Kathy Ireland became a household name while working as an actor and model and built a successful business along the way.
But it’s her Christian faith that most differentiates her from many others in the entertainment industry, with the business mogul telling CBN News she was “a late learner of Jesus.”
“I grew up believing in God,” Ireland said. “Always believed in Him, but I didn’t know Him, and I didn’t know that I didn’t know Him.”
When she turned 18 and started modeling, life began to take some turns. Ireland, who was rebellious and questioning authority, recalled being lonely at the time and facing various struggles.
“I was questioning authority [and] ‘who really knows the truth,'” she recalled. “My mom had just become a Christian and she was in nursing school.”
Even though Ireland described herself at the time as a “self-absorbed teenager,” she said the sudden changes in her mother resonated with her and left her intrigued. One night, that interest developed into something else entirely.
“My mom stuck a Bible in my suitcase and I’d never read one before,” Ireland said. “I didn’t know how to read it. So I’m sitting alone in the room, and I open up … to the book of Matthew, and, as I started reading, I knew that what I had in my hands was the truth.”
Suddenly, the teen felt she wanted to “follow Jesus,” and realized Christ wasn’t like she previously assumed.
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“I’d heard little soundbites throughout my life, and I thought … as a young woman out in the world, ‘It’s very sexist if you’re a Christian,'” she said, noting she came to a totally different conclusion after diving into the Bible. “I was like, ‘No, He’s revolutionary. He loves women. He respects them, and so that was the moment when I came to know Him as my Lord and Savior.”
Ireland continued, “And that relationship gave me the strength and the courage to walk away from situations that did not feel good.”
Like many, Ireland struggled as she navigated decision-making, not always allowing God’s words to permeate every situation. The modeling and acting she initially assumed would be strictly confined to helping her save money or start a business had become a bigger part of her life.
“It wasn’t until I was 44 years old that I finally read Genesis to Revelation, and it was so bittersweet,” she said, noting the decision to dive deeper into her faith came while she was at a women’s conference. “It was at a really quiet time of worship … we’re sitting in the chapel, and everybody was just praying quietly, and, as I was praying, I didn’t hear an audible voice, but I just felt the Lord convict my heart, and tell me, ‘You say I’m your first priority, but I’m not.”
Ireland tried to reason with the Lord that her life was chaotic and she would have more time for Him in the future when she would be less torn in multiple directions.
And that’s when He delivered a truly powerful promise.
“I felt Him tell me, ‘Put me first and I will give you more time with your kids. … I’ll give you better time with your kids,'” she recalled. “Without recognizing it, I was making our children idols and good things can be idols if they come before God.”
This was a game-changer for Ireland, who started setting her alarm clock 15 minutes early every morning and used the time to ask God for wisdom and discernment. Meanwhile, she began going verse-by-verse through the Bible. Over time, the 15 minutes expanded into more time.
“Today, if I don’t start my day with Him in prayer and the Word, I’m apologizing to someone by 7:00 a.m.,” she quipped.
Ultimately, Ireland hopes people realize the power and importance of prioritizing God above all else.
“His thoughts are higher than ours, and it’s so much better,” she said. “So I just want people to quit doing what I did — quit kicking against God and trying to be in control of everything yourself. There’s such strength in surrendering to Him and letting Him pave the path.”
Find out more about Ireland here.
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