How Helping One Woman Turn Her Pain Into Purpose Changed My Life
Written by Dr. Michael Copeland, CEO, Owner & Author
Dr. Michael Copeland is an educator, author, and consultant who empowers individuals and communities through storytelling, leadership, and purpose-driven work. He is the founder of Copeland Consults LLC and a 15-time award-winning author.
Some books are business projects. Others become divine assignments. For me, helping Alena McGregor bring her remarkable testimony to life became one of the most spiritually meaningful experiences of my publishing career.
When publishing becomes something greater than business
As the founder and chief executive officer of Copeland Consults LLC, I have had the privilege of working with authors from different walks of life. Some want to share their personal experiences. Others want to establish credibility, build businesses, educate communities, or leave a legacy for future generations.
But every once in a while, an author comes into your life who reminds you why you started your business in the first place. For me, that author was Alena McGregor.
When I began working with Alena on her powerful Christian testimony, From Trials to Triumph: To God Be All the Glory, Chosen by God to Be His Ambassador, I understood that I was helping bring a deeply personal story to the world. What I did not fully anticipate was how much her journey would impact my own life.
I have always believed that publishing is about more than formatting manuscripts, designing covers, and putting books on Amazon. It is about helping people discover the significance of their experiences and giving those experiences a platform to influence others. Alena's story reminded me of that truth in a profound way.
A divine connection that started with a conversation
One of the most remarkable aspects of my relationship with Alena is how we met. As part of my entrepreneurial journey, I have used creative approaches to market my publishing business, including displaying information about my books and services while driving for Uber.
One day, I picked up a passenger who noticed my publishing advertisements and began asking questions. During our conversation, the passenger mentioned having a friend who had been working on a book and might benefit from my services. That friend was Alena McGregor.
Shortly afterward, Alena reached out. What began as a simple conversation eventually became a publishing partnership built on trust, faith, prayer, and a shared commitment to bringing her message to the world.
I frequently tell entrepreneurs that opportunities do not always arrive through traditional marketing campaigns or expensive advertising. Sometimes your next major opportunity is sitting in the back seat of your car. Sometimes that opportunity changes more than your business. It changes you.
Reading her pain and discovering her strength
Alena had spent approximately six years documenting her extraordinary journey through grief, depression, spiritual warfare, personal loss, housing instability, uncertainty, and the difficult process of learning to trust God through adversity. Her manuscript was not simply a collection of memories. It was an intimate record of a woman wrestling with some of life's most painful questions.
Why does God allow suffering? How do you continue believing when your prayers appear unanswered? How do you find peace when your circumstances seem unbearable? Can personal tragedy eventually become a source of encouragement for someone else?
As her publisher, I spent countless hours reading, organizing, editing, and strengthening her manuscript. There were moments when I found myself reflecting deeply on the experiences she described.
I could feel the heartbreak in her words. I could recognize the exhaustion of someone who had endured years of disappointment. But I could also see something incredibly powerful emerging from those pages. Alena had not allowed her suffering to silence her testimony.
Despite everything she experienced, she continued to write. She continued to pray. She continued to search for answers. She continued to believe that her story could one day help someone else. That determination affected me personally.
As an entrepreneur, I have experienced my own seasons of uncertainty, rejection, financial challenges, and unanswered questions about the direction of my life and business. Reading Alena's manuscript reminded me that progress is not always visible while we are experiencing adversity. Sometimes we are being shaped for responsibilities we have not yet encountered.
We did more than edit a manuscript, we prayed together
One of the most meaningful aspects of working with Alena was the spiritual connection we developed throughout the publishing process. I have always believed in praying over my clients, their books, and the projects entrusted to me. With Alena, those moments became particularly important.
We prayed together. We discussed her experiences, her faith, and the purpose behind her writing. We talked about the importance of reaching readers who might be struggling with grief, depression, spiritual uncertainty, or the feeling that their lives no longer had meaning.
As we worked through her manuscript, I began to appreciate the enormous responsibility involved in helping someone tell such a vulnerable story. An author is trusting you with more than words on paper. They are trusting you with their memories, their disappointments, their victories, their identity, and sometimes the most painful chapters of their lives. That trust should never be taken lightly.
My responsibility was not to replace Alena's voice with my own. It was to strengthen her voice while preserving the authenticity, emotion, and spiritual meaning of her testimony.
Through that process, I was reminded of an important leadership principle: Great service is not simply about completing a task. It is about honoring the person who trusted you to complete it.
From a six-year manuscript to an award-winning author
One of the greatest joys of my work has been helping Alena move beyond the dream of becoming a published author and begin building a platform around her message. Through Copeland Consults LLC, we worked to transform her manuscript into a professionally presented book.
But I did not want our relationship to end with publication. I wanted Alena to understand that becoming an author was only the beginning.
We began focusing on visibility, marketing, recognition, and opportunities that would introduce her testimony to audiences beyond her immediate circle. That included helping her pursue book awards, podcast interviews, and live television talk show appearances where she could share her story.
I am especially proud that Alena became an award-winning author through our work together at Copeland Consults LLC and earned recognition as an Author of the Year finalist.
For me, these achievements represent far more than awards or professional titles. They represent a woman who spent years wondering whether her story would ever reach the world and who is now receiving recognition for the very experiences she once struggled to understand. As her publisher, witnessing that transformation has been deeply rewarding.
I have always told my authors that a book sitting on a shelf has limited impact. A book that is actively promoted, discussed, shared, and placed in the hands of readers can create opportunities far beyond its pages.
