In 1996 I made some business cards for my hairstylist. She referred me to other people but I kept resisting the business since I was still working full time. However, God kept sending me people to fulfill their needs. In 2000 after working for HP for 12 years, they decided to totally restructure the company. Due to my jealous displaced manager, I made the decision to turn my side hustle into a full time advertising business. In addition to printing, I learned how to create websites. My resignation letter was actually the first page of my website.
After I resigned from HP, my husband and I decided to move our family from California to Atlanta. California real estate was booming in 2000 and we were blessed to sell our home with over a $100,000 gain. Along with our home sale I also had over $100,000 in my 401k, stock options, savings, no debt and excellent credit. Our plan was for me to work my business and my husband would get a job to cover the health benefits for our family.
We immediately found a new church home and I became active in ministry. Pastor William Sheals of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church always preached about being an entrepreneur. Due to a deacon stepping down, I became the leader of the Entrepreneurs Ministry. Also since BSF is international, I was again asked to serve as a Children’s Leader. When September 11, 2001 (9/11 Attacks) happened I was already on my knees praying in the BSF leadership circle.
Leap into Persecution
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9
We had a huge 5 bedroom, 3 bath home in the suburbs of Atlanta and we agreed to let my mother-in-law move in with us since she was struggling financially. After about 1 year his mother and I had a disagreement and during her process of yelling at me she said, “You are a bad mother for teaching your children about Jesus when He doesn’t exist.” Oh My God! I didn’t know I invited a non-believer to live in our home! After that incident so many things started happening that affected our home and marriage.
My husband said she should leave and I kept telling him that I was a better woman but my love was not sincere. After several months I finally realized how much her evilness was affecting our home. The day my husband asked her to leave, she picked up a knife and threatened to kill me. She was a large woman and he had to hold her back while I called the police to remove her from our home.