Podcast Preview
In this episode of 12-Minute Convos with Jesus Believers, Engel Jones connects with Loni McGackin from Seattle, Washington. Gifted with an incredible talent for writing that earned her the playful nickname of a "human ChatGPT," Loni shares her adventurous three-year journey of packing up her life in St. Croix during the height of the 2020 pandemic to move to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She shares the wild story of blindly calling a local prison just to step out on faith, a bold move that ultimately connected her with the national Prison Fellowship program!
Listen in as Loni offers profound wisdom for anyone who has experienced betrayal or disappointment from others. If you are harboring unforgiveness, her vital reminder that "people are not God, and God is not people" will beautifully encourage you to stay the course, keep reading your Bible, and keep your heart open to the Holy Spirit's transformation!
Guest's Bio
Born and raised on St. Croix, Virgin Islands 🇻🇮
Mom to one amazing son, Elijah, who is now 20 and learning how to be an auto mechanic
Masters degree in holistic nutrition
Certified personal trainer for ten years
Now working as a nationally registered EMT in Seattle, WA
I gave my life to Jesus in the fall of 2022 in a small country town of Louisiana where I was living at the time. It happened spontaneously and organically while getting ready for the day. But God had been knocking on my door for a looooong time before that. I finally answered His call and God has turned my world upside down in the best ways.
This part below is not part of my bio but just a little more backstory for your information.
After I gave my life to Jesus, I immediately stopped practicing and teaching yoga. I threw away all books, clothing, items associated with yoga and new age practices. God cleaned up my language and I stopped swearing like a sailor. I started reading the Bible and found an amazing church where I got baptized in March 2023. In July 2024, I drove cross country by myself to Washington state to follow the Lord’s command and pursue women’s ministry. On day two of my new life in WA, God showed me three times that He wanted me to volunteer at a women’s prison. From there, things happened quickly and I started as a volunteer with Prison Fellowship, a Christian organization dedicated to sharing the gospel with the incarcerated and helping their families.
Life sure was a roller coaster the first year and a half here in WA, and I started to question if I had heard God incorrectly. I lost my job, housing, had very little money, and was all alone. But God provided for me every step of the way and just when I was about to give in and give up to my doubts and fears (my mom suggested I move back home to St. Croix for a bit), God stepped in to show that He wanted me to stay here in WA and changed all of my circumstances swiftly. I found a wonderful job at a private ambulance company in Seattle and have been working there since July, sharing the gospel and praying with patients and coworkers. I moved into a temporary home with a lovely couple until I could get back on feet and then earned enough money to find my own place in Seattle.
God has been too gracious; He is far better to me than I deserve. And now, I have the opportunity to share to a wider audience all the amazing things He has done and continues to do. And it’s all because of who God is, His goodness and love.