Monthly Archives: March 2014

ROLE MODEL OF THE WEEK- JOY IBISA IGBELABO

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  Born Joy Keleibisa Igbelabo on 26th March. The fifth Child of a gospel singing family. Joy Ibisa has an amazing voice that will captivate you wanting more . She has been in the Music scene for quite a long time and continues to dominate the gospel scene with a refreshing feel of new energy.

She enjoys praise and worship songs and on many occasions, she adds a new dimension and voice to the spirit of music through the depth of her electrifying voice, it becomes quite obvious that music is  part of her journey, the minute she begins to sing.

She also loves travelling, meeting people, exchanging ideas and has a massive passion for interior design- all qualities connected with art, creation, growth and new space to explore, expand and add more value to Life

I first met Joy a few years ago, when i began to present and produce my radio show called AFRICA4U, co-incidentally, she was a guest on the show with another female gospel artist called Nevaeh’s Angel, She presented me with one of her CDS, and from then onwards, I kept on listening to her music which also caught the attention of my listening audience on many countries

Joy was also nominee for THE AFRICA4U SONG OF THE YEAR ONLINE AWARDS FOR NIGERIAN ARTISTS a few years ago- An Awards, that i initiated to encourage and empower upcoming artists at grass- root level

She was also performed two days ago at THE PRAYER REVIVAL FOR BRITAIN 2014 organised by Pastor Matthew Daniels and once again, memories were relived of a an electrifying voice that continues to embrace the spirit of  Love and harmony

 

You can contact JOY by email – 

joyibisa@yahoo.co.uk

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO THE BEST MOTHER AND THE BEST SISTER IN THE WORLD – HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL MOTHERS AROUND THE WORLD

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Can you hear the gentle voice,

From the priceless Golden mantle

Pillars of ancient music,

Mothering and Fathering The footprints of silent soldiers

Beauty dressed in the spirit of magical motion

Warm in grace, Rich in taste

The mental scent of the land,

 

Strength painted with a subtle voice

embraced with a thread that unites the stories of our generation

Mother than just a Mother

More than just A Motherland- But a blessing to every home

Wishing my Mother and My Sister- A happy Mothers day

Wishing all Mothers around The World

A Happy Mothers DAY

 

TONY TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ 

AFRICA4U IN CONJUNCITON WITH ZIMLINK WILL BE ORGANISING THE SMALL WORLD COMMUNITY CONCERT AT THE WHITE LION IN STREATHAM ON SUNDAY THE 27TH OF APRIL AT 1PM

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 AFRICA4U IN CONJUNCTION WITH ZIMLINK WILL BE ORGANISING THE SMALL WORLD COMMUNITY CONCERT FOR PERFORMING ARTISTS, POETS, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS, COMEDIANS AND COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS AIMED AT CELEBRATING THE GREAT WORK OF ROLE MODELS WITH REAL LIFE STORIES AT GRASS-ROOT LEVEL

BOTH AFRICA4U AND ZIMLINK ARE INVOLVED IN YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND PROMOTING THE GREAT WORK OF UNSUNG HEROES YOU DO NOT GET TO HEAR ABOUT EVERYDAY

WE CONDUCT MONTHLY VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH ROLE MODELS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO LIFE AND WE WIL BE CONDUCTING VIDEO INTERVIEWS ON THE DAY AS WELL

PARTICIPANTS ON THE DAY

ELAKA- PERFORMING ARTIST – LONDON BASED

O RAEL – PERFOMING ARTIST READING BASED

AKPOS OGAGBE- COMEDIAN – LONDON BASED

FERDINARD LAWSON- BEFFTA AWARD WINNER- WRITER OF THE YEAR 2013- TOPIC -HOW TO CHISEL THE GOLD OUT OF YOUR MINE

MADAM MARY AJOKE- COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR
DEREK DZIVA- MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER – LONDON BASED

