BONUS // Real and Authentic Friendships with Jess Johnston

Today Laura Leigh concludes the summer season, “Hope in the Light”, with an encouraging word to carry us into the fall season. In this episode she reads the last day of the Rise Collective study, “Hope & Holiness- a Study through the Book of 1 Peter”, bringing scripture to the forefront of this season’s end, and giving you a parting word of the living hope in the name of Jesus.  She closes it out with a prayer over you and this generation to step into their identity as children of the most high God- living lives of holiness in Him. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13 Hope & Holiness - Bible Study Join the Rise Collective Women Online Community Subscribe to the Email List Survey Link

In this episode we are talking about all things creativity and art—from the theology of God as a creator to the Holy Spirit empowering artists. Today I sit down with my friend Corinne who is a talented writer and integral member of our church. We discuss the darkness that Jesus delivered her from into His light, the impact of teachers and mentorship in encouraging our gifts, and the Renaissance community here in NYC. Corinne shares about the journey of the Renaissance community, the beauty she has seen in the artists there, and what it looks like to be a redemptive artist in your work even if it’s not explicitly about faith. Laura Leigh and Corinne describe times they’ve been encouraged by the Holy Spirit working through the hands of artists they know, and Corinne encourages us all to be creative—no matter our professions. Learn more about Renaissance and find them on Instagram @creative.nyc Find Corinne on Instagram @corinnemorgan_ Hope & Holiness - Bible Study - Download Here Join the Rise Collective Women Online Community Subscribe to the Email List

Today we continue our series with a focus on leading well and the humility that produces perseverance when Jesus is at the center. In this episode, Laura Leigh sits down with Faith Eury Cho, founder of the Honor Summit – a ministry dedicated to centering and empowering young Asian American women in the church.  We talk about Faith’s incredible story of how she came to know Jesus and her journey into her calling as a pastor and shepherd in the Church throughout her 17 years of ministry. We dive into her experience as an Asian American woman in the Church, and she gives us encouragement of what it looks like to lead in a time such as this. She talks about faith in the waiting, the weight of leadership, how to stay strong in ministry, and her hope for young AAPI women in the Church. LINKS:  Hope & Holiness - Bible Study - Download Here Join the Email List Join the Rise Collective Women Online Community Follow Faith @faitheurycho and @thehonorsummit on Instagram

This is an episode about finding healing in Christ. Today on the podcast Laura Leigh sits down with her friend and fellow Broadway performer, Amanda Jane Cooper.  You may know Amanda from the Broadway and National Tour of Wicked where she played the role of Glinda. In this episode, Amanda shares her testimony of coming to know and love Jesus, and the eternal hope she has found in surrendering her life to Him. They dive into her journey walking through deep struggles and suffering, and the power of Christ in bringing her into freedom.  Laura Leigh and Amanda spend time talking about their mutual struggle with body image, and how God has been faithful to bring them from the dark and into His light. Amanda shares more of what her journey to healing has looked like and the role of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit in reclaiming what God has called good. We are praying this conversation is helpful in knowing that you are not alone.  We also hope that it is  encouraging as Amanda shares her journey to freedom in the name of Jesus and how God rescued her from a way of life that she thought she might have to just manage forever. // In producing this episode there were prayerful steps taken in an effort to go above reproach with handling this topic of conversation respectfully and tenderly.  Do know that we get into some vulnerable details in sharing our stories of freedom from destructive patterns related to body image. Resources for recovery: Jess Connolly’s book, Breaking Free From Body Shame Revelation Wellness  Online Christian Counseling Onsite Workshops

Today on the podcast I sat down with both friend and pastor Ashley Anderson.  Ashley pastors at Church of the City New York and is someone who I respect and honor as a sister in Christ, as a communicator and teacher of God’s Word  and as a shepherd and leader in the Church. Today we are talking about Biblical suffering and how Jesus, the suffering servant, is the ultimate example for us as His followers.  Ashley shares some story from her journey following Jesus and the surrender that has led to life and the passion she has for helping people walk in obedience to Jesus. We lean into breaking ties with sin, the companionship of Christ in suffering, endurance through faith, and the glory of God that is on display as we entrust ourselves to him amidst the suffering. DOWNLOAD HOPE & HOLINESS STUDY HERE Join the Rise Collective Women Online Community Subscribe to the Email List

