Christmas Release: A Time to Praise

September 27, 2016
FaytheWorks Publishing
FaytheFiction Imprint

Greetings,

It's been a while since I've published to this blog site, but I plan to be more active in the near future. Raising little ones is pretty time-consuming, especially when living states away from family. But nonetheless, I praise God for the experience and the lives entrusted to my care. 

Over the past year and a half, I've collaborated with several new authors and one familiar literary voice (Sonya Visor) to help develop stories dedicated to the Christmas season centered on the goodness of the Lord. My vision for this project was to present clean Christian fiction for an audience that wants just that. Nowadays, it's sometimes hard to tell if a "Christian" novel is truly a Christian story. Yes, Christians make mistakes and fall short, all humans do, but the difference is that we don't wallow in our sins and justify our behaviors … at least not the true Christians. 

I've learned that many Christians want to read stories that are real, but not dirty; edgy at times, but not nasty. There's a way to tell a great story with realistic problems and issues without profanity and explicit sex scenes. God designed sex. It's not a dirty act, but when exploited it may be viewed as such. The focus should be on exposing sin, not glorifying it. There's a difference. But I don't want to get too deep about that here. (See my non-fiction book, Soul Ties, for more detail on that topic.)

Here, I share my latest holiday release, A Time to Praise, co-authored by Sonya Visor, Camille Gipson, Lisa Antley, and Renarda Williams. In this anthology, there are five unique short stories that celebrate the love, joy, and peace of Christmas. 

Below is a little bit about each story:

Miracle From on High by Renée Allen McCoy

Four lives intersect at a crossroad, prompting each to seek God’s direction. Benjamin and Susan grapple to accept their path while Trevor and Danielle struggle to cope with theirs.

Giving You the Best of My Love by Sonya Visor

Three years ago, Chase Anderson was hauled off to jail, leaving his wife, Nicole, drowning in a lake of trouble. Despite the strong love they once shared, will they be able to overcome life changing obstacles?

His Calling and My Desire by Camille Gipson

How does a single mother fight to protect her country and her children at the same time? Ruth is torn as she leaves one battle only to face another.

Blessings in the Storm by Lisa Antley

Tonya Phillips has almost everything she could ever imagine … except a good man. In a dark moment of her life, she soon discovers “He” has always been there.

The Greatest Christmas Present Ever by Renarda Williams

As Ikedi Ataya, a black State Justice, is honored for his career, he reflects on his “Christmas gift” to a close-knit New Orleans community threatened by greedy developers. 

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The stories will make you laugh, cry, and identify with some of the characters. Most importantly, you'll be pleasantly reminded that not only during the holidays, but it's always a time to praise God! 

Until Next Time, 

Happy Holidays and as always, Happy Reading...

Renée 

Building Success from Failure

"If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength, but wisdom brings success," Ecclesiastes 10:10. 

Surrounded by those who go after their dreams, no matter how much adversity is faced along the way; I thank God for where I am in my life. I thank Him for hope, I thank Him for grace, and I thank Him for mercy. I choose to focus on the good things that He has afforded to me rather than dwell on the negative distractions. Isn’t it a good thing to thank God along the way to where you ultimately want to be?

As we celebrate Father’s Day this month, I thank God for a father who did what he knew he could do rather than succumb to what society says he can’t. I thank God for men in my life who are pillars of strength, shunning the image of a black man who’s weak, compromising, and prison-prone. Isn’t it a good thing to thank God for who is in your life now along the way to embracing those who will eventually will be there?

Failure comes in many different forms and it’s meaning varies depending upon whom you may ask. For some, it is in a relationship that doesn't work out, for others it may be in a career path where you can't hold a job, yet let us consider that in God you can’t go wrong. It all depends on how you look at the situation, are you looking through rose-colored lenses or the death-defying shades of negativity? Things may not always go your way, but consider that it is going the way it’s supposed to. What God has for you is for you, and as long as you make Him the head of your life, you’ll never fail unless you stop trying to succeed.

In this issue, Renarda Williams presents an interview with author/talk show host Tavis Smiley about his new book, Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure. Insightful words from a man whose failure provided stepping stones to where he is today.

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Tavis Smiley on Building Success from Failure

By Renarda Williams

In today's society, no one is exempt from setbacks and failures — whether he or she is a renowned (or not so renowned), clergy, educator, attorney, physician, political figure, or scientist. Everyone has experienced some type of failure in their lives. And they had to start all over to succeed and achieve lifetime goals.

Tavis Smiley — a successful business owner, notable philanthropist, host of his own national and radio programs — is no exception. Who would ever believe Smiley experienced setbacks such as: being fired, arrested, and turning down a major television opportunity and risking his future in broadcasting. Well, he did ... and all of these — and more — describes what Smiley faced during his “success scars.”

Smiley shares his "success scars," and how he overcame them, in Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure (Smiley Books, 2011). Smiley has created a "remarkable" blueprint, with Fail Up, to help people overcome failure — by learning from disappointments, setbacks, ... — in order to achieve success in life.

Here are some of Tavis’ 20: Quotes from Fail Up (courtesy of Smiley Books)

Father Knows Best: Even when things aren’t equal, if it’s meant for you to receive God’s grace, you’re going to get it.

Get Ready to Be Ready: The truth of life is that it isn’t always up, but it’s not always down either. Life, by definition, is a series of ups and downs. It really boils down to high-quality choices. The challenge is making the right choice…

Remain Civilized Even When You’re Justified: When we conduct ourselves with dignity, we walk through the world with an inviolable sense of respect that invites emulation. Respect for others means we commit to making sacrifices.