DOROTHY DIX- CEO OF CREATING BRIGHTER FUTURES 

KINGSTON BASED

ALI SKUSE- SPEAKER ON HEALTH AND NUTRITION- THE PROJECT 10 CHALLENNGE- KINGSTON BASED

JAMES KIRIAMITI – CEO & COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR FOR SMART KENYA – KINGSTON BASED

WAYNE BOUYCARD – RADIO PRESENTER- URBAN JAZZ

NIA CONSCIOUS BROTHER- LONDON BASED

DARK ZAC OF ZIMLINK – LONDON BASED

MANY MORE

 

THE SMALL WORLD COMMUNITY CONCERT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT THE WHITE LION, 233 STREATHAM HIGH ROAD, STREATHAM, SOUTHLONDON ON SUNDAY THE 27TH OF APRIL AT 1PM, ADMISSION IS FREE

 

FOR MORE INFO- CONTACT ME ON 07882809005

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST SISTER IN THE WORLD – NICOLETTE EDEM OKEWOLE

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It was only yesterday,

That Mother sang of your beauty,

and the shinning star that summoned the blessings of the world,

And when you Smile,

YOU take the World with you,

Certifying new bonds of friendship with ease

 

People have asked me ..

Is she your Sister or your daughter/

As your youth continues to outsmart  the footprints of age

 

Today MEANS the world to ME,

You have made it this far,

Smiling each time you climb every mountain,

Nurturing in strength and the pillars of your home,

Yet much stronger than people think

 

There is only one Nicolette,

When you meet her- you have no choice than to like her,

I could not have wished for a better SISTER

I LOVE YOU TO BITS

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND REMEMBER, THE HEIGHT OF YOUR BLESSINGS ARE YET TO COME

IFREKE ASUQUO – COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR, QUALIFIED LAWYER AND FINALIST AT THE TOP MODEL UK COMPETITION TAKING PLACE NEXT WEEK- 5TH OF APRIL 2014

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I met Ifreke Asuquo for the very first time last year whilst I was preparing to go on The Sporah Show as a build up to my Black History Month Event at The Houses of Parliament. She was a finalist in the BEFFTA award winning Miss Black Africa International Beauty Pageant and Charity Awards 2013.
 
We got talking and I was instantly overwhelmed by her profound wealth of knowledge and burning desire to make a difference to Women and the community at large.
 
A few weeks later she was a guest on my radio show, AFRICA- The Radio Show for Africans around the World, with listeners in 9 Countries. I was even more surprised when she told me that she had never been on radio before as she had the natural ease, pace and composure to flow on air with smooth hints of confidence and grace.
 
Ifreke was selected as a top 10 finalist at the Miss Black Africa International Beauty Pageant and Charity Awards out of over 1400 applicants and is now back with a bang, as well as more positive surprises up her sleeve.
 
Its 2014 and this time Ifreke has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious Top Model UK 2014 Competition – http://www.topmodeluk.com/
 
The competition is in its 8th year with this season proving to be bigger than ever. It is the official sponsor of the Children with Cancer UK Charity.
 
 She has this to say,
 
“I am super excited about the Top Model Final and was overjoyed when I was selected as a finalist out of hundreds of applicants. I aim to use this opportunity as a platform to push my modelling career from strength to strength and also show others that you can have a successful career and also follow your dreams”
 
“I hope that my participation in the Top Model Competition will inspire other women to pursue their dreams with tenacity.”
 
Ifreke is also a qualified lawyer with a criminal and civil litigation practice (at such a young age). For her, modelling is not only a unique creative outlet, it is also an expressive art form. She enjoys taking part in Fashion Shows as well as Photographic Shoots and would love the opportunity to engage in more diverse modelling assignments.
  
The Top Model UK final is on the 5th April 2014 at The Hilton London Metropole, 225 Edgware Road, London, W2 1JU.
 
Vote for Ifreke to win the PUBLIC VOTE AWARD by donating money to charity via my online charity page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/IfrekeA
 
Ifreke will also be the Compere for The Black History Month Celebrations at the House of Parliament in October, organised by Tony Tokunbo Eteka Fernandez.
 
