Daughtership and Destiny: Keys to Unlocking the Confidence the World is Waiting For with Elaine Lankford ❖ 247

70 Miles for a Mentor? Mary walked 70 miles just to connect with Elizabeth. Stop waiting for affirmation—find the woman who will empower the miracle you're carrying. This is how women raise up women.
​—Elaine Lankford

EMPOWER THE MIRACLE

 EPISODES HIGHLIGHTS

• The Power of Divine Interruption: God will intentionally disrupt a comfortable, successful life (e.g., job loss, family illness) to save you and redirect your focus when your centeredness on Christ has shifted.​​

• Pain is the Catalyst for Purpose: Opposition and rejection (even church hurt) are opportunities. The pain is not wasted; it's the thorns in the nest that force the eaglet to fly and discover a greater, global purpose.
• Flipping the Hurt: To overcome hurt, one must dig deep into why the hurt occurred (the "turt turt"). When you concentrate on the path God has set you on, the bitterness of past rejection lessens.
• Daughtership is Divine Authority: The most empowering truth is understanding the Sonship/Daughtership mandate: You are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. This instant shift in focus moves women from feeling unqualified to operating in divine authority.
• The Elizabeth and Mary Model: This biblical narrative illustrates the power of female connection. Mary was prophesied over, empowered, and encouraged by Elizabeth, who helped her prepare for the miracle inside her. This is the model for women pulling up women and validating the God-sized dream in each other's "womb."​

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Summary
In this episode of the Interviewing Jesus podcast, host Kristen Wambach speaks with Elaine Lankford, a passionate advocate for Christian female entrepreneurs. Elaine shares her transformative journey from nursing to ministry, emphasizing the importance of faith, community, and empowering women to recognize their worth in Christ. The conversation explores overcoming personal challenges, the significance of service, and the impact of church hurt. Elaine discusses her initiatives, including the She Steps Forward Conference and outreach efforts in Kenya, while encouraging women to embrace their God-given potential and confidence.

Our focus today is not on avoiding pain, but on realizing that every piece of rejection, every moment of loss, is a divinely appointed catalyst for your ultimate God-inspired DNA calling.
From Bubble Wrap to Divine InterruptionElaine described her early faith as that of a "bubble wrap Christian"—a life of comfort, integrity, and success. But as Jesus often does, He disrupted the comfortable to reveal a greater truth. After a series of devastating losses—career, family, health—Elaine found herself in ashes. This is where the conversations with Jesus begin. Elaine realized, "God is a good God. Sometimes He sets us down because the Bible tells us He chases and chastises those that He loves."

The key takeaway for your faith journey podcast is this: God was pulling her out to save her and shift her focus back to where it truly belonged. Your career loss, your unexpected change in life pattern—it is all part of a divine sequence proving that nothing is ever wasted.

Opposition is an OpportunityOne of the most challenging barriers to Christian spiritual growth is church hurt. Many feel rejected when their Spirit-led living pushes them beyond traditional church structures. Elaine openly shared the pain of this resistance, but she found the key to freedom: recognizing the "Paul and Peter Calling."

Some are called to be Peters—the cornerstones of the local church. Others, like Elaine, are called to be Pauls—the adventurers sent outside the walls to the community and the nations. She recognized: "I know that I’m called to be a Paul. I respect those who are called to be a Peter. And so just understanding my role in the kingdom assignment is how I move forward."

The rejection you face is not a sign of failure; it is the thorns in the nest that force the eaglet to fly. Elaine’s divine wisdom for those stuck in bitterness is simple: "Don't be bitter in the church hurt. Learn the lesson and look at it as an opportunity. Opposition is an opportunity." Flip the pain on its head, and you will find your purpose.

CONNECT WITH ELAINE LANKFORD

Website: She Steps Forward Coaching
​Facebook: She Steps Forward
Instagram: She Steps Forward Coaching
She Steps Forward International

Elaine is a passionate advocate for Christian female entrepreneurs, dedicated to helping them launch and grow successful businesses, ministries, and nonprofits. As the founder of She Steps Forward Coaching and She Steps Forward International, she empowers women to step confidently into their God-sized dreams.

Through She Steps Forward Coaching, Elaine offers targeted strategic planning and individualized support to aspiring female entrepreneurs. As a certified John Maxwell Team member, she brings expertise in speaking, writing, leadership development, and entrepreneurial coaching to her faith-based approach.

Expanding her vision globally, Elaine established She Steps Forward International (SSFI), a nonprofit organization that equips both American and African women to lead impactful ventures. SSFI’s flagship event, the She Steps Forward International Women’s Conference, unites like-minded female entrepreneurs annually – each March in the United States and May in Africa – fostering a global community of inspiration and shared wisdom.

SSFI’s commitment to nurturing new talent is evident in its Seed Money Grant program, which supports rising Christian female entrepreneurs in the U.S. and Africa. The organization also extends its reach by engaging in humanitarian work in Nairobi, Kenya.

Leadership development has been woven throughout Elaine’s personal and professional life. Prior to her current work, Elaine has held many leadership roles both within the church and in her professional life.

