CONCEPTION

Hi, I’m LaVerne. Disciple, Wife, Mom, Storyteller, Hope Dealer, Challenger, & Ambassador for Christ - I am determined to use my life to spread hope, share truth, and challenge the women around me. I serve in the community by opening the doors of my home, welcoming women into my kitchen, and sharing space on my couch. As a wife and mom, I am passionate about raising children who are trailblazers, overcoming pornography addiction, and being REAL about life. As founder and visionary of Free to be Real, I have had the opportunity to meet with teens and women from all over southwest Louisiana. I do not shy away from hard topics, because I believe we were created for freedom’s sake: to live significantly for Jesus. Teaching the Bible for years has given me a reverence for the Word of God and an appreciation for the sacred and holiness of Scripture. I  believe in living counter-culturally just like Jesus. Real, raw, & revolutionary have been my jam for decades. I believe life is too short, & God is too good for you to keep hiding what you’ve got from this world.

I am a wife to Don, mom to Caleb, stepmom to Jerad, Amy, Rachael, and Jason, and Nonnie to 16 grandchildren. I have been involved with Free To Be Real since its conception, and my faith and relationship with the Lord has grown deeper and stronger as we prepare for each gathering. You will find me behind the scenes coordinating, hugging, serving, and stewarding the Free to be Real gatherings. I am always left in awe and wonder of God’s goodness and faithfulness to see Him move and work in the lives of so many women. My passion is babies but also for women to know they are loved, valued, seen, and to know their worth in Christ Jesus.

In my journey through loss, trauma, and the complexities of life, I've developed an unwavering commitment to walk alongside Jesus and share His transformative love with others. My mission is to reveal an authentic Jesus who loves us unconditionally amidst our junk and mess.   My days with Jesus are not typically spent in quiet time (though I do have those rare moments). Instead, they are spent on the go as an author, helping my husband manage our three companies, and handling all things mom-related. Throughout it all, Jesus is always with me, serving as a friend, counselor, and guiding light each step of the way.   By digging into scripture, I’ve discovered that Jesus is passionate about attention to detail. My closet may not reflect this, but you will find me behind the scenes at Free to Be Real diligently striving to bring the same passion for attention to detail as Jesus.   My hope for you, when you attend one of our Free to Be Real gatherings, is that you leave knowing you have sat in the presence of the Holy Spirit and felt the sweet embrace of Jesus’s love.

Hi there, I’m Des, and I lead worship at our F2BR events. Jesus and worship have always been a part of my life. I am passionate about stewarding space for you to freely meet with Him—whatever that looks like for you. God’s heart for His church is unity, and I’m here for it. I love seeing our F2BR team come together as musicians and leaders from all over the Lake Area. My life is full as a twin mama, teacher, and business owner. I love the opportunity I get each day to “go and make disciples”. Going has brought me to many parts of the world, but today it’s to the classroom. You can also find my fingerprints on a few properties in the Charpentier District of Downtown Lake Charles. I love creating and hosting ‘home away from home’ spaces for our guests to enjoy. I am a survivor. I went into heart failure with the birth of my babies. The Lord delivered me. He fought for me and healed me. Our family has also endured the suffering of addiction and mental illness. I know well the journey of grief, trauma, and PTSD—But God. My Father is greater and He continues to bring beauty from the ashes of my life. I honor the women who have sat across from me at tables and loved me enough to hold my hand and share their stories. They have been lifelines of rescue on this journey of healing. I choose vulnerability in sharing my own, offering the real and raw, but most importantly the gospel truth and hope found in Jesus. He is everything and He is enough. You are welcome here. You have a seat at the table. Your story matters. YOU matter. My prayer for you is to taste and see the goodness of God in every season of your life. To know that failure and disappointment are not the end… you can find joy and purpose in the midst of grief. That you would know, trust, and yield to Him in the hard and holy work of healing…placing the broken pieces in his hands and watching him make something beautiful again. Won’t he do it!

As a teacher by education and experience, I love to see the light bulbs go off in my students’ minds as they navigate through difficult material or tackle a new skill. Through Free to Be Real, I’ve gotten to see the light bulbs of women’s hearts illuminate brightly when they have a moment of feeling seen, understood, and heard. As women of Jesus, we all have a story–no matter if it’s a beautiful page or brutal chapter. At Free to be Real, we’re a teller of these stories–all of them, the real and raw and messy and honest and good. It’s these stories that are the heartbeat of our gathering and ministry. When we choose to listen to others’ stories, it puts words to that similar longing in our own hearts. When we choose to share our stories, it provides freedom to another woman in the room. Those brutiful stories that have been shared for years in prayer circles, living rooms, from stage, in small groups, or on a tear-stained shoulder of another woman have power to change lives and make us all look a little bit more like Jesus than the moment before. Surrounded by boys in my own life, as a wife and mom to two sons, I love the incredible journey I’ve been able to travel with women through my years with Free to Be Real. It’s never been short of adventure and a good plot twist, but it’s always been a place of belonging, healing, and freedom. Currently on my own (Arizona) adventure, I’m living life out west with my family for a few years.

Hi! Karen Vigo here. An extrovert who thrives on authentic 1:1 conversations. A lover of community and quality time with my favorite people. Also a mother of two and a self-declared “domestic engineer”. A latina who has made Louisiana her home for 20+ years. For many years, I struggled to hide the very thing that would end up leading me into deep community with my now dearest friends. An eating disorder held me captive since early college days and kept me from being deeply known. This disorder brought me into a dark place I wish I’d never known. God rescued me from this pit I’d put myself in and turned my shame and guilt into my greatest testimony. This was by no means an easy conquest, yet a battle so worth fighting for! I’ve come to know the value and power of vulnerability and how God used it to help me heal. I want to remind you that you are not alone. God sees you! Broken, beautiful, and beloved you! My hope is you would allow your weaknesses and imperfections to magnify your need for Jesus, the One who can truly set you Free! I’m so glad you are here.