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Have you ever felt like you “stick out”?
In this episode of Project Sisterhood, Chrissy sits down with Jessica Gilstrap for a joyful conversation about identity, confidence, and what it looks like to show up as yourself — fully surrendered to God.
From the iconic pink blazer moment to deeper truths about insecurity, calling, and walking in boldness, this episode is both fun and freeing. God didn’t make you to blend in — He made you to shine with purpose.
— — — — — — — — — —
In this episode of Project Sisterhood, Chrissy sits down with Jessica Gilstrap for a joyful conversation about identity, confidence, and what it looks like to show up as yourself — fully surrendered to God.
From the iconic pink blazer moment to deeper truths about insecurity, calling, and walking in boldness, this episode is both fun and freeing. God didn’t make you to blend in — He made you to shine with purpose.
— — — — — — — — — —
If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review — it helps more women find Project Sisterhood 💛
🎧 Listen to Project Sisterhood:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12Mzxkt8WDImuZJpu90b7N?si=a5208fcedd2c44f7
📲 Follow Project Sisterhood on Instagram:
Instagram: @projectsisterhood
⛪️ Project Church:
Website: https://projectchurch.com
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Creators and Guests
Host
Chrissy Cole
Chrissy’s parents moved to the U.S. from the Philippines in the late 70′s. She saw her parents both come to know the Lord at a young age. She and her family poured their lives into the local church and were changed by God. Chrissy attended Evangel University in Springfield, MO and earned a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations.
What is Project Sisterhood?
Project Sisterhood is a podcast for women who want to grow in faith, find healthy community, and become who God created them to be.
Hosted by Chrissy Cole and the Project Church Sisterhood team, each episode brings honest conversations and biblical encouragement centered on identity, belonging, spiritual maturity, healing, relationships, and purpose.
With a mix of humor, vulnerability, and real-life wisdom, Project Sisterhood creates space for women in every age and stage to feel seen, strengthened, and connected—because you were never meant to do life alone.
00;00;00;01 - 00;00;14;16
Speaker 1
One of the compliments I started to get, a handful of years ago is you're so yourself. And for a little while I was like, I don't know what that means, because I think it means you think I'm really unique, but which is so true because. Right. I show up in this pink blazer. And I even had to wrestle through moments like that.
00;00;14;16 - 00;00;28;24
Speaker 1
I'm, I come to this conference, I'm serving. Yeah I come in and clearly there was like some sort of color code that I had no idea about. There wasn't a spoken one, but I was new to the environment and they were all these cool outfits. And I come in in my hot pink blazer. Yeah.
00;00;28;26 - 00;00;30;03
Speaker 2
Mostly neutrals, probably.
00;00;30;05 - 00;00;49;24
Speaker 1
Neutral, totally neutral. And I'm like, here I am. But then. So I sat there and for a little bit I was insecure for a minute, I was insecure and I'm like, oh my gosh, I don't know anybody here. I'm literally sitting in this room as a bright blond haired, like probably maybe one of two blonds in the room, bright pink blazer.
00;00;49;29 - 00;00;59;18
Speaker 1
I am like, I could not like be sticking out right now. More like a sore thumb than ever before. But then I had the thing the Lord reminded me, like, just, that's who you are.
00;00;59;19 - 00;01;25;02
Speaker 2
This is a project sisterhood podcast for all things women. Whether you for purpose, for ministry, motherhood, or the marketplace, we have crucial and genuine conversations that transcend your season yet impact your true identity as a woman. From light hearted and laughable to honest, deep matters of the heart, your soul will be encouraged. We hope you and all women of every age and every stage by life and freedom in Jesus.
00;01;25;04 - 00;01;45;10
Speaker 2
All right, ladies, welcome back to the Project Sisterhood Podcast. We are so glad that you are joining us. I have enjoyed introducing some of the ladies within the sisterhood, and this week is another week to introduce one of the sisters, actually one of the sisters in leadership here at Project Church, Jessica Gilstrap.
00;01;45;10 - 00;01;46;12
Speaker 1
Hello. Hello.
00;01;46;13 - 00;02;08;17
Speaker 2
Hello, sister. I cannot wait for the women to hear from you. I've just really enjoyed getting to know you. I spent this last year, I guess, but probably more so in recent months. And I just know that the call of God on your life for women is strong. And I'm just so honored, to be partnered with you in this season.
00;02;08;20 - 00;02;11;12
Speaker 2
And I just want to bring a little attention to your cup.
00;02;11;14 - 00;02;33;23
Speaker 1
Yes, yes, this is my pink cup. Yeah. I actually have 14 of these. Wow. So if you see me with one of these, it's might. It's maybe not the same one every time. Okay. It's a different one. I so I just needed a cup. Yeah, I need an easy to go cup with the lid. And so I got on good trusty Amazon and I was like, listen, it should probably be pink.
00;02;33;26 - 00;02;37;17
Speaker 1
And this one has a little bit of a shimmer in it. And I'm just a pink girly.
00;02;37;24 - 00;02;39;13
Speaker 2
Yes.
00;02;39;15 - 00;02;49;13
Speaker 1
And there was, there was one that was an individual or there was a pack of 14 and I was just like, you know what? That it's probably more beneficial to get back. 14. So I have an entire cupboard of pink cup.
