BE A BALLER -"Building a lifelong legacy"
Welcome to Be A Baller, where we're building a lifelong legacy for our families, communities, and the world! I'm your host, Coach Tim Brown, and I'm excited to for you join me on this journey.
On this show, we'll be talking about how to be intentional about building a lasting legacy. We'll be exploring what it means to leave a mark that goes beyond just our own lives, but has a positive impact on those around us and even generations to come.
Our guests will be individuals who have built a legacy in various fields – ministry, business, sports, and community service. And what's unique about our guests is that they're committed to the Wisdom Pledge. That means they're not just sharing their own stories and experiences with us, but they're also paying forward and sharing wisdom to empower the next generation.
So if you're looking for inspiration, guidance, and practical tips on how to build a lasting legacy that makes a difference, then you're in the right place!
So grab your earbuds, get comfortable, and let's dive in!
BE A BALLER -"Building a lifelong legacy"
Beyond the Pastor's Daughter: Raima Forbes Journey to Authentic Faith
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Raima Forbes takes us on a deeply personal journey through what it really means to build an authentic legacy while navigating the complexities of being a pastor's daughter, mother, teacher, and servant. With disarming honesty, she reveals the moment God became real to her – not in a church service or mission trip, but when she called her parents from Los Angeles to share news of an unexpected pregnancy.
"I was so overwhelmed with fear... That's when God became real to me," Raima confesses, describing how this pivotal moment transformed her faith from inherited to intensely personal. Her story resonates with anyone who's wondered how to balance family expectations with finding their own path.
As someone who ministered in public high schools as a teenager and now works with children through the LifeWise program, Raima offers unique insights into reaching young people across different backgrounds. "These are real kids with real struggles...and they need a real Jesus," she explains with characteristic warmth. Her approach to Christian education as a strategic response to cultural challenges provides a powerful framework for parents and educators alike.
Raima's vision for her Raima Word podcast tackles the "false identities" we all subscribe to – anxiety, fear, bitterness, pride – by offering practical biblical renewal. "My dad says cancel my subscription, I don't want no more issues," she shares with a laugh, before unpacking how generational patterns can be broken through intentional spiritual practice. Her advice for those feeling stuck? Fast and pray. "You're starving your flesh so that your spirit can stand up stronger," she explains, drawing from personal experience.
Whether you're questioning your purpose, struggling with balancing multiple roles, or simply seeking authentic faith, Raima's wisdom and vulnerability will inspire you to embrace your true identity. Listen now and discover how to build a legacy that transcends generations.
you know we have false identities that we subscribe to my dad says cancel my subscription, I don't want no more issues. But we all subscribe, have and still do because of the sin nature, these false identities. So what could a false identity be, these false identities? So what could a false identity be? Anxiety, right, Fear, bitterness, resentment, pride.
Speaker 2:But these are false identities that are not rooted in the character of God and his nature and who he is. Welcome to Be A Baller, where we're building a lifelong legacy for our families, communities and the world. Your host, coach Tim Brown, is excited for you to join him on this journey. On each episode, we'll be talking about how to be intentional, about building a lasting legacy. We'll be exploring what it means to leave a mark that goes beyond just our lives but has a positive impact on those around us and even generations to come. So if you're looking for inspiration, guidance and practical tips on how to build a lasting legacy that makes a difference, then you're in the right place. So grab your earbuds, get comfortable and let's dive in. It's time to be a baller.
Speaker 3:Welcome to Be A Baller podcast. I'm your host, coach Tim Brown, and today we're honored to have an incredible guest who embodies the spirit of intentional living and legacy building. Please join us in welcoming Raymond Forbes, daughter of Pastor David Forbes from Columbus Christian Center, raymond is a shining example of what it means to live out one's faith in every area. As a devoted servant at Columbus Christian Center, under the leadership of her dad, she pours her heart into ministry and service. Christian Center Under the leadership of her dad, she pours her heart into ministry and service. But that's not all. Raymond is also a loving mother, a respected teacher of the word and a passionate public speaker. Raymond, welcome to Be A Baller podcast.
Speaker 1:Thank you, I'm honored to be here with you.
Speaker 3:Coach oh, that's it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:That's me, that's me, we're going pretty far back. Oh yeah, we go. Oh yeah, we go. Way back to those good old days. You're coming through Brookhaven High School ministering, and you even came to Northland High School. I had you out there twice a week. You were busy. Share some of those. What do you remember from those days? You're a high school student, coming to those schools and ministering.
