
I’m back with another post in the getting deeper series and I am so excited! This time we are getting deeper with Lauren Parker. Lauren is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, a nurse, a bride to be and a follower of Christ. When I initially reached out to Lauren to see if she was interested her response was “anything to share the goodness of God, I’m all there!” Wow, what a true servant!
Growing up in the Dallas Fort Worth area and growing up in the competitive dance world, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were something I think every girl aspired to be. Now that I am older I still love watching the DCC and have so much respect for each and every one of the girls. I also have so much respect for Lauren being an openly devout Christian in a public figure position.
I am so excited for you to get to know and get deeper with Lauren!
Getting Deeper with Lauren Parker
Tell us a little about you!
Hey hey! My name is Lauren and grew up in the suburbs of Detroit! I graduated from a small, Christian college in West Palm Beach and I have been a nurse for about 6 years. I have four siblings and an amazing fiance! We are on the countdown to get married early next year and we can’t wait!
Did you grow up in the church?
I grew up in the Catholic church for much of my childhood. I went to an all-girls Catholic high school, but started attending a non-denominational church on Sundays in my early teenage years! It wasn’t until after I went to college that I really discovered what I believed for myself.
When did you become a Christian?
It was September 2009 that I made the decision that I was going to live for Christ. It took until I was nineteen years old to really begin diving into my faith and exploring what a personal relationship with the Savior meant.
Did you find any struggles with your faith and being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?
I didn’t find many struggles within the organization. I was so supported in my faith walk and many of the other cheerleaders shared the same beliefs. We also held a Bible study every other week before practice which allowed us to talk about our faith and pray with one another. I chose not to shoot for our annual swimsuit calendar and it was a decision that was supported, not only by the staff but also by my sweet friends!
What are some misconceptions about being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and being a Christian and how have you dealt with that?
I think the only speculations I have had about my role as a DCC and being a Christian has come from people who don’t understand the industry. The uniform is a representation of the hard work, perseverance, dedication, teamwork, and love that it takes to make this team. I felt so proud each time I put the uniform on because it was something that so many girls look up to. It allowed a platform to talk about my faith, share the love of Jesus openly, and build up others to believe in what they can accomplish.
How did being a DCC strengthened your faith?
Being a DCC has definitely made me more comfortable talking about my faith openly. It blew me away how many people wanted to talk about their faith journey or what they believed or how the Lord was working in their lives if you just allowed them the safety of that conversation. I also got to hear so many amazing testimonies that I will remember forever!
How did you balance your faith, DCC and being a nurse as well as friend, fiancé and so much more?
Girl, 24 hours in a day is just not enough! Haha! It was not easy, but it is definitely possible. Time management is key and so is having good friends around to always check on you, keep you accountable and build you up!
What woman of the Bible resonates most with you?
I love the story of the bleeding woman. This woman was bleeding for many years and saw many doctors, but her condition only worsened. Many times we do this…we go to worldly things to help us deal with problems, when, many times, that only makes things worse. This woman began believing and had so much faith in the power of what the Lord could do that she believed just by touching his garment, she could be healed. Wouldn’t we live differently if we truly had that much faith?! Wow! And that is exactly what happened. Not only was she healed, but Jesus stopped and spoke with her individually. By doing this, He let her know that she was known and loved. My goodness! What the world couldn’t heal in 12 years, Jesus healed in an instant!
(Read the story of the bleeding woman in Matthew 9:20–22, Mark 5:25–34, Luke 8:43–48.)
What advice do you have for girls in a long-distance relationship?
Communication, communication and more communication! Men and women are wired differently and many times, that leaves us with different expectations. Communicating openly and honestly from day one will help so much!
How have you made Christ the center of your relationship with your fiancé?
Praying from the very beginning was everythinggggg! It allowed us to grow together as we grew closer to Him! It also established a norm for us to come to Christ in all situations that we face! If you feel like it might be awkward or uncomfortable, break that barrier right from the beginning and if you are already in a relationship where praying is not the norm, try it first and let God do the rest!
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I absolutely loved getting deeper with Lauren Parker today and learning more about her and her faith journey. I also loved learning about how the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders organization supported her and helped her in her faith. She is truly using her amazing gifts of a dancer and nurse to glorify God and now she and her fiancé are part of a church planting team helping build a community in South Florida.
Follower Lauren on Instagram @lamaparker!
This interview series is so awesome! Lauren is so inspiring- I’ll have to follow her!
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
I love this highlight with Lauren. Thank you