Before Honor Comes Humility: If arrogance is the disease, then humility is the cure. If we want to create a balance where our passions don’t elicit accusations of arrogance, then we must strive for abundant doses of humility.

Cheaters Never Win: You can correct and even reprimand somebody, but at the same time, you can affirm that person. If you are in a position of power, you can also offer a second chance.

Don’t Do Me No Favors: Make sure you always give before you get. Be it in your personal or business life, reciprocity is sweeter when the exchange of services, favors, or goods is mutual.

Due to Smiley's busy schedule, he was not available for a telephone interview with Straight Up. The following is a list of questions submitted by Straight Up, and answers by Smiley in a news release offered by his Smiley Books publicist.

RW: What influenced you to explore that failure can be good for us in Fail Up?

SMILEY: When I turned 40, I realized a crisis point in my life; I didn't believe I would ever succeed at all the things I wanted to do. The fact is that it's true — and that's a beautiful thing. As Samuel Beckett put it, 'Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.' This brilliant philosophy pulled together what I then understood as an inherent truth: Failure is inevitable. How we respond to failure is the key.

Looking back at my life, I, like many who have succeeded in spite of failure, have achieved what I have because I took life's setbacks and turned them into steps forward. My decision to share what were at times embarrassing public and private shortcomings wasn't easy. The reality, though, is that we all struggle and we all want to succeed. Not sharing this most crucial lesson of success — that it begins by turning failures into 'fail up' opportunities — would be far worse than any blemishes and mishaps I have suffered.

RW: What personal “fail up” do you think will surprise readers?

SMILEY: I can say for sure that some of my earlier indiscretions and mistakes might have some folks shaking their head. Yes, even Tavis Smiley has had run-ins with the law. The section where I find out firsthand what writing bad checks can do to a person, I think, will both surprise and, hopefully, scare some young folks straight.

The other fail up moment I think people will come away surprised by is when I delve into a personal indiscretion I committed while in a relationship, which I detail later in the book. Like I said, I’m not one for letting all my dirty laundry air for just anyone to see, but this situation was very real, personal reminder of how one’s professional life can be impacted by the wrong things said, at the wrong time, to the wrong people in your private life. I learned the lesson the hard way: Loose lips really do sink ships.

RW: How is Fail Up different from your memoir What I Know For Sure, and your previous books?

SMILEY: There’re a lot of similarities between Fail Up and my memoir. But they are, at their core, very different books. My memoir was the retelling of important segments of my life. It was a chance to share my story with my fans and supporters. But like most memories it was a one-way street.

Fail Up, on the other hand, is more of a conversation. Yes, my life and experiences are at the center of the message that adversity can become an asset if you approach it correctly. But Fail Up pulls from the challenges and successes of many others. Many of them are personal heroes of mine. Others are people in the spotlight, whether in sports or politics. I also share the story of everyday folk experiencing a real teachable moment. Through all these treads, Fail Up weaves together a powerful, crucial message that challenges readers to become agents of change in their own lives — by daring to change their minds.

RW: How important it is for young people to experience the opportunity to “fail up?”

SMILEY: Kids can do some pretty dumb things—I know I did—but it doesn’t mean mistakes should become life sentences. With the right guidance and compassion, a young person’s shortcomings can become a valuable moment of maturation. It’s important for adults to remember they, too, can, allow a young person to ‘fail up’ simply by taking the opportunity to help that young person become a better person for their failure, rather than beating them down or branding them for life.

RW: What do you hope Fail Up will do to help Americans who struggling to find employment during these tough economic times?

SMILEY: Let me be clear up front: too many Americans today are suffering through no fault of their own. Despite some encouraging signs that the worst is behind us, many parts of America —not least of which is the African American community, which continues to lag behind in employment—don’t feel like things are getting better. In face of this adversity, we have a choice: give in or grab hold.

My hope is that Fail Up will motivate people through powerful examples, helping them to focus on what’s possible, even in these challenging times.

RW: You mention the importance of “faith” throughout Fail Up. Do you believe God wants everyone to fail up?

SMILEY: Absolutely. As human beings, cracked vessels that we are…only through failure are we able to realize how human we are and to see the path that God has laid before us. We all fail at points in our lives and think that we’ve got things figured out better than God, whether it’s in our careers, in our personal lives, or even in what we think we want to major in college. But believe me, what God has in store for us cannot be avoided. Failing up is, in many ways, the process of realigning ourselves with the path that we were meant to be on all along —we just got lost along the way.

That path is different for everyone, but each of us has tremendous potential in what the Lord has called us to do. I am blessed every day that God has called me to do what I do, but there is also an inherent responsibility. In that way it doesn’t matter if God is calling you to be President of the United States or president of the local PTA, your gifts are suited to make you the best at what you are, and in the process be the best for those around you.

Tavis Smiley hosts the late-night talk show, Tavis Smiley on PBS, The Tavis Smiley Show distributed by Public Radio International (PRI), and is the co-host of Smiley & West on (PRI). He is the first American to simultaneously host signature talk shows on both public television and public radio.

Smiley has authored 14 books, including the book he edited, Covenant with Black America, which became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on The New York Times bestseller list.

He is also the presenter and creative force behind America I AM: The African American Imprint—an unprecedented traveling museum exhibition celebrating the extraordinary impact of African American contributions to our nation and to the world. In 2009, TIME magazine named him to their list of The World’s 100 Most Influential People. This year, 2011, marks his 20th year in broadcasting.

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Thank you for reading and remember, you never fail unless you stop trying to succeed. Don't be afraid to get up and try again.

