Laterras Whitfield on His New Book 'Student of Love'
Maina Mwaura
Audio By Carbonatix
By Maina Mwaura, Crosswalk.com
Laterras Whitfield is living out his calling in a unique way, and that is helping millions of couples understand love. In his new book, Student of Love, Whitfield wants to extend the message from his podcast My Future Wifey, which is watched by millions each week. Whitfield, would be the first to admit that for many understanding true love is even something that he is having to work at as a new husband which maybe the reason why millions are lining up each week to listen to his podcast, in a sit down interview with Crosswalk, Whitfield opens up about why this book is needed and even endorsed by best time selling author Dr. Gary Chapman who recommends the book as a must read.
Crosswalk: Where were you when God led you to write the book?
Laterras Whitfield: I started getting so many requests from other people saying, when you going to write a book? They were asking me this over the last five years since I started the podcast, I have always had a desire to write a book, for many years. I used to playwright, direct, and producer. I've always enjoyed writing. That's why at the end of each one of my podcast episodes, I write a letter to my future wifey. I knew that books live forever, just like the internet. If you create something that people can take along with them, they read it in such an intimate space, whether they're lying in the bed, reading it before they go to sleep or whether they’re commuting on a train or plane. I would love watching people on the airplanes pulling out a book, and they're reading it too. If I could be a voice where people could take me, not just on the podcast episode, but in my first passion, which is the written word.
CW: What was the writing process like for you?
LW: It was a total surrender to the Lord for me during the writing process. Writing this book helped me understand what the Lord was completing in me. In times when I would be extremely overwhelmed, I would work my way through it. I literally turn on worship music and I lay on my face, I would pace around my studio or in my home, and I'd just sing to the top of my lungs and worship God.
CW: Now, you recently got married, what was the wedding experience like for you?
LW: People saw that during my wedding, a worship experience, because that's what my heart posture has always been.
CW: Why is your heart posture that of worship?
LW: In the book, I talk about the healing that God had to do in me to get to the place of marriage, and I hope that people see that in the book as well.
CW: What advice do you give to singles who are trying to find their future wifey?
LW: I think the misconception about heartbreak is not normalizing it, sometimes things don't always work out. I remember years ago when Enron was around, and the company closed and went bankrupt. People lost their life savings, they lost their 401 investments, they lost everything. What grieved my heart was to read articles where people committed suicide, jumped off bridges, because of heartbreak. I can empathize losing your life savings, but you shouldn't lose your life over your life savings. You should be able to save your life because if God gave you air in your body, there's still opportunities for your life to be better than it was before. I want people let heartbreak experiences grow and the person that God has in store for you, as you continue to keep yourself available for love, that you will be connected to that person that can guard your heart properly.
CW: What is being a podcast host like for you?
LW: It makes me a student. I literally sit down on the couch no matter who I'm talking to, even if they have opposing views of mind, I sit and say, what can I learn from them? What are some things that I can extract from what they're saying, those nuances that they may be articulating in that moment? What can I glean from to help me become a better man? My whole goal with doing the Dear Future Wifey podcast was to help me not only to become a better husband, but a better human altogether. Creating safe space for people to share their truths, no matter how outrageous they may be. To give grace for people through whatever stage they're in.
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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images / Marcus Ingram / Contributor
MAINA MWAURA is a freelance writer and journalist who has interviewed over 800 influential leaders, including two US Presidents, three Vice-Presidents, and a variety of others. Maina, is also the author of the Influential Mentor, How the life and legacy of Howard Hendricks Equipped and Inspired a Generation of Leaders. Maina and his family reside in the Kennesaw, Georgia area.
