Tablets as Catalysts for Productivity
To all of us at Mitchell Royel Brands—leaders, creators, and ambassadors alike—consider this an opportunity to elevate how we work together. By incorporating tablets and iPads into our professional routines, we’re taking a tangible step toward greater efficiency. These tools are made to simplify the way we handle critical tasks, from effortless note-taking and precise document creation to managing emails with ease. They provide a larger, more comfortable platform for reading and working, allowing us to maintain clarity and focus—advantages that smaller devices simply can’t offer us.
This isn’t just an idea, it’s a reflection of who we are and what we believe in—continuously striving to excel in everything we do. By adopting technology that aligns with our goals, we empower ourselves to tackle challenges, sustain productivity, and concentrate on the actions that truly matter. Together, we can use these tools to innovate, adapt, and move forward while staying true to the values and vision that define us. Let's make this move not just for convenience, but as a commitment to excellence—our kind of greatness.
During Meetings: Use your tablet to take detailed notes, share presentations, or access important documents in real-time, enhancing collaboration and productivity.
Bible Studies: Easily access digital versions of religious texts, highlight passages, and engage with interactive study tools or apps designed for in-depth learning and discussion.
Group Conversations: Streamline communication by sharing multimedia content or managing group tasks with apps that foster clear and organized discussions.
Health Tracking: Leverage fitness and wellness apps to monitor health metrics, set goals, and stay motivated with detailed progress insights and reminders.
Gospel Glamour Required Reading: Thick Face, Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu
We believe that great leaders are lifelong learners. Reading broadens our perspectives, sharpens our judgment, and encourages thoughtful conversations that help us grow both personally and professionally. As part of our ongoing leadership development initiative, all Gospel Glamour congregants and brand ambassadors are required to read Thick Face, Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu.
Originally published in 1992, Thick Face, Black Heart explores resilience, confidence, perseverance, negotiation, strategic thinking, and mental toughness. Drawing inspiration from Eastern philosophy and the author’s experiences in business and leadership, Chin-Ning Chu examines how individuals can develop inner strength while navigating adversity, making difficult decisions, and pursuing long-term goals. Throughout the book, she encourages readers to cultivate courage, self-discipline, emotional resilience, and the ability to remain composed under pressure.
The purpose of this assignment is not to accept every idea presented in the book without question. Instead, participants are encouraged to read critically, evaluate the author’s arguments thoughtfully, and reflect on how the concepts align—or do not align—with their own values, leadership philosophy, and personal experiences. Respectful disagreement and critical analysis are welcomed as part of the learning process.
Please complete the book in its entirety before participating in the scheduled discussion session. As you read, highlight meaningful passages, write notes in the margins or in a journal, and record any questions or insights that arise.
Essay Requirement
Length: Approximately 1,500 words
After finishing the book, write a well-organized essay that thoughtfully responds to the following questions:
Summarize the central message of Thick Face, Black Heart. What do you believe Chin-Ning Chu is trying to teach her readers?
Which three ideas or principles from the book did you find the most valuable? Explain why they resonated with you and how they could be applied in everyday life.
Were there any concepts or arguments that you questioned or disagreed with? Explain your reasoning respectfully and support your response with examples from the text.
How does the book define resilience and mental toughness? Do you agree with that definition? Why or why not?
Describe a personal, academic, professional, or creative experience in which one of the book’s lessons could have helped you navigate a challenge more effectively.
How can resilience, confidence, strategic thinking, and perseverance be balanced with compassion, humility, integrity, honesty, and service to others?
What leadership lessons from the book could strengthen the Gospel Glamour community and help brand ambassadors represent the organization’s mission with excellence?
Conclude by identifying the five lessons you intend to carry forward after completing the book and explain how they will influence your future decisions and relationships.
Your essay should demonstrate careful reading, thoughtful reflection, and critical engagement with the material. Support your ideas with specific references to the book while also incorporating your own experiences and perspectives.
Group Sharing Exercise
Following the completion of the essays, all participants will gather for a collaborative discussion centered on the themes of the book.
Each participant should come prepared to:
Share a passage that had the greatest impact on them and explain why it stood out.
Describe one lesson they believe can positively influence leadership and personal growth.
Discuss one idea they found challenging or controversial and explain their perspective respectfully.
Share one practical habit or action they plan to implement as a result of reading the book.
Offer encouragement and constructive feedback to fellow participants while listening with curiosity and respect.
Closing Reflection
To conclude the session, each participant will share a brief two-minute reflection answering the following question:
“What does resilient leadership mean to you after reading Thick Face, Black Heart, and how will you apply those lessons while serving as a Gospel Glamour congregant and brand ambassador?”
Our hope is that this experience encourages thoughtful dialogue, intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and a deeper appreciation for lifelong learning. By engaging with diverse perspectives and reflecting on our own values, we continue to strengthen ourselves and our community with wisdom, integrity, compassion, and purpose.
Mitch Leyor, Beyond the Pun: Mastering Serious Dialogue
Beyond the Pun: Mastering Serious Dialogue
Understanding Jest: Performance Disruptor
What is Jest?
Jest is the subtle saboteur of meaningful conversations – a defense mechanism disguised as humor that derails genuine growth and connection. It’s the conversational equivalent of wearing the wrong gear to an intense training session.
Anatomy of Destructive Humor
Manifestations of Jest
Sarcastic deflections
Inappropriate one-liners
Humor used to minimize serious topics
Nervous laughter that masks vulnerability
Why Jest Destroys Our Collective Performance
Psychological Barriers
Creates emotional distance
Undermines trust
Prevents authentic vulnerability
Blocks genuine feedback and growth
High-Performance Communication Model
Replacing Jest with Powerful Dialogue
Recognize the Impulse
Catch yourself before defaulting to humor
Breathe into the discomfort of serious conversation
Reframe Your Approach
View challenging conversations as growth opportunities
Treat dialogue like a strategic performance training
Cultivate Emotional Intelligence
Develop the courage to sit with uncomfortable moments
Create space for genuine expression
Communication Power Moves
When Jest Threatens to Emerge
“I’m committed to having a real conversation”
“This moment matters to our collective growth”
“I’m choosing vulnerability over deflection”
Transformative Dialogue Techniques
Active listening
Empathetic presence
Radical honesty
Compassionate directness
Your Performance Mantra
“Authentic communication is my ultimate training ground.”
Breakthrough Mindset
Every conversation is an opportunity to elevate, align, and transform our collective potential.
Aquatic, Gospel Glamour
Captured by the visionary Mitchell Royel, every frame feels like a rebellion against the ordinary—unapologetically raw, saturated with attitude, and dripping with electrifying intensity. His lens doesn’t just capture moments; it immortalizes a mood, a movement, a manifesto of individuality that dares to defy convention. Against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, these images transform into living, breathing narratives of the metropolis itself—a city that thrives on diversity, energy, and unyielding self-expression. Royel’s work becomes a visual anthem for those who walk its streets with boldness, celebrating the intersection of art and the unapologetic essence of urban life.
She don’t ask for permission, and she sure as hell don’t wait for it. She steps in like the tide—steady, unrelenting, and unapologetically hers. The first thing? Her energy—cosmic and grounded at the same time, like she’s got a direct line to the divine, but she’s still got feet planted firm on the pavement. Hair like a watercolor galaxy—purples, blues, golds—they shimmer like they’ve been kissed by blessings and battles alike. Waves of locs carry stories, not just style.
Her eyes cut straight through you. Dark-sky blue like dusk before the storm breaks. They don’t soften for nobody, but they sparkle like redemption. She sees you before you have the chance to decide if you want to be seen. Skin like honey gilded in sunlight—it don’t need validation, it just gleams because it can. She’s calm in chaos, legs crossed like every corner of the world belongs to her, brick walls at her back like the foundations she already cracked and rebuilt stronger.
She’s church on Sunday and a block party on Friday night. She lets gospel flow through her bones but won't hesitate to light a fire with her tongue. She’ll say “hallelujah” just as easily as she’ll say, “nah, that’s not for me.” She’s spent time in pews where hearts break open, and voices rise like they’ve got no choice. But she’s also gone places those same pews wouldn’t follow. Her prayers climb, and her curses sting with the same conviction. Holiness and human, no apologies.
You don’t put her in a category, don’t ask her to fit a label. She doesn’t need to make sense to anyone but herself. That’s power. That’s beauty. She’s that tension between what people think Black womanhood should be and what it actually is—layered, whole, unapologetic. She’ll sit in spaces that weren’t designed for her and take up all the air, not out of defiance, but because shrinking was never her calling. She rewrites rooms with her presence, remakes the energy until it hums her tune.
She meditates with her guard up. She dreams with her fists down. She’s rage turned into radiance, like fire baptized in water. Her spirit is a hymn, her laugh, a battle cry, and her tears, an offering. She’s not fragile, not even close, but she’ll still remind you that her softness is deliberate, her grace, a choice. She isn’t interested in being saved, just in saving herself—over and over if that’s what it takes.
