Listen Linda's International Women's History Month PowerHouse Panel

Host: Dr. Jacquiline Cox aka Listen Linda

Keynote Speakers: Christal Y. Scott, Dr. Rhonda Lawson, Mary L. Beal

Featured Speakers: Dr. Stacy Shepard & Lissette Hidalgo

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Something powerful is coming. When visionary women gather, the world shifts. Listen, Linda, ignites a movement that transcends borders. Dr. Jacqueline Cox, the voice that transforms stories into spotlights, brings together five extraordinary leaders. Mary Beale, called and equipped for ministry. Dr. Rhonda Lawson, empowering every business owner through the written word. Crystal Scott, guiding identity through transition and purpose. Dr. Stacey Shepherd, teaching alignment, boundaries, and obedience. Lisette Hidalgo, revolutionizing business communication. Five powerful voices, one transformational experience. March 31st, 6 p.m. Eastern, streaming globally. This is more than a panel. It's a movement. Listen, Linda.

SPEAKER_12 0:58

Listen, Linda, listen.

SPEAKER_05 1:01

Good evening, good afternoon, and good morning to those of us and those of everybody joining us from around the world. Welcome to Lisden Linda Presents, the International Women's History Month Powerhouse Panel. Amen. I am your host, Dr. Jacqueline Cox, and tonight we are not just having a conversation. We are shifting atmospheres. Amen. This is more than a panel. This is a global movement of women who have decided to rise, to rebuild, and to redefine what power looks like in real time. We are streaming right now in over 30 countries, and I want to take a moment to understand that your voice, your story, and your presence, it matters on a global scale. So wherever you are watching from, you are in the right place at the right time. Tonight is about one thing and one thing only. Being seen, being heard, and going global. Amen. Now I have the absolute honor of introducing some phenomenal women, voices that carry power, that carry purpose and transformation. So let's get into it. Now we're starting off strong with Crystal. And her topic tonight is identity, transition, growth, and purpose. Now she is about to speak to the woman who knows she's evolving, but may not fully understand what that next version of herself requires. So let's give a round of applause for my girl. I'm going to give you the floor, and I'm going to let you have your team in it again. This is one of my keynote speakers.

SPEAKER_12 3:18

And I'm giving Crystal the floor.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

My name is Crystal Watch Crystal Yvonne Scott, and my journey has been one of identity, transition, growth, and divine purpose. So I've come to understand that identity is not something fixed or handed to us at once. It is something sacred that unfolds over time. It is shaped through quiet moments of reflection, through trials and that test us, and through grace that carries us. There were seasons in my life when I had to sit in stillness and in darkness and ask myself, who am I beyond the roles I play, beyond the titles I carry, beyond the expectations placed on me? And in that searching, I didn't just find answers. I found strength. I found deeper clarity and I found a deeper connection to who I was created to be. Transition is in that I've learned is often the language of transformation. It is not comfortable, it stretches us as it should, unsettles us, and sometimes asks us to release what we once held tightly. But there is something spiritual about transition, not just the transition. It is in those and in-between spaces, and I mean the in-between spaces, you know, where sometimes you feel lost, you feel lonely. It is the in-between spaces where nothing feels certain, right? Where where what we are being shaped into the most, what once felt like breaking was often divine, becomes reconstructed. Every shift in my life, whether personal, professional, was not easy, but it was a preparation. Preparation for levels of opportunities and purpose that I could not yet see at the time, right? We don't hindsight is always 2020, but always being guided toward, right? I was always being guided toward um what I was uh being prepared to lead. I was being prepared to lead, I was being prepared to elevate. Um, so there's levels to it all. Um I believe that growth requires more than effort, right? We we we're quick to say I'm growing or in my growth stage, but it requires more than just saying I'm in my growth stage, right? It requires an effort, it requires courage, it requires faith, and it requires you to surrender. And in that surrender, we're uncomfortable sometimes, right? We're fear change, we're we're fear of um standing still or what's comfortable. But the only way that growth works is give it all the effort that you buy. And it requires, again, faith and courage, and it requires you to surrender. It asks us to outgrow old mindsets and to walk away from environments, people, places, and things that no longer nurture us or serve us. We're not always comfortable in those spaces, but it's a requirement. And also to release versions of ourselves that that no longer align with who we are or where we're going. I think that's the hardest part of growing, right? It's easy to say I'm growing or I'm in my growth stage. You don't grow if you're standing still, right? A plant does not grow by staying under the ground. So it takes some, it takes some manipulation and um and nurturing and and and releasing versions, again, of ourselves that no longer align with where we're going, or who we want to become, or who we were made to become. Growth is often invisible to the outside world, but deeply felt within the soul. I feel like growth is felt, right? You have to feel the growth. You can't just say you grow, but you feel it. It's it's a it's a soul, it's it's a soul uh transition. So um it happens in the quiet decisions, and we all know how those quiet decisions are, right? You're sitting there, you're contemplating, and you're going back and forth, but growth happens in those spaces. So embrace it. And the choice to keep going even when the path is unclear. Um, a really close person uh to me says to me, Um, you know, you believe in fixing a plane while you're building a plane while you're flying it, right? And she's like, I I need this the plane to be built for me and me to get in it. But it requires discipline. It does require you to see things that are unclear. And it does require you to build the plane while you're flying it. And I guarantee you, once it's built, as you're flying it, you'll continue to fly. So those unclear spaces, um, it requires growth. It requires to trust in the unclearity, right? It happens in the disciplined moments and the choice, again, to keep going even when the path is unclear. I stand here today as living proof that growth, no matter how uncomfortable it is, is worth it. It's worth it. And then there is purpose, divine intentional purpose. Purpose is the reason we rise when life feels heavy. It is the fire within us that refuses to be extinguished. It is not just about what we do, but about how we serve, how we love, and how we impact the lives of others around us. My purpose is rooted in creating, leading, and inspiring, using my voice, my gifts, and my businesses as vessels to uplift and empower others, not just myself. I've learned that when you truly walk in your purpose, you begin to move with alignment, with peace, and with a sense of calling that is greater than yourself. And in doing so, your life becomes a testimony that inspires others to do the same. It inspires others to step into their own. So today, I leave you with this: embrace your identity, even the parts you are still discovering. Trust your transitions, even when they don't make sense. Commit to your growth, even when it feels uncomfortable, and walk boldly, faithfully, and unapologetically in your purpose, because you are not here by accident. I'm gonna repeat that you are not here by accident, you are here with intention. So I want to thank you. I am a wine owner. Um I make wine myself. Um, I am an author, I am a singer, I am an artist. Um, and you can um also a chef, um a vegan chef. I've been vegan for about going on seven years now, um, and enjoying it. So I want to encourage you to stand in your purpose and stand in what you believe in and stand in what makes you move, not just you, but others. Um, you can find um, I'm gonna give you the link to locate me at any given time. It is Link Tree, it is L-I-N-K-T-R dot E slash Gore J D Artist. Again, I made wine. I started with three wines in the height of COVID in 2020. I now have 60 wines, um, different varietals, and a winery that is on 18 acres that um, you know, we hold events, we hold host events there and things like that. Um, but I'm happy to do what I love to do. I travel to do the wine, I travel to to uh to cook, I travel to share my art and my words. Um, I'm also an author on uh Amazon. Um, and I have another uh trilogy coming out again under the Crystal Y Scott. You can find that. But again, everything can be found on the link tree. L-I-N-K-T-R dot e-e slash gorget forward slash gorget g-or g-e-e d a r t that is gorget d-artwines on Instagram. Gorge means sip of art. So again, I was an artist and in 2020, artwork was not uh my my artwork was in galleries and it wasn't essential, but wine was. So I learned to make it and make it well. So I started with three, I now have 60 variations, and instead of you just viewing my art, you're sipping my art because each one of the wines that are created are named after art and music medium. So I thank you, Jacqueline, for having me on this panel. I love all of you ladies that are on the power on the panel. You guys are all powerhouses. Um, and I'm looking forward to seeing you all um in person and just just vibing with you all. So thank you again.

