Keep It Positive, Sweetie
Episode: No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Date: December 22, 2024

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt season six premiere, host Crystal Renee Hayslett gathers a dynamic roundtable of guests from diverse backgrounds—all connected by their complex personal journeys with faith. The group dives deep into the concept that “no one is too far from God," exploring questions of church, tradition, personal relationship, forgiveness, and what it means to find faith after struggle or disenchantment. The episode is a safe, judgment-free space featuring raw stories about church hurt, incarceration, doubt, healing, and finding new ways to know God and love others. Crystal’s skilled facilitation fosters authenticity, vulnerability, and, above all, positivity.

Meet the Guests

• Brenda Palmer - Pastor, producer, host of Life and Perspective podcast
• Angela Wright - Author, advocate, motivational speaker, host of Break Free podcast, formerly incarcerated
• Ms. Lawrence - Actor, singer, songwriter, and activist
• Wes Lawrence - Entertainment manager, entrepreneur
• Devale Ellis - Actor, author, Crystal’s co-star on Sistas, podcast host

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Upbringing, Church Tradition and “Church Hurt”

(Timestamps: 04:31–19:00)

• Nearly all guests grew up in church but experienced conflict and confusion; for some, the rigidity of tradition and lack of room for questions led to detachment or rebellion.
• Devale recalls: “When I asked questions, I got shunned…If you ask questions, then you don’t believe the way you’re supposed to believe. So you going to hell. And that scared me.” [04:31]
• Angela shares how her upbringing in a pastor’s home didn’t prevent her from “making a left turn” and ending up incarcerated—but “once the word is embedded in you, people can take whatever they want… but one thing they cannot take is that word.” [05:48]
• Brenda describes church as both family and hurt. After deep betrayal by a pastor, she considered ending her life, but “came face-to-face with Jesus … nobody outside of him could get me out of it.” [08:12]
• Ms. Lawrence describes being celebrated for their church singing talent yet marginalized for being “gender non-conforming.” “The only time they would see me as human was when I was singing and using my voice.” [13:13]

2. Breaking Away and Rediscovering Faith

(Timestamps: 10:16–19:00, 46:56–55:00)

• Leaving home or experiencing hardship often sparked a new, personal relationship with God, distinct from inherited tradition.
• Crystal: “My mom and dad taught me, but that wasn’t my own relationship with God. This is where I can build my own and learn how to talk to Him in my own way.” [11:17]
• Guests recount stories of wrestling with the perceived contradiction between tradition and personal authenticity.
• Ms. Lawrence: “In order to meet people where they are, you have to be in worship, in spirit, and in truth. You’ll never learn who I am if I’m not operating in truth.” [14:48]

3. Performance vs. Relationship; Root vs. Ritual

(Timestamps: 21:04–25:00)

• Brenda: “I think the issue with growing up in church is that we get into, like, this performance-based thing. I got to look a certain way, act a certain way, with no root or foundation in why we’re doing it.” [21:10]
• She emphasizes authentic relationship, not just rule-following: “Jesus loves us … once I experience, embrace, and accept that love, I want to reciprocate it with how I live.” [21:47]

4. Faith and Doubt: Wrestling with Religion’s Exclusions

(Timestamps: 23:00–32:00)

• Devale raises hard questions about exclusivity—what about people who never hear about Jesus, or grew up in other faiths? Does Christianity’s “one way” mean others are doomed?

  • “My biggest issue with religion is someone saying you only go through heaven by believing in Jesus Christ. That, to me, creates division.” [23:01]

• Brenda responds by citing scripture: “The Bible says … until the gospel has reached the end of the Earth, he won’t return. So everybody will have an opportunity to hear … everyone has a choice.” [24:10]

• The group reflects on unity: “At the end of the day, did you give somebody water when they were thirsty? … Did you give them food when they were hungry?” (Ms. Lawrence) [30:48]

• Notable moment: Devale describes formative encounters with Jewish and Muslim neighbors whose acts of kindness and prayer challenged boundaries, affirming that God’s spirit transcends labels. [26:25–27:54]

Memorable Quotes

• Ms. Lawrence:
  "If I go out with a full ball gown on and lashes from here to Peace street, can't nobody tell me that God ain't still with [me]." [20:32]

• Angela:
  "When you get to that point … there's nothing that anybody could tell, even if you wrong and even if you fall from grace, and you still know that you have your father and that he has you." [20:44]

• Brenda:
  “You can’t pursue Jesus without him.” [21:04]

5. Personal Experiences: Faith Tested

(Timestamps: 47:10–61:00)

