Michelle Layer Rahal
Michelle Layer Rahal is a published educational consultant and former news radio journalist with degrees in Theater Arts and Education. Most recently, she served as the youth and family ministry director of her church before devoting herself full-time to writing for God’s kingdom purposes. The Indie-award winning author of Straining Forward is passionate about spiritual formation and publishes a regular blog on providence and perseverance. Michelle lives in the Washington, DC area with her fun-loving husband, Greg.
In today’s episode Michelle shares her journey writing her book “Straining Forward”, and sharing Minh Phuong Towner’s story of hope and healing. When Minh spoke at Michelle’s church one Sunday morning, Michelle knew she had to tell her story. Michelle was drawn to Minh’s spirit. Despite her difficult childhood, she exuded joy. But how? Michelle had never written a book before, but her nervousness soon gave way to curiosity and excitement. It took 10 years to complete the manuscript for “Straining Forward”, and while the journey was long and difficult, it was filled with joy. As Michelle shares, she is forever changed for having taken this long and difficult journey with Minh Phuong Towner through abuse, torture, escape, poverty, neglect, and eventually redemption.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned while writing this book is that there is great joy in caring for and about others, especially people who don’t look like me or have the same background as I do. Getting out of my bubble has revealed to me a world in desperate need of care and compassion, and those are two things I can provide, two things anyone can provide.”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bZHrtjAzbksbLWNaak1NM
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stories-of-inspiring-joy/id1510488632
To learn more and connect with Michelle, visit her website at www.KeepStrainingForward.com or follow her on Instagram @michellerahalauthor and Facebook @KeepStrainingForward. Paperback and audiobook copies of her book, Straining Forward, can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.