00;02;49;20 - 00;03;14;16
Speaker 2
Wow. Yeah. That's awesome. That's great. Pencil. What? Let me just tell you before I introduce you to all of you, Jessica is, first of all, since I've known you, pink has stood out to me. And I'll tell you a little bit about that. But you are an encourager. You are a pastor. You are such a leader. And, yeah, a great like coach encourager.
00;03;14;19 - 00;03;18;26
Speaker 2
Cheer people on. Selfless, humble. So let me just get that out of the way.
00;03;18;27 - 00;03;24;24
Speaker 1
Well, before you say whatever you want to say next, I had to say something back because I know.
00;03;24;26 - 00;03;45;07
Speaker 1
Because I know you're saying all this stuff about me, but I have. Absolutely. I'm absolutely honored to be, here on this podcast. But it has actually just been such a joy, and so significant, just kind of coming together with you and building friendship over the last year. And what, what has been unlocked in me through us just getting to run together.
00;03;45;07 - 00;03;49;01
Speaker 1
Yeah. And dream up and really stir up with the Lord is doing together.
00;03;49;03 - 00;03;49;14
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;03;49;18 - 00;03;57;09
Speaker 1
And our own individual ways. But really getting to run together has really just honestly blessed my life. And I am so excited for the future.
00;03;57;09 - 00;03;58;02
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;03;58;04 - 00;04;03;04
Speaker 1
And just so, yes, to so honored to get to be here with you.
00;04;03;05 - 00;04;05;23
Speaker 2
Me too. And I promise, I we get back to the cup.
00;04;05;24 - 00;04;07;09
Speaker 1
Totally. We cannot leave that.
00;04;07;09 - 00;04;30;29
Speaker 2
I can't leave it undone. But I do think that God speaks to us in many different ways. I'm more of a feeler. But for whatever reason, when it comes to you and the last year of my life, he's shown me the color pink in fact, I was a part of a group, senior leaders, 12 of us coming together, very intimate gatherings.
00;04;30;29 - 00;04;55;24
Speaker 2
And, they were doing some prophetic ministry. And the woman, that gave me some prophetic words said, I just see pink, and you know what that means. And I said, I don't like pink, but it has meant so much because the Lord is telling me to stay soft in the hardships of life. And then I feel like I'm entering a new season, and our church and our women, our sisterhood, are entering a new season.
00;04;55;26 - 00;04;59;03
Speaker 2
And our last women's event, you showed up in pink.
00;04;59;03 - 00;04;59;11
Speaker 1
Yeah.
00;04;59;11 - 00;05;18;08
Speaker 2
And it just really stood out to me, and and I, I knew even back then that I do not need to be resisting the color pink because of whatever it's meant to me in the past. I feel like it is something we're using this word. I think it's the operative word. It is something that's going to unlock something in the future.
00;05;18;08 - 00;05;40;22
Speaker 2
Yeah. So the fact that you brought the pink House was so appropriate that you served in pink like bright pink the last time you're at a women's conference, the Lord highlighted me to you. Are you to me? And I just believe that there's something in the color pink that for this next season, totally. And so I love what you are doing right now and what you're going after.
00;05;40;22 - 00;06;02;10
Speaker 2
I feel like you're taking steps of faith. He's giving you vision for a lot as it relates to women, and I think the girlfriend co is kind of, you know, coming off the ground here. When an Instagram page or a TikTok page is wow, that was interesting. When an Instagram page and a TikTok page are created, you know something is happening.
00;06;02;11 - 00;06;03;05
Speaker 1
Sally.
00;06;03;08 - 00;06;14;19
Speaker 2
It's serious. Can you tell us a little bit about what you have, cook in what the Lord's been doing in you? That I believe is kind of unlock a lot for the women. Yeah. In our community.
00;06;14;19 - 00;06;50;12
Speaker 1
Yeah, absolutely. So, Chrissy mentioned the girlfriend co, which is a passion project I've been working on. Actually, I started it a few years ago, and it just was not the right season for me in life. And then this year, honestly, out of even some of the conversations that Chrissy and I have had just in our friendship and our passion, for women and to see women fully activated to live and running together, the Lord just really sparked, just a passion of my heart, which is to really develop and invest in, young women leaders.
00;06;50;14 - 00;07;11;00
Speaker 1
I know what it's like. I've had, years of ministry leadership, a level of corporate leadership now. And so this is a journey that I have, walked and also just known the good, the good parts and the hard parts of wondering, like, where do I even start? How do I grow? Who can invest in me?
00;07;11;03 - 00;07;33;23
Speaker 1
How do I become all that the Lord has called me to be, in multiple spurs, and I am just. I'm so passionate about coming alongside young women and going, hey, like, I know you have a spark in your heart, but let me help you unlock that and let me help you unlock some next steps. Yes, I'm really unlock your voice and unlock all that you're created to be, whether that is ministry or that's marketplace.
00;07;33;23 - 00;07;57;14
Speaker 1
Or maybe that's even in motherhood, like wherever it is, wherever you're at. Sometimes we just need the right person and the right tools and the right space, to really unlock those things. So I have started soft launch. We are working on it. It's it's not fully out there yet, but there is an Instagram page, the girlfriend co, which my heart for that really is sisterhood.