 

ROLE MODEL OF THE WEEK – MR RICHARD OLUYINKA

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Richard Oluyinka is the author of MAKE THAT MOVE NOW –kiss your excuses goodbye- a book written to help people move from just positive thinking to positive doing. He is the President/Founder  of RICHARD SOLUTIONS inc., an organisation focused on training, personal development and coaching that provides an in-depth formula to advance human success and personal achievement.
 
His mission is to help people discover, utilise and maximise their physical, mental and spiritual resources, offer inspirational plan to overcome obstacles, give inspiration towards setting goals and achieving them, raise success consciousness through positive mental attitude and provide insightful tips of how to live life to the fullest.
 
He has been involved for almost 20 years in the development of people’s personal, professional and spiritual lives. Richard encourages individuals to discover and create the life they want and inspires them to move forward and achieve it. His passion is helping individuals excel at being and living their best life regardless of their circumstances.
 
He is an International Itinerant Speaker/ Minister and has over 15 years leadership experience within and outside the church including church planting, missions, organisational development, worship music and pastoring at senior level.
 
A Professional Trainer, Education Management and Leadership Consultant, Peak Performance/Life Coach, he holds a weekly Radio/TV programme MAKE THAT MOVE NOW  in London. A programme designed to help people jumpstart the next phase of their lives, live life on their own terms and become successful in all dimensions.
A man of many parts, Richard was a teacher of Mathematics for over 15years at various levels of education, a multi-instrumentalist singer and the first black Student Cultural Diversity Officer of the University of West London from 2010-2012 where he represented students from over 206 countries.
He recently founded YORUBA GBODE a Pan-African Yoruba heritage organisation where Yoruba will be showcased in culture and language to Yoruba citizens and others in the diaspora based in London through teaching of the language, showcasing Yoruba culture through dance, fashion, tradition, drama and documentaries among others.
Richard continues to express himself via acting, worship singing, inspirational teachings, workshops and seminars. A vibrant and gifted speaker, his warm, inspiring and challenging style empowers individuals to excel in their thinking and take action to change their lives.
 
 Contact:
+44 7404 232 846, +44 7846 927 223
richardoluyinka@ymail.com
makethatmovenowwithrichard@yahoo.co.uk

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISH TO THE BEST BROTHER IN THE WORLD – STEVEN FERNANDEZ

 

 

 

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Its time to Celebrate,

All those years that paved the way for a HAPPY TODAY

And yet, in my heart of hearts,

I know it might not have been an easy RIDE,

For every shade has its journey,

through the many pictures of LIFE,

 

YOU are SPECIAL,

A Silent Rock,

embracing new movements in still waters,

Yet sometimes- no one REALLY notices

 

And deep within you,

A VOICE has been created,

To Fly, To acquire, To excel,

To reach for the stars in your own gentle way,

Doing what you do BEST,

 

There is only one STEVEN,

I could not have wished for a better brother

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

I LOVE YOU ALWAYS

 

TONY TOKUNBO ETEKA FERNANDEZ

WHAT ABOUT LONDON- A POEM BY TONY TOKUNBO ETEKA FERNANDEZ

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  Harsh balls of cold frost,

Embrace the corners of the wind,

Winter prevails unannounced

Old streets stained with bitter emptiness

And the evening is dressed with riddles

 

Every home has its secret,

What really happens behind the palace of closed doors?

It took time to know people,

It still takes time to know people,

For matters close to the heart,

Are sometimes a mystery to the world

But what really lies beyond the souls of sweet smiles and nice clothes?

 

They say its the place to BE,

Some people call it an overpriced prison

Some people call it foolish paradise

I call it my 2nd home

 

A collective force of many worlds,

divided from a oneness

Its MUSIC- Independent

From North to South

From West to East

From Street to Street

New trends evolve slowly, creating the spirit of many new worlds

 

And as for this melting pot,

a fantastic blend

An International puzzle

Paris is precious

Its lovely in Prague

What about London?

 

TONY TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ

 

HOW MUCH DO NIGERIANS REALLY KNOW ABOUT NIGERIA- BY TONY TOKUNBO ETEKA FERNANDEZ

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Childhood moments can be colourful,raw, sometimes contradictory and deeply refreshing, Although born in The UK, I went back to Nigeria with my parents what seems like many years ago at the age of 9, and it was in this great nation that I completed my primary, secondary and university education.

