The Power YES: Julie Nowacki on Purpose, Justice, and Bold Obedience

In this powerful episode of Hope Unlocked, Kristin welcomes Julie Nowacki, founder of Fierce Princess Warriors and a bold voice in advocacy, healing, and youth intervention. Julie shares her raw journey and a miraculous turning point that launched her into her God-given calling. From leading worship nights to founding a creative arts and therapy center, Julie unpacks how saying yes to God—despite fear—opened doors to reform, rescue, and restoration. A must-listen for women called to rise in courage, calling, and reformation.

Julie's Contact Info:

Website - convergentpromotions.com

Email - julie.nowacki@gmail.com

Instagram

Facebook

Resources:

She Leads Oregon

Crisis Intervention Coalition

It's Your Story to Tell

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Chapters

• 0:16 Welcome to Hope Unlocked
• 1:35 Julie's Purpose Depression Journey
• 5:44 Finding Identity Beyond Performance
• 10:23 The Birth of Fierce Princess Warriors
• 17:40 Called to Be a Reformer
• 27:36 Saying Yes to God's Assignments
• 36:34 Safe Haven Rooms Initiative
• 50:57 Knowing Your No and Final Prayer

Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:16

Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast. I'm your host, kristen Kurtz, and I'm also the founder of New Wings Coaching. I help and empower wildhearted and adventurous women of faith feeling caged and stuck, unlock their true purpose and potential, break free from limitations and thrive with confidence, courage and hope. If you're curious to learn more about coaching with me, head to newwingscoachingnet and be sure to explore the show notes for ways to connect with me further. Get ready to dive in as we uncover empowering keys and insights in this episode. So tune in and let's unlock hope together. Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast. I'm Kristen Kurtz, your host. I pray this episode is like a holy IV of hope for your soul. Please help me.

Speaker 2: 0:56

Welcome Julie Nowatzki to the show today. I am just excited to have her here. I feel like it's been a long time coming and we actually got connected on social media. I think it was a few years ago, I can't remember, but you know you meet those people where you have kind of this instant connection. We have a lot of I don't know crossover similarities but yet differences, and it was just such a blessing to meet and connect with her and I'm just so excited to have her come on and share her story here today. So, julie, would you be open to just sharing a little bit more about you and who the Lord calls you?

Speaker 1: 1:35

Yeah, absolutely, and it is so much fun to be on your show today, because I know we've been trying to schedule this for a long time and it just seems like our schedules would just keep not allowing to make it happen. So here we are. This is perfect today.

Speaker 1: 1:49

April 24th, 424. And before I share a little bit about it, the Lord, just you know, highlighted those numbers to me when we got this scheduled. And then, as I was looking up a scripture, john 424, god is spirit and his worshipers must worship in the spirit and in truth. And that already just spoke to me. So a little bit about myself. You know, I was raised as a Christian in a Christian home. We did music ministry on the road, my family and I did when I was younger, and then I started working for a Christian record company helping manage and develop artists, and so I did that for 20 years. But before I ended up saying farewell to that career, I went into a identity crisis and what I call it is purpose depression. So we can, we can, talk about that a little bit. I've been married for 21 years. We have a 15-year-old daughter and we are just enjoying life with her before she gets launched into her next, yeah, world-changing assignment that the Lord has on her life.

Speaker 2: 3:00

So excited to be here. Well, yeah, if you could go back to that purpose word you just shared, I feel like there's something on that that is a big part of your story, right?

Speaker 1: 3:11

Yes, absolutely. So. We ended up having a miscarriage when Audrey, our daughter, was about two and a half three years old, and it really was a very hard time in our life because my husband and I were really not on good terms. We were on the verge of deciding whether or not we were going to continue on in this marriage, and so when I found out I was pregnant, I got really angry with the Lord and I started agreeing with some lies and fear immediately set in. We ended up losing the baby and from the moment of conception, it was not a healthy pregnancy.

Speaker 1: 3:49

So thankfully, the Lord allowed me to know that and to know that. You know I did not cause it, but I ended up going into the doctor and, you know, saying, gosh, we are not ready to add to our family, we need an option. And so I ended up having an IUD, and the IUD literally made me go crazy. For 10 months I was ridden with fear, anxiety, depression, suicide ideation. I was out of my mind, and it was a point where I had to really ask the Lord. Okay, god, it's not about what I'm doing, it's about who I am.

Speaker 1: 4:34

And for so long my identity was wrapped up in what I was doing, because I started working for the record company at a very young age and it was my parents' record company record company at a very young age.

Speaker 1: 4:45

And I um, it was my parents' record company, so I got promoted, promoted, promoted into a very top leadership position at a very young age, managing artists that were 20 to 30 years older than me. So I could not do that anymore because I was literally, um, just my brain was was scrambled and I was trying to fight for my own life and fight against just everything that was going on. And so the Lord, I really like to tell people, took me through that Joseph season of knowing that it's not about what we're doing, but it's about who we are, and so what I tell people is I really had that come to terms with my purpose and what I was called to do, and how was I going to get from point A to point B without being able to do what I was doing? So that's why I call it depression, because I didn't know what I was going to do, right. So that's kind of where that term comes from.

