This month, get to know Marian Jordan Ellis, author of the new Anchored Bible Study!
Have you ever wished you could sit down in a casual coffee shop with one of our authors and speakers and chat? We are so thankful for the amazing women of God we have the privilege of working with regularly. And while we can’t all gather in our favorite downtown coffee shop, we want to give you the opportunity to know them a little more personally.
Every so often we’re sharing a fresh “coffee chat” with a member of the Lifeway Women family to give you the opportunity to get to know her a little better.
Q: Tell us about your writing process. Any favorite pens, locales, teas to drink, or music to listen to?
I’m most productive writing from my home office—preferably when the kids are at school, the laundry is (somewhat) under control, and the house is quiet. Emphasis on quiet! My brain just works better in silence (ADHD + background noise = distraction). Although I will say, my dog snoring at my feet is oddly comforting.
When I write, I follow a rhythm that’s very ministry-rooted. First, I study the content for myself—diving deep into the Word. Then, I teach it live to the women at my home church. It’s in those real-life moments of ministry that the message takes shape. Finally, I sit down to write—after the truth has already been tested and lived out in community. That’s when it flows.
Mostly, I’ve found that early mornings, before the family is up and needy, is my best creative window—although I’m learning to make the most of every moment, even the distracted ones.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
About writing?
“Don’t edit, just write.”
It’s simple but freeing. The biggest hurdle is getting the words out of your head and onto the page. Once it’s there, you can edit, refine, and shape it—but you can’t edit a blank page.
About life?
This quote shaped me early in my walk with God and it still fuels my ministry today:
“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”1
—C. T. Studd
It’s a vivid reminder that this life is short, but eternity is real. Live for what matters.
Q: What’s your favorite snack?
I’m a dark chocolate girl all the way—just a small square at night after dinner and I’m good! But if we’re talking indulgence? Key Lime Pie. My ministry (This Redeemed Life) used to host a women’s conference in Seaside, Florida, every year, and let’s just say my love affair with authentic Key Lime Pie began there on 30A and never ended.
Q: You have a new Bible study with Lifeway called ANCHORED. Tell us a little about it!
Yes! Anchored: The Life and Letters of the Apostle Peter is a deep dive into the bold, beautiful, messy, and miraculous life of Peter—the fisherman who became a rock in the early church.
Peter walked with Jesus. He saw the empty tomb. He was transformed by the Spirit of God. And the letters he wrote to the early believers are rich with truth for us today.
This study explores how we, like Peter, can live with courageous faith in a world that’s radically opposed to the Gospel. It’s about standing firm, clinging to grace, and living anchored in Christ—even when the culture around us is shaking.
Q: As you worked on ANCHORED, what were some new things you learned along the way?
Studying Peter’s life and his letters reminded me of this unshakable truth:
We already have everything we need for life and godliness.
That’s not just a feel-good phrase—it’s a promise from Scripture (2 Pet. 1:3), and it’s a game-changer. Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the gift of God’s Word, we’re not left to figure this out on our own. We are empowered. Equipped. Sent.
Yes, we may feel like strangers in this world. But we’re not abandoned—we’re citizens of heaven. And the faith we hold? It’s not some myth passed down through history. It’s anchored in the resurrection of Christ. That truth alone gives us boldness to live differently, love radically, and speak the Gospel with contagious courage.
Join Marian Jordan Ellis at Lifeway Women’s Leadership Forum in 2025!
Anchored Bible Study
The turbulent waters of culture can be unsettling. In the sea of voices calling for our attention and allegiance, trying to determine truth from deception is overwhelming and can leave us exhausted. Is there a trustworthy voice? A safe and certain stronghold of truth? Yes, there is. His name is Jesus.
Join Marian Jordan Ellis for this 7-session Bible study that explores the life and letters of Peter, a disciple who left everything to follow Jesus. Peter’s life and apostolic ministry will model for us how to anchor our lives to Jesus, while the letters of 1 and 2 Peter will reveal an enduring hope that enables us to withstand the storms of life, and even thrive in the midst of them. You’ll be challenged to hold fast to Him as you discover that, in Christ, you have everything you need to live victoriously and joyfully.
Learn more
Work Cited
1. C. T. Studd, “Only One Life,” https://tonycooke.org/stories-and-illustrations/only-one-life/.