Growing up in Nigeria, really played a great part in shaping my identity, my being, my beliefs and my vision. I was a very curious child and sometimes curious children get into a lot of trouble.

My child-hood days were sometimes confusing, vast but colourful and sometimes i feel, i became a MAN to quickly without going through the process of being a BOY, I am very proud to say that it was destined privilege to have lived in three region of Nigeria at different stages of my Life – THE NORTH, THE WEST AND THE EAST (PART OF WHICH IS CALLED THE SOUTH SOUTH TODAY)

The experience not only opened my eyes to various cultural customs, traditional institutions and ways of Life (especially when I lived amongst  The Yorubas,The Hausas, The Fulanis and The Efiks at different stages), but it also enriched my world with a unique but unbiased perspective to Life in a nation with well over 250 languages and The most populated Black nation in the world.

Many years later and Today, I can honestly say that there is so much more I dont know about Nigeria, even though I have always been hungry for history, geography and the philosophy and mindset that shapes cultures and traditional institutions.

Sometimes i reflect back to the endless adventures  i embraced whilst growing up and I also ask myself, How much do Nigerians really know about Nigeria?

My Father comes from Calabar, A small friendly city in South South Nigeria and even took me a while to learn that this city was the first capital of the Niger Protectorate, The Southern protectorate and The Oil River protectorate, The city also boasts of The first ever public general hospital, the oldest post office, the first modern road network, the first presbytarian church, the first professor, the first playwright, the first Nigerian world boxing champion and the first ever social club in the whole of Nigeria.

There are also claims that my late grandfather, Late Alexander Pedro Sixtus Fernandez, owned the first ever photographic studio in the whole of Calabar, which can still be found in Henshaw Town, Calabar.

Calabar is also famous for arguably some of the best cuisines in the whole of Nigeria and even Africa and also hosts The biggest street carnival in The whole of Africa, every year.

I lived in this city for just over two years, and even though i got to learn a lot about its deep history, I still find myself empty with knowledge from time to time.

Calabar has also been known to European sailors as far back as the 15th century and was a major slave trade port from the 17th century to the 19th century. The history of the origin and the settlement of The Efiks, date back to the 14th century.

I remember the first time, I moved back to Nigeria with my parents in the late 70s, we ended up in Lagos, still regarded as the business capital of Nigeria – it was a big culture shock- from East Dulwich to Moshalashi (two places with practically nothing in common). I had never seen so many Black faces, I had never seen so many people, and when people spoke to each over- they shouted on top of their voice, as if the other person was miles away.

In the daytime, heat became my number one enemy, mosquitos paid me frequent visits at night, i became their number one customer, it always seemed as if they knew instantly, I came from a foreign land because I hardly ever heard my uncles, aunties or cousins complaining of mosquitoes, there were black- outs all the time and sometimes, when you put the taps on, there was no water, but it never ever bothered my uncles and aunties, they just laughed all the time, I had never visited a place where people laughed a lot- they laughed when they were happy, they laughed when they were sad, they laughed and when there were problems- Laughter was still the key.

My first six months in Lagos, was a journey into a different world and the little tiger in me slowly became fascinated to explore, to ask questions and sometimes get in trouble – this was my first sub-conscious awakening to find out more about my homeland – Nigeria and in the process, also finding out a bit how much or how little Nigerians knew about Nigeria, but to my surprise, the more questions I asked, the more i I was greated with the speechless gaze of funny looks, but the looks never discouraged my thirst to know, to engage and to question, I wanted to know more about Lagos, I wanted to know more about Nigeria and I wanted to one day become, one of the scholars of such a great nation, as soon as i got into primary school, history became my favourite subject and I was always asking so many questions, In history class, my eyes always lit up whenever Mr Jeffrey began history lessons and the questions kept coming and coming, One day Mr Jeffrey got so frustrated that he snapped at me in front of everyone in the class “Ah Ah, Na only you sabi ask question” which meant in Nigerian pidgin, “Are you the only one who knows how to ask questions” the whole room fell silent, and from that day onwards, for some reason, I stopped asking questions in History class and the burning curiosity inside me, slowly became silenced, this also got the attention of my mother, as one day- she was about to take me to to school, she turned to me and said, “What is with you these days, you no longer ask questions like you used to”.