Speaker 1:I remember just being willing, honestly, and just being curious. I was like what are they doing over there and what kind of things do they know? And do they know what I know about Jesus? You know what? What can I share? How can I help? And so, being in those environments, I've always been really thankful to you for putting me in the position where I can go to different areas I'm not familiar with, go to schools I've never been to and connect with other students and be able to just share my life personally, on a personal basis, and they can, you know, take it from from there and take it at face value. But I remember it being fun. I remember the group that we would travel with, um, we would just have a good time and it was always great vibes and the kids at those schools Northland and Brookhaven, they were open.
Speaker 1:So, that was all I could ask for, really.
Speaker 3:You know, coming from your Christian school background, I think you were at that time you were a student at Worthington Christian High School, right here at Worthington Christian, and you were coming down. What was it about? Why did you say yes to coming? Because I've been trying to get students to come and they come and I don't know about this. Mr Brown, you know what was it about? What drove you to want to come and be a part of that consistently?
Speaker 1:I think one of the driving forces and factors had to have been, like I said, my curiosity. But then also it just kind of comes down the pipeline. You know my dad, that would be something that he would have been all over when he was my age. He would have been jumping at that opportunity. And so I think you know kind of some of how I came up and how I grew up, made me very comfortable in that kind of a space and kind of in that function, in that function, um. So yeah, I felt comfortable and I just wanted to to share my experience with Christ and see who would, who would latch on, who would, who would buy it, who would take it and who would allow their lives to go to a new, a new level.
Speaker 3:I can tell you this from the time uh, you weren't there when you guys would leave, and so I still would go other days and the students were always wondering they're coming back. You know they're coming back Because that's one of the things I've learned in ministry is we start a lot of good things, yeah, and then we just kind of disappear, talk about it, and those students are looking for us, waiting on us, miss Brown, they're coming back. But you guys were consistent. And those kids I think it was on Thursday or whatnot, but they knew on Thursday that once a month you all were coming and they looked forward to it. Are they coming? And one girl told me you know, mr Brown, them boys, they just put on a good show when the group comes in. I'm going to tell you about these boys, mr Brown. They ain't like that every day. I was crying. But later on this same girl told me, mr Brown, I see a change in them.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 3:She said and this was a student now I see a change in these kids, Mr Brown, Make sure they keep coming, you know, because I just want to let you know you guys did make an impact and made a difference in the life of those young people during your time there.
Speaker 1:God and same to you. I mean, you were heading it up and you were leading us and it was an incredible experience. But I could see how maybe they were faking the funk at first, but you really can't fake when you let Jesus in. You can't fake it for long and after a while it just really comes out. So that's really. It's a testament to what she said. Like okay, they're actually changing.
Speaker 3:They're actually changing. They really are. You can see it. You know, we know what the world says about PK kids, preacher's kids. Can you share your story about? First off, about the challenges and benefits of being a PK.
Speaker 1:I would say, should I start with challenges or benefits?
Speaker 3:That's up to you.
Speaker 1:Okay, challenges, benefits, that's up to you. Okay, challenges, I think, the pressures of what comes with calling your father or your mother a minister of the gospel, preacher of the word. There's pressure that can come and sometimes, you know, in my case the pressure was not really inflicted by the people that are really solid in our ministry. They're extremely supportive, loving people. They're like extended family to me. They've been around since I was a child. But you have many other people that may not be connected to your own family's ministry, that may be outside or other sister-associated ministries and people of the world that are just kind of watching you, waiting for you to do something that they can talk about, whether that be good or bad. And so, obviously, my dad he is an outstanding man of faith and there's a lot to live up to you know and he expects it.
Speaker 1:He says I expect it from all five of y'all, all of y'all better go further than me, and so I think that you know that is a lot to look at when I'm looking at it in my own strength.
Speaker 1:But, when I really say, okay, lord, it's, this is your show, this is for you, and you're going to be doing all the heavy lifting, he takes care of it and he gets us to where we're supposed to be. But I think that's probably one of the biggest challenges. And then, just like trying to factor in maneuver, how do I, how can I be, how can I say this? Trying to recognize how to be yourself, how to grow up and and to learn and grow and evolve from a child, a small child, into an adult, while being true to Jesus Christ. That can be hard because you're trying to find out who am I really? You have the voices of many people that won't be in your life forever. You have the voices of peers that may not be going in the same direction, but you have a connection with them and you love them. So it's like, hey, how do I get to where I'm supposed to go? And then, how do I know who I really am?
