Lisa Ryan, co-host
of the 700 Club, spent 10 years working as an actor in Los
Angeles. Ryan, who lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and
three daughters, spoke with Kirk Noonan, associate editor, about
her new book, seeing crisis as the beginning of God’s destiny
and the power of the Holy Spirit.
PE: Talk about the
early tragedies that affected your life.
RYAN:
When I was 13 my older brother, Jimmy, died in a plane crash.
We had always been best buddies. He would take me to basketball
games and golfing with his friends. I felt so loved by him, especially
when my parents divorced when I was 9. Jimmy was a source of strength
during my parents’ divorce. When he died it seemed like a rug
had been pulled out from underneath me.
PE: Did you learn
anything from your pain?
RYAN: It took
years to heal, but I have great compassion for those who are suffering
from divorce and loss. I can encourage and pray for others who are
suffering. Also, I’ve learned to look to God during crises
and allow Him to use them as starting points for His destiny in
my life.
PE: Sounds like you
have much in common with biblical Esther, the subject of your new
book, For Such a Time as This.
RYAN: Esther’s
story is so relevant and she is a role model — especially for
women. I want to encourage young women to be women of God. God has
a plan for each of us, but the enemy works hard to get us off course.
Part of God’s vision for my life is to help young women stay
on course, and I hope this book accomplishes that.
PE: In the book you
say women can miss God’s destiny for their lives. How so?
RYAN: We are bombarded
in the media by negative images of women. Young women are told they
need to be sensual and provocative if they want power and attention.
That’s a dangerous and false message. Women and men should
be turning to God for validation, acceptance and love. We have to
get rid of the junk in our lives so we can achieve God’s destiny.
PE: What advice would
you share with someone facing a difficult decision?
RYAN: Like Esther,
whenever we step into the unknown there is a price to be paid. But
when God wants us to do something we have to do it or we may miss
God’s destiny. When I face a difficult decision I ask myself
if my faith in God is greater than my fear of the unknown.
PE: Was there a major
spiritual turning point in your life?
RYAN: In college
I felt like my faith was about rules and regulations, and that the
only benefits of being a Christian would come when I died. A friend
showed me there was more to my relationship with the Lord. She invited
me to Bible studies and I began to find out about the Holy Spirit.
I had a hard time surrendering to the Holy Spirit, but I prayed,
‘God if this is real, I want it.’ One night while I sat
in my parked car listening to praise music and worshiping Him, I
was baptized in the Holy Spirit. He gave me a sense of purpose.
The futility I felt lifted and I realized God had a plan for my
life.
PE: What do you want
people to know about Lisa Ryan?
RYAN: I want to
be more Christlike at the end of my life’s journey. If I can
help people along the way and introduce them to Jesus — all
the better.
RYAN:
When I was 13 my older brother, Jimmy, died in a plane crash.
We had always been best buddies. He would take me to basketball
games and golfing with his friends. I felt so loved by him, especially
when my parents divorced when I was 9. Jimmy was a source of strength
during my parents’ divorce. When he died it seemed like a rug
had been pulled out from underneath me.