 

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, of love, and of a sound mind," 2 Timothy 1:7.

Until next time,

May God continue to bless you!

To submit a testimony or an article for contribution, please email me at renee@reneeallenmccoy.com.

We've Come This Far by Faith

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not,” Galatians 6:9.

I can only imagine what it must’ve been like for my parents and grandparents growing up in the South. Picket signs, black and colored waiting rooms, and being ignored or pushed aside in a store after a white person enters. It was a different America then. Who would’ve ever thought (fifty years ago) black and white people would interact the way we do today? I know that in the minds of certain individuals that racist attitude still exists, but what an awesome God we serve for helping many to move beyond.

As we celebrate Black History Month, I commemorate those who have paved the way; making possible many of the conveniences we enjoy today. Many who lived in southern states (although other states may have been subject to the same racist treatment) have endured a lengthened amount of degradation by the implementation of Jim Crow: the racial caste system which operated primarily between 1877 and the mid-1960s. Deemed more than merely a set of strict anti-Black laws, it was a way of life for many.

In this issue, contributing writer Renarda Williams shares an insightful interview conducted with Pulitzer Prize winner, Isabel Wilkerson, author of The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. In this interview, Wilkerson speaks candidly about those who fled the South in order to make a better life for themselves, breaking away from the caste system designed to hold an entire race back.

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African American Migration chronicled in "The Warmth Of Other Suns"

By Renarda Williams

The migration by African Americans from the Jim Crow South to the North and West -- from World War I through the 1970s -- is told through the stories of three people during that period.

Pulitzer Prize journalist Isabel Wilkerson chronicled one of the greatest events in African American and American history with her "remarkable" and "magnificent" book, The Warmth Of Other Suns: The Epic Story Of America's Great Migration (Random House, September 7, 2010).

Wilkerson conducted over 15 years of writing, research, drawing on archival materials, and interviewed 1,200 people for The Warmth Of Other Suns -- one of the most important blueprints of African American and American history.

Wilkerson wrote about the one of the most underreported stories of the twentieth century in this country. She focuses on the lives of Ida Mae Gladney, George Sterling, and Robert Foster. They were among the African Americans who defected away from the horrors of Jim Crow South to seek a better life in the North and West.

The Empowerment Initiative Online Newsletter interviewed Wilkerson via telephone about her book, and how it will impact Black America and America.

TEION: How important the Great Migration was for African Americans who left Jim South in shaping the scope of urban America?

Isabel Wilkerson
Photo Credit-Joe Henson

WILKERSON: The Great Migration was more like a defection from a caste system known as the Jim Crow South -- into the urban North and West, to cities like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. The majority of African-Americans now living in the North and West are descended from people who were part of this great outpouring of people who defected from Jim Crow.

Before the Great Migration, 90% of African Americans lived in the South. By the end of the Great Migration, nearly half were living outside the South -- in the North, the Midwest and the West. It was no accident. They were on a mission. They had foresight, a vision and a dream to flee the 'caste system' of Jim Crow that [oppressed them]. The outpouring was not a haphazard unfurling of lost souls, but an orderly migration that flowed along the railroad lines and bus routes between certain southern states and certain receiving cities. People followed these routes to the North and West.

TEION: What disadvantages did African Americans encounter once they left the South?

WILKERSON: Well, a question that could be asked is why did they leave? They left because the caste system dictated their every move. It exposed them to everyday indignities and was violently enforced in the form of lynching. What happened to Claude Neal in Florida, whom few Americans have heard of, was an extreme example of the kind of mob violence that surrounded them.

In the decades leading up to and immediately following the start of the Great Migration, a lynching occurred every four days somewhere in the South. There were reminders everywhere that there was a caste system. Blacks and whites could not play checkers together in Birmingham, Alabama, for instance. And in courthouses throughout the South, there was a Black bible and a white bible to swear to tell the truth on.

But they faced many challenges in the North and West in the places they fled to. Many unions would not accept them. Blacks were brought in as strike breakers. Many neighborhoods were off-limits to Blacks. Restrictive covenants prevented whites who might have been willing to sell to blacks to do so and many Blacks faced violence and fire bombings when they did try to move into white neighborhoods.

Even though Blacks met hostility in the North, most of them considered conditions in the North to be better than what they left in the South. They did whatever it took to fit into their new worlds. Some African Americans changed their names, changed their accents.

The Great Migration did not end until the conditions in the South began finally to change. And that took longer than might have been expected. The Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968 were resisted by most Southern states until the 1970s. One county in Virginia closed the school system because they did not want to desegregate schools.

TEION: Out of all the Southern states African Americans left, what state had the most leave the South?

WILKERSON: Mississippi had the biggest percentage of African Americans [who] defected to the North ... and most of them moved to Chicago. There are now more African Americans living in the city of Chicago than in the entire state of Mississippi.

TEION: Did the stories of Ida Mae Gladney, George Startling, and Robert Foster make you understand their importance in making an impact in African American and American history?

WILKERSON: Yes! The African American defection was made by individual people. There were no leaders like Moses, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King ... to lead them out of the South.

Booker T. Washington did not want Blacks to leave the South. He wanted them to remain in the South until things got better. Many black ministers encouraged their flocks to stay in the South. But those who defected to the North did not look to their leaders to save them. They took matters into their own hands and made the decision to leave.

TEION: Do you want your book to reach young African Americans whose parents, grand parents, uncles, and cousins who defected to the North and West, so they can learn about their roots?

WILKERSON: Parents who defected from the South cannot make their children read about Black history and the Black defection. They need to let their children read about Black history ... whenever they are ready.

