Life, Love, Faith, and Music with Leandria Johnson

Leandria shared real talk.

When Leandria Johnson is singing gospel it's coming from her soul. Her voice is clear, commanding and authoritative. When I first heard the song "Sooner or Later" I knew there was real talent with a powerful conviction of faith behind it. Then I heard "God Will Take Care Of You" and officially became a new fan. In a recent interview Leandria shared her thoughts and lessons on everything from Marriage, Family, Faith, Music, to Ministry and  Life. Hosted by Author Rhachelle Nicol, the session was empowering and full of straight talk from the Grammy Award winning singer. 

The Preacher's kid and Sunday Best Winner, grew up in the church, and the conversation of life definitely taught her some lessons along the way. Which is why I wanted to know one important question, When exactly did she find faith all for herself. The interview was candid and surprisingly refreshing.

BOLD Journal (#BOLDJournal):  We start off with our parents making us go to church, and I know you're a Pastor's Daughter, so you were always in church, and we all have our own journey, but at what point did you find faith and God for yourself?

Leandria Johnson (@LeandriaJ):  Not too long ago, definitely after Sunday Best, is when I had to go to God for myself, because going through the ridicule nobody is in the fire but you, So I had to go to God for myself and when I went to him for myself, He began to talk to me and tell me certain things to do, I was obedient and then God came in and He made a way. So which drew me more to Him and away from what man had to say, or mans thoughts. So instead of going to my Pastor or Bishop all the time, or First Lady, or Mother of the church I went to my God! ...and He has said the right things at the right time, and then on top of that delivered me and delivered me from the snares of the enemy, so that's what pushed me to create a relationship with God, talking to him for myself.  

Leandria took a route we all sometimes find ourselves taking, which usually proves to be the best route, reaching out in prayer and calling God for ourselves. I personally can be a witness to that power that comes from reaching out for yourself, when it seems like no one else is around.

Special Thanks to Leandria Johnson for taking time to share her lessons, and Rhachelle Nicol for being a wonderful host. We all definitely at some point have to find faith for ourselves and study to show our own selves approved. The full interview and press conference can be found on sound-cloud soon.


More updates from Leandria can be found on her twitter @LeandriaJ and Leandriajohnson.com


Keep up with Rhachelle Nicol on Twitter and Instagram @RhachelleNicol 

-April D. Byrd

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Play Your Cards Right

Don't be a statistic! If there is a race card, there is also a Blessed Card. Life deals each and every one of us a unique hand. It is up to us how we play it and whether we succeed in making the best of it. Consult "the dealer" and refuse to stay down on your luck. Even when it seems like we don't we have anything, the truth is we have everything we need to be blessed and walk in divine purpose.

May each and every individual in this one nation under God, as well as the rest of the world seek true love peace, and justice in order to operate as Winners and be a blessing in the earth. May Trayvon's life and controversy that has united so many voices to speak out and take a stand cause those same souls to seek and speak the righteousness and the blessings of God. Live In Peace!

G O! New Hope Baptist Church

It's Go Time! The "Grand Opening" service at New Hope Baptist Church was spectacular! The atmosphere was excellent in vision, but also in spirit. The beautiful Church facility with it's cylindrical design and two tier seating recently underwent a total redesign. At the opening of the service, media footage was shared as the workers built the church from the ground up. The arena like setting with the glorious lighting gives off a concert vibe; A concert for Christ!

Although the church is advanced and upgraded,  there is still comfort and coziness in the place for worship. Some mega churches can seem a bit distant, but the spirit of God was still actively present and heavy in the environment at New Hope. The pastor consecrated the ground material of the sanctuary with blessing oil and let the worship and the word commence.

Pastor Canton Jones, (above) a gospel artist and worship leader turned the crowd up with "Our God is an awesome God and delivered new music with an event CD: "Go Mode". Praise and worship was phenomenal, with beautiful instruments and beautiful voices, but all the grandeur was still not enough to take away from the spirit of God.

Surprisingly when the word came people were focused. There were no distracting side conversations or too much random unnecessary movement. The message was candid and delivered with clarity. Another great thing about New Hope is that for a Baptist Church in the south it was sprinkled with all cultures and races of people. The diversity was refreshing.

Guest Speaker

In the nature and spirit of "GO TIME" The guest pastor taught a  message from 2 Timothy 1-8 entitled:

 " How To Make a Difference For Christ"

1. Stir Up (v.6)
2. Stand Up (v. 8a)
3. Step Out (v. 8b)

Experiencing  time at New Hope church provided  exactly what it's name promises: New Hope!  It delivered  a sense that there is new hope for the church and the body of Christ! Hope that we can all get along in beautiful unison to worship God, Hope that we can and should make technological advances on behalf of the kingdom and it confirmed witness that the house of the Lord is indeed the best place anyone could be.

Even with a new facility and celebrity support, what was most praiseworthy about the Grand Opening was the theme and maxim for the event: "Its Go Time"! It is indeed Go time! for all Gods children everywhere in the world.

It's time for us to stir up the gifts God gave us, Stand Up for the word of God, and step out into the world to actively live it and proclaim it.

Congrats to New Hope Baptist Church for continually making new steps! Go New Hope, Go!

Swag Bag and  Church Propaganda

Visit their website and learn more about new hope at their website: http://www.newhopebc.org/  If you are a Georgia resident and you don't have a church home, consider going to their church.

Maximize Your Personal Development

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate. – Carl Jung

Most “Millennials” and many close to the generation are being targeted as lazy, but there is power to make a positive difference with the advanced tools and resources in this age, especially in the field of networking and communications. Personal development helps us to realize what we have to offer the world. It gives us a brief estimate of our value and on what exact talents we can place worth on, that can in turn be incorporated into all areas of life and authentic success.

If we want the best out of our lives, it means we should give life the best of ourselves. As William Shakespeare noted:  “This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”  Knowing your authentic self and developing your highest potential is the key behind personal branding and development, it is the essential function that serves our purpose and service to the world.

Consciously achieving your goals means allocating the time to do so. All big problems started as little problems. When left unchecked, simple issues can gradually grow out of proportion. Health is one thing any professional can’t allow to go in the wrong direction. 

Personal development also relies heavily on mental sharpness and acumen. If our perception is limited, the very experience of our life will be too. You can only see the world from your perception, why not make it awesome?!  Your key attributes and your authenticity give life to your personal brand. 

Low self-worth and lack of good communication causes individuals to make bad choices, which leads life into a series of bad experiences. Life is all about communication. How are you relating to everything and everybody else in the world? Self-Investment is the key to increase communication skills and career success.