This is Aquatic, Glam Gospel incarnate. She’s a call to worship and a call to arms, her prayers the kind where you feel the universe lean in. She embodies everything loud, layered, and luminous, existing entirely for herself while still holding space for everyone else. She walks into a city that has never deserved her and lets it become hers anyway. Because she’s her own sanctuary, her own rebellion, her own redemption. That’s her power. That's her prayer. That’s her peace.
Reflection Exercise: Seeing Yourself in Aquatic
Take a moment to reflect on Aquatic's story and presence, as described above. Use the prompts below to connect her essence to your own experiences and identity:
Sanctuary and Strength
Aquatic is described as "her own sanctuary" and "her own rebellion." Consider how you create a sanctuary within yourself. How do you provide a space for your own strength and peace, even in environments that may not celebrate you? Write about a moment where you embodied this resilience.Holding Space for Others
Aquatic "exists entirely for herself while still holding space for everyone else." Reflect on how you balance self-care and individuality with creating space for your community. When have you felt most empowered to uplift yourself and those around you?Owning Your Narrative
Aquatic enters a space that "has never deserved her" and transforms it by making it her own. Think about a time when you walked into a space that felt unwelcoming or limiting. How did you claim that space and make it yours? What did that experience teach you about your power?Prayer as Presence
Aquatic’s prayer is described as "the kind where you feel the universe lean in." Reflect on how your presence or actions serve as a form of prayer. How do you express your faith, your power, or your truth in ways that feel unmistakable to both you and those around you?Your Own Glam Gospel
Aquatic embodies "Glam Gospel incarnate." How do you define your own intersection of glamour, spirituality, and self-expression? What does it mean for you to live in a way that is vibrant, unapologetic, and deeply connected to who you are?
Take time to journal your thoughts, and share as much as you feel comfortable within your community. Your experiences and reflections are powerful testimonies to your uniqueness and strength.
Required Reading for Gospel Glamour Congregants and Ambassadors: The Magic by Rhonda Byrne
The Magic by Rhonda Byrne - A Guide to Transforming Your Life
Dear Gospel Glamour family,
Our next required reading is a life-changing masterpiece titled The Magic by Rhonda Byrne. Known for her transformative work The Secret, Byrne takes readers on an extraordinary 28-day journey in The Magic. This book dives into the universal law of gratitude, teaching us how to harness its immense power to create lives filled with joy, abundance, and profound connection. Byrne lays out simple yet profound daily exercises designed to shift your mindset, improve your relationships, magnify your health, and attract opportunities you never imagined possible.
Book Breakdown:
Key Principle: The Magic reveals gratitude as the secret to unlocking life’s unlimited blessings. By actively practicing gratitude, you align yourself with the vibration of goodness, drawing more of it into your life.
Structure: The book is divided into a 28-day practice plan, each day focusing on a unique gratitude-based exercise like writing down what you’re thankful for, visualizing your dreams, or using gratitude to overcome challenges.
Impact: Transforming how you approach everyday situations, the lessons in this book encourage an awareness of the present moment and the countless blessings often taken for granted.
This book is more than just a read—it’s an interactive experience that will not only challenge your thinking but elevate your soul and optimism.
Solo Essay Exercise (1,500 Words):
Title: Unveiling the Power of Gratitude — Personal Reflections on The Magic
Reflect on the following prompts and compose a 1,500-word essay drawing from experiences, insights, and emotions that arose during your reading of The Magic.
How has your understanding of gratitude changed after completing the book?
Share a specific moment in your life where gratitude created a noticeable positive shift.
Imagine a future scenario where gratitude transforms how you handle challenges. Illustrate the scene and the emotions that arise.
Use one principle from The Magic to describe how it applies to your relationships, dreams, or well-being.
Group Sharing Session Template
Title: Gratitude in Action - Sharing Circle for Congregants and Ambassadors
Opening Ritual: Begin with a grounding prayer or moment of meditation to center the group. Invite participants to close their eyes and visualize someone or something they’re deeply grateful for.
Guiding Questions for Sharing:
What was your favorite chapter or exercise in The Magic? Why?
Describe a breakthrough moment you had during the process of practicing gratitude.
How can we, as a Gospel Glamour community, incorporate gratitude into our collective mission?
Action Point: End the session with a group gratitude list. On a shared poster or digital board, each member writes down one thing they are grateful for, symbolizing unity and collective positivity.
The heart of this practice lies in the spirit of connection—both with yourself and the Gospel Glamour family. The Magic and its transcendental lessons on gratitude will inspire your soul to leap toward boundless grace. Let's embody this magic together!
Disclaimer: For the best experience and to fully immerse in The Magic, it is recommended to read the book all the way through once before beginning the 28-day challenge. During your first read, feel free to skip the daily challenges, focusing instead on understanding the core principles and essence of the book. After completing your initial reading and engaging in group sharing sessions, return to the book for a second time, this time committing to the challenges and assignments outlined for each day. This approach allows you to build a deeper connection with the material and unlock the full potential of the gratitude practices.
Required: Terms & Conditions for Female Activity During or After Activities at Shepherds Home Daycare
Due to the existence and ethos of Gospel Glamour upheld during Shepherds Daycare activities, it is hereby stated that no females, other than the caretaker’s female parent or an older family friend (of the caretaker's mother), should be present at the house or any related activities at any time. This guideline is essential to preserving the intended values and atmosphere of Shepherds Daycare.
If any females, other than those specified above, present themselves during Shepherds Daycare "house" activities—even during off-the-clock hours—Mitchell reserves the right to immediately terminate all ongoing activities. Additionally, this could result in the permanent termination of your involvement with Shepherds Daycare.
By signing below, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.
Date: _____________________
Signature: _____________________
Required: Purity Oath for Mitch Leyor Congregants and Ambassadors
The Purity Oath represents a foundational commitment for congregants and ambassadors within the Mitch Leyor community. Mitch Leyor is more than just a faith-based brand; it is a vibrant and inclusive community rooted in principles of integrity, spirituality, and purpose-driven living. This oath serves to unite members under shared values and a collective dedication to personal and communal growth. By committing to this pledge, individuals align themselves with the mission of Mitch Leyor, embodying its ideals in both word and action. It reflects a promise to uphold the purity of character, faith, and intention that defines the spirit of the Mitch Leyor movement.
We, as congregants and brand ambassadors of Mitch Leyor, solemnly take this oath, committing ourselves to the principles of marriage and sexual purity as outlined in the Holy Bible. With integrity, humility, and steadfast faith, we promise to uphold these values.
On my honor, I will:
Honor marriage as a sacred covenant, reflecting the love and faithfulness God desires for us.
Strive for sexual purity in thought, word, and action, living a life that is righteous and pleasing to God.
Resist temptations that seek to pull me away from biblical teachings, always seeking God’s guidance in times of struggle.
Encourage and support others to walk in obedience to God’s Word, holding each other accountable with love and grace.
Represent the Mitch Leyor mission with excellence, being a beacon of hope and light to those around me.
May this oath serve as a testament to our shared commitment, as we continually seek to honor God in all aspects of our lives.
Date: __________________________
Signature: __________________________
Bennett + Monroe Required Reading Assignment: Sacred Commerce: Business as a Path of Awakening
Bennett & Monroe Required Reading Assignment
Required Reading
Sacred Commerce: Business as a Path of Awakening
Authors: Matthew Engelhart and Terces Engelhart
Why This Book?
At Bennett & Monroe, we believe business is more than transactions—it’s influence, service, integrity, and purpose. Sacred Commerce invites us to build organizations that honor people, community, and the greater good while creating sustainable success. The philosophy shared by Matthew and Terces Engelhart, founders of Café Gratitude, reminds us that gratitude, authenticity, and conscious leadership can transform the way we work and serve others.
Every Bennett & Monroe congregant and brand ambassador is expected to complete this reading assignment. Excellence is cultivated through discipline, continuous learning, and a commitment to living out our values.
1,500-Word Reflection Essay
Title
How Sacred Commerce Shapes the Future of Bennett & Monroe
Word Count Breakdown
Introduction (150 words)
Introduce the central message of Sacred Commerce.
Explain why values-driven business matters in today’s world.
Core Principles (300 words)
Discuss three principles from the book that resonated with you.
Explain why these principles are important for ethical leadership.
Applying the Principles to Bennett & Monroe (450 words)
Describe how Bennett & Monroe can embody the principles of sacred commerce through branding, storytelling, partnerships, customer relationships, and community engagement.
Include practical examples of how a brand ambassador can represent these values every day.
Personal Reflection (300 words)
Explain how the book challenged your perspective on leadership, gratitude, generosity, purpose, or success.