Every African American needs to know about the Black defection.

Most of us owe our existence in the North and West to someone who made the hard decision to leave the southern caste system for something better. Yet, it’s something most Blacks take for granted.

If it were not for those who left the South, there would not be a Motown. Berry Gordy's parents came from Georgia. Diana Ross and The Jacksons were children of parents from the South.

Music in general, especially Jazz, would not be where it is today. Miles Davis’s parents left Arkansas for Illinois. John Coltrane migrated from North Carolina to Philadelphia where he got his first alto sax. It’s hard to imagine what American music would be and much of American culture had there been no Great Migration.

Isabel Wilkerson won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for her work as Chicago Bureau Chief of The New York Times. She was the first African American woman in the history of American journalism to win a Pulitzer Prize; and the first African American to win for individual reporting.

Wilkerson also won a George Polk Award and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for her research into the Great Migration.

She has lectured on narrative at the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University and has served as Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University; and as the James M. Cox Jr. Professor of Journalism at Emory University. She is currently Professor of Journalism and Director of Narrative Nonfiction at Boston University.

During the Great Migration, her parents journeyed from Georgia and southern Virginia to Washington, D.C., where she was born and reared.

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In Closing,

I thank God for those who helped in paving the way for many conveniences afforded to African Americans today. As that "racial caste system" still exists in the minds of many, we must continue to still move forward ... in faith that things will continue to get better.

In Jesus Name,

~Renee

To submit a testimony or an article for contribution, please email me at renee@reneeallenmccoy.com

After the Rain

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning,” Psalm 30:5, NKJV.

This scripture has a particularly moving meaning for me today. Years ago, death was all around me. If it wasn’t a grandparent, it was an uncle or some other family member. As somber the thought, death is a part of the cycle we call life here on Earth. In Genesis 23, a chapter in the Bible that speaks on death, it’s important to understand that grieving is healthy in moving beyond the loss.

In this issue, I interview an author whose debut novel explores the life of a grief-stricken individual who rises above adversity. Jennifer L. Dean, author of My Rising Up, gives an inside look on why she writes what she writes and how a fictional story can help those experiencing similar situations in real life; shedding light in the midst of darkness.

Later, it is a pleasure to have Renarda Williams, freelance writer and columnist, discuss his true life story of overcoming various trials, issues, and situations in his life. Over the years that I’ve known him, Renarda has kept a positive attitude in moving beyond death, trials, hardships, and tribulations on to restoration.

Both Jennifer L. Dean and Renarda Williams drive home the fact that God is indeed with us.

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 ~Introducing Christian author, Jennifer L. Dean~

Jennifer L. Dean, author of My Rising Up, enters the literary scene with a powerful story that not only explores hardships that may occur in life, but also the overcoming power of God. As the story opens, the reader is immediately pulled into the life of Brendan Maxwell--a young man who encounters death from an early age. This sets the tone of a seemingly troubled journey that rocks his world into adulthood.

I found this novel an interesting and enjoyable read. Situations and circumstances in the book reminded me of what it was like to live a college life, but more importantly, how it should be done with God as the head in every area. As the story was drawing to a close, I found myself flipping the pages even faster to get to the end!

This story is definitely one where I can relate. I think it is very important that stories like this one are told because so many lose hope in the One who gives hope. It is apparent that this author has an intimate relationship with the Lord because it shows in her writing ... and I appreciate that above all else.

My Rising Up is a wonderfully crafted faith-based read that adults of any age group would appreciate. 

The interview, in her words...

 SUN: Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

JLD: I am the fifth of six children born in rural Mississippi to two blessed and hard-working parents. Living a fairly normal life, I graduated second in my high school class and went on to pursue a degree with honors in Medical Technology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Currently, I reside in Birmingham, Alabama, but will probably always consider myself a true Mississippi girl at heart.

SUN: How long have you been writing?

JLD: Though I entered the workforce as a clinical scientist, I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I was one of those students who actually enjoyed English composition, Literature and creative writing classes—an oddball, I’m sure. Even outside of class, I found myself writing. I wrote several short stories when I was younger—mostly for my own entertainment—and managed to win first place in an essay contest as a high school freshman on the topic of What Makes America So Great. I was also blessed to see one of my poems, Serenity, published in 2000 by the Famous Poets Society. It did not occur to me, however, to write novels on a professional level until almost three years ago. But when the idea began to bud, so did the excitement.

SUN: Tell us a little bit about My Rising Up and what prompted you to pen it? What was the process like?

JLD: My Rising Up is a novel that portrays the life of a young man named Brendan Maxwell who, after a period of estrangement from the Lord when grief, disappointment and pain drives him away to the streets, is now centered in the Lord’s will for his life as an older, mature adult. He’s back in college and church, back connected with his family, and working hard on his job. Mainly, Brendan learns to rise from the ashes of the past and present trials and move forward with the aid of God’s power inside him as he faces daily realities of life: love/relationships, family changes, judgments from others, etc.  

This novel has several themes resonating throughout its pages:

1) trying to maintain mental stability in a stress-filled life

2) learning to trust God again after tragedy (or any situation that leaves doubt in God)

3) finding restoration of a broken heart after a failed relationship

4) discovering one’s spiritual gift

5) the reality of miracles

I would have to say that one of the stronger themes in My Rising Up is finding comfort and the ability to live again after the loss of a loved one. As a health care worker in the medical field, as well as in the experiences I’ve had with the loss of friends and family, I have seen the effects of death, the damage and despair it causes. Even while publishing this novel, my own grandmother passed away suddenly. It was totally unexpected and shocked the whole family.