Speaker 2: 5:45

Yeah, so you were. You were in the industry for 20 years and that's what you knew. So you came into this point of like I don't even know who I am anymore. What did that look like for you to walk through it tangibly?

Speaker 1: 5:59

What it looked like was. I was very unfamiliar with it because, um, you know, I helped people get through their areas of brokenness to formulate messages, and I really didn't have, I would say, a compassion for others that had gone through really traumatic experiences, because I really hadn't, and so I kind of just did the thing. I really operated from a place of performance and production to the point where I could no longer perform, I could no longer produce, and that's, I think, where I had to again get to that place of okay, lord. So if I'm not capable of doing this, then who am I, aside from what I'm doing, because that's how I'm known, by getting things done and I can't do anything.

Speaker 1: 6:51

It was so hard to even go into a grocery store. I remember we had a Bible study that was at our church and you know I have dear friends there and I was so scared of walking into that room. I was paralyzed with fear, and when I was able to get enough courage, I was really good at posturing, pretending and posing, but I was okay. But really, in reality, there was a dark cloud that was over me that, even though people were speaking truth and praying over me, nothing was penetrating. There was such a stronghold over my heart and over my mind that I could not receive. There was a blockage.

Speaker 2: 7:40

Wow, and you determined, I'm guessing, like in prayer, that it was the root of it was going back partly to that IUD. Oh, yes, the shift in hormones and all of that is kind of what you determined.

Speaker 1: 7:56

Yes, absolutely. Because one night I was sitting on our stairs and I had a knife in my hand and I was cutting my, my, um, my wrist because I was in so much pain internally and I was wanting out of this life. And so I remember walking into my daughter's room and this is not something I'm proud of, but I'll be honest. I remember walking into my daughter's room she was three years old at the time. This is how insane I was. I walked in my daughter's room, saw how she was lying and tried to figure out how, if I'm going to kill myself, I'm not going to leave my daughter or my husband without a mom or a wife. So I'm going to basically end this family line.

Speaker 1: 8:47

And I remember the Lord, very gently, he. I remember hearing IUD and I said, okay, iud. And and I remember Googling, how do I take this IUD out? Yeah, because I am literally going to make a choice that's going to destroy a family and so much of my future and my daughter's future, my husband's future. But I am desperate and so I remember, I remember Googling it and it said, well, this is a very dangerous thing to do and it may kill you. And I remember saying, well, if it kills me, then that's what it's supposed to be. And, by the grace of God, I did. I took that IUD out.

Speaker 2: 9:35

At that moment.

Speaker 1: 9:38

At that moment. And when I went into my doctor, he's like, oh so, how is your birth control IUD work? And I said, yeah, not work, and I took it out. He's like, oh so how's your birth control IUD work? And I said, yeah, not work, and I took it out. He said what you know, you could have killed yourself. You know you could have. Like I'm like, yeah, I was so at a point where I had to have something different and over like probably, I don't know a couple days, a few days, I started noticing a difference a couple days, a few days, I started noticing a difference.

Speaker 2: 10:09

Oh my gosh, oh yeah, I'm just thinking of how many women out there have this and they have no idea that that is a potential of, if they're experiencing symptoms like you're, you had experienced, because was that even something that was like mentioned to you when you got it that there could be this type of side effect?

Speaker 1: 10:28

well, this is the interesting thing. So a lot of people are familiar with morena and this was a little version of morena called skyla. I was the very first one in that office to ever have skyla. Oh, my gosh.

Speaker 1: 10:45

I don't even know if it's still on the market, but what I do know is that Skyla was removed. So, yeah, um, it really wasn't talked about, I mean, because I mean, of course you know they say it's gonna kind of, you know, disrupt your hormones and I had been on birth control before and you know, ortho tricycling and I didn't have any anything, um, but this one definitely did not respond well to um, what was going on. And then I ended up, um, yeah, making that decision. And then I also remember, after kind of everything started getting a little bit back to normal, the Lord was like I need you to say yes to something I'm asking you to do. And I was like, lord, this does not make any sense. Why am I saying yes to a makeup company? I don't even wear makeup, I don't even know what I'm doing with makeup. And I said yes.

Speaker 2: 11:39

And.

Speaker 1: 11:39

I was literally like promoted three times within a month. That's how I started Fierce Princess Warriors, because I said we, as women, have to be honest with what's going on. It doesn't matter what we see on the outside, it doesn't matter how strong of a person we look. You know, we look like we are. If we are not honest with each other, then we are literally giving ground to the enemy to continue to wreak havoc. And so I started fierce princess warrior, started worship nights in the community, started gathering the women together and then started sharing my testimony wow, and how?

Speaker 2: 12:15

how soon after did all this like come to be this? Yes, after your experience, like removing the I IUD.

Speaker 1: 12:23

It was pretty. It was pretty instant. It was like, let me think my mom had a hope unleashed conference and I was like, mom, why am I going to hope unleashed? I have no hope. And literally a few days before that conference there was, there was a silver lining and a grace got dropped on me and I ended up just coming alive. It was like whoa, I feel completely different. It was like I can't even, I can't even explain what happened. It's like my whole life just came back to life. It was like a spiritual defibrillator, um, and I awakened.