Identify habits you intend to adopt because of this reading.
Conclusion (300 words)
Summarize the book’s most meaningful lessons.
Explain how practicing sacred commerce can strengthen Bennett & Monroe’s mission and create a lasting legacy built on integrity, creativity, gratitude, and service.
Total Required Word Count: 1,500 Words
Reflection Questions
Address the following throughout your essay:
What does “sacred commerce” mean to you?
How can business become an act of service rather than simply a pursuit of profit?
Which chapter had the greatest impact on you, and why?
How does gratitude influence leadership and decision-making?
What responsibilities do entrepreneurs, creators, and brand ambassadors have to the communities they serve?
How can Bennett & Monroe remain purpose-driven while pursuing excellence?
What specific commitments will you make to embody the principles of Sacred Commerce in your daily life?
Group Discussion
After submitting your essay, each congregant and brand ambassador will participate in a guided discussion.
Prepare a 3–5 minute presentation covering:
The lesson from the book that impacted you most.
One memorable quote and why it stood out.
One practical way Bennett & Monroe can apply the teachings of Sacred Commerce.
One personal commitment you will implement over the next 90 days.
The goal is not simply to complete a reading assignment, but to cultivate a community where gratitude, purpose, ethical leadership, and meaningful service shape every decision we make.
Mitch Leyor Brand Ambassador & Congregant Mandatory Reading Assignment: Four Agreements
“The Four Agreements: A Blueprint for Personal Mastery, Integrity, and Purpose”
Required Reading
Book: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
Author: Don Miguel Ruiz
Description:
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a spiritual and personal development book inspired by ancient Toltec wisdom. The book explores four principles designed to help individuals break free from limiting beliefs, create healthier relationships, and live with greater authenticity, discipline, and inner peace.
The four agreements are:
Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with honesty, kindness, and intention. Your words have power and should be used to build, inspire, and create positive impact.Don’t Take Anything Personally
Understand that people’s actions and opinions often reflect their own experiences, beliefs, and emotions. Freedom comes from not allowing outside judgments to define your identity.Don’t Make Assumptions
Seek understanding through communication rather than creating stories based on fear, uncertainty, or incomplete information.Always Do Your Best
Commit to giving your best effort in every season of life while recognizing that your best may change from day to day.
1,500-Word Reflection Essay Assignment
Essay Title:
“Living the Four Agreements: Building a Life, Brand, and Community Rooted in Purpose”
Essay Prompt:
After reading The Four Agreements, write a 1,500-word reflective essay explaining how Don Miguel Ruiz’s principles can influence your personal growth, your role as a Mitch Leyor brand ambassador or congregant, and your ability to contribute positively to a creative and spiritual community.
Your essay should explore how these agreements can shape your communication, leadership, relationships, discipline, and personal responsibility.
Reflect on the following questions:
Which of the four agreements impacted you the most and why?
How can being impeccable with your word change the way you represent yourself and the Mitch Leyor community?
How can releasing the need for outside approval create greater confidence and authenticity?
What assumptions do people commonly make, and how can better communication create stronger relationships?
How does “always doing your best” apply to creativity, faith, work ethic, and personal challenges?
How can these principles help ambassadors represent a brand with integrity and purpose?
Your essay should connect the lessons of the book to real-life experiences, future goals, and the responsibility of being someone who influences others.
Word Count Breakdown (1,500 Words Total)
Introduction — 150 Words
Introduce The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz’s message, and explain why these principles matter in personal growth and community leadership.
Agreement One: Be Impeccable With Your Word — 300 Words
Discuss the power of communication, reputation, encouragement, and using your voice responsibly.
Agreement Two: Don’t Take Anything Personally — 300 Words
Explore emotional maturity, confidence, handling criticism, and staying committed to your purpose.
Agreement Three: Don’t Make Assumptions — 300 Words
Discuss the importance of asking questions, building trust, and avoiding misunderstandings.
Agreement Four: Always Do Your Best — 300 Words
Explain discipline, consistency, resilience, and how effort creates long-term growth.
Conclusion — 150 Words
Summarize how living the four agreements can create stronger individuals, ambassadors, and communities.
Group Sharing Essay Exercise
“The Four Agreements Circle: Reflection, Connection, and Growth”
After completing the individual essays, gather as a group for a community reflection exercise.
Step 1: Personal Reflection (10 Minutes)
Each participant selects one agreement that challenged or inspired them the most. Write down:
Why this agreement stood out
A personal experience connected to it
One action you want to practice moving forward
Step 2: Group Sharing (30–45 Minutes)
Each person shares:
The agreement they chose
A lesson they learned from the book
How they believe this lesson applies to their role within Mitch Leyor
One commitment they want to make to the community
Participants should listen respectfully and focus on understanding rather than responding or judging.
Step 3: Team Vision Exercise (20 Minutes)
As a group, create a shared statement answering:
“How can we represent creativity, faith, and personal excellence through the Four Agreements?”
The group should identify:
Three communication values
Three leadership values
Three community values
One shared commitment for the future
Final Group Reflection:
End the exercise by answering:
“If everyone in our community practiced the Four Agreements every day, how would our relationships, creativity, and impact change?”
The goal of this assignment is not only to read a book, but to transform knowledge into action. A true ambassador represents more than a brand — they represent values, character, and the ability to inspire others through their choices.
Gospel Glamour Required Reading: Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
Gospel Glamour Required Reading, Again
Required Reading Assignment
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
by Amanda Montell
Amanda Montell’s Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism is this season’s required reading for all Gospel Glamour members. As we continue to grow as communicators, creatives, leaders, and people of faith, we are reading this book once more to better understand the influence of language, identity, persuasion, and community. The purpose of this assignment is not to label organizations or individuals, but to strengthen our ability to recognize how words shape culture and how responsible leadership begins with responsible communication.
Throughout the reading, members are encouraged to take notes, highlight meaningful passages, and reflect on how language can either build healthy communities rooted in truth, humility, and accountability or contribute to unhealthy patterns of influence. As Gospel Glamour continues developing its own culture, this book serves as an opportunity to evaluate our own communication with wisdom, integrity, and grace.
Homework Assignment
1. Reflection Essay (Required)
Each member will submit a 1,500-word reflection essay on Cultish. This assignment is designed to evaluate comprehension, personal reflection, leadership application, and group discussion participation.
Your essay should be written in your own words and demonstrate thoughtful engagement with the book.
Word Count Breakdown
Introduction — 150–200 words
Introduce the book.
Briefly summarize its central theme.
Explain why it is valuable reading for Gospel Glamour.
Book Summary — 300–350 words
Summarize the major ideas presented by Amanda Montell.
Discuss the role language plays in forming identity and community.
Explain the author’s primary arguments without simply retelling each chapter.
Personal Reflection — 500–600 words
What challenged you?
What surprised you?
What lessons did you learn?
Did the book change how you think about communication or leadership?
Which chapter had the greatest impact on you and why?
Application to Gospel Glamour — 300–350 words
How can Gospel Glamour apply these lessons?
How should leaders communicate responsibly?
What practices encourage healthy community?
How can members create an environment built on trust, humility, and accountability?
Conclusion — 150–200 words
Summarize your biggest takeaway.
Explain how the book will influence your future communication and leadership.
End with one meaningful quote from the book or a brief personal statement inspired by your reading.
Total Required Word Count: 1,500 words (±100 words).
Group Sharing Session
After essays have been submitted, each reading group will participate in a structured sharing session.
Each participant should prepare a 3–5 minute presentation highlighting the major insights from their essay.
Discussion should focus on thoughtful conversation rather than debate. Members should actively listen, ask respectful questions, and encourage one another through constructive dialogue.
Group Sharing Excerpt Format
Please prepare a short excerpt from your essay using the following format.
Name:
Essay Title:
Favorite Chapter:
Three Key Takeaways:
Takeaway One
Takeaway Two
Takeaway Three
Favorite Quote:
Personal Reflection (100–150 words):
Share the lesson that impacted you most and explain how it can influence your personal life, leadership, or communication.
One Action Step:
Describe one practical change you plan to make after reading Cultish.
Submission Requirements
Minimum of 1,500 words
Double-spaced
12-point font
One-inch margins
Include a title page
Include page numbers
Proofread before submitting
Submit electronically by the assigned due date
Learning Objectives
By completing this assignment, Gospel Glamour members will:
Develop stronger critical reading skills.
Reflect thoughtfully on the power of language.
Strengthen written communication.
Practice respectful group discussion.
Apply principles of ethical leadership and healthy community building.
Learn how intentional communication can inspire, encourage, and unite others while remaining rooted in integrity.
We look forward to reading your reflections and hearing your perspectives during our group discussions as we continue growing together through thoughtful reading, meaningful conversation, and Christ-centered leadership.
