Open Letter: ‘I’m 24 and I am here’ Sitting here on my faithful MacBook surrounded by a sea of paperwork, folders and to do lists; as we sow in the final threads of planning to create the canvas that is Midnight Oil - I can’t help but think what the final painting will look like. How did I get here? Not to say that ‘here’ is a destination or to objectify ‘here’ as a point to parade achievement, but to honestly question how did I, a fragile, confused, lost, suicidal and fractured preachers’ kid - entangled in insecurities, promiscuity, and low self esteem, too intimidated to walk into a barber shop, too depressed to sit in the school hall at lunch, too conscious to speak to a large crowd in church - get ‘here’. I did not have a place or a person to voice this internal violence to, but it was at the opiate of these extremities that this masquerade of togetherness reached its melting point. So with blood shot eyes and tears cascading down my cheeks, at midnight I opened up my bedroom curtains and began to worship and it was there that I uncovered my worth. The morning after, my reality didn’t change but my perception did. I woke up with an instilled sense of purpose, clarity of focus and an inheritance of identity. It was evident that the isolation of man was the incubation of God; I was convinced and conscious that that experience was something I needed to share. I wrote the vision I saw that night on the piece of paper but fear caused me to put it on the shelf. I am the eldest of four boys - from an early age my mother anchored us in prayer. I remember early Saturday mornings being at her bedside in morning devotion; hymns and scriptures were the meal of the day. Im grateful for those moments. It was something that became part of my DNA, and from it, I started creating my own rhythms and refrains. I began to work hard at school because I wanted to create a better life for myself. I learned from observation that education and entrepreneurship was a key to elevation. With that mentality I left comprehensive school to attend a grammar school. I often felt out of my depths being surrounded daily by middle class mindsets. In hindsight, I’m glad for my experience as it allowed me to learn a different language. In my final year of sixth form I was afforded the opportunity to spend just under a month in Cape Town. It was there, for the very first time, I beheld deprivation defined. I began to realise how blessed I was to own things as simple as socks. They looked just like me; I could have been born in those conditions. I knew that God must have had intent in His decision for me to be born in this country, in this day. I arrived back in the UK with a great burden to see my vision realised. I told everyone that I could about it, I wrote to as many churches as I could, spoke to council boards and organisational heads. I remember sitting in the city library sending countless emails, saving my dinner money to post letters and documents to leaders detailing what I wanted to do. I was not taken seriously by the majority of them - understandably, I guess? I was only 17. Often ignored, frequently rejected, watched many doors slam in my face and elders laughing at my naivety. Despite it all I had an innate zeal to see what I saw. It was in the winter of ’06 I approached Bethel Convention Centre and told them my passion. They applauded my efforts but were conscious I was too young to sign a contract, had no previous experience or backative. They said if I was serious, then I’d need to raise a deposit and convince my mum to sign the venue hire contact. I put together a team of friends and classmates, and created an ‘organization’. One of its members suggested we approach the local ASDA and TESCO supermarkets, and request that we pack the Christmas customers shopping in exchange for change in a bucket. So we did. 17 of us stood at the end of tills, worked 12 hour shifts, letting customers know what we wanted to do in the city and asking for their support! We raised just what we needed. The ball started rolling, I did everything I could with the little I had. I wrote funding applications, designed our first website with graphics I drew on Microsoft paint! Littered myspace with flyers, left A-level exams halls and went right to radio stations. I began to tour churches - sharing my vision. I started to stumble into people who wanted to sow into it through their prayer and their giving, even offering to join teams and lend their expertise in various capacities. However, not everyone understood it, some saw me as a maverick and consequently I lost friends along the way, and had to endure the hearsays of ignorant and ill informed rumours and gossip. To the celebration of many and the surprise of doubters the first Midnight Oil Summit took place on July 6th -7th 2007. It so happened that that was the day of my college prom! But it didn’t matter. It was over that weekend I began to see what I saw. ‘To unite, to worship, and to empower’ was our mantra. Over 500 people were in attendance from across the UK. Many, if not all, encountered that experience that I felt in my bedroom. We’ve continued every year since, hosting various seminars, services and sessions, with the intent to posture everyone who comes to be all that God wants them to be. From business seminars to teaching on the tabernacle, theatrical sketches to relationship breakfasts we try to cater for everybody. We have been able to platform