Welcome to The Story Behind the Story.

If you’ve ever wondered why we made certain decisions, how this ministry came together, or what God was teaching us behind the scenes…

…you’re in the right place.

This isn’t where I teach the Bible. It’s where I tell the stories that shaped the ministry. The unexpected turns. The answered prayers. The ideas that worked. The ones that didn’t. And the countless moments where God quietly reminded us that His plans are almost always better than ours.

So grab a cup of coffee.

Pull up a chair.

Today, I’d love to tell you the story behind Ann’s study.

The Beginning

One of the first questions people ask is, “Why didn’t you just film in your living room?”

Honestly… we almost did. It certainly would have been easier.

If you’ve watched many Christian YouTube channels, you’ve probably noticed a common trend. Comfortable sofas. Fireplaces. Beautiful living rooms. They feel warm and inviting.

For a while, I assumed that’s what we’ do too. I had the perfect long half-circular sofa. After all, we had a lovely home. Why not simply set up a camera in the living room and begin filming? It certainly would have been easier.

But something didn’t feel right. I couldn’t quite explain it. Every time we talked about filming there, I had this quiet sense that the room was meant to remain… home. Not ministry.

Eric and I have spent years intentionally creating a peaceful home. A place where ministry could pause. Where family could gather. Where we could simply be husband and wife.

Turning our everyday living space into a permanent film set felt like it would slowly erase that boundary. We needed a place to teach… without asking our home to become a television studio.

The Turning Point

Then one day we looked at the space in front of the built-in bookcases. It wasn’t being fully used.

Almost jokingly, one of us said, “What if this became the studio?”

The more we talked… the more it made sense. One area. One purpose. The empty space slowly disappeared. Bookshelf doors were made. The desk moved in. Lighting, Cameras. Microphones. One decision led to another. Before long, Ann’s study was beginning to take shape.

Then came the bookcases. I had this wonderful idea. The vision was simple. For LANE videos, the doors would remain open, revealing all the books behind me. For FAQ videos, we’d close the doors, creating a completely different look. I loved the idea. So we had them custom made.

Let’s just say… they weren’t inexpensive.

The day finally arrived. The cameras were ready. The lights came on. Everything looked perfect. Until.. the camera started rolling. The gold reflected so much light that the glare became impossible to ignore. We adjusted. Moved lights. Changed angles. Tried everything we could think of. Nothing worked.

Finally, Eric and I looked at each other. The doors had to stay open. Permanently. I remember laughing. Well… there went that idea. Was it a waste of money? Maybe. Maybe not. I’ve learned something over the years. When you’re following God’s leading, not every idea unfolds the way you imagined. Sometimes what feels like a disappointment is simply God redirecting the design.

And who knows? Maybe one day those beautiful gold doors will become exactly what they’re supposed to become. That’s the beauty of walking with God. You never really know where the adventure is going to take you.

What We Learned

Looking back, the study became so much more than a filming location. It’s become sacred space. When I walk into that space, something changes inside me. My Bible opens. My notebooks come out. The distractions fade. It’s where lessons are spoken. Books are born. Prayers are whispered.

Sometimes I’ll sit quietly before filming and simply ask, “Lord… what do Your people need today?”

Ann’s study reminds me every single day that this ministry was never about producing videos. It’s about faithfully handling God’s Word. The cameras simply allow us to invite more people into the room.

 

Where We Are Now

Today, every LANE video… Every FAQ… Every Coffee with God conversation… and every Bible teaching is filmed in Ann’s study. Most people only see the finished video. They never see the hours of study. The rewriting. The prayer. The technical challenges. Or the occasional custom gold doors that didn’t quite cooperate.

But maybe that’s rue of life itself. So much of what God is building happens long before anyone else sees it. And perhaps that’s the lesson Ann’s study reminds me of every day. Faithfulness isn’t measured by whether every plan succeeds. It’s measured by whether we’re willing to keep following the One who gave us the assignment. Even when we don’t fully understand where He’s leading.

I’m thankful we built a study instead of borrowing our living room. Because every time I sit behind that desk, I’m reminded that this isn’t simply content creation. It’s a calling.

 

One “Yes” at a Time.

Reflecting back, every step of this ministry reminds me that God rarely shows us the whole journey.

He simply asks us to trust Him with the next step.

That’s how this ministry has been built.

One “yes” at a time.

Until next time…

Thank you for letting Eric and me share this journey with you.

– Lori Ann

🕊 ONE SHARE. ONE SOUL.
This week’s step:

Share this with one person God puts on your heart.

Then comment DONE so I can pray over you.

 “You may never know what your share starts — but Heaven will.”

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