Healed. Whole. Called.

Some people survive adversity — Eldonna overcomes it.

Today’s guest, Eldonna Lewis Fernandez, is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, international speaker, author, and founder of Baskets & Beads Kenya, a flourishing social enterprise that empowers women living in extreme poverty through sustainable fair-trade work.

But her story didn’t begin with strength.
It began with two alcoholic parents, verbal abuse, neglect, and a sudden death that forced her to grow up overnight. At 18, she came home to an empty house and an eviction note. No guidance. No resources. No love.

But God never left her.

Eldonna shares the raw, unfiltered moments of:

• growing up never once hearing “I love you”
• dropping out of high school
• abusive relationships that nearly ended her life
• joining the Air Force with nothing to lose
• finding identity, stability, and purpose through service
• discovering the calling that would one day take her to Kenya
• a midnight Holy-Spirit download that launched a global ministry

Her story takes us from deep childhood wounds… to 23 years of military leadership… to a slum in Kenya where women greeted her with singing, dancing, and hope — and where God whispered, “Start here.”

What began with five women and a single bead necklace has grown into a thriving program of 30+ artisans creating jewelry, baskets, apparel, dog bandanas, aprons, and more — all supporting families in one of Kenya’s poorest communities.

This episode is a masterclass in perseverance, obedience, and walking by faith even when the next step makes no sense.

If you’ve ever wondered whether God can redeem your story… this conversation will answer that question loud and clear.

Baskets & Beads Kenya (Products):
🔗 basketsandbeadskenya.com

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

Some breakthroughs don’t come from striving — they come from identity.

In today’s episode, Wendy sits down with Lisa Vanderveen, a Kingdom Identity Coach, wife, mom of five, and leader in emotional + spiritual healing for Christian entrepreneurs. Through her kingdom identity framework, Lisa helps believers release shame, regulate their nervous systems, process trapped emotions, and finally step into the peace Jesus died for them to have.

Lisa shares her personal story of growing up in a Christian home, walking through hidden shame from her teenage years, struggling as a homeschooling mom, and hitting the emotional limit where she knew:
“Something has to change.”

God led her to a book that opened the door to emotional healing through the body — and then to a biblically grounded healing modality that transformed her life. She went from overwhelmed, triggered, and ashamed… to peaceful, self-aware, and anchored in her God-given identity.

In this episode, Lisa breaks down:

• how emotions get trapped in the body
• why Christians often still feel “unhealed”
• how emotional processing aligns with Scripture
• how trauma (big or small) affects our nervous system
• simple, practical healing exercises
• how forgiveness is stored in the body — not just the mind
• the surprising connection between faith, neuroscience, and wholeness

If you’re tired of feeling like you should be fine by now… or if you’ve prayed for healing but still react in ways that confuse you… this episode is your invitation into lasting freedom.

God doesn’t just want to heal your spirit.
He wants to heal your emotions, your mind, and your body too.

Psalm 139:23–24 — Search me, O God

Philippians 4:6–7 — Peace beyond understanding

Romans 12:2 — Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Psalm 34:18 — Close to the brokenhearted

John 14:27 — Peace I leave with you

1 Thessalonians 5:23 — Spirit, soul, and body

(Scripture was referenced conceptually and thematically throughout her story.)

Free Community: Kingdom Identity Network (on Skool)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.vanderveen.58

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

Some testimonies shake you awake.
This is one of them.

In today’s episode, Wendy sits down with Morgan — a visibility strategist and sales copywriter whose life was transformed when Jesus pulled her out of the New Age after years of divination, spiritual bondage, and searching for truth in all the wrong places.

Raised in fear, trauma, and confusion around religion, Morgan unknowingly stepped into occult practices as a child — learning the pendulum, chasing “intuition,” and seeking healing through supernatural encounters that looked like light… but carried darkness. Her journey included visions, paranormal experiences, channeling, Reiki, astral deception, and even a “third-eye opening” done by a shaman without her permission.

But God, rich in mercy, never stopped pursuing her.

A single moment — holding a Bible in her hands for the first time — shook her to tears with a love she couldn’t explain. Over the next months, God guided her through truth, repentance, trauma healing, and deliverance from spirits of divination, python, witchcraft, and generational bondage.

