Nikki Giovanni Comes to Southern Illinois University & More Black History Month Events…

Hello World, nikki

As it is February, I have to pay homage to Black History Month and the wonderful contributions that black people have made to America and beyond…Below are several Black History Month Activities you may want to check out…

1. Longtime poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator Nikki Giovanni will present “Human by the Grace of God: A View of Diversity” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 19 in Shryock Auditorium at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Illinois. For more information, go to news.siu.edu. – Actually, this event has been cancelled as today, 2/12/2015…

2. Radio host and activist Joe Madison will be the guest speaker today, Feb. 8, at 2:30 p.m. when Bethlehem Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, VA celebrates Black History Month. Madison is the former director of the Detroit branch of the NAACP. He was appointed to that post at the age of 24. For more information, go to fredericksburg.com.

3. On Feb. 22 at 10:15 a.m., Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas will host “Showcase of Black Authors” with a presentation and book signing featuring Elaine Hunt, the author of “Dreams Fulfilled.” For more information, go to oaoa.com.

4. Centerville Community Center is hosting a story telling event about African-American heroes from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at 3025 Bethany Church Road in Snellville, Georgia. There will be fun and interactive activities for children to increase their learning about African-American heroes. For more information, go to patch.com.

5. Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree will speak at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Martinez, Georgia on Sunday, Feb. 22.  at 11 a.m. For more information, go augusta.com.

6. Rev. Charles Lucas will tell how his “great-great-grandfather secured his freedom from Squire Lukas (His family also has his ancestor’s freedom papers!) and walked from Virginia to Ohio to launch a family on a mission” during his presentation “Lucas Legacy and Cleveland Black History: 1852 to 2015,” at St. James A.M.E. Church in Cleveland Ohio on Feb. 22. 12:30 p.m. For more information, go cleveland.com.

7. “Black Historic Churches of Lynchburg and Surrounding Counties,” a photography exhibit by Welford Jones, opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13 and remains up through April 30 at Hunton Randolph Community Center in Lynchburg, Virginia. For more information, go newsadvance.com.

Any thoughts?

 

 

 

“Preachers of L.A.’s” Myesha Chaney is Coming to Atlanta This Friday/MY INTERVIEW…

Hello World, myesha book cover

If you’re a fan of “Preachers of L.A.,” I’ve got great news! Myesha Chaney, First Lady and executive director of Antioch Church of Long Beach and wife to Antioch Senior Pastor Wayne Chaney, is headed to the A as a part of the “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” Tour.  She will be hosting the women’s empowerment event, on which her new book “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” is based, at the dReam Center Church of Atlanta, 4209, Northeast Expwy, Atlanta, GA 30340 at 7 p.m.

If you’re unfamiliar with First Lady Myesha, she is also a songwriter, recording artist, motivational speaker, worship leader, and entrepreneur. In addition to starring on “Preachers of L.A.” First Lady Myesha and Pastor Wayne also co-host ““Real Life with Wayne and Myesha Chaney,” a radio talk show on KJLH, 102.3.  They are also the parents of three children: Wayne, Reign, and Cadence.

Below is my interview with First Lady Myesha about her new book, Preachers of L.A., her family life and MORE…

How did you come up with the “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” concept and write the book?

It was an answer to prayer. I was a young pastor’s wife, and I felt the expectations of others, and I saw the condition of the women that were in my sphere of influence. And I felt like everyone was just kind of putting on their best face, and they were presenting what they wanted people to see, not the truth. I didn’t want to live a life where I felt I had to be perfect, and I had to not have flaws so I asked God what can I do because I can’t live this life, I don’t want this so He gave me this concept of hiding behind the lipstick.

So I spoke about it at our women’s retreat, and it was so effective that we decided to do it again, and we kept doing it. And I said we need to put this in book so that we can reach more people. So it began as a women’s empowerment event that we host in different cities all across the country, and it’s also a book. Two different things but the same concept.

Tell me more about the women’s empowerment event and what happens.

We start off with some kind of musical component like a praise and worship. We play a video where women do what we call “lipstick confessions,” and they share things that you didn’t actually know about them or you don’t see it on the surface, but it is the truth. We do skits, we have dance, all of these things illustrate the pain we sometimes carry. We  have cardboard testimonies when women actually get up and they have where they were on the front and and they will turn it over and show where they are now. And I’ll get up and do a 40-minute talk about the whole concept of hiding, and I use a woman from the audience and do a kind of facial on the woman to illustrate the various things we do before we put on concealer which is hiding the imperfections. We end with allowing women to get up from the audience and stand and share what their lipstick was. And somehow between all of these elements women are much freer than they have ever been before, and they can share things and get healing for things they have had to struggle with their entire lives.

