Congratulations to Linda Randle

Linda Randle has been named this quarter’s ExtraOrdinary Woman honoree for her bravery and willingness to help others through sharing, listening and empowering other women.

Linda describes an ExtraOrdinary Woman as every woman. “I say that because we are all made in His image. We are unique in the way we are created not just physically, but in our gifts and talents. When you come to a place and are in agreement with what God says about you, that’s what makes you, you. Although you might have negative experiences, those experiences help shape you, and that makes you extraordinary!”

Where it all started

Going about her normal day-to-day life with a smile on her face and compassion in her heart, Bloomington resident Linda Randle is the perfect example of an ExtraOrdinary woman. Recognizing that we are all burdened with crosses to bear, Linda has learned to trust in divine timing, believing that everything in life happens for a reason. 

“If you are able to quiet yourself and listen, you may be able to hear the reasons,” Linda shares. “I think we need to learn to have faith in what God has planned for us.” 

Today, Linda is a Senior Billing Specialist at a local insurance company. 

Originally from central Illinois, Linda moved to Bloomington after being raised in Decatur. She came to Bloomington in 1993 to attend school at Illinois State University where she majored in Public Relations. She had previously attended Richland Community College and earned an associate’s degree in arts. Linda recognized even at this phase in her life that she was a speaker, enjoyed writing and could see herself doing it as part of her career. Though, at this point, she did not know just how great of an impact this would have on her in the years to come. 

Linda then went on to earn her master’s degree in Spiritual Formation at Lincoln Christian University. She describes the process as “Studying scriptures, and discerning the voice of God as well as using different spiritual disciplines and learning from personal experiences to grow in relationship with Christ. God works through His word and His Spirit to make us a little more like Christ, and it’s not always easy,” she notes with a laugh, thinking of the many times in her life where she proved this to be difficult. 

In her master’s program, Linda wrote her thesis on Spiritual Transformation through Silence, Solitude and  Prayer. Though Linda has been thrust into her role as a professional speaker, she describes herself as introverted by nature. She says that she has always been driven to be alone, silent, and in her own peace. In times like this, Linda feels she is closest with God. Taking inspiration from Jesus, Linda relates to when Jesus would venture to the mountain to pray. “That is my authentic self. Even though I do public speaking, that is when I feel recharged, when I can get alone, sit, and listen.” 

Linda enjoyed her initial time living in Bloomington-Normal, choosing to stay in the community after finishing school. At first, she stayed because there was a lot more opportunity in the job market compared to her hometown of  Decatur. “As a young single mother of two young children, I had to be conscientious of this,” she shares. 

Linda notes she always had a passion for learning. She was also the first person within her immediate family to earn an undergraduate degree. 

In hindsight, Linda thinks that arriving in Bloomington-Normal was actually the work of God, leading her to her ultimate destination. At the time she decided to attend college at Illinois State University, Linda was not a born-again Christian.  It wasn’t until 1998 when Linda encountered the Christ from the Bible 

“To be honest with you, I wasn’t looking for God. I wasn’t seeking God. I had been in a broken relationship and the guy had left. I went into a depression, and I really didn’t want to live,” she shares. 

A couple of Linda’s girlfriends had suggested that she go to church, believing that this would help her through her tough time. Reluctant at first due to her upbringing in a non-Christian home, Linda eventually agreed. “I had tried everything else. This particular Sunday, they said ‘Go to church,’ and I had been so deep in my pain and in my agony, I thought, ‘Well, what do I have to lose?’ I had tried everything else”. 

Linda recalls her first experience at church, describing how heart-broken she had felt. Sitting in the church pew crying, Linda remembers when the Pastor announced his altar call. “In a somewhat surreal moment I thought,, ‘I need to get up there!’.At that moment of looking for relief from pain and hurt, she ended up meeting Christ. 

Linda started becoming involved in her church, Joy Full Gospel Community Church, and as she began to get to know other women she started recognizing the same pain she carried in others. She felt a calling to help others who were hurt, whether it was due to mental, physical, or sexual abuse. 

In her early stages in her search for God, Linda felt called to serve in women’s ministry. Unaware of what that even meant, Linda was then approached by Pastor Beulah who was the founder of Women Standing On The Word Ministry who asked Linda to serve within the ministry. A shocking but reassuring moment for Linda, Linda had faith that this was no coincidence.  

