Morning Cup of Faith

Have you ever wondered why faith and coffee go together? Brenda and Shelley catch us up with their latest travels as they continue their "Summer Series" of their most popular and downloaded episodes with globally-minded and engaging “coffee expert,” professor, PhD and connoisseur Dr. Lori Unruh Snyder. Dr. Lori explains why coffee and faith are intertwined and she shares about the rich history of the coffee bean. An Associate Professor at NC State (Crop and Soil Science Department) Dr. Lori has traveled to premium coffee farms in Peru, Jamaica, Colombia, Honduras and Costa Rica, and she’s sampled all of the best coffee beans on the planet! Dr. Lori believes, “the soul of coffee is centered in the faith of the coffee grower” and she shares an ancient story about a goat herder who found “red berries" for the monks in the monastery and they noticed their prayer time was extended that night. Dr. Lori reflects, "All of the coffee farms I have traveled to internationally have small tabernacles on the side of the mountain with Virgin Mary where the coffee farmers stop to pray. All of our meetings start with a cup of coffee and a prayer. I’ve spent more time praying on coffee farms than I have anywhere else in the world." Dr. Lori, who enjoys her organic black coffee “farm to cup,” discusses the importance of sustainable impact coffee farming and the groundbreaking work of her friend, Tony Salas, founder of Shared-X (www.shared-x.com). She turns Brenda and Shelley onto their new favorite specialty organic roaster, One Village Coffee (onevillagecoffee.com) We’re hooked on the heavenly Medium Roast, chocolate, hazelnut and berry blend! One Village Coffee is responsibly sourced and grown, a socially and environmentally conscious Founding B Corporation (great coffee, great mission!) Dr. Lori helps us channel our inner barista with all of the latest coffee hacks and trending recipes such as the Matcha Latte and the Ginger Coffee Twist. We talk French Press, Chemex, Pour-over (good-bye clunky Mr. Coffee Maker!) and trending alternative milks (oat milk barista blend foams the best). You won’t want to miss this feel-good #faith and #coffee episode!

The uplifting and faith-filled Tobi Tobin is a Los Angeles based luxury lifestyle expert whose work has graced the cover of Architectural Digest and earned her the AIA award. Tobi designs environments for some of the most powerful and influential people in Hollywood such as Reese Witherspoon and Leonard DiCaprio as well as abroad. Tobi injects fifteen years of experience into the public eye by launching her Tobi Tobin Luxury Collection that consists of organic candles, chocolates and fragrances (Malibu store tobitobin.com) Tobi fell in love with European living during her early travels as a model and her beautiful fragrances tell the story of her exotic travels around the world. Tobi explains, “I need organic all natural products and fragrances that are not synthesized. My story and how my products and lifestyle brand developed is because of the products that I needed in my life. I was dissatisfied with the products that were out there and I dove into creating products I could use for myself. I thought just by pure passion that if I needed it, somebody else needs it and wants it the same way. I continue to make decisions for my brand based on what feels good to me, what I want, and probably what everybody else wants too.” Tobi is an intuitive entrepreneur who checks in with her spirit daily to make her life and business decisions. Tobi constantly asks herself, “What am I doing for my friends? My family? My customers? It all starts with listening. Some of the best advice I ever received was to ask yourself ‘is this going to hurt me or heal me?’ when you make decisions. ‘Is where I’m living hurting or healing me? Is the relationship I’m in hurting or healing me?’ If you continue to ask yourself this question, it will completely transform your life." Tobi is the ultimate overcomer, full of resilience and fatih. She reflects, “Everything starts with my Christian faith. I’m not going anywhere without it. I need somebody to save me, a friend and a Savior."

