Ep:9 Laryssa Schleusener - The Village Woman

The Full Life Podcast with Melanie Lynam

Today I am joined by Laryssa Schleusener who together with her husband James are the founders and Senior Pastors of Collective Church in Brisbane. We have a really honest conversation about what it was like for Laryssa to change cities, plant a new church just days after having their second child, and the loneliness that comes from not having a ‘Village’ of people around you. We also talk about her vision for The Village Woman Movement, which is about helping women to learn who they are in God and figure out their identity and then how that translates into living a life of love. Laryssa challenges us to live a life that is bigger than us and reaches beyond our own 4 walls.

Some Take Aways:

• A holiday doesn’t fix things. We have to live lives that we have to allow God to speak to us and change us, not just wait until we’re on holidays.
• God spoke to her about the concept of a Village and ALL carrying the load and giving out of what we have to one another. Share what it is that we already have in our hands with each other.
• All the things that they were believing God for, He came through for them. Laryssa encourages us to write it down, document it so that we can remember.
• 1 Peter4:7-8 Loving each other. What ever we give, give it as though God is giving it. Do it carrying a spirit of love and willingness. Spread around God’s love not Laryssa is a hero. That birthed the idea of The Village Woman. We all need to live our lives not living insular and looking within our four walls but we need to learn how to in this day and age be open to people dropping in for food. “I want to be able to have someone over at dinner time and then randomly they can stay.”
• The Vision is to help women clarify who they are in God and figure out their identity because when we know who we are and who God has created us to be, that’s when we can help people. And if I don’t know who I am…I will never truly help people out of what God has put in my heart. When we are totally who God has called us to be and we know who that person is, the love that we give to the people around us, it’s the love of God.
• Laryssa is encouraging girls, wherever you are, challenge yourself in these areas. Are you living a life that is bigger than you and that is outside the four walls of your home? Are you so precious about the people in your immediate blood relation/family that you can’t be open and if you are in that position ask God to challenge you and change your heart because we are all God’s children and it is just so important.
• It is always on her mind that ‘Whatever I do to the least of these I do unto Him.’

I hope you’ve enjoyed this conversation with Laryssa Schleusener. If you would like more information about The Village Woman go to thevillagewoman.com/ and that is also where you can register for The Village Woman Event. It’s happening in a couple of weeks’ time, Sat 19th October at the Metro Arts Centre in Brisbane. It’s $30 and includes an afternoon full of dessert and inspiration listening to the lovely Julia A’bell, helping us on our journey of identity and how to be ourselves. And listen to this, I would like to pay for one person to go so if that’s you, you would love a free ticket or perhaps you would like to bring a friend along and give them the ticket, just jump onto my Instagram account @mel_lynam, find the post advertising this episode - there’ll be a beautiful pic of Laryssa - and in the comments below tag a friend. I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday the 9th Oct.

I believe that Jesus is the key ingredient to a Full Life. Friend, God loves you and I want you to know that I am praying for you. If you would like to get in touch for any reason head on over to The Full Life Podcast Facebook page or fin

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