We Believe

Growing up as a young black boy in west Texas, school was always a struggle. Early on he was labeled as having a number of learning disabilities. His struggles included handwriting, spelling, grammar and putting sentences together. As you could imagine, all of these deficiencies caused him to lack fluent communication skills. Words just didn't make sense to him, which caused him to struggle with communicating and speaking.   As a result, kids often made fun of him, laughed at him, because he was not able to speak perfect English and grammar like everyone else. This was hurtful, embarrassing and caused him to feel sad at school. This made him feel like he had no value. He was confused about why he couldn't do these things and all of this made him dislike school and not even want to go.

Even as an adult, his disability persisted because he continued to have problems with writing and speaking. He still doesn't have perfect grammar and English. He notices when people make fun of him and the way he speaks. They don't realize they are being disrespectful by making fun of a permanent disability. This disability continues to try to make him feel like he has no value, no worth, nothing to offer, is useless and insignificant. In other words, this disability has tried to stop him from his destiny of speaking and writing. But God said...

He was a writer and a speaker, and he would teach him the words to write and speak. Also, he would send him a helper who would help him do both. 

So, God... in his infinite wisdom, did send him a helper. This helper, his wife Michelle, would serve as his editor. She would take his work and make it better. She came along and inspired him to work hard to rise above his disability. It was no coincidence that she was strong where he was weak. She was a teacher who excelled in English, writing, grammar and spelling. Therefore, she helped him in these areas and gave him the confidence to do all of the things he couldn't do on his own. This meant that whatever he started to write, she helped him finish. She encouraged him to keep writing and showed him that he was significant, he was useful and he had incredible value as a writer and speaker.

Consequently, he not only attended and graduated college but worked hard to make the National Dean's list, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and became a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He earned two associate degrees in management and business, and also two bachelor's degrees in biblical studies and business administration. 

During his studies, he began a personal quest to truly know Jesus and committed to hours of studying the scriptures both day and night. This intense study led to days, weeks, months and years of gaining knowledge and biblical insight. 

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Although Michelle was born in West Texas, she grew up in the city of Chicago. Always in predominantly black neighborhoods, she stood out as being different not only in her family, but in her schools because of her mixed heritage. God placed good friends in her path throughout junior high and high school, as well as a special teacher who made sure she attended one of the top high schools in Chicago. After graduation, she was encouraged by her oldest sister to move back to Texas for college. Eventually, she connected with Everette, and they married after a short engagement. It didn't take long to figure out that their marriage was God-ordained, and it was part of a much bigger plan. 

Michelle later earned her B.S. in fashion merchandising/business and then a master's degree in education. She discovered her passion for teaching, which led to a career in education spanning over 25 years. Together they have embarked on a spiritual journey to explore what God would have them do to with the combination of their skills, abilities and gifts. Along the way, they were blessed to start a family and now have three young adult children. 

Bring the Change Ministries is a result of many years of seeds planted in their lives by the God of Heaven, and they are deeply honored to carry out his will.