One of the greatest gifts we’ve been given by God is relationship. Relationship with Him and life lived in relationship with others In today’s episode we talk about the humility of Christ and how the love of God seen through the Gospel demonstrates for us how to love in relationships. Judy shares stories from her journey following God and how walking with Jesus has guided her understanding of how to love freely and sacrificially. Having been married for over 30 years, Judy speaks into the Biblical principle of mutual submission in relationships and in marriage.  Judy and Laura Leigh lean into the wisdom from the book of 1 Peter Chapter 3 bringing insight on what it means to serve one another in love and how in doing so we are showing the world around us the beauty of Christ. Hope & Holiness - Bible Study - DOWNLOAD INTRO WEEK Join the Rise Collective Women Online Community Subscribe to the Email List

In today’s episode Olivia and Laura Leigh are diving into spiritual parenting and the role spiritual mothers and fathers play in our lives as disciples of Jesus. Today we talk about what the Bible says about being disciples and making disciples, and the joy found in growing up into our salvation, becoming spiritual parents for others. // Olivia Munn-Shirsath is a passionate communicator of the Word, currently serving as Teaching Pastor at Wellspring Church in Queens, NY. With over a decade of frontline urban pastoral experience through the Salvation Army amidst the homelessness and recovery communities, she is well equipped to address a wide range of issues, and is convinced the Bride of Christ is the solution. Olivia is a mentor, a worship leader, and the co-author of The Uprising. “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” - 1 Peter 2:1-3 Hope & Holiness - Bible Study - DOWNLOAD INTRO WEEK Join the Rise Collective Women Online Community Subscribe to the Email List

Hi, we are so glad you’ve joined us to kick off Season Four of Living in the Light! This season will be all about Hope in the Light, offering encouragement to cling to Jesus in challenging seasons of our life. Today we sat down with RCW Assistant and Best Friend, Ánh-Mai Zubia, who is taking over the mic to ask Laura Leigh some questions. Laura Leigh dives into her heart behind starting the online community Rise Collective Women, and how its growth has glorified God and redeemed her past experiences with community. Ahn-Mai and Laura Leigh talk about what’s coming next with Rise Collective and how it ties into the podcast, and what you can expect in Season Four. Together they dive into what it looks like to be fearless in God, and how the Lord is teaching that to Laura Leigh in this season, as well as what it looks like to be justified by grace. They wrap up with a reminder about the power of the Bible and what it can teach us all about how Jesus lived in community, and how we can, too. Join the Rise Collective Women Online Community Subscribe to the Email List Rise Collective 1 Peter Bible Study ONLINE SIGN-UP  Rise Collective 1 Peter Bible Study NYC GROUPS SIGN-UP

Big news for you today - Season 4 is officially launching NEXT Tuesday, 7/19!  We are so excited to spend the summer with you as we talk about hope in the light. In today’s episode Laura Leigh shares about new podcast season - what to expect and how to join us in her new study - Hope & Holiness, a study through the book of 1 Peter. Next week we are kicking it off with an interview from Laura Leigh as she invites a friend to sit down and ask her some deeper questions surrounding hope in the brokenness of her own story, and various struggles that have fueled her faith in Jesus. This is our first official Rise Collective study and there are discipleship groups both ONLINE and in person in NYC.  Sign up today! ONLINE GROUPS  NYC GROUPS

Welcome back to episode 3 of our bonus season, where Laura Leigh sits down with Jess Johnston, co-author of “I’ll Be There, But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants.” In this episode, we dive into friendship, and how God provides us with community.  In the same way that Jesus calls us His friend, He calls us to be friends to those around us. Laura Leigh and Jess talk about the way online communities have shaped their own friendships, and the importance of balancing them with in-person communities. They bond over having to take that first brave step of inviting people in when you need community, and how significant humility can be in making that jump.  Jess emphasizes how special real and authentic friendships are, and explains in her own words the value of “sweatpants friends.” Join the Rise Collective Women Online Community Subscribe to the Email List Rise Collective 1 Peter Bible Study ONLINE SIGN-UP  Rise Collective 1 Peter Bible Study NYC GROUPS SIGN-UP Read the book: I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants): Finding Unfiltered Real-Life Friendships in This Crazy, Chaotic World