The University of Central Arkansas Gospel Choir hosted a Zoom meeting featuring two speakers, Lashanta Johnson and Orlando Phillips, on Monday night at 7:30 p.m.

The topic of the conversation from the event flyer was “manifesting your purpose.” 

Tommy Mason, the group’s music director, presented questions to Johnson and Phillips throughout the meeting that focused on this topic.

“This is an unfiltered conversation. This is a safe space to be yourself,” Mason said.

Johnson, 36, introduced herself first as a tennis coach and assistant basketball coach at Conway High School. Johnson hosts a weekly online class called Young Intentional Ministry for high school students.

Phillips, 23, introduced himself as a recent UCA graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Phillips hopes to attend a seminary school in the fall to get a master’s degree in biblical studies or theology.

Mason opened the discussion with the first question: “How do you know what your gift or calling from God is?” 

“It’s what you do the best with the least amount of effort,” Phillips said. He elaborated and said that effort still has to be put in and that there are responsibilities for finding it.

Johnson said that finding your purpose takes hard work and that “you’ve gotta find where you’re at with God.”

Both Johnson and Phillips agreed that those who find their calling should share it with others. “What good is the light if it is shining in light filled places?” Phillips said, adding that he is glad to have seen people in the past like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder share their faith through their musical gifts.

The two speakers opened up about how their faith had strengthened during difficult times. Johnson told a story about when she was planning to quit her job as it felt like the only negative thing in her life. “God said ‘I need you to stay,” Johnson said. 

Johnson stayed at her job and said she learned to enjoy working alongside a coach she never saw herself working with.

Phillips said he felt God had helped him when he went through COVID-19 and a difficult spring semester that lead him to doubt weather would graduate as soon as he had planned.

At one point during the discussion, Mason said for people to put “#IMPACT” in the Zoom chat-box if something said during the meeting so far had impacted them. The chat-box was quickly filled with the hashtag in response.

The discussion ended with a prayer from Jimmy  Campbell. Other participants gave their thanks to Johnson and Phillips for coming. 

“I’ve enjoyed this time, I just pray that God continues to steer yall in the right direction,” said Johnson. 

The UCA Gospel Choir can be found on their social media pages: @ucagospel on Instagram and Facebook. Johnson and Phillips can be found on their Instagram pages, @coachjohnson_212 and @orlandodeanre, respectively.