Speaker 1: 13:01

And then I remember going to that conference and I was sharing with the women like what I had literally just come out of, like I had no hope, I was suicidal, I was depressed, I was anxious. I was able to share and impart whatever God was doing in that moment to these women. And then, three days later, I got back to that same place of okay, I don't know what that was, but I'm back to being hopeless again, to that same place of okay, I don't know what that was, but I'm back to being hopeless again. And so it wasn't like it was.

Speaker 1: 13:33

It wasn't like instantaneous healing, it was a progressional healing that the Lord still said I have work to do because you're still operating from this place of performing for your identity and I will not have you be there. I want you to know that you are who you are, and what you are does not matter, because I love you for who you are and that's all about whose we are. So, but it was a 10 month, I would say, um, the whole journey was December of 2014 or 2015,. I think it's 2015,. I ended up saying yes and starting Fierce Princess Warriors.

Speaker 2: 14:13

Well, tell us a little bit more about Fierce Princess Warriors. What is that to those who don't know what that is?

Speaker 1: 14:20

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 14:20

So Fierce Princess Warriors is again one of those things just kind of like you, kristen, when we just hear something that the Lord is asking us to say yes to and we don't really understand what we're doing or why we're saying.

Speaker 1: 14:33

Yes, fierce Princess Warriors was really developed again to speak truth and identity over women and for us to be honest. But it was also just like for women to know that our spiritual authority and identity is in Christ, and out of our relationship with him he invites us into freedom, into all areas of our hearts and then whatever we're called to impact and it's based off the scripture Hebrews 4.11, for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And that just became an international group that we've had incredible praise reports of women not being able to get pregnant. They've had amazing pregnancies, blessed births, we've had healings take place. It's just a group of women coming together and supporting each other just to call them higher into their authority and identity.

Speaker 2: 15:41

It's beautiful Now. Is that local or online, or both?

Speaker 1: 15:45

No, it's, it's online, it's a Facebook group, um. And then from that, we started doing local community worship nights and we would involve worship all different you know, all different churches. And then we would do creative arts, we would have dancers, we would have painters, we would have spoken word.

Speaker 2: 16:02

We literally were just bringing the women together of my community and saying here's the place you belong and we want to be coming alongside of you and supporting you well, so this has been about about 10 years, is that right? It took about 10 months for you to come out of that time, right? Yeah, I'm thinking like John 10, 10, like life and life abundance. So now you're having this, you have this complete shift, right? And who did he show you you were created to be? Once you came out of that time, I was like you know, 10 months technically represents time of birthing. So who was created to be?

Speaker 1: 16:46

I know and that's and that's something that I think you know I never really had the opportunity to discover while I was working for the company. So that's the other thing. I ended up quitting my job with the company after 20 years in February of 2016, and started walking to an unknown journey, because I never really focused on me. I focused on others and making sure that they were being who God called them to be and helped launch them into their destiny. So I mean, he really he really, over time, has started to kind of unveil who he created me to be. But really, it really it's my position of being a daughter of his first and foremost and then, out of that, calling others into just identity. And I mean now what I'm doing. I've had people prophesy over me about Deborah and Esther's and you know all the, all those words that we get, but it's really the Lord's called me to um really be a reformer and reform things, um, out of just the um justice call that I have on my life.

Speaker 2: 17:57

Tell us a little bit more about that.

Speaker 1: 18:01

Well, you know, part of when I came out of um, just that season, I went up to a dare to be event with Natalie Grant and Charlotte Gamble and I will never forget Natalie was talking about you to ask him what is going to basically burn bright in your life and how can we partner with something that you know breaks God's heart? So, lord, break my heart for what breaks yours right, and the Lord just like dropped in my spirit. I want you to partner in this mission, I want you to be a part of this. And so, um, you know, started supporting her in that. But then I went the next step, further and I started finding out who in my community is doing this work, helping the girls that are, you know, wanting to get out of this life or those that had been rescued.

Speaker 1: 19:00

And to make the long story short, I started partnering with an organization um organization and started working with girls rescued from human trafficking and started to get to know their stories, started to walk them through healing, started to just see them for who they are, not how they can be used. And so, again, that's where kind of the justice started coming up. I'm like, oh no, this is of God's kids Like they will not be taken advantage of. And from that you know that's when I started getting the download of opening up the creative arts and therapy center for kids. Little did I know it was going to be for youth suicide prevention, until something happened locally in our community. The justice side of me said not on my watch, these are our youth. And then it's just kind of transpired into multiple different endeavors that I'm involved with now and it's just one step in front of the next, not knowing where God is leading me. But I say yes.

Speaker 2: 20:02

Can you say that again? Somebody needs to hear that. But I say, yes, can you say that again Somebody?

Speaker 1: 20:07

needs to hear that which part.

Speaker 2: 20:08

The last part, the the. The last part, the taking a step saying yes.

Speaker 1: 20:19

Yeah. So it's like it's just the Lord leading us one step at a time, not knowing where those steps are taking us, but saying yes and trusting in Him and just being obedient to go in those areas that maybe you've never even thought about going, because it's not about what you think you're doing in that area, it's about who God needs you to be in that area to occupy some of these areas and territories.

Speaker 2: 20:43

Yes, you know these, these areas and territories. Yes, well, I feel like somebody might be just wondering, like I'm not qualified to do any of that, like can you, can you just talk about that a little bit, like how did you ever face kind of, um, well, I, I don't, I can't do that, you know, I, I don't know Right, absolutely yeah.