Today, Morgan stands as a brand-new believer, learning Scripture for the first time, hearing God’s voice clearly, and discovering who she truly is in Christ — no longer defined by the New Age, spiritual performance, or false identity.

This episode is tender, courageous, eye-opening, and saturated with the goodness of God.
If you’ve ever been near New Age practices, astrology, “energy healing,” or spiritual deception — or if you’re simply curious about deliverance — this conversation will bring clarity, hope, and truth.

 Scriptures Mentioned:

John 10:10 — The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; Jesus gives life.

Ephesians 6 — The armor of God (spiritual warfare).

1 John 4:1 — Test the spirits.

Psalm 23 — God with us in darkness.

John 1:1–5 — The Word was God; Jesus from the beginning.

Daniel (multiple chapters) — God’s superiority over occult wisdom; burning the occult books.

Matthew 7:7 — Ask, seek, knock.

Isaiah 61:1 — Freedom for captives; deliverance.

If this episode stirred something in you — if you felt that tug in your spirit — maybe it’s because your story is meant to be written.

Here’s the truth:
God doesn’t waste anything you’ve walked through.
Every chapter, every rescue, every redemption moment is meant to point someone else to hope.

If you’ve felt the nudge to write but don’t know where to start, I created something just for you:

👉 The FREE 5-Day Author Clarity Series
Five simple, powerful days that help you:

hear the Holy Spirit’s leading for your book

clarify your message

understand who you’re called to reach

uncover the purpose behind your story

take your first step without overwhelm

Because your story may be the very testimony someone else is praying for.

Get started here: Story to Stages

You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and your book is part of that calling.

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

Some stories remind you just how close heaven really is.
This is one of them.

In this unforgettable episode, Wendy sits down with visionary artist Kayla Masteller, founder of Velvet Rose Studios, to share the miraculous story behind her healing, her art, and her unshakeable faith. At just 20 years old, a sledding accident left Kayla with a traumatic brain injury, paralysis, a fractured face, and a coma doctors weren’t sure she would survive.

But God had already heard her prayer for a second chance.

Kayla takes us through the coma, the amnesia, the long months of relearning how to walk, talk, eat, and breathe — and the moment she clung to Philippians 4:13 and began experiencing supernatural healing.

Today, she hand-paints every design for Velvet Rose Studios — no AI, no shortcuts — turning her testimony into shoes, journals, bags, hats, and tumblers that inspire people to walk boldly into their calling.

If you’ve ever wondered whether God can redeem the impossible, this episode will breathe hope back into you.
What the enemy meant to take her out… God used to lift her higher.

• Philippians 4:13
• Psalm 139:14
• Jeremiah 29:11
• Romans 8:28
• Acts 17:28
• Psalm 23
• John 10:10
• Isaiah 43:2

Feeling called to missions before college

Failing out of school and begging God for a second chance

Last memory at a Christmas party before the accident

Sledding accident → fractured skull, brain injury, paralysis

Emergency surgery, tracheotomy, shunt, coma

Waking with no memory and no movement

Six weeks of post-traumatic amnesia

Wrestling with anger, fear, and believing God was punishing her

The turning point: claiming Philippians 4:13

Becoming “the evangelist” in the rehab hospital

Walking again after 3 months (a medical miracle)

Returning to the college that had dismissed her

Teaching English in Korea for 7 years

Meeting her husband, who encouraged her to paint again

Launching Velvet Rose Studios

Shoes becoming a symbol of walking by faith

Website: VelvetRoseStudios.com ---- LISTENERS: use the code: AUTHENTIC at checkout get 10% off

Handmade products include:

• Hand-painted shoes
• Crossbody bags
• Custom journals (“Your story matters”)
• Tumblers
• Hats
• Art-based accessories
• All designs painted by hand — nothing AI-generated

Symbolism: shoes represent walking boldly into God’s calling, one step at a time.

• Traumatic brain injury
• Brain hemorrhage
• Paralysis on left side
• Tracheotomy
• Shunt placement
• 15-day coma
• 6-week post-traumatic amnesia
• Intensive rehabilitation
• Learning to walk, talk, and eat again
• Cognitive and memory recovery

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

Today’s episode is tender, raw, and holy — the kind of story that stays with you long after the final minute.

