Interview With Pat-Uwaje King of Mid-Night Crew

Hi Guys,

Here's someone I'd love you to 'really' meet.

She’s a young general, doing kingdom business the best way she knows how, and excelling at it.

I saw her on TV and I was enthralled. I’ve always known she was on that sensational Gospel group that I love sooo much but still....  

So this music video came on screen and I heard this strong captivating voice. It was Pat. I knew I wanted to talk to her. You’ll find her humble, passionate, compassionate, strong, feminine, spiritual and ...well, see for yourself.

We’d like to know a little more about Pat-Uwaje King...

I am my parents’ first daughter and the fourth of seven children.  I hail from Delta state, although I was born and bred in Ibadan, Oyo state, where I had my primary and some of my secondary education. I completed my secondary school in Lagos and I am a graduate of Creative Arts from The University of Lagos by God’s grace.

 Have you always known that music will be such an important aspect of your life?

I come from a family where we eat, drink and dream music. My mother is a wonderful vocalist and most of my siblings either sing or have a good ear for music.  I have always been very musically inclined and I served in church and campus choirs when I was much younger. Somehow, I knew my life was about music and that music would be a major part of me. My husband is also a good guitarist and music teacher and our 2 year old is hastily following in those steps. Its exciting!

What’s the best thing about being a member of The Mid Night Crew?

The privilege to worship God together with like-minded people and putting His praise on the lips of everyone-young and old, Africans and Non-Africans, black, white and grey. This for me is definitely the best thing about being a part of the Midnight Crew.  Being a group, we have had to learn to be good team players, Understanding and drawing strength from each other and as the scripture says “One shall chase a thousand, two, ten thousand,” can you imagine how many the four of us will chase?

 There is definitely strength and power in our togetherness and God’s grace has always been more than sufficient for us. We do have our challenges and differences but that’s what makes the group very unique.

We come from different physical and spiritual backgrounds and the people that love us all do, for different reasons. Michael is the swagger-man and the fuji crooner, Odunayo is our performer and dance queen, Gbenga is a bit reserved on stage but he brings God’s presence down in awesome worship and I just draw a bit from each of them and take the lead in vocals for some of our songs. We are so blessed by God. Our hit track, IGWE is being sung all over the world even by Non-Nigerians, it’s very humbling.

We pray to never take God’s anointing that makes the difference in our lives and ministry for granted.

You strike me as a strong, determined and disciplined woman. Do the many roles you fill as a wife, mother, etc affect this? What does your feminity mean to you?

Strength is a gift from God; I bless Him daily for it. Discipline and determination are my watchwords. I have always been very determined. I am a go-getter and I like to make things happen around me. I try to be very focused and reasonable in my decision making and the way I comport myself.

God has to be proud of us, His children, always and when a lot of people look up to you, you cannot afford to let them down, so discipline is very important to me. Also, being a wife and mother is a great responsibility and all those add to those characters definitely.  Some people attribute weakness to feminity but I think feminity is subtle strength. Women are God’s gifts to life itself. A good woman makes a difference in any household. We are naturally very good at multi-tasking. We can do a million things at a go and still hold it together. Naturally a woman nurtures and cares instinctively, looks out for her husband, kids and not just her own family but her husband’s as well. Show me a very successful man, and I will look around and show you an excellent wife who holds his hands and helps to strengthen his feeble knees when he gets weary! Womanhood is a blessing!

How does your faith come to bear on your everyday life?

I love God and I see His hands of love and favour in my life daily. If I start to tell you some of my testimonies, I will write a book. I cannot say I have attained, but like everyone else, I strive towards perfection and try to live a pleasing life unto God. I sometimes make mistakes and do silly things, but every chance I get; I try to do things that I know will make God happy. I love to learn from people no matter how young or old they are and I always ask God to humble me so that I don’t ever become too big for him to use. His mercies have kept me and I pray never to disappoint Him.

Was there ever a time in your life when you weren’t sure what you wanted to be or do in life? How did you handle that?

Like most people, yes! But that was only because most of our African parents and society always want us to be a doctor or a lawyer, accountant or an engineer etc, and anything else outside those really does not make sense to them.

I, on the other hand knew very well that none of those was for me.  It was a lot of struggle to define my own path and follow it, but when you follow God’s will, everything falls in place and that was what I did. I have no regrets whatsoever. I have peace and happiness and above all I feel very fulfilled. I have never wished for any other career or ministry.