Speaker 1: 21:05

When he called me to start up a creative arts and therapy center for kids, you know I have a PR media background in artist management and then, of course, I started my own uh conversion promotions, which is based off of um John 17 and really um coming together in spirit and truth. So I didn't have a mental health background. I was like Lord, the community already is kind of like what is Julie doing now? Like now I'm going to come in and I'm going to say, oh, we're going to start a creative arts and therapy center for kids. So absolutely I did not feel qualified.

Speaker 1: 21:38

I have a college education, I have a GOD. I mean I have a high school diploma in college, but I tell people I don't need a college degree, I have a GOD who places me in positions that I don't feel qualified for. So I mean, when I was asked to start working on campaigns and start managing political candidates, I didn't have any experience. I didn't go to any campaign school, I didn't go to any legislative like college to get a degree in political science. I did not know what I was doing. Right, but it's not about us being qualified. It's that phrase where it says God doesn't called. What is it? He doesn't um, he doesn't call the qualified. He equips the what is it? Oh?

Speaker 2: 22:24

it's.

Speaker 1: 22:24

He doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called yes, yeah, or god doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called right. So both of those. Again, it's not about what we think we're qualified to do, it's the qualifier and the coo, theco, the chief commanding officer who says it's time to enlist. Will you say yes? And part of the bootcamp is doing the thing.

Speaker 2: 22:52

Exactly, exactly, and I love that, I think. I mean, I think that's part of why we connected so much is because of that, the willingness to say yes when it looks I mean, literally it looks kind of crazy and sometimes we have to even remind ourselves. Like we say yes, and it may look crazy, but at the end of the day, like, like you said, the, you know people have letters behind their names that they put on their emails, and for me me too it's like the g o d, like you want to ask me what my qualifications are exactly, probably the best one you could ever come up with if you ask me exactly.

Speaker 2: 23:31

Yes, yep, exactly well, and two when a producer.

Speaker 1: 23:35

You know when a producer came to me and he's like, hey, julie, I want to do a movie, can you help me with this? I've never been part of producing a movie, but because I know people and because I know how to get people excited about things that they might not be excited about before, then I was a production and casting coordinator for a film and then it moved into additional film promotions, and so it really is not about where you think you need to go. It's about where does God need you to go?

Speaker 2: 24:06

Man, so many keys here you're dropping. So when you look back, like which one of these yeses would you say were kind of the most crazy and maybe you were a little hesitant to step into?

Speaker 1: 24:19

easy and maybe you were a little hesitant to step into, um, I would say it was definitely, um, the art and therapy center for kids. Um, just because it literally was a blueprint that the Lord had given me. And then it became real, tangible and real when, um, my husband's dad took his own life. And so when we were, when I was kind of given that blue front and was down at School of Creativity at Bethel, I came back and I was really excited and I started to engage the different counselors and the different artists and saying, hey, could we see something like this happen? So I was really wanting them to take it on and then kind of create a coalition out of it because of their experience and professionalism.

Speaker 1: 25:38

And then, two days after I spoke at a conference on literally how the Lord healed and delivered me from this season that I went through, that Joseph season, we received a call that my husband's dad had taken his own life and his name was Rod. And so the Lord said I'm going to redeem and I'm going to reclaim this, this incident, and the Lord is going to get, you know, the glory and it's not going to be about what the enemy did. So, um, he's like, yeah, you know that creative art therapy center for kids and this kind of dialogue I'm having with the Lord. He's like, yeah, you're supposed to do that. I said God, I'm not like what, like why? And then he gave me the name Elrod. Well, he gave me the name Rod.

Speaker 1: 26:25

I wanted to, you know, I wanted to memorialize my husband's dad and I said, lord Rod Center, is there something different? And then he started showing me like Elohim El Shaddai and I was like, oh, elrod. And then he gave me the acronym empowering lives, reclaiming our destiny. And we had that open for five years and countless kids and families were restored and kids' lives were saved because we just said, said yes, we had no money in the bank. I met a licensed professional counselor through a mutual friend and the lord, just quick in that relationship and we ended up forming it within two weeks of meeting um, and so again, it's just like I, I can't, I, I can't make this stuff up and I don't do it to boast you know of what I'm able.

Speaker 1: 27:18

It's what God can do Most of his grace. When he puts his grace, the operational power of God comes on an assignment that he wants you to say yes to, and when he asks you to release it, then you need to release it and don't hold on to it, because then you will have the old grace and things will be hard. And I told Mary and I said we will not strive to make something happen because we will have to strive to sustain it, and I will not go back into the performance production of just the striving. And we stayed true to that to the very end.

Speaker 2: 27:59

Yeah, oh my gosh, that is so true. I look to that all the time. I think somebody at one point had said whatever you build in striving, you have to maintain in striving. And I came out of that world of striving and go, go, go, go, you know, and just generational on my end. It's like in my blood to be kind of a workhorse and to go through that, you know, transformation it's for me. It was uncomfortable, Was it uncomfortable for you to kind of it's almost recalibrating, you know.

