Dream In Soul – Creativity for the Kingdom:

Preview of a New Dream in Soul Fiction Story Series by Julene Fleurmond

One band. One mission. Lots of secrets…

They’re a group of 20-somethings navigating the road of faith, relationships and dreams. Stay tuned for this upcoming fiction series on Dream in Soul, and catch a glimpse into their confessions below…

I creaked open the side stage entrance door a sliver and shakingly sneaked a peek at the mob we were about to confront. Through the thin opening I could see their faces lit dimly by colored spotlights – they didn’t look angry or dangerous, more like excited and harmless. They were definitely not toting pitchforks as they conversed with one another, unaware that I was spying on them to get myself used to the idea that I’d be addressing row after row of them in a few minutes.

The gigantic auditorium, larger than any we’ve ever played, was abuzz with the energetic drone of teens laughing and chatting with their friends as they waited for us to come out and the event to begin. You’d think as many times as I’ve done this before that I’d be over the hovering cloud of anxiety trying to suffocate my enthusiasm. I swallowed my nerves and just hoped I wouldn’t pass out or lose my lunch before or while we were out there. Though that audience looked happy now I’m sure none of them wanted the Chick-fil-A waffle fries and nuggets I’d scarfed down earlier (formerly known as delicious) to make a reappearance.

This was our first big venue, opening for a band I’d been listening to since I was an awkward tween-ager jamming out to my bulky portable CD player (do they even make those anymore?). I should be stoked. So why was I wishing that I was anywhere but here?

Watch the powerful video above of a man who despite adversity is using his creativity for the Kingdom to impact others…

We received this moving video from Union Rescue Mission (URM) that is part of their “Stories from Skid Row” mini-documentary series. Featured in the video is Brian Mitchell, URM’s in-house graphic designer who shares his story of going from drug addiction and homelessness to the abundant life…

Brian’s Story

All my life, I felt alone, isolated, like I never really fit anywhere. Even in my own family. Instead of connecting with friends, I retreated into a world of art and fantasy. From the age of 3 or 4, I would spend hours, or even days, drawing characters, making up stories, living in a world that existed only in my head and in my art.

My parents didn’t understand and tried many different ways to change me. So as a teenager, I rebelled — dabbling with LSD, mescaline, mushrooms, whatever I could get my hands on. Hallucinogens brought my art to life. And I loved it. Before long, I was eating 50 to 100 hits a day.

Then I found crystal meth. And that was it. Meth enabled me to focus on my art at a whole new level. Not only that, I could draw for three days straight, until my body would collapse from exhaustion. But I craved it.

Somehow, in all that insanity, I got married in my early 20s. My wife even gave birth to two sons. But both were born with serious health problems. My first son was born with DiGeorge Syndrome, kind of a cross between autism and Down Syndrome. My second son was born with an incurable heart condition and I had to make the heart-breaking decision to take him off life support. When he died, so did my marriage.

The Loneliness of Homelessness

After that, everything fell apart. My wife fell into prostitution and heroin addiction. My surviving son ended up with my wife’s aunt. And I ended up living on the streets for the next seven years, isolated and alone, disconnected from everyone but my drug dealers.

But as I grew lonelier and more exhausted, I wanted to change. That’s when I came to Union Rescue Mission. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but when I walked inside the building, the compassion and love I felt brought me to tears. I felt known, like everyone here could see me — the real me. I wasn’t alone anymore. And something about that made me want to be the best man I could be.

The Real Me

I gave my life to Jesus that first day and I have never craved drugs since. I took advantage of every service the Mission offered, from health and dental care, to counseling and spiritual care. They met every need I had. And I have never felt so alive physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I’ve rebuilt relationships with my family, and even my son. And, I returned to school, and I’m now working full-time as a graphic artist.

I never knew this kind of life was possible, and I never would have experienced it apart from Union Rescue Mission. Because the people here were willing to show me compassion and love me, I am a real person now. URM didn’t give me my life back. The truth is, I never had a life. What I can say is, thanks to URM, I now have a life.

About Union Rescue Mission

Union Rescue Mission (URM) is dedicated to serving men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. We provide comprehensive emergency and long-term services to our guests to help them escape the dangerous streets of Skid Row.

URM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established in 1891. Today, we are one of the largest rescue missions of our kind in the United States, and the oldest in Los Angeles.

