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

Zonya, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Being in ministry and in the film industry is honestly the best combination a Believer can operate in. That’s just my opinion. As a Believer, our lives are to emulate Christ. We are made in the image of God our Creator, and His likeness. So, it’s only natural, for me, as a creator to maneuver in that lane. I’m an actress, author, producer, director, and writer. My imagination is huge! However, whenever God downloaded the idea to create my own online ministry I was terrified. I vividly remember being on a call with a friend and the idea sparked that I needed to start doing more online. From there, in the same conversation, it transpired from just an idea to a full fledged ministry literally overnight. Within the next month, I had ordered loads of equipment, most of which I had no idea how to use. Although my background was in acting, majority of it was in front of the camera with minimal experience on the production side. Now here I was producing, directing, hosting, and creating my own online “show” essentially. I had no sponsors, everything was fully funded by me. I was a one man show. From scheduling, to hair and makeup, wardrobe, camera guy, tech, editor, set designer, you name it, I was it! I spent hours on YouTube learning and toiling with my new equipment and studying how to edit and create flyers. I studied marketing techniques and ran ads on social media. With essentially no budget and using my own funds, I had to figure this thing out. Gratefully, my background in production was vital in aiding me to get things up and running. July 2020 was when the idea came to me, in the middle of a pandemic, might I add. I’d began full production in Atlanta and Dallas, TX by October, filming about 18hrs per day. I shot ten months worth of episodes in two months. I’d never been more exhausted in my life. To top it off, I then had to edit all of my content. The first episode aired January 11th 2021 and ZMR MINISTRIES was live 5 days a week! It’s still hard to believe it all happened in such a small window of time. But, where there’s a will there’s a way. I knew God spoke to me and I moved immediately even though I felt unqualified and was petrified. He gave me the grace to do it, the wisdom to learn all that I needed to carry out the assignment, and the strength to see it through. It was painstaking at times, and there were many stressful and fearful days. I can think of so many times I would just shut myself off from everyone and everything due to feeling overwhelmed. But I had and have an amazing circle of people around me that encouraged me, pushed me, prayed for me, and gave me the room to still be human. They were definitely my safe space and I’m forever grateful for them. Now, two years after launching, I’m gearing up for Season 2 and ZMR MINISTRIES will be back like we never left. I’m excited about what’s to come.

Zonya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Although I’m in full time ministry, I have to say my first love is acting. I started in stage plays and eventually evolved into film. I’ve acted in an innumerable amount of stage plays and had the privilege to travel and grace the stage with some well known names in the film and music industry. I’ve acted in 8 feature films, produced and directed film, stage plays, and music videos. I also have had my hand in writing, being a published author, I’ve written stage plays, movies, and am a song writer. I’m the author of the novel “The Secret Cries Of A Woman’s Soul”, have movies on Tubi and Amazon Prime, “Lady Luck 1”, “Lady Luck 2”, and “Circles”, just to name a few.

I’m most proud that I can be an example that you can do both, Ministry and filmmaking. I don’t have to compromise my faith nor did I have to give up one for the other. In actuality, the two coincide. My goal is to create more faith based film, tv shows, and books as a means to spread the gospel. I want Jesus to have a bigger platform in Hollywood. I truly believe God put this desire in my heart to show that it can be done without selling your soul for fame and money. I definitely intend on establishing myself and gaining my footing more in the industry while standing unapologetically for Christ.

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

I grew up in church, Pentecostal, to be exact. I came up in a very traditional church where there was lots of man made traditions and religiosity. A lot of what I learned in regards to what’s considered Ministry and how to do Ministry had to be unlearned. The traditional way of ministering behind a pulpit within the confines of four walls within a building is not the only way to do Ministry. At ZMR MINISTRIES I always say we serve the gospel through conversation. The truth of the matter is, Gods Word never changes but His methods does. We have to be flexible and versatile. Changing with the time while still holding concretely to our foundation and keeping the purity of the gospel should be exercised. We are charged to go into all the world and preach the gospel. However, preaching doesn’t necessarily mean being in a pulpit, standing on a street corner, doing tent revivals, or going on a crusade. All of which are fine with me, by the way.

On the contrary, some may never attend any of those functions. Then how will they hear the Word of God? How will they know Him? That’s where the unlearning came in. I can preach with my life in any capacity in any environment. It’s in how I interact, react, respond, treat others, conduct business, etc. Am I preaching Christ with my life in whatever facet I’m in? I can spread the gospel through my gifts and talents as a filmmaker just as much or even more so than being in front of a limited audience in an actual church building. Again, I’m not speaking against it at all, but I am saying we have to remain open minded as believers. We have to remain vulnerable to the Holy Spirit and how He chooses to use us to make the name of Jesus famous. I had to unlearn tradition and learn Christ. It truly freed me of so many restraints and restrictions that ultimately bound me in this unrealistic way of serving God. I can’t be afraid to mingle with the world or sinners. How else will we draw them if we are not around them? You can commingle without acclimating. Be the salt, let your light shine. Draw them with loving kindness, lift up Jesus in your walk wherever you are and HE WILL DRAW!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There are so many but I want to highlight something I mentioned before. I stated that producing ZMR was a one woman show. However, it originally wasn’t supposed to be that way. I had secured a personal assistant for filming in addition to a few others who readily made themselves available to assist during production to take the burden off of me so that I could focus completely on hosting. It was the day before the first shoot date and they cancelled on me. Disappointed and upset is an understatement. I shook it off and called on my other helping hands who suddenly weren’t available either. Because of this, I now had to not only host, but everything else in between. There were quite a few episodes that had to be rescheduled and re-recorded because it didn’t record due to my hard drive being full. My beloved mic system suddenly was not compatible to my camera meaning the sound was terrible. I accidentally shot most episodes with and anamorphic lense causing those episodes to look distorted. Guest were no call, no shows. Some guest cancelled and asked not to be featured which wasted not just my time but others. Did I mention that our cars were getting towed? Oh, and let’s not forget this was all during the PANDEMIC!

There were so many days that I felt defeated, unprofessional, and down right dumb because who was I to think I could do something like this anyway. It was on those days that I would pray the most. I had every reason to quit and throw in the towel but I filmed and kept on anyway. Was it perfect? Absolutely NOT! I’m sure some will see so many mistakes in each recording. I was extra hard on myself because of my film background. I felt there was a certain caliber it had to be on in order for it to be acceptable. Then it dawned on me, Zonya, you’re not perfect. So what if it’s not top tier, at least you’re being obedient and doing what God told you to do. I had to be okay with being excellent on my level. If it didn’t meet the next persons standard, that’s okay. Was the message that I was mandated to deliver conveyed? Did I complete my assignment? The answer is YES!

If I can encourage anyone, I’d say just do it! You will get better and it will get better. BUT, it will never get better if you quit or never take that first step. Don’t seek perfection. Relieve yourself of that pressure. Stay the course, remain focused, don’t compare yourself to anyone else’s journey, and be diligent. Remember to be gracious and kind to yourself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ZONYAMARAET
• Facebook: Zonya Maraet Robinson
• Twitter: @ZMRMINISTRIES
• Youtube: @ZMRMINISTRIES
• Other: Instagram: @ZMRMINISTRIES TikTok: @ZONYAMARAET Facebook: @ZMRMINISTRIES

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