SPEAKER_05 12:42

Thank you, thank you. I hope I spelled it right now from China. I was like, oh, I hope she said it again because I couldn't hear you the first time. But yes, go visit her link tree, l-i-n-k-tr.e slash gorgeous art. Okay, that's where you can find her. 60 variations of mine. I know I got me some coming in the mail. I already know I got me a complimentary, you know, give me a couple tastes. Let me see what it tastes like. Yes, honey. Yes, I love you. I appreciate you. Thank you so much, uh, Crystal, for coming on. I'm gonna drop you down now and we're gonna take maybe like a two, three-minute break before we bring on our next guest. Stacey, get it together because we know you're gonna come on here and show us what he's working with in two minutes, okay? Let's just, I'm gonna play um a video from one of our sponsors, and we will be right back.

SPEAKER_14 13:51

It's messy, it's unpredictable, but baby, it's necessary because sometimes God doesn't calm the storm. He teaches you how to dance in it. He shows you that every drop that hits your life with watering isn't even just plant. The rain isn't just another devotion, it's a journey of transformation. 30 points, 30 seconds. What feel the kind of thing that only comes after old appears ago? This anthology is for every woman who's ever cried herself to sleep and still showed up in the morning with worship on her lips. It's for the believer who feels unseen, unheard, and undone, but keeps believing anyway. So I ask you, when the thunder rolls and the rain won't stop, will you curse it or will you find God in it coming soon? Can you stand the rain?

SPEAKER_05 15:38

Yes, and that was through the rain, the anthology and devotional. You can find that on Amazon, okay? Next, we have Dr. Stacy Shepherd. Now, her topic is becoming her, the power of alignment, boundaries, and obedience. Now, listen, this is for the woman who is tired, Lord God, of porn from an empty place. She's going to challenge you to align your life, protect your peace, and walk boldly in obedience, even when it is uncomfortable. Let's welcome her to the stage. Amen, amen, amen.

SPEAKER_04 16:20

Good evening, everyone. Good evening, good morning, good afternoon.

SPEAKER_05 16:28

Amen. Amen. I am going to drop down, give you the mic, girl, and let you do your thing.