00;07;57;14 - 00;08;17;07
Speaker 1
It's a bunch of girlfriends coming together going, hey, we are, we are all trying to figure this out. So I want to give and providing, coaching, equipping and connecting in live events that will launch here in a little bit for just people who are hungry to grow in leadership and just in what's on their heart.
00;08;17;07 - 00;08;40;16
Speaker 2
That's beautiful. That's so beautiful. And I love that you are really going after your passion project, and I'm sure there have been hiccups along the way. I'm sure there have been roadblocks, and I know that there have been moments of when should I totally. So I totally and talk to the ladies about, there's something that God's put on your heart.
00;08;40;16 - 00;08;43;25
Speaker 2
What are the keys to getting it out there? Yeah.
00;08;43;27 - 00;08;46;26
Speaker 1
Yeah, that's two to them specifically.
00;08;46;27 - 00;08;49;18
Speaker 2
Specifically. And maybe give me both, but,
00;08;49;25 - 00;09;10;20
Speaker 1
Yeah, totally. We'll learn from I, I, I think what the first step is really just acknowledging what is on your heart and that there is something on your heart, and it's actually it's actually okay. It's it's okay for you to not know in full what that looks like. It's okay for you to not knowing full like what is the exact call of God like, wiring makeup.
00;09;10;20 - 00;09;12;29
Speaker 1
It's actually okay. That's actually the starting place.
00;09;12;29 - 00;09;13;15
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;09;13;18 - 00;09;33;26
Speaker 1
It's actually where we all start. That's where we're supposed to start. The Lord never gives us the full picture. He. There is a process that we are walking on of refinement and revelation with the Lord ongoing. And that's, that's the process that I've had to walk out through my entire life. And so for me, starting place is acknowledging it's there.
00;09;33;26 - 00;09;51;24
Speaker 1
And also I need to just I need to bring it to people. Yeah, I need to bring this to people. And so for all of us, we have to pursue people and really pursue like just, just connecting with the right relationships in my life, which is also could be a whole podcast, but it's also it's own process, right?
00;09;51;26 - 00;10;01;16
Speaker 1
The journey to community and and not just anybody, but the journey to finding like the people in the season that the Lord has you in that he is he's put around you.
00;10;01;16 - 00;10;01;23
Speaker 2
Right.
00;10;01;28 - 00;10;13;03
Speaker 1
Strategically and specifically to really draw out of you and you to draw out things in them, to, to help you become more of who you are created to me.
00;10;13;05 - 00;10;25;15
Speaker 2
Yeah. I, I love having to. I loved getting to hear your story of whatever I think God's put on your heart is really a culmination of what he's brought you through. Would you agree?
00;10;25;15 - 00;10;25;28
Speaker 1
Absolutely.
00;10;25;28 - 00;10;34;15
Speaker 2
And and just a real brief summary recap context for our listeners. You've had how many years of ministry.
00;10;34;17 - 00;10;36;12
Speaker 1
15 years time ministry.
00;10;36;12 - 00;10;58;18
Speaker 2
And full time ministry and then you've entered a new season in the last three years, of being in the corporate world and not not in an ambitious, selfish way. But you've really climbed the ladder and have found a lot of success and favor there. So talk to me about how, life experience seasons has brought you to.
00;10;58;22 - 00;11;02;28
Speaker 2
I kind of see and understand. Oh, that's what God put on my heart. Do you know what I mean?
00;11;02;28 - 00;11;29;25
Speaker 1
Yeah, totally. Man. There. That's a really good question. I'm trying to think how I would I would word that, but yeah, there's it's it's so interesting when you, when you follow the Lord intentionally engaging your season, whatever season you're in, that always builds like, yeah, every season builds on the next season. And my, my weaknesses, my strength, all of those things.
00;11;29;25 - 00;11;32;01
Speaker 1
I'm constantly we're all constantly in process.
00;11;32;01 - 00;11;32;12
Speaker 2
Right.
00;11;32;12 - 00;11;56;21
Speaker 1
And those things build if I will engage them with as much as I possibly can. Right. We get we get out of anything. Whatever we decide, however much we decide we want. Yeah. And sometimes we I think we think that life just happens to us. But the reality is we actually have a lot more engagement and ownership in our seasons than, we give them credit for.
00;11;56;21 - 00;12;27;01
Speaker 1
And I think my story is really, one where I've just chosen to, in whatever broken or unknowing way possible or whatever in the seasons that I was in, with the level of maturity that I was in, just chose to engage the season that I was in and grow where I was like understanding that, hey, there's growth. There's actually a lot available to me where I am, and there's room for me to grow and I want to grow, and I'm actually going to embrace that.
00;12;27;04 - 00;12;50;06
Speaker 1
Whether it's exciting and fun or it's actually painful, I've been through a lot of painful seasons that have really catapulted me into where I am today because I chose to go, okay, this is painful, but the Lord is so good that he will work all things together for good, and he's actually always going to move me more and more into what he's created me for, right?
00;12;50;07 - 00;12;53;11
Speaker 1
The more I engage with him in the moments that I'm in.
00;12;53;17 - 00;12;54;00
Speaker 2
Right.
00;12;54;00 - 00;13;16;10
Speaker 1
So it's been this for me. It's been this building process, season to season, where I've just chosen to be who I am and where I am and grow as much as I possibly can in those seasons. So I can't say I'm like, I want to be here. And somehow the years went by and I landed here from here and I'm like, no, it was actually more of a I'm engaging where I am.
