We were lucky to catch up with Barbra recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Barbra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

Our Miracle Chapel was built during the COVID-19 pandemic. My husband, who is also a Minister, experienced a spiritual calling to build a small chapel in the back of our home. When he shared this feeling with me, he immediately set to work, designing and measuring the structure. Despite having no prior knowledge of design or construction, he was determined to see this project through.

The biggest challenge we faced was the financial question—how would we afford to complete this? Then, a miracle happened: unexpected funds appeared in our bank account. Even after five years, we still don’t know where that money came from. My husband and I both knew this was a true testament to the chapel’s purpose.

After nearly a year of hard work and with support from friends and neighbors, the chapel finally came to life. Without a doubt, naming it “The Miracle Chapel” was the perfect way to complete its story—a name that reflects the extraordinary journey of its creation.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Seventeen years ago, my life was completely transformed when I was diagnosed with a rare disease called Guillain-Barré Syndrome. I spent an entire year in the hospital, including four months in a coma and six months in intensive care. The medical community told me that I was one of just seven people in the world to experience the most severe case of this disease. Surviving and being able to speak about this extraordinary story of courage and hope significantly strengthened my faith in God.

It was during this time that I decided to walk with Him on a newfound journey of helping others in any way I could. I enrolled in a religious school for pastoral counseling and theology studies, which eventually led me to establish Building the Faith Ministries. I knew from the beginning that our ministry had to be different—it had to reflect the lives of everyday people in ordinary circumstances. We wanted to bring the Word of God to people in a way that felt personal, relatable, and impactful.

Our Miracle Chapel stands as the heart of our ministry. It’s a sacred space that hosts the services we provide, including intimate weddings, premarital counseling, prayer groups, and community gatherings. But our work didn’t stop there. Two years ago, we launched Home Design and Decorating Academy of Texas, a Christian adult education trade school designed to empower individuals who are passionate about home interior design and decorating. Through this program, students can earn certification in these fields, enabling them to pursue careers in a field they love.

Our ministry isn’t just about preaching—it’s about teaching and serving others through acts of kindness, encouragement, and by helping them discover their skills and talents. We’ve seen our ministry attract people from all walks of life, each with their own spiritual journey and outlook on life. It’s never easy, especially in today’s world, to help so many people who feel broken or lost. In an age where self-help movements and quick fixes are so prevalent, we focus on the deeper, inner transformation that only God can offer.

While many competitors may draw people in with promises of instant change, we know that the journey toward healing, growth, and purpose is one that takes time, effort, and faith. We are proud to continue this mission, building a new kind of understanding, one that brings hope and fulfillment unlike anything people have experienced before.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Before I became ill with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, I thought of myself as a “Wonder Woman.” I juggled two jobs while running a retail shop—I was always busy, multitasking, and constantly on the go. But everything changed when I fell ill. My daughter closed my shop, and my husband even took over one of my jobs. I realized I couldn’t return to the fast-paced, “rat race” lifestyle I had once known. Physically, I wasn’t capable of going back to that life, and mentally, I knew I didn’t want to.

At that moment, I had to adjust to the “new me”—a version of myself with physical limitations. But with this came an entirely new life, and I found myself asking, “What now?” For years, I searched for the meaning of this new phase in my life. While my old skills and talents hadn’t disappeared, they now had to be applied in different ways.

The turning point for me came when I realized I needed to learn from my past mistakes. I took time to reflect, think, and plan carefully before diving into the next chapter of my journey. This mindset shift allowed me to approach starting our Chapel and ministry with more wisdom and patience—qualities I hadn’t fully embraced before.

Looking back, I also realized that teaching had always been a gift of mine, even in my younger years. But it wasn’t until this period of reflection and reinvention that I recognized how valuable that gift truly was. Starting a business or ministry isn’t just about passion—it’s about identifying the unique gifts you’ve been given and using them to build something meaningful.

This pivot in my life taught me that, sometimes, the most unexpected challenges lead us to our greatest discoveries. I didn’t just adapt to my new circumstances—I embraced them, and in doing so, I found a deeper purpose and path for my life.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

After my illness, I had the opportunity to teach Interior Design at Austin Community College, and I quickly realized that the program had a lot of potential for growth and improvement. At the time, the curriculum wasn’t quite aligned with current industry trends, and many students were struggling to afford a traditional four-year university education.

I knew I had to take a risk—this wasn’t the type of change that was expected. I proposed introducing a more accessible, trade-focused approach to the program that would cater to people who couldn’t afford a full university degree but still had a passion for design. My goal was to create a program that combined cutting-edge design trends with practical, hands-on skills—something that was both affordable and industry-relevant.

I also introduced fresh, modern ideas about what design should look like in today’s world, and this caught the attention of the Program Director. The changes were a hit, and as the program gained popularity, I was promoted to Interior Design Coordinator. I didn’t stop there, though—I pushed for even more improvements, such as adding an Interior Decorating Program to expand the opportunities for our students.

One of my biggest challenges was getting approval for additional resources. I advocated for hiring more teachers, securing a permanent classroom with storage, and finding job opportunities for current students and graduates. It wasn’t an easy sell, but my persistence paid off. The program began to thrive, and we were able to provide a complete education experience that set our students up for success in the design industry.

Looking back, it felt like a huge risk at the time—suggesting changes to a program that had been running in a traditional way for so long. But the results were incredibly rewarding: more students enrolled, more job opportunities were created, and the program gained the reputation of being a forward-thinking, accessible path into a design career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://homedesignanddecoratingacademyoftexas.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homedesignanddecorating/
• Other: Miracle Chapel website: https://sites.google.com/view/miraclechapel/miracle-chapel
  Building the Faith Ministries website: https://www.barbrasonnenhernandez.com/welcome
  Building the Faith Ministries Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/barbrasonnenhernandez/