Who are the biggest influences in your life?

“Faith isn’t taught—it’s caught. You learn it by walking with people who live it.”

Who are your biggest influencers? Not just the people you admire, but the ones who built you. For me, it’s three women who walked life with me and three giants of faith who lit a fire in my soul. These six didn’t just teach me—they shaped me.

Let me start with Pastor Chi. She wasn’t just my mentor—she was my lifeline. She led me to the Lord, introduced me to the teachings of Kenneth Hagin, Smith Wigglesworth, and Kathryn Kuhlman, and saw something in me I couldn’t see in myself.

She knew my grandmas, Grandma Ratliff and Grandma Mullins, and loved to remind me, “Your Rhema. That’s where you’re headed.” Before my wife and I went to Rhema Bible Training Center, she said, “If you were my kids, I’d send you there.” Those words stuck with me, and because of her encouragement, I graduated from Rhema in 2010.

Pastor Chi didn’t just point me to faith—she pushed me into it. She’d say, “Faith isn’t about knowing all the answers—it’s about trusting God when nothing makes sense.” And when I wanted to quit, she’d remind me, “Keep going. God’s not done with you yet.”

Then there was Grandma Ratliff. She wasn’t just wise—she made faith real. I remember sharing a dream with her once, and she leaned back in her chair, smiled, and said, “Son, just trust God. He’s trying to tell you something.” She didn’t overcomplicate anything—she just brought it back to trusting God every time.

When I asked her, “How do you know when you’re in love?” she said, “You know that you know that you know that you know.” At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but now I realize it was one of the most profound things I’ve ever heard. Real love doesn’t leave you guessing—it’s sure, solid, and undeniable.

Grandma Ratliff taught me how to pray—not with fancy words, but by talking to God like He was right there in the room. She taught me how to read the Bible—not just the words, but the meaning. She had a way of connecting scripture to life so I could live it.

Then there was Grandma Mullins. She didn’t preach with words; she preached with her life. I never—not once—heard her complain. Not about money, people, or the hard times she went through. She trusted God in silence, and that silence spoke louder than any sermon.

She’d tell me stories about how God brought her through impossible situations, and you could feel the faith in her words. But the real lesson wasn’t in the stories—it was in the way she lived. Her faith was steady, quiet, and unshakable.

And then there were the giants: Kenneth Hagin, Smith Wigglesworth, and Kathryn Kuhlman. I didn’t know them personally, but their teachings lit a fire in me that hasn’t gone out.

Kenneth Hagin’s foundational scripture became mine, too: Mark 11:23: “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” He’d often say, “Faith begins where the will of God is known.” That one sentence pushed me to dive into God’s Word to understand what He promised so I could stand on it.

Smith Wigglesworth? He taught me boldness. He said, “I’m not moved by what I see; I’m moved only by what I believe.” That wasn’t just a quote for him—it was his life. Another thing he said that stayed with me is, “Great faith comes out of great tests.”

Kathryn Kuhlman made the Holy Spirit personal to me. She’d say, “The Holy Spirit is more real than the air you breathe.” She carried God’s presence in a way that made you want to know Him more deeply.

These six people didn’t just influence me—they built me. The three women—Pastor Chi, Grandma Ratliff, and Grandma Mullins—walked with me through the highs and lows, showing me what it means to live a life of faith. The three giants—Kenneth Hagin, Smith Wigglesworth, and Kathryn Kuhlman—challenged me to go deeper, trust harder, and believe bigger.

So let me ask you again: Who are your biggest influencers? Because the people who shape your life leave marks that last forever. These six didn’t just leave marks—they gave me a foundation to stand on. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.

—Joshua L Mullins