Faith Comes From Hearing The Word: Your Platform Is Your Pulpit
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:19-20
These words, spoken by Jesus just before He ascended to heaven, weren’t given only to the eleven disciples standing on that mountain. They were given to every follower of Christ across every generation, in every place, using every means available to share the good news. And today, that includes you—the creative with a platform, a voice, and an audience waiting to hear what you have to say.
The Message That Changes Everything
Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ (Romans 10:17).
Let that sink in for a moment.
Someone’s faith—their entire eternity—hinges on hearing. Not on perfect theology delivered in a sanctuary. Not on flawless execution of evangelism methods. Simply on hearing the message about Jesus.
And here’s the part that should both humble and embolden every creative reading this: You are the voice someone needs to hear.
Your Substack newsletter. Your fiction series. Your Instagram captions. Your podcast episodes. Your blog posts. Your YouTube videos. These aren’t just creative outlets or business platforms. They are modern-day pulpits. They are the spaces where people gather to hear from you—and potentially, to hear about Christ.
But here’s where it gets convicting: How many of us have built beautiful platforms, cultivated engaged audiences, and created compelling content... while keeping the most important message tucked safely away?
Two Kinds of Hiding
There are two ways creatives hide their light, and if we’re honest, most of us have done both at different seasons.
The Playing-Small Hiding
This is the creator who keeps their platform tiny because they’ve confused humility with invisibility. They tell themselves they’re not qualified to share about faith publicly, always thinking, ' Who am I to think people want to hear from me?’ They don’t want to seem preachy or pushy. They’ve convinced themselves their work isn’t “spiritual” enough to matter for the kingdom.
So they post occasionally, share timidly, and keep their reach deliberately small—all while calling it wisdom or discernment or waiting on God’s timing. But deep down, it’s fear. Fear of judgment. Fear of failure. Fear of being seen.
The Separate-Spheres Hiding
Then there’s the creator who has boldly built their platform. They’re strategic. They’re consistent. They show up, create content, engage their audience, and maybe even monetize well. But they’ve built a wall between their “platform” and their faith.
Their creativity is over here. Their spirituality is over there. Their business is one thing. Their ministry is something else entirely. They might mention church on Sundays or drop a Bible verse in their bio. But the gospel? The actual life-changing, eternity-altering message of Jesus Christ? That stays safely compartmentalized, rarely if ever integrated into the work they share publicly.
If you saw yourself in either description, take a breath. This isn’t a condemnation—it’s an invitation. Because here’s what Romans 10:13-15 makes devastatingly clear:
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?”
You have been sent.
The moment you hit “publish” on that post, you were sent. The moment someone subscribed to your newsletter, you were sent. The moment your book landed in a reader’s hands, you were sent. The moment your Instagram reel started playing on someone’s screen at 2 am when they couldn’t sleep and were desperately looking for hope, you were sent.
The Chain That Can’t Be Broken
Look at the logic of Romans 10 again, but this time, let’s read it in reverse. Someone is lost. Completely, utterly separated from God and heading toward eternal destruction. For them to be saved, they must call on the name of the Lord. But they can’t call on someone they don’t believe in. And they can’t believe in someone they’ve never heard of. And they can’t hear about Jesus without someone telling them. And no one can tell them unless they are sent.
The chain is simple: Sent → Speak → Hear → Believe → Call → Saved.
And here’s where it gets personal. Where’s the break in that chain for the person who needs to hear about Jesus? Is it because God didn’t send anyone? No. God has sent you. He’s given you a platform, an audience, a voice, a creative gift. He’s positioned you exactly where you are, with the people who follow you, for such a time as this.
The break in the chain happens when we refuse to speak.
When we keep our faith quiet because we don’t want to lose followers. When we separate our “brand” from our beliefs. When we convince ourselves that our cozy mystery novels or our lifestyle content or our design work or our poetry can’t possibly be a vessel for the gospel. When we tell ourselves that platform building is just business, not ministry.
