KACHI
My name is Onyedikachi Nathan Ude. Everyone calls me Kachi. Others, ‘Kachkeys’.
I was born in Takoma Park Maryland in 1995, moved to Nigeria from 1999 to 2001, schooled in PG county up to 2004, and finished my middle & high school education in Columbia, Maryland.
I am an 18 year old freshman, currently pursuing my Bachelors in Biology (its gunna change) at Howard University. Music is my passion. Piano is my tool.
2. When did you start using this gift? Was it natural or you had training? When did you start using it to glorify God?
It’s pretty funny actually…My parents forced me to take piano lessons when I was 8. I hated that thing forreal. I think my brother was better than me at the moment lol. After that, I didn’t touch a keyboard until I was 11. Through some misfortunate events, people at my church noticed I could play, and they put me on. That’s where it all began. I was inspired…Started picking up things here and there from the musicians and began playing by ear pretty easily. I started to glorify God with this gift, when I gave my life to Him…Lol simple as that. He gave me the talent; I might as well use it for Him, and get better at it.
3. Anything you desire to use your gift for in the future?
Well, im trynna be great! I mean who doesn’t? I desire to use my gifts in the gospel industry…move up the food chain and play for the gospel/CCM greats of today. Lol Musicians know they’re getting somewhere when they on 104.1.
4. Is there any fellow artist you look up to?
I have a whole list…especially local artists/musicians. One cat I really inspire to play like is Joshua Davies. You may be familiar with his work with Brandon Camphor and Oneway. Been meeting up with him lately and gaining some knowledge from his end. Another one is William McMillan from Baltimore, and Robert Glasper.
5. Any past or future projects?
Everyone reading this, if you’re a musician, lyricists, singer, or have any God-given gift to check out the Call Forward Movement (www.callingusforward.com) it’s a movement that will change the DMV area and the nation. Our vision is to gather forerunners of a worship movement that includes true worship to God, through sincere obedience to Jesus, and total surrender to our calling. It is pretty dope. I am blessed to be apart.
ANONYMOUS
A while back, I went to the doctors because my period was irregular. Ever since I started my menstrual cycle, I would get it in one month and not get anything until about 3-4 months after. Since I just started, my mom thought it would get regular the more I grew up, but little did she know. For awhile, it remained the same, but with the irregular cycles, it was also extremely heavy and lasted for long periods of time. I remember being on my period for 30 days straight! Fortunately with this, I did not feel any pain at all like most females do.
Due to how weird this was, we went to the doctors and after a bunch of x-ray's and CT scans she told me I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
"PCOS is a problem in which a woman's hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with your periods and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS also may cause unwanted changes in the way you look. If it isn't treated, over time it can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease" (webmd.com).
My doctor told me that I would have to get on birth control pills and some medication for diabetes, which will help balance my hormones. Even though we got the medication, I decided I was not going to take them because that meant I accepted the sickness and my mom agreed with me, so we kept praying. I went to the 2014 Bethel Campus Fellowship conference from February 7th -9th, 2013 and I got my period on February 8th and for the first time ever my period was over in a week. It was not as heavy as it usually was and it felt regular. I praised God and I accepted my healing.
The next month my period came again on the 8th and lasted for about a week. At this point, I knew my healing was complete and I just praise God for restoring me and knowing I will have no problems with conceiving (when the time comes). I had prayed for this for a while and sometimes I accepted that this was how my life was going to be, but God proved me wrong. Just because my prayers were not answered when I wanted them to did not mean it was not in God's plan for me to be healed. I encourage everyone waiting on the Lord for something to keep having faith. He will answer in time :)
-Signed Unknown aka "Luke 8:44"
KRISTINE
A huge part of my past was a struggle with severe depression. Throughout my struggle, I had a horrible self-image, and to deal with that, I fell into smoking weed and self mutilation. I lived two different lifestyles. When I was at school, I was bubbly and cheery and always made people laugh. I was always told that I had a bright future and that I was going to somehow change people around me. People told me that I was going to be a world changer in some way or another because of my personality and talents that I was blessed with. Those words were the hardest for me to swallow. I became someone else when I would get home. I would lock myself in my room and just feed myself with lies. I was ugly. I was not beautiful. I would never be loved. Yes, I had family. I had some really good friends. I even dated, and those guys who stayed with me went through utter hell. They didn't understand why I did the things I did. Nobody did. I would just go home and begin slicing up my skin because I was so angry. I got some kind of cheap release out of putting myself through torment. I was out of control.
After awhile, these “coping skills” that I had developed just weren't enough. Something in me couldn't handle everything that was going on around me, and I snapped. I had suicidal thoughts for a while, and one day, I decided enough was enough. I went home after school and saw my mom wasn't home, and decided that day was the day. I searched the house and found every pill bottle I could and emptied them out onto the counter.
But after Jesus came in and fixed me up, I became a whole new person. I realized I didn't have to try to take control of situations through substances and self-hurt. Taking all my frustrations and sorrows to Jesus was so much more fulfilling than any razor blade. But, it’s not until we hand over those things to God that we can be liberated from those demons. This includes total surrender. And even though suffering is the worst, it’s still sometimes hard to hand over the way that we have learned to cope with the world around us.
But, God wants to help us. God wants to mend us. God wants us to look to Him rather than hurtful idols.
I’m begging anyone who reads this to reach out to people they know are hurting and show them that Jesus is better. I pray that anyone struggling with depression reaches out for help. I would never wish the pain or the hurt I went through on anyone. Even if you’re alone reading this, and you’re having hurts, to surrender and hand your hurts to Jesus before it gets out of hand. God wants to restore us. I now thank God for what I went through so I am able to help people out. It all ended in glory for Him! Some days, I look at my scars, and Satan uses them to remind me of who I was. But, I am thankful for the days that I look at them, and God gently reminds me that I am not that person anymore. He has restored me in His image. He has made me perfect – scars, and all.
He wants us all to be restored. Surrender.
I hope this helps somebody. As painful as this was to write, I know that it will move somebody to turn to God. Share this with someone. You never know what can come out of something that looks broken right now.
-KrisNgozi