The God and Gigs Show | A Podcast for Christian Creators · Allen C. Paul, Christian Creative Coach

From Broadway to God's Way: How To Accept Divine Direction in Your Creative Career w/ Khadijah Rolle

August 25, 2025·32 min·3 clips

God told Khadija to surrender musical theater, forcing her to confront her identity beyond Broadway.

This episode features host Alan C. Paul, a musician and coach for faith-based creators, in conversation with Broadway performer and creator Khadija Roll. They explore the intersection of artistic ambition, divine timing, and personal identity within a Christian creative journey. Khadija recently made her Broadway debut in November 2024 in the musical *A Wonderful World* after a five-year process with the production. Her initial inspiration came at age 11 when, after her father's passing, a teacher named Tanisha Sidell cast her in a school musical, providing a crucial creative outlet. Khadija details the constant rejection inherent in Broadway auditions and the financial necessity of being a "multi-hyphenate," which led her to run a vocal studio teaching children. She describes a pivotal moment in 2022 when, during a period of mental struggle in New York, she felt divinely instructed to surrender her pursuit of musical theater. This surrender led to a new vision: creating a children's TV show called *Eden's Garden*. The concept came to her during a devotional, with specific details like the name and a puppetry style arriving later. Her subsequent job teaching choir at a school in Fort Lauderdale directly informed the show's themes, as students confided in her about issues like suicidal thoughts, bullying, and identity crises. *Eden's Garden* is designed to address social-emotional topics like comparison, forgiveness, and self-acceptance for a generation overwhelmed by social media. A surprising insight is that achieving her Broadway dream coincided with the birth of this new calling, creating a tension between the two paths. Khadija reveals she has currently stopped auditioning for six months to fully focus on developing the television project. She connects her journey to biblical patterns, noting that God rarely reveals the entire plan upfront but requires stepping out in faith. The project has already attracted a team of investors and raised $50,000, with efforts underway to match that amount. The conversation is deeply personal and confessional, with Khadija openly sharing moments of doubt, darkness, and financial worry. A memorable moment is her recounting of a specific prayer where she bargained with God to remove her feelings of despair, which directly led to the instruction to surrender her career. The tone is inspirational, conversational, and grounded in shared Christian faith, with host Alan C. Paul actively relating her experiences to broader spiritual principles for creators. This episode is ideal for Christian artists, performers, or any creator grappling with rejection, uncertain career pivots, or questions about integrating faith with creative work. Listeners who appreciate personal testimony and spiritual encouragement within professional journeys will find it compelling. Those seeking a purely technical, industry-focused discussion on breaking into Broadway or television production might find the spiritual emphasis less relevant.

As heard by us

A Broadway dream becomes a study in waiting, redirection, and creative faith.

Khadija Roll's path runs from a long Broadway pursuit through repeated rejection to a 2024 debut, then onward to a new children's show, Eden's Garden.

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Why you'd press play

When your dream changes shape, this episode helps you read the detour without panic.

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