We recently connected with Ambi Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ambi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

As I take a look back over my life, I realize that I am my mother’s child. There are so many lessons that she taught me simply by living it out that have resonated with me to this day, even at the age of 39. My mother endured a lot as a young mom at the age of 19. She battled sickness for many years, so much that many of my childhood memories are with other relatives. Yet, I never saw her let the diagnosis from doctors or the pain she constantly endured keep her down. She worked 2-3 jobs while I was in school, she served working with the young people at church , she tended to the elderly in our community. She did all those things in the midst of her own afflictions. So, when I go through my own trials and want to lay in bed and have a pity party, there’s something inside of me that just will not allow me to do so. Through my mother’s life , I have learned that there is always work to be done. Through my relationship with Christ, I know that our tests and trials are not always about us. They are for us to go through and then help someone enduring the same along the way. I’m so glad that my mother introduced me to Christ at an early age, even when I didn’t understand why we always had to go to church. She was planting the seed. It was watered every time I saw the love of God being displayed through her, and that was a lot. Sometimes it was spending time with the sick or elderly, staying overnight to care for them. Other times it was taking care of the widows in the church. What I remember distinctly is the role she played in the lives of the young people at church. She was everybody’s mama. Growing up, it felt like I had to share her with so many other young people. While many kids would be jealous, I admired that .Now decades later, here I am doing the same thing. I spread the love of God through my books, my devotionals, and blogs. I go to colleges and teach the Word of God to students helping them to discover their purpose.I serve the kingdom through my own 501c3, Sisters in the Name of Christ Inc; and just like my mother did, I take my daughter with me every time I minister so that she can see how Gods love flows through us and how we are to go out and make disciples of all nations, teaching them everything we know about Jesus. That is the Great Commission, as stated in Matthew 28. No matter where I go or what I do, I can always look in the stands and there my mother is- cheering me on! And when she can’t physically be there, she’s asking for a virtual option (because that’s the world we live in now).

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an author, wife, mother, and minister whose mission is to touch the hearts of God’s people and provide spiritual guidance to weather life’s storms.

In 2011, I accepted my calling as a minister and established the 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, “Sisters in the Name of Christ, Inc.,” a women’s ministry that caters to disadvantaged women in the Middle Tennessee area. I believe wholeheartedly in ministry outside of the 4 walls of the church. We recently celebrated our 10th anniversary in September at our annual Full Recovery Spiritual Retreat. In 2018, I was honored at the Power Moves Awards Gala for Best in Philanthropy and Service for my work throughout the community.

I wrote my first memoir, “Healing Flows,” in 2017. The successful therapeutic and personal work follows my journey to motherhood. Addressing the emotional topics of infertility, high-risk pregnancy, and post-partum depression, This book promotes the spiritual message of faith and confidence in the power of Jesus Christ.

After having a revelation, I then wrote “Faith in Your Storm,” which is a devotional and prayer journal combo. I use my voice to describe loss, death, insecurities, and various personal struggles throughout the pages of this book. My hope is that these books will be an accessible voice to a wider audience beyond the people I know.

You can follow my author page on social media under Ambi Shantay. To connect with me or purchase my books, you can visit www..AmbiShantay.com. For more information about my ministry or to make a tax-deductible contribution , visit www..sistersinthenameofchristinc.org.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect is to know that whatever I am creating is meeting someone’s need. People are suffering silently so I feel like I have to be the transparent one for those who don’t know how to use their voice; and in return, it is my hope that they discover their own through my work.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I have built my audience by connecting with people everywhere I go. I take lots of pictures. If I meet someone, I want a picture because I want that memory to stay with me for a long time. I have a separate page for each one of my ventures because everyone knows me in a different capacity and there isn’t one page that is alike another. Social media portrays an image and people get the choice to decide what image that is. I like to show my followers the good, the bad and the ugly as it pertains to me. I don’t broadcast all things; but if there is a lesson to be learned, I’m going to share it in hopes of helping someone else out. My advice to all creatives- YOU are your brand. Allow your followers to really get to know you and they will by just as loyal to you as you are to them .

Contact Info:

• Website: www.AmbiShantay.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/AmbiShantay
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/AuthorAmbiShantay

Image Credits
Photography credit- Shameka Smith, Stellar Shots Photography