For almost the entire second half of 2019, I battled depression.  One of my major triggers was unemployment; for months I was jobless. No one knew just how discouraged I really was because I still managed to smile every day.  I didn’t change much of my daily routine but I constantly prayed for God to open a door. 

One day, while I was sitting in Starbucks filling out job applications an old friend who I hadn’t seen in a few years made me a very unexpected offer. I was allowed to go on a 16-day all-expenses-paid trip to Atlanta to be the personal assistant to a local pageant director at the Miss Universe Pageant. I was so excited to go on that trip because it offered a temporary escape from my unemployed reality. 

A few days into my trip a friend of mine messaged me to ask if I would be interested in working as a property manager for a gated community. I was so nervous because I had no idea how to be a property manager. Still, I sent in my resume. I didn’t hear anything back for a few days, then bam, 3 days before I was set to return from Atlanta I was asked to come in for an interview. 

On the day I returned from Atlanta, I went straight from the airport to an interview. I was offered the job the next day and I was FREAKING OUT!  I still had no idea how to be a property manager. I remember telling God that I was so nervous about taking the job because I didn’t want to embarrass myself. Well, He reminded me "He qualifies the called".  I took a leap of faith and began my journey.

I had to learn a lot in a very short space of time and it wasn’t always easy.  I constantly had to remind myself that if God opened the door He would equip me to handle what came my way, so I stuck it out and just dealt with whatever came up. I would have never guessed that just a few short months later we would be facing a global pandemic.  I was blessed to have been able to stay on my job from this pandemic started to now.  I even got a raise that I didn’t anticipate.  I didn’t know that I would prosper during a pandemic. I’m very glad that I took that giant leap of faith that has caused me to be in a position to help others amidst this time.

-GiaD

My educational journey was truly a faith walk. Between the years 2016 and 2017, God gave dreams and prophetic words instructing me to pursue a master’s degree. God placed in my spirit that I would receive a scholarship. However, at that time, I was only eligible for unpaid study leave. Months leading up to my departure, the Holy Spirit instructed me to sow financial seeds and fast every month. In August 2018, I used the last of my savings to purchase a one-way ticket to travel Jamaica, to attend the University of the West Indies. Nothing else was prepaid for and all that I had left was $25 in my bank account. I went with FAITH because God told me to go back to school.

When my faith activated, God began to work. After 2 hours of landing in Jamaica, I had $250 transferred to my bank account. After 2 weeks of walking in FAITH, I had the first two months of my living accommodations paid for. After 2 months of starting classes, I had my first semester school fees paid off. Every day I needed NOW FAITH. Daily I reminded God that this was His vision and He promised to provide the PROVISION for it. Miraculously, one of my family members offered to helped me with tuition, while church members and  strangers were led to bless me financially.

2 years later, August 2020, I finally completed my degree. I am truly in amazement of how God provided His definition of a scholarship for me. To this date, I can attest that I had tuition, accommodation, books, food, and transportation provided for me debt free. There is absolutely nothing I can take credit for, other than my belief in a faithful God. If He began a work, He will surely complete it. If you are reading this post, trust and believe that God is a PROVIDER & PROMISE KEEPER.

-Antonque Etora Bullard