If you’d like, I can also format this as an official Gospel Glamour Book Club syllabus with grading criteria (rubric), due dates, participation points, and discussion questions.
Developing Nations Pledge: Gospel Glamour, Trump Style – Big Vision, Big Impact
This Gospel Glamour initiative is a heartfelt movement dedicated to empowering young girls to embody grace, respect, and compassion in their daily lives. Rooted in the principles of empathy and mutual uplifting, this initiative fosters a sense of unity across diverse backgrounds. It recognizes the beauty and strength in the unique voices of girls from all walks of life, encouraging them to shine as beacons of kindness and poise in their communities. Developing nations are given a platform where their perspectives and experiences are celebrated. This initiative sheds light on the shared values that transcend borders, races, and religious beliefs. From one sister in Christ to another, this vision reminds us of the importance of mutual understanding and respect in building bridges of love and solidarity.
The pledge is a unique commitment to living a life that reflects Gospel Glamour's core ideals. It calls young girls to make their actions and words a model of positivity and grace, emphasizing respectful communication and genuine care for others. It is a reminder that through empathy and understanding, we can nurture both personal growth and collective harmony. This movement is a call to celebrate the broader family of Christ, forming connections that rise above political or religious viewpoints. By acknowledging the diverse journeys of our sisters, whether near or far, we affirm the truth that we are all united under the love of Christ. This pledge stands as a testament to that unity and is an invitation to young girls to live with dignity, respect, and a compassionate heart.
THE PLEDGE
“I pledge to live with grace, empathy, and respect towards my sisters in Christ, both near and far. I commit to speaking and acting with kindness, ensuring my words uplift and inspire rather than harm. I will practice understanding and avoid judgment, honoring the strength and beauty that comes from diversity in race, culture, and experience.
I vow to remember that no matter where we come from, we are all one under Christ. I will celebrate the voices of my sisters in developing nations, recognizing their value and contributions. My commitment to tasteful and compassionate communication reflects the love and unity that binds us. I choose to embody humility and intentionality in all my actions, aspiring to be a role model of respectful living.
I will focus on building bonds that bring glory to God and foster a spirit of fellowship and peace. I will remain mindful of the importance of encouragement, creating a supportive space where we can all flourish in faith and purpose. Through this pledge, I affirm my dedication to being a voice of love, empathy, and light in the world. Together with my sisters in Christ, I will strive to honor God through meaningful connections and a life that reflects His teachings.”
Name: ____________________________
Signature: _________________________
Date: _____________________________
Required Film Assignment: Clones, Corporations, and Control: What The Island Teaches About Modern Society
Required Viewing & Analytical Essay
Assigned to: Gospel Glamour · Mitch Leyor · Bennett + Monroe · Prism Church LA
Film: The Island (2005), directed by Michael Bay
Essay length: 1,500 words
Assignment Overview
This is a required viewing assignment. Every participant and team listed above must watch Michael Bay's 2005 science-fiction film The Island in full before completing the written work below. Please watch it closely and take notes as you go — not as passive entertainment, but as a cultural text worth interrogating.
The Island follows Lincoln Six-Echo and Jordan Two-Delta, two residents of a sealed, controlled facility who believe they are survivors of a global contamination. They dream of winning a lottery that promises relocation to the last uncontaminated place on Earth: "the Island." What they eventually discover is far darker — they are clones, engineered and housed as living insurance policies for wealthy clients who harvest them for organs, children, and spare parts. The lottery is a lie. The Island does not exist. It is simply the euphemism for death.
On the surface, the film is a big-budget action spectacle. Beneath that surface sits a sharp meditation on identity, ownership, deception, and the value of a human life. Your task is to read the film on both levels at once.
After viewing, each group will produce a single 1,500-word essay responding to the prompt below.
Essay Prompt
Write a 1,500-word analytical essay that examines how the central themes of The Island correlate with current political and societal issues, and how Michael Bay's directorial style shapes the way those themes reach an audience. Your essay should make an argument — not simply summarize the plot. Build a clear thesis, support it with specific scenes, and connect the film's ideas to the world outside the theater.
Structure your response around the three sections below.
Section 1: The Film's Core Themes (approx. 500 words)
Identify and analyze the film's driving concerns. Address at least four of the following:
Cloning and manufactured identity — The residents are told a fabricated story about who they are and why they exist. What does the film suggest about identity that is built by an institution rather than a person?
Corporate control — The Merrick Institute owns its "products" completely, including their bodies and futures. How does the film frame corporate ownership of human life?
Consumer deception — Clients believe they are purchasing insurance, not sentient people. How does the film use this lie to critique what consumers choose not to know?
Loss of autonomy — The residents' movements, relationships, diets, and even dreams are monitored and managed. What does freedom mean inside a system designed to feel comfortable?
Use concrete moments from the film. Reference specific scenes, lines, and images rather than speaking in generalities.
Section 2: Correlation to Current Political and Societal Issues (approx. 600 words)
This is the heart of your essay. Connect the film's themes to real conditions in contemporary politics and society. You are not required to argue a particular political side — you are required to think seriously and draw honest parallels. Consider issues such as:
Surveillance — The residents live under constant observation framed as care and safety. Where do you see similar trade-offs between comfort, safety, and privacy in modern life?
Bodily autonomy — The clones have no legal claim to their own bodies. How does this speak to ongoing debates about who controls a person's body and choices?
Corporate power — A single institution holds the power of life and death over its "products." Where do you see concentrated private power shaping public life today?
Media manipulation — The lottery, the Island, the contamination story: these are engineered narratives that keep people compliant. How do manufactured narratives function in current media and politics?
Government and institutional overreach — When institutions decide who counts as a full person, what protections disappear?
Choose the connections you can argue most convincingly. Depth beats breadth. It is stronger to develop two or three parallels thoroughly than to list six shallowly.
Section 3: Michael Bay's Directorial Voice (approx. 400 words)
Bay is often dismissed as a director of loud, glossy spectacle. This essay asks you to take his craft seriously. Analyze how his signature style operates as a delivery system for the film's deeper critique. Consider:
Spectacle — Bay stages enormous set pieces, chases, and explosions. How does spectacle keep an audience watching while smuggling in uncomfortable ideas?
Hyperrealism — The world of The Island is bright, clean, and seductive. How does that polished surface mirror the film's warning about attractive lies?
Commercialism — Bay's work is saturated with brand imagery and advertising aesthetics. Is it ironic, then, that a film so commercial critiques consumer culture? Or is that tension the point?
Argue whether Bay's style strengthens or weakens the film's message. There is no correct answer — only a well-supported one.
Requirements
Length: 1,500 words (a reasonable margin either direction is acceptable)
Thesis: Your essay must open with a clear, arguable thesis
Evidence: Reference specific scenes, dialogue, and visual choices from the film
Original analysis: We want your interpretation, not a plot recap
Tone: Thoughtful and bold. Take a position and defend it
Guiding Question
As you write, keep one question in front of you:
If a lie is comfortable enough, well-produced enough, and profitable enough — who is responsible for finding the truth?
The Island poses that question through clones, corporations, and explosions. Your job is to answer it for the world you actually live in.
Required Reading for Mitch Leyor Brand Ambassadors and Congregants: The Giver
To deepen our understanding of themes like altruism, purpose, and connection, we encourage all Mitch Leyor brand ambassadors and congregants to revisit The Giver by Lois Lowry. This thought-provoking novel explores the boundaries of individuality, the value of emotion, and the roles we play within a structured society. It will serve as a meditative tool for reflection on self-awareness and collective responsibility. We will be using the book as a centerpiece for discussion and introspection in our next gathering. Below is an essay prompt alongside guidance for a reflective group discussion to engage meaningfully with the material.
Essay Prompt and Breakdown
Title: "The Depth of Choice and Memory in The Giver — A Journey Toward Unity and Self-Understanding"
Introduction (200 words):
Begin with the central question of the novel: How does the absence of choice shape our humanity? Reflect on what the controlled environment of the world in The Giver suggests about individuality and conformity.
Highlight the significance of memory and its role as a vessel for collective understanding.
Section 1 – The Role of Memory (300 words):
Discuss the role of the Receiver of Memory in the community and its parallels to our own spiritual and emotional archives.
Analyze how Jonas’s encounters with these memories contribute to his awakening. Draw connections to personal experiences—how does memory guide your own choices or deepen your introspection?
Section 2 – The Crisis of Choice (350 words):
Reflect on the societal absence of choice in the novel, its consequences, and the emotional numbness that ensues.
Expand on how contrast (emotion versus neutrality, free will versus imposed rules) shapes Jonas’s transformation and how we recognize similar patterns in our world.
Section 3 – Themes of Unity and Sacrifice (400 words):
Explore the sacrifices made by characters like Jonas and the Giver to awaken others. How does their selflessness serve the greater good?
Reflect on how this theme of sacrifice and commitment relates to modern life and personal development. Think about actions that foster unity and overcome isolation.