Death, regardless of whatever form it takes to steal a life, is a subject that needs to be addressed with the wisdom and understanding of God’s perception, as I believe that He wants His people to trust that there is a bigger side to death than what usually transpires here on earth. And the process of writing this novel was really just a creative way of portraying the enlightenment I’ve received over time in my own quest to understand the effects of death.

In essence, My Rising Up has many messages, and my hope is that its overall impression will prompt readers to take away whatever message benefits them.

SUN: What is your motivation for writing? Who do you think your audience is, if any specific group?

JLD: My motivation for writing is simply the God-given drive I was born with to do it. Now, I’m not always in the mood to write, but that inner desire to write never leaves. Initially, my audience is myself and God, as I write what flows out of what we have communed about or simply what He shows me, using my fingers as His pen. Eventually, the process of creativity develops into a form that can be appreciated by an audience of various ethnicity and age groups, male or female. But always, at the end of the day, when I look at my work, I ask myself, Will the Lord be a fan of what I’ve written? For me, it always goes back to what will please Him. As an author Himself, God understands the need to portray reality creatively, yet still be responsible to exemplify the righteousness for which He stands. I try hard to follow His example.

SUN: Do you consider writing as another occupation or a passion?

JLD: I consider my writing both an occupation and a passion. It is a job in a sense that it takes dedication, hard work, discipline and time to bring forth into fruition that which is in the creative recesses of one’s mind. But it is also a passion, as it does take that burning inner desire to sustain the process of molding myself into the best writer I can be. Writing, for me, involves a certain level of vulnerability, and to be passionate about what I write is a must-have in order to birth an honest reflection of what I want to represent. If the passion for one’s writing is not behind the words they write, most of the time the reader can pick up on it.

SUN: Do you see yourself writing years from now, if so, what other projects would you like to see come to fruition?

JLD: I do have a vision to write years from now, as I believe that what God births in you to do is a lifelong process of cultivating, learning and nourishing that gift. I have not ruled out any projects that might come to fruition as a result of utilizing the gift of writing, and with that perception, I constantly work on ideas that I believe are from the Lord that will come to light in the future. Whatever opportunities He brings my way, whether it be more book ideas, screenplays, poems, etc, I’m willing to take on the challenge!

SUN: Being a writer, what do you like to read?

JLD: I am an avid reader! It is probably my most favorite pastime; I can smoothly juggle reading several books at the same time. (Is that a talent?) Usually I choose works that are geared to educate and inspire. I like to read self-help books, biographies and autobiographies, as most of them are testimonies to what a person has triumphed over and learned from during life’s struggles, as well as books about America’s history, specifically historical accounts of African and Native Americans. Mostly, though, I read Christian fiction by authors who, I believe, write about the realities of life’s experiences with not only a measure of entertainment, but most importantly, with a standard of Christian responsibility and ethics.

SUN: If you could sum your life up in one sentence, what would you say?

JLD: I was born for a purpose, and regardless of the ups or downs I encounter as I carry out my mission, my destiny belongs to Christ.

~ ~ ~

To find out more information about this budding author whose sophomore novel will be released next year, please visit her online:

Websites: http://www.jldeanauthor.com/, Amazon, My Rising Up Facebook group, and other online retail stores.

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Life Changes as We Grow Older

By Renarda Williams

In July I, along with my wife Helaine recently visited my mother Mrs. Audrey F. Williams, in Lafayette, La. During that visit I also visited with dear friends from my old college days at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette).

While in Lafayette I reflected on how I, at 49, have changed. I wondered how my limited finances and hectic work schedule would ever allow me regular visits to my mother; older brother Darren in Houston, TX; other family members in Alexandria and Baton Rouge, La., and Houston; and additional friends in Louisiana and across the country. I also noticed how my loved ones' lives have changed ... and realized how difficult it is for us all to have stable lives.

Generally, people plan their lives during their teenage and young-adult years, and hope that everything will work out. But as we know, life does not always go as planned. I'd planned to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force. That plan was first laid during my childhood. I prepared for this career as an Air Force Reserved Officers Training Corps cadet in both high school and college. But such a career was not to be. God led me where He needed me ... back home to my old south-side neighborhood, the "Sonia Quarters," a predominately black lower income area in Alexandria, La. There, I served as a substitute teacher, staff writer/columnist for two black newspapers, and social worker at the Boys and Girls Club of Alexandria. I was a Big Brother/mentor and active in my church as a Sunday school teacher and public relations director.

After five years, God led me to Monroe, La., where I was a columnist/reporter for a black weekly newspaper. (That was my official title; actually, I was more like an advocate for Monroe’s black communities.) In addition, I worked as a part-time caseworker for two juvenile diversion programs under the Ouachita Parish District Attorney's Office, and was a mentor for the office's Big Brother/Big Sister program. I went on to begin my own mentorship for youth and young adults. Also, I volunteered for a non-profit grassroots spiritual organization in Monroe that worked with the homeless. I also became a lobbyist for non-profit national children's, social, and African non-profit organizations.

Three years after I attended the Million Man March, I founded The Umoja Network (TUN) -- a nationwide information network that provides writing services ... magazine articles, editing and ghostwriting services for authors, speeches, press releases and the like. I also provided a free monthly printed newsletter, The Empowerment Initiative, which today is an online newsletter.

In July of 2003, God led me to a wonderful Black queen, Helaine Palmer Freeman from Little Rock. I relocated to Little Rock in Sept. 2004, and we were married on May 7, 2005. I continued with The Umoja Network. I, along with Helaine, volunteered as public relations/communications directors with the African Women's Health Project International (AWHPI), a nonprofit African organization in Little Rock. In February 2006, we traveled to Lagos, Nigeria with AWHPI’s founder, Princess Deun Ogunlana, on a medical mission.

