, my goodness,I don't think she felt very
qualified, and so she treasuredthose things and she pondered
them in her heart.
And so it's not all aboutsharing everything right away,
(49:49):
it's not about getting it out tothe masses, it's about
intentional purpose of God.
You're asking me to stewardsomething that I don't feel
capable of doing, so you'regoing to have to teach me.
It's literally being in schoolof the spirit.
And I would say that you know,kristen, when I did the job last
(50:11):
year, when I was going back andforth to Florida to help open
up a school, and I ended up, youknow, resigning from that job
to Florida to help open up aschool, and I ended up, you know
, resigning from that job.
It took me a couple of monthswhere I really was just
downtrodden.
I was like Lord, I thought thiswas it, but again he had to
bring me back to knowing whose Iam, in him.
(50:32):
So it's not a formula, it's aday-to-day encounter, doing life
with the Lord.
It's just, I cannot say itenough.
It's like invite the Lord intoevery step of your day, every
process, and say, lord, show me,it's all about doing, saying
(50:58):
what the Father is doing andsaying, and that's my thing.
I only do what the father isdoing and if I don't feel like
he's in it for me personally, Idon't agree with it and I say no
to a lot of things, especiallyhaving a PR company.
I am inundated with people thatwant me to help promote their
(51:20):
book, their ministry, theirproduct, and I say no a lot.
Because, again, my directionright now, and it's taken a
while for me to get here andthat's why there is a lot of
facets of my life that you'rehearing, but a lot of the things
that I've shared I'm no longerdoing, and so the Lord is really
(51:42):
honing me in on this age group,the 12 to 17 year olds.
So if I am asked to do somethingand I don't see it impacting
this age group, I'm out.
I won't say yes because I haveto say no.
So someone else says yes.
Sometimes our yeses, if we dothem just oh my gosh, no one
(52:05):
else will do it.
You're actually taking awaysomeone else's opportunity to be
bold and courageous and stepinto an area where maybe they
don't feel qualified but becauseyou said yes, they don't get
that opportunity.
Don't feel qualified butbecause you said yes, they don't
get that opportunity.
So we cannot hoard in thekingdom.
We cannot just take it all andnot disperse it, like we are
(52:25):
kingdom resourcers and kingdomresources.
But we have to know is this agiving or is this a receiving
season?
Yeah, absolutely, and we haveto know how to do both to
operate fully.
Speaker 2 (52:42):
So much goodness I you know I actually was
commending somebody earliertoday because she was provided
some you know what on paperwould look like some really
amazing opportunities.
But they would completely beout of alignment.
And you know, at times it'shard to say no to those things.
But I said to her girl I am soproud of your, I call it.
(53:03):
Know your no, because N-O iswithin the K-N-O-W.
You have to know your no, right?
You get warmed up in that.
And you said you've been honedin, you know really getting what
I call alignment with yourassignments, like you're, you're
gonna know it, and then there'sgonna be times where we might
(53:24):
kind of like go sideways andthen he'll bring us back.
Yeah, yeah, you're kind.
Yeah, yeah, you're thankful tothat.
He is fun.
You know every day, like saidto just be available, like what
is, what are we doing today?
Lord, it's so interesting,doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (53:42):
Yeah, he's.
He's the one who has our ordersof the day.
Speaker 2 (53:46):
So good, well, we'll wrap up Um.
We'd love to have you on againsometime um to share again if
you're led to um, but would yoube open to sharing with that one
that's listening today?
Is there anything else that youwould like to speak over that
one who's listening, any wisdomor encouragement?
And then would you pray us outtoday?
Speaker 1 (54:08):
Absolutely.
Yeah, I just feel like you know.
The Lord just wants you to knowthat you're doing well and that
there is a just a level of justgrace on your life, and to not
compare yourself with others andalso don't compete.
(54:35):
Also don't compete.
We need to collaborate togetherbecause we have a world that is
asking for answers and we havethat spiritual antidote.
So don't try to be in someoneelse's shoes.
Really ask the Lord who am I inyour eyes and what is it that
(54:59):
I'm supposed to be doing?
And keep your hands open.
Don't type this things, becausewhen the Lord wants you to drop
them, it's because there'ssomething in someone else that
he wants you to, um, get to knowand just be in alignment with.
So, lord, I do.
I just thank you for today, god.
I thank you that you are justsuch a father that you love us
(55:25):
so well, lord, and I just pray,lord, that just your love would
penetrate the hearts and mindsof those that are listening.
Today, god, we do pray for anunlocking.
If there are blockages or ifthere are things that people
need to let go of or there hasbeen false identities placed on
them, god, we ask that you wouldreveal your identity to them,
(55:48):
lord, and that by knowing whoyou are and whose they are, god,
you would start to heal thoseplaces where people have placed
expectations on them for thingsthat may be personally motivated
by others' desires and ways ofliving in the flesh and not the
(56:10):
spirit.
And we just pray, lord, thatyour word would come alive and
that, just everywhere they look,they would be able to encounter
you and see in a different way.
Lord, we ask for new sight, newears to hear, a new mouth to
speak and a new mindset to knowthat we operate from a heavenly
(56:34):
perspective and we want to seeheaven on earth.
Lord, we want to see yourkingdom come.
So, lord, I just ask that, evenas I pray today, lord, that
things would just illuminate,that things that may have looked
dark, that there will start tobe seen new colors of light, and
(56:55):
that we are called to bringlight into darkness.
And as one light goes into adark room, it just fills up.
So, lord, give us boldness,give us faith, give us courage
to say yes, even when we don'tknow what we're saying yes to.
So I just bless those that arelistening, bless the families,
(57:15):
bless the assignments, bless theministries, bless the jobs,
bless everything that we'redoing, lord, because we are part
of your family and we thank youand praise you in Jesus' name.
Speaker 2 (57:25):
Amen.
Thank you, julie, and thank youfor being a brave voice.
Who's setting so many free?
I'm going to close with theanchoring verse for Hope
Unlocked, and it's May the Godof hope fill you with all joy
and peace and believing so that,by the power of the Holy Spirit
, you may abound in hope.
And that's Romans 15, 13.
So I will be back with anotherepisode next week and I will be
(58:02):
sure to add Julie's contactinformation to the show notes,
so definitely reach out if youhave questions.
Have a great day.
Bye.
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