That is why I encourage authors to pursue awards, participate in podcasts, appear on television, attend book fairs, organize signings, and speak confidently about their work. Alena's journey reinforces what I believe every author should understand: Your story deserves more than publication. It deserves an opportunity to be heard.
The moment that reminded me why I do this work
After sending Alena her book and cover design, I received a message that reminded me why I continue pursuing this work. She wrote:
"I have read a few pages and it is absolutely fantastic! You did a great job! You are so eloquent! I thank God and you for making my book possible!"
Those words meant a great deal to me, not because she complimented my writing ability, but because I understood what those pages represented. Six years of writing. Years of personal suffering. Countless prayers. Moments of uncertainty. The courage to place her story into someone else's hands. Her reaction was an affirmation that I had helped honor something deeply meaningful to her.
As entrepreneurs, we frequently measure success through revenue, contracts, growth, and financial milestones. Those measurements matter. Businesses must be financially sustainable. But Alena reminded me that some of our most significant accomplishments cannot be measured by a dollar amount.
Sometimes success is hearing an author say that you helped make a lifelong dream possible. Sometimes it is watching someone discover newfound confidence. Sometimes it is realizing that the person you were helping has also helped strengthen you.
5 lessons Alena taught me about leadership and purpose
Working with Alena reinforced five important lessons that continue to influence how I approach my business and relationships.
First, every person carries a story worth respecting. We never fully understand what someone has endured simply by looking at them. Listening carefully is often the first step toward meaningful service.
Second, patience is an essential part of purpose. Alena spent approximately six years writing her testimony. Her persistence reminded me that meaningful work often develops over long periods of uncertainty.
Third, entrepreneurship should create opportunities for others. My greatest satisfaction is not simply publishing a book. It is helping an author move from an idea to recognition, visibility, and meaningful impact.
Fourth, authentic relationships are more valuable than transactions. Prayer, trust, compassion, and honest conversations strengthened our working relationship in ways that went beyond a traditional publishing agreement.
Finally, our experiences can become resources for others. Alena's story demonstrated that painful experiences do not have to remain hidden. When shared thoughtfully and courageously, they can offer encouragement to readers navigating their own difficulties.
These lessons have strengthened my understanding of leadership. I am not simply building a publishing business. I am building a company that helps people recognize the value of their stories and transform those stories into lasting legacies.
Why this experience has changed me as a publisher
There have been times in my entrepreneurial journey when I questioned whether the sacrifices, long hours, and uncertainty were worth it. Building Copeland Consults LLC has required persistence, creativity, and an enormous amount of faith.
Not every marketing campaign produces immediate results. Not every business opportunity develops as expected. Not every season produces the financial rewards we hope to achieve.
But working with Alena reminded me why I must continue. My work matters because the people behind these manuscripts matter. Every author who comes to me represents a dream, a purpose, and a story that deserves professional care.
Watching Alena grow from a woman carrying a manuscript she had spent six years writing into an award-winning author and Author of the Year finalist has strengthened my determination to help more people accomplish what once seemed impossible.
Her success is not simply another accomplishment for my company. It is part of the reason my company exists. I am proud to have played a role in her journey.
From trials to triumph: A message larger than one book
Alena's book speaks to readers confronting grief, depression, personal tragedy, uncertainty, and questions about faith. It is honest about suffering. It does not pretend that every problem disappears immediately. Instead, it explores what it means to continue trusting God while living through circumstances that do not make sense.
That authenticity is what makes her testimony meaningful. I believe readers will connect with her willingness to discuss struggles that many people are reluctant to share publicly. I also believe her journey has tremendous potential to inspire conversations in churches, women's ministries, book clubs, community organizations, and other spaces where people are seeking hope.
As her publisher, I remain committed to helping her bring that message to wider audiences. Whether through book awards, podcasts, live television interviews, speaking opportunities, or community events, my objective is to help her story reach the people who need it.
My message to entrepreneurs, authors, and dreamers
If there is one message I want readers to take from my experience with Alena McGregor, it is this: Never underestimate the impact you can make when you use your professional gifts to serve someone else's purpose.
You may begin a project believing you are the one providing the service. But sometimes the person you are helping becomes a source of encouragement, perspective, and growth in your own life. That is exactly what happened to me.
I helped Alena strengthen her manuscript, develop her book, pursue recognition, and expand her platform. But through her testimony, her perseverance, and the prayers we shared, she reminded me of the importance of faith, endurance, and service.
This experience has made me a more thoughtful publisher, a more compassionate entrepreneur, and a more grateful person. As I continue growing Copeland Consults LLC, I want those values to remain at the heart of everything we do. Because publishing is not simply about creating books. It is about elevating voices, honoring journeys, and helping ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things.
To Alena McGregor, thank you for trusting me with your story. I am proud of what you have accomplished, grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you, and excited about the lives your testimony may continue to touch. To God be all the glory.
Read more from Dr. Michael Copeland
Dr. Michael Copeland, CEO, Owner & Author
Dr. Michael Copeland is an educator, author, and leadership consultant dedicated to empowering individuals through storytelling, mentorship, and purpose-driven work. Drawing from lived experience in education and community advocacy, he helps others transform adversity into impact. He is the founder of Copeland Consults LLC and the author of several books. Dr. Copeland’s work centers on leadership, resilience, faith, and social responsibility. His mission is to elevate voices, strengthen communities, and help others build lasting legacies through education and storytelling.
