We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robin Austin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robin below.

Hi Robin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I was inspired by faith in Christ. His still small voice revealed to me multiple times to evangelize within a healing ministry, combining Bible study with what I call SEA – Self Expressed Art through Bible journaling. It wasn’t just one moment, but a gentle, persistent calling that kept coming back to me.
My background in computer programming and studying arts in college prepared me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. The technical skills helped me build online platforms and navigate e-commerce, while my arts training gave me the creative foundation to express faith visually. God was weaving together my education, my entrepreneurial experience as an ACN Independent Business Owner, and my creative passions to create something that could reach people in multiple ways – through art, through Scripture, through community, and through wellness. The idea wasn’t mine alone – it was divinely inspired, and I simply said yes to what He was placing on my heart.

My identity felt stolen from me – childhood sexual abuse, military sexual trauma twice during my service, and later domestic violence in marriage relationships. Life’s struggles had me blind to the fact that I was broken by cycles of abuse.
BUT Jesus – a loving Savior – continued to give me assurance by faith of His everlasting grace.
Even as I pursued education – earning my Associates degree in Computer Programming and studying arts in college – and built businesses like my ACN IBO and Craven Modest Decor e-commerce store on Amazon, there was still brokenness underneath. I was functioning, achieving, building things, but not fully whole. The entrepreneurial journey taught me resilience and how to create something from nothing, but only Christ could restore what trauma had taken.
As a service member in the military and now as a servant in my community, my desire is to continue this journey by sharing platforms and developing relationships with others who are suffering in mind, body, and soul – veterans as well as abused families. Sharing His story in my life assures me of the uniqueness of His love, which brings Him glory. Of course, it’s a matter of choice to be chosen.
I speak for myself because He has brought me a long way with His transforming power, and I am grateful, thankful, and humbled in this season of my journey. The only true positive way of life that has allowed me to be here today is the stories I share through the connection of relationships. As my Creator walks this journey with me, maybe someone else can know they can be transformed too, and know they are not alone.
God opened a door for me at my place of worship, Deeper Fellowship Church, within a group of faith-based entrepreneurs who believe in Jesus Christ – the DBN Executives. This community has become a place where I can blend business, ministry, and healing work together. All my past experiences – the technical skills, the creative training, the business ventures, the military service, and yes, even the trauma – God is using it all for His purpose.

It was the compassion in my heart for being of service to those in need of healing and more – what scripture calls the Great Commission. When you’ve experienced brokenness and then experienced the transforming power of Christ, you can’t keep that to yourself.
But beyond the spiritual calling, my practical background helped me see the logic too. My computer programming degree taught me problem-solving and systems thinking. My arts education gave me creative expression tools. My experience as an ACN Independent Business Owner and running Craven Modest Decor showed me how to build sustainable ventures and reach people through products and services.
I realized I could create platforms – websites, communities, products – that would serve people holistically: spiritually through Bible study and journaling, creatively through SEA (Self Expressed Art), physically through natural wellness alternatives with doTERRA, and practically through entrepreneurial mentorship in DBN Executives. Logic tells you that if healing happened for you, it can happen for others. And when God consistently places the same calling on your heart, when you see the need all around you, and when you have both the testimony and the practical skills to back it up – that’s when you know it’s not just worthwhile, it’s necessary.

I believe it’s a unique service that helps many overcome the struggles of life and know they are not alone. There’s a peace and fulfillment of joy to be shared by all.
What makes this approach unique is how everything comes together. My computer programming background helps me create accessible online platforms like ANOJ4.org and OmPrema3.org. My arts education flows into the Bible journaling and photography work – the SEA (Self Expressed Art) concept that helps people express their faith creatively. My entrepreneurial experience from ACN and e-commerce taught me how to build sustainable business models that support ministry work. And my military service and survival of trauma gives me credibility and empathy when working with veterans and abuse survivors.
This unique approach – combining faith, creative expression through SEA, Bible study, wellness advocacy through natural alternatives, and entrepreneurial mentorship – allows for inspiration and encouragement for others in a way that meets people where they are.
It’s not that no one else is doing ministry or healing work, but the combination of my testimony, my diverse skill set, my creative approach, my focus on holistic wellness, and my commitment to walking alongside veterans and abuse survivors – that’s what makes this unique. I’m not just teaching; I’m living proof that transformation is possible, and I’m creating multiple pathways for people to experience that same hope. Every skill I’ve learned, every business I’ve built, every hardship I’ve overcome – God is using it all to serve His purpose and help others find healing.

