The Moment I Found My Voice

Deborah's Roar 2021 "How's Your Heart?"

Xavier University, Fall 1995. I found myself in a mandatory speech class. I absolutely hated that class, but it was something I couldn't avoid. It was a requirement for the pre-pharmacy program. We learned techniques to form a proper speech, focused on enunciation, and eventually gave a speech in front of the class. That was the most challenging part of all. I have never felt comfortable speaking in front of a room full of people. I tend to stumble over my words and say "um" more than I can count. I told myself I never wanted to speak to crowds like that again. Well, God had other plans.

Reflecting on my current position, God gradually guided me into roles where I communicate with others. As a pharmacist, engaging in one-on-one conversations with people daily has always come naturally to me. I cherish the interactions with my patients, particularly the stories from the elderly. I find joy in building connections through meaningful dialogue. However, addressing a large audience is an entirely different challenge.

In 2016, I began selling products with a health and wellness MLM. The products were health and wellness supplements meant to help men and women lose weight. It seemed to fit into the pharmacy field, so I dove headfirst. It was an adjustment, but I often went live to promote the products. I was out of my comfort zone but couldn't get sales. So, I posted almost daily, trying to remain consistent and relevant. Looking back on it, God prepared me to use my voice often.

Fast forward to 2019. I was a member of an online singles ministry community. I was pretty active in the group. I worked with the DFW meetup team, helped moderate some of the pages for challenges, and posted quite often in the leading Facebook group. After making a few posts telling my testimony of how God brought me out of fornication, the leaders of the group asked me to be a part of a panel discussing my testimony. I was nervous and anxious, but I could not deny that God placed me in this position for a reason. After all, someone else's testimony made me recognize just how deep in sin I was. I remember that day when I went live. It was a fantastic experience, but I still felt like there was more to do. I wasn't sure what would happen, but I was sure God was up to something.

God kept showing me that my voice was necessary and needed, step by step. I couldn't comprehend what was about to happen next. God finally released a part of His vision concerning my voice. In 2020, I became a worship leader at Emmanuel Kingdom Fellowship, now Truth Church. I always wanted to be on the praise and worship team at the previous churches I attended, but I never had the opportunity. However, I never imagined that I would be a worship leader. I always pictured myself in the background, but God said otherwise. Worshipping in my home and the congregation is one thing. Being a worship leader meant putting my worship in the front and using this voice not only to worship but to exhort. That was only the beginning of how God wanted to use my voice for His glory.

The following year, I truly found my voice. While being a worship leader is an extension of who I am, God decided there was more for me to do. With the push and vision of my Apostles, Health Talk was created. It is a quarterly episode where I discuss different aspects of the body from a physical and spiritual perspective. It's where my love of medicine merged with my faith in God. I didn't find my voice the first time I went live on Facebook for Health Talk. At that moment, I still wasn't sure what God was doing.

Then it happened. At Deborah's Roar 2021, I was asked to speak to the women of God. It was the first time I spoke in a room full of women, and God met me there. I was nervous, scared, unsure... all the things! You name it, I'm sure I felt it. But I knew that what was happening was ordained by God. The night before, the Holy Spirit downloaded the entire speech. He laid out the points perfectly. None of this information came from me. I was simply the mouthpiece. Walking off that stage, I was flooded with emotions. I walked over to Apostle Ikisha and wept in her arms. God used me in a way I never imagined, giving me my voice.

Since that event, I have spoken at other events concerning faith and pharmacy. I have the pleasure of hosting Health Talk once a quarter with Truth Church. I also go live every Wednesday on Facebook and YouTube, hosting a weekly segment called Rx Info on the Go. God has been moving. As much as I wanted to be behind the scenes, God has pushed me to the front to speak to His people differently. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to speak in front of crowds now. I'm no longer afraid of my voice or what He wants to say through me. I still get slightly nervous, but I know He's with me as I stand before others.

So, get ready! Now that I've found my voice, will you listen?