Linda shares how she felt especially connected to the story of King David’s daughter, Tamar, from the Bible. Tamar was sexually assaulted by her brother. Having experienced sexual assault as a child, Linda shared she could relate to this story. For over 30 years, Linda carried the shame, guilt, and self destructive behavior from the sexual assault. In her healing journey she began to process the devastation in a safe environment in a professional counseling setting. 

Linda began to realize how often she came across other women who had endured abuse in some capacity, and felt inspired to share her own story to help other women overcome their burdens. In one group, Linda remembers how one participant who had not disclosed her abuse for more than 30 years, opened up in the safe space that Linda had helped create. This woman had not shared what had happened to her with a single soul but in our group she felt empowered to do so, Linda notes.. 

She shares, “There are many women who remain voiceless because of the fear the enemy uses to keep them silent. As God began to heal and transform me, he gave me a desire not only to help women, but to see them made whole mentally, spiritually, economically - in every way - through their relationship with Christ.”

Linda was approached by Dr. Russell, a spiritual mentor of hers who she met through the Women Standing on The Word Ministry Conference.  

“Upon our first meeting at the women’s conference, the retired English professor was able to see right through my facade - a mask of sorts that I had been wearing my whole life - to cope with my abuse. The petite Dr. Russell embraced me with a warm and affectionate hug saying, “Baby, you have not healed, you’ve just put a bandaid on it.’” 

“I was left wondering, ‘How does she know?’ As it turns out, Dr. Russell also was heavily involved with her own women’s ministry that was geared toward healing hurting women. Dr. Russell started a women’s newsletter, and Linda began writing for it. The newsletter sparked a passion for writing within Linda, inspiring her to continue writing for newsletters for her own church, for Sister 2 Sister, and Jesus House Women’s Ministry. 

“My purpose is to help women who are hurting experience the power of healing through Christ,” shares Linda. “It was through the Women Standing on The Word Ministry that I first began my work of  helping women heal through their pain and hardships.” She found her footing through Women Standing on The Word and notes that she was determined to lead other women to peace, having finally found peace within her own story.  

Linda’s calling continued to develop when she volunteered at The Jesus House from 2009-2017. “When I started there was no women’s ministry established. I asked Pastor Tom and his wife, Bonnie, if they would allow me to start a women’s ministry. With their blessing and guidance, I was granted permission, becoming a leader in the Jesus House Women’s ministry on West Washington for many years until they closed. I succeeded in creating a community and an atmosphere for women to come together and heal through God.” 

In 2022, Linda participated in the Women’s Empowerment Event after being a part of the Multicultural Leadership Institute’s leadership program. Though Linda views herself as more of a behind-the-scenes type of person, she felt inspired to step into a position of leadership.  She notes she felt inspired by the women around her.  

As Linda has grown older, she has continued to meet more women who encourage and inspire her. “I hope to inspire other women in whatever manner I can,” she shares. 

This is what ultimately led Linda to speaking at the Women’s Empowerment Event last year. She remembered the times where she was once struggling as well, and hoped she could create a place where women felt seen and heard. “When I first came to ISU as a single mom, other women gave me encouragement and support. Today, I want to reach out to those in need and offer that same support,” she adds.  

In 2022, Linda spoke at “That’s What She Said,” a storytelling platform that empowers women. In delivering her story titled “Choose to Forgive,”Linda shared her story of abuse and how she was able to forgive her abuser and the liberty that comes from forgiveness. 

“Women dealing with trauma needed a safe place to just be,” Linda adds. “If they needed to use profanity to get the pain out, they could. They needed a place where they could get all that bottled up anger out, where they could scream, where they could cry, where they could just take their bra off. Just a place to be utterly vulnerable.” 

“I want women to know that no matter how long it’s been since you’ve been sexually abused or whatever trauma that you’ve been through, that you can be healed. There is liberty in that, and you will be transformed into a woman you never knew,” Linda shares, recalling the version of herself who was shy and scared before she was able to  process what had happened to her. 

“It’s about other women, it’s not about me,” Linda reminds herself, holding herself accountable to continue to heal other women, as well as herself. Linda notes that she has forgiven her abuser through a process that she shared onstage with the “That’s What She Said” audience. At her mother’s funeral, her abuser put his arms around her, and Linda notes that ”for the first time I could remember, I didn’t feel anger towards him.” 

“That’s how I  knew I was healed. I thought, ‘He’s going to have to deal with that.’ People carry anger, and I did, too. I just had suppressed so much. I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders once I made the active choice to heal from my trauma.” 

The anger began to seep out, Linda says. 

** Story written by EOW intern Kaitlyn Klepec