I continued to lobby for national children's and social organizations. Helaine and I also volunteered with Sandra Wilson for her former organization, the Arkansas Housing Support Network. We now volunteer for the Arkansas Homeless Coalition, also founded by Wilson.

Throughout my years in Lafayette, Alexandria and Monroe, I faced a series of trials and tribulations, including job layoffs and and deaths of family members and dear friends. I’ve experienced even tougher trials and tribulations in Little Rock.

At 49, it’s hard for me to understanding why God has not YET allowed me to have a comfortable and stable life -- especially from a financial standpoint -- to provide more for Helaine, my mother, family members, friends, and those who are unfortunate in America and worldwide. But when I'm down, God taps me on the shoulder and makes me realize that it's about His will, not ours.

God often allows us to prepare for one thing so that He can take what we've learned and move us into what He really wants us to do: improve our world as much as we can, from a spiritual, educational, economical, political, and social standpoint.

And then I realize … my plans didn't go awry after all.

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 In Closing,

I'd like to thank both Jennifer and Renarda for their wonderful contributions and insight. Although a little rain may fall in our lifetime, that doesn't mean that the sun won't ever shine again. As we keep our hope and focus on the Lord, He'll bless us with that peace that surpasses all understanding.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee,” Isaiah 26:3, KJV.

# # #

In the Midst of it All

This month houses the National Day of Prayer (May 6, 2010). It’s an opportunity to come together and collectively honor God. I don’t express my love for a generic god rather respectfully honor the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit—the One true and living God. In doing so, Christ teaches me what love is and in knowing what love is, I humbly honor mothers as we also celebrate Mother’s Day.

Through mothers, God allow children to multiply upon the earth. Isn’t an honor to pay tribute to those who take part in shaping a young person’s life? We celebrate women who share not only hot meals, but warm hugs and tender words of encouragement. Mother’s Day is a reminder of what many of us offer all year round—love.

In this issue, contributing writer Renarda Williams shares interviews with two influential individuals of our country. First, Terrence Roberts, one of the nine black students who desegregated Central High School in 1957 (commonly known as the Little Rock Nine), and then Martha Hawkins who successfully turned her life around with the help of God to create Martha’s Place, a restaurant frequented even by those in Hollywood, California.

Later in The Testimony Corner, read about one woman’s journey of realizing God’s powerful hand of favor spanning generations of her family. She unfolds her strength to choose life even in the darkest moments.

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Terrence Roberts: Lessons from Little Rock

By Renarda Williams

As a 15-year-old eleventh grader, Terrence Roberts was one of the nine black students who desegregated Central High School in 1957. Though unpleasant, the experience gave Roberts the opportunity to grow, develop his personality, and understand the magnitude of the conflict between him and whites who believed he didn't belong there. He also learned how to overcome life’s obstacles.

Roberts shares these conclusions and more in his memoir, Lessons from Little Rock (Butler Center Books, 2009), which he presented at a Sept. 22, 2009 book signing and lecture held at the Main Library's Darraugh Center. The event was hosted by the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.

Roberts—who owns a management consulting firm in California—state that he learned two lessons from Central High. “First, [that] the institution of segregation was so entrenched and [white] people did what they had to do to preserve it. Second, I see that segregation continues to play a [major role] in American society today.” America never had integration, Roberts concluded. “Integration will never happen in America until racism, discrimination and segregation are eliminated.”

The election of President Barack Obama did not in itself change America's racial attitudes or empower blacks, Roberts believes. He pointed out that blacks had to empower themselves before Barack Obama was ever elected president.

“Obama will not change much,” Roberts stated. “But the most important thing today—[along with improving the education, economy, and health care]—is to close the division that exists among Americans.”

* * *

Martha's Place: A Product of Faith, Determination, and Hard Work

By Renarda Williams

An abiding faith in God, along with hope and hard work, enabled Martha Hawkins to overcome despair and darkness to find success in life. That success culminated in Hawkins' ownership of Martha's Place, a famous restaurant in Montgomery, AL.

With the help of Marcus Brotherton, Hawkins discusses her life experiences and the creation of her business in Finding Martha's Place: My Journey Through Sin, Salvation, and Lots of Soul Food (Touchstone, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, Feb. 2010). Hawkins' manuscript was so well-written; Simon and Schuster made no changes before publishing it ... a rare occurrence.

Finding Martha's Place is a great example of how the biggest obstacles can be overcome if the desire to succeed is strong enough. Readers will find out how Hawkins triumphed over poverty and depression and created not just a restaurant, but a "home away from home" filled with spirituality, love, and joy. A restaurant often peopled with celebrities such as Whoopie Goldberg, Sissy Spacek, Ty Pennington, and Angela Bassett.

Speaking of food, Hawkins shares recipes for some of her mouth-watering dishes, including Southern Baked Catfish, Fried Green Tomatoes, Sallie Hawkins's Cornbread, and Perfect Pecan Pie.

In a telephone interview, Hawkins talked about hardships, inspiration, and her goals for the book.

RW: How does it feel now, after experiencing so many obstacles in your life, to be a renowned restaurant owner?

MH: God carried me through pain and suffering because He had a plan for me to fulfill. And it was ministering to people [through] with Martha's place.

RW: Besides God, how much of an influence was your mother in you creating Martha's Place?