When baby Sadie was just seven weeks old, Nikki received the news every mother prays she never hears: “Your daughter has cancer.” In an instant, joy turned to terror… and yet, in the middle of the unthinkable, God began writing a story of faith, friendship, miracles, and uncommon courage.

Wendy sits down with Nikki Trout and her best friend, Samantha Capstick — founders of Aligned Momma's, a nonprofit and community for women who want to live in purpose, on purpose. Together they share the journey of hospital rooms, chemo drips, fasting, worship, prophetic dreams, Scripture playlists, and the fierce determination of a mother who refused to let go of God’s character or His promises.

This episode is for the mom fighting silent battles, the friend who wants to show up better, and the woman wondering if God still sees her in the middle of her breaking.

You’ll walk away believing this truth with fresh conviction:
There is no darkness God cannot break into. No diagnosis He cannot meet. No story He cannot redeem.

What to do when life breaks without warning

How God shows up through friendship and community

The faith required to believe for healing when circumstances don’t change overnight

Why obedience in the waiting matters

How Sadie’s journey birthed a national movement for moms

(Directly referenced or quoted in the episode)

Ephesians 3:20 — "Far more abundantly than all we ask or think…"

Psalm 112:7 — “We are not afraid of bad news; our hearts are firm, trusting the Lord.”

1 John 4:4 — “Greater is He who is in you…”

Hebrews 10:23 — “Hold fast to the confession of our hope…”

Hebrews 6:15 — “And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.”

Mark 11:23–24 — Speak to the mountain; believe and receive

John 11:35 — “Jesus wept.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 — Walk by faith, not by sight

Romans 8:28 — All things work together for good

John 14:13–14 — Ask in My name

Hebrews 11 — Faith that pleases God

Psalm 34:18 — He is close to the brokenhearted

Phil Wickham — “Sunday’s Coming”

Michael W. Smith — “Agnus Dei”

The Broken Hallelujah (various versions)

700 Club Miracle Testimonies (CBN)

Christian radio playlists for building faith in crisis

The woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43–48)

Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:22–33)

The centurion with unusual faith (Matthew 8:5–13)

Miracles performed through the disciples after Jesus ascended (Acts 3–5)

🌿 Online Community
🌿 Podcast
🌿 Nonprofit Outreach
Instagram: @alignedmommas
Facebook Group: Aligned Momma's (4,000+ women and growing)

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

Valerie Huard knows what it means to feel overwhelmed — mentally, emotionally, and physically. As an award-winning expert in trauma-informed decluttering and the co-creator of the DO Well Method, she’s helped countless leaders and families clear the chaos and reclaim peace.

In this episode, Valerie shares how trauma shaped her early life — and how healing came through both spiritual surrender and practical strategy. Her approach to healing is holistic and hope-filled, reminding us that clutter is often a symptom, not the root. If you're ready to finally feel free — in your mind, your home, or your heart — this one’s for you.

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

Today’s episode is tender, grounding, and holy — the kind of conversation that reaches the woman who feels like life just threw her off a cliff without warning.

When MelAnn’s husband suddenly faced an emergency amputation, she found herself thrust into a crisis she could have never prepared for. But God had been preparing her — through rhythm, restoration, nervous system healing, and a sacred lifestyle she now calls divine cadence.

In this powerful conversation, MelAnn shares how the Holy Spirit guided her step-by-step through shock, medical chaos, caregiving, financial uncertainty, and parenting a child with severe anxiety. You’ll hear how God used somatic movement, Scripture, aromatherapy, and daily rhythms to keep her from falling apart — and how He placed the right people in the right places at the exact right time.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever been blindsided, overwhelmed, or thrown into a season that demanded more than you thought you could give.
You’ll learn how God meets you, steadies you, strengthens you, and carries you… even when you do not know what to pray.

Welcome to the rhythm of healing — and to the cadence that only God can write.