SPEAKER_04 16:34

Amen. Amen. All right. I am so excited uh to be with you all tonight. And I am very excited to share space with such amazing, amazing women. Do you hear me? So excited for all that you are doing, um, Dr. Cox. Like this is really amazing, and my heart is truly grateful. I am Dr. Stacey Shepard. I am the CEO of Arise Now and she leads educational consultant. I am the host of the podcast, uh, note from the principal's desk, where I educate parents, families, the communities about the things that are happening in our schools. Why am I able to do that? Because I am also a middle school principal with 20 years of educational experience coming in June. I am also an author, the author of Finding Beauty in Shattered Glass. I am a breast cancer survivor. Yes, three years, three years, three years breast cancer survivor. Um, I am a mom of two, and I am an ordained pastor. Do you hear me? So why am I able to talk to you about becoming her and the power that you must have when it comes to alignment, boundaries, and obedience? Is because you just heard my whole background, right? And because of those things, right, I had to learn and learn fairly quickly how to protect myself, how to protect my peace, how to make sure and ensure that I was in alignment with the will of God for my life. My goodness, I'm gonna try not to preach to y'all tonight, okay? And so because I have such a love for women, a love for children, a love for educating and making sure that we all make it, that we all stay in alignment with and walk in obedience to what God is calling us to do. We got to talk about this topic tonight, okay? So, first thing I want to talk about when it comes to becoming, and I want to be very clear when I say this, and that's another thing I'm very real and raw, is how they name me in the church, okay? So, one thing I want to be clear when I say becoming, when I talk about becoming her, I'm talking about becoming you, not becoming somebody else. My goodness. I have to start off that way because a lot of times social media has made it so easy to look at the highlight reels of other people's lives, and then we say, Well, we want this and we want that, and I want to know what they're doing, and I want to do what they're doing. And I saw that they made it rich in 30 and 30 days or 30 minutes, and I want that, I want that, I want that, I want that, right? But guess what? You wanting someone else's life is coveting, and that, my friend, is not what we want. Why is that not what we want? Because you do not know the cross that they had to bear in order to get the things that they have, my God. And so when you are walking in alignment, when you are walking in obedience, when you set those boundaries and when you are becoming her, her, the person that God created you to be, right? When you are becoming her, you therefore are going to walk in who God already called you to be. You're gonna walk in that calling without apology, you're gonna walk in that calling without delay, and you're gonna walk in that calling without compromise. And the thing that's happening with a lot of women that I am seeing is some of us are not stuck because of the lack of potential. We are stuck because we are out of alignment with the will of God for our life. We are stuck because we don't have the boundaries in place that we should have in place to protect our peace. We are stuck because we keep delaying our obedience. When God says go, you gotta go. When he says move, you gotta move. He says stop talking, stop talking. Because even if you delay the obedience, it's still disobedience, no matter how you want to wrap that thing up in the bow. And so we got to make sure that in becoming her, that we are doing and walking in the will of God for our life. My bad. I'm so sorry if I'm coming out so strong, y'all, but I just feel this thing. And anytime I get a chance to talk to women around the world, I'm going to take that chance to make sure that you feel it so that you can make change in your life. All right, point number one when it comes to alignment. Alignment is about being in position with God's will, not our emotions. Hey, a lot of times we allow our emotions to drive decisions for us. We we allow our emotions to to to to to make the decisions. And guess what? It messes us up every single time. It messes us up every single time because we already know what happens when you're emotional. We already know that you're not thinking straight, you're not making sound decisions, and that's why God tells us not to rely on those emotions, but we have to be positioned to be able to hear his voice so that we know what his will is for us. You understand? And so sometimes when it comes to alignment, going back to what I said about the social media and everybody wanting to follow the trends and what everybody else is doing, sometimes everything that feels good isn't God. Everything that looks good is not a part of the Alignment that is there for your life. And so that can put you in a situation where you're chasing after things and opportunities and titles and people, and you find yourself out of alignment. And the longer you find yourself out of alignment, guess what happens? You delay what it is that God has for you. He's trying to put you in a mansion, but because you keep chasing after everything but what he's telling you to do, you are delaying what it is that he's going to, he's trying to give you. And so I hear people talk about alignment all the time. Women that I coach talk about, we talk about alignment, but I really need people to fully understand what it means when we say alignment. Alignment is about being in position with God's will, not your emotions. You understand me? There are going to be seasons in your life where you're moving, but you're not aligned. I can testify to that, even with all the titles and everything else that I have. That's why titles don't move me. Because at the end of the day, I'm still a woman, I'm still a mom, I still go through challenges and different situations and contingent upon my oil and my cup and the role that God has me on. Then guess what? There are some warfare and battles that I have to deal with. Let's just be frank. I don't want to, right? But there were seasons in my life where I was moving, but I was not in alignment. And movement without alignment will have you busy. My goodness. And that's what you see happening right now. People are too busy and they're not fruitful. And when you're not fruitful, you're not getting anything, you're not doing anything, you're not adding value to anything. It's just because I wanted a title and I wanted a platform. My goodness, I know that I am talking better than your amens. Okay. All right. Moving on to point two, which is on boundaries. All right. Boundaries is something that comes up a lot, but it is also where a lot of people struggle, men and women, but particularly our women, we struggle when it comes to boundaries. And let me tell you, you are not going to become her if you consistently keep giving access to people and patterns that don't match who you're becoming. That is why you have to be in alignment with God so that you can understand, you can understand what He has for you. Then you don't link yourself up with people who are not for you. You fall out of those pair patterns that so easily beset us, be beset us because guess what? It's not matching who we are becoming. Boundaries are for our protection. And a lot of us, a lot of us are drained, not because we are doing too much, y'all, but it's because we're allowing too much. We are allowing too much to enter in, we're allowing too much to go on, we're allowing too much in our ear gates, too many people in our ear gates about what it is that we should or should not be doing. And guess what? When you put and allow people's voice to be louder than that of God's, you find yourself in a mess. My goodness. And so boundaries are very important so that you don't become drained. When you start doing too much, you become drained. And what happens when you become drained? Now you can't think straight. Now you just again making decisions off of emotions, not what it is that God has purposed for you to do, right? We cannot women keep answering every call in 2026. We cannot say yes to every single thing. We cannot keep showing up the places and then shrinking when we walk into the room. If God sent you there, baby, you supposed to be there. You understand that? If God opens the door, you walk through that thing boldly. Don't get in there and shrink because of who's in there or what they're wearing and the titles that they have. We have to stop shrinking ourselves, women, because we are one of the we are the most educated population there is. You hear me? So we don't have to shrink ourselves when we walk into a God-given space. It's when we don't walk into the spaces that God has for us that we begin to confuse ourselves, and that is where our becoming is impacted. My goodness. So let me be very, very clear. Very clear. Everybody can't go where God is taking you. Everybody cannot go where God is taking you. And that is why boundaries are so important on your road to becoming her. You cannot take everyone with you. I don't care if they was with you in the beginning, when you were stuck like Chuck. I don't care if they donated and gave you a hundred dollars to get started on your first business venture for your LLC or whatever it is. I do not care. When God says the season is up, guess what, my friends? The season is up. You have to set boundaries on your road to becoming. Obedience. And this is where a lot of people mess up, and this is where a lot of stuff is delayed for people is because they are not obedient. Obedience is the bridge between where you are and who you are called to be. If you are trying to become, and then you're becoming her to get to her, you are going to have to bridge that bridge between where you are and who you're called to be. And the way you bridge that bridge and that gap is through obedience, not partial disobedience, not partial obedience. And I said that in the beginning because partial obedience is still disobedience. When you delay obedience, you still are disobedient. When you um don't look at obedience as being convenient for you, well, you know, I don't really want to write nails, not the time, still disobedience. And guess what? The thing about obedience for those women who are becoming and who have already become her, guess what? They had to be uncomfortable and did in obedience because it is very uncomfortable sometimes to be obedience. Obedient, it's very uncomfortable for God to tell you to do a thing and nobody else can see the vision or understand why you're doing a thing, and yet you got to step out there on faith with that thing. Let me be clear obedience when nobody else understands can be hard, but you are not seeking the validation of man or anyone else, you are only seeking the validation of God because, honey, when he puts his stamp of approval on you, when he puts his favor on you, and the devil in hell or no other person gonna be able to stop what it is that God is doing in your life. Let me be clear, and so I have seen what it looks like when you try to do things on your own. Hello, I try to do plenty of things on my own, and I know exactly what it looked like and what it came out to be a hot mess. And so I had to learn obedience, I had to learn that although it was uncomfortable, it didn't make sense to me or anybody else, that I must stay in alignment with the will of God for my life. And because I've seen what it looks like, I don't try to do things on my own anymore, I don't make emotional decisions anymore, I don't go out there forcing doors anymore, I don't go out there holding on to things longer than I should. You gotta let it go because your obedience will position you for doors that you don't have to force. My goodness, and my last point, guys, as I close this out for you. If you are serious about becoming her, you gotta ask yourself three things where am I out of alignment? What boundaries do I need to set immediately? And what has God already told me to do that I keep delaying? Lord, what's the last thing that you told me to do? All right, so becoming her is not just a moment, y'all. It is a decision. You have to decide that you're gonna walk in alignment, you have to decide that you're going to protect your peace and set boundaries. You have to decide that you're going to obey and be obedient, even when that thing stretches you. All right. And when you do that, my friends, guess what? Then you will look like her who you were called to be. I am Dr. Stacey Shepherd, CEO of Arise Now, and she leads educational consultant. If you want to find out more about me, just visit my website at www.arisenowlc.com. Thank you so much, Dr. Cox, for having me on this amazing panel. Thank you all for tuning in. I speak nothing but blessings over you. Thank you. Girl, you better come on up on the outside over here screaming.

