The Beauty of Belonging

Apr 22, 2025

In a heartfelt conversation, Michelle Bowman, an educator and spiritual mother, shares her transformative journey through hardship and divorce. She emphasizes the beauty of belonging to a supportive church community after feeling lost. Michelle discusses navigating singlehood while embracing her identity in Christ, the joy of spiritual motherhood, and the healing power of service. Her story reveals how resilience can emerge from pain, encouraging listeners to step into light and find purpose, joy, and connection in unexpected seasons.

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ANECDOTE

Welcomed Back to Church Community

Michelle Bowman returned to her church community the day after deciding to file for divorce and was warmly welcomed by church members who recognized her struggle.
She felt a strong sense of belonging and support despite her previous hiatus, illustrating the power of church community in difficult times.

INSIGHT

Jesus and Church Belong Together

Loving Jesus but rejecting the church is incongruent with biblical community.
Isolation weakens faith, while community fosters accountability, growth, and spiritual health.

INSIGHT

Singleness: Freedom and Responsibility

Singleness involves both freedoms and unique challenges, like sole responsibility for finances and household tasks.
While solitude can feel lonely, the presence of God and friendships provide deep companionship and support.

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Man, today’s episode is rich. I’m sitting down with Dr. Michelle Bowman—an educator, leader, and sister in Christ who has walked through the fire and come out on the other side with her joy still. Her story? It’s not the cleaned-up version. It’s real. Ten years of struggle, a marriage that ended in heartbreak, and a journey back into the family of faith, not with shame but with strength.

What you’ll hear in Michelle is the kind of resilience that only comes from walking with Jesus through deep pain. From idolizing marriage to embracing her calling as a spiritual mother, she’s living proof that you can lose everything the world calls secure and still gain something far better—belonging, joy, and purpose in Christ.

If you've ever felt like your story disqualifies you, let this be a holy disruption. There’s healing here, and it starts by stepping into the light. Keep your eyes up.

In This Episode

[02:00] - Walking Through Divorce & Letting Go of Identity
[04:30] - Coming Home to TVC: A Story of Community & Welcome
[08:00] - Serving in Singleness: From Family Legacy to Faithful Presence
[10:45] - Can You Love Jesus and Not the Church?
[14:30] - The Cost and Freedom of Being a Single Woman in the Church
[17:45] - Seeing God's Goodness in Unexpected Seasons
[21:30] - Spiritual Motherhood & Nurturing the Body of Christ
[25:45] - Lifelong Encouragers: Family, Faithful Friends & SSR Sisters
[28:15] - A Heart for Missions: Finding Purpose on the Field
[30:00] - Rhythms That Keep Her Anchored: Serving, Studying, and Scripture
[33:00] - To the One Feeling Shame: What Michelle Wants You to Hear
[40:00] - A Final Word on Grace, Courage, and Coming Home Again

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