Chiara Marquez: 

Hi, my name is Chiara Marquez and I’m a student at the University of San Francisco.

      Imagine if in today’s world there wasn’t a place for women to be called higher, to be inspired to overcome, to make a difference and help others defy the gravitational forces of abuse, sin, prejudice and helplessness. I’m grateful to be part of relationships where I’m called to make a difference, to have a prominent role and influence to give other women hope, and helping others defy gravity themselves.

I started coming to church when I was 15 not even knowing who I was or who I was meant to be. My family was in the midst of a divorce and I had become so emotionally numb that I stopped caring about anything and thought that by not letting circumstances affect my life, I could make it through. However, this just made me into an apathetic, self-deceived person. When I started studying the Bible, I began to work through my past and was finally able to move on and grow into who God wanted me to be. With the help of strong women around me and their persistent willingness to give their hearts, God helped me find my purpose and destiny. I was able to not only have a dream for my life but also help my friends around me discover God’s vision for theirs. Every woman has a story to tell, who’s to say that from our experiences someone else couldn’t benefit, and change the course of their lives forever?

           One of the defining moments that changed me most was our Annual Women’s day we have hosted by the Bay Area Christian Church. Having been to my first Women’s day when I was 15 years old, little did I know that it was the beginning of God showing me his plan and destiny for my life. Hearing stories of hope from women who have overcome adversity and those who spoke with deep conviction about how God had helped them rise and find their destiny, inspired me.  I had never imagined, 2 years later, that God would help me Defy the gravity of denial and apathy, as I was baptized at Women’s Day in 2007.

Isaiah 30:21..."But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you . ²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you

 will hear a voice saying, "This is the road! Now follow it."

It's through spiritual women with conviction and purpose, that God has guided and inspired me to believe that my life was destined to help others Defy Gravity!   Even recently my college friend Jerusalem was at a similar crossroads just as I was 5 years ago. She came to Women's day this past April, and through studying the Bible together, she discovered God's purpose for her life, and was baptized just 2 weeks ago!

Life was not meant to live just for ourselves or without inspiring anyone else. We were meant to have a purpose--we were meant to Defy Gravity!

Who will you inspire to defy gravity today?

Shaterica Sullivan: 

Hi my name is Shaterica Sullivan and I am a student at Diablo Valley College

 To defy gravity we have to have people who believe in us.

 To defy gravity we have to have people who believe in us.

 1Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)  8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

 1Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)  8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

I, like many other teen girls, just wanted to fit it, be liked, and was content to be mediocre.   

I, like many other teen girls, just wanted to fit it, be liked, and was content to be mediocre.   

Growing up I was hard hearted. My younger sister died when I was eight years old, and from that day on I decided not to need people. I was deeply afraid of what people would think of me if they knew about my life and afraid of being rejected. As I got older, had a very difficult time because it was hard for me to believe that God cared how I felt and wanted to be close me. It was hard for me to allow the girls studying the bible with me to love and care about my life on a heart level. As I studied the bible, the girls really took extra steps to care for me. They made sure to call me every day, they put together bible studies specifically for me, many of them prayed for me regularly and they genuinely wanted to know about my life. Although it didn’t always feel comfortable being vulnerable their interest and concern inspired me.  I saw what true relationships were supposed to be like. They weren’t just passing along information; they enjoyed investing their life to care about me.

 Not only when I was learning about God, but now as a Christian, I was adopted into a family that is very invested in my life and determined to see me defy gravity.  They care about making sure I date a great guy, do well in school and learn how to lead and impact others. Their investment in me is not limited to helping me develop good character and do well in school, but they expect me to become a woman of conviction who changes other people’s lives.  

 Not only when I was learning about God, but now as a Christian, I was adopted into a family that is very invested in my life and determined to see me defy gravity.  They care about making sure I date a great guy, do well in school and learn how to lead and impact others. Their investment in me is not limited to helping me develop good character and do well in school, but they expect me to become a woman of conviction who changes other people’s lives.  

Whether it’s through leading a bible talk on my campus, working as a summer intern for our church (BACC) or studying the bible with my friends I have women in my life who expect me do big things!

Shaterica Sullivan: 

Hi my name is Shaterica Sullivan and I am a student at Diablo Valley College

 To defy gravity we have to have people who believe in us.

 To defy gravity we have to have people who believe in us.

 1Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)  8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

 1Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)  8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

I, like many other teen girls, just wanted to fit it, be liked, and was content to be mediocre.   

I, like many other teen girls, just wanted to fit it, be liked, and was content to be mediocre.   

Growing up I was hard hearted. My younger sister died when I was eight years old, and from that day on I decided not to need people. I was deeply afraid of what people would think of me if they knew about my life and afraid of being rejected. As I got older, had a very difficult time because it was hard for me to believe that God cared how I felt and wanted to be close me. It was hard for me to allow the girls studying the bible with me to love and care about my life on a heart level. As I studied the bible, the girls really took extra steps to care for me. They made sure to call me every day, they put together bible studies specifically for me, many of them prayed for me regularly and they genuinely wanted to know about my life. Although it didn’t always feel comfortable being vulnerable their interest and concern inspired me.  I saw what true relationships were supposed to be like. They weren’t just passing along information; they enjoyed investing their life to care about me.

 Not only when I was learning about God, but now as a Christian, I was adopted into a family that is very invested in my life and determined to see me defy gravity.  They care about making sure I date a great guy, do well in school and learn how to lead and impact others. Their investment in me is not limited to helping me develop good character and do well in school, but they expect me to become a woman of conviction who changes other people’s lives.  

 Not only when I was learning about God, but now as a Christian, I was adopted into a family that is very invested in my life and determined to see me defy gravity.  They care about making sure I date a great guy, do well in school and learn how to lead and impact others. Their investment in me is not limited to helping me develop good character and do well in school, but they expect me to become a woman of conviction who changes other people’s lives.  

Whether it’s through leading a bible talk on my campus, working as a summer intern for our church (BACC) or studying the bible with my friends I have women in my life who expect me do big things!

Not only when I was learning about God, but now as a Christian, I was adopted into a family that is very invested in my life and determined to see me defy gravity.  They care about making sure I date a great guy, do well in school and learn how to lead and impact others. Their investment in me is not limited to helping me develop good character and do well in school, but they expect me to become a woman of conviction who changes other people’s lives.  

Whether it’s through leading a bible talk on my campus, working as a summer intern for our church (BACC) or studying the bible with my friends I have women in my life who expect me do big things!

women in my life who expect me do big things!