Every time we choose silence, we’re leaving someone in the dark who desperately needs the light.
What We’re Really Risking
I know this feels heavy. I know it might be stirring up guilt or defensiveness or fear. But stay with me, because I need you to understand what’s truly at stake.
When you keep the gospel out of your creative work, when you hide your faith from your platform, when you play small instead of stepping into your calling as a sent messenger—you’re not just being disobedient. You’re not just missing out on the fullness of what God wants to do through your work.
You’re withholding hope from someone who needs it.
You’re keeping the message of salvation from someone who’s searching. You’re denying the person who’s been following you for months, reading your words, trusting your voice, the one thing that could actually change their eternity. And you might be the only Christian voice in their life. You might be the only person positioned to reach them.
Think about that. Your subscriber in Seattle who reads every newsletter you send? She might not go to church. She might have been hurt by Christians in the past. She might think Jesus is irrelevant to her modern life. But she trusts you. She opened your email. She’s reading your words right now.
What if you’re the one God sent to reach her?
What if your fiction series is the first time she’s ever seen a character wrestle with faith in a way that feels real? What if your behind-the-scenes post about how you’re trusting God through a hard season is the first time she’s considered that maybe God is actually good? What if your newsletter about creativity and calling is planting seeds that will bloom into salvation down the road?
And what if you never mention Jesus? What if you keep it “safe” and “professional” and “not too preachy”?
What then?
The Parable Principle
Here’s where I need to lovingly confront a lie that’s keeping many of you silent: the belief that only “spiritual” content can carry the gospel.
If you write genre fiction—romance, mystery, fantasy, science fiction, thrillers—you might think your stories aren’t the right vehicle for faith messages. If you create content about productivity, parenting, homemaking, or entrepreneurship, you might think those topics are too “secular” to integrate gospel truth.
But let me remind you of something: Jesus taught in parables.
He told stories about farmers and seeds and coins and sheep and weddings and vineyards. He talked about everyday life. He used common experiences to reveal an uncommon truth. He didn’t stand on street corners shouting theology. He told stories that met people where they were and gently, powerfully, led them toward God.
Your clean romance novel about second chances? That’s a parable about redemption. Your cozy mystery where justice prevails? That’s a parable about God’s righteousness. Your thriller where good triumphs over evil? That’s a parable about spiritual warfare. Your Instagram posts about slow living and intentional rhythms? Those are parables about Sabbath rest and trusting God’s provision.
You don’t have to write devotionals to share the gospel. You don’t have to post Bible verses every day to be a witness. You just have to stop pretending that your creative work exists in a separate sphere from your faith.
Because here’s the truth: everything you create is either pointing people toward Jesus or away from Him. There’s no neutral ground. Either your work reflects the hope and redemption and love and truth of the gospel, or it doesn’t. Either you’re using your platform to make disciples, or you’re using it for something less eternal.
How I’ve Chosen to Go All In
Let me get practical and personal for a moment. I’ve chosen Substack as my all-in platform for digital ministry, and it’s not an accident. This decision was deeply intentional, rooted in my calling to reach people with the gospel through creative ministry.
Through Soft Sacred Slow on Substack, I’m reaching women across the United States and around the world—places I may never physically visit, people I may never meet face to face. My words land in inboxes in cities and countries I’ve never seen. My voice is heard by women who would never walk into my church, who might never pick up a traditional devotional, who are skeptical of “Christian content” but trust me because I’ve shown up consistently and authentically.
Every Wednesday when I publish a deep-dive teaching post, I’m discipling these women. I’m walking them through the Genesis Framework, helping them understand how God’s design for creation informs their creative work. I’m teaching them how their personality affects their approach to platform building and ministry. I’m giving them biblical foundations for decisions they’re wrestling with—how to price their work, how to build community, how to navigate seasons of rest and productivity. I’m equipping them to integrate their faith and creativity so authentically that the two become inseparable.