“We hope in what we do not see because what is unseen is eternal.”
The “Hope In What We Do Not See” is one of the inspiring designs from Dream in Soul Creative Apparel.

Note from the designer Julene, editor of DreaminSoul.com

In life it may be easy to look at our surroundings and circumstances and become deflated because of the pains that throb in our hearts. I wanted to remind anyone who sees this shirt that our true hope is beyond anything we can see. The shirt is based on:

Romans 8:25 – “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 – “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (Click here to read more of this passage in context.)

Click here to find this shirt and other designs at Dream in Soul Creative.

Embracing and pursuing God’s dreams for our lives are so vital especially in this shifting season we’re in. These videos from Terri Savelle Foy will encourage you to overcome distractions and excuses that keep us paralyzed and nonproductive in pursuing purpose.

The enemy has a way of beating us down and he is constantly trying to get us to quit going after our dreams. If we’re not careful we’ll allow these attacks to become excuses. In this first video Terri deals with the top 5 excuses we use to keep us from pursuing our dreams.

The enemy will use time lost to break your focus on your dreams but in the second video Terri encourages us that it is never too late to follow your God given destiny.

Above: The creativity-infused trailer for The Lyricist’s Lounge spoken word course

Lyricist’s Lab is an all access online course for individuals seeking to strengthen their skills as spoken word artists and ministers. The course is beginning it’s Summer Session on July 1st, 2013, so if you’re a poet or have any interest at all in using your words to positively influence others, I dare you to invest in your purpose and step into the Lyricist’s Lab…

The course is taught by two passionate artists, Janette…ikz and Ezekiel who have both impacted many lives through the ministry P4CM and other ministries through powerful spoken word pieces that have gotten millions of views on Youtube. Here on Dream in Soul we’ve featured the heartfelt “I Will Wait For You” by Janette…ikz, the raw and real “Almost Saved” by Ezekiel, and a dramatic collaboration about the greatest Love story of all time “Ready or Not.”

Watch Janette…ikz and Ezekiel present the moving piece Ready or Not” below:

I dared to enter the first online course of the Lyricist’s Lab in Spring 2013 and am grateful for the experience. The Lab consists of regular video trainings presented by the instructors (previously filmed in one of their live course semesters) and allows students to learn at their own pace. The sessions are energetic, engaging and fun – I found myself laughing along with the instructors and students at points and my heart being moved when they were transparent about their own weaknesses and experiences.

The classes go in-depth on how one can improve their writing, presentation, delivery and cultivating the right spiritual focus and ministry mindset. It was helpful to see other students in action, growing as the course went on through various exercises. There are also assignments that challenge you to hone your craft and go beyond your own expectations and perceived limitations. I found myself constantly making changes on my poems to explore new territory and journey out of the obvious and ordinary to a more striking place of expression.

When I first entered the Lyricist’s Lab I was a poet who had been writing for self expression for years since I was a little girl. I had only dabbled in speaking my poems aloud and writing spoken word for ministering in live settings. I had begun some spoken word pieces months before but always felt stuck in trying to develop and finish them.

Taking this course was like drinking a refreshing cup of a strawberry-banana energy-boosting smoothie (my fave:) in that it gave me a kick of confidence and a spark that ignited me into action. It was encouraging to get feedback from instructors and other students in the Lab and this motivated me to improve my work continually. I truly believe that God led me to the class at a time of feeling creatively parched and needed a dose of inspiration and guidance. I know that I’m still developing and will continue to challenge myself after the course to stretch and grow both artistically and spiritually.

Below is part of a poem I concocted and was able to work on in the Lab:

More About the Lyricist’s Lab

Christian spoken word is on the rise and the world is in high demand for poets that are able to present a clear and strong message that can reach them. This course is strategically designed to build a community of poets all over the word that are not only passionate but skilled to speak life into a dying generation.

Lyricist’s Lab is a 12 week course that is divided into two main components; Writing and Presentation.

Instructors Janette…ikz and Ezekiel are digging deep to sharpen students towards their apex. The instructing poets have traveled the world and gained countless opportunities from using this tool of spoken word and you are not an exception!

This will be priceless experience for students that are serious about growing.

What are YOU waiting for? Visit http://lyricistslab.com to step into this unique incubator of powerful, poetic growth!