Closing Reflection (250 words):
Conclude with personal thoughts on the impact of free will and collective memory.
Prompt the reader to consider their role within their community and how they can balance individuality with a commitment to shared values.
Group Discussion Framework
Opening Question: What emotions did you experience while reading The Giver, and why do you think these moments resonated with you?
Key Themes to Explore:
The importance of memory in shaping identity.
How freedom and choice define humanity.
The power of connection versus isolation in a structured society.
Activity (15 minutes): Divide into smaller groups to discuss personal takeaways from the essay. Focus on parallels between the book and our shared mission of growth and unity.
Closing Reflection (10 minutes): Regroup to share insights, highlighting moments of learning or personal connection with the text.
The Giver serves as a rich foundation for understanding self-awareness, choice, and the unity that binds us. By engaging deeply with this book, we encourage all congregants and ambassadors to not only discover fresh perspectives but also to draw closer to the ideals we seek to embody together.
Gospel Glamour Mandatory Reading Assignment: Alchemizing Wisdom into Growth, Reflective Path with Gabrielle Bernstein
Pick up any Gabrielle Bernstein book that calls to your soul — listen for the nudge, the subtle tug from the universe guiding your hands. Over the next three days, immerse yourself fully in its pages. Allow her words to sink into your bones, to crack open the pieces of you that have long been waiting to be seen. Make this a ritual of alignment, a meeting between your truest self and the wisdom she offers.
When the final page is turned, sit with it. Breathe with it. Then channel the light you’ve gathered into a 1500-word essay. Reflect on the lessons, the awakenings, the connections that stood out — the way her teachings walked with you and whispered truths only you needed to hear. Write with rawness, with clarity, with gratitude for the guidepost you found along the way. This is your moment to alchemize reading into revelation.
1500-Word Essay Breakdown
Here’s how to structure your essay into a coherent and thoughtful flow, ensuring each section contributes to the overall reflection and message.
Introduction (200-300 words)
Start by setting the tone and context for your essay. Reflect on the essence of the book or content you engaged with, and how it resonated with you. Introduce the central themes or lessons you plan to explore in your essay. Consider sharing a personal anecdote or insight that highlights why this experience mattered to you.
Lesson One: Personal Awakening (300-400 words)
Dedicate this section to describing one key lesson or awakening you experienced while engaging with the material. Discuss how it challenged your perspective or altered your understanding of self. Use vivid examples from your own life to illustrate the connection between the lesson and your lived experiences. Reflect on how this realization has influenced your outlook moving forward.
Lesson Two: Connection to Others (300-400 words)
Focus on how the material opened your eyes to new relationships or deepened existing ones. This could involve insights about empathy, community, or shared humanity. Draw connections between the text and personal encounters, detailing how these revelations have enriched your interactions with others. Use this section to highlight themes of connection, understanding, or collaboration.
Lessons in Practice (300-400 words)
Describe how you are actively applying the lessons and teachings to your life. Offer concrete examples of actions or decisions rooted in your reflections. This section should demonstrate growth and integrate concepts into practical use. Reflect on how these shifts are creating meaningful change, whether big or small, in your daily life.
Closing Reflection (200-300 words)
Conclude with a heartfelt summary of your essay. Highlight the cumulative impact of the content you engaged with, and how it has shifted your mindset or your path. Use this space to express gratitude for the guidance and wisdom imparted and how you intend to carry these insights forward. End on a hopeful or inspiring note, leaving the reader with a sense of resolution and purpose.
By following this structure, your essay will flow seamlessly while exploring the depths of your personal and emotional insights gained from the experience.
Sharing Reflection Exercise for Gospel Glamour Group
Reflecting on your essay can be a deeply enriching experience, especially when shared within the supportive environment of the Gospel Glamour Group. Use the following prompts to guide your sharing session and invite thoughtful conversation with the group:
What Inspired Your Essay?
Share where the inspiration for your essay stemmed from. Was it a particular scripture, a personal experience, or wisdom shared by someone in the group? Reflect on how this initial spark guided your writing process.Key Takeaways and Personal Growth
Highlight the core insights or lessons gained from writing your essay. How has this process shifted your perspective, strengthened your faith, or transformed your outlook on life? Discuss any moments of personal growth or changes you’ve experienced.Expressions of Gratitude
Acknowledge how the Gospel Glamour Group played a role in shaping your essay. Express gratitude for the group's inspiration, support, or prayers that may have been pivotal throughout your writing process.How You Intend to Carry This Forward
Share your intentions for applying the essay’s insights to your life moving forward. Whether it's a commitment to deeper faith, improved relationships, or community contributions, express what you aim to achieve next.Invite Dialogue and Feedback
Open up the floor for the group to share their thoughts or feedback on your essay. Ask reflective or open-ended questions to foster a meaningful conversation, such as “How does this resonate with your experiences?” or “What advice do you have for me moving forward?”
Through this reflective sharing exercise, you'll not only deepen your connection to your own writing but also strengthen bonds within the Gospel Glamour Group, enriching everyone involved with inspiration and fellowship.
(Mandatory Reflection) Why This Three-Month Trust Building Process is Vital for Aspiring Shepherds Daycare Leaders
Disclaimer: The three-month trust-building period is a mandatory requirement for all aspiring Shepherds Daycare instructors. It is a crucial step in ensuring that all caregivers are thoroughly prepared to provide a safe and trustworthy environment for children. Additionally, the photo attached is not affiliated with the City of Agoura or the Agoura Police Force in any capacity.
I want to talk with you for a few minutes. Not as someone here to lecture you, but as someone whose job is to keep people safe. Especially people who can't always protect themselves the way the rest of us can.
You may know Mitchell. A lot of people do. He's online, he's open, and he's easy to like. That's part of what makes him special. But it's also why I'm standing here.
Here's something I need you to really hear: knowing someone online is not the same as knowing them. Watching his videos, following his posts, feeling like you understand him — that's a one-way window. You see him. He doesn't see you. And feeling close to someone in your head doesn't make you his friend, his mentor, or his caretaker. To Mitchell, you are still a stranger. That's not an insult. It's just the truth, and it matters.
Mitchell is a vulnerable adult. He has special needs. That means the normal rules we'd use to get to know any new person have to be slower, clearer, and more careful. Not because he's less of a person — but because he deserves more protection, not less.
So let me be plain about how this works.
Any role in Mitchell's life — helping him, mentoring him, joining structured activities or daycare-style programs with him — has to go through a formal process. That means screening. Background checks. Supervision. Approval through real, recognized channels. The same way it works if you wanted to adopt, foster, or become an official caretaker for anyone who is vulnerable. There are no shortcuts. There's no side door. If someone offers you one, walk away and tell me.
Now, let me talk specifically to anyone who is seriously considering becoming a Shepherds Daycare mentor and participating in activities with Mitchell in real life. I want you to understand what that commitment actually looks like before you get anywhere near that conversation.
First: you are a stranger to Mitchell. It doesn't matter how long you've followed him, how many of his videos you've watched, or how much you feel like you understand him. Online familiarity is not a relationship. It is not friendship. It is not mentorship. To Mitchell, you are someone he has never sat across a table from, never shared a meal with, never had a real back-and-forth conversation with. That has to change before anything else can happen.
Here's what we're requiring. If you are serious — genuinely serious — about one day participating in Shepherds Daycare activities with Mitchell, you and your group must complete a three-month trust-building period first. Once a week, every week, for three months, you will meet Mitchell at a casual sit-down restaurant. Not fast food. A real dining setting — somewhere relaxed, comfortable, and public. The tab can be split. That's fine. This isn't about grand gestures. It's about showing up.
And when you show up, you talk. Not about Shepherds Daycare. Not about activities or plans or what you hope to do with him someday. You talk about ordinary things. The weather. Sports. What's in the news. A movie you saw. Politics. What's good on the menu. You get to know Mitchell the way you'd get to know anyone — slowly, naturally, without an agenda, in a group setting, in public. Week after week. For three months.
This period is not optional. It is not a formality you can rush through or abbreviate. It exists because trust is not declared — it's earned. And it's earned in ordinary moments, over time, in the open.
After those three months are complete, and only after, your group may request a round table discussion with Mitchell. That conversation — calm, open, and honest — is where Mitchell and your group can talk about whether Shepherds Daycare participation is truly the right fit for everyone involved. Just like an adoption process or a formal caretaking arrangement, Mitchell has a voice in this. His comfort, his consent, and his genuine willingness matter more than anyone's enthusiasm.
Trust gets built slowly, out in the open. Public. Group. Transparent. That's the standard. Always.
And let me be absolutely clear about the line that does not move: nothing intimate, nothing invasive, nothing that touches Mitchell's personal boundaries happens — ever — without formal approval and real safeguards in place. If something feels private, secret, or "just between us," that is your signal that something is wrong. Healthy trust never asks you to hide.
