Next Generation Faith & Purpose (Part 3 – Final Episode): Riley Beeson on Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries!Next Generation Faith & Purpose (Part 3 – Final Episode): Riley Beeson on Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries!
Anchored by the Sword
Teen actress and author Riley Beeson shares how acting, writing and faith have shaped her journey with Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries. She talks about joy, rejection, and trusting God’s plan while pursuing creative dreams.
14:34•28 Apr 2026
Young Faith, Big Dreams: Riley Beeson on Sugarcreek, Writing and Trusting God
Episode Overview
- Riley describes how visiting set with her mum led her to recognise acting as her God-given passion.
- She explains how her debut book, Letters to Heaven, flowed quickly as a faith-driven story about grief and returning to God.
- Riley shares why actors should understand every role on set and how hands-on experience has shaped her skills.
- She talks about keeping a “joyful heart” and choosing optimism as a way to change the atmosphere around her.
- Her key encouragement to young people is to remember that “rejection is God's protection” and to keep praying and trusting His plan.
“"Rejection is God's protection. That is what I live by."”
What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? Anchored by the Sword wraps up its Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries series with a fresh twist: a 17-year-old actress and author who's already chasing big God-given dreams. Riley Beeson, who plays Esther Miller in Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries, chats with host Gina Fox about finding her calling in film after tagging along to set with her mum, actress Nise Gossett.
She shares how she went from having “no real interest for acting” to realising, “This is where God has led me to be. This is where I'm supposed to be.” You’ll hear how Riley’s love for storytelling led her to write her debut novel, *Letters to Heaven*, a clean, faith-based young adult story about grief, doubt, and a gentle journey back to God.
She explains how the first draft poured out in a month: “God was just really, it was all him… I never hit any roadblocks.” Riley also talks about learning every side of filmmaking, from running cameras with director of photography Isaac Alonji to miking people up and soaking in on-set experience she says has taught her more than film school could.
Her joy, work ethic, and curiosity stand out, even when she’s spending six hours in a hot barn or pretending it’s winter in 95-degree Ohio heat. For young people wrestling with purpose or rejection, Riley leaves a simple reminder taped all over her room: “Rejection is God's protection.” She encourages others to stay close to God, keep praying, and trust there’s a bigger reason behind the hard moments.
If you or a young person in your life is searching for direction, could Riley’s story be the nudge to keep going and look to God for the next step?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.