Speaker 1: 28:33

Yes, yeah it's. I mean it absolutely is. It's undoing a mindset that you have. And then you feel like you're lazy when you're not doing anything, yeah, yeah, because your body is literally on autopilot for produce, produce, produce, produce. And then when you're not producing and you're resting, then you feel guilty that you're not producing.

Speaker 1: 28:56

So, it is a lot of mental gymnastics that go on and the spiritual warfare I mean it's also warfare because the Lord is trying to undo so that he can place new things. But it means we have to be intentional about letting go of things that we may feel like, well, we need to hold on to these because they're ours. It's like no they're not.

Speaker 2: 29:19

Well, I was just. I was curious, as you. You know we're stepping into these places. I often I love coming alongside gals who are like doing wild and crazy things and like did you have people like in your corner that were cheering you on, or did you have a lot of people going? What are you doing, like what is Julie Where'd?

Speaker 1: 29:39

Julie go.

Speaker 1: 29:42

You know, I've been, I've been very blessed to have a, an amazing group of women around me that, yes, has cheered me on me, that, yes, has cheered me on, and it's a small and mighty group and that I'm very thankful for.

Speaker 1: 30:00

Because there are some that, yes, they don't get it and I'm not going to try to convince them, because if they're more concerned about what I'm doing that God has called me to do and they have more time to think about it, then they obviously are not doing what it is that God is calling them to do. Because I don't have time to be a police on other people's lives and ministries and their assignments. I just don't. And so I don't tolerate it and I don't engage in it and I don't extend any emotional energy towards it because it's counterproductive. Extend any emotional energy towards it because it's counterproductive. It's not going to change If God sends me, you know, home, and he says, hey, I've asked you to do this, but fear has kept you from doing it and I will not allow the fear of man. So I, I think some people that have a hard time with um, just man's approval.

Speaker 2: 30:53

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 30:54

I think they have a hard time understanding why I'm not intimidated by man, but I think it's because of what I've walked through in my life and I've had, you know, I've been sat down by Christian leaders telling me that I'm doing too much and I need to sit down and stop. But I take that in. But then there's a fire in me that gets lit because I will not allow someone to tell me what to do when God has asked me to do something. And there's an increase and there's, just like this, confirmation after confirmation, like, yes, there's wisdom. Absolutely, I seek wisdom and counsel on you know things and I make sure that you know.

Speaker 1: 31:36

Two or more agree and there is a level of maturity that I have learned along the ways, but again that I've learned over time. Did I make mistakes? Absolutely. Was I a bird let out of a cage when I left the company and I could do anything and everything? Yes, absolutely. When I left the company and I could do anything and everything? Yes, absolutely. But it's made me who I am today and there's a grit that I have that no one can can take.

Speaker 2: 32:02

Absolutely. I mean, I think of how many truly. I mean I could think of several people that I've talked to in the last few weeks who, whether family or, you know, acquaintances, that really struggle with that fear of man. What would you say to them? You know, like to to really get delivered of that.

Speaker 1: 32:23

Yeah, well, I think it has to do with again where is your identity and are you expecting someone to approve of you and what you're doing? And you're trusting in them more than you are trusting in God and you're depending on them more than you are on God.

Speaker 2: 32:41

And.

Speaker 1: 32:41

I would say that honestly, you know, the Lord is the one who wants to. He wants to enter in those areas, he wants to be the one that we trust and depend fully on. And so when we put that expectation on man, we're setting ourselves up because we will be disappointed, we will be taken advantage of, we will be misled, we will be mistreated, and I think it just gets to the point where it's happened enough and you're like forget it, like I'm not going to allow someone to keep me from doing what God has called me to do. So there is this level of of courage and again I think it has to do. You know, I've been, like I said, I've been raised in a Christian home my entire life. I've been working for Christian ministry my entire life. And now I'm going into these spaces where I'm not going in as a Christian. I'm going in because they see something that I have, that they want for me to be part of what they're doing.

Speaker 1: 33:45

And it looks a lot different. So I tell you what right now, Kristen, I'm probably going to have a lot of religious people coming after me because I'm not starting new projects or initiatives, essentially, that are faith based. I had someone ask me. They said, well, is this a? Um, a Christ centered, you know program? I said, well, Christ is in me and I'm in the center of it. So, yeah, it's Christ centered, but is it? Is it saying that it's like faith based and it's it's Jesus all over? No, because where I'm at in my life right now, the Lord is utilizing me in very strategic ways and I have to have wisdom and discernment as to when I say something. It's that quote that says you know, preach the gospel, but use words when only necessary. That's where I'm at right now, in a very strategic place that I do not lead with. I love Jesus, Right, Right, I do love Jesus, but it's like going into those territories where you will get. You will get kicked out before you even have a chance to be in the room.

Speaker 2: 34:51

Yeah, that is so good. I'm just thinking you know, like you're a ninja, just seeing like going in, like a ninja, can you, could you give an example of like what that looks like stepping into those places, and you don't have to like disclose exactly you know going or what you're doing, but somebody who's like, well, how would I even do that? Like, what does that look like?

Speaker 1: 35:16

Yeah, absolutely. I mean for me. I know I have a huge government call. In my life I've been trying to run from it, but it continues to follow me.

Speaker 1: 35:24

So, going into those spaces of government where there's a lot of political power at play and there's a lot of conversations that seem somewhat distorted and confused because the other side and the agenda is really loud, and so I study the opposite side.