00;13;16;12 - 00;13;46;05
Speaker 1
And that has grown. It has led me to really where I am now. I wasn't aspiring to be exactly necessarily where I am now. I wasn't going like that's the goal. That's the mark. Though there are things on my heart, there are things that I want to do that I aspired to do. But I really, really I think that the secret sauce for me, and I'm not even sure if I'm answering this fully, but has been to engage where I am to understand that exactly where I am.
00;13;46;07 - 00;13;57;22
Speaker 1
I am made to happen right here, right now. Right? There's growth available to me, and the only way to get even further down the road and grow in my maturity is to engage.
00;13;57;22 - 00;13;58;03
Speaker 2
Right.
00;13;58;03 - 00;14;08;07
Speaker 1
Right where I am right now with growth, with with the Lord, with people, wherever I am. Like that is actually where the Lord catapults us from.
00;14;08;10 - 00;14;37;06
Speaker 2
Oh, that's so beautiful. I hear what you're saying, that if we aren't present, I think we could live in the shame of our past. Or than we can live in the fear of the future, which looks like overambitious or frozen in fear. Yeah. So it's important to be present. See what God's doing right now. Because what he is preparing you for is something that, has been happening in the past to the present.
00;14;37;06 - 00;14;43;13
Speaker 2
And then in order to go to the future, you have to be present with the now.
00;14;43;16 - 00;14;44;07
Speaker 1
Totally.
00;14;44;07 - 00;15;03;22
Speaker 2
Yeah. That's so important. And I and I, I've really, one of the last conversations that we have had, I feel like being present, has a lot to do with showing up, just showing up and being our authentic self, not who we hope to be, not who we were in the past. But it's important to be authentic.
00;15;03;22 - 00;15;28;12
Speaker 2
Yeah. Presently, I, I loved the conversation that we had because I was just kind of going through a situation. I was bouncing it off of you and the the nugget of truth that I took from it. We were talking about it right before this recording was that, I don't know what the outcome is going to be. Yeah, but what I need to do to is to face my fear and face the potential worst case scenario.
00;15;28;12 - 00;15;36;27
Speaker 2
But to show up as my authentic selves. How important is showing up as your authentic self, as you're going after the things that you're going for right now?
00;15;36;28 - 00;15;45;21
Speaker 1
Oh, it's it's crucial. There's one of my favorite quotes. It's not even a Christian quote, but it's, it says, unless I am myself, I am nobody.
00;15;45;23 - 00;15;47;00
Speaker 2
Okay, say that again.
00;15;47;00 - 00;15;49;24
Speaker 1
Unless I am myself I am nobody.
00;15;49;27 - 00;15;50;11
Speaker 2
Very good.
00;15;50;11 - 00;16;12;01
Speaker 1
And I have this is probably one of my, the, my life things that I've and like but, but if you ask people who really knew me they would they would say that. Oh you're so yourself like one of the thing. One of the compliments I started to get, a handful of years ago is you're so yourself. And for a little while I was like, I don't know what that means, because I think it means you think I'm really unique, but which is so true because.
00;16;12;01 - 00;16;27;28
Speaker 1
Right, I show up in this pink blazer. And I even had to wrestle through moments like that. I'm, I come to this conference, I'm serving. Yeah I come in and clearly there was like some sort of color code that I had no idea about. There wasn't a spoken one, but I was new to the environment and they were all these cool outfits.
00;16;27;28 - 00;16;30;01
Speaker 1
And I come in in my hot pink blazer.
00;16;30;01 - 00;16;33;06
Speaker 2
Yeah, mostly neutrals, probably neutral, totally neutral.
00;16;33;06 - 00;16;51;14
Speaker 1
And I'm like, here I am. But then. So I sat there and for a little bit I was insecure for a minute, I was insecure and I'm like, oh my gosh, I don't know anybody here. I'm literally sitting in this room as a bright blond haired, like probably maybe one of two blonds in the room, bright pink blazer.
00;16;51;20 - 00;17;13;23
Speaker 1
I am like, I could not, like be sticking out right now. More like a sore thumb than ever before. But then I had. But the Lord reminded me like, just that's who you are. Like, I actually I worked for a place that this is just funny and I know we're trailing off of it, but I worked for a place, you know, in ministry there were there were certain there's probably certain decade where, like the black ripped skinny jeans.
00;17;13;25 - 00;17;34;01
Speaker 1
When you're in ministry, you do what you do sometimes on stage, you're like, yeah, it's trendy, but you also wear like black and dark colors on the stage and all these things. And I remember it just wasn't me. And I would show up in this hot pink dress, a red shirt, bright pink lipstick. I'm still to this day, that's just that's who I am.
00;17;34;07 - 00;17;57;15
Speaker 1
And it's not that. Yeah, that's just who I am. And it's okay that that's different, but it actually really, really matters that I am who I am. Yeah. And it really matters that I'm who I am right now. Because I think that we all believe this lie, or we get stuck in this spiral of thinking that I'm like, trying to get to who I am down the road.
00;17;57;15 - 00;17;58;06
Speaker 2
Right.
00;17;58;09 - 00;18;21;26
Speaker 1
And the reality is, is like as we're trying to get to who I am in this, whatever picture we have of ourselves down the road, we're entirely missing and forfeiting who I actually am right now, and the impact and what the Lord wants to do in my life as I am right now. And I'm just there's just so much in who I am.