SPEAKER_05 30:34

Like, girl, you better tell the cost of becoming. See, I'm gonna let the world know she better be up in this anthology, baby. She is reading everything I was talking about and the cost of becoming. Amen. You done told the people, girl, you got the people standing up screaming, amen. You done told them what it's a decision. That's it. Now you better tell the Dr. Smith Perkins, yes, honey. That is it. If you all need to follow Dr. Stacey Shepard, amen. Go to www.arisenowlc.com. Thank you, Dr. Shepherd. You better call me her friend. You better come up and form immediately. Amen. Thank you, thank you, thank you. That was for no. She done told the people what time it was. She brought people in the room. And then now, before we get to our next guest, ooh, she got look, she done she got me sweating out my hair. I gotta go. Ooh, I gotta go put a color to it, amen. She got me over here hoping to scream. You better tell them about the cost of coming, Lord Jesus. Amen. I'm gonna play one video. I'm gonna give grandma Mary some time to come in the room. And so I'm going to play. Let's do listen listen. So we got a three-minute break, three minutes and 33 seconds. Amen. We're gonna wait on grandma Mary to come back in and then we will continue on.

SPEAKER_11 32:06

So we've been watching you try to hold it all together. And we're here to remind you who you are. I don't know somebody, just a bad. I don't think everyone happy why you fall in.

SPEAKER_05 35:41

All right, that was Listen Linda from my debut album, Listen Linda. Streaming on all platforms worldwide. If you want to get the vinyl or the CD, you can just go to www.listenlindapresents one dot com. All my music is there. Um next, you know, we was waiting on Grandma Mary to come in, but she had she's having technical difficulties, so we're gonna move right along. Maybe she'll come on after our next guest, which we have Dr. Rhonda Lawson. Now, Dr. Rhonda Lawson, her topic is why every business owner needs a book. Now, this is for the visionary, the entrepreneur, the leader who knows there's more inside of them that needs to be documented and shared. Your story is not just your story, it's your strategy. So let's welcome Dr. Rhonda Lawson to the stage. Hey man, my girlfriend.

SPEAKER_06 36:34

Hey girl, only you, Dr. Jackie. You didn't give me any hands up that I was coming next, but that's okay because I love you.

SPEAKER_05 36:45

But grandma, I'm talking about my grandma. Grandma Mary is having technical difficulties, so we had to move right along to the next. It's okay, it's okay. Hey girl, you look good, girl. I'm gonna drop down, I'm gonna give you the floor and let you do your thing, everybody. Welcome, my girl, Dr. Ronda Lawson.