some of the UKs leading ministers, as well as debut undiscovered gems that have since gone on to do great things. Our testimonial reel is extensive. Accounts of salvation and healing, marriages being restored, disconnected youth re-enrolling on college courses, launching businesses, writing books, and being made free from issues ranging from self harm to unforgiveness. Unfortunately we have often lost more money than gained. Many times I have had to use my student loan to pay off the events debts, my mum has used her personal finances to substantially undergird the rising costs of organising an event of this scale, as ticket sales are heavily subsidized. We are not a church and so can’t rely on the annual income that that brings. We’ve never received a government grant and thus have to rely on the generosity ordinary people who believe in our cause. Thankfully we’ve never had to postpone, or cancel the event. I know what it’s like to have to eat crackers for months, not be able to afford rent, or even a bus pass. I know what it’s like to seldom have support, I know what its like to search for love in void places and crave the affirmation from a father that despises me. I know what its like to beg for donations or feel ‘in the way’. I know what it’s like to want to give up, buckle under pressure, go without, turn down jobs, have to sign on, question why, or even; “what’s the point?”. One of the most difficult seasons was having to balance my degree in architecture whilst directing this fast growing movement. Thankfully, even though I had to repeat a year, I finally completed my degree last year and graduate in the next few months. Countless times over the past 6 years, my mum, brothers and teammates have stood outside churches, conferences and concerts - canvassing and campaigning. I’ve have been able to recruit people from different walks of life all with with varied ideas, motives and intents. Our organisation has grown and I now oversee around 20 departments and over 300 Volunteers, all of whom reflecting the diverse tapestry of the Kingdom - from Anglican to 7th day adventist; Wesleyan Holiness to Pentecostal. We intentionally pursue innovation and try to champion a culture of excellence in all that we do and thereby challenge the mundane stereotypes attached to ‘church’ by a non believer. I’ll never forget when people turned up from America and Europe as a result of videos I edited and put on YouTube. The journey so far has been one of perpetual learning. I’ve seen some amazing things, been to some incredible places, and been honored to engage with a number of influential leaders in many sectors. I have had a number of illuminating opportunities, been stretched beyond my comfort zone and have had to learn to keep humble under the light and heat. I’ve learned that Ministry is a lifestyle of servanthood and often requires sacrifice; the road can be lonely, and laced with paranoia. It’s by grace that we do what we do. In 2009 I started a praise and worship band called ‘A New Thing’, we have since travelled across the UK and Europe. We launched the Good News Choir, a dance crew called ‘Flow’, and this year the ‘Alpha’ Orchestra. I’ve started a budding media and fashion label called KingdomBOY! and a design firm called Spin Creative Unit, and have since developed international clientele. All of this is stuff, the logos, the brands, the names, the ideas are things that I drew or wrote years ago, sitting in my bedroom. Watching these words become flesh is quite hard to articulate. Our organization, ‘Gods Bride Ministries’, now hosts men’s and women’s conferences, feeding the homeless programmes and has much more to share in the pipeline. I’ve been invited to give speeches at The Houses of Parliament, highlighted by the Tony Blair foundation, honored as Britain’s 7th best Black Student at the House of Commons, written articles, been featured in various magazines, spoken at conferences and TV programmes. Last month I started work as the Regional Director of ‘Message Midlands’ - an evangelistic charity that works with the hardest-to-reach young people through innovative and effective work in the schools, communities and prisons. I believe we are all here for purpose, on purpose, with purpose and I feel that a part of mine, is to be a catalyst of that. This year, songs that I penned over this journey will debut on the weekend of Midnight Oil. It will be our first live album recording and we’ll be hosting 7 events over that weekend, spanning across 3 locations - The Birmingham Conservatoire, Centenary Square and one of Europe’s finest and most prestigious concert halls, The Birmingham Symphony Hall. I used to walk past the building on my way home from 6th form, I remember placing my hands on its’ walls and praying that one day I’d do something there. Apparently I am the youngest person to ever hire it out. Today, July 6th 2013, will be 7 years since the first Midnight Oil. I hope on July 18th-20th you all can come and share in this miraculous moment. What happens next? I’m not sure. But I hope this is the least of what I do. I hope, in all, that who I am makes him smile. I’m 24 and I am here. I am by no means perfect. I am just a donkey that He decided to ride into town on, …but this donkey is determined to leave footprints that inspire. tmblr.co/ZRkTdvo-VU19
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 14:15:55 +0000
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