About
From the Editor
Hello!
I’m so glad you dropped by. As Christians, we have the unique privilege and awesome responsibility to “show and tell” how great our God is. The best way to live for Him is to trust Jesus with every nook and cranny of our lives. Whether at home, church, school, work, or play, our lives should consistently and intentionally reflect the image of Jesus Christ. People are watching, observing, and taking note of how we, Christ-followers, respond in all of life’s circumstances.
Living Real Magazine and the Living Real Podcast were created to provide a platform for real people to proclaim God’s faithfulness and greatness as they mature in their faith through real life experiences. I hope as you peruse our website, articles, and podcast episodes that you’ll be inspired, challenged, and encouraged to live out your faith in Jesus Christ every moment of every day.
Thanks again for stopping by!
Keeping it Real,
Melanie Shull
Founder / Editor in Chief
MelanieShull.com
Madison Shull Photography: madisonshull@gmail.com
“Only one life, so soon it will pass. Only what’s done for Christ will last. “
- C.T. StuddThe Story of Living Real
In 2005, after most of her life being spent ministering through music, Melanie Shull began to pray for God to expand her borders of influence for Him. Through reading His Word and praying, she knew He was telling her it was time to leave a singing group she had been singing with for about four years. Because she had been faithful in sharing her personal faith story through music ministry, she also felt God leading her to write.
With an unclear, but undeniable passion to put words to paper, Melanie headed off to her first Christian writers conference in 2007 at the suggestion of a good friend. Melanie says,
“The only thing I knew when I arrived was that I had come to hear specific direction from God as to how He wanted me to honor Him with this newfound desire to write.”
For the entire weekend, Melanie tuned her heart to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit the best she knew how, knowing that through seeking His face and praying He would speak clear direction about this yearning in her heart. But, even on the last day, she still had no clue as to what the Lord wanted her to do.
Then, as she was loading her luggage into the back of her vehicle, a still, small voice, as clear as a cloudless, blue sky, spoke these words into her heart:
You are going to start a magazine, and you’re going to call it Living Real - Real Life. Real Faith. Real People.
Melanie was ecstatic, but also scared to death. She knew nothing about how to write articles, much less about how to publish a magazine. She had no clue where to begin. In awe of this daunting task placed before her, she received the challenge with great enthusiasm, and all the way home she sang and gave praise to Jesus. God had answered her prayer.
After returning home, God began to unveil how He had been orchestrating this call on her life for years through a network of people already involved in her life. From graphic designers to printers, to gathering sponsors and writers, God had prepared every little detail to fall into place. Because of her lack of knowledge or experience with this type of endeavor, Melanie says she can never take any of the credit. All glory goes to Christ alone, because Living Real was His idea.
In October of 2009, Living Real Magazine hit the street. 5000 copies were printed and distributed through the midlands of South Carolina. Today, God continues to affirm His call on Melanie’s life by continuing to expand Living Real’s audience across the United States and into other countries.
“Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us - to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
— Ephesians 3:20 (CSB)