MH: My mother did not just influence me to create Martha's Place, she influenced me with her spiritual life ... I saw how powerful her faith was in God. She always said, 'you have to take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there…'

I also watched how my mother cooked with [such beauty and grace]… and how she invited people in our home that we did not know. She [always] believed nobody was a stranger.

RW: Do you think your restaurant has brought a lot of joy to your customers?

MH: Yes! I believe that it has been a blessing for people to come to Martha's Place. It is not your normal restaurant. People come here to network because it is a place of peace; and [they] know that the Holy Spirit exits here.

Some people ask me to pray for them. Sometimes I pray with them at their tables; or I'll take them upstairs to pray.

RW: What do you hope to accomplish with your book? Inspire faith in people? Inspire entrepreneurship? Let readers know they should never give up on a dream?

MH: All of the above. It's also all about God and Jesus. ... You have to see yourself doing something different to create a successful business that will meet the needs of the people. Don't give up on your dreams. Trust in God and dare to dream!

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The Testimony Corner

(Permission not given to provide the contributor’s name)

“God gives Life”

Jonathan, born to a single Mom—Katie who became pregnant after a short relationship was carried to term rather than aborted. She chose to have Jonathan despite the fact of being abandoned by the father of the child. Katie knew she could not share marital intimacy with the man she thought loved her, but felt awful that her child would grow up without a father.

Jonathan grew into manhood and married a lovely wife. When they learned they had a child on the way, Jonathan decided to search the records hoping his baby son might have a grandfather. When he made contact, the man refused to meet with him, saying he wanted absolutely nothing to do with Katie or him.

At that point Jonathan and Katie made a decision; the new baby would be named Jonsson. The unusual spelling of the name, Katie told me, was because when Jonathan first held him, he looked into his tiny baby boy’s face and spoke softly, “We are going to name you JONSSON. You are my always and forever son. You will never be rejected by me. Your name will remind both of us whose son you are.”

I thought of this story my mom shared the night before we left to go overseas as missionaries, in 1950. Mom had kept a secret locked in her heart from when she was previously pregnant with her eighth child. It was when she and Dad had recently lost a ten year old daughter. Mom had not been able to stop grieving. She did not want another baby. In desperation, she bargained with God that if He would make her want this child she would give it back to Him. I was that child, the only one of our family to go into Christian service. God had kept His word and without my knowing the story at the time, He called me into His service.

My own experience is the rest of the story. With my husband, we had 3 children ages 2, 3 and 5. I was disappointed when I suspected number 4 was on the way. The doctor who confirmed it asked, “Do you want to get rid of 'it'?” I was shocked! I said, “Oh my, NO!” That son is now the senior pastor in a historic church, a beloved young man, teaching and sharing God’s Word, greatly loved in his growing church ministry. I could not be more thankful that God had us keep our son. It is the proof that God has a purpose in the birth of each of us: Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations,” Jeremiah 1:5, KJV.

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In Closing,

As we celebrate Mother’s Day this month I ponder on the gift of life God has given each of us. We all have been placed on this earth for a purpose. We aren’t randomly taking up space in some large over accommodating vacuum. It is a journey unfolding with new possibilities each day. God is in charge.

To all of the mothers or those who act in such a capacity, I pray the Lord shines upon you. Not only on Mother’s Day, but each day of the year.

To submit a testimony or an article for contribution, please email me at renee@reneeallenmccoy.com

Celebrating Black History Month

As we celebrate Black History this month, I reflect on the positive historians who have paved the way both nationally and locally. Many of us have ancestors who have sacrificed much of what they had so that we could excel in life. It wasn’t too long ago when segregation was a way of life. I listen to stories today that my mother experienced growing up in South Carolina. Of course racism still exists, but we must acknowledge the strides we’ve made in the past forty years.

In this issue, I present an interview contributing writer, Renarda Williams, conducted with Roland Martin (CNN correspondent) and another with Earl Hutchinson (political analyst). Both discussions center around one leader, the President of the United States of America, Barack H. Obama. Although it's been one full year since President Obama has been in the White House, it is still a tell-tale sign of just how far we’ve come through racial barriers.

Before Barack Obama there was a young Civil Rights leader who fought until the end of his life. I ask that you view a short video posted below, recorded the night before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s murder. Many of you may have heard this speech or snippets thereof, but I think it still speaks volumes today. As I listened to Dr. King's words, I was reminded of Moses  in the Old Testament. When you view, I ask that you pay particular attention to the last words spoken just as the video ends.

 

Later in this issue, read about a new faith-filled entry in The Testimony Corner. Have you ever faced foreclosure? More bills than money to pay them? Well, Victoria Poller, a bold soldier for Christ shares her personal experience and how she made it through—victoriously.

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Roland Martin: Behind the Scene with the First African American Presidential Candidate

By Renarda Williams

A behind-the-scenes look at coverage of Barack Obama’s historic road to the White House is featured in Roland S. Martin's third book, The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House. The book, which Martin co-published with Third World Press (January 20, 2010), marks the one year anniversary of President Obama’s term in office.

Martin, a journalist, CNN commentator and host/managing editor of TV One’s Washington Watch With Roland Martin, gives an up close in-depth look at his coverage of Barack Obama, the first legitimate African-American presidential candidate in American History. Martin takes readers along with him as he interviews Barack and Michele Obama; individuals who invested in Obama’s campaign; and notable black celebrities and scholars such as Spike Lee, Michael Eric Dyson, and Cornel West.

In a recent interview, Martin talked about his feelings covering the first African American presidential candidate; his assessment of President Obama’s first year; Obama chances of winning another term, and the message in his book.

