This is the Baymont podcast with Marty Solomon.

I'm his co-host, Brent Billings.

Today we are joined by Ashley Island, author of Say Good and someone who seeks to joining

God's redemptive work on Earth.

Ashley is the head of school at Living Stones Academy and formerly served as co-lead pastor at

Mars Hill Bible Church in West Michigan. Ashley and her family live in Grand Rapids.

Ashley, welcome to the show. Thanks for having me, Brett and Marty. It's a pleasure to join you.

And the introduction that I give is always, you know, somewhat basic and approved by publishers and highlighting the things that they think

are important and whatever. But what do you think is important to know about who you are

and what you bring to the world? Oh, there's so many things I could say, but at this point in my life,

I'm an elder millennial who was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I went to University in Los Angeles.

My first career was in Human Resources

with a Fortune 500 company with Nestle USA.

I supported the Wonka Factory for a bit, true story.

And somehow have found my roots here, new roots, in the Midwest. And so based on how I grew up,

I grew up with two parents who loved me very much. I grew up as a single child. And so found

myself formed in aloneness and kind of finding my own dialogue, my self-dialogue as my best friend.

I didn't have imaginary friends, but I went to a Catholic school during the weekend a Baptist,

a Black Baptist church on the weekends.

And so I have been formed by many streams. I think that's one thing

that's important to know about me is that I see an appreciation in the multifaceted view of the church

and have found myself enthralled with an awe of many different cultural backgrounds.

...