I'm so glad to have Malachi Stewart visiting us today, and we're going to learn some fun elements about Malachi as a writer. Taking a break from the seriousness of Journey to Malachi, while on tour at the Virtual Book Tour Cafe', please give a warm welcome to Malachi Stewart - Journey To Malachi.
Welcome Malachi!
MM: Who is your most favorite
character from any book of all time?
My most favorite character would
definitely be Celie from The Color Purple. I think my book proves
that I have a lot in common with her characters experiences with
abuse and struggle with self-image.
MM: If you could dive into the pages
of any book, which book would it be and what character would you be?
I would love to dive into the pages of
Alice and Wonderland and be the Absalom. Who wouldn’t want to be
absolute and all knowing? Plus I think it is cool how he never really
seems to answer questions directly. A certain mystery about him that
is intriguing.
MM: If your book was to become a
movie, which actors/actresses do you see playing the parts of your
characters?
Journey to Malachi is a biography so I
would probably want Shia Lebeouf to play myself. Obviously we look
nothing alike, but I think he is a tremendously gifted actor and I
think he can capture the emotionalism of my book well. I think
everyone else can be cast interchangeably with any actors.
MM: What can we expect from Malachi
Stewart in the future? Any new projects?
I just began writing a new book I am
working on called Daddy. It is about how often our natural
experiences with our father affect that way we perceive and interact
with God as our father. I am also trying out a radio program I
started called Survivors Radio, dedicated to helping victims and
survivors of sexual abuse became overcomer.
MM: Where can readers connect with
you?
Readers can find me at Malachi Jeremiah
Stewart on Twitter and Facebook. I can also be found at my blog
Sanctum Sanctorum.
Thank you so much for taking time to
chat with me today. It's been a wonderful pleasure.
Author.Speaker.Youth
Specialist. Specialist in Rehabilitation from Sexual Abuse and
Freedom from Sexual Bondage.
Malachi
Jeremiah Stewart is an ancient vessel housed in a modern body. In
2011, he was entrusted to lead Prophetic Streams Ministries in
Philadelphia, PA as a unique tributary of Kingdom life, by declaring
the finished work of Christ and dispensing the ‘unforced rhythms of
grace.’
Currently,
Malachi is pursuing a degree in Religion and Christian Counseling at
Liberty University and seeks to work in full time ministry, both at
locally and globally. He serves as Youth Advisor & Trainer to
Dominion’s Prophetic & Apostolic Coalition Trans-Continental
(D'PACT), Youth L.E.A.D. and Youth in Ministry (YIM) organizations,
training high school and college students in the areas of evangelism,
spiritual devotion, biblical instruction, and Papa prayer. He leads
IGNITE! a youth evangelistic outreach in the capitol region,
including DC-Maryland-Virginia. As a visionary leader and prophetic
flame, he has a strong desire for souls to be saved, families to be
restored, and for nations to be reconciled with Christ.
Genre:
Biographical
Publisher:
Dog Ear Publishing
When
we face turbulent times, hardships and calamity there is much solace
in companionship. We all want to know that someone has been where we
are and have gotten through the same difficulties we face. When I
wrote Journey to Malachi, I began to visualize myself as a little boy
being abused and recalled all of the feelings that flooded my heart
at that time. My writing literally became a journey in my mind
through my life’s darkest hours and through my writings, I became
my own companion.
As
I wrote, I took several pauses to minister the words of hope, grace
and freedom that I needed.I went deep into my inner sanctum to find
the little boy who was afraid to tell his secret, who needed more
than anything to be loved and accepted and wanted more than anything
to be protected and valued. As the writings progressed, he grew
older and how the bitterness grew inside him and birthed inner
‘demons’ of self-hatred, insecurity, un-forgiveness,
hopelessness, distrust, suicide, anger, resentment and so much more.
I remembered the confusion the sexual abuse caused concerning his
sexual identity and the long-terms effects it had on his mental
health. I recalled the embarrassment and isolation all of the deep
pain that lied beneath a warm smile. He laughed and often made others
laugh but inside there was a fiery hell that tormented him and yet
this was only something he knew. He was so invisible in many ways and
so I begin to tell his story and share the shameful secrets of his
reality.In the midst of the journey, I interjected to share biblical
truths that would later free him (me). Even though his journey seemed
to grow darker and more hopeless, I had experienced the ending and so
I was encouraged to continue to write and get to the expected end.
Journey
to Malachi, is my journey from becoming a powerless victim to a
victorious over-comer! As a reader I invite you to share this
intimate journey with me embark to discover how I became a messenger
of light, liberty and love. Whether you have been through the same
things that I have or simply understand hard times, I plan to grab
your hand and become YOUR companion as well journey together to find
the divine purpose & ultimate overcoming victory that is wrought
from our utmost pains.
Excerpt
#1:
FOREWARD
As a teenager, I often
appeared accomplished on the outside, but was a proverbial war zone
within. My public life showcased "normal" at school, but my
private world was completely "abnormal," and my parents had
no clue! My perception was distorted about everything from God and
sex to drugs and abortion.