• Angela’s testimony of 30-year incarceration, clinging to faith: “My faith was really tested in the thick of it…I knew I was not going to do 30 years. Faith will make you look crazy.” [47:18]
  • She wrote her memoir in prison on the belief she’d be free—President Obama granted a fellow inmate clemency using Angela’s customized paperwork, but her own application was denied, forcing her to dig deeper.
• Wes describes hitting rock bottom with health and career before turning inward and recommitting to God to transform his life. [53:57]
• Ms. Lawrence details surrendering a dream to God and receiving clarity through a chance encounter with a stranger after desperate prayer: “God told me to tell you to let it go.” [58:10]

6. Navigating Faith in the Entertainment World

(Timestamps: 62:16–67:31)

• Both Crystal and Devale discuss setting boundaries in acting, declining certain roles (e.g., rape scenes) that don’t align with their values or they wouldn’t want their children to see.

• On Hollywood’s aversion to overt Christian language: “They always try to say, hey, don’t say God or Jesus … it’s like an unspoken thing.” [62:16]

• Ms. Lawrence found agency in telling stories responsibly, especially representing marginalized people (e.g., playing Miss Freddie in United States vs. Billie Holiday). [65:02]

• Remarkable conversion: During filming of “Deliverance,” a previously atheist director converted to Christianity due to the on-set environment, prayer, and the unity of the cast. “He was an atheist. Now he’s saved.” [67:00]

7. Redefining “Success”—Faith as Foundation Not Outcome

(Timestamps: 61:05–62:16)

• Ms. Lawrence: “I have no lack, but also no money…What God showed me was, I am the richest. I am the resource. I provide the abundance, not a job.” [61:45]
• Deep emphasis is placed on miracles, unexpected provision, and the inner peace that outlasts transient circumstances.

Additional Themes & Takeaways

• Value of Questioning and Authentic Community:
  • The show repeatedly legitimizes asking tough questions: “Please keep asking questions. You’ve probably just been asking the wrong people.” (Brenda) [36:46]
• Healing and Accountability:
  • True spiritual community involves both acceptance and “pushing one another to see things from new perspectives.” (Crystal to Brenda) [09:32]
• Radical Grace:
  • Acceptance is for all, not just the “unlikely”—the episode title is again invoked for an inspiring conclusion: “No one is too far…” [67:31]
• Empowering the Next Generation:
  • Angela works with at-risk youth: “We can’t reach them how grandma done reached us. We have to reach them where they are.” [37:58]

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• “You have to be in worship, in spirit, and in truth. You’ll never learn who I am if I’m not operating in truth.”
  —Ms. Lawrence [14:48]

• “Faith will make you look crazy. People will begin to think you were crazy.”
  —Angela [47:18]

• “I never had an agent... However, everything I’ve done has been top tier... God has shown up and showed me who he was so many times... I have no lack, but also no money.”
  —Ms. Lawrence [59:35–61:45]

• “If I go out with a full ball gown on and lashes from here to Peachtree, can’t nobody tell me that God ain’t still with [me].”
  —Ms. Lawrence [20:32]

• “When I ask questions, especially in the church community … that’s when I get my most pushback.”
  —Devale [35:42]

• “[Kirk Franklin] said, ‘Don’t cheer for me, give it to Him.’”
  —Devale [46:16]

• “Nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37.”
  —Angela [74:35]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Roundtable Introductions and Faith Backgrounds – 04:31–19:00
• Tradition vs. Personal Faith – 19:00–25:00
• Doubt, Division & Inclusivity – 23:00–32:00
• Women & Faith, Misogyny in Religion – 28:25–31:00
• Church Hurt and Healing – 08:12–09:31, 13:13–15:14, 47:10–55:00
• Personal Miracles and Provision – 58:10–61:45
• Hollywood & Boundaries – 62:16–67:00
• Redemption and Continuity of Faith – 67:31–74:35
• Shoutouts, Plugs, and Positive Affirmation – 72:57–78:07

Flow & Tone

The episode maintains an honest, empathic, and uplifting atmosphere, combining humor ("If I put on lashes from here to Peachtree…!") with profound vulnerability, deep questions, and practical wisdom. The table’s unfiltered rapport, love, and mutual respect encourages others on faith journeys—especially those wrestling with questions, wounds, or feelings of estrangement from God.

Final Takeaway

Crystal closes with a reminder that everyone is “so much more alike than not on this faith journey.” Giving each other grace, rejecting judgment, and deeply listening are recurring calls to action—because, in their words, “no one is too far from God.” [67:31]

For more inspiring roundtables, follow the show
@lovechrystalrenae and @keepitpositivesweetie.
Guest projects, books, podcasts, and more are detailed from [72:57] onward.