Speaker 1: 35:49

You know, it's like you study the other side and what they're doing so that you can bring in some very strategic language that gets them to realize, wow, they know what they're talking about and not what I think I want to say. So when you are in those rooms and you hear the conversations, not always are you saying something, but you are paying attention to the language. So then you, when you feel like the Lord is kind of impressed upon you to say something, you say it and it's like that sharp double-edged sword that just goes in and you're not saying anything. That really is different. But because we have authority in what we speak, because Jesus is inside of us, the Holy Spirit is inside of us. It counters the things that are being discussed and I've seen literally people and their conversations shift after I say something and there's such like a. I don't know how to explain this, but it's actually. It's very interesting, because I feel more intimidated and insecure when I'm speaking to a group of pastors and leaders than when I'm speaking to government officials.

Speaker 2: 37:02

That's so interesting. What do you sense that is?

Speaker 1: 37:06

Religion. It's the religious spirit that I'm coming up against, because I'm not doing it in a way that some pastors and leaders would approve of. Now I'm a licensed minister, but I don't go into rooms saying I'm a licensed minister. I'm here to talk to you. I don't need any title. I don't need. I mean, people call me pastor, apostle, whatever they can call me, whatever they want. I don't need that to be able to speak or to be acknowledged.

Speaker 1: 37:34

Say that again. You know a lot of pastors are doing a lot of damage or they're expecting a level of allegiance because they're a pastor, and when I was younger, pastors were never authoritative figures in my life because we traveled to all these different churches. We were like the guests of the house, so we would always get invited to the pastor's house. We would get invited out with the pastor. So I have never seen a pastor as someone who tells you what to do or someone that you need to get approval from.

Speaker 2: 38:08

Never, yeah, and it seems like that's been upticking quite a bit. Wouldn't you say yes? Hmm, well, what is the solution? You are a solutionist, I love your solution. So what would you say to people who are finding themselves in situations like that?

Speaker 1: 38:33

Well, I mean, I think it's simple. It's be who God is calling you to be for that day and again. It's not something about saying the right thing, performing the right way. It's about intentionality, and that's going to come from intimacy. It has to come from our intimacy behind closed doors and a lot of peeling back layers, a lot of undoing mindsets, a lot of replacing our indoctrination If you've been in the church for a while, not being afraid to ask questions, not being afraid to hold others accountable when you have relationship and there's trust built. Yeah, I think we have to be so careful who we allow to speak into our lives, because there's too many that are doing it for personal agenda and motive.

Speaker 1: 39:27

Yeah, yeah, and relationship is built at the speed of trust. So if you don't have trust with that person and you feel like you're getting manipulated, controlled, coerced, you need to pay attention and not just go along with it because they're in leadership or they're a pastor or they're an authoritative figure. Listen to that still small voice. If there's a check in your spirit, then check. Why is there a check?

Speaker 2: 39:55

Right, check the check.

Speaker 1: 39:56

Yeah, spirit, then check. Why is there a check Right? Check the check.

Speaker 2: 39:59

Yeah, check the check Exactly. It's so good. I mean, we just really have to be so discerning. There's so many voices, there's so much noise and it can sound good. Right, things can sound good. But is it God, is it his for you, like, is this his best for you, right?

Speaker 1: 40:19

Well, the devil comes disguised as an angel of light. So why are we surprised?

Speaker 2: 40:25

Yeah, Such times. So I love like just even the last. Like I said, I think it's been a few years that we've been connected, but it's been really exciting to just hear little snippets of what's happening in your life. So what, what's happening now? Like, what is Julie up to now?

Speaker 1: 40:44

Yeah. So what's happening now is I've been placed in a community position where I get to offer resources to our community, which is such an amazing opportunity because it's what I've been doing, what I'm passionate about doing. Bring me a problem. I want to help solve it. I want to get you connected to the right people.

Speaker 1: 41:08

I don't like people feeling stuck or I don't like people feeling like there isn't a solution. So I've been also stepping into a lot of advocacy with youth. So I've been coming alongside of families and working through some challenges with runaway youth, with girls being human trafficked, with ones that are in prison, and I've just been a voice of encouragement and tenacity with families. So my heart is really for this next generation. I really am passionate about seeing this generation just live out their full potential, and so there's some other initiatives that I'm working on that will impact youth. Another one is a suicide prevention. That's a worldwide organization that I'm chair of policy and advocacy for. So I've been doing a lot more in the government space and kind of getting to the root of why we have the dysfunction we have here in Oregon with our just departments and kind of asking some questions and staying pretty resilient and holding people accountable.

Speaker 2: 42:21

So and do you have a lot of people like coming alongside you to to help? I know you're like a mobilizer, which is amazing.

Speaker 1: 42:29

Yes, yeah, so I have, um, I do, and what's really neat is Megan and I and I know you've had her on we are doing she Leads Oregon, which is a part of she Leads America. So it's a national organization where women come together and bring faith-based solutions to modern day challenges and really the intercessors and the influencers are interconnecting, and so we've been doing incredible stuff with that as well. But then we also started Crisis Intervention Coalition, and that's another thing where we're trying to put boots on the ground for these different crises and bringing these coalition teams around the different areas where people are passionate about. So that's kind of been in the works since November of 2023. And Megan and I are just really stewarding that and just really trusting in the Lord for his timing. But the people that he brought, he's brought along the side of us and we're just, you know, just incredible. Yeah, we're just incredibly thankful that we have women that do want to see change.