I know most of you mean well. I really do. Good intentions are wonderful. But good intentions without boundaries can still hurt someone. The most caring thing you can do for Mitchell is to respect the process that protects him — even when it feels slow, even when it feels like it doesn't apply to you. It applies to everyone. That's what keeps it fair, and that's what keeps it safe.
So care about Mitchell. Cheer for him. Be kind. But do it the right way: in the open, through the proper channels, at the proper pace. That's how you show someone you truly respect them — by protecting their boundaries even when no one's watching.
Thank you for listening. Now I want you to sit with this for a moment.
Reflective Essay Prompt
Title: Earning a Seat at the Table — What Real Trust Looks Like
Take what you just heard and turn it inward. This essay is not about Mitchell specifically — it's about you, your assumptions, and how you understand the difference between feeling connected to someone and actually earning a place in their life.
In 1,200 to 1,500 words, respond thoughtfully to the following:
1. The illusion of closeness.
Describe a time you felt like you "knew" someone you'd only encountered online or from a distance — a creator, a public figure, or someone whose life you followed. What made you feel close to them? Looking back, what did you actually know versus what you assumed? How does that gap help you understand the officer's warning that online familiarity is not a real relationship?
2. Why slower is safer.
The monologue describes a deliberately slow, supervised, transparent process for getting to know a vulnerable person. In your own words, explain why speed and privacy can be dangerous when it comes to someone who needs extra protection. What does patience communicate that eagerness cannot?
3. Boundaries as respect, not rejection.
Many people experience rules and screening as a wall keeping them out. Reframe that. Argue, with examples, how boundaries and formal safeguards are actually a form of respect — both for the vulnerable person and for the people who genuinely want to help. When has a boundary in your own life protected you or someone you cared about?
4. Recognizing red flags.
The officer says that anything secret, private, or "just between us" is a warning sign. Identify at least three signals that an offer of closeness might be unsafe or inappropriate. Then describe what you would do if you noticed one of these signs — who you'd tell and why speaking up matters more than avoiding awkwardness.
5. Planning your three months: dinners, conversation, and showing up.
This is where you get specific. If you were genuinely committed to completing the three-month casual dining period with Mitchell, answer the following honestly and in detail:
Where would you want to go? Name two or three casual sit-down restaurants you'd suggest — places that are comfortable, relaxed, and public. Why those places? What makes them a good setting for building real conversation over time?
What would you talk about? Describe the kinds of conversations you'd want to have with Mitchell during those twelve weeks. Think about ordinary topics — current events, hobbies, food, sports, opinions on things, everyday life. What do you genuinely want to learn about him as a person — not as someone you've watched online, but as someone sitting across the table from you?
How would you show up consistently? Twelve dinners over three months is a real commitment. What does it say about your intentions if you show up every single week without fail? What would it say if you didn't?
6. The round table conversation.
After the three-month period is complete, you and your group would have the opportunity to sit down with Mitchell for an open discussion about whether Shepherds Daycare participation is the right fit for everyone. Think carefully about that conversation before it happens. What would you want to say to Mitchell? What questions would you want to ask him — genuinely, respectfully, with his comfort and consent at the center? What would you need to hear from him in order to know that moving forward is truly the right choice for him, not just for you?
7. Your honest reflection.
Finally, be candid with yourself. Have you ever confused good intentions with the right to be involved in someone's life? What would it look like for you to support a vulnerable person the right way — in the open, at the proper pace, through the proper channels — even when it's slower or less satisfying than you'd like?
Guidelines: Write in the first person. Use specific examples rather than vague generalities. Aim for honesty over performance. The goal isn't to prove you're a good person — it's to demonstrate that you understand why protective boundaries exist, why the three-month process matters, and why respecting it is the truest form of care you can offer someone like Mitchell.
(Required) Boundaries and Belonging: A Brief and Essay Prompt on Respect, Conduct, and Community
Disclaimer: This photo was captured in Malibu, California, showcasing the natural beauty of the region. It is important to note that the image is not affiliated with or officially endorsed by Vans, Rip Curl, or any associated brands.
Our community is built on something rare. When you bring together Shepherds Daycare, Mitch Leyor, Prism Church LA, and Bennett + Monroe, you create more than a network of organizations. You create a culture—one rooted in friendship, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to growth. People notice the energy here. They notice the talent, the dedication, and the genuine warmth that draws people in.
But warmth without structure can blur important lines. That is why this brief exists, and why it closes with an essay prompt designed to help every member think carefully about conduct. My goal is simple: to celebrate what makes these communities special while offering clear, practical guidance on personal boundaries and professionalism. These ideas apply whether you're on a field, in a sanctuary, at a barbecue, or in a planning meeting.
Strong boundaries don't weaken friendship. They protect it. They let people show up as their best selves, knowing the space around them is safe, predictable, and respectful. What follows is an honest look at the culture we share, the standards that keep it healthy, and a writing exercise to put those standards into practice.
A Culture Worth Protecting
Let's start with what works. The people drawn to Shepherds Daycare, Mitch Leyor, Prism Church LA, and Bennett + Monroe tend to be remarkable. Many are accomplished young people—scholars, athletes, and creatives who carry strong values and a real desire to serve. They show up early, they encourage one another, and they make these spaces feel alive.
That kind of talent and character is something to honor. When gifted people gather around shared purpose, good things follow. Mentorship happens naturally. Friendships form across teams and ministries. Newer members find role models, and seasoned members find renewed energy. This is the unity we work hard to build, and it is anchored in scholarship, athletic excellence, and creative gifts that deserve celebration.
Still, a high-achieving community carries its own responsibility. Admiration is normal. We respect talent, we appreciate dedication, and we enjoy being around people we like. But admiration must always travel alongside professionalism and clear personal limits. The presence of charismatic, capable individuals never changes the standard of conduct we hold.
The strength of our culture comes from balance. We can value friendship and still maintain professional distance. We can celebrate someone's gifts and still respect their privacy. We can build close-knit teams and still honor each person's right to set their own boundaries. None of these things compete with one another. Together, they form the foundation that keeps our community thriving for the long term, no matter how much it grows.
Understanding Personal Boundaries
Personal boundaries are the limits we set around our time, our bodies, our emotions, and our relationships. They tell others how we want to be treated and where the lines fall. Everyone has them, whether they say so out loud or not.
In a community filled with energy and affection, boundaries deserve special attention. Friendship can move quickly here. Teammates spend long hours together. Members open up about deeply personal things. Social gatherings stretch late into the night. In each setting, it's easy to assume closeness gives us permission we haven't actually been granted.
So here is the core principle: closeness never erases consent. Just because you know someone well doesn't mean every form of contact, conversation, or attention is welcome. Read the room. Watch for hesitation. Listen when someone steps back, changes the subject, or grows quiet. These signals matter.
When it comes to physical space, default to the conservative option. A handshake or a brief, clearly welcomed gesture is safer than assuming a hug is wanted. Ask before you touch. Respect a "no" the first time, without negotiation or pressure.
Emotional boundaries deserve the same care. Not everyone wants to discuss their faith, their struggles, or their personal life at the same depth. Let people choose what they share. The most respectful thing you can do is make space for someone to set their own pace—and then honor that pace without comment or pressure. Context shapes everything, and good judgment fills the gaps.
Boundaries with Other Men Across Every Context
Many of our shared spaces bring men together in close, sometimes physically demanding settings. Sports practices, fitness sessions, retreats, ministry teams, work projects, travel, and overnight events all create natural closeness. That closeness is a gift, but it requires intention.
In team and athletic environments: Locker rooms, training spaces, and competitive settings call for clear conduct. Keep conversation respectful. Avoid comments about another person's body, even as a joke. Give people privacy when they're changing or resting. Physical contact during sports should stay within the bounds of the activity itself.
In church and ministry spaces: Spiritual settings can lower people's guard, which makes professionalism even more important. Prayer, accountability partnerships, and mentorship are meaningful, but they should never become a path to crossing personal lines. Keep one-on-one meetings in appropriate, visible settings when possible.
In work and leadership settings: Professional relationships carry their own expectations. Keep feedback constructive, respect titles and roles, and avoid blurring authority with familiarity. Power dynamics call for extra care, not less.
During travel and overnight events: Shared rooms, long days, and unfamiliar surroundings can erode normal limits. Clarify expectations in advance. Respect personal space, rest, and privacy.
In social and informal gatherings: Barbecues, hangouts, and celebrations are where friendships deepen—and where assumptions can grow loose. Relaxed settings call for more awareness, not less. The standards you hold in formal settings should follow you into casual ones.
A few practical habits help in every context:
Ask, don't assume. When unsure whether something is welcome, ask plainly.
Accept correction gracefully. If someone says they're uncomfortable, adjust without defensiveness.