00;18;21;28 - 00;18;35;27
Speaker 1
And then there's there's a little bit of a counterfeit that's happening where I'm actually not growing right in who I am, because I'm always constantly looking beyond who I am to try to figure out who I want to be. Instead of actually being who I actually am.
00;18;36;01 - 00;18;36;19
Speaker 2
Oh.
00;18;36;22 - 00;18;48;27
Speaker 1
And there's, there's so many things I could talk about in that about like hey there, there's a journey of discovering who you are. And that's an ongoing process right. There's, there's levels in every season that I discover more of who I am.
00;18;49;02 - 00;18;49;14
Speaker 2
Right.
00;18;49;19 - 00;19;11;20
Speaker 1
And there are a couple different ways that I do that. And one, one of the big ways is by being with people who are different than me, like one of the biggest, one of the most impactful things in my life, impactful seasons of learning who I am was learning how I was different from other people, which was really brutal at first because I was like, oh my gosh, I should hide some of this stuff because I'm very different.
00;19;11;23 - 00;19;32;14
Speaker 1
I have so many, so many stories of how I would serve people with my teacups when they come over to my house, and people would giggle because it was like, why are you bringing out your. And I love teacups. Like, I'm just like feminine to the core and I just love it. Yes. Pink and teacups. And I remember I was opening, I was putting my teacups away because some people at giggled at it as hosting these this girls group at my house.
00;19;32;14 - 00;19;53;14
Speaker 1
And then the Lord said, yes, I actually I don't want you to put those away. I want you to I want you to serve people and be in them because this is who you are. And it was so small. It was just like, this materialistic thing. Seemingly, it wasn't this like the Lord gave me a scripture and I had this massive revelation, but it was like, hey, put the teacups back.
00;19;53;16 - 00;20;15;21
Speaker 1
And I did. And then I started to unlock, the the Lord started to show me. He was like, hey, just like, this is part of how I've made you. And some of those things are really feel really deep and scriptural and significant and some of them are just like the little ways that the Lord has wired us that are actually so much bigger than we know that they are, than we think that they are.
00;20;15;28 - 00;20;38;16
Speaker 1
But we have all these little fun things about the way that the Lord made us. And it really, really matters that I'm learning those things. And I'm looking at both the both the things that feel supernatural and also the things that are just like, oh, like you made my personality and you like you made you made this, like feminine, fun loving person that I am.
00;20;38;16 - 00;20;39;09
Speaker 1
And that's.
00;20;39;11 - 00;20;41;01
Speaker 2
It is unique and that's what.
00;20;41;01 - 00;20;42;23
Speaker 1
The power is. He made me like that.
00;20;42;23 - 00;21;01;14
Speaker 2
He made you with the preferences that you had. And when you're not attached to your preferences more than you are to him. Yeah, then they're great things. Yeah. I heard something that just stuck out to me. And I just want to say, you probably need to write a book and it doesn't have to have this title, but at least maybe a chapter or even whatever.
00;21;01;19 - 00;21;08;05
Speaker 2
I don't know what it needs to be. Maybe it's the fog of the book. Put away the two teacups or put back the tip.
00;21;08;08 - 00;21;09;21
Speaker 1
Hey look, can we edit that?
00;21;09;21 - 00;21;12;17
Speaker 2
I want it to sound better. Wait. No, I need to be authentic here.
00;21;12;17 - 00;21;14;09
Speaker 1
Yeah. No. Rewind. Put the.
00;21;14;09 - 00;21;34;22
Speaker 2
Teacups back. Yeah. That was such a great, message. I wonder if that's part of your life message. I'm a part of a group right now. It's a bunch of preachers, and, beautiful woman. Her preaching school and she asked us what our what is our life message? And I feel like your message actually is similar to mine.
00;21;34;22 - 00;22;11;01
Speaker 2
And it was to overcome the lie of just. Yeah. So I remember the Lord giving me that thought, because there was so much in my limiting mindset and narrative that I was saying to myself that you're just the youngest in the family. You're. When I went to college in, Missouri, there was a lot of, opportunities for me to be on the bulletins or on the paraphernalia to show people what Evangel University was all about, and they had to pick me because they needed a token Asian.
00;22;11;01 - 00;22;32;22
Speaker 2
Right. So I would even say to myself, you're just the token Asian. Yeah, you're. And then I married Caleb, my husband, who's, you know, three generations pastor. Yeah. You're just Caleb's wife. That's why you got invited. And then the Lord spoke to me very clearly. You need to overcome that live just. And that limiting belief that you are just this.
00;22;32;22 - 00;22;49;29
Speaker 2
I created you on purpose. For a purpose with purpose. Knowing that your voice needed to come out in a time where there needed to be some more brown voices and and maybe a little girl who has a little bit of a fighting spirit because she was the youngest. I created you that way on purpose, and you were a tomboy.
00;22;50;01 - 00;23;14;11
Speaker 2
That's part of your. That's part of who I created you for. Yeah. To be. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Boldly. Overcoming to live. Just put back the teacups. Just be your authentic self. There's so much power and authenticity, and I'm really, feeling that that's going to unlock something for somebody here today. Talk to me about your passion for unlocking, what women have in them.
