10 min read ⭑

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

“Home” for me is two places — Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Austin, Texas.

I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, but raised in Baton Rouge for most of my life. I grew up on jambalaya, crawfish Étouffée and fresh fish. My childhood consisted of walking barefoot through the woods and strolling along the bayou by my house, looking up at the mossy oak trees towering over me.

My grandmother, “Grammy,” is from New Orleans, and let’s just say her cooking is your typical home-style Louisiana cooking. It’s truly unmatched. A typical Sunday back home would be in Lafayette surrounded by all my family and cousins at my Grammy’s quaint little house. Every holiday, we gather as a family over a meal. In the springtime, we go to Dwight’s, the best spot for crawfish in town. The meal consists of me sitting with my little cousins (who are like my sisters) and my mom peeling the crawfish for me.

I believe that nothing on this earth is truly perfect, but days like those come close to perfection.

My second home is in Austin, Texas. I live in Austin now as I finish up my degree at the University of Texas. Although Austin is not my hometown, some of the people I love the most live here, which makes it home to me. Over the past four years of my college experience, I’ve experienced hills and valleys. During those hard times, I’ve found friends who are constants in my life, and I could not be more grateful to them.

My favorite restaurant in Austin is called Foodheads. Foodheads is an indoor-outdoor café near campus that has the best soups, salads and sandwiches in town. The décor has a very down South, New Orleans feel, which makes me feel at home. An ideal meal there would be with my two best friends, Anna and Grace, and my boyfriend, Logan. They have been such constants in my life, and I truly see God through their love for me.

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?

Running has been a hobby of mine since I was about 16 years old. I do it for the physical and mental benefits that it has on my body. If I’m ever stressed, I take care of myself by going on a long run outside. Running and weight-lifting are my two main forms of exercise and a way of loving myself.

In the past few years, I’ve completely changed my mindset on what exercise means to me. Growing up, I had issues with body image and eating. In the past, I would use exercise as punishment and a way to change my body. Now, I view exercise as a way of celebrating my body and loving myself. Fueling my body and working on my athleticism is truly a privilege, and I will continue to strive every day to inspire other young men and women to do the same.

One of my biggest athletic accomplishments was the Austin Half Marathon, which I ran last February. It was a chilly winter morning. I got up at 5 a.m. to drive over to the course. The run began with reworks, starting in downtown Austin. In the beginning, I began doubting myself and my abilities, but my faith empowered me to keep going.

Through the doubts, the pain and the shin splints, I made it to the finish line. I cried in relief and felt that, at that moment, I healed a piece of my broken inner child. The girl who once thought her worth depended on her weight now found her worth in her faith, God and herself. She knew at that moment she could do it and that she was strong.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?

Ever since I was a child, I’ve struggled with anxiety and body image. I’ve carried these burdens for as long as I can remember, but thankfully, they’re getting lighter with age. Growing up, I was an awkward kid — think chubby with glasses and braces. The kids at school were not the nicest to me, which only made my anxiety and low self-esteem worse.

I remember thinking at age 11,What is wrong with me? Why can’t people like me for me? As I grew older and became more “conventionally attractive,” I found that people treated me differently. Instead of my quirks and interests being “weird,” I was now funny. This double standard baffled me as a teenager yet fueled my constant need for external validation. I thought, If only I lost 10 more pounds, made all A’s, and won all of my competitions, then maybe I would be valued.

Yet even through my great successes at a young age, I was always left feeling empty inside. Yes, I was “accepted” by those around me, but at what cost? I did not accept myself.

During my first few years of college, I recognized that I needed to make a lot of changes in my life, the most important being a mindset change. I started surrounding myself with people who lift me up and who feel like sunshine and started standing up for myself more. I realized that my worth is not contingent on external factors. My worth is in being God’s daughter — and God’s daughter alone.

Hurt people hurt people, and I will do everything in my power not to repeat the cycles of trauma that I endured.

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a Christian singer-songwriter. Yes, I love singing, going to the studio and writing, but I believe that the true magic in my job is in the people I meet. The reason I wake up every day and choose to do what I do is simple — it’s to help others. Going into every show, no matter how big or small, I aim to help or inspire at least one person in the audience. You never know how you’ll affect someone’s day, so my philosophy is to lead with love. Life is so hard as it is, and I hope that I can provide audiences with an escape through music and a safe environment to feel the hard things.

The moments that touch my heart the most are when young girls and women come up to me after my shows.

Seeing the twinkle in their eyes makes the hard days worth it. During the most recent show on my “Merry and Bright” Christmas tour, a little girl — let’s call her Becca — came up to me after my performance. She told me how beautiful I was and that she does music, too. She plays the flute and was in her first band concert just the day before.

