In New York City, fashion designer Isabelle uses her influence in the high‑end fashion world to point models, organizers, and industry professionals to Jesus. Through prayer backstage, Christ‑centered design themes, and her work at the Bryant Park Life Hope Center, she blends creativity with mission—showing how every believer can become a center of influence for God.
Cameras are poised, ready to shoot. Models sporting hairstyles that defy gravity and trend-setting fashions wait to walk the runway. A high-end fashion show in New York City is about to begin.
If you peek backstage, you’ll see Isabelle, the woman running the show, pray with each model before sending them down the catwalk.
Isabelle has rubbed shoulders with well-known fashion designers and celebrities. But what stirs her heart most is the ministry happening at Bryant Park Life Hope Center, an urban center of influence where Adventists are reaching people for Christ.
Raised as an Adventist, Isabelle was taught that the world is a ripe field of souls for God. Whatever she has done—ballet, modeling, skateboarding, and now fashion design—she does for Christ. But since God cured her from a debilitating injury, her desire to serve Him has intensified.
When Life Hope Center began in 2021, she had recently been healed. “At that moment, I had experienced so many miracles in my life that I wanted everybody to know,” Isabelle said. “When the Life Hope Center leaders asked for volunteers, I said yes.”
But Isabelle’s impact reaches beyond the doors of center. Because God has blessed her with success in the fashion world, she has the opportunity to influence an industry where few if any Adventists mingle. She leverages her design concept, fashion show themes, and personal interactions to point people to Christ.
Isabelle issues press releases with an explanation of the inspiration behind the shows, so no one misses the message. “In every collection of clothing I present, ultimately, I’m always pushing the same button, asking the audience to search their hearts, investigate their own actions and motives, and ask themselves, is there a God out there? Should I change? Is there hope for me?” Isabelle explains.
Isabelle also reaches out with her warm personal touch to share God’s love and peace. “After Fashion Week, the people who work with me would call me just to listen to my voice because they said it gives them peace,” Isabelle said. “I know that's God, because I speak too fast to be peaceful!” She prays with the models, the organizers, and anyone in this highly competitive industry who appears anxious. . .. Some people ask me what church I go to. They say, ‘Wherever you go, I want to go.’”
Then Isabelle brings them to Life Hope Center for a program or Bible studies or to one of the area Adventist churches.
Isabelle finds joy in volunteering at this center of influence. But wouldn’t you say that as she intentionally uses every aspect of her life to win people to Christ, she, herself, is a center of influence?
What would happen if every follower of Jesus saw themselves as a center of influence?
To learn more about urban centers of influence and their ministry to plant new groups of Adventist believers, visit urbancenters.org.
Sandra Dombrowski
Sandra Dombrowski is a freelance writer living in Connecticut, United States. She helps prepare church members to participate in sustainable health evangelism to cities of the northeastern part of the country.