SPEAKER_06 37:07

Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Good evening, everybody. My name is Dr. Rhonda Lawson, and I am the owner of Meet the World Image Solutions and founder of the Black History Month Literary Weekend. And as Dr. Jackie said, I'm here to talk to you about why every business owner needs a book. So, first of all, thank you, Dr. Jackie, for inviting me onto your platform tonight. I am honored to be here and I'm honored to talk to all of you tonight. And um, talking about why every business owner needs a book is one of my favorite topics to discuss. Um, because I'm always so surprised at how many business owners there are who don't have a book. And the reason why I'm so surprised is because I talk to so many business owners, and you all are probably one of those business owners who is frustrated because you're sitting at home, you're cranking through putting together content, you are probably DMing people, you're probably trying to um hold it together, trying to keep your business afloat, and then somebody calls you. It could be a family member, it could be a friend, it could be your saur, whoever it is, your cousin and them, and they say, Can I pick your brain for a minute? I just need to know how did you do it, or how do you do such and such? Or maybe they'll ask you, um, maybe maybe you're a nail tech, could you do my nails for me on for Saturday? Because I have a ball coming up, or something like that. And they're basically trying to pick your brain for free. But as I always say, pick brains don't pay bills. So what happens is you because you're being nice, because you don't want to be a gatekeeper, because you you're trying to be there for everybody, you say yes, I'll help you. And so you are trying to rob Peter to pay Paul, you're trying to take every bit of energy you have because you're trying to help, you're trying to be there for that person, for that friend, for that cousin, or whatever, and you put yourself on the backbone, and now you're tired and you're frustrated, but that person has taken that knowledge that you've given to them for free, and they've started their business. They are now living their best life, and now you need help, and they say, Oh girl, I can't help you, or yeah, I'm I I know you helped me, but see, now I have to get my business going, so I'm gonna have to charge you. But you didn't charge them for that knowledge that you gave away for free, so that's what happens. So, what I always tell business owners is to take all of that knowledge, all of that work that you put into your business, all of that work that you did to get where you are today and put it into a book. Not because you're trying to be a gatekeeper, because you can take that knowledge and you can monetize it, and you can now make money while you're asleep. So instead of helping two, three, four people with all of that knowledge, you can now help 20, 30, 40 people with one book. How about something like 10 tips on starting a wine business? Because I know that there was um there's somebody on the show who started a wine company, a winery. There's somebody on the show who is an ordained minister, there's some there's um somebody on the show who started a magazine. Why not take the knowledge that you have for starting that magazine and show somebody else how to start a magazine? But now you are monetizing that because maybe I want to start my own magazine one day and I don't know how to do it, but because I saw how you're successful in starting your magazine, instead of asking you to give me all of that knowledge for free, or all of that knowledge just for maybe a$2 cup of coffee, because now people think, okay, well, I'm not gonna ask you to do it for free. I'm gonna I'll just buy you a cup of coffee because that's a that's a good exchange. I can just maybe pay five dollars for your book and or ten dollars for your book or fifteen dollars for your book, and now I'm pouring into you and I'm pouring into myself at the same time. Does that make sense? I think it makes sense, and now somebody else buys the book, and somebody else buys the book, and somebody else buys the book. Now you are making money for your business, and that person is building their business, and you both win. That's the way I like to teach my clients how they can make money while they're asleep, how they can monetize their knowledge without having to spin their wheels, without having to um just just like my sister said just a little earlier, trying to do everything for everybody, and now you're exhausted because you're doing everything and not aligning yourself with your purpose because you're trying to help too many people. And I'm I'm saying this from experience because I was that person who was trying to help every single person. I was trying to be that nice person, I was trying to be that helpful person, I was trying to be that person who was trying to be everything to everybody, and I'm continually putting myself on the back burner. And if you look at a stove, a stove only has a certain amount of burners, and if you keep putting yourself on the back burner, eventually you're going to put yourself off of the stove, and you're going to cool off while everybody else is heating up. You can't keep doing that to yourself. So I say all of this to say put yourself, keep yourself on the stove. Put that knowledge, that all of that great knowledge that you have into a book. Put it into a pot, turn that fire all the way up. And it doesn't. It doesn't have to be a 10 tips on how you did this. It doesn't have to be uh your memoir, so to speak. It can be so many different things. You can actually even do a whole series on what it is that you do. And then you can take that one book and monetize it in so many different ways. You can take that book and turn it into a course. You can take that course and make it into a YouTube channel that can that can continue to be monetized. And so now you can take you can take the all those different things and it's it's turning into money for you. You can turn those um all of those different channels into speaking engagements, and now you're getting paid to speak. And so, and all of that because you decided to finally sit down and put yourself first, and you've turned that little knowledge that you had that you were giving away for free, you've turned it into four different streams of income. You want to learn how to do it? This is what I do. This is this is what I do. I teach business owners how to turn their knowledge into income for themselves, how to turn their knowledge into books, and how to turn those books into multiple pieces of income so that they don't have to continue to trade their time for money. Oh, thank you. This is this is what I want to be able to do for you. So I'm not gonna keep you long, but I just wanted to be able to drop that on your spirit. So if this is something that you would like to do, if you would like to turn your knowledge into a book and then turn that book into different strings of income, talk to me. You can find me on my website, www.mtwimage solutions.com. You can also find me on all of my websites. I mean, I'm I'm on all the social media. I'm even on Pinterest now. I'm doing Pinterest, me doing Pinterest. And the reason why I'm able to do Pinterest now is because I've learned how to take one piece of content and repurpose it into different pieces of content on for different platforms. I even teach my clients how to do that as well. So you want to learn how to do that? Just come find me on my website. It's right here on the screen www.mtwimage solutions.com. Thank you so much. Told you I wasn't gonna say it before you long, but I just needed to drop that on your spirit. Thank you so much. I'm gonna get out the way because I want to continue to hear more of these amazing women because y'all have been dropping some jewels on me tonight, and I have been blessed by each and every one of the ladies who have been in front of me, and I cannot wait to hear the next lady. Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 46:58

Oh, yeah, we got Mary L. Bill coming to the stage next. That's my grandma. But thank you so much, Dr. Lawson. When I tell y'all Dr. Lawson is the truth, honey, she does not come to play. Like I said, she helped me. When I first met Dr. Lawson, I was doing one thing. She was like, girl, you do so much you don't know you can do. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. She's the one who planted inside of me. Now I'm able to pour inside of you all. So when she says that that is what she does, y'all see me. I do 25, 30 different things now because I got Dr. Lawson, Dr. Velma, Carolyn Coleman, uh Melanie Johnson, Audrey Ann just pouring into me. Um and and free plug, free plug. She does got a book awards too for the culture. My son won third place. Amen. For his for his book, My Super Powers and My Brown Kids. So I love me some Dr. Lawson, amen. And she was our were you our cover girl for November? She was our cover girl for Lisa Linda Magazine for the month of November. You better go get it, honey. She does her thing. Please, please, please. If you are an entrepreneur, a visionary, whoever you are, when I say this lady is the truth, she is the truth. Y'all need to contact her so you guys can schedule a call to get your book done, get your brand out there. She is the woman for the job. I love you, Dr. Lawson. So much so much.

SPEAKER_12 48:29

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 48:30

Thank you so much. Now, before we get to my grandma, I'm gonna play one uh one video. This gonna get to my grandma, okay? So it's gonna be real quick. This is also from my album. It is called God Did That. We're gonna come right back, okay?

SPEAKER_09 48:47

All right, yeah, yeah. Let me test it real quick. God is there.

SPEAKER_11 49:00

It's glowing look. This is glowing. Oh, my God. Oh god, let's play the house for the bigger.

SPEAKER_10 51:58

Yeah. Only one name gets the credit.

SPEAKER_05 52:11

Yes, only one name gets the credit. God did that. Amen. I know my grandma loves that song. Grandma Mary, love that song. Now, before we go any further, I have to give my grandma a just due, honey. Up next, we have Mary L. Bill. And her topic is called, equipped, and empowered for ministry. Grandma Mary is bringing a powerful reminder that if you've been called, you've already been equipped for it. Amen. You don't need permission, you just need obedience. She has left the building again. We're gonna take us another break because we definitely gotta get Grandma Mary on here. So let me play another video until she comes in. I'm gonna give y'all a minute long when this time ain't gonna hold y'all too long. I just want to make sure Grandma gets in here. Okay, so let's do one for a minute and five seconds.