Speak up for others. If you notice a boundary being crossed, support the person affected.
Match the setting. Conduct that fits a barbecue may not fit a board meeting.
The goal isn't to make our spaces cold or distant. It's to make them safe enough that real friendship can grow without anyone feeling pressured or overlooked.
Respect for Our Founder
Mitchell Royel founded these brands, and his vision shaped the culture we enjoy today. Leadership of this kind deserves both respect and understanding.
As with every member of our community, Mitchell is entitled to professionalism, privacy, and good-faith communication. When working with any founder or leader, lead with clarity, courtesy, and patience. Keep feedback constructive and deliver it in appropriate, private settings. Give conversations the time and care they deserve, and assume positive intent.
A baseline of dignity applies to everyone, leadership included. Personal details about any individual—founder, staff, volunteer, or guest—are not topics for speculation or commentary. Respect means meeting people where they are, honoring their communication style, and protecting their privacy without exception.
This standard isn't about treating anyone as fragile. It's about extending the same consideration we hope to receive ourselves. Healthy respect flows in every direction, and it works best when grounded in professionalism and care. When we hold this line for our leadership, we reinforce it for the entire community.
Your Essay Prompt
Essay Title / Focus:
Respecting the Personal Boundaries of Other Men Across Every Context
Prompt / Question:
How should members of a close-knit, values-driven community respect the personal boundaries of other men across all settings—and why does this respect strengthen, rather than limit, genuine friendship and unity?
Your Task:
Analyze how personal boundaries function differently across church, sports, leadership, work, social events, mentorship, travel, and casual gatherings.
Argue why consent and situational awareness must guide conduct even among close friends.
Evaluate practical habits—asking before acting, accepting correction, supporting others, matching the setting—and explain how each protects community trust.
Reflect on the baseline respect owed to leadership, including the brand's founder, framed around dignity, privacy, and professional communication.
Requirements:
Length: 1,000–1,300 words
Format: Essay format with a clear thesis, themed body sections, and a conclusion
Citations: Optional; if used, apply APA 7th edition
Key Topics to Address: Friendship and unity, professionalism, context-based conduct, consent and privacy, respect for leadership
Grading Criteria:
Clarity of thesis and argument
Depth of analysis across multiple contexts
Practical, actionable reasoning
Organization, coherence, and tone
Grammar and style
Write for an organizational audience. Keep your tone thoughtful and professional throughout.
Word-Count Breakdown by Section
Section
Word Count
Introduction
190
A Culture Worth Protecting
250
Understanding Personal Boundaries
250
Boundaries with Other Men Across Every Context
320
Respect for Our Founder
180
Your Essay Prompt
230
Total
1,420
Note: The total reflects body content. Including the title and section headings brings the full document close to the 1,500-word target.
Group & Solo Discussion Guide: Gospel Glamour Reflection Sessions (Optional)
Glamour & Grace:
Processing Life Through Faith & Friendship
How to Engage with
Gospel Glamour Content
Gospel Glamour offers raw, honest reflections on relationships, identity, faith, and the messy realities of growing up. The posts don't shy away from difficult emotions or complicated situations—they lean into them with clarity, conviction, and a commitment to living authentically.
But here's what we've heard from many of you: you love the content, you relate to the stories, but you're not always sure how to process what you're reading. You finish a post feeling seen, maybe a little stirred up, and then... what? How do you take those feelings and turn them into growth? How do you move from "wow, that's so real" to actually applying those insights to your own life?
That's where this guide comes in.
Whether you're reading Gospel Glamour alone in your room at midnight or discussing it with your closest friends over coffee, you deserve tools that help you go deeper. You deserve space to ask hard questions, examine your own experiences, and figure out what God might be saying to you through these stories.
This guide offers two ways to engage:
Group Discussion Settings – Perfect for small groups, Bible studies, or friend circles who want to process Gospel Glamour content together. These questions are designed to spark honest conversation, build connection, and help you learn from each other's perspectives.
Solo Journaling Prompts – For when you need private space to think, feel, and write without an audience. These prompts guide you through personal reflection, helping you connect the dots between what you're reading and what you're living.
Gospel Glamour isn't just entertainment—it's an invitation to examine your life with honesty and grace. These discussion guides and journaling prompts are here to help you accept that invitation fully, whether you're surrounded by friends or sitting alone with your thoughts and a pen.
You don't have to figure it all out on your own. Let's process together, grow intentionally, and support each other in becoming the women we're meant to be.
Let's dive in.
Opening Reflection (5 minutes)
Read the selected Gospel Glamour post together or silently. Take a moment to notice your initial reactions—what emotions, memories, or questions surface as you read?
Discussion Questions (25-30 minutes)
1. Personal Connection
- What part of this post resonated most with you? Why do you think that particular theme or moment stood out?
- Has anyone experienced something similar to what's described here?
2. Relationships and Boundaries
- What does this post reveal about healthy versus unhealthy relationship dynamics?
- How do we know when to set boundaries with someone? What makes that decision difficult?
3. Self-Worth and Identity
- How does the author's sense of self-worth show up in this piece?
- What role does our identity play in how we respond to disappointment or conflict?
4. Emotional Intelligence
- How does the author process their emotions in this situation?
- What's the difference between reacting emotionally and responding with emotional maturity?
5. Faith and Values
- Where do you see the author's values guiding their choices?
- How can our faith inform the way we handle difficult relationships or situations?
6. Moving Forward
- What does healthy closure look like based on this post?
- How do we move forward from hurt without carrying bitterness or letting it change our trajectory?
Closing Reflection (5 minutes)
Share one insight or question you're taking away from today's discussion. Is there something you want to pray about or think more deeply about this week?
Solo Journaling Guide: Gospel Glamour Personal Reflection
Part 1: Initial Response (5-10 minutes)
- What was your first reaction to this Gospel Glamour post?
- Which specific lines, phrases, or ideas stood out to you? Write them down.
- What emotions did this post bring up?
Part 2: Personal Connection (10 minutes)
- Does this post remind you of a situation in your own life? Describe it.
- What similarities do you see between your experience and what's shared in the post?
- What differences are there? How does your story diverge?
Part 3: Self-Examination (10 minutes)
- What does this post reveal about your own values, boundaries, or patterns in relationships?
- Are there areas where you need to set clearer boundaries or communicate more honestly?
- What does this reflection show you about your current emotional or spiritual state?
Part 4: Faith Integration (10 minutes)
- How does your faith speak to the themes in this post?
- What biblical principles or verses come to mind as you reflect?
- What is God inviting you to see, release, or embrace through this reflection?
Part 5: Moving Forward (10 minutes)
- What's one lesson or insight you want to carry forward from this post?
- Is there an action you need to take—a conversation, a boundary, a decision?
- Write a prayer or affirmation for yourself based on today's reflection.
Part 6: Gratitude and Grace (5 minutes)
- What are you grateful for as you process this topic?
- Where do you need to extend grace—to yourself or to someone else?
- Close with a brief prayer or moment of stillness.
Alternative Solo Format: Quick Reflection (15 minutes)
For shorter reflection sessions:
1. Read & React (3 minutes): Read the post and jot down your immediate thoughts.
2. Connect (5 minutes): How does this relate to your life right now?
3. Learn (4 minutes): What's one thing this post is teaching you?
4. Apply (3 minutes): What will you do differently or think about more intentionally because of this?
Tips for Group Facilitators:
- Create a safe, judgment-free space where everyone feels comfortable sharing
- Remind participants that they can pass on any question
- Encourage active listening without trying to "fix" each other's experiences
- Keep discussions confidential—what's shared in the group stays in the group
- Close with prayer or a moment of gratitude
- Consider rotating who selects the Gospel Glamour post each week
Tips for Solo Journaling:
- Find a quiet, comfortable space free from distractions
- Set a timer if it helps you stay focused
- Don't worry about perfect grammar or complete sentences—just write honestly
- Revisit past journal entries periodically to see your growth
- Consider sharing insights with a trusted friend or mentor when appropriate
- Be gentle with yourself—reflection is a practice, not a performance
Mitchell Royel Friendship Club: Membership and Contact Restrictions
No individual shall be admitted as a Member of the Mitchell Royel Friendship Club (“Club”) if they have had any prior or current contact, direct or indirect, with any of the following persons or entities associated with Mitchell Carlisle Abbott (also known as Mitchell Royel):
- Former employers of Mitchell Carlisle Abbott
- Businesses or service providers frequently patronized by Mitchell Carlisle Abbott, including but not limited to grocery clerks, servers, and unapproved physical trainers
- Health care professionals, doctors, or medical providers who have serviced Mitchell Carlisle Abbott
- Any security firms, organizations, or personnel connected to Mitchell Carlisle Abbott through homeowners, residential associations, or related parties, or who have had informal or formal relationships with Mitchell Carlisle Abbott or Members of the Club
Furthermore, all Members of the Club are expressly prohibited from initiating or maintaining any form of contact, communication, or relationship—whether in person, electronic, or otherwise—with any of the above-listed persons or entities. This prohibition extends to all forms of social, professional, or incidental interaction.