To the normal eye, Becca’s and my interaction seemed nominal. But to me, her willingness to share her passions with me was, at the core, how I aim to make people feel. That day, Becca was an inspiration to me, and I was to her. Through creating music, I hope I can inspire young women to stay proud and follow their passions.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?

God is in everything. I believe that everyone has a uniquely individual relationship with him because he knows how each of us needs to be loved and when. God reveals himself to me in very apparent ways when I need his help the most as well as in the most subtle ways when I need extra encouragement.

During October last year, I needed him the most. It was a hard semester for me in college, and I was simultaneously putting out my Christmas EP, “King of Angels.” I vividly remember sitting in my college’s little chapel, praying on my hands and knees to God. “Am I doing things right?” I prayed. “Am I choosing the right path? Lord, give me reassurance.”

Not even 10 seconds later, Cindy Morgan, my producer for “King of Angels,” called me. She said that she didn’t have any reason to call other than to tell me that my voice sounded amazing on the album and that she was so proud of me. At that moment, I knew God was listening and that he was working through my music career. Even through the hard times, I know that God is with me and carrying my burdens.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?

Many people don’t know this about me, but I love to paint and draw. I’m no professional and would be considered an amateur at best.

I love creating anything and everything, and I love thinking outside of the box. But what I love most about this hobby of mine is that there is no pressure to be perfect. No judgment, no shame, no criticism — only an outlet for me to express myself. I like giving my art pieces to those I love as a token of my appreciation for them.

During my last family beach vacation to Florida, I picked up oyster shells. When I got home, I sanded, painted and monogrammed the shells to give to my loved ones. I also enjoy painting the Virgin Mary and the cross. Painting my Lord and the Virgin Mother helps me to add a prayerful and meditative aspect to my paintings. Having my “craft time” as I like to call it helps me to wind down and to understand the importance of God in my life.

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are three resources that have impacted you?

“The Glorious in the Mundane” podcast by Christy Nockels is a true game changer and focuses on the power of prayer. I grew up listening to Christy’s songs, my favorite being “By Our Love.” Her words and messages are powerful in her songs and podcast episodes.

Second, I think that journaling consistently every night has changed my life for the better. I have tried to use the guided journaling prompts in the past, but I have always felt so confined and overwhelmed when using those.

Letting my thoughts run wild on the page is one of the most freeing things that I’ve done for myself.

Allowing myself to be human and experience anger, contempt, joy, jealousy and fear has been so healing. Writing some of my entries to God has been a great outlet and form of prayer as well.

Lastly, although this is not exciting or glamorous, to-do lists are a life-changing resource for me. Writing down on paper what I want to accomplish for the day has been one of the biggest ways I’ve increased my productivity levels. In addition to school assignments, conference calls for music and working out, I also include prayer time and relaxation on my to-do list.

We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it’s done for you.

One resource that I find to be indispensable in my life right now is therapy. Although some see this as a taboo topic, I’ve found therapy to be so helpful in my personal and my faith journey.

Self-understanding and self-awareness are so important, and I believe them to be some of the most important skills in life.

Developing a greater understanding of our relationships and our own communication skills can help to improve relationships — as well as the godliness of those relationships. We must learn how to fill our own cups so we can fill others’ cups as well.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

Currently, I’m wrestling with the reality that bad things happen to good people. I recently found out some news about the health of a loved one. This event provoked a reaction in me that I’ve never felt, the feeling was heartbreaking.

Understanding that God does not want bad things to happen to us and that he is all things good has made a huge impact on my perception of hard events. The enemy will try to get us down, but understanding that God is on the other side of evil and actively fighting for us is so inspiring to me.

Have you ever received news that felt like a punch to the gut? Something that just took your breath away with how horrible, heartbreaking or disappointing it was?

It’s easy to wonder where God is in those moments. To question whether he truly loves us or not. To doubt truths we may never have been tempted to doubt before.

Although God doesn’t promise to always give us answers when we want them, he does promise us complete and uninterrupted access to him. We can approach him. Ask him the hard questions. Cry in his presence. Share with him our deepest hurts.

“Pour out your hearts to [God],” said David, “for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:8b, NIV).

Is your heart heavy today, friend? God is inviting you to share it all with him. What will you say?

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Kate Stanford grew up singing anywhere she could. In 2019, she opened for Jaci Velasquez, and since then, she’s worked with two-time GRAMMY nominee, writer and producer Cindy Morgan to continue honing her songwriting and vocal skills. Kate’s talent has caught the eye of many Christian music leaders and has opened the doors for her to perform at events like LifeFest and Big Ticket Festival. As she completes her senior year at the University of Texas, Kate is staying focused on her calling both as an artist and as a student.

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