Speaker 1:So I think that adolescence, that puberty, that those young years I think those are probably for me had been the most difficult to really understand. Okay, I'm a pastor's daughter. How can I be true to that? But then be true to me and feel like I'm normal, because that sense of normalcy I struggled to get, that I really struggled for that. The benefits are the covering. You know, being covered by people excuse me, people like my dad and my mom like that is nothing small and it is an extreme blessing. I'd never trade it for anything. How he prays over me, how he walks with me, how he always points me back to the Lord and to the word, that's priceless. So I always felt secure and safe in my purpose and in my calling. And then just being used by God is a benefit as well.
Speaker 3:You know, as we all know, you grew up in church and been around ministry pretty much all your life. Can you share with the audience when God became real to you?
Speaker 1:Sure, God became real to me when I called my dad and I called my mom from Los Angeles, sharing with them that I was expecting a child. That's when God became real to me, because I was so overwhelmed with fear I mean, it was horrible, was horrible, and at that time I don't think I had fostered a relationship with Jesus in a way that was completely personal. You know, because you ride on the coattails of your parents and the faith people in your life. You know as long as you can, and that's kind of where I found I was. You know, I grew up in church. It was all I knew. But it takes a real life shaking experience At least I speak for myself. That was what I had to endure. That really got me on my knees before God and saying, oh my gosh, I'm weighing over my head here. He's been nothing but faithful. That was, that was the experience for me. I was 24 years old. It's powerful. It's been nothing but faithful. That was the experience for me. I was 24 years old.
Speaker 3:It's powerful. It's a powerful story. We know we can count on the Lord. We know he's going to be there. You're way out in California.
Speaker 1:Oh gosh, yeah, that's a long story.
Speaker 3:Speaking of that as a mother, now being a mom, how do you balance your role as being a teacher, a servant and a parent, and what advice would you give to others in similar situations? Being a young mother, how do you balance all that?
Speaker 1:Well, I think that first you have to recognize where you are and what is actually aligned with your purpose and I think a lot of times.
Speaker 1:We try to do so many things and we try to say yes to everyone, and I think that that is where we fight this battle of oh, I don't know how to balance everything, and sometimes balance means saying no, and that's something that I had to learn. Positions and places and people tugging at me, being able to use discernment and, you know, flowing in the spirit of wisdom, able to help me. See, this is what's aligned with me. You know, this is what God would have me do in this season, and when I'm really focused on that, then my motherhood flourishes because I'm really doing what I'm supposed to be doing and I'm not burning myself out, just saying yes to everything and people pleasing.
Speaker 3:You know, I know you've had the experience with the LifeWise program. Yes, when directors and I know they meet at the church there, can you talk about how that has shaped your?
Speaker 1:approach, to be able to be close up with many different kinds of children, to be able to see the different life circumstances and situations that kids face and that they go through. But I think that there's this beauty about the gospel where it is literally so profound and amazing but at the same time it's so simple that a child could understand it and grasp it. And so God has done something really beautiful with the gospel by making it to where it's this multi-layered, amazing, most amazing thing you ever heard. Yet it's so simple, and so I find that with children, it's getting down with them on their level. There's things that they talk about I never would have imagined as an adult that someone would be facing in the way that they are, just down the street, just right across the street from the ministry that I serve in at Mifflin Middle School, cassidy Elementary. These are real kids with real struggles. They have real hearts and they need a real Jesus.
Speaker 1:And so my heart goes out to them because they need somebody to pour the word into them, like why not, why not me?
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know. Speaking of that, you're doing ministry at your father's church and your father's leadership. Why do you feel called to serve there? Because I'm sure you could have other opportunities at different places. What is it about Columbus Christian Center and your dad's leadership that you feel called to serve?
Speaker 1:I think that the authenticity of my dad's heart, being able to see how genuine he is and how much his love for the Lord has taken him from the bottom up. I mean, he's had really humble beginnings and he has really done such amazing work, not just in Columbus Ohio, but in our family you know what I'm saying In the Forbes family. He has really paved a way that is attractive. It pulls you in because it's sparkling and it's glamorous. But it's the word of God, it is dedication, it's consecration, it's holiness. He makes that look very attractive because he's so confident in himself. My mom she is completely the most genuine woman that I know. She's always the same and her foundation is Christ. So they make it easy, they make it desirable, but then also they always made me and my siblings feel like we have a place. We have a place.
Speaker 3:So yeah, you know, as we continue this conversation, I know you're just so serious, so focused what does what's fun? What does Raymond do for fun? You know we got to loosen this thing up.