Apart from singing, what other strong passions do you possess?

I love to teach music. I hope to begin doing that more on a big scale in the very near future, so everyone should watch this space. I also take delight in giving-My time, love, energy, resources to those who need it.

 What would you do if you had all the resources in the world at your disposal?

 I will build houses where poor people can find shelter, different multipurpose centres where creative activities can take place, shopping malls that would have presence all over the country, recreational grounds for both young and old. I will feed the poor, and use every opportunity to tell as many people as I can about Christ’s second coming.

                                                                           ***

 There you have it. Ain't she amazing?

Also, See Pat's Stint on Lara George's Video, Halleluyah

God bless you Pat, as you keep walking your destiny path and God bless Mid-night crew!

Roy.

Stylish and Versatile Blog Awards

Okay. I have been tagged in the Stylish and Versatile blog award. Thanks to Jaycee for bringing the lamp down here. God bless you dear, your light shines and I see it.
This is kinda late but better late than never right?

So down to it, I’m supposed to say seven things about myself and tag fifteen other bloggers.

Here goes.

1. I love the low profile kinda life. Yes o, I do. I’m a very private person and I hardly like to have my
business out there. So doing this is kinda out of the norm for me but hey... there’s always a first time.

2. I’m strong willed but almost never confrontational. I hate to argue ‘cos I feel it’s the stuff misyarnings are made of. Let him that readeth understand. Lol :). I think deeply before making a decision and you’ll be hard pressed to talk me out of it. So just in case you’re trying to get me to do something, tell it to me early :)

3. Plantain is my bestest food. I like to think someone was frying it behind my mother’s ward in Ayinke hall where I was born. I can eat it all day, every day. I’m stuck and loving it.

4.I practically grew up in one whole year. NYSC. I suddenly had to live alone and manage my own money (as meager as it was). It was a great experience finding myself and I won’t trade it for anything.

5. I love the good life. I love the simple life. I hate undue complications. I love to curl up in bed with a good book, a cup of something nice and plenty pillows to sink into.

6. I grew up wanting to be a gynaecologist. I was convinced I would shock the world. A video of a bloody medical procedure cured me of that. Sadly.

7. I looove God. He’s just so good to me. I fall and stumble but he’s always there to hold me. Through those days when I could hardly raise my head, he was my knight, my hero. Sigh... I just can’t get past that.


Well, enough about me.

Here’s to the bloggers that have touched me deeply one way or another. I know y’all have been tagged but I’ll just list you sha. :)

Myne Whitman
Tee

Finally! I get to use this picture I've been saving  :) *wink

Jaycee

Temiville

Gbenga Awomodu

Berry Feistypen

Reflections on the Christ

Tochi Eze

Writers Space

Harry Itie

Anoda Phase

Lara Daniels

Burnt Bottom Pot

Inspire You

Klusterville

The truth

Gretel

The Struggling Christian

Fred

Oma 

Addy Bardust

And many more.......

God bless you all!

Roy.

Follow your heart?Really?

emilymphotography.wordpress.com

I remember a friend once told me that the Lord had spoken to her about her husband. He had specifically told her who he was and she was supposed to be at alert and ready, or so.

Another friend also told me at some time that the Lord had told her the names of her husband. She mentioned his first middle and last names. She must have got it in a revelation or dream, or so.

 I used to get confused about hearing from God. How do you hear? The audible ‘still small’ voice? The impression in your heart? A word from another person who may serve as a channel? A specific bible verse?

I believe God is not limited in his dealings with his children. He can decide to speak to you in any way form or manner, the problem is usually our fluttering hearts.

But what has me thinking now are the ‘voices’ we hear. How do we know for sure what we have heard is from God and not some random musings and thoughts in our anxious hearts?

 Imagine all the issues you have to face everyday. Your career, family, marriage, children, cars, accommodation, relations, in laws, colleagues, health, church, facebook J to mention a few. All these have thoughts, imaginations, plans and ideas running through your head at breakneck speed, falling over themselves to get your attention.

Your mind then becomes a mesh of jumbled feelings in the continual process of sorting and prioritizing, if not left unsorted and unattended to.

 So how? How you can be sure what you have heard from God did not actually arise from anxieties in one of these areas?