Elaine’s diverse background includes over 16 years in clinical nursing, where she held various leadership roles, including Pain Management Coordinator and nurse practitioner. She later transitioned to advisory roles in medical record documentation, coding, and auditing, showcasing her adaptability and commitment to excellence in healthcare.

Within the local church environment, she served for years as a small group leader, co-organized and co-led a mission trip, and ministered on a prayer team.
In 2023, Elaine obtained her Master of Arts in Theology degree from Jake's Divinity School (JDS) in partnership with Vanguard University. She also completed a Women in Leadership certificate program through JDS and received a 2022-2023 Outstanding Student Award. Toward the end of her studies, she was thrilled to be chosen to present at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. She plans to continue her studies at JDS in the near future and aspires to complete a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree focused on Spirit-filled Global Leadership in the African Diaspora.
She self-published her first book, Love Echoed Back, in 2014 and plans to return to writing in the future. Her leadership articles have appeared in the Suffolk News Herald and Inside Business. She has been featured on several podcast shows, including HER Talk Show, Love & Beloved, The Ella Ray Show, Be Inspired God’s Way, and Women Awakening.

A Virginia native, Elaine has been married to her husband, Darrell, for over 31 years. They have one son, Nicholas, and a beloved beagle named Apollo.

​By leveraging her faith, gifts, and experience, Elaine is fostering a new generation of Christian female leaders ready to make a positive impact in the marketplace and their communities.

​Our annual She Steps Forward International Women's Conference was built for Christian women who have a drive and a passion to step into the world of entrepreneurship and make a significant difference. We are here to help women founders finally launch their God-given dreams - one business, one ministry, one nonprofit at a time!

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I know that I'm called to be a Paul. I respect those who are called to be a Peter. And so just understanding my role in the kingdom assignment is how I move forward." --Elaine Lankford

Listen Live Recording

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Elaine Lankford
02:49 Elaine's Journey from Nursing to Ministry
06:33 Finding Purpose in Pain and Loss
12:30 Empowering Women Through She Steps Forward
16:41 Building Confidence in Women
18:58 Overcoming Church Hurt and Rejection
21:42 The Role of Pain in Personal Growth
25:18 Forgiveness and Moving Forward
26:38 Unveiling Church Dynamics
29:12 Finding Community Beyond Church Walls
30:42 Divine Guidance in Outreach
35:42 Empowering Female Leadership
40:34 The Role of Women in Scripture
46:57 Releasing God-Sized Dreams
49:13 Transformative Journeys: Faith and Ministry
50:57 Empowering Women: Identity and Leadership
51:22 _Intro ONLY Video no sound IJP.mp4

When you can take that pain and flip it on its head and use it for the greater good, that's when we find our purpose. Nothing is ever wasted." --Elaine Lankford

BINGE LISTEN

INTERVIEWING JESUS

Doubt & Presence: Finding Faith in the Unseen, a heartfelt journey with Desiree Taylor

INTERVIEWING JESUS

Divine Withdrawals: Harnessing God's Investment with Dr. Sheila Jackson

INTERVIEWING JESUS

Change the mailing address of your Thoughts with Polly Eckert

The Audacity of DaughtershipFor every aspiring entrepreneur or ministry leader, imposter syndrome is a heavy weight. Elaine reveals the instant focus-shifter: embracing our Sonship (Daughtership) authority. True confidence comes from moving past what others say and focusing solely on what God says about you.

The most empowering truth is understanding the Biblical insights that define your status: You are the head and not the tail, and above and not beneath. When you embody this truth—when you stand in the authority of your God-inspired DNA calling—the world, truly, is waiting for what you have to offer.
The Elizabeth and Mary Model: Women Raising Up WomenOur discussion culminated in one of the most beautiful pictures of connecting with God and female empowerment in scripture: the story of Elizabeth and Mary.

The angel’s subtle instruction led Mary to walk 70 miles. Why? Because she needed Elizabeth. She needed to be prophesied over, affirmed, and empowered by an older woman who understood the impossible miracle she was carrying. As Elaine powerfully stated, "Elizabeth was there to comfort and empower and encourage Mary... This is a beautiful picture of how women are supposed to be raising up women."

This is the key to unlocking your destiny. You must find your Elizabeth—the person who will validate the miracle in your womb (your business, your book, your ministry) and speak fulfillment over it.

Remember the word that came before this conversation: "Your gift will go where you cannot go, but it is the measure of your heart that determines how far it reaches." Let your heart expand for the global kingdom today!

MEET THE BLOGGER >

Thank you for joining us here on Interviewing Jesus Podcast. It is our privilege to gather and share the content that Jesus is revealing to us. Continuing my Quest to answer 70 of the most asked questions by Famous Podcasters and Interviewers. Last week's question. 
Today, this is our thought:  Who do you consider to be your biggest competitor?
Myself! We are all wrestling with a measure of striving, and with Holy Spirit's help, we keep it under check. Things I compete with: time, expectations, and dreams just around the corner.

📥 Call to ActionReady to step forward into your God-sized dream? Identify one area of past rejection or "church hurt" in your life and commit to flipping the pain into purpose this week. Then, visit the show notes to connect with Elaine Lankford at shestepsforwardcoaching.com to find your Elizabeth through her coaching and conferences!