Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Anitra Shelton-Quinn.
Dr. Anitra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up in rural Mississippi, I was blessed with the support of a close-knit community & loving parents who instilled in me not only self-love but love for God & others. As a child, I learned of the goodness of God early on in a unique and life-changing encounter.
It was on a Sunday afternoon while playing in my room and eating pecans when I accidentally bit down too hard, such that the pecan & portions of the shell became embedded between my still primary teeth. Like most young children, I went crying to my mother, who tried diligently to help, to no avail. The pecan and its shell were too deeply embedded. Unlike the metropolitan area that I live in now, in my little town no dentist offices were open or even nearby on the weekends. As fate would have it, my mother recommended that I go and pray about it. So I did. To my surprise, this invitation to pray, which change my life forever. While kneeling down at my canopy bedside, I began to call out to Jesus. Within seconds of my faith-filled prayer, I felt a touch like none other, beginning at the nape of my neck coming through the back of my mouth to the very puncture point where the pecan & shell remnants lay embedded. With the most gentle touch and not an inkling of pain, and warm and comforting force pushed the shell and pecan out of my gumline, placing them onto the tip of my tongue. At that very moment, I was overwhelmed with joy and ran screaming in excitement to my mother, “Jesus touched me.” That moment is now a permanent staple in my mind and a forever memory of an encounter that shaped and solidified who I am today & the mantle on my life. After that experience, I began preaching and praying for anyone and everyone around.
For the first few years of my life, my parents would take me to pray and to render a word of God to people in their homes. By the time I became a teenager, I was the family prayer warrior for my extended family and many close friends in our community. By the time I entered college at Mississippi State University, where I obtained my B.S. in Psychology, my mission was clear…to impact the world through positive change. I found myself running from the CALL of God on my life. As a campus leader, active across a plethora of organizations from the MSU Pom Squad to being a Resident Assistant, one organization in particular would impact my life like no other. When I became a selected member of the highly distinguished MSU Roadrunners, advised by Dr. Jimmy Abraham, I had no idea of how God was shaping my life for HIS Glory. Dr. Abraham had a unique way of teaching student leaders how to become purpose pushers and life changers. I am ever grateful for the multitude of lessons he taught me. After leaving Mississippi State, I went on to complete a master’s in gerontology at the University of Louisiana, Monroe. Living in Monroe for one and a half years was an interesting experience; One that I will never forget, as Monroe, Louisiana was where I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit while attending Liberty Christian Center Church under the leadership of Dynamic Duo husband & wife, Pastors Drumgole. It was at that time I knew there was more to my Christian walk in the call on my life. After receiving my Master’s in Gerontology (the study of aging), I moved to Springfield, Missouri to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology.
After completing one year and a half, God changed my trajectory along with my state of residence. It was in December 1999 when my great aunt Kate became terminally ill. As the prayer warrior for my family, I knew that I needed to be home, back in Mississippi to support my grandmother who was caring for my aunt Kate and my mother. Moving home brought welcomed opportunities & surprises, including leading the drama team at my home church, Union Star Missionary Baptist Church, acceptance of the mantle on my life, enrollment in my PhD program, membership in my illustrious sisterhood, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the first historically African American Greek-lettered sorority and an appointed encounter at a set time with the man God had called to be my husband. It was in March during spring revival when due to a canceled class, I was able to make one of the services and met my husband who was a visiting Psalmist on that faithful night. It was a night I will never forget. There he stood at the podium singing with the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard and truly the man of my dreams. When the service was over, as we were all extending the right hand of fellowship as traditional in Baptist churches, he asked my name and that marked the beginning of our beautiful life together. In May, we began planning our life together. On December 31, 2000, then, Minister Travis Quinn proposed to me in the pulpit amidst our family & friends at a New Years Eve service where he was a guest minister preaching the word on love.