Robin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born into a military family in San Antonio, Texas, and followed that path of service into the Air Force. I earned my Associates degree in Computer Programming and studied arts in college, which gave me both technical and creative foundations. I started my entrepreneurial journey as an ACN Independent Business Owner and later ran an e-commerce store called Craven Modest Decor on Amazon. I was building, achieving, creating – but underneath, I was carrying deep wounds.
I survived childhood sexual abuse, military sexual trauma twice during my service, and domestic violence in marriage relationships. Life’s struggles had me blind to the fact that I was broken by cycles of abuse. But Jesus – a loving Savior – continued to give me assurance by faith of His everlasting grace. His transforming power didn’t just heal me; it gave me a testimony and a purpose. I realized that as a service member in the military and now as a servant in my community, my calling was to share platforms and develop relationships with others who are suffering in mind, body, and soul – especially veterans and abused families.

Education:

Associates Degree in Computer Programming – Prince George’s Community College, Largo, MD
Studied Arts in College – Salisbury University, Salisbury MD
Computer Learning Center – Springfield, VA
ACN Leadership Quarterly Conference Training in San Jose, CA and Charlotte, NC

The Transformation:

Journey of trauma resulted in testimonies of Jesus’ transformative power in your life
Sharing the goodness of His gospel through His Word – this transformative power is changing lives
Found healing and renewed identity through faith and ministry work
Now dedicated to empowering others to experience abundant life through faith, wellness, and community

Entrepreneurial Journey:

ACN – Products/services (past)
Craven Modest Decor – E-commerce on Amazon (past)
ANOJ4.org – Bible journaling ministry – using Scripture and creative expression to help others connect with God
OmPrema3.org – Art/photography products
doTERRA/robinsoilsofjoy – Wellness advocacy for natural, holistic health

Street Ministry in Princess Anne, MD
Salisbury, MD
Local Food Pantries
Local Nursing Homes
Local Hospitals
Bible Study in Assisted Living Homes

Current Work:

DBN Executives member – facilitated business cohort in ministry focused on life-building and entrepreneurship (under Deeper Fellowship Church, Orland,)
ANOJ4.org – Bible journaling ministry for faith-based creative expression and community connection
OmPrema3.org – Art/photography products
doTERRA/robinsoilsofjoy – Wellness advocacy for natural health alternatives

Recognition:

Was offered to be featured on Women in Power TV show – they recognized your story as “one of quiet strength and purpose built through real-life trials and faith,” highlighting you as “a leader driven by faith and creativity, eager to expand impact and bring community together”
They wanted to showcase your journey of overcoming hardship, your passion for wellness and faith-based entrepreneurship, and your commitment to using creativity and faith as tools for healing, inspiration, and community connection
Ultimately passed on the opportunity due to cost