Speaker 1:Am I too tense? Am I too tense? I want to move the mic. I mean, I love to eat, period. I love eating. I love to eat some good food, try out new restaurants. I really enjoy board games. That is just something that I'm just like yeah, give me a good board game. Put me around, my family and my friends. I just light up and I'm excited and I'm happy about that. I do enjoy spending time with people that I love.
Speaker 1:Walking is one of my favorite things to do I'll go on a walk and I'll be excited about it, just exploring nature and there's such a calm that comes over me, so I really enjoy that. Those are some things that I really like doing Good good good.
Speaker 3:You know there's a. I know you grew up in Christian schools and at Columbus Christian Center you guys have a Crown Preparatory Academy. Can you tell the audience about what the value of Christian education, what Christian education is valuable, important to you?
Speaker 1:I mean, I think it's a sign of the times. You can see, you look out your window and you just see the agenda of the enemy manifesting. And so you know, god is never second fiddle, right. He's never just like sitting in the corner, like, okay, well, I see what the enemy's doing, what am I going to do? No, he has a bigger and better plan and he has his reinforcements, he has his strategies, he has his power, and so Christian education is one of those powers that the Lord has to reach the souls of these young children, because as they grow, they are going to be maturing and evolving into the people that are going to be raising up the next generation.
Speaker 1:And especially when I think about life-wise, I'm like, oh my gosh, some of these kids, their stories, their backgrounds, their everyday life, what they go home to after they leave school, it's just like a fight all the time. It is constantly a fight, and my dad and I were talking about it the other day and he's just like that fight or flight. Some people are locked in fight, they are just always constantly on edge, and that is the work of the enemy at play, and that's something that we have to actively fight against. If the enemy is going to be relentless, hey, we're going to fight back and say no. God's principles and what he stands for and what we believe as followers of Christ matters too, and it matters in the lives of these kids as well.
Speaker 3:Lord gave you a vision to launch Ramah Word podcast. Can you tell us more about the vision and its purpose?
Speaker 1:no-transcript false identities that we subscribe to. My dad says cancel my subscription, I don't want no more issues. But we all subscribe, have and still do because of the sin nature, these false identities. So what could a false identity be? Anxiety, right, fear, bitterness, resentment, pride. There's many, there's a whole long list of them. But these are false identities that are not rooted in the character of God and His nature and who he is.
Speaker 1:And so, rhema, word helps you to get back on track by renewing your mind. So you will have a catalog and you might say what have I really been struggling with? And a lot of this stuff. This goes back generations, generational curses in your family. Your mom and your grandma and your grandpa all had the same fear. They always struggling with fear can never finish something, always starting but not finishing. That's a generational curse and a lot of times people don't know that those things are active in their family lines.
Speaker 1:Well, first you repent right For your sin of that false identity. You repent for your ancestor's sin. You receive a godly blessing in exchange for that, and then, after you have to renew your mind with the word of God, where those lies once were, you've got to root those up and put the word in. So you go through a catalog that I create for you and you'd say, man, I'm really struggling with insecurity. You'll click it and it is an audio book of me reading the word of what does the word of God say about insecurity, and you renew your mind and you listen to it over and over and over again, and then it's just also just a conversational podcast.
Speaker 1:That's more comfortable relaxed, we can talk and I can just really impart into you but it's really a mind renewal tool I can just really impart into you, but it's really a mind renewal tool.
Speaker 3:You know, how do you personally incorporate prayer and spiritual practices in your daily life? You know, because you're busy with so many things going on, how do you incorporate that into your daily life?
Speaker 1:You know, one of the words that comes to my mind, coach, is sacrifice, and you're not going to get far in your walk with Christ if you cannot make sacrifices. He made the greatest sacrifice of all. The most we can do is to make a sacrifice for the Lord. So, whether that looks like waking up a little bit earlier and taking intentional time with God, that works. He'll take it. He'll take any time that you give For me, my daughter and I.
Speaker 1:We love to listen to worship music in the morning and that opens up our spirits and our souls for the day and just allows God to really speak to us and gets us really sensitive. Sometimes we cry on the way to school because we're worshiping God while we're driving to school. We're worshiping God and while we're driving to school. And also, you know, getting involved in your community, get involved with your local church. You might have a midweek Bible study. I know we do on Tuesdays. That helps us in the middle of the week just still checking back in and saying, all right, lord, let's, let's, keep going at it, let's keep going at it. And then, of course, on Sundays, but outside of church, finding time to worship, everybody drives right. So listen to a podcast that inspires you to live for Christ in a more radical way, a more stronger way, or worship that's an easy way or waking up earlier, or just making intentional time, sacrificing something that you normally would do, and give that time to the Lord, and he takes that and he makes that thing grow.