Our “Summer Series” continues with passionate and hope-filled film producer Cindy Bond, a pioneer of inspiring faith family films who co-founded Mission Pictures International. Cindy knew the minute she heard MercyMe’s beloved, chart-topping song “I Can Only Imagine” that she’d be turning band leader Bart Millard’s true life story which charts the difficult relationship between Millard and his abusive father (played by Dennis Quaid) who found God after a cancer diagnosis and became a better man into a major motion picture. Cindy reflects, “I’ve had a calling on my life to impact the world through media with biblical world view stories. I’ve had to persevere through my struggles and stay tenacious, stay faithful and hopeful. There are a lot of rocks and bumps along the way, but I know that with any obstacles the world has for me, nothing is impossible with God." Her highly anticipated upcoming film “Redeeming Love,” which was also executive produced by actress Roma Downey, is based on Francine Rivers’ best-selling novel set in 1850 during the California Gold Rush and based on the Bible’s Book of Hosea. The movie revolves around Angel (played by Abigail Cowen) a prostitute who’s endured a difficult life of betrayal and rejection, and Michael Hosea, the man who loves her. , Cindy shares her favorite life scriptures, her love of horses and show jumping competition, and how she chooses daily to live on faith and hope. Cindy shares, “Life is choices. We have to choose to be either above our circumstances, or below them. Life is difficult. I get up every morning and I choose to live over my circumstances, no matter what they are. I’m a hopeful person. I’ve always lived on hope."

Victoria Rowell, Actress-Producer-Director: "I’m Inspired by the Moment” Award-winning Actress, Producer and Director Victoria Rowell 13 NAACP catches up with longtime friend Brenda Epperson-Moore and these two high-spirited and faith-filled women reminiscence about their days working together on CBS “Young and the Restless” and currently on UMC’s “The Rich and The Ruthless” which was just picked up by BET Plus. These two fast friends have stayed connected for decades through their marriages, the birth of their children, and philanthropic causes. Victoria shares, “Brenda and I were meant to become friends. I don’t believe in accidents; that is divine order.” Victoria is a champion for diversity issues and she shares why she’s “inspired by the moment” and how iconic Congressman John Lewis told her to keep pushing for justice, and make a way out of no way.” Victoria was raised with an “extremely grounded and sturdy faith” and she believes “making the most of what you have turns into more.” Victoria reflects, “During this uncertain time, some people feel ‘I’m lost. I’m in the desert.’ When you’re in the desert you’re finding yourself. You’re building a faith muscle.”

Have you ever wondered about your life purpose or destiny and felt like there was something more for you to accomplish, bigger things you were meant to do? For our “Summer Series” of our most popular and downloaded episodes, we revisit powerfully positive and humorous prophetic speaker and author, Doug Addison from InLight Connection (dougaddison.com) with fresh commentary and new insights. Brenda and Shelley marvel about how Doug intuitively spoke over their lives last August and the new developments that have come to pass, and how Doug was ahead of the curve in 2020, predicting that “the Lord is moving in new ways. He forced us all onto the Internet." Doug explains how discovering your destiny is like a connect-the-dots drawing. As a leading expert and a cutting-edge prophetic leader, Doug has studied, interpreted and instructed on many dreams and visions, bringing deep insight to countless people worldwide. Doug shares with us the key recurring dreams to look out for such as flying in your dreams or seeing babies or numbers and how to hear the spirit in our daily lives. Doug explains, “Many people don’t know their own destiny. There are key dreams to watch out for that will talk about your destiny. For example, being chased by something evil in your dreams shows you that you have a high calling and something to fulfill in your life, something that the enemy doesn’t want you to see.” Doug has a gift to see and discern in the spirit and he is best known for his prophetic words that he releases daily. He shows us how God speaks to us in an unlimited ways in our everyday lives through our dreams, every day conversations, nature, or a beautiful piece of music. Doug has a charismatic personality, a strong faith in God, an endearing nature and a quick wit, and he reminds us that God meets us right where we are. Doug reflects, “Prosperity to me is having the freedom to do what God calls you to do."