00;23;14;11 - 00;23;37;18
Speaker 1
Yeah, I just I just think that the design that God made man and women, and he made us both uniquely designed. But then he also made every individual person with such a unique design, unique to a facet of himself that he actually wants to display on the earth. Oh, it's actually really powerful. And it's it, it's really harmful when we negate that.
00;23;37;18 - 00;24;00;23
Speaker 1
When I negate who I am because of all these, all these environmental things or what I'm seeing on Instagram or what I'm seeing that I'm not, it's actually really powerful because we will only ever, the fullness of how God created us will only ever happen within his design. So when we are operating in his design, that's when we experience the fullness.
00;24;00;26 - 00;24;23;28
Speaker 1
But when we're operating outside of that, that's when we start to go like, I just like, I'm I'm not living, I'm not alive. I don't know who I am. And all these things that we have to come into his design, which there's there's so many aspects of his design, but we're all design uniquely. And one of the things I'm so passionate about, because I've had to go on this journey of figuring out like, hey, there's a, there's a spark in my heart.
00;24;24;01 - 00;24;41;27
Speaker 1
There's something I remember when I was 15 years old, there was a spark for something around young women, but I didn't know. And I went and I wrote my journal. I told my best friend and I was like, we have to do something about young women, and I want to start this foundation. And I wrote it all out with my best friend Sarah.
00;24;41;29 - 00;25;03;21
Speaker 1
And, but then I didn't know where to go from there, and I, I was looking at the church, and, I was just hoping that, like, some mama bear or father figure would come and just help. Like, help show me, like, hey, how do I go from here to even being more of who I'm created to be and unlocking more of what's in my heart?
00;25;03;24 - 00;25;28;08
Speaker 1
I was also really timid. Like really, really, really timid. Like, you probably wouldn't know that about me today because so much has been unlocked in me. But I was so timid, I would literally cry if somebody asked me to speak in front of anybody. I remember sharing from a camp, like a testimony at a camp, and I could not hardly get the words out because I was so, like, just petrified of speaking in front of people.
00;25;28;10 - 00;25;50;02
Speaker 1
Fast forward to today, like I've preached sermons, I have spoke on stage and all those things. But but there is a there's a process that we have to go on and we had to grow through. And sometimes we just need we need the right people. We need the right tools and the right steps to really go like, hey, where do I go from here?
00;25;50;05 - 00;26;06;10
Speaker 1
I am a I'm a person with, I believe, leadership in my heart, with a spark in my heart for more, for impact, for something that the Lord has spoken to me, something that I feel like is on my life. I'm trying to figure out, is it is it not? You know, there's that that wrestle of like, did I get it right?
00;26;06;10 - 00;26;22;23
Speaker 1
Did I get it wrong? And you just need we just need people to come alongside and be like, hey, you know what? I've been here and I'm going to come alongside you and I want to help unlock whatever that thing is. I want to unlock your voice. I think one of the things that gets women is really the spirit of timidity.
00;26;22;23 - 00;26;38;29
Speaker 1
Yeah, the Lord says, for I have not given you a spirit of timidity, but of love, power, and a sound mind. But I think, especially with women, one of the things that the enemy loves to bind is our voices. Yes, with the spirit of timidity. This is something I've been talking to a couple girls about recently, and I'm like, man, we have to.
00;26;39;01 - 00;26;43;23
Speaker 1
We have to say no to the spirit of timidity so that we can unlock your voice.
00;26;43;23 - 00;26;44;08
Speaker 2
Yes.
00;26;44;08 - 00;27;01;27
Speaker 1
And it just matters. And so I'm I'm so passionate about helping, people figure out, hey, there's there's something in my heart, and I. That's all that I know. Where do I go from here? Or maybe you're down the road a little bit and you're like, hey, there is something in my heart. And I'm pretty sure it's pretty sure it's legitimate.
00;27;02;01 - 00;27;22;00
Speaker 1
I just, I just need to grow. Or maybe you're a leader who's who's in a space where you're like, I'm actually in a role of leadership, right? But I also just really want to grow and I don't know where to look to figure out what is it, what is the next step toward growth for me, just where I am and how do I how do I grow from here?
00;27;22;03 - 00;27;25;10
Speaker 1
And that is what I'm. Yeah, just so passionate about unlocking.
00;27;25;10 - 00;27;48;02
Speaker 2
You're passionate about that. Would you agree or would you say that when you're helping other people unlock something in their life, something is, it's unlock you. Yeah. Oh, that's so beautiful. It just makes me think I was referring to this bracelet that I'm wearing again for this podcast. Of that, I am third. We put God first, others second, and ourself third.
00;27;48;09 - 00;27;51;28
Speaker 2
Like having that, I am third. I'm kind of partner with Holy Spirit first.
00;27;52;00 - 00;27;52;06
Speaker 1
And.
00;27;52;06 - 00;28;19;29
Speaker 2
Then partner with somebody else. And they're what happens when your third the third part gets unlocked. Yeah. But it's Holy Spirit can do that. Unlock it. Yeah. Something needs to be locked in somebody else. When you be others focus and then therefore you will be unlocked. And I just I think that that's a principle that women need to walk in, because sometimes I've seen women be the problem in women's empowerment in women and the next generation leading.
00;28;19;29 - 00;28;32;09
Speaker 2
Yeah, it's if we don't pass it on to somebody else, then, gosh, what is our legacy? It is it it's not meant for only us to be unlocked, but it's meant for the next person, the next generation to.
