We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Destiney Gillespie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Destiney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

At Godly Girl Collective, we don’t just gather for worship and Bible study—we go out and serve, especially those who are often overlooked. One of the ways we live out the love of Christ is through our monthly outreach to the homeless community in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Every third Saturday of the month, we show up with open hearts and full hands—feeding over 200 people in need. It’s more than just food; it’s fellowship, prayer, and reminding each person that they are seen, known, and loved by God. Many of those we serve have been abandoned by systems and forgotten by society. But we believe that being the hands and feet of Jesus means bringing light into those dark places.

We once met a woman who hadn’t had a warm meal in days. After being served, she broke down in tears—not because of the food alone, but because someone finally looked her in the eyes, smiled, and said her name. That’s what Godly Girl is about—restoring dignity, speaking identity, and serving with compassion.

This matters because transformation starts with connection. When we show up consistently, we become more than just a ministry—we become family to those who need it most.

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

My name is Destiney Gillespie, and I am the founder of Godly Girl Collective—a global sisterhood dedicated to helping women and young girls discover their God-given identity and walk boldly in purpose. I’m a woman who turned pain into power. As a former teen mom, I know what it means to navigate life with labels, setbacks, and societal limitations. But I also know what it means to be redeemed, restored, and reassigned by the grace of God. That’s the foundation Godly Girl Collective was built on.

We are more than a ministry—we are a movement. A movement of women who refuse to settle for surface-level faith. We create safe, spiritually rich spaces where women can heal, grow, and become everything God has called them to be.

Godly Girl was birthed out of a burden to see women fully free—not just in name, but in heart, mind, and identity. After years of speaking, mentoring, and discipling women one-on-one, I realized God was calling me to gather the collective—to unite women from all backgrounds and help them see themselves through God’s eyes.

We host transformational events, identity-focused Bible studies, empowerment tours, mentorship programs, and discipleship-based gatherings both in-person and online. Every program and event is saturated in Scripture, authenticity, and the unapologetic truth of the Gospel.

I am also the author of Godly Girl Devotional Volume 1: DiscovHERing Your Identity in Christ, which is sold exclusively on Amazon. This devotional is a powerful tool for women who are ready to strip away false identities and walk boldly in who God created them to be.

Godly Girl Collective also offers weekly virtual prayer, including access to our toll-free prayer line every Wednesday, where women from all walks of life gather for intercession, encouragement, and community.

What makes us different? We don’t believe in fluff. We don’t water down truth. And we don’t do performance-based faith. Our mission is deeply rooted in identity—the kind of identity that doesn’t shift with trends, trauma, or titles. We preach Jesus + boldness + healing, and that’s not something we just say—it’s something we live.

We are a global movement, with over 500 women in our ministry representing the U.S., the U.K., Nigeria, Pakistan, Amsterdam, South Africa, and beyond. The sisterhood we’ve built is diverse, powerful, and deeply rooted in the Word.

We’re also incredibly intentional about the next generation. Through Godly Girl Teens, we mentor girls ages 12–18 with biblical tools, etiquette training, community outreach, and faith-based field trips. We’re raising up daughters who know who they are and whose they are.

I’m most proud of the community we’ve cultivated. A community where women don’t have to pretend. A space where healing is prioritized and truth is non-negotiable. We’ve seen marriages restored, identities reclaimed, gifts unlocked, and hearts revived. Watching women go from silent suffering to bold declaration is the miracle I get to witness every day.

If you’re reading this, know that Godly Girl Collective is a place for you. Whether you’re a woman still trying to find your footing or a girl ready to take her first step in faith, there is room at the table. We’re not just creating events—we’re cultivating encounters with God. And we believe that once a woman encounters truth, she’ll never settle for a lie again.

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

MY PIVOT STORY: FROM BROKEN TO BUILT BY GOD

In 2022, I lost everything.

I filed for divorce after enduring a marriage that left me spiritually drained, emotionally wounded, and financially stripped. After the separation, my ex-husband took every dime we had saved. I lost my home, my car, and what felt like the very foundation of my life. I was left starting over—broken, bruised, and battling to believe that better days were even possible.

But by the grace of God, I slowly began to rebuild.

I got a new home for my son and me. A fresh start. A place of peace. I finally felt like we could breathe again. But on New Year’s Day 2023, our home was randomly shot up. Bullets tore through the very walls that were supposed to be our safe space. I was shaken to my core. I remember thinking, “God, I’m just trying to get back on my feet… why this?”

Still—I didn’t fold.
I pivoted.

To survive, I started working three jobs—as a store manager, a teacher, and an after-school care worker. I was exhausted. Overwhelmed. But I kept going. I kept praying. I kept pouring into the Godly Girl Collective, even while secretly picking up the shattered pieces of my life.

Then came November 2024—a divine turning point.

God told me clearly:
“Quit your job. Enroll in seminary. Trust Me fully.”

It made no sense. I had no savings, no backup plan, and still carried fresh wounds from my past. But I obeyed. I surrendered.

And since then—I haven’t worked a corporate job in over four months, and yet, God has provided every single need. Bills have been paid. Opportunities have come. My son and I have not lacked one thing.

Now, I’m preparing to launch my first-ever Bible Study Tour, beginning June 30th in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m releasing two new books this year, in addition to being the author of Godly Girl Devotional Volume 1: DiscovHERing Your Identity in Christ, available exclusively on Amazon. Ministry is growing rapidly—Godly Girl Collective now has over 500 women connected globally from the U.S., UK, Nigeria, Pakistan, Amsterdam, South Africa, and more.

We offer weekly virtual prayer, along with a toll-free prayer line every Wednesday, and we serve our local homeless community in Indianapolis, feeding over 200 people every 3rd Saturday of the month.

This isn’t just a comeback story.
It’s a God-kept story.

What the enemy tried to destroy, God used to develop me. And when I had nothing left—no resources, no strategy, no backup plan—I discovered that God was my Source all along.

So to every woman reading this:
If you’re in your “nothing left” season…
Hold on. Obey God. Take the leap. He will carry you.

Because I’m living proof:
You can lose everything and still rise when your faith is in the One who never fails.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most painful—but necessary—lessons I had to unlearn was leading with emotion instead of discernment.

Before launching Godly Girl Collective, I ran a similar organization called The EmpowHERment Corp. It was a women-centered initiative filled with passion, purpose, and potential—but unfortunately, I lost everything. Not because the mission was wrong, but because I trusted the wrong people, and I didn’t know how to guard my leadership seat.

I bled out emotionally on team members who weren’t even the ones who wounded me. I carried trauma into strategy meetings, let offense cloud my vision, and became too relationally attached to people I was supposed to be leading. In short, I allowed my heart to lead in places where discernment should’ve been in charge.

That season cost me a lot—time, trust, and resources—but it also taught me some of the most transformative leadership lessons of my life.

I learned:

To pray before I place people in positions.

To lead by example, not emotion.

To steward people without idolizing relationships.

To create boundaries without building walls.

Now, as the founder of Godly Girl Collective, I don’t just lead—I lead from a healed place. I seek God’s wisdom for every decision. I surround myself with accountability. And I’m learning daily how to balance grace with governance.

That failure wasn’t the end—it was the classroom I needed to become the leader God always intended.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thegodlygirlcollective.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destineygillespie_min
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GodlyGirlCollective
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GodlyGirlTV
• Other: https://beacons.ai/godlygirl_collective

Image Credits

Derrick Hardaway of King Kutz Studios.