God opened a door for me at Deeper Fellowship Church, located in Orlando, Florida – a global ministry that has allowed my growth in sharing and being encouraged to be refined in business and community. Within this church, I’m part of one of their groups called DBN Executives (Deeper Business Network) – a cohort of faith-based entrepreneurs who integrate kingdom principles into business. This community became the catalyst for bringing together all my experiences, skills, and passions into ministry work that serves and heals.
Within this group, I work alongside other faith-based entrepreneurs, collaborating and supporting one another as we build enterprises that serve kingdom purposes. I facilitated within the cohort about a year ago and may return to that role next year as God leads.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most challenging seasons in my journey came when I had to relocate with my family to another state. I was struggling deeply with this transition – leaving behind what was familiar, starting over, questioning whether I was on the right path. Everything felt uncertain, and honestly, I was tempted to just shut down and retreat.
But God placed the right person in my path at the right time. A fellow founder in the DBN Executives cohort shared with me words that would become a turning point: “Now is not the time to go backwards but to pivot and follow through.”
That encouragement shifted something in me. Instead of letting the relocation derail me, I chose to lean into it. I took on the role of facilitator to help and encourage a group of entrepreneurs through the 9-month DBN program all the way to graduation. Even while dealing with my own upheaval and adjustment, I was pouring into others – and ironically, that’s what sustained me. Serving others during my own difficult season kept me grounded and focused.
This experience gave me an idea: if facilitating and connecting with entrepreneurs through this program was so life-giving, why not extend that same community approach to my Bible study ministry? That’s when I started hosting weekly Bible study sessions using Meetup and Zoom platforms, opening it up to others who needed encouragement in their daily lives. We all showed up – some dealing with relocations like me, others facing different challenges – but we all found encouragement together through God’s Word and community.
What I learned about resilience in that season is this: resilience isn’t about toughing it out alone. It’s about pivoting when things get hard, leaning into community, and continuing to serve even when you’re hurting. Sometimes the very thing you need is found in giving to others what you wish you had more of yourself. That season taught me that relocation wasn’t a setback – it was a setup for God to expand my reach and deepen my ministry.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn came through my experience facilitating the entrepreneur cohort and leading Bible study groups. I came in with an unconscious assumption that everyone would operate at similar levels, respond the same way to teaching, and move at the same pace – especially since we were all believers with the same goals of building a life and business grounded in spiritual and business principles.
I quickly learned that everyone has different levels of skills, different capacities, and different needs.
Some people in the group had to be treated gently due to various life issues they were carrying – trauma, family struggles, health challenges, financial stress. They needed patience, encouragement, and space to process at their own pace. Pushing them too hard or expecting too much too fast would have done more harm than good.
Others showed strong leadership skills and accountability right from the start. They were ready to run, to take on challenges, to lead others. They needed different things – more responsibility, harder questions, opportunities to stretch and grow.
What I had to unlearn was the idea that “same faith + same goals = same experience.” The reality is that there’s incredible diversity of people, vast differences in knowledge and skills, and varied life circumstances – even within a community of believers pursuing the same kingdom purposes. Everyone isn’t the same, even if we share the same core beliefs.
The backstory is that I was unconsciously applying a one-size-fits-all approach because that’s what I’d experienced in some traditional settings. But as I walked alongside these entrepreneurs and Bible study participants, watching their different journeys unfold, I realized that unity doesn’t mean uniformity.
Unity is significant within community – absolutely. But unity isn’t everyone being the same or moving at the same pace. Unity is diverse people coming together with a shared purpose, each bringing their unique gifts, struggles, and perspectives, and choosing to honor and support one another through it all.
This lesson transformed how I lead Bible study sessions, how I work with entrepreneurs in the DBN cohort, and how I approach all my ministry platforms. I now create space for the person who needs to move slowly and process deeply, while also creating space for the person ready to lead and take bold steps. I’ve learned to meet people where they are, not where I think they should be.
That’s the beauty of what God showed me through that season: He doesn’t treat us all the same either. He meets each of us exactly where we are, with exactly what we need. I had to unlearn my expectations and learn His approach – grace-filled, patient, and uniquely tailored to each person’s journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: anoj4.org, om prema3.org, https://www.doterra.com/US/en/site/robinsoilsofjoy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinsoilsofjoytt
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinsoilsofjoy/#
• Twitter: https://x.com/Ravndecor
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RobinAustin-r7l
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@robinsoilsofjoytt, https://www.pinterest.com/business/hub, https://linktr.ee/reaustinn

Image Credits

Ruth Lugo – designed logo for ANOJ4.org site, including color palettes and different versions of name.
Design.com is where I bought and arranged the Om Prema3.org logo.
Joel Fund.org is the yearly Art exhibition for Veterans showcased in Raleigh, NC
Back in the Saddle-Equine Services for Heroes – Training for Trauma therapy with horses – Youngsville, NC