Turning Your Mess into a Message | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 255: Toni Collier, Broken Crayons Still Color

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My guest today is Toni Collier, founder of Broken Crayons Still Color, an international women’s ministry that helps women process brokenness and get to hope. She serves alongside her husband, Sam, who is the pastor of Hillsong Atlanta. 

4:55 – Toni 101

• Toni wakes up every morning and thinks, “Lord, don’t let me mess this up, because I’m crazy.”
• She grew up in a tough environment as a child, with a verbally abusive dad and a mother who was sick. She lost her virginity at 13 and began drinking and doing drugs. 

11:30 – Unhealthy survival tactics

• In counseling, Toni wondered why she ran to so many things that were unhealthy when she was younger. 
• A counselor told her that young people try their best to survive but they don’t always have the best strategy.

20:02 – The double life

• Some people’s lives look great on social media, but it’s not great on the inside.
• Toni lived a double life for 25 years. She was a cheerleader, got good grades and was involved in extracurricular activities. But she would sneak out of her house to meet her boyfriend and eventually slept with different guys.

25:26 – Broken Crayons Still Color

• Toni tells the story of picking her daughter up from school and buying her a box of crayons. Her daughter colored with them so hard that they broke, and it led to a breakthrough in Toni’s own life and how she dealt with difficulties in her life. 

30:00 – Scars that stay with us

• Toni’s mistakes will always be with her. They are scars that are healed and sealed and still present. It brings up anxiety, concern and worry.
• God never promised us a life of perfection. He will be with us in the imperfection.

47:31 – Overcomer: Defeating Anxiety and Abuse

• You can pre-order her book now, Overcomer: Defeating Anxiety and Abuse. It will be available Aug. 23. 

49:20 – Get to know you

• If she could win a medal in any sport? Power walking
• Best vacation? Costa Rica
• Song she could listen to over and over? Britney Spears’ Hit me baby one more time

FEATURED QUOTES

I literally wake up every morning and I’m like, “Lord, don’t let me mess this up, because I’m crazy.” – Toni

The double life, in my personal opinion, is the difference between a fan and a follower of Jesus. – Toni

Stay passionate. Find a way. – Toni

LINKS

• https://brkncrayons.com/
• https://tonijcollier.com/

Toni Collier is the founder of an international women’s ministry called Broken Crayons Still Color, which helps women process through brokenness and get to hope. She serves alongside her husband Sam who is the Lead Pastor of Hillsong Atlanta. She is a speaker, host, and consultant that has helped organizations with creative marketing, leadership, student ministry, and strategic planning. Toni is teaching people all over the globe that you can be broken and worthy and unqualified and still called to do great things. She doesn’t want you to just face your demons, she wants you to quash the illusion of your brokenness so you can live the most colorful life possible, on and off stage.

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