Cheryl You

Cheryl You is the pastor of Freedom Life Church Norfolk and has served in ministry across Asia and the U.S. for over 20 years. She holds an M.Div. from Regent University and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation and Relational Neuroscience at Western Theological Seminary. Originally from Singapore, Cheryl lives in Virginia with her husband, three kids, and three cats—and loves connecting over books, food, and coffee.

Latest Articles

Featured image for “The Healing Leader: Tending Our Wounds to Serve Others”
Cheryl You

The Healing Leader: Tending Our Wounds to Serve Others

Featured image for “A (Needed) Conversation on Mental Health”
Missio Alliance

Katelyn J. Dixon

Chris Kamalski

A (Needed) Conversation on Mental Health

Featured image for “Kintsugi Kingdom: Forgiveness as Mending”
Katelyn J. Dixon

Kintsugi Kingdom: Forgiveness as Mending

Featured image for “An Action-Reflection Approach to Discipleship unto Jesus”
Rowland Smith

An Action-Reflection Approach to Discipleship unto Jesus

Featured image for “My Grandmothers’ Stuffing Recipes Can Teach Multi-Racial Congregations”
Lamont Hartman

My Grandmothers’ Stuffing Recipes Can Teach Multi-Racial Congregations

Featured image for “The Shibuya Crossing and the Holy Spirit’s Intersections”
Vatreisha Nyemba

The Shibuya Crossing and the Holy Spirit’s Intersections

Featured image for “Spring Walks, Parrot Squawks, and Signs of Resurrection”
Trisha Welstad

Spring Walks, Parrot Squawks, and Signs of Resurrection

Featured image for “Finding a Path Through Spiritual Dead Ends”
Catherine McNiel

Jason Hague

Finding a Path Through Spiritual Dead Ends

Featured image for “How Ageism Affects Our Spiritual Formation”
MaryKate Morse

How Ageism Affects Our Spiritual Formation

Featured image for “The Flowering of Wounds: Beauty Will Save The World”
Katelyn J. Dixon

The Flowering of Wounds: Beauty Will Save The World

Featured image for “Jesus’ Whole Field Mission”
Jon Hietbrink

Jesus’ Whole Field Mission

Featured image for “Preaching in a New Key: A Preacher’s Holistic Health”
Mark Glanville

Preaching in a New Key: A Preacher’s Holistic Health

Featured image for “Preaching in a New Key: Reversing the Direction of Flow”
Mark Glanville

Preaching in a New Key: Reversing the Direction of Flow

Featured image for “An Invitation to Explore the Mystical Heart of God (Pt. 2)”
Sherene Joseph

An Invitation to Explore the Mystical Heart of God (Pt. 2)

Featured image for “An Invitation to Explore the Mystical Heart of God (Pt. 1)”
Sherene Joseph

An Invitation to Explore the Mystical Heart of God (Pt. 1)

Featured image for “Becoming One Again: Experiencing Wholeness with the Trinity”
Joylanda Jamison

Becoming One Again: Experiencing Wholeness with the Trinity

Featured image for “I Set Out to End Racism and Failed”
Oneya Okuwobi

I Set Out to End Racism and Failed

Featured image for “I Thirst”
Julius Shumpert

I Thirst

Featured image for “An Unwasted Witness: Depression, Tears, and the Kingdom of God”
Katelyn J. Dixon

An Unwasted Witness: Depression, Tears, and the Kingdom of God

Featured image for “The Mothering Love of God: Our Unacknowledged Longing”
Amber H. Jones

The Mothering Love of God: Our Unacknowledged Longing

Featured image for “More Than A Museum For Saints”
Benjamin Park

More Than A Museum For Saints

Featured image for “Reflections on Awakenings 2025 from The Englewood Review of Books”
Christopher Smith

Lindsey Cornett

Reflections on Awakenings 2025 from The Englewood Review of Books

Featured image for “Embers in the Campfire: Awakenings 2025 Day 3”
Missio Alliance

Embers in the Campfire: Awakenings 2025 Day 3

Featured image for “What If We Gave It All Back?: Awakenings 2025 Day 2”
Missio Alliance

What If We Gave It All Back?: Awakenings 2025 Day 2

Featured image for “Lace Up Your Jordans: Awakenings 2025 Day 1”
Missio Alliance

Lace Up Your Jordans: Awakenings 2025 Day 1

Featured image for “The Great Re-Commission: Awakenings 2025 Day 1”
Missio Alliance

The Great Re-Commission: Awakenings 2025 Day 1

Featured image for “Cherry Trees in the Budding Season: Awakenings 2025 Day 1”
Missio Alliance

