EHEW Episode 168 - Stars of Wonder with Rebecca Bruff

About Host, Karla Nivens:

After graduating from Texas Tech University, Karla earned her teaching certificate and began her career as an elementary music teacher in the Dallas Independent School District. She also sang for Grammy award-winning Gospel recording artists Kirk Franklin, CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Crystal Lewis, Willie Neal Johnson, John P. Kee, Alvin Slaughter, Tamela Mann, and Michael Buble’. She's traveled the world and ministered to diverse audiences in music. During her travels, she had the opportunity to sing on the Jay Leno Show, Soul Train, the Stellar Awards, and the Billy Graham Crusade with Kirk Franklin.

She took a hiatus while staying at home with her children for several years and re-entered the workforce as a worship leader at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Karla has worshipped with Highland Park for the past 17 years. Currently, Karla is building the Racial Justice ministry for Highland Park UMC. Karla has also served as an adjunct instructor for Visible Music College and in 2014 released a CD entitled “True Worship.” Five years ago a good friend suggested she turn her heart toward fulfilling the Great Commission. Karla began traveling on yearly mission trips to Costa Rica and Africa. On those trips the Lord began to awaken the motto He gave her in college – “Influencing Culture for the Good of the Kingdom.” As an answer to this awakening, Karla and Dr. Roosevelt founded Karla Nivens Entertainment. Under this umbrella, Karla partnered with Love Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, started a small group for women, and a radio show both titled “Every Heart Every Woman.” Karla encourages her audience to quiet the noise and restore balance in their daily lives through inspirational entertainment. The show airs Sundays as a podcast on iTunes and Podbean weekly. The show also airs in video on YouTube. In 2019, Karla released her book, True Leaders with Heart, packed with weekly meditations for leaders.

 

Guest:

Rebecca Bruff heard the story of Robert Smalls on her first visit to South Carolina. She was so captivated that she left her job and moved across the country to research and write this novel. Bruff earned her Bachelors degree in education (Texas A&M) and Master and Doctorate degrees in theology (Southern Methodist University). In 2017, she was a scholarship recipient for the prestigious Key West Literary Seminar. She volunteers at the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort, South Carolina. She’s published non-fiction, plays a little tennis, travels when she can, and loves life in the lowcountry with her husband and an exuberant golden retriever. Learn more here.