RW: Was covering the first African American presidential candidate a milestone in your journalism career?

RM: Absolutely! I had an opportunity to be able to cover the ins-and-outs of the campaign. It was always amazing to listen to journalism icons like Vernon Jarrett, Lerone Bennett and Sam Lacy talk about covering some of the major stories of the 20th century, such as Jackie Robinson breaking the baseball color barrier, Muhammad Ali's rise to become heavyweight champion, and the Civil Rights Movement. Covering the eventual election of President Barack Obama was on par with those historic achievements. It was the first presidential campaign I have covered exclusively. To have a front-row seat at history was amazing.

RW: What is your assessment of Obama’s first year?

RM: First, no one with any common sense should expect Obama to address all [of America’s] issues in his first year of office. Second, I give Obama a ‘C’ or an incomplete … due to only having one year in office. We have to appreciate what Obama has done for the stimulus package, health care, and foreign policy.

RW: Do you think Obama can win another 4-year term?

RM: Obama has a 50/50 shot of winning a second term. You really cannot say or make a judgement he will win another term.

RW: What is the message you want readers to know about your book?

RM: The book serves as a historical record of Obama’s campaign. It was also amazing to go back and talk to individuals who hit the campaign for then-Sen. Obama, and get an understanding of their motivations [and how] they felt as the race went down to the wire and history was made.

Martin is a senior analyst for the Tom Joyner Morning Show, providing daily reports for the program. He is also a syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate.

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Earl Ofari Hutchinson on President Obama's First Year in Office

By Renarda Williams

A “no-political-holds-barred” look at America’s first African-American president, Barack Obama, and his first year in office is rendered by author Earl Ofari Hutchinson in his new book, How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge (Middle Passage Press, January 2010).

Hutchinson’s provocative book is a constructive critical analysis of Obama’s ability to handle the rigorous task of governing the United States during his first year in office and for the next three years.

He focuses on the issue of whether Obama kept his campaign promises of improving America’s economy, educational and health-care systems, environment, and foreign policy. Hutchinson also addresses how Obama withstood the onslaught of attacks and counterattacks from the GOP and Democrats over his polices (particularly the battle over health care and resurging the nation's economy); racial attacks; and his handling of the war on terror and the Haitian disaster. Hutchinson’s challenge to Obama is to take control of his presidency and lead the nation to a successful recovery of its domestic and foreign policies.

Recently, Hutchinson was interviewed about the message of this book, Obama's mark in American History, and his assessment of Obama's actions in Haiti.

RW: Is the message in your book, How Obama Governed, geared toward what looms for President Obama if America's domestic and foreign policies does not improve in his term of office?

EH: Yes and No. Yes, in the sense that those same battles will continue to be fought as well as others during his remaining years in office and his political fate hinges on his success (or failure) in those fights. No, in that it was a retrospective look at the major battles that Obama fought his first year in office, and the successes (or failures) that he had in fighting them.

RW: Do you think President Obama's mark in American history was to show America and the world that black people have had the intelligence to become president?

EH: Yes and No. It was arguably a racial breakthrough for him to win and to get substantial white support. No, in the sense that it did not mean that … whites have totally shed their racial blinders (bigotry). Many still have the same stereotypical views of blacks, especially young blacks. Obama won because he appeared to be a black man who wasn't a black man.

RW: What is your assessment of Obama's actions toward Haiti? Good or bad?

EH: Time will tell on Haiti. The good thing is that Obama learned from Katrina and responded quickly to the crisis. The real question is what will the U.S. do when the immediate crisis passes? Will it provide the substantive relief and reconstruction effort to make Haiti a democrat, self-sufficient nation and not a ward, vassal -- or worse, plantation -- of U.S. foreign policy and the U.S. military?

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a nationally acclaimed author and political analyst in Los Angeles, CA. Hutchinson is the author of 10 books on race and politics in America.

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The Testimony Corner

"Wait on the Lord"

“FORCLOSURE” — it’s an ugly word that no one wants to hear, especially when it’s directed towards them. Since Oct. 2007, my family & I lived in a 27 ft. RV; that’s 3 adults, one little bitty baby and a dog. During this time of confinement, we had to survive on limited supplies of clothes, food and the storage space was interesting. Some of our stuff was in our stored moving van (thank you ABF transport Co.), some was in a rented shed and some was kept over my in-laws home and their shed. Our possessions were all over the place and costing us money; yet God gave us favor during that time.

We continued to serve in church. No, I did not always want to raise my hands during “Praise & Worship” services (see ‘Lifting Holy Hands’, “Where Did That Come From? – Revised”). No, I did not have a “pity-party” (well, I tried not to because God took my invitation list), but I had to confess God’s Word daily, and continue to fellowship with the saints. When you allow God to help you get your joy back you don’t fall into “depression” which could have been very easily done. It’s always good to remain social and not continually think about yourself and your dilemma.

Today, God has blessed all of us with a beautiful new home to continue to serve Him in. We are getting out of debt from the move, and all it took was time for God to move in our behalf and a little TBR (Trust – Believe – Receive) from us.

Read the complete testimony on Ms “V”s Blog; http://www.victoriapoller.com/

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In Closing,

Thank you for reading and please consider sharing with others. I believe that there are many who can benefit from the insightful interviews by Renarda Williams as well as the encouraging testimony from Mrs. Victoria Poller. God is so awesome. African-Americans have come a long way, but we must remember that it is not man who advances, it is God. The more we understand that it was never about us, the better off we, all people, will be.

To submit a testimony or an article for contribution, please email me at renee@reneeallenmccoy.com