Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerrie Oles.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started opening my mouth in my mother’s womb- true story. Had complications to my trachea because of that- but! none the less, it’s no surprise to anybody that I use my mouth “talking” for making a living and hopefully an impact on others. I’ve been traveling and speaking at churches, women’s events, youth facilities, and prisons, all over the country, for years now. But, I didn’t grow up in the church and I thought we were a pretty normal household until my brother was killed on Christmas day by a drunk driver, I was only eleven, but from there, our family fell apart. My middle brother got lost in drugs and crime and was incarcerated for the majority of my youth.
So, while other kids were being driven to church, I was going to prison on Sundays to visit him. These events and more kept me away from God the majority of my life until age thirty, and ever since, my life has been radically changed. I was a corporate trainer in the software industry for years, then, began using my gift of teaching about how real lasting change begins with owning your story of where you’ve been and surrendering your heart to Jesus, so He can rewrite the rest.
The absolute last thing I thought I’d ever do, is writing a book. I barely graduated high school! But, along with the journey one book, turned into three, and I just can’t stop. Because my life was affected by abuse, addiction, incarceration and more, my husband and I wanted to give from the place we’ve grown through. So we founded our own non-profit ministry called, “Unlocked Ministries.” We want to help people get rid of prison mentality, or thinking their life can never change. Most of us have inner pain locked up on the inside, that’s causing our outside world to be affected, and we don’t know how or where to get help for that.
Consequently, we search for fillers, like addiction, adultery, porn etc. I love writing books but I wanted something that could walk people through their very own healing journey. So, my very first curriculum called, “Unlock Now, 6 steps to begin inner healing,” will be released by the time this goes to press, and its definitely a resource people can use to get healed from unresolved pain. We are thrilled to be able to place this curriculum in homes, churches, prisons, halfway houses, sober living homes and more. Although I run a ministry, the greatest joy of my life, besides watching people come to understand who they were created to be, is being a mom to my two teens, and a wife to my incredible husband.
Most importantly, I have to say, I would be nothing but for the grace of God!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There is no one exempt from struggle. Struggles and setbacks are just set-ups for where God ultimately wants us to have victory. Because I was such a broken person when my husband and I first got married, we had a lot of trials. Once I started counseling and growing in my walk with God is when I thought struggles would cease, but that’s such a lie! Everyone on the planet will experience trials/problems of many kinds, its just staying the course, and leaning into how we can “grow” through the pain instead of just, “going” through the pain that shapes us into who were called to be.
Unlocked Ministries – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Super thrilled that right now “Unlocked ministries” is getting to go to places I never dreamed! We are a ministry specializing in real change. So much in our culture talks about how to be the real you, and we totally believe that you can come to be more and more real by understanding why you think, feel and act certain ways.
My book “Revived, from me I used to be,” would be a book for someone who loves a personal story of overcoming, and freedom! My third book, “For Real, navigating truth through trials,” would be a book for someone who loves to laugh, (so many funny stories) and wants to know how to get through this life when trials abound! I truly love writing books, however, “Unlock Now, 6 steps to begin inner healing” may be my best endeavor.
It will help you embark on emotional wholeness. We don’t want to just sell books, we want to help navigate lasting change and this curriculum, six-week guide, does that! and it un-complicates a lot of deep subjects. This study will provide encouragement and tangible steps to begin to walk out of prison mentality into restored thinking and living.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Easy. At my first women’s conference I created called, “Revived”, my mom and I took the stage together. It was the first time in her life, at age seventy that she unlocked the places of her pain and shared her testimony for the first time to three-hundred women. We share so much of the same story, but it was the most proud I could ever be, as we have come through much healing together. There may never be another moment like that, but it will forever live in my heart.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1501 Hall-Johnson Rd #1192 Colleyville, tx 76034
- Website: iamunlocked.org or kerrieoles.com
- Phone: 682-557-5596
- Email: kerrie@iamunlocked.org
- Instagram: @kerrie_oles
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