How I Met Aubrey – Author of the Upcoming Book What We Find In The Dark:
I first met Aubrey Sampson when she and her husband, Kevin, began interning at a church where I was spiritually mentoring numerous staff and key leaders. I was immediately blown away by what a dynamic and engaging communicator Aubrey was on stage. She is a naturally gifted communicator – warm, funny, genuine, captivating, and vulnerable.
When we met, Aubrey and Kevin were preparing to plant a new church within the next year. They both wanted to learn and grow as much as they could while they developed and organized their launch team. I began meeting regularly with Kevin, while they prepared and then launched the new church.
After the launch, Aubrey preached periodically and helped lead at the new church. To help pay the bills, she also became a co-host of a radio program and a podcast. At the same time, she was writing books and doing speaking engagements around the country. All this while raising three boys, their SampSons.
A little over a year ago, Aubrey and I reconnected at a mutual friend’s birthday party. She was asking me more specifics about the ministry I was doing and how people got connected to me. After explaining my ideal candidate, I told her that if she knew of anyone she thought would be a good fit to let me know. At the end of our conversation, she said she did know of someone – herself. That’s how our journey together began. Here’s how Aubrey described her journey…
Aubrey Finds Healing In the Dark Night of Her Soul:
“I began meeting with Randy in the midst of a thick fog of grief, having just lost my best friend, Jenn, to breast cancer. I came to Randy deeply shaken by this loss – feeling insecure, sad, and surprisingly uncertain of God’s presence.
“Throughout our time together, Randy gently led me to places the Spirit was ultimately leading – helping me to understand the spiritual experience known as the Dark Night of the Soul, a felt sense of God’s absence. As Randy helped normalize that somewhat common experience in the life of a mature believer, I began to sense God moving in it, and even found healing in it.
“We also worked through some of my not-so-fun people pleasing tendencies and I began to feel more confident again, using my voice and stating my case, and just letting my yeses be yeses and my nos be nos (such an obvious concept, but so freeing once I began practicing it).
“As a direct result of our work together, I wrote a new book, coming out next spring, What We Find in the Dark: Loss, Hope, and God’s Presence in Grief.
“That said, perhaps the most poignant part of our time together, was Randy’s steady, gentle presence in a season when my entire body, soul and heart felt like the waves of a raging ocean. Randy stayed on the shore keeping watch, never letting me get too far out to sea, but also allowing me to float where I needed to in my grief- even when it was raw and ugly- without any condemnation or shame.
“In the end, I know I was floating in God’s love all along.
“Our time together helped my leadership, faith, and personal growth, even in the midst of difficulty. I am a more confident pastor, author, podcaster, and speaker because of Legacy Shepherding Ministries. I have used some of Randy’s tools in college classes and at conferences I lead. I am thankful for this leader of leaders.”
Aubrey’s Books, Podcast, Sermons, and Coaching:
Books Aubrey has written (Published by Nav Press):
- Overcomer: Breaking Down the Walls of Shame and Rebuilding Your Soul (Published by Zondervan)
- The Louder Song: Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament
- Known: How Believing Who God Says You Are Changes Everything
- Big Feelings Days: A Children’s Book About Hard Things, Heavy Emotions, and Jesus’ Love
- What We Find In The Dark: Loss, Hope, and God’s Presence In Grief (available for pre-order now on Amazon)
Fun Fact: In her latest book What We Find In The Dark there is a chapter that describes in more detail Aubrey’s journey with Legacy Shepherding Ministries. The publisher changed my name to protect the innocent!
Podcast – The podcast Aubrey co-hosts is Nothing Is Wasted, which focuses on the strength found in faith and the transformation, redemption and healing that comes through adversity. God doesn’t waste an once of our pain.
Sermons – You can watch some of her sermons at bringrenewal.com (go to Watch-Sermons-Speakers-Aubrey).
Coaching – Since we started meeting, Aubrey began coaching women. To find out more details or to be coached by her go to aubreysampson.com
Your Contributions Make A Difference:
Sometimes effective and influential leaders need a safe and restful space to process and heal their own hurts, so they can more effectively get back in the game and do the Kingdom work the Lord has prepared for them. You have helped make that a possibility for Aubrey this year. None of this impact happens without your prayers and financial support.
If you haven’t already, would you be willing to partner with me by making a contribution for 2024 or by making an on-going commitment to support the impactful work of this ministry?
Contributions are tax deductible and life changing. Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
Every penny will help!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Randy
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