I told her the brief story about Mr Jeffrey, the history teacher and I could see her eyes lit up in fury, and then all of a sudden, she took me by the hand and marched down to the school, when we got to the school compound, she told me to stand in a corner and I could see her walk towards Mr Jeffreys office, I could see her walking towards him and she had a go at him for nearly an hour, he just stood in silence slightly confused and trying to take everything in at a go.

Growing up in Lagos was fascinating, it felt like a city which belonged to everyone,  I had Yoruba Friends, Igbo Friends, Friends from Delta, Friends from Edo and several friends from Ghana, Liberia and Sierra leone, but one thing i always found interesting (from a personal point of view), was how little people from one tribe knew about other tribes and I suppose coming from a mixed background myself, “My Father being Nigerian and My Mother being Jamaican”, i perhaps had acquired a sub conscious awareness of people’s attitudes, perceptions and the stereotypes people had for other tribes.

I also noticed that most of my Yoruba friends hanged out together and most of my igbo friends hanged out together and this pattern even became more obvious when I later lived in Northern Nigeria for 5 years to do my secondary education.

Nigeria is the most populous black country in the world with no less than 250 languages, it is also a huge country with so much going on at different levels, yet “How much do Nigerians really know about Nigeria ” (including me).

Do we really know our History? Do we really know much about out other tribes? How many Nigerians really travel within Nigeria? Are we just a collective family of group(s) of families, tribes, dialects and lineages bonded by the consequence of geography and partition? – but actually living in isolation, without the warmth of a mutual thread.

I know of people who have lived in lagos for most of their Life and have never travelled to the east or to the north,

Also when I lived in the North, i knew of people who had never ventured out of the regions of the former Bauchi state for most of their Life and even when I lived in Calabar, it was the same story, I met Efiks, Igbos and Ibibios who had never travelled to the west or the north.

On my 12 birthday, something happened that opened my eyes and stayed with me forever, one of my favourite aunties  Aunty Joyce- came to see me all the way from a neighboring town. She had fried some fish, plantains and yams for my birthday and had taken the day off to celebrate my birthday, we spoke for a very long time. Aunty Joyce was always full of advice and she always spoke in riddles half of the time, i had no idea what she was talking about and then when i asked more questions to find out what she meant, she kept on saying  i would find out one day, She also taught me how to play Chess- and always told me, that Life was like a game of Chess, you always had to know when to make the right move and when to defend your pawns.

My Mother had also cooked lots of food and my friends were coming round that afternoon.

Aunty Joyce and I spoke for hours but she had refused to allow me to beat her at Chess (even on my birthday), “I want you to learn the hard way my dear” she said.

the time was approaching for her to go back to Ibadan, and as she was about to leave, she brought out a book from her handbag, called “The History of  West Africa ” by KB C Onwubiko, “i know you like reading” she said “This is for you, I hope it answers many questions, never forget your history” and she slowly made her way to the door, then just as she was about to open the door, she turned around as if she had forgotten something, and said in a very serious voice “You are a very special child and I know that, sometimes people will take you for granted, be prepared for this, but whatever city or country you end up in Life, take time, not only to understand its history and its people, but also take time to make your impact felt  in that City” I will never forget those words and it was the first time in my life that i had ever seen my Aunt not smiling and for the first time ever, I also sensed a sadness behind the mask of her smile, from that day onwards, I became more hungry to ask questions and to discover.

Even though I lived in Lagos with my Parents, I did not  get the opportunity to spend a part of my childhood with them, as i was  in boarding school for five years in Northern Nigeria and later spent a few years in the east, but this also made me to grow in new situations and to adapt to new environments and to change.

I also liked Lagos- but it was not a city for everyone and i also wanted to know more about its history.