Cherry Trees in the Budding Season: Awakenings 2025 Day 1

Featured image for “Remembering For the Sake of Our Souls”
Amanda Hecht

Remembering For the Sake of Our Souls

Featured image for “Learning a Better Way to Practice Mission”
Dishon Mills

Learning a Better Way to Practice Mission

Featured image for “Discerning 2024: Our Leading Voices”
Missio Alliance

Discerning 2024: Our Leading Voices

Featured image for “Sabbath Isn’t About Stopping”
Eun Strawser

Sabbath Isn’t About Stopping

Featured image for “In Christ, God Has Drawn Staggeringly Near”
Andrew Arndt

In Christ, God Has Drawn Staggeringly Near

Featured image for “The Longest Night in the South: Winter is a Time for Enchantment”
Karina Kreminski

The Longest Night in the South: Winter is a Time for Enchantment

Featured image for “Reflections on Wholeness and Beauty in the Life of the Church (Pt. 3)”
Amber H. Jones

Sherene Joseph

Bethany Becker

Reflections on Wholeness and Beauty in the Life of the Church (Pt. 3)

Featured image for “Reflections on Wholeness and Beauty in the Life of the Church (Pt. 2)”
Amanda Hecht

Benjamin Park

Emily Beth Hill

Reflections on Wholeness and Beauty in the Life of the Church (Pt. 2)

Featured image for “Reflections on Wholeness and Beauty in the Life of the Church (Pt. 1)”
Vatreisha Nyemba

Lamont Hartman

Cheryl You

Reflections on Wholeness and Beauty in the Life of the Church (Pt. 1)

Featured image for “Advent: Watching and Waiting for God”
Andrew Arndt

Advent: Watching and Waiting for God

Featured image for “The Reign of Christ the King (A Sermon Feast)”
Andrew Arndt

The Reign of Christ the King (A Sermon Feast)

Featured image for “Helping them Stay: Mature Believers and the Local Church (Pt. 2)”
Ken Van Vliet

Helping them Stay: Mature Believers and the Local Church (Pt. 2)

Featured image for “Helping them Stay: Mature Believers and the Local Church (Pt. 1)”
Ken Van Vliet

Helping them Stay: Mature Believers and the Local Church (Pt. 1)

Featured image for “Does Character Matter in Our President?”
MaryKate Morse

Does Character Matter in Our President?

Featured image for “Rise Above: Why Politics Matter, But Not As Much As Your Soul”
Derek Vreeland

Rise Above: Why Politics Matter, But Not As Much As Your Soul

Featured image for “Agreeing with Time: The Art of Dying Well”
Sean Palmer

Agreeing with Time: The Art of Dying Well

Featured image for “Pray Your Rage”
Jason Gaboury

Pray Your Rage

Featured image for “Can Christian Leaders Hope to Flourish?”
Mandy Smith

Can Christian Leaders Hope to Flourish?

Featured image for “El Encanto Latino: Un Regalo Para La Iglesia”
Gaby Viesca

Lisa Rodriguez-Watson

El Encanto Latino: Un Regalo Para La Iglesia

Featured image for “The Latino Encanto: Gifts for the Church”
Gaby Viesca

Lisa Rodriguez-Watson

The Latino Encanto: Gifts for the Church

Featured image for “Wholeness and Beauty in the Life of the Church”
Missio Alliance

Wholeness and Beauty in the Life of the Church

Featured image for “Spiritual Formation In My Mundane (Actual) Life”
Sherene Joseph

Spiritual Formation In My Mundane (Actual) Life

Featured image for “The Costco Run: Confronting My True Self”
Benjamin Park

The Costco Run: Confronting My True Self

Featured image for “The Ongoing Journey of Becoming a Trauma-Informed Pastor”
Cheryl You

The Ongoing Journey of Becoming a Trauma-Informed Pastor

Featured image for “The Common Good: What is Freedom For?”
Amber H. Jones

The Common Good: What is Freedom For?

Featured image for “Finding Our Voice: Introducing the 2024 Writing Fellows Cohort”
Chris Kamalski

Oneya Okuwobi

Finding Our Voice: Introducing the 2024 Writing Fellows Cohort

Featured image for “Seek the Welfare of the City”
Chris Kamalski

Seek the Welfare of the City

Featured image for “Unexpected Disaster (The Broad Path)”
Rich Villodas

Unexpected Disaster (The Broad Path)

Featured image for “A False Dichotomy: Am I Black or Am I Christian?”
Joylanda Jamison

A False Dichotomy: Am I Black or Am I Christian?

Featured image for “The Longest Night in the South: Winter is a Time for Enchantment”
Karina Kreminski

The Longest Night in the South: Winter is a Time for Enchantment

Featured image for “Theopoetics: Breathing Fresh Life into Faith Communities (Part 2)”
Michelle Winter

Theopoetics: Breathing Fresh Life into Faith Communities (Part 2)

Featured image for “Theopoetics: Breathing Fresh Life into Faith Communities (Part 1)”
Michelle Winter

Theopoetics: Breathing Fresh Life into Faith Communities (Part 1)

Featured image for “In the House of Belonging: Healing Church Hurt Through Church (Part 2)”
Katelyn J. Dixon

In the House of Belonging: Healing Church Hurt Through Church (Part 2)