SPEAKER_08 53:08

Listen, Linda presents through the rain devotional anthology. For over 21 years, I carried a story that lived inside me. Silence wasn't healing, it was hiding. Beauty after the rain. A chapter by Tia Strickland. But I am not what was done to me. I am what I chose to become. Beauty after the rain. Through the rain devotional anthology, where women from all walks of life tell their stories of how God brought them through their toughest storms. Pre-order now from Tia Strickland for$30 by contacting her directly. Listen, Linda presents. Through the Rain Devotional Anthology Coming Winter 2025. Walk through the rain with us.

SPEAKER_05 54:11

Alright, shout out to my girl Tia Strickland. Now we have my grandma Mary Bill. We got you, girlfriend. Thank you. Now I already introduced you to the crowd, but I'm gonna drop down now, grandma. I'm gonna let you have the floor, and I'm gonna you can reintroduce yourself if you want to. But I love you and I'm dropping down now, getting out your way.

SPEAKER_03 54:35

Okay thank you, daughter, uh granddaughter. Good afternoon, good evening, wherever you are. It is my pleasure to present to you this evening. And I have a message from the Holy Spirit. But before we go into that message, which the title of the message is Called, Equipped, and Empowered Women in Ministry. And I want to thank the women that went before me. Your message was received by yours truly. As always, before I go into a presentation, I'd like to give a short word of prayer. Lord, open our hearts and mind to your truth. Help us to see your calling clearly and to walk boldly in the purpose you have given each of us. Amen. So as an introduction, this has been Women History Month. This message is for women all around the world. And so today we gather around a powerful and necessary truth. God calls, He equips, and empowers women for ministry. Not as an afterthought, not as a backup plan, but as an essential part of building up the body of Christ. So let us begin with a foundation scripture. And this scripture is taken from Ephesians chapter 4, verse 11 through 13. And I use the God Word version of the Bible. And it says, and I quote, He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, some say evangelists, as well as pastors and teachers as gift to his church. Their purpose is to prepare God's people to serve and to build up the body of Christ. This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God's Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard. So that's our foundation scripture for this presentation. And the passage reveals something critical. Ministry is God's design. And people are his gift to the church. And that includes women. So one may ask, what is ministry? Ministry is not a title, it's a responsibility. Ministry is not limited to a pulpit, it is a lifestyle. Ministry is the obligation of all who follow Christ. I should state that again. It is a responsibility. Every believer is called to serve. Yet scripture also shows us that certain individuals are set apart for specific roles and functions. First Corinthians reminds us that God first appointed apostles, next prophets, third teachers, and those who help others, those who are managers. Notice the diversity. Ministry is not one-dimensional, it is multifaceted. And within that diversity, there is room. God ordained room for women. God ordained room in ministry for women. So what is a minister? A minister is one who serves the need, whatever that need may be. A minister does not wait for perfect conditions. A minister responds to God's call with obedience. And I heard that earlier. Obedience. So in the New Testament, the entire church is equipped for ministry. That means men and women alike are called to be active participants in God's work. Let me restate that. Active participant, not just pure warmers. So what are some of the biblical roles of ministry? Let's briefly divine some ministry roles. Apostles. They are messengers sent by God, prophets, those called to deliver divine messages, teachers, instructors in God's word, instructors, evangelists, proclaimers of the good news, pastors, shepherds of God's people, bishops, overseers of God's people and God's church, elders, spiritual leaders, and deacons, servants who meet practical need of the church and God's people. And here's the truth. So let's take a look at some of the things that uh women have done. God has always used women. So let's look at the evidence. Some people in today say, let's see the receipts. Well, here are the receipts. Miriam. Miriam was a prophet who led worship after deliverance of the people of Israel. Deborah, a prophet and a judge who led a nation. Anna, a prophetess, who recognized the Messiah. These women were not silent, they were not sidelined. They were central to God's work. So the New Testament evidence of women in ministry is clear. The New Testament is continues the pattern. In Romans 16 and 1, he says, I'm introducing Phoebe, a deacon of the church. That was Paul speaking. Phoebe was a leader, a servant, a trusted representative of Apostle Paul. In Acts 21, 8 and 9, Philip, the evangelist had daughters who prophesied. This shows us that the Spirit of God was moving through women in powerful ways. So leadership is calling. Leadership is calling. First Timothy 3:1 says, if anyone sets his heart on being a bishop, he desires something excellent. It did not say a woman or man, it said he. And that term is used in various languages as non-gender. So non notice the word anyone. So anyone does not indicate a gender. God looks at the heart, not the gender. So don't let gender hold you back. So Acts 14 and 23 shows us leaders were chosen through prayer, fasting, and discernment. The qualification was spiritual, not culture, not gender. Jesus and women in ministry. Let's look at some of those things. Women followed Jesus. Women supported his ministry. Women were the first to witness his resurrection. Women were entrusted with the message. So Easter is approaching us. So just think about that. Women was the first to announce that he is risen. So let us not forget. Peter's mother-in-law in Mark 1 and 31 said after being healed, she immediately began to serve. That is ministry, responding to God's touch with action. And that's what we as women do respond with action. So we have to look at breaking some of the culture barriers. For too long, culture traditions have limited what God never restricted. But when we align ourselves with scripture, we see that God's Spirit is poured out on all flesh. God does not call based on gender. Remember that. The purpose of ministry. So let us return back to Ephesians that we spoke of earlier. The purpose of ministry is to prepare God's people, to serve, to build up the body of Christ, to bring unity, to bring maturity. If women are excluded, the body is incomplete. If women are silenced, the church is weakened. But when women walk in their calling, the church becomes stronger, fuller, and more aligned with God's design. So we have to answer the call. And I give a call to women, to every woman listening, regardless of your faith. I want you to remember this. You are called, you are gifted, you are needed. Again, a call to action to women around the world. You are called, you are gifted, you are needed. Do not let fear solace you. Do not let doubt delay you. Do not let tradition limit you. God has placed something inside of you that the church needs, that the people need. So as we proceed and close out this women history month, I give a call to the church. To the church as a whole. And we want to honor God. And in conclusion, ministry is not about position, it's about purpose. It's not about Who stands the tallest or who is the richest or who's the most popular? It's about those who faithfully serve. God has always used women, God is still using women, and God will continue to use women. So let us walk in unity, maturity, and purpose until we all measure up to Christ, who is the standard. And thank you all for listening.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:28

