Carmille Akande

I am raising money to support an organization that helps individuals who are struggling with mental illness. This organization also serves as a resource for family members and those in the community. The National Alliance on Mental Health is have a 5K run to raise funds so it can continue to serve the community. Would you help me raise $500.00 to support this cause? Help Carmille Raise Funds

If you’re in your darkest days, have hope because beauty is coming... When you don’t know where to turn, look to God because beauty is coming... When you don’t know what to do, be silent, he is there... When the answer is not coming and your problems haven’t gone away, understand that in these times your character is developing... You will be stronger , wiser and better after this... So my brother or sister, hold on a little while longer because more glory, more power, and more beauty is on the way... Selah...beauty is coming.

I found the biggest challenge in my faith is when I'm facing tremendous hardship. In those times, I wonder why God doesn't come to my rescue immediately. The hardest part is knowing that he can rescue me at any time, but there is no immediate rescue. I question where is God? Why is he allowing me to suffer like this? In these times, I remind myself of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. They were friends of Jesus. One day Lazarus becomes sick and they sent a message to Jesus. Now you would think that because they were faithful followers of Jesus he would rush to their aid at once, but he didn't. He stayed where he was two more days. When Jesus finally arrives, Lazarus had died. When you are a follower of Jesus, we expect to see good things happen in our lives. When trouble appears, we turn to prayer and ask God to help us. Afterwards, we expect God to come and assist us. Unfortunately, he doesn't always come and rescue us when and how we want him too. Are you a fol

A few years ago I had a chance to watch a movie entitled,  Blood Done Sign My Name . In this movie, viewers get to know two leaders who are faced with civil unrest during the Civil Rights Era. In one scene a young white pastor is having a discussion with his predecessor over how, or if, the church should get involved in the Civil Rights Movement. His predecessor tells him to decide what type of pastor he wants to be—the priest or the prophet. He goes on to explain that the priestly pastor tells people what they  want  to hear and a prophetic pastor tells people what they  need  to hear. Continue reading...

One Tuesday morning I woke up a 36 year old African American woman and 4 hours later became a 75 year old white male. How? I participated in training on poverty. I quickly settled into my new identity because I had a new life to live and I had to survive in my new reality. I was asked to leave my true identity at the door and mentally become another person. The requirement to take on a new identity was part of the rules of engagement for this poverty simulation. We had to put ourselves in the place of real people. We had to live their reality. We had to endure the struggles they encountered daily just to meet our basic needs. We spent our "days" and "weeks" going from one place to another trying to care for our family. Our community was comprised of businesses, community agencies, and a place of worship. When the whistle blew in the room it began and ended our day. It was organized chaos. It was a room full of people frantically moving about to pay their bi

Can I introduce you to Samara* She's a lady I saw for a split second, but through my friend she slipped me a couple pages of notes to share with me a snippet of her life. Samara is a resident of a transformative community I volunteer for named Butterflies15 . Samara wishes she could turn back the hands of time…just for a moment…just for a second. If she could have just a moment of her life back she would make a different decision. She wouldn't have stepped into that car…not that car…not that car with that person. Samara writes to her younger self… I'm writing you this letter to warn you…to warn you about that warm August day as you were walking home. You had made up your mind to walk, but when that person pulled up and offered you a ride…you let your tired feet and hot body take a seat in his car. Why walk when you can ride? After all I know him…or least I thought I did… You see he looked so harmless, so why not get in? I mean it's not like I was hitc