That was over 35 years ago,
but much has not changed in the world. Countless young people today
still struggle with complicated realities as sexual identity, social
pressure, family crisis, religious indifference and mental escapism.
Fortunately, back then, my college classmate, Dennis showed me tough
love, got in my face, and helped me discern 'truth from a lie' by
introducing me to Jesus Christ. It was only through that love
relationship that I came out of the darkness and into real and honest
light. Embracing the Lordship of Jesus Christ changed my life.
Today, I am an apostle and
senior pastor of a radical and progressive ministry and training
company called, Dominion International Ministries and also lead its
prayer affiliate, EXOUSIA. My life is steeped in helping others break
free from the issues that hold them captive. What a wonderful life!
It was during Exousia, our
12-hour prayer summit, that I was first introduced to Martez Stewart;
a college kid from Philly, styling boyish glass frames and a Jewish
prayer shawl. Even then, he appeared to me as a giant in many ways
despite his small physical frame. I would later discover his intense
struggles with sexual abuse, sexual sins and all of the related
medical issues that tormented his young life. I was gripped by his
need for the kind of tough love that had saved my life when I was
exactly his age. In so many ways, Martez was me; and I
whole-heartedly embraced him.
Despite his internal
challenges, all of us at Exousia observed the strong prophetic gift
that operated with potent power through Martez. Fire filled his eyes
when he talked. As he prayed, angels seemed to move at the sound of
his voice. While he ministered to others, especially children and
youth, their hearts were opened and real change occurred. It was
amazing! We all recognized a young prophet in the making.
Time passed. I didn't see
Martez for a long while. Then one Sunday morning, I felt him deeply
like a mother lion sensing her cub was in danger. I could hear his
cry and prayed earnestly for him. My mothering instincts were
confirmed when I received an email from Martez later that evening. He
described how I had come to him in an open vision as a spiritual
mother with great care and concern. Therefore, he was certain I could
help him overcome the forces that held him bound.
From that day, we were both
convinced that the Lord had brought us together in a fresh way and
for a liberating purpose. Together, we conquered many of his demons,
and he experienced great change, deliverance, and breakthroughs.
Then, Martez told me that he
had received a divine strategy for overcoming the devastation of his
past: changing his name from Martez to "Malachi." Deep
inside an abused, victimized Martez was a valiant, victorious Malachi
battling to the surface! The name “Martez” embodied too much of
the baggage from the past; but, “Malachi” held the master key to
both his identity and destiny. Recognizing how critical this was to
his life and ministry, I immediately agreed with this name change and
we celebrated the overcoming strategy that he had received from
above.
The book you hold in your hand
is the outcome of that decision and the spiritual mapping behind
the Journey to Malachi. Emerging from the pages is the radical
unfolding of a young man who stared abuse and perversion in the face
and addressed it with stealth and determination. Malachi's story is
mine in many ways and it is yours. Perhaps the specifics are
different, but we can all relate to the confusing conditions of being
young, impressionable and unprotected from things that "go bump
in the night" or the childhood "boogie-man" we all
feared. Life can be harsh and ugly behind closed doors, especially
with the young and innocent. This book chronicles that reality.
Journey to Malachi is a
written prescription that offers real healing for the broken,
bruised, captive and tormented who have suffered at the suffocating
hands of sexual abuse and/or sexual sins. You will be strengthened as
you read each page. As you apply its anecdotes, you will be lifted
from hopelessness to possibility. If you stay the course to the last
word, you will be made whole and restored in heart and soul. Journey
to Malachi is a tell-all expose' that will help you avoid life's
pitfalls, defy self-sabotage and crossover into safe terrain for a
better life and a brighter future.
All of us are peppered with
pain and problems in this life. Like me and Malachi, you may need
some tough love right about now. As Dennis got in my face, and I got
in Malachi's, he is ready to get in yours. So, don't run or
hide...just be still.
Malachi and I are free today
because someone dared to love us enough to tell us the truth and
thrust us from darkness into light. Are you ready for true liberation
and freedom? I believe you are. So, take a deep breath and slowly
exhale. It's your turn to take the journey!
Apostle Yolanda L. Powell
Senior Pastor & Visionary
Dominion International
Ministries & EXOUSIA
Prayer Training Summit
Author, Soul Food & Living
Water: Spiritual Nourishment & Practical Help for the
African-American Family
Owings, Maryland USA
Giveaway
– Signed Paperback + Free 5 Blog Stop Tour at Virtual
Book Tour Café
6 comments:
Thanks for chatting today Malachi! :)
I read his guest post earlier and I would love to learn more about him by reading his book. He is courageous for sharing his story!
My pleasure BK Walker!!! Thanks to MM for hosting me and for the fun interview!
To Teddy, I appreciate the compliment and I hope you enjoy the book. Would love to read your review afterwards!!!
I agree with Teddy, he has a sad past but it's awesome how he recovered and getting to know him by reading his book would be great!
@ Rhomy PP hanks I appreciate that and hope you enjoy the book as well.
Great! Hope the tour is going good.
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