Every Sunday when they receive The Sabbath newsletter, I’m inviting them into rest and worship. I’m walking them through Scripture and spiritual formation in bite-sized, accessible ways that fit their busy lives. I’m reminding them that their creative calling includes the rhythm of Sabbath, that rest isn’t optional, that God Himself modeled this pattern for us. For many of my subscribers, this Sunday email is the most consistent spiritual input they receive all week. It’s their moment to pause, breathe, and remember what all this work is really for.
And here’s what’s beautiful: I didn’t have to choose between building a platform and building the kingdom. The platform IS the kingdom work. My Substack isn’t separate from my ministry—it IS my ministry. This is where God has sent me. These subscribers are the people He’s called me to serve and disciple.
The same is true for my fiction writing under A.P. Peoples. My Blue Stone Seasons series isn’t “just entertainment.” Every story I write carries themes of redemption, forgiveness, second chances, faith in hard seasons, community and belonging, and God’s faithfulness. My characters wrestle with real struggles and find hope—not in tidy, preachy ways, but in authentic, lived-out-on-the-page ways that reflect how faith actually works in our lives.
Readers who would never pick up a Christian living book are reading my novels. They’re experiencing gospel truth through story, the same way people experienced truth through Jesus’s parables. They’re seeing characters who pray and doubt and trust and question and ultimately find that God is good. And some of them are reaching out to tell me how the stories have impacted their faith, how they’ve started thinking about God differently, how they’re considering church again.
That’s the power of integrating faith with creativity. That’s what happens when you stop separating your platform from your purpose.
Your Platform, Your Personality, One Gospel Message
Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “But Antonisha, I’m not like you. I don’t have a teaching platform. I don’t feel called to write devotionals or spiritual content. How does this apply to me?”
This is where understanding your DISC personality becomes incredibly powerful. The way you share the gospel through your creative platform will look different based on how God designed you. And that’s exactly how it should be.
The D-Type Creator’s Platform
If you’re a D-type, you’re naturally direct, decisive, and driven. You see problems and want to solve them. You challenge the status quo. You’re not afraid of bold statements or uncomfortable truths.
Your platform might integrate gospel truth through prophetic-edge content that challenges cultural lies. You might write fiction with characters who stand firm in conviction even when it costs them everything. You might create content that calls out injustice and points to God’s righteousness. You might be the voice that says the hard thing everyone else is dancing around, the one who reminds your audience that eternity matters more than comfort.
You’re not going to soft-pedal the gospel, and you shouldn’t. The people God has sent you to reach need your boldness. They need someone who will speak the truth clearly and directly. Don’t apologize for that. Just make sure your directness is saturated with love, and your challenges are rooted in Scripture.
The I-Type Creator’s Platform
If you’re an I-type, you’re naturally inspirational, relational, and enthusiastic. You connect with people through story and emotion. You create community. You make people feel seen and valued.
Your platform might integrate gospel truth through personal testimony and transformation stories. You might write fiction with characters whose relational journeys mirror spiritual growth. You might create content that celebrates God’s goodness and invites people into deeper connection with Him and each other. You might be the voice that makes faith feel accessible and joyful, the one who reminds your audience that God delights in them.
Your warmth and authenticity are your gospel superpower. The people God has sent you to reach need to see that following Jesus is about relationship, not religion. They need to experience the joy and hope and celebration of faith through your voice. Don’t dim that light. Let your enthusiasm for God spill into everything you create.
The S-type Creator’s Platform
If you’re an S-type, you’re naturally steady, supportive, and patient. You create safe spaces. You value harmony and consistency. You’re loyal and dependable.
Your platform might integrate gospel truth through gentle encouragement and patient discipleship. You might write fiction with characters who demonstrate quiet faithfulness in hard seasons. You might create content that walks people through spiritual growth step by step, that reminds them that God is patient with their process. You might be the voice that makes faith feel safe, the one who creates a community where people can be honest about their doubts and struggles.