Lagos was originally inhabited by the Awori sub group of The Yorubas, under the leadership of Oloye Olofin.

The Awori were said to move to an Island called Iddo and then to a larger Lagos island in the 15th century.

In history classes, I learnt that the Awori settlement were attacked by The Benin Empire and the island became a Benin War Camp called EKO.

In history classes, we also got to learn about The History of Nigeria before 1914, We got to learn of the kanem Borno Empire, of the Calabar kingdom (believed to have been founded in 1000AD with the earliest contacts with The Europeans), The Benin Empire and The Oduduwa Empire.

I also got to learn about some great Nigerian heroes, like King Jaja of Opobo (1821-1891), Sir Herbert Maccauly (1864- 1946), Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and many others.

We also had great Nigerian Female heroes and Role models such as Queen Idia of the Benin Empire, Queen Amina of Zaria, MS Kuti and others.

Looking back to all those years of asking questions in History Classes, looking back to all those years of asking the most random questions to family, friends and strangers (thirsty to feed from the history of our story and our stories), I sill sometimes feel many questions are still not answered.

I also remember my first ever meal in Nigeria- a hot plate of  Jollof Rice at a party with my Father, and when I asked one of my Aunties where Jollof Rice came from, A big quarrel broke up between my Aunt and A Ghanaian Man as to where Jollof Rice originated from, My Aunt was arguing on how it was one of the best cuisines to come out of Nigeria, while The man was so convinced that the dish originated from Ghana.

Several years down the line, I discovered that it did not even originate from any of the two countries.

Every day I am still discovering new things about Nigeria, the other day, I discovered that one of my closest friends while growing up, was the son of  Nigeria’s first ever playwright, the problem might also be that sometimes, we also make assumptions as to what might appear to be obvious.

I also bump into people who claim to know so much about Nigeria and then sometimes, I also bump into people (both Nigerians and Non- Nigerians) who say to me “But  you don’t come across like a Nigerian”- and then I ask myself  “How are Nigerians suppose to come across?”, “Can we really stereotype  a Nation of over 250 Languages just based on the popularity and the population of three main tribes? ”   “How do you describe a Nigerian?” “Who are Nigerians”

THE PRAYING REVIVAL TO BRITAIN 2014 HOSTED BY PASTOR MATHEW DANIELS- THIS SATURDAY THE 29TH OF MARCH- KEY SPEAKERS – PASTOR MATHEW OKUBOYEYO, MR J JOHN AND TONY FERNANDEZ – PERFORMING ARTISTS- ISRAEL ONORIODE AND JOY IBISA

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THE PRAYING REVIVAL TO BRITAIN 2014″ organised by “THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES NETWORK” and hosted by World renowned Speaker, Community Ambassador, Writer and Mentor – PASTORMatthew A Daniel takes place  on Saturday the 29th of March 2014 from 10am to 3pm at The Life Building Centre, Unit 2, Portalwest Business Centre, Portal Way, London, W3 6RU

KEY SPEAKERS at this event will be Mr J John and Pastor Matthew Okuboyejo. – BOTH GENTLEMEN HAVE A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE in The Art of Prayer.
There will also be special performances by VERY TALENTED GOSPEL ARTISTS – Joy Igbelabo managed by Marilyn Sambo and Israel Onoriode Real O’Rael (ALSO PREVIOUS GUESTS ON Africa4U RADIO SHOW)

I also feel very humbled to be ONE of The KEY SPEAKERS at this event- and will be sharing from one of My Published Books “THE SOUND OF RUNNING WATER” -A Pocket -sized gift book of proverbs on Positive Thinking and Personal Development aimed at inspiring Communities around the world. 

THE TITLE OF MY TALK WILL BE “FIVE PROVERBS .. FIVE STORIES .. FIVE LESSONS”

My book will also be on SALE at this event and i will be signing copies. 

THIS IS AN EVENT YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS AND IT IS ALSO FREE-

TO REGISTER- GO TO http://www.eventbrite.com/e/praying-revival-to-britain-2014-tickets-10378003889?aff=efbevent