00;28;32;09 - 00;28;52;12
Speaker 1
Be unlocked to the Lord always. There's so much more. We have such a small way of thinking. Even when we think we've. We've grown our way of thinking like we have such a small way of thinking compared to the thoughts of the Lord and the ways of the Lord and what he will do. So he will always do more than we could ask, think, imagine, or expect.
00;28;52;15 - 00;29;13;02
Speaker 1
So he will always do more in my relationships as than I ask, think, imagine, or expect. And I mean, that's been true about you and I connecting, right? Like I'm coming in here and you're like, this is this is the Lord. And I'm going, man, this is the Lord. Because I am getting unlocked more and more in some of the things that I just know that the Lord is like, we got to go.
00;29;13;08 - 00;29;23;05
Speaker 1
We got to go do this. Yeah. And so we have a level of unlocking that's happening. So and then we're, you know, meeting with other people and it it really is. And that's like that's also the power of community.
00;29;23;05 - 00;29;23;13
Speaker 2
Yes.
00;29;23;13 - 00;29;42;27
Speaker 1
That's why we need each other. That's why we have to run with each other. That's what just friends everywhere. My friends will say a little thing even even saying like hey, I, I do see that. I could see that for you. And then I'm like, oh my gosh, maybe I could do it. Yes, maybe I can. And they're like, it feels so small, but it's so powerful.
00;29;42;27 - 00;30;05;04
Speaker 1
And that's why it's so important that we are walking with each other because it's never it's never one sided. When the Lord does, in and through us is always so much, so much more. We underestimate him all day long. Like he is so great, so big, so mighty. And he will. He will always do more than you think.
00;30;05;05 - 00;30;26;18
Speaker 2
Yeah. That's beautiful. I think that our last guest, she was very connected to the the theme of one of our women's event fashion for surrender. Yeah. And I actually think you came near the time we did a fashion for more. Yeah, yeah. And I and I think you keep on saying exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or think or imagine.
00;30;26;19 - 00;30;45;20
Speaker 2
Yeah. And I think that perhaps I think about pink for me. Try to bring it all around here. I just feel like the Holy Spirit is here though. Yeah. It's like I, that was a color that I didn't love growing up. And then now it's, it's helped me see a lot more than I could have imagined for myself.
00;30;45;22 - 00;30;52;29
Speaker 2
And then I just think that even you part of my life, we've had some meetings where it's like, hey, I think I really like you.
00;30;53;03 - 00;30;54;27
Speaker 1
Really can we are we friends?
00;30;54;28 - 00;30;56;27
Speaker 2
Are we friends? Let's make this friendship.
00;30;56;27 - 00;30;58;13
Speaker 1
What real friends are we?
00;30;58;15 - 00;31;21;28
Speaker 2
And so I, I love that that we've connected and, it has exceeded probably my expectations for other people that I've met within the church. Not. But it's better. And I'm just saying that it's like, wow, see what God can do when you're just obedient and you're showing up as your authentic self, like exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask or imagine.
00;31;21;28 - 00;31;46;14
Speaker 2
And I believe that for our women. And so I'm so thankful that you've said yes to, being a part of sisterhood, to whatever capacity you can be. Because I believe for our sisterhood that there is more. Yeah. Yes. We're fashion for more. And he wants to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask maker about. And so I think that's a little bit of a theme with the pink, with friendship and sisterhood community.
00;31;46;14 - 00;32;08;15
Speaker 2
I just think that he wants to do more, and I believe that for girlfriend. So yeah, I really, I believe that he trusts you, I trust you, and I just want to keep on affirming and blessing all that you are putting your hand to. Yeah. Because, it's necessary. And women need that. The next generation of women need us to show up.
00;32;08;15 - 00;32;26;23
Speaker 2
And I think some of us have been resentful because other women haven't shown up for us. But instead of being resentful and bitter, we're saying, hey, let's be what we want, what we want it. Yeah, I'm not even aware of that. You're sorry? Yeah. You've had people speak in your life, but it's like, man, let's just show up for this next generation.
00;32;26;23 - 00;32;29;04
Speaker 2
Yeah. Generations are our goal. Yeah.
00;32;29;07 - 00;32;51;27
Speaker 1
And move towards them. I think we get we get in our heads. We get wrapped up in our own lives. So much so that, like, we have to move towards people. We do have to move towards the next generation. Like we shouldn't just wait for people to come to us like they need the moms and big sisters and, even friends investing in friends like that is that's just the Lord.
00;32;51;27 - 00;33;14;13
Speaker 1
That's his design. And and sometimes we just have to get past just the uncomfortability or even the fear of, do I even have anything to offer? I just move towards like the Lord. He's the one who's going to do the work. Yeah, the Lord will do the work. We just got to move towards people, you know, and it's it is necessary for legacy, for the future, for like, we need to move towards each other.
00;33;14;13 - 00;33;35;05
Speaker 2
Yeah. That's beautiful. Two things, two questions. If you were to recommend a book, I would like to do this on the Sisterhood podcast. If you were to recommend a book, for women, maybe something having to do with women, maybe have something to do with leadership. Next generation. I don't know what it might be, but what? Or maybe having something to do with your life message.
00;33;35;08 - 00;33;42;16
Speaker 2
What book would you recommend? What book would you write? Oh, that's a good.