Your steadiness is a gospel gift. The people God has sent you to reach need someone who won’t rush them, who will create space for slow transformation, who demonstrates that God’s love is patient and kind. Don’t underestimate the power of your consistent, supportive presence.
The C-Type Creator’s Platform
If you’re a C-type, you’re naturally conscientious, analytical, and excellent. You value accuracy and depth. You’re thoughtful and thorough. You think before you speak and research before you teach.
Your platform might integrate gospel truth through well-researched biblical teaching and theological depth. You might write fiction with carefully crafted worldbuilding that reflects biblical truth. You might create content that helps people understand Scripture more deeply, that answers the questions others haven’t taken time to explore. You might be the voice that makes faith intellectually satisfying, the one who shows that following Jesus engages the mind as well as the heart.
Your pursuit of excellence is worship. The people God has sent you to reach need someone who takes Scripture seriously, who won’t give them shallow answers or theological fluff, who demonstrates that faith stands up to scrutiny. Don’t dumb down your content. Your audience needs the depth you provide.
The Soft Sacred Slow Way
Here’s where it all comes together. You might be wondering how urgent gospel mission fits with a “soft, sacred, slow” approach to creative work. Doesn’t urgency require hustle? Doesn’t the Great Commission demand we work faster, push harder, reach more people now?
No.
Burnout doesn’t serve the kingdom. Creating content at an unsustainable pace that depletes you and makes you resentful doesn’t honor God. Building a platform through manipulation or hype or tactics that contradict your values doesn’t make disciples—it makes consumers.
The soft, sacred, slow approach to gospel-centered platform building means you create from overflow, not depletion. You build relationships, not just reach numbers. You prioritize depth over breadth, knowing that one truly transformed life matters more than a thousand shallow engagements. You trust God’s timing instead of forcing your own.
It means your business practices reflect the gospel truth. You treat your audience with dignity. You create space for rest and Sabbath in your content calendar. You honor your unique design instead of copying someone else’s strategy. You measure success by faithfulness, not metrics.
And here’s what’s beautiful: this approach actually increases your gospel impact long-term. Because you won’t burn out and disappear after two years. You’ll still be here in five years, ten years, building on the foundation you’re laying now. The relationships you’re cultivating through patient, authentic engagement will bear fruit in ways that quick-growth tactics never could.
The gospel has been spreading for two thousand years. Your calling is to be faithful with your platform for your lifetime. Not to reach everyone right now. Not to go viral or build a massive audience overnight. Just to show up consistently, create with excellence, integrate your faith authentically, and trust God with the results.
That’s soft, sacred, slow platform building. And it honors both the urgency of the gospel and the sustainability of your calling.
The Invitation
So here’s where we land, friend. If you’ve been playing small, hiding your light under a bushel because you’re afraid or insecure or waiting for permission—this is your permission. You are sent. Your platform is your pulpit. The people who follow you need to hear about Jesus, and God has positioned you to tell them.
If you’ve been boldly building but keeping your faith compartmentalized, treating your platform as separate from your spiritual life—this is your invitation to integration. You don’t have to choose between platform building and kingdom building. They’re the same thing when you do it with intention.
Faith comes from hearing. And hearing comes through the word about Christ. And that word gets spoken through voices like yours—creative, authentic, unique voices that reach people traditional ministry might never touch.
Your romance novel can carry gospel truth. Your productivity content can point to the God who designed you. Your mystery series can explore themes of justice and redemption. Your Instagram posts about homemaking can reflect the beauty of God’s created order. Your Substack newsletter can disciple women you’ll never meet in person.
You just have to stop hiding. Stop separating. Stop playing small.
Step into the calling God has given you. Use your platform to share the hope that changes everything. Integrate your faith with your creativity so authentically that people can’t tell where one ends and the other begins.
Because somewhere out there, someone is waiting to hear. And God has sent you to speak.
Will you?
What’s one way you can more intentionally integrate your faith with your creative platform this week? I’d love to hear in the comments.
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