How God prepares you for battles you don’t know are coming

The Holy Spirit’s guidance during medical emergencies

The power of nervous system regulation for spiritual and emotional survival

How to create sacred rhythms that carry you through crisis

Parenting through trauma and uncertainty

What divine cadence looks like in real life

How identity work + somatic work + Scripture integrate for healing

Matthew 28:20 — “I am with you always…”

Psalm 23 — He walks with us through the valley

Psalm 46:1 — God is our refuge and strength

Romans 8:28 — All things work together

Psalm 91 — Under His wings

Isaiah 41:10 — I will strengthen you and uphold you

John 14:16–17 — The Holy Spirit as Helper and Comforter

Psalm 127:2 — God provides even in your sleep

Philippians 4:7 — Peace that surpasses understanding

Vicks Vapor Rub / strong scent inhalers

Ice held in palms

Sour foods (lemon, vinegar, tart candies)

Spicy or sensory-overpowering flavors

Aromatherapy (cinnamon bark, tangerine, etc.)

Somatic movement

Vagus nerve activation

Breathwork + grounding

Creating a peaceful home environment

Establishing flexible rhythm-based routines

Short prayer:
“God, let me see You working. Let me feel You. Remind me You are near.”

Scripture meditation

Music as ministry (worship playlists)

Identity, Narrative & Movement Strategist

Nervous System + Vagus Nerve Coaching

Creator of Divine Cadence

Connect with her at:
🌿 The Phoenix Whisperer https://thephoenixwhisperer.com/

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

Emmy Cybela is a healthcare leader, devoted mom, and survivor-advocate who is courageously using her voice to drive real change in the fight against human trafficking. In this deeply moving episode, Emmy shares her personal story of grooming, captivity, and miraculous escape—and how God is now using her redemption to bring hope, education, and prevention to others. You’ll learn how traffickers prey on vulnerabilities, why education is our greatest weapon, and how Emmy is equipping families to protect their children through her work with Lacey’s Hope Project and No Happy Endings.

🔗 Visit Emmy’s organization: www.laceyshopeproject.org
🎯 Demand-side campaign: www.nohappyendings.org

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

Tammy Appleton is a certified Go Giver speaker, founder of Peak Play, and a passionate advocate for mindset, healing, and joyful living. In this powerful episode, Tammy shares the heartbreaking story that nearly destroyed her son’s athletic dreams—and the redemptive path it launched instead. You’ll hear how one moment of crisis revealed deep flaws in youth sports culture and ignited a calling to support parents and athletes with compassion, wisdom, and faith.

👉 Learn more about Tammy’s work and access powerful resources for sports parents at www.peakplay.net.

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

What happens when everything you’ve built—your marriage, your faith, your career—burns to the ground? For Sarah Lawrence, it was the most painful yet redemptive season of her life. In this powerful episode, Sarah shares how God met her in the ashes of infidelity, shame, and trauma to rebuild everything on a foundation of truth, grace, and authentic identity.

Wendy Melrose sits down with Sara, a coach, speaker, and champion of intellectual diversity, to unpack how understanding the way our minds are uniquely wired can transform not only our self-perception but also our relationships. Through the lens of faith and neuroscience, Sarah reveals how she and her husband learned to lay down old patterns, embrace emotional safety, and rebuild connection after betrayal.

If you’ve ever believed you were too broken, too far gone, or too late for redemption — this episode will remind you: nothing is wasted in the hands of God.

Key Takeaways:

Healing begins when we stop performing and start surrendering.

Intellectual diversity helps couples see each other the way God does.

Forgiveness—of yourself and others—is the foundation for freedom.

Restoration requires community, truth, and radical grace.

You are not your worst mistake; God can use even your pain for purpose.

Scriptures Mentioned:

Romans 8:28 – All things work together for good for those who love God.

Isaiah 61:3 – Beauty for ashes, joy for mourning.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

Philippians 1:6 – He who began a good work in you will complete it.

Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

1 Peter 5:10 – After you have suffered a little while, He will restore you.

Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and forgiving, as Christ forgave you.

Proverbs 24:16 – Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.

Connect with Sarah:
🌐 Humanintellect.us
https://www.facebook.com/ActivatedCoachingLLC
https://www.facebook.com/saralawrence01

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.