Exuberant exceptionally talented Actress-Producer Rachel Boston (Hallmark Channel, CBS “Seal Team,” Lifetime “Witches of East End") kicks off “Morning Cup of Faith” Summer Series as Brenda and Shelley revisit some of our most popular and most downloaded episodes with fresh commentary and new insights. This episode finds Rachel last August in an Airstream at her childhood home in the mountains of Tennessee waiting for film production to resume. You can actually hear the birds sweetly chirping in Rachel’s backyard! We learn about Rachel’s new love, private celebrity chef Tolya Ashe, and how they enjoy cooking together. Rachel is presently in Vancouver shooting new exciting Hallmark Christmas movies for Christmas 2021. In this episode Rachel reflects on her early Southern roots growing up in the church, her time at NYU, and how Psalm 23 inspired her during these uncertain times. Rachel reveals why she’s had the “most deep profound conversations” this past year and why she’s glad to see an end to the “negative discard culture that was brewing.” Rachel shares, “I’m seeing a new level of humanity after this universal experience we all shared last year. It’s okay to say, ‘I’m having a tough time right now.' That vulnerability is going to unite us and make us stronger.” Rachel Boston has the power and magic to light up a small city!

Brooklyn-based Kat Harris is the author of the new best-selling book “Sexless in the City: A Sometimes Sassy, Sometimes Painful, Always Honest Look at Dating, Desire and Sex” (sexlessinthecitybook.com) This woman is fearless! Kat is a well known Christian relationship coach who refers to herself as a “Hard Question Asker.” She talks about how to embrace your sexuality (even when you’re not having sex!) She’s a 30-something single virgin woman living in New York City as an editorial photographer trying to navigate hook up culture and ghosting, online dating, sliding into DM’s and swiping right and left. Kat’s decided to wait until marriage to have sex, and as she will tell you, “that's freaking hard!” Kat grew up in the purity culture in the South, and she felt caught between the purity culture’s rules and popular culture’s “do what feels good” message. Kat explains, “When I first moved to New York I dated more in the first year than I had in a decade. I began to wonder, is not having sex still a thing or is it some antiquated Christian norm that is no longer relevant? Even though I was a Bible major in college, I honestly couldn’t tell you if the Bible actually said don’t have sex until marriage. I went on a five year journey doing intense research, Bible study and scientific research, and I discovered that God has beautiful vision for sex and intimacy, and unfortunately in Christian culture it has been hidden behind a list of do’s and don’ts." Kat has her convictions and she has never shied away from doing things her way. The first time she talked about some of these sensitive topics a few years ago on Jamie Ivey's “The Happy Hour” podcast, she heard from hundreds of women all around the world, and she knew she struck a nerve. Dating in today’s world as single Christian women can be complicated. What does the Bible really say about sex? Why do so many women feel shame about their bodies, and how do we break out of that? Kat is the co-founder of the online publication “The Refined Woman” and host of the “Refined Collective” Podcast. She’s an educator, Beyonce lover and Ranch Dressing aficionado. This sought-after dating coach is going to answer all of our hard questions!

Brenda and Shelley celebrate their 40th Episode and their inspiring journey of faith and friendship by sharing their very first pilot episode with their dear friend, exuberant Kym Douglas TV Host (“The Ellen Show,” “Home and Family”) best-selling author, and lifestyle and beauty expert. Kym discusses her start in Second City Improv Group and her comedic journey to become who Ellen Degeneres describes as her “certifiably crazy, freaky deakiest friend.” Kym shares about her fifteen years of antics and life lessons sharing the stage with Ellen, the Queen of Comedy and her predictions for “quarantine fashion.” Kym’s faith deepened when she found herself battling Stage III breast cancer and she had to learn how to advocate for herself. Kym reveals, “When I was going through chemotherapy I didn’t have hair or nails, and the irony is, I’m a beauty expert on television. There were days that were so bad, but I knew I had two choices: to fight, or to soldier on. One day the Lord revealed himself to me on an old oak tree stump in my backyard. I felt His presence so real going through me saying, “I’m going to be there with you every step of the way.” Kym reflects that being home with family in 2020 was one of the most meaningful times in her life. “What’s in my cup today?” Kym laughs. “I’m thriving in my cup. I’m not a cancer survivor; I’m a cancer thriver. I’m not getting through Covid, I’m thriving. From now on when someone asks me how I’m doing, I’m going to say I’m thriving. There’s power in that word."