00;33;42;19 - 00;33;43;13
Speaker 2
I was really proud of it.
00;33;43;18 - 00;33;57;19
Speaker 1
Is there is one I could answer the book that you'd write. It probably just depends on where someone's at. There's a really, really great biography. By, Catherine Coleman, called daughters of Destiny.
00;33;57;19 - 00;33;59;22
Speaker 2
Bro. It's on my desk right now.
00;33;59;22 - 00;34;00;28
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah, you got a.
00;34;01;05 - 00;34;01;21
Speaker 2
Beautiful.
00;34;01;21 - 00;34;18;03
Speaker 1
To read it. Daughters, daughters of Destiny and I. What I love so much about reading about people who've gone before us. You see, these great leaders of history and and you read their biography and you're like, oh, you were actually just a broken human being who kept moving towards the Lord.
00;34;18;07 - 00;34;19;00
Speaker 2
Yes.
00;34;19;02 - 00;34;42;02
Speaker 1
And you weren't. This, like, divine, somehow supernatural, special person who figured everything out and was perfect in all their ways. You were actually just a broken human being who moved towards the Lord, and what he did in your life was exceedingly, abundantly more than you could have asked or imagine. I'm like, oh, I'm a broken human being. Yeah, choosing to continue to move towards the Lord.
00;34;42;02 - 00;34;58;04
Speaker 1
Yeah, move towards his people. And he's going to do exceedingly, abundantly more. And in the book I would write. So when he was thinking about this today, I would write a book called This is So Funny. And it's a whole story. We probably don't have time for it, but, I would write a book called Ride the Book.
00;34;58;06 - 00;35;19;10
Speaker 1
And it's so silly. It's actually a phrase me and my best friend say to each other. She actually mistranslated a voice memo I got, which was a voice memo from someone prophesying that I needed to write a book, and my best friend misheard it and she said, yeah, Jessica Gilstrap right at the book. And I was like, that's not what she said.
00;35;19;10 - 00;35;39;08
Speaker 1
But it became this, like prophetic declaration, because what I've done in my life is I have chosen to engage the seasons, and I've chosen to ride instead of stay back, and I've chosen to go, hey, this is a little wild. It's a little crazy. Sometimes it's a little painful, sometimes it's a little hard. But I am choosing to ride and I'm choosing to ride the book because that is.
00;35;39;08 - 00;36;02;05
Speaker 1
And that's where the Lord has really just brought the momentum of my life. That is how my life has moved forward when I've chosen to ride and not just wait on the sidelines and not dig in and not go. And so every time I'm up against a season where I'm like, wrestling with maybe the fear of man or the fear of jumping, my best friend and I will look at each other and we'll just be like, ride the buck.
00;36;02;05 - 00;36;03;18
Speaker 1
Like you gotta ride the book.
00;36;03;18 - 00;36;04;19
Speaker 2
So just let.
00;36;04;19 - 00;36;08;20
Speaker 1
The book ride the bus. Jessica Gilstrap but he's still my title ride.
00;36;08;20 - 00;36;14;10
Speaker 2
Getting right in that book right now. We are going to send this in to whoever copyrighted these things.
00;36;14;10 - 00;36;15;07
Speaker 1
Totally.
00;36;15;09 - 00;36;37;12
Speaker 2
Thank you for trusting the sister and sister. Don't you dare take that title because it is so yours and so yours. But I, I love both books because that one will become a book. But daughters of Destiny, I just feel like it went right in line with what we're talking about. Yeah. Just, you know, God takes us from glory to glory, and he can only be glorified when we admit that we're weak and that we are in need of him.
00;36;37;12 - 00;37;03;14
Speaker 2
Yeah. So glory to glory that is your destiny. We're just broken people making our way up to the father. So. Oh, what a beautiful recommendation. What a beautiful thing that he's doing in you. I'm so happy to have introduced the women to you. I know that a lot of women already know you here, but I just believe that there's much in you that you are to deposit in the women in our community and beyond.
00;37;03;14 - 00;37;20;11
Speaker 2
I mean, I'm talking beyond, so, so I'm so, I'm proud to know you, and I'm grateful for friendship. And I know this is just the beginning. Yes. So, let's go in our hot pink and our, books and all the things. Yeah.
00;37;20;11 - 00;37;22;27
Speaker 1
If anybody needs a cup, I have 14. Okay. You know.
00;37;22;27 - 00;37;41;24
Speaker 2
My goodness, I feel like there has to be another part to you, because I believe that God can do more. And and through the and co and, sister, his sisterhood is here to, edify you along the way. So we just love you so much, Jessica. Thank you for all that you are and who you are. Yeah.
00;37;41;26 - 00;37;47;21
Speaker 2
Who you've been in my life already. Just showing up as yourself has been and meant a lot to me already.
00;37;47;21 - 00;37;50;02
Speaker 1
So, I love you so much.
00;37;50;02 - 00;37;52;04
Speaker 2
You so much. Oh, my goodness, that's so.
00;37;52;08 - 00;37;53;19
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah. So fun.
00;37;53;19 - 00;38;07;22
Speaker 2
Sisterhood. I'm so glad that you got to hear this podcast episode. You'll probably see Jessica at our next women's events, because she's going to do some stage communication for us. All right, ladies, see you next time. Bye bye.