Speaker 2: 43:39

So, yeah, great things to come, Since you're heading up these initiatives. Um, what do you need Like if somebody is listening and they're like, how can I help? Or what? What do you need help with? How can people help if they're led to?

Speaker 1: 43:56

So my thing that I'm just getting ready to kind of release I really have done it kind of more on the back end, just with my kind of spiritual advisors and just asking them is we need crisis intervention rooms for these runaway youth, for those that are coming off the streets after being trafficked and they want out of the life, and for women escaping domestic violence and they have children or they don't have children?

Speaker 1: 44:26

Because what I have found is that when people, you know, uh, suggest shelters um, that's the last place they want to go, and with the agencies and all of their data and all of their reporting that they need to do, the questions and the assessments that they're asked to complete prior to even getting into a safe place, is just asinine. And so my thing, my passion, is the 12 to 17 year old group, and so I'm starting to work on this program called safe haven rooms, where it allows rooms to be sponsored by business and businesses and churches. So when a crisis arises and we need immediate placement for a runaway youth or someone that wants off the streets, because we had a situation like that, and we need immediate placement for a runaway youth or someone that wants off the streets because we had a situation like that and we couldn't find her housing that they have a place to go and it's a safe place and they can decompress and they can rest and they're not bombarded with questions because they are coming out of fighting to survive.

Speaker 1: 45:33

So, that's my initiative right now is really creating these safe haven rooms.

Speaker 2: 45:39

Wow. So where would they like? Would it be housing or like hotels, Like? What does that tangibly look like?

Speaker 1: 45:47

Yeah, I appreciate that. You know it can look like. You know housing, it can be hotels. I know when we had a mom that was escaping, we ended up rallying some people together and they helped get three nights of a hotel, because her abuser was was very dangerous and we even had to call the police and say, okay, this is his vehicle, we need you to patrol this. She's never left and she's scared for her life and the kids are scared, and she's scared for her life and the kids are scared.

Speaker 1: 46:17

And so, yeah, I've also talked to a business owner who, um, you know, purchases homes for, uh, sober living, and there's conversation about having a home set aside for this. So, um, really, it's one of those things that I do not feel qualified at all to be in this space. I don't know anything about all of this, but what I do know is there's a need, and as long as I keep getting the need out there, the Lord's going to connect with the right ones who know how to make this happen no, seriously, like I want to just repeat what you said, like I don't know, but basically god knows and he'll give you the people that do know yeah, because it's much.

Speaker 1: 46:59

it's much greater than anything that I am able to even think about doing, but all I know is these are our kids, these are our future leaders. We're failing them, and I've heard that time and time again from the youth that are caught up in the systems, and it breaks my heart, because these are large agencies that are getting funded to help, but when a crisis arises, they're rarely there.

Speaker 2: 47:25

Safe haven, and is this starting in your state and you foresee it going like to the united states and potentially global? Is this what I'm seeing?

Speaker 1: 47:40

you know, it's really interesting when things like this happen, because of how connected I am and you get this as a connector. Because of how connected I am and you get this as a connector, that, um, I'm just saying, lord, here's my small fish. I don't know what I'm doing. All I know is that you dropped this in my spirit and I responded and I created. You know what I need to do to share what it is and whatever you do with it as far as multiplication and impact, it's yours.

Speaker 2: 48:13

That's so good. I mean, I, I feel like there's just there's so much on this because you know, you do hear a lot of. You know, at least in my area there's there's sober homes, there's a lot for, you know, addiction recovery. But I do know I did interview somebody locally here, stephanie Page. She has a she's on mission, you know, to combat human trafficking and wants to have a home, you know, eventually, and that's it's been a big dream. It hasn't happened yet.

Speaker 2: 48:42

But yeah, you know, I don't. You know I don't know the inner depths of that world either. I don't know the inner depths of that world either. I want to be obliterated myself. I know that there's others out there who have a heart for it.

Speaker 2: 48:57

So if you are listening and you have any connections, please reach out to Julie in any of these areas that she's immersed in. As you can hear, it's not just one thing and as you can hear, it's not just one thing. And I want to highlight that because I think a lot of times, at least in my world and you know people that I've worked with and encountered, you know the world would say just do one thing, just narrow it in. Do the one thing, and you guys can probably hear, julie is like Proverbs 31 woman. She's got her hands in some things, and yet I can tell that there's like she's resting, she's taking time to be with the Lord. So what does that look like for you? I feel like we just need to go here because maybe somebody is like well, she's a mom, she's, you know, got her hands in all of the things that she's mentioned, like how does this even function?

Speaker 1: 49:58

How does she? Yeah, no, that's a good, that's a good question. And again I go back to you know, when the Lord asked Mary right, I mean to carry his son. To carry his son, my goodness, I don't think she felt very qualified, and so she treasured those things and she pondered them in her heart. And so it's not all about sharing everything right away, it's not about getting it out to the masses, it's about intentional purpose of God. You're asking me to steward something that I don't feel capable of doing, so you're going to have to teach me. It's literally being in school of the spirit.