All right, grandma, thank you so much. You know you came with receipts today, baby. Yes, yes, yes, Stacy said, Come on here. Stacy said, Amen. It sure is, and we are on assignment. Amen, Stacy. I knew you was gonna bring it, Grandma. That's why I was like, Yes, I'm so glad I got you in here. All right, grandma, I'm dropping you down now. And before we get to our last person, I got something special for y'all. It is a Spanish song that I came out with to go with the Spanish version of if I were to write a book in the Bible, I'm gonna play that for about a minute or so, and then we will get to our eating. Last but not least, our final guest for this evening.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:36

Este no es un libro escrito para impresionar, es un libro escrito para obedecer. Aquí encontrarás a una mujer que se sintió como Moisés en el desierto, como Esther llamada a hablar con temor, como Pedro caminando por fe y dudando también. Pero en cada capítulo, Dios permaneció, sanando lo que nadie veía, sosteniendo cuando ya no había fuerzas. Las cenizas se convirtieron en testimonio, el lodo se volvió propósito, y la historia no terminó en dolor. Si Dios pudo escribir Redención con mi historia, también puede escribirla con la tuya.

SPEAKER_11 1:08:36

Si yo fuera a escribir un libro, escribiría sobre un Dios que me sostuvo a través.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:42

Porque Dios no escribe solo con tinta, él escribe con vidas. Si yo fuera a escribir un libro in la Biblia, este sería.

SPEAKER_12 1:08:58

Yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:00

And that is because of course, before I bring on my final guest, even I know the importance of making sure our brand expands across countries. And so, what I like to do, and I think what I started doing with my last project, if I were to write a book in the Bible, I got two uh Christlift book awards for that book. And I decided because it was making so much of an impact, I actually transcribed that book into a Spanish version. And of course, everybody knows when I do a book, I do a song to match it. So I had to make sure that I had a song to match in Spanish. And that is literally what our girl Lisette Hildango is talking about tonight. She is going to close us out. Um her topic is it's not just Spanish, it's how you communicate in business. And she is about to break down how communication is not just about language, it's about connection, clarity, and culture. So let's welcome my sister and Christ. Yes, Lizette. Hey girl, you're you're muted. I can't hear you. Turn your phone up.

SPEAKER_07 1:10:20

Can you listen?

SPEAKER_05 1:10:21

Yes, we got you now, girl.

SPEAKER_07 1:10:24

Hi, how are you?

SPEAKER_05 1:10:25

Um did you enjoy the video? Now I did not know when I made that video back in November that the lady in the video was gonna look like you. I did not know. So that's not the lady look like you, Lissette.

SPEAKER_07 1:10:42

Well, that isn't mean to me.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:44

That means uh yes, so I'm gonna drop down, I'm gonna give you the floor, and I'm gonna let you do your thing, Lissette.

SPEAKER_07 1:10:52

Well, uh, thank you. Uh thank you for inviting me to be here. I want to I want first to to say thank you to uh Liz and Linda and Dr. Jacqueline Cox uh to bring uh this idea. Uh I love it. I love uh the idea of the panel. I haven't been talking in around two years and I have to do it really, really good. Well about it's not just Spanish, it's uh it's how you communicate in in business. Well, uh I've seen a lot of people that uh that think that doing business in Spanish is just about speaking the language, but it's not exactly not because you can say something, you can say everything correctly, and still you might be losing the deal. So think about when you are in uh in a business meeting, and sometimes uh you have I mean I know you are sure that you have the AI to communicate in the same exact words that you want to talk, the same exactly words the AI is gonna tell you how to communicate in Spanish. And possibly you are able to communicate in Spanish because you have been learning before, maybe in high school, maybe in college. But the tricky way is how you're gonna communicate that in Spanish, how you're gonna get a deal in Spanish, uh the good deal, the good negotiation. So let's see, um, in business, communication is not just about words, it's about tone, intention and how the other person receives your message, right? So I've seen situations where someone translates perfectly, like I say before, maybe AI, maybe AI can help you, but you really need to know what type of tone you're gonna bring into the business, into the negotiation to make it happen. So for Latin cultures, we are very, we're very, we're very kind, we're very conservative, we're very, we love hacks, we love this, we love that. Um certain negotiations are done based on when during the lunch, during the dinner, and then when you are totally happy, you're ending sign because you're trusting the other person for so many reasons, for some wonderful tones that you have been putting in your message, the deal is is done, it's is it's a reality, it's positive. So in business communication, it's not just about words, it's about it's about time, intention, how the other person receives your message. I've seen situations where someone translates perfectly, but the message feels really cold, too direct, or even disrespectful without them realizing it. So that's the key. You need to know how to do it so you are not disrespectful with somebody else doing business, correct? So and in that moment the trust shifts. When you are saying something that maybe might sound a little wrong, the trust shifts and when the trust shifts, everything changes. Everything changes. Especially when working with Spanish speaking clients or partners, communication is deeply connected to culture. Unfortunately, but it's directly connected to culture. So how you say something matters just as much as what you say. Something that sounds normal in English can feel too direct in Spanish, or something meant to be professional can come across as distant. And those small details are what define whether a relationship grows or breaks at all. So that's where my work, I'm very committed, that's how my work comes in in any business to connect one business to another business and to get the deal. Especially for um American companies who want to go through Spanish markets with Spanish people. So I don't just translate words, I help businesses communicate with clarity, with the right tone, and with cultural awareness. Cultural awareness. Because in business, it's not just about being understood, it's about being understood the right way. It's being understood the right way. We are living in a time where businesses are expanding globally more than ever. Especially right now, we have uh we have, as I say before, the AI can help you to do many, many things, and and they can help you to do um uh documents and everything, but uh even in the documents you need to know what exactly do you want do you want to say. So, and those who learn how to communicate across cultures are the ones who build stronger relationships and create more opportunities. That's the key. This is about building stronger relationships to create more opportunities. So this is not about speaking perfect Spanish, it's about communicating in a way that builds trust. So because at the end of the day, it's not just Spanish, it's how you communicate in business. If you want to know more about me, you can uh follow me on Instagram. You put uh lisdigigital.designmedia. Um, and also you can find me on my website www.lizdigitaldm.com. Thank you very much for this opportunity. I feel really, really happy to be here tonight, and I really encourage you to go through Listen Linda magazine, the Listen Linda uh uh social media and relationships because they are gonna help you to grow. Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:21

Thank you, thank you. And can you spell your website one more time so I can make sure I'll put it on the screen?

