Life & Work with Gwendolyn Searls of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gwendolyn Searls.

Hi Gwendolyn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story really began with brokenness, but God turned it into purpose.

After becoming a widow, I moved into an impoverished community in Atlanta. During that season, the Lord spoke something that changed my life forever: “You are no longer Dinah; you are now Deborah.” I began studying Deborah in Scripture and realized she wasn’t just a judge—she was a writer, a worshiper who wrote songs of victory, and a spiritual mother to her community.

As I settled into my neighborhood, my front porch became my “palm tree,” just like Deborah’s place of leadership. Children would come to my home carrying empty cereal bowls, and I would feed them. Young women came seeking encouragement, wisdom, and mediation. Without realizing it at first, I was living out the very calling God had shown me.

As I continued studying God’s Word, I also faced my own story. I remembered that I had left my hometown of Albany, Georgia, because of childhood molestation, domestic violence, and years of abuse. Atlanta became the place where God healed me, restored me, and taught me how to transform pain into purpose.

That journey led me to found Dry Bones Collaborative Outreach and launch our literacy initiative, We Are L.I.T., because I discovered that literacy opens doors, but healing opens hearts.

As I served women in the community, I noticed that many struggled with their identity and self-worth. Research shows that millions of people wrestle with low self-esteem, and I realized the Lord was calling me to address that spiritually in a unique way.

That’s when Make Up Your Mind was born.

While studying the women of the Bible, God began giving me symbolic makeup kits that represented their character, their victories, and the lessons they teach us today. Those revelations became my book, The Women of the Bible and Their Makeup Kits, and eventually developed into workshops where I use makeup metaphors to teach biblical truth. Foundation represents building your life on Christ. Concealer reminds us that God covers us with His grace, not to hide us, but to heal us. Lipstick represents speaking life. Lashes remind us to lift our vision. Every beauty tool becomes a biblical lesson about identity, healing, and purpose.

Since 2018, I’ve been teaching these principles through Wise Women Academy, churches, conferences, schools, and virtual classes across the country. My passion is helping women discover that true beauty begins with a transformed mind and a renewed relationship with Christ.

Today, that vision has expanded into technology. I’ve created a Born Again Digital Beauty Box, where women can open interactive compartments like Lipstick Language, Lash Up, Lift Up, Eye-formations, devotionals, journal prompts, and prayers designed to help them grow spiritually and emotionally.

Now God has expanded the vision even further with Line Up Your Mind, a men’s initiative that uses barbershop metaphors to teach biblical principles. Just as a barber knows some things need to be cut away and some areas need a fresh fade, we teach men that some habits have to be cut off, some mindsets have to fade away, and God can shape every life into His original design.

When I look back, I see that everything God allowed me to experience—from abuse to widowhood, from feeding children on my porch to building ministries and creating digital tools—has prepared me for this assignment.

My mission has always been the same: to help people make up their minds, line up their minds, and discover the beauty of becoming who God created them to be.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the greatest challenges on my journey was learning how to rebuild my life after becoming a widow. Overnight, my income changed, my circumstances changed, and I found myself living in an impoverished community where hearing gunshots at night became far too common. It was difficult, and there were moments when I questioned how God could use me in that environment.

But what I discovered is that God often develops our greatest purpose in the places we would never choose for ourselves.

Instead of allowing fear to define me, I became an intercessor for my neighborhood. Every siren became a prayer. Every gunshot became an opportunity to ask God for peace over families, protection over children, and hope for the next generation. The community that could have discouraged me actually deepened my compassion and strengthened my faith.

Another challenge was communicating the vision God had given me. The concept of using makeup metaphors to teach biblical principles was something people hadn’t seen before. I had to spend time with the Lord, studying Scripture, praying, writing, and asking Him to show me how to connect everyday beauty tools with timeless biblical truths in a way that would genuinely transform lives rather than simply be creative.

That process required patience, discipline, and complete dependence on God. I learned to listen more carefully to His voice, to become a better student of His Word, and to trust His timing even when I didn’t fully understand where He was leading me.

Building a ministry also meant wearing many hats. I had to become a nonprofit leader, an author, a teacher, a curriculum developer, a speaker, and now a digital creator. There were financial challenges, moments of uncertainty, and seasons when I had to keep moving forward by faith instead of by sight.

Looking back, I realize those struggles weren’t obstacles—they were preparation. They refined my character, strengthened my relationship with God, and gave me the credibility to minister to women and families from a place of genuine experience rather than theory.

Today, when I tell someone that God can bring beauty from brokenness, I’m not speaking from a slogan. I’m speaking from a life that has witnessed His faithfulness firsthand.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Minister and spiritual Makeup Artist I don’t fix faces I frame futures the development of the spiritual Makeup Artist through ministry

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
One piece of advice I would give about mentorship and networking is this: be intentional about who you allow to influence your life. Find like-minded people who not only believe in your vision but are willing to challenge you, hold you accountable, and encourage you to become the best version of yourself.

I’ve been blessed to have spiritual mothers, mentors, and trusted friends who saw more in me than I could see in myself. They didn’t simply applaud my successes—they asked the hard questions, challenged my thinking, strengthened my faith, and helped elevate both my mindset and my work ethic. They reminded me that growth requires humility and a willingness to be taught.

I’ve also learned that mentorship is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing relationship. Even today, I invest in my own growth. I work with business coaches, attend leadership classes, participate in training, and seek opportunities to sharpen my skills as a minister, author, nonprofit leader, and entrepreneur. I believe that if I expect people to invest in what I’m building, I must first be willing to invest in myself.

Networking is still an area where I’m growing. I’ve learned that it’s not just about collecting contacts or business cards—it’s about building genuine relationships with people who share similar values and who can encourage one another to fulfill their purpose. The best networking happens when everyone brings value to the table and is committed to seeing each other succeed.

One principle I live by is that every room has something to teach you. Whether I’m the speaker or the student, I try to listen, learn, ask questions, and remain teachable. Growth begins the moment we believe we don’t know everything.

Ultimately, I believe God often answers our prayers through people. The right mentor can save you years of unnecessary mistakes. The right coach can sharpen your gifts. The right community can help you stay focused when life becomes difficult. That’s why I intentionally surround myself with people who challenge me to grow spiritually, professionally, and personally.

Pricing:

• My pricing ranges based on the depth of transformation, the audience size, and the length of engagement. A single workshop may begin at $350–$400, while deeper multi-week experiences and organizational partnerships range from $1,500 and beyond. My goal is to provide an experience that brings spiritual growth, identity restoration, and practical tools for transformation

Contact Info:

• Website: Poeticcosmetics.org and drybonescollaborativeoutreach.org
• Facebook: Gwendolyn Wynelle Searls