About Her Life and How To Transform Your Life With A Renewed Mind ‒Interview With LaVonda McCullough
- Brainz Magazine
- Jan 10, 2023
- 5 min read
LaVonda McCullough, D.Div, CPQC, CCDF (Certified Christian DISC Facilitator), is a Christian Life and Certified Positive Intelligence Coach and founder of Joyful Journey.
LaVonda is a woman who loves to empower other women with a Christian-based approach to overcoming anxiety and depression. As the founder of Joyful Journey and RefresHER Retreats, she utilizes her spiritual practice focused on the discipline of Daily Quiet Time and prayer to find joy and freedom. She works closely with those she coaches to develop a lifestyle balance centered around core values that align with God-given purpose. Always using a spirit-led approach, she focuses on the whole person ‒ mind, body, and soul.
LaVonda has traveled and spoken throughout Europe and Africa about the power of prayer and teaching the importance of forgiveness to experience deliverance and spiritual breakthrough. She is the author of "21 Days of Fasting and Praying, The Beginner's Guide to a Disciplined Life."
LaVonda McCullough, Christian Life Coach
Tell us more about yourself. Who is LaVonda beyond her career and success?
I'm originally from North Carolina and the wife of 32 years to my college sweetheart. We have three adult children. As a military spouse, I have lived and traveled internationally, but not without me living under the labels of shame, blame, trauma, anxiety, and depression with a broken identity.
I lived a life of captivity to unforgiveness and bitterness for many years. It was a long journey to discover my identity in Christ. It became easier to avoid the trauma from my past with each new duty station, which allowed me to mask the emptiness and put up walls to protect my heart.
After experiencing an encounter with God while hospitalized for three days that led to my complete surrender and accepting my calling from God, I learned how to love myself, forgive myself, and, most importantly, embrace God's love for me and whom He created me to be. I knew that my past didn't define my future.
Tell us more about Joyful Journey! What kind of services do you offer?
I'm a lifelong student of God's Word and have acquired many tools that will assist in the restoration, reconciliation, and renewal of the love of Christ. I provide Christian DISC Assessments that will categorize personality types and integrates insight from scripture and emotional intelligence. This model enhances one's ability to become more equipped to walk in her God-given purpose.
I want to see women free from past wounds and experience inner healing and deliverance from trauma. I offer one-on-one Transformation Coaching, Sozo and Immanuel Approach sessions, and host Women's Retreats to help women release emotional baggage and confidently step into destiny.
I offer an online community called IMPACT(Intentional Motivation Practicing Active Christian Truth), which provides quarterly Bible Study, mentoring, prayer walks, and other resources for spiritual growth. Membership is open twice a year.
In what ways do you offer a unique service to your customers?
As a Certified Positive Intelligence Coach (PQ), I use the importance of mental fitness to help others develop and grow. PQ synthesizes recent neuroscience, cognitive and positive psychology, and performance science. My Christian PQ program offers group coaching accompanied by the PQ App (found in APP Store), making it one of the most sought-after mental fitness programs available. This impactful training helps develop mental muscles to deal with challenges with much less stress and greater clarity, creativity, and resilience. This tool aligned with your faith addresses self-worth/self-esteem, grief/loss, relationships, personal power, and overall well-being producing outstanding results. This model of mental fitness has effectiveness in the management of both personal and professional life.
What is the most common question you get from your clients, and how do you answer it?
I love spending time with God in His Word and prayer. Through this personal time with Him, I've learned to hear His voice and discern His guidance for my life.
Answering the question, "How do I develop an intimate relationship with God and hear His voice?" is what I'm passionate about helping others experience. My mission is to teach others how to establish a Daily Quiet Time with God as their foundation.
Knowing God's character is essential to building faith and trust, which are crucial components of any intimate relationship. You begin by setting an appointed time to pause, pray, ponder over scripture, and then listen to the Holy Spirit. By doing this consistently, you start to hear the voice of God and discover clarity, purpose, and direction to finding your purpose.
Tell us more about your RefresHER Retreats and how I can attend.
The RefresHER Women's Retreat is a much-anticipated event that is highly sought after by women who need a refreshing and renewal time. If you are weary from everyday life's demands, this retreat is just for you!
At the RefresHER Retreat, held annually, women can escape the world's stress and focus on God. A prayer-soaked atmosphere at the base of the Appalachian mountains, where we will encounter God's presence, is exhilarating and filled with joy. It is the best place to obtain clarity, focus, rest, and leave refreshed, revived, renewed, and restored.
For a weekend, you can experience the quiet solitude on a prayer mountain at Apple Hill Lodge and learn how to reach the Divine Power within, operating with boldness and authority under the power of the Holy Spirit. I am excited to host our 8th Annual RefresHER Retreat in the United States for the first time.
How does forgiveness prevent a life of freedom?
An unforgiving heart affects your physical health and causes anxiety, depression, and many other health ailments. Forgiveness is an essential ingredient to leading a joyful life. Forgiving others and ourselves helps us break free from negative emotions like resentment, guilt, and anger. Not only does forgiveness bestow freedom from such feelings, but it allows us to practice love unconditionally in our relationships. With forgiveness, we can bring restoration and reconciliation, giving more meaningful relationships and a life of freedom. Forgiveness does not say that what was done was right. It releases the chains that bind us and allows healing to occur internally.
What is the most significant career achievement you have achieved so far?
I never think of ministry as a career choice but more of a lifestyle of obedience to God. If we are obedient to Him, He will use us in ways we never imagined. One of my most significant experiences was my first ministry trip to Uganda, Africa, as International Director for Women, Men & Youth of Purpose, Int'l. During this visit, I faced many obstacles to attend because I was a Department of Defense Employee with the United States Army. But I was obedient to the voice of God, and during this visit, the Lord gave me a prophetic message that humbled a Pastor's heart, and he gifted 5 acres of land to build a Trade school to teach women home economic skills, spiritual growth, and mentoring.
As women, we are often our own worst enemies. I had allowed my scarcity mindset to prevent me from achieving my full potential and living out my purpose. But through this experience, the Lord showed me that "He is able or willing and ready to do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think according to His power at work within us ."(Ephesians 3:20).
How do we find joy & renew our minds?
Our circumstances are beyond our control, and we spend time alone basing our happiness on concepts. But the truth is, joy comes from the inside. Aligning your will to God's will brings joy and peace to a life of chaos. Renewing your mind and finding joy in your life is possible but a process that takes time and effort.
Acknowledge that you can change and develop a prayer life
Read God's word daily
Remain focused on the good things even when situations are challenging
Keep a positive attitude
Maintained an attitude of gratitude or gratitude journal
What keeps you motivated?
Helping women align their core values and utilize their Spiritual gifts keeps me motivated. I am passionate about serving and supporting women to expand their sphere of influence, walk confidently in Christ, and find freedom and joy in their journey by cultivating Christian disciplines.
