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

Alright, Teresa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In my experience, it has taken faithfulness and determination to be successful. What I mean by faithful is that you give it all you have even when no one is cheering you on. I witness many people say that they are called to do something great, but the dream and vision have more room in their minds than the actions that lead to success. In real life, we must “do” and “move” and “act” to see things happen, even when nobody is telling us to go, act, move, and be! I don’t waste time looking at how fast or slow someone else is moving, I simply decide to believe in what the Lord has told me to accomplish, and I start moving. I believe we should be cautious to not underestimate the small things either. In Zecharia 4:10, the Bible directs us not to despise small beginnings, so we should start with the small acts that will help us build faithfulness and consistency.

As for determination, if you walk in it, nothing will knock you down permanently when the naysayers, unbelievers, and closed doors come knocking. Notice I said, “permanently”? I would be lying if I didn’t admit that some things have knocked me off my rhythm, but thankfully, it was only temporary. A friend of mine told me one time that I had “iron-will determination”. I never thought that about myself, but after he said it, I began to pray that it would be one of my life’s foundations that keep me going in the challenging times.

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?

After I gave my life to Jesus Christ in 2003, I felt the Lord speak to me and tell me that I would be helping and ministering to women. I didn’t understand what that meant in its fullness, but now I have a greater picture. In time, I began to train women in basic life skills, then I taught Spanish to adults at the local library, and eventually, I began to speak for women’s organizations after I realized, that if I can teach, I can speak. All this just naturally began to pull out of me and the desires were one natural progression after the other. Eventually, I evolved into teaching Bible studies and hosting events for them when men began to ask me why I only cater to women. One particular gentleman who is now a good friend told me to start making my speaking events open to men because they too could benefit and wanted to hear what I had to say. Between that moment and other steps of preparation, it led me into preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ full-time. I got into television and other social media platforms to begin to teach what I had grasped passionately. Fast-forward to today and we (Teresa Lusk Ministries) now have a studio where we continue to preach the gospel, but also train believers in Jesus on how to live a supernatural life by the power of the Holy Spirit. We offer Beyond Freedom School of Ministry, and I started our church in Allen, TX this January called, Beyond Freedom Church. I have written several books including, Unapologetically Free: Deliverance and Freedom through the Spirit-Filled Life, Girl, Preach: A Woman’s Call to Kingdom Purpose, and more. I am most proud of being a woman who has started a ministry from the ground up through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and who has taught men and women beyond the barriers that exist even within Christian groups against women preachers. Hence, the existence of my latest book, Girl, Preach. I am defying the odds as a female lead Pastor and founder, and I do this unapologetically as I can point to many female leaders in the Bible that have been buried or dismissed due to religious traditions instead of truth.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal and mission that drives my creative journey are to empower all believers in Christ, but very importantly, women! Women have been left behind in the secular world, although I have seen a shift that is fastly progressing which I am happy about. However, in the church world, we have some catching up to do and I look forward to being a part of this empowerment without having to tear men or others down while we do it!

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

I had to unlearn to allow disagreements to keep me down. When others would opinionate strongly about me and what I was called to do, I would get discouraged and cry and would nearly adopt their thinking because the pressure was heavy. I grew through it all even though it was painful. I have a mind of my own, I can read for myself, and I can study and educate myself before succumbing to what might only be a tradition or thinking that has been passed on, not necessarily based on the truth regarding women and how they can serve God. I also had to unlearn to want others to adopt my way of thinking. I have learned one of the best lessons ever that has provided peace for my journey and that is to agree to disagree. Some may not like that either, but I found it to be a key to peace. I love the Lord and want to please Him. I want to follow His Word and find that we will not always agree with everyone. even those in my own tribe. Some things are very clear and I honor those, and regarding the unclear things, I go deeper and hold on to my convictions. I have had the honor of watching the Lord back me up with His miracles, signs, and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit and He does it daily. I have been to other countries alone and traveled throughout the U.S. and He keeps moving me forward! That speaks for itself!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.teresalusk.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresaluskministries/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/teresaluskministries/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCspfnaEuLBKK-WAMLyNgmtg

Image Credits
Loman Creative Services (Savannah, GA).