Concerning matters of the heart, we counsel people to ‘Follow your heart’. This is tricky. Very tricky. How can you follow your heart when it is besieged on all sides and under continuous stress from matters both within and beyond your control? Does an anxious, oversensitive, maybe even confused, scared and uncertain heart have the ability to lead you? Really?

The bible says the heart of man is desperately wicked. Now try that on for size. Can a less than perfect heart lead you right 100% of the time? But I have a good heart, you may say. I’m just a simple, nice cool headed fellow trying to get through life.

 But think of the times when you felt you acted out of form? You spoke a demeaning word to someone, maybe a friend, sibling or employee. Overreacted to something you could have overlooked? And then you felt guilty afterwards? Where did that come from? Your heart, isn’t it?

What am I saying here? We cannot trust our own hearts. When it comes to hearing from God, taking decisions and living the God kinda life, God is our best and only fool proof option.

After I have obeyed and done all I have to do, I will stand by the word of God. If all fails, I have an anchor that will never give way.

Both my friends are married today but not to the men they thought God had spoken to them about. What happened? I daresay they heard their own hearts speak.Contrary to what you might think, they were not immature Christians at the time of their seeming revelation, but their hearts got in the way.

It’s easy to say follow your heart and look at issues through rose coloured glasses but we know that tough choices have to be made, the outcome of which is pivotal to the quality of life we live.

As long as we are in this body, there will always be opportunities to be misguided and misled by our ‘good intentions’.

See Phillipians 2:5a

May the Lord help us to rise above them.

S&H,

Roy

I've been thinking.....

Hi people,

Can you believe it? The year is almost over. Yikes!

I’ve been thinking about how my year went and seriously I can’t say I’m totally happy with how I handled it all. I mean there were things I kept procrastinating and never did. Sometimes I feel like kicking myself.

Do you ever feel that way? That you’re not giving your best? To yourself and to God? I do.

One thing I continually do though, even when I feel less than my best is to latch on to God’s Grace. It not only gives me strength to be focused and make amends, he covers my shortcomings. He practically stretches himself over them and I’m good to go.

It’s totally amazing. And at those times, I feel like David when he practically shot himself in the foot condemning the rich man in Prophet Nathan’s cute little story. Yeah, I know, I haven’t killed anybody. Seriously, I haven’t. Neither I have taken anybody’s husband (I’m sure you know this is true, lol) but no sin is small sin o. Whether it’s failing to act when God prompts you or murder, like David committed, all join!

 But just like David, I’m on my face before the Almighty and the blood speaks!

Well, I’ve decided I’m changing my spots. Oh yes I am. So I’ll offload those retellings in my heart, even if I lose my sleep! (oops, that’ll be hard) or work my fingers to the bone. And I’ll definitely stop procrastinating! So help me God!

BTW,

I’ve been thinking of something. It’s been on my mind for about two years now, and it’s this, Should Christianity be equated to mediocrity? I guess not! So why do I hear a lot of naysayers when the issue of quality Christian media is raised.

Someone once argued with me when I said we could have an exclusively Christian broadcasting station in Nigeria. The arguments?  No content. ..No funding....It’ll lack committed followership, and so on... and I marvel.

Recently we started a Raves and Reels page on the magazine I write for, where we review inspiring Christian movies. A friend told me it was going to be a tall order getting quality movies. I tried, got a few, all foreign!

Maybe I have my head in the clouds, or down in the hot sand but I believe it can be done. We can have an Exclusively Christian TV/Radio station (not channel! nothing wrong with it but...) in Nigeria with 24/7, high end, unrivalled quality. 

What are the odds?

This Gospel can feed us o, for real, and it has to be preached. So, taking it into homes, engaging minds and inspiring souls sounds like a great modus operandi, don’t you think?

I seriously hope!

P.S.  Thanks to everyone following me here. You guys are the best. Looked up and it was thirty! Woah! I’m celebrating God in your lives today, Just said a prayer for you.

Stumbled on this amazing blog, I seriously think you should check out

http://temiville.wordpress.com

Well, I’m in December mood already and things are looking up.

Have fun y’all!

Roy.

Cram all your problems in a box, sit on it and laugh!

