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Former 'Real Housewife' believes God wanted her to be apart of the Bravo series
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When Lydia McLaughlin was asked to be a part of Bravo's "Real Housewives of Orange County," her immediate response was, "No." However, after a series of events and a special passage from the Bible, she changed her mind. McLaughlin believed God needed her to show her faith, that she could affect a lot of people. She only signed on for one season, leaving for the sake of her marriage and family.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
5/12/2015 (9 years ago)
Published in TV
Keywords: Real Housewives of Orange County, Reality TV, Bible Study, Ministry, Faith, Decisions
MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "I expected him to laugh and he kind of did chuckle a little, but he was like, 'This could be a really cool opportunity. Maybe God is going to use you and our family through the show, so why don't we pray about it and maybe even meet with them?'" told McLaughlin during a podcast with The Church Boys, recalling what her husband said after telling him her encounter with the producers.
There were two following events that intensified her rethinking: a bible study and a surprising first time meeting with a neighbor.
"I was actually going through a Bible study about Nehemiah and how he lives in the castle and he's the king's right-hand man - and God calls him out of the palace to go build a wall," she said, adding that she felt God was talking to her to build a wall for Him outside her comfort zone.
McLaughlin believed it was God who pushed her into taking the part, in order to minister to a broader range of audience.
The last bizarre sign was when she met her neighbor, Alexis Bellino, one of the reality TV show's cast, for the first time.
Although she admitted she enjoyed being a part of the show, enabling her to put her faith in action as part of her ministry work, McLaughlin decided not to partake on the next season.
"I just came to the decision that it wasn't right for my family... so I decided to walk away," she said.
In her new book, "Beyond Orange County," Lydia McLaughlin shared more of her experiences, including her bold faith to inspire other Christians.
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