— Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
When we seek God—He will speak. How has God spoken to you? I know He has. Think on it, and give Him praise. Amen.
For Stacy Duran, the Lord woke her from deep slumber with a single word: FORGIVEN, and like His whisper to his servant Elijah on the mountain, God started speaking and showing Stacy His purpose for her life. He showed her a vision of a boutique—how it would look, and more importantly, WHO it would represent: JESUS.
“Things just started happening. Like the building we purchased, and received the keys to, on Christmas Eve 2024. I still wasn’t sure what it all meant, but I spent quiet time with God, and stayed obedient to everything He was showing me.”
— Luke 12:48
When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
“GOD has blessed my husband and me with a beautiful family, beautiful home and successful businesses. And in our gratitude and humility, we always remember Luke 12:48.”
But God wasn’t done yet; the boutique space wasn’t enough. God decided that not just the one unit would be for His glory, but the whole plaza, which has several units. So in January 2025, Stacy gathered her faithful JESUS GIRLS to the building for prayer and dedication of the space to God. There they prayed and wrote scripture on the walls as they stood in awe of God’s perfect plan for His Kingdom. The building is now called FORGIVEN PLAZA and it is the home to Forgiven Boutique—a dazzling shop filled with beautiful items, to a Christian monthly market of local crafters, and to a Christian bookstore.
Stacy Duran, an imperfect representative of our Perfect Jesus Christ, at FORGIVEN BOUTIQUE, appointed and anointed, I believe, because she loves God and loves people. When you shop at the grand opening on 8/2/25, you’ll know her by her light for Jesus, and oh yes, she’ll be the one saying, “Let me tell you about forgiveness with my Jesus.”
Take Heart Books has expanded into a brick-and-mortar Christian bookstore; it began as a remote Christian Publishing company of two—Stella Soto-Crawford and Jesus, her Savior and Lord. Let me tell you how.
It was May 2020, and as I sat in my parked car, I will never forget the knock on my driver’s side window. I was waiting at the meet up spot for our family to begin a “birthday parade drive-by”. It was during Covid, and yep, we did those types of parades for our loved ones.
“Hey you. Hi.” My aunt Olga smiled at me through the car window.
“Hey aunt O.” I smiled back.
“The Lord told me to ask you about something I need help with. God said, “Ask Stella.”
Honestly, I was not regularly talking with God, but I knew my aunt did and she clung to her faith like a
lifeline, so I took her seriously.
She was writing some essays, as well as her autobiography, and she didn’t know how to take it from a
word document to printed paperback. I didn’t either, but I simply said, “Ok. Sure.”
And just like that, we agreed to meet and discuss this task that God had given me through her.
God led me, step-by-step, in the right direction and opened my understanding to the process of book
production, and in September of 2022 In His Hands: From Tragedies to Triumphs by Olga Soto, was
published by Take Heart Books.
For two years, I sat at the feet of Jesus proofreading her 4 books—editing, reading scripture, pondering
her life’s struggles and how with God she overcame. I also learned new software and was just in awe of
all that God had allowed me to learn and of His endless creativity that he would give me! I felt so
unworthy but was hungry for more time with Him so that meant I needed more projects and do you know
what? God provided. He sent more of His amazing faithful servants my way to help them share His Word!
To date, I have worked with 7 wonderful authors all sharing the message and love of Jesus Christ, the
Overcomer.
Fast forward. About a year ago, the Lord put in my heart a Christian bookstore. While I verbalized it to
my husband, I didn’t move on it. But I kept knowing that God was speaking to me about a bookstore.
Then Stacy Duran called.
We had a whirlwind conversation about space available in FORGIVEN PLAZA, but it all came down to
one word: OBEDIENCE. In her obedience, she followed God’s gentle calling, in my obedience I walked
through doors that God had opened.
But there is one more person that is very central to my story, and I believe Stacy’s, too.
My mom, Sylvia Soto. I cannot begin to know her long suffering of wondering where, how or when God
would activate her into her calling. Be sure of this: She loves God and always has, but her servant’s heart
would not allow her to rest in His presence, until all in her presence were cared for and loved to their fill.
So Mom did what most moms do—she put her family first. But we cannot know what God has planned
for us until we surrender everything to Him—even those we love. When I approached Mom about a
partnership for the bookstore, she knew that this was an answer to a prayer she had buried deep in her
heart—owning a store. You see? He is faithful! He doesn’t forget us.
Sometimes our faith can encourage others, like my aunt’s did for me; like Stacy’s did for my mom and me
and—like we hope this testimony encourages your walk with God.
So I leave you with this: Take Heart! Jesus IS the Overcomer and we can share in that inheritance when
we put God first. Don’t know how? Come to the grand opening at FORGIVEN Boutique and ask my
friend, Stacy Duran, about FORGIVENESS through Jesus, and then come to the bookstore for a Jesus
book. Before you know it, your faith will encourage the next, and so on. See you on 8/2/2025!
To God be the Glory. Amen.