The very next year in 2001, I was crowned Mrs. Mississippi & awarded the Difference Maker of the Year Award by the National WIN Foundation. My husband was also honored with the Husband of the Year Award, also by the National WIN Foundation. After trying to have children for 11 years, trying everything from countless doctor appointments to fertility treatments. Despite our efforts, God had a better plan than what either of us could’ve ever imagined. Working consistently in ministry together, we stayed before the lord and devoted our lives to serving him. Then one night, The Lord showed me in a dream that we would have two children, boys they are scanned with sandy hair. Interestingly enough, Though neither one of us have sandy hair, both of our boys look exactly as they did in the prophetic dream that God has given me. Noah Christian and Kaleb Elijah, ages 9 and 7, have brought more joy to our lives than we could have ever imagined. Though I had had prophetic dreams all throughout my childhood, my lack of understanding and fear that my dreams were causing the outcomes to happen kept me from receiving the prophetic call on my life. It was not until the day in late 2010 God vividly spoke to me, instructing me to look up the meaning of my name. As I went to look up my middle name “Danielle,” the Lord redirected me to look at my first name. The name “Anitra” is a derivative of Deborah, which means Prophetess. Is Deborah was a heroin and Prophetess in the Bible, according to the Old Testament Book of Judges. It was then that God confirmed and validated me as the prophet I am. From that moment on, I no longer ran from anything God presented to me. After the birth of our first son, Noah Christian, we moved back to Mississippi and I took a position as a supervising psychologist who would later be promoted to mental health manager/director of Memphis City Schools Mental Health Center.
Fast forward to now, Pastor Travis and I are the founders of Bread of Life Deliverance Ministries, established in 2014, a year that marked triumph & imputed power in us like never before. In 2014, I was diagnosed with a blood clot & 3 tumors while pregnant with our miracle baby, Kaleb Elijah, our youngest. Too ill to work, I had to quit my job & was placed on bedrest, which I found it very hard to adhere to. As God would have it, while praising the Lord, at home alone, my water broke in late January/early Feb., while my baby was not due until May. Despite the doctor’s fears for the worst, with me having what’s considered an at-risk pregnancy due to age, Pastor Travis and I know that God will see us through; He had already seen us through so much. While hospitalized for two months, My faith is stronger than ever, as I spent countless days praying with and for the hospital staff. On March 19, we welcome to Kaleb Elijhaa Lewis Quinn into the world. Due to being born premature, Kaleb remained in the neonatal intensive care unit for three weeks but was allowed to come home early due to significant progress! Glory to the most high God. Since that time, despite his diagnosis with autism at age two, Kaleb has made remarkable progress with the help of his amazing big brother, Noah Christian & his “village.” From my supportive parents to my amazing husband, my Boaz, my superman to my two little kings to keep me humble, It is all of the beautiful people, events & “set-time” encounters that have helped make me who I am today. Therefore, the woman God has called me to be is simply by his design & for His Glory!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Obstacles and challenges were many, growing up in rural Mississippi & pursuing higher education. Throughout my journey, I met many obstacles & faced them head-on, by faith, with God bringing me through them all… not leaving one stone unturned. While in his bringing me through, God has allowed me to leave a life-changing footprint everywhere that I went. For it is my belief that every obstacle is simply an opportunity to rise higher. As a black woman in America, growing up through the weeds of racism, prejudices, & discrimination that continues to yet impact us today, I say with immense humility and immeasurable respect, in the words of the late great poet, Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise.”
As you know, we’re big fans of Bread of Life Deliverance Ministries. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Bread of Life Deliverance Ministries, Inc. (BOLD), is a 501-C3, nonprofit, devoted to taking the gospel all over the world through preaching, biblical teaching, and outreach. With the purpose of sharing the love of Jesus Christ to set the captives free, BOLD Ministries, Inc., operates across the 5-fold ministry, according to Ephesians 4:11-16, for the equipping of the saints for service & the building up of the Body of Christ. From our online prayer meetings and services to domestic and global missions, BOLD Ministries’, God-given mission is to impact the nations by empowering individuals and communities through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, while offering services and supports that instill hope, provide prevention, and foster dignity, such that all may fulfill their God-given purpose. Most recently, as of March 12, 2021, BOLD Ministries, Inc., founded and launched BOLD Christian Academy for Girls in Pakistan to provide impoverished girls a quality Christian Education.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
By far, my faith in God, persistence, and pursuit of purposeful living has allowed me to attain success. While humility, respect for others, and willingness to learn as a lifelong student have been invaluable throughout my journey.
Contact Info:
- Email: drshelton_quinn@icloud.com
- Website: https://www.dranitrashelton-quinn.com
- Instagram: @dr.anitra_shelton_quinn
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Anitra.sheltonquinn
- Twitter: https://Twitter.com/Dr_SQ/
Image Credits
IShootLive Photography on Black vest pics ONLY
