That same year, still recovering from a year of intense pain, grief, and suffering, Laureen took a step away from fitness entirely and begin to fully focus on the aspect of emotional and spiritual healing by allowing God to target the areas of deep rooted trauma and teach her how to work through the pain with Him and His word. This journey led to the writing and publication of her first book, Festival in the Desert: Learning to Rejoice in the Difficult Seasons of Life. Through its pages, Laureen shares her personal testimony of a season of suffering, childhood wounds, and everything God taught her about pain and suffering (for now) through His word and about His deep love and compassion for the brokenhearted. The book contains interactive prompts that allow the reader to walk out healing in real time at the feet of Jesus and gain an understanding that God is able to use even the worst things in life to bring us close to Him and restore us to our purpose in Him.

The healing she encountered through the writing process sparked her love for women’s ministry once again, resurrecting her original dream from years prior to help build women in all areas of life and watch them become forces for the Kingdom of heaven. Initially called “Faith & Fitness”, Laureen launched her first events online in 2020. The events merged the worlds of spiritual growth through bible based teaching, worship, prayer and fitness through workouts, Q&A’s with professionals in the health, wellness, and fitness industry, and a time for personal reflection. The themed events featured guest speakers and teachers along with sponsors.

After much prayer, the title of “Faith & Fitness” became Strength & Glory based out of Psalm 96:6. It has evolved into a comprehensive community platform that provides content, tutorials, recipes, events, and real stories from women actively pursuing both their faith in Christ and who are experts in their fields of mindset, wellness, health, fitness, nutrition, coaching, and bible teaching. Contributors lend their voices and expertise to the platform and are passionate about building women in mind, body, and spirit for the glory of God. As a faith-based approach to health, S&G is a place to learn, grow, and connect in all areas of wellness.

True strength and glory are found from time in His presence and everything in our lives are meant to flow from that place of receiving His grace including the proper stewardship of our minds, bodies, and spirits.

It is BY HIS STRENGTH, and FOR HIS GLORY that Strength & Glory exists and is used to help women become the best version of themselves.