Speaker 3:As you think about your generation and that's what I wanted to have you on the show some of those challenges that this generation is facing. You look at the world and social media, likes and all that kind of stuff. How do you encourage others who may be feeling stuck or unsure about their own calling and purposes in life? What word would you give to them of encouragement?
Speaker 1:I have just had a conversation with a woman Her name is Dr Sarita Lyons. She is a dynamic speaker, wonderful woman of God and I asked her that similar question what would you say to the person that is kind of feeling lulled Not to sleep, but just kind of hanging in the center, you know, not really growing, not really going backwards, but just kind of in the same place? And she said I would pray and I would fast, and this is something that I've done. Fasting is a phenomenal tool to go deeper in the things of God, because you're starving your flesh so that your spirit can stand up and stand up stronger. You're hearing, your sensitivity in the spirit is heightened and things happen very, very quickly.
Speaker 1:The last fast that I did was three days. I only had water and the Lord did some incredible things in just three days. And so I would say for the person that has really been struggling and it might be a struggle it's not always easy, it really isn't, and it takes a lot of intentionality and a lot of times it takes practice getting in the presence of God and really making a home there. But I would say take a day or take half a day and say I'm not eating for this first half of the day. I'm not eating for this first half of the day. I'm not eating for this day and when I would normally be eating, I'm going to eat the word of God, literally. I'm going to find a scripture and I'm going to read. I'm going to say God, speak to me, soften my heart, take my heart of stone and turn into a heart of flesh. He will blow your mind. I would say pick a fast. You don't need to do anything crazy, you know right off the bat.
Speaker 3:But find some time to just dedicate to God and fast and pray. Speaking of that, as we come around the corner, can you this audience who's listening to this? Can you pray over the audience?
Speaker 1:Absolutely To encourage them to do that for us. Okay, heavenly Father, I just thank you for who you are, and I thank you for this time. For the listener, whoever is listening, lord, you have chosen them before they were formed in their mother's womb. You knew exactly who they were. You knew that they would be listening to this very episode right now, and so, lord, I just pray that you would touch the heart of the person that is watching. I thank you, lord, that they would have unshakable faith in you. I thank you for surrounding them with people that would continue to confirm and reinforce your love for them. Who you are, lord, I thank you for continuous confirmation of your spirit of love. I thank you, father, that the person who is listening would find liberty and freedom in you. That, lord, they would go to new heights and soar on the wings of eagles. Lord, I just thank you so much for their life. Their life is precious to you.
Speaker 1:So, lord, I just thank you that this moment, from this moment on, they would continue, maybe if this is their first time ever even praying this prayer. Lord, I pray that they would continue to walk strong in their faith, that they would not be ashamed of the gospel, they would not be ashamed to claim Christ. And so, lord, I just thank you so much for your love. I thank you for your peace that passes all understanding, that surpasses all human understanding. Lord, it's something that we can't understand, but, lord, it's real and it's so true. So, lord, I just thank you for rooting this precious person in the foundation of truth, and that their lives would continue to blossom into what it is that you've called them to be, in the precious name of Jesus, amen.
Speaker 3:Amen, amen, amen.
Speaker 3:Well, remy, thank you so much for sharing your heart and wisdom with us today on Be A Baller podcast.
Speaker 3:It's been an absolute joy to have you on the show and I've just been blessed to watch you grow and mature into the young lady and woman that you are, and so I'm thankful for, thankful for your parents and your church family.
Speaker 3:You know, and I'm sure, how proud they are, most importantly, how proud God is, and I thank you for answering the call. You know not running from that call, but answering the call, and we're glad you came on back home to Columbus Ohio. You know it's been great, so thank you for it, even coming back to Worthy Christian High School back in the studio, where it all began, so to speak, right. So it's truly been a blessing. So, for the audience, I want to thank you for listening to Be A Baller podcast, where we talk about building a lifelong legacy, and I thank you for Raymond Forrest, for being in the studio today, someone who's building a legacy that's still been written each and every day. So thank you, audience, and please listen and subscribe to the show and share with your friends, as always continue and share with your friends.
Speaker 2:As always, continue to be a baller, coach Tim Brown. If you've enjoyed this episode, please share it with family and friends. The Be A Baller podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. This podcast was created by Coach Tim Brown and recorded and edited by the video production class of Worthington Christian High School. Be sure to come back next week as we continue to discuss on how to build a lifelong legacy. Until then, don't forget to be a baller.