“Morning Cup of Faith” honors “Mental Health Awareness Month” with our life-affirming guest, Carla Arges, a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, author, mom and wife (carlaargeswellness.com). Carla resides in Ontario, Canada and she refers to herself as a “Bipolar and BPD Warrior saved by grace." She's the creator and founder of “Affirming Truths" (Who You Say I Am) a social media platform to help women gain confidence in who they are so they can walk more boldly in the purpose God has declared over their life. She was an overweight, overwhelmed mom, wife and Christian woman battling a mood disorder and a painful past of homelessness, addiction, teenage pregnancy and a suicide attempt. Carla reflects, “I spent a lot of my life running, running from my past, my feelings and hurt, running to a box of cookies or a bottle of wine instead of running into the arms of Jesus. I now sit with God even in the hard stuff, and that is the change. In the past when I was numbing out my feelings I was also numbing out God. He was waiting for me with arms wide open. It didn’t matter what I had done or how I had lived. God was calling me home.” Carla discovered she had an undiagnosed bipolar and borderline personality disorder, which is a common diagnosis for children who grew up with trauma. Carla reveals, “I grew up in a tough environment with a lot of turmoil with a mother who had an undiagnosed mental illness. I felt I was not worthy or lovable, like I had to earn my value. I didn’t want to accept my diagnosis, but I wanted to provide a safe environment for my son. I decided to be a change agent and to break patterns. There’s so much freedom facing what you think you cannot face.” Through Carla's journey to wellness, success (she’s celebrating fifteen years of marriage) and a new identity in Christ, she discovered a passion for helping women transform their lives one thought, one meal, one movement at a time. Carla inspires women to go from broken to brave and from victim to victor by sharing her own bumpy road to freedom. Carla adds, “What inspires me is to see a woman realize her worth, given to her by God, and to see her step out in boldness to do what God is calling her to do."

Brenda announces her new life-changing book “Rise Up: Uncover the Darkness and Move Into the Light” will be available on Amazon com on Friday, April 30th. Please purchase her book and stay tuned for our virtual “Rise Up” workshop (dates and information TBA, please contact us at [email protected]) In this episode Brenda and Shelley talk about Brenda’s superpower to ignite people to move forward with their lives and break strongholds and negative patterns that are holding them back. When questioned about where her gifts of heightened intuition and clarity come from, Brenda reveals, “It’s all God. I’ve always been attracted to power: powerful cars, powerful people, animals, planes. Why not plug into the ultimate power, the power of God? When we plug into Him and pursue Him, He shows us things we don’t know. The power of God and the Holy Spirit reveals all things." Our guest this week is brilliant, best-selling author Elizabeth Passarella who is full of irreverent humor and deep wit in her debut memoir, “Good Apple: Tales of a Southerner Evangelical in New York" which was selected as one of Good Morning America’s reads for the new year. Her book is a laugh out loud collection of touching profound essays, a New York coming of age story that mixes religion with parenthood, political beliefs and closet space, elevator scares and screaming matches with her much loved husband on a New York street corner. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee Elizabeth grew up in an evangelical church and she humorously turns the tables on stereotypes about Southerners, New Yorkers and Christians, because none of us are as simple as some of our labels suggest. Her main message is our identity is rooted in being a child of God, not in any label. Elizabeth shares, “God loves the weak, the suffering, the marginalized, the addicts, the screw ups. It doesn’t matter how polished I was on the outside; I was still screwed up on the inside. We’re all screw ups; that’s all of us.” Her first chapter “The Virgin Surprise” discusses dating in New York as a 20-something virgin and how she “sobbed at her Youth Group because she wouldn’t get to have sex before the rapture.” Elizabeth writes, “the precise events of end times are hard for us lay people to decipher because the book of Revelation seems to have been written by a disciple on mushrooms.” You won’t want to miss this hysterical Southerner evangelical in New York and hear her inspirational message!