Violation of this clause shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement and will result in immediate removal from the Club and any other legal remedies available to protect the privacy, dignity, and wellbeing of Mitchell Carlisle Abbott and the Club Members.
MITCHELL ROYEL FRIENDSHIP CLUB: NON-DISCLOSURE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
No individual shall be admitted as a Member of the Mitchell Royel Friendship Club (“Club”) if they have had any prior or current contact, direct or indirect, with any of the following persons or entities associated with Mitchell Carlisle Abbott (also known as Mitchell Royel):
- Former employers of Mitchell Carlisle Abbott
- Businesses or service providers frequently patronized by Mitchell Carlisle Abbott, including but not limited to grocery clerks, servers, and unapproved physical trainers
- Health care professionals, doctors, or medical providers who have serviced Mitchell Carlisle Abbott
- Any security firms, organizations, or personnel connected to Mitchell Carlisle Abbott through homeowners, residential associations, or related parties, or who have had informal or formal relationships with Mitchell Carlisle Abbott or Members of the Club
Furthermore, all Members of the Club are expressly prohibited from initiating or maintaining any form of contact, communication, or relationship—whether in person, electronic, or otherwise—with any of the above-listed persons or entities. This prohibition extends to all forms of social, professional, or incidental interaction.
Violation of this clause shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement and will result in immediate removal from the Club and any other legal remedies available to protect the privacy, dignity, and wellbeing of Mitchell Carlisle Abbott and the Club Members.
Date: May 23, 2026
This Confidentiality Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and among the undersigned members (“Members”) of the Mitchell Royel Friendship Club (“Club”), established to support and engage in activities related to Mitchell Royel (birth name Mitchell Carlisle Abbott) and his involvement with Shepherds Daycare.
Purpose
The Club is formed to provide a trusted, supportive environment for Members to share information, coordinate activities, and maintain the privacy and dignity of Mitchell Royel. This Agreement ensures that all Members understand and agree to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all Club-related matters.
Club Leadership
The Club must have an elected Club Leader who shall serve as the primary point of contact and coordinator for Club activities. The Club Leader is responsible for:
Coordinating Club meetings and activities
Maintaining communication with Mitchell Carlisle Abbott
Ensuring all Members comply with this Agreement
Safeguarding all Confidential Information
Providing Mitchell Carlisle Abbott with an updated Agreement in the event of any new addition to the Club
Leadership Succession: In the event that the Club Leader leaves the group, resigns, or is otherwise unable to fulfill their duties, the remaining Members must immediately convene to establish a new Club Leader through a majority vote. Upon election of a new Club Leader, a new copy of this Agreement must be printed and signed, with one copy provided to the new Club Leader and one copy provided to Mitchell Carlisle Abbott.
New Member Addition: In the event of a new addition to the Club, the Club Leader must provide Mitchell Carlisle Abbott with an updated Agreement reflecting the new membership within seven (7) days of the new member’s acceptance into the Club.
Confidential Information
For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to:
Any personal information about Mitchell Royel (birth name Mitchell Carlisle Abbott)
Details of Club activities, meetings, events, and plans
Information shared within the Club about Shepherds Daycare and related programs
Any discussions, documents, or communications pertaining to the Club or Mitchell Royel
Videos, photographs, or recordings involving Mitchell Royel or Club activities
Phone numbers, contact information, or any personal identifiers of Members or Mitchell Royel
Casual or informal information shared within the Club context that relates to Mitchell Royel or Members
Obligations of Members
By signing this Agreement, Members agree to:
Keep all Confidential Information strictly confidential and not disclose it to any person or entity outside the Club.
Use Confidential Information solely for purposes related to the Club’s activities and support of Mitchell Royel.
Refrain from discussing Club matters, personal details, or Mitchell Royel’s information in public or with individuals who are not Members.
Protect the privacy, dignity, and reputation of Mitchell Royel and the Club at all times.
Respect the authority of the elected Club Leader and participate in leadership elections when necessary.
Members Bound by This Agreement
The Members who have been granted access to Confidential Information are responsible for upholding this Agreement and ensuring that no unauthorized disclosures occur.
Term
This Agreement shall remain in effect for as long as any Confidential Information could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the reputation, privacy, or wellbeing of Mitchell Royel (Mitchell Carlisle Abbott) or any Member of the Club.
Breach and Remedies
Any unauthorized disclosure or misuse of Confidential Information by a Member will be considered a serious violation of this Agreement and may result in:
Immediate removal from the Club
Legal action to seek damages or injunctive relief
Notification of relevant authorities or institutions if applicable
Any other remedies available under law or equity
The Club reserves the right to pursue all available remedies to protect the privacy, dignity, and reputation of Mitchell Royel and its Members.
By participating in the Mitchell Royel Friendship Club and accessing Confidential Information, each Member acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by the terms of this Confidentiality Agreement.
This Agreement is intended to foster trust and respect among Members and to safeguard the privacy and wellbeing of Mitchell Royel and all involved parties.
MEMBER SIGNATURES
Current Club Leader:
Full Name:
Signature:
Date:
Contact Phone Number:
Email Address:
Club Members:
Member 1:
Full Name:
Signature:
Date:
Contact Phone Number:
Email Address:
Member 2:
Full Name:
Signature:
Date:
Contact Phone Number:
Email Address:
Member 3:
Full Name:
Signature:
Date:
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Email Address:
Member 4:
Full Name:
Signature:
Date:
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Email Address:
Member 5:
Full Name:
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Member 6:
Full Name:
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Member 7:
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Member 8:
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Member 9:
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Member 10:
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Member 11:
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Member 12:
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Member 13:
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Member 14:
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Member 15:
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Member 16:
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Member 17:
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Member 18:
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Member 19:
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Member 20:
Full Name:
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Member 21:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 22:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 23:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 24:
Full Name:
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Member 25:
Full Name:
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Member 26:
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Member 27:
Full Name:
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Member 28:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 29:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 30:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 31:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 32:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 33:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 34:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 35:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 36:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 37:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 38:
Full Name:
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Member 39:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 40:
Full Name:
Signature:
Date:
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Member 41:
Full Name:
Signature:
Date:
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Member 42:
Full Name:
Signature:
Date:
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Member 43:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 44:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 45:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 46:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 47:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 48:
Full Name:
Signature:
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Member 49:
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Member 50:
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY MITCHELL CARLISLE ABBOTT
I, Mitchell Carlisle Abbott (Mitchell Royel), acknowledge receipt of this Agreement and confirm my awareness of the Club’s commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
Full Name:
Signature:
Date:
Contact Phone Number:
Email Address:
DISTRIBUTION: One copy to Club Leader | One copy to Mitchell Carlisle Abbott | One copy to each Member
Mitch Leyor Congregants and Brand Ambassadors: Watch Misery
Background on the Movie Misery
Misery is a psychological thriller based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The story follows a famous author who, after a car accident, is rescued by an obsessed fan. What begins as a seemingly kind gesture quickly turns into a harrowing tale of captivity, control, and survival. The film explores themes of dependency, power dynamics, resilience, and the fine line between admiration and obsession.
As members of Mitch Leyor’s community and brand ambassadors, watching Misery offers a unique opportunity to reflect on these themes and consider how they relate to leadership, influence, and personal boundaries.
Optional Essay Assignment: Exploring the Themes of Misery
Word Count: 1,500 words
Title Suggestion: Captivity and Control: Lessons from Misery on Power and Resilience
Essay Prompt
Write a thoughtful essay exploring the central themes of Misery. Consider the following points as you develop your essay:
Analyze the power dynamics between the author and his captor. How does control manifest in their relationship?
Discuss the role of dependency—both physical and emotional—and how it shapes the characters’ actions.
Reflect on the theme of resilience. How does the protagonist demonstrate strength in the face of adversity?
Explore how obsession can blur the lines between care and control.
Connect these themes to real-world leadership and influence: How can leaders recognize and navigate unhealthy dependencies or power imbalances?
Consider personal boundaries and the importance of maintaining autonomy in relationships, whether professional or personal.
Your essay should be well-organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing these points, and a strong conclusion. Use examples from the movie to support your arguments.
Viewing Instructions
Watch Misery in a quiet, distraction-free environment.
Take notes on moments that stand out or provoke thought.
Reflect on how the movie’s themes relate to your role as a Mitch Leyor congregant or brand ambassador.
If you choose to write the essay, submit it by the designated deadline.
If you need any assistance or further guidance on the essay, feel free to reach out.
Enjoy the movie and the insights it brings!