Lilly Goyah, a 22-year-old senior at the College of St. Benedict, is transforming her personal struggles into a platform of hope through her Christian music app, ANP Streaming.
Lilly Goyah’s journey hasn’t been easy. Born to Liberian immigrants, she experienced homelessness, frequent relocations, and mental health challenges throughout her childhood. Moving between shelters and transitional housing, Goyah’s life lacked stability. A brief glimmer of hope appeared when she moved in with her father in Champlin, Minnesota, but it was short-lived. After losing their home, she and her brother were forced to return to a shelter, reigniting feelings of despair.
“This was one of the darkest periods of my life,” Goyah recalls. These struggles, combined with academic difficulties and a strained relationship with her father, led to depression and suicidal thoughts.
During her freshman year at Anoka High School, Goyah hit rock bottom. Just before she planned to end her life, her mother intervened, sending her on a youth retreat in Maryland. This retreat proved to be a turning point.
On the first night, a skit depicting a child grappling with depression resonated deeply with her. It helped her reconnect with Christianity, a faith she had grown distant from.
Her perspective on Christian music also shifted during the retreat. A song by Kirk Franklin, "My World Needs You", ignited her love for the genre and provided solace during difficult times. “Music became a healthy coping mechanism,” Goyah says, crediting it with helping her find hope and healing.
After graduating high school in 2020, Goyah initially attended Augsburg University but struggled with isolation. Seeking a fresh start, she transferred to the College of St. Benedict in 2021, where she pursued an individualized major in music and business.
It was here that she joined the prestigious Entrepreneur Scholars program. The program, known for cultivating innovative minds, became a launchpad for Goyah’s vision: ANP Streaming, a Christian-based music platform tailored to emotional needs.
The Vision Behind ANP Streaming
Goyah’s platform, ANP Streaming (A New Psalm), aims to connect users with faith and provide emotional support through Christian music. Unlike mainstream platforms, ANP Streaming curates content to align with users' feelings, offering a personalized experience.
“The app’s mission is to help users develop individual relationships with God through music,” Goyah explains.
With a development cost of $50,000, Goyah partnered with Saigon Technology during a trip to Vietnam to bring her idea to life. A crowdfunding campaign is underway to support this vision, with plans to launch the app by late 2025. The platform will offer a freemium model, featuring both free and premium versions.
In addition to developing ANP Streaming, Goyah has started writing original music, including her song "Freedom". Whether she remains in Minnesota or moves to a hub like Nashville, her goal is to make a meaningful impact through her work.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the support from my community,” Goyah says. “Wherever this journey takes me, I want to create a space where people find hope and healing, just as I did.”
To help bring ANP Streaming to life, you can donate to Lilly Goyah’s crowdfunding campaign tinyurl.com/ANPStreaming-donate). For more information, visit anpstreaminginfo.com.
Through her app, Goyah hopes to offer comfort and inspire others to discover solace through faith and music, just as she has.
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