What has been the response to the women’s empowerment event so far? 

I have met women that have said, “Oh my God after 21 years of being the way I am, I finally changed,” and that is more than enough for me. I did it out of obedience. I didn’t attach anything to it. Sometimes we do things because want to make our name great and make our mark, but this is not one of those ministries. It is a labor of love.  So if a girl pulls me aside and I says, “I know you,” and I’m thinking it’s from the “Preachers of L.A.”or from Antioch Church, but she says, “You do that lipstick event,” that to me is more than enough for me.

I’ve done the workshop over 20 times in cities like L.A., Oakland, Detroit and in Texas in Florida. We’re going to D.C. It was shown on episode 10 of “Preachers of L.A.” too.

First Lady Myesha inviting the owner of a strip club to come to "Hiding Behind the Lipstick," from episode 10

First Lady Myesha inviting the owner of a strip club to come to “Hiding Behind the Lipstick,” from episode 10

How did you become a part of the “Preachers of L.A.?”

Actually, it was my husband. We had been in pitch meetings and kind of in that entertainment space. We prayed toward that from some years prior before any meetings. So when “Preachers of L.A.” came about, my husband was approached, and he was open to it. And I decided to do with him, and it has been a great experience.

How has the show changed your life and the lives of your family?

It has allowed us to reach more people. From Day One, I decided if it helped me to do “Hiding Behind the Lipstick,” easier, I was grateful. I got out of it what I wanted to get from it. I have been able to reach more women. We were on radio for three years so we were quite familiar in this region already. It hasn’t been an overwhelming change. People see you out and want to take pictures more so that has been the only difference that I have experienced. My kids want to be on TV more. They say, “They need to show more of us,” and I’m like, “Really kids?”” But we have normal lives, and our kids have a normal lives. It’s an opportunity that God has given us, and we are grateful.

myesha chaney picWhat has been your favorite story line on “Preachers of L.A.?”

I know for us, we dealt with a lot of family issues as well as the other cast members. It was phenomenal to see the pastors help reconcile things in their family relationships. So that was the most moving story line I think, the stories of us reconciling with family.

One of my favorite story lines is the relationship of Bishop Noel Jones and Loretta. Are they ever going to get married?

(Laughing) I have no idea. I will be sitting and watching and waiting like everyone else.

To register for “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” in Atlanta, go to eventbrite.com. Free & VIP tickets are available!

Any thoughts?

 

 

Looking for Love for Valentine’s Day? Maybe Your Pastor Should Set You Up…

match

Hello World,

Today is so exciting! It is Super Bowl Sunday! (Don’t ask me what teams are playing… 🙂 ) It’s the first day of Black History Month (which I will post about later in the month) AND it’s the month of Love (you have 13 days to find a date for Valentine’s Day as of TODAY)…

So back to the question in the headline…If you are single, have you ever thought of having your pastor set you up? When I was single, the thought never crossed my mind…but a new show on WE tv is hoping a pastor can do just that?

Millionaire Shawn Bullard Searches for True Love; And This Time The Pastor Is In Charge…NFL Spiritual Advisor for the Indianapolis Colts, Pastor Ken Johnson, Hosts and Guides Bachelor Bullard In His Quest!
Meet Shawn Bullard, an African American real estate magnate and former college athlete looking for true love. And who better to help him find The One than the man upstairs – or someone with a close connection? Enter Pastor Ken Johnson (spiritual advisor to the Indianapolis Colts) who guides Shawn and observes the authenticity and godliness of 24 women living under one roof hoping to find a love connection with Shawn. Not only does the pastor weigh in on Shawn’s choices, but when his very outspoken mother moves in, she too has a say on who could potentially be her daughter-in-law.
While some ladies are sane and sweet, others are downright devilish leading to plenty of drama and bad behavior. After a series of dates, romantic rendezvous, harsh eliminations, and solicited (and unsolicited) advice from the Pastor and his mother, find out if Shawn finally meets his match.  “Match Made in Heaven” premieres on WE tv, Wednesday, February 4 at 8pm ET/PT.
Below are a few pics from the Atlanta screening of the new show…
PAW_0507Shawn Bullard
PAW_0451Being interviewed about the show…

Shawn Bullard - Maggie Bullard 3Shawn and his mother Maggie Bullard

Will you watch?

Any thoughts?