Speaker 1: 50:40

And I would say that you know, kristen, when I did the job last year, when I was going back and forth to Florida to help open up a school, and I ended up, you know, resigning from that job to Florida to help open up a school, and I ended up, you know, resigning from that job. It took me a couple of months where I really was just downtrodden. I was like Lord, I thought this was it, but again he had to bring me back to knowing whose I am, in him. So it's not a formula, it's a day-to-day encounter, doing life with the Lord. It's just, I cannot say it enough. It's like invite the Lord into every step of your day, every process, and say, lord, show me, it's all about doing, saying what the Father is doing and saying, and that's my thing. I only do what the father is doing and if I don't feel like he's in it for me personally, I don't agree with it and I say no to a lot of things, especially having a PR company. I am inundated with people that want me to help promote their book, their ministry, their product, and I say no a lot. Because, again, my direction right now, and it's taken a while for me to get here and that's why there is a lot of facets of my life that you're hearing, but a lot of the things that I've shared I'm no longer doing, and so the Lord is really honing me in on this age group, the 12 to 17 year olds.

Speaker 1: 52:20

So if I am asked to do something and I don't see it impacting this age group, I'm out. I won't say yes because I have to say no. So someone else says yes. Sometimes our yeses, if we do them just oh my gosh, no one else will do it. You're actually taking away someone else's opportunity to be bold and courageous and step into an area where maybe they don't feel qualified but because you said yes, they don't get that opportunity. Don't feel qualified but because you said yes, they don't get that opportunity. So we cannot hoard in the kingdom. We cannot just take it all and not disperse it, like we are kingdom resourcers and kingdom resources. But we have to know is this a giving or is this a receiving season? Yeah, absolutely, and we have to know how to do both to operate fully.

Speaker 2: 53:14

So much goodness I you know I actually was commending somebody earlier today because she was provided some you know what on paper would look like some really amazing opportunities. But they would completely be out of alignment. And you know, at times it's hard to say no to those things. But I said to her girl I am so proud of your, I call it. Know your no, because N-O is within the K-N-O-W. You have to know your no, right? You get warmed up in that.

Speaker 2: 53:45

And you said you've been honed in, you know really getting what I call alignment with your assignments, like you're, you're gonna know it, and then there's gonna be times where we might kind of like go sideways and then he'll bring us back. Yeah, yeah, you're kind. Yeah, yeah, you're thankful to that. He is fun. You know every day, like said to just be available, like what is, what are we doing today? Lord, it's so interesting, doesn't it.

Speaker 1: 54:15

Yeah, he's. He's the one who has our orders of the day.

Speaker 2: 54:19

So good, well, we'll wrap up Um. We'd love to have you on again sometime um to share again if you're led to um, but would you be open to sharing with that one that's listening today? Is there anything else that you would like to speak over that one who's listening, any wisdom or encouragement? And then would you pray us out today?

Speaker 1: 54:41

Absolutely. Yeah, I just feel like you know. The Lord just wants you to know that you're doing well and that there is a just a level of just grace on your life, and to not compare yourself with others and also don't compete. Also don't compete. We need to collaborate together because we have a world that is asking for answers and we have that spiritual antidote. So don't try to be in someone else's shoes. Really ask the Lord who am I in your eyes and what is it that I'm supposed to be doing? And keep your hands open. Don't type this things, because when the Lord wants you to drop them, it's because there's something in someone else that he wants you to, um, get to know and just be in alignment with. So, lord, I do. I just thank you for today, god. I thank you that you are just such a father that you love us so well, lord, and I just pray, lord, that just your love would penetrate the hearts and minds of those that are listening.

Speaker 1: 56:06

Today, god, we do pray for an unlocking. If there are blockages or if there are things that people need to let go of or there has been false identities placed on them, god, we ask that you would reveal your identity to them, lord, and that by knowing who you are and whose they are, god, you would start to heal those places where people have placed expectations on them for things that may be personally motivated by others' desires and ways of living in the flesh and not the spirit. And we just pray, lord, that your word would come alive and that, just everywhere they look, they would be able to encounter you and see in a different way. Lord, we ask for new sight, new ears to hear, a new mouth to speak and a new mindset to know that we operate from a heavenly perspective and we want to see heaven on earth. Lord, we want to see your kingdom come.

Speaker 1: 57:14

So, lord, I just ask that, even as I pray today, lord, that things would just illuminate, that things that may have looked dark, that there will start to be seen new colors of light, and that we are called to bring light into darkness. And as one light goes into a dark room, it just fills up. So, lord, give us boldness, give us faith, give us courage to say yes, even when we don't know what we're saying yes to. So I just bless those that are listening, bless the families, bless the assignments, bless the ministries, bless the jobs, bless everything that we're doing, lord, because we are part of your family and we thank you and praise you in Jesus' name.

Speaker 2: 57:57

Amen. Thank you, julie, and thank you for being a brave voice. Who's setting so many free? I'm going to close with the anchoring verse for Hope Unlocked, and it's May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace and believing so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. And that's Romans 15, 13. So I will be back with another episode next week and I will be sure to add Julie's contact information to the show notes, so definitely reach out if you have questions. Have a great day. Bye.