SPEAKER_07 1:18:27

Yes, it's um it's uh Liz L-I-S Digital DM.com.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:42

Okay. Is that it?

SPEAKER_12 1:18:48

Perfect.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:49

Okay, great. So you guys know where to reach her www.lisdigitaldm.com. And that's Lissette Digital uh and Design Media.

SPEAKER_07 1:19:02

Yeah, Liz Digital Design and Media.

SPEAKER_05 1:19:04

Yes, yes, yes, yes, thank you so much, Lissette. I love you, I appreciate you, and I cannot wait to read your chapter in Women of the Waiting Room Volume 3, The Cause of Becoming. She is one of our new featured co-authors. I am so blessed to know you. I appreciate you. And like she said, AI can do a lot, but it cannot build those brands and it cannot bridge those opportunities for you. That's why we need people like Lissette Hildago to come in and help us to communicate and expand our brands, not just in America, but in other countries and other cultures. I appreciate you, Lisette. Thank you all so much. I'm gonna bring everybody who is here back to the stage. Of course, our girl Crystal had to go because she went to go see the Times Square Billboard today. So she had to get back home. She drove all the way down there to catch it for us, guys. So I appreciate that. But I want to close out by saying, and Crystal, I wish you were here. I love you, but I love everybody who came and just gave so much knowledge to the women everywhere across all the platforms that I have. I appreciate you all. I love you all. Y'all dropped some major gems. I'm gonna go back and replay this to take some notes. Amen. I hope my honor AI is on so I can make sure I got everything and transcribed. Um, one more time. I'm gonna go around the room if everybody can just tell people where they can find you, how they can reach you. I'm gonna start with Grandma Mary. Um, if you could tell everybody how they can reach you and where they can find you.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:44

Uh, you can find me on social media, on LinkedIn, on Facebook, on Instagram. You can find me at my websites, flipg A dot or G and MLBconsultant L C dot com. That's MLBLconsultinlc.com and flipg A F L I P G A dot or G.

SPEAKER_05 1:21:18

Thank you so much, Grandmama. Again, let's get Dr. Rhonda. One more time, but one more time. You're muted. You got it now, girl.

SPEAKER_06 1:21:40

Okay, there we go. All right, so hello everybody. You can find me on my website at www.mtwimage solutions.com. You can also find me on um Instagram at Meet the World Image Solutions. Um, I do lots of TikToks. Um, my TikToks are usually funny, but they're funny with a message. I'm always talking about the art of writing. Um, you can find me on TikTok at Ronda L. I'm on Facebook, Pinterest, um, I'm on X, and I'm on all of the platforms, LinkedIn. I'm on all social media. I'm on all of the things, but you can mostly find me on um Instagram and um Facebook and TikTok. So um I would love to talk with anybody if you have a book inside of you I want to help you to get it out and um help you to meet get it to meet the world. So just look for me www.mtwimage solutions.com.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:49

Thank you. Now, Dr. Stacy Shepherd. Come on, girl.

SPEAKER_04 1:22:56

All right, guys. Uh, thank you again. Tonight was awesome. I'm with you, Dr. Cott. So many wonderful gems. Um, but you can find me um at my website www.arisenowlc.com. You can find me on Facebook um under either um Stacy Shepherd or under Arise Now and LinkedIn under AriseNow LLC. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_05 1:23:21

And last but not least, my girl the set. Where can people find you?

SPEAKER_07 1:23:28

Well, uh, people can find me on LinkedIn as uh Lizeth Hidalgo, also on Instagram, they can find me as uh uh L Issdigital.designmedia. That's on Instagram, also through my website uh www.lisdigital dm.com. And also I receive WhatsApp and phone calls at 201 456 8217. Again, 2014. What's up or text?

SPEAKER_05 1:24:13

Okay. Let's see. That's her WhatsApp. So you guys can contact her there as well. And of course, you all know who I am, Dr. Jacqueline Cox, aka Listen Linda. If you want to know more about my business, my brand, what I do, everything, you can contact me at www.listenlindapresents1.com. I also have a nonprofit that I started, just got the 501c3 for. It's called uh Linda Listens Foundation. And what we do, what we do, we feed the homeless, we um we give to the veterans, and we also publish books for the underserved communities and victims of domestic violence and veterans, and we do that for free. So that is a part of our what we do with our non-for-profit. If you would like to donate to that, you can donate right there at the Zale. That's the number directed right to the bank account, amen. Because you know you gotta keep that separate. Can't have business with personal with the nonprofit. So the nonprofit number is below. You want to send a donation to listen, uh Linda Liston's Foundation right there at the Zale or the Cash App below. All of that is connected to Linda Listen, Linda Foundation, amen. All right, and I will I've had a wonderful time with all the ladies here. Grandma, she fell down, but we're bringing her back up. I love you all like Christ loved the church, and I am going to end the night with grandma's favorite song, God did that. All right, love you all like Christ loved the church, and we are let me test it real quick.

SPEAKER_11 1:28:02

Now watch his glory shine. He did it, he did it, he did it. My joy back it. My peace back it. He did it. My mind that did it. My joy back did it. My peace back did it. He did it, he did it, he did it, he did it, he did it, my joy back, he did it, my peace back, my eat it, my strength we will eat. Yeah, look at me like I did that. I'm carrying my side. Through the way and do everything I did, no strength, no faith, I did, I did. I'll do it in home and a purpose. I did that. Hold the whole breakthrough. I did that.

SPEAKER_10 1:29:04

Yeah. Look at me now. Only one name gives the credit.

SPEAKER_11 1:29:16

It's not time for the Lord ordained.