Are You Too Self Righteous To Brand Your Purpose?

There is a gentleman that donates to our annual youth coat drive each and every year. Not a small donation either. A hefty amount that allows us to purchase tens of coats for Kentucky children in need as we push towards reaching our designated goal each year. Just one of hundreds of people that donate or volunteer to make this mission the success that it has been over the last 6 years. But it's one glaring statement made by this gentleman every time he gives that always stands out to me. "Hey! Please don't let know but know I'm doing this. I don't need the clout, I just want to give." He usually carries on for a couple of minutes about how he just wants to keep his service under the radar and you can tell by his demeanor and tone that he is delighted in himself that he chooses to give and not make it public. An admirable thing for the average person, but philanthropy is this man's mission so it struck me a little different. A well known, popular, guy with an amazing testimony. All I kept asking myself was, "I wonder how many more people would be inspired to act, serve, or give if he were to share the goodness that God has put in his heart?"

I wanted to challenge him with spreading his good works, not to boast, but to inspire others in his network to give and serve so that even more people could be helped! But I just dapped him up quietly, thanked him and carried on about my business. Besides, who am I to suggest such a thing when I've often been accused of the exact opposite! A clout chaser, who takes advantage of every opportunity to be seen! More concerned with camera time on the news than actually helping those in need. These are just a few of the attacks that have been levied my way over the years, for attempting to brand my work. Quietly watching people permeate that narrative has been a tough swallow over the years. I indeed take almost every opportunity available to share my works, but it's not for the clout. My case is extremely unique in my field of work of youth advocacy and community engagement. I'm a college dropout, failed ex-athlete, and indie hip hop artist who had 2 daughters out of wedlock, by 2 different women at the age of 20. I didn't grow up in a church, I don't belong to a frat, my parents were not rich, and my social awkwardness limits my circle of friends to a very low number. Because of these social deficiencies, I don't have the structures in place to produce the type of opportunities for my work that I desire. I can't lean on a college degree when all else fails or call a frat brother or life long church member for a favor. I've had to learn to swim without a life jacket and it's your own God given strength that will keep you afloat when drowning seems inevitable. So what I've had to develop over the years, are ways to brand my passion to create opportunities to work in my purpose! Using social media as a visual resume instead of a personal platform for fun and games. Utilizing my following from a successful 10 year independent hip hop career and transitioning those supporters to the next phase of my ministry. Using strong imagery, real time updates, and program results to supplement the lack of higher education, conventional networking, and placement in fruitful social structures, in order to put my self in positions to succeed. I don't post to boast, I post to create more opportunities for myself. I can't tell you how many speaking engagements, music performances, youth hip hop workshops, mentoring programs, and other opportunities I've secured over the years from a social media post that I've made. Some people's value is in their education or who they know.. My value is in my obedience to the Lord's voice and the actual work that He's assigned me to do, so I chose to highlight that every chance I get. 

But the desire to make my work sustainable so that I can feed my family is second to my highest priority which is to help and inspire as many people as possible! Creating more opportunities for me to serve, give back, and uplift in the ways God created me to do so. On surface, the integrity of the "giving quietly" or "service doesn't have to be shared" mantras are admirable, but I find it difficult to feed my family and extend the reach of ministry by following them. There's a self righteousness in blessing one person quietly just so you can say "I didn't do it for the clout", when you could have humbly shared your kindness and been a blessing to hundreds! However, balance is the key and as I've matured in my spiritual walk, that balance is a little harder to execute. Sometimes, I feel a little uncomfortable sharing so much. Sometimes, I get so carried away in trying to inspire others or create opportunities, that I forget to give glory to the One that made it all possible! But despite the challenges of maintaining the humility of highlighting your personal works while giving the glory to God, dealing with those outliers who see you as a self gratifying opportunist, the end result of being able to brand your purpose is more than worth it! As the sole financial provider of my household and a full time contractor and nonprofit director, the importance of monetizing my gifts and branding my ministry is paramount. As I continue to find balance, I pray that I can be a model for those that are in the same field and are looking to expand their reach in this content dominated era that we are working in. Figure out what your God-aligned goals are and do what it takes to reach them!