Imagine this. You wake up in the morning and can’t iron your clothes ‘cos ‘Nepa’ has gone nuts again then you rush out to work only to discover you forgot your laptop at home. Its midday and you want to draw some money so you head to the bank, you’re a little happy now ‘cos you got a ride there. You get to the ATM and start rummaging through your bag for your card then you realize you carried the wrong bag! :(

Seriously, little issues like these can make you want to gnash your teeth or wring somebody’s neck. I’m learning to take things in my stride and like I recently read somewhere, ‘learn to cram all your problems in a box, sit on it and laugh your heart out!’ :)

Anyway, something happened to me a while back that made me take this message seriously.

I had to ensure that the food column for a magazine was done right from the recipe to image of the actual meal. A cute little friend was responsible for the major details.

So, I call her on Thursday evening to tell her it’s urgent and she had to get all the materials ready by Monday, she says okay. She calls me on Friday night to say everything was set and the meal will be prepared on Saturday, will the photographer be around? I send a text to the photographer, who confirms on Saturday morning that she may not be available. My friend tries not to panic (she obviously spent lotsa money on the ingredients na) I assure her it will be fine, can she get another photographer to take the shots? She calls me on Saturday evening to say she couldn’t reach him. She goes ahead to borrow a digital camera. She tries hard but it won’t work. The battery is flat. She borrows a charger from her neighbour to charge the thing. She’s frantic now. We need those shots.

I can imagine the light bulb going on in her head when she realized she had a laptop with webcam.

Well, what had she to lose? She set up the table with the three course thingy and goes all acrobatic, holding the laptop in awkward positions trying to get a good shot. She got several, with her hands, head and hair showing up in odd places. She must have looked a sight! I was so sorry I missed an opportunity for a good laugh. :)

Monday morning, all fresh and rested, I pop in to see if she’s still alive with her hair in place :), we try the digital cam and it works fine. We set up the table again and had a good time laughing at ourselves as we tried to get the shots from all angles. We climbed on chairs and took odd positions as we did what we had to but were not trained to do.

My point exactly? She could have grumbled all the way, complaining about everything. But she chose to have a good attitude. We could have allowed a simple meal and a few shots steal our joy but we didn’t and what do you know, we actually caught up on some good old times while we were at it.

There will always be those pet peeves we can’t do anything about, won’t it be better to quit whining and have some fun?


So hey! I just crammed all my issues in a box; I’m sitting on it and about to roar with crazy laughter. Care to join me?

As long as you bring your box along sha! :)

There's no penetrating this wall of Fire!

I remember the last time I wrote about a near robbery attack. It’s been about a year now and it still amazes me. Not just because of the comical nature of the whole thing but because the experience gives new meaning to certain scriptures that are making too much sense to me right now.

I used to be a fearful person. I mean, I would get goose flesh just sitting in a dark room. And because I have an active imagination, it was so easy to conjure all sorts of images of things that could go wrong or crazy creatures that could jump out of the woodwork.

I remember telling my mum when I was little that when she left me in a room no sooner do I close my eyes than I begin to see ‘things’. She found that really funny but encouraged me to stop watching scary stuff on TV, that was the only reasonable excuse she could give for my over active imagination. That didn’t help because I hated scary movies and I vividly remember sitting with my back to the TV when my siblings watched Zombie, the flesh eater or any such hair raising drama.

Anyway, I struggled with that fear (plus fear of dogs!) for a long while, and then I grew up. I stopped being so fearful of the dark, when I was indoors, but it was a different matter entirely when I was outside the comforts of my house. I noticed this first when I had to leave home pretty early to get to work on time. I learnt something during that period that ‘as much as it lies within your power never work on one end of town and live on the other end!’

I would walk down the lonely road to the bus stop at 5am. After my Bolt! Experience it got worse. I would clutch my bag close while reciting psalm 91. (I wasn’t really praying it anyway ‘cos I spent most of my mental energy being scared gutless.)
However, reliving that experience all over again made me really look closely and I concluded that I must have been under strict military-like protection! That could only have been it. I had to redress my understanding of the scriptures in relation to my situation.

‘When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.’ The road from my house to the stop couldn’t really be qualified as a valley neither did I smell any death shadows lurking around, so what on earth was I afraid of? (Don’t mind my analogy, hope you get the point sha?)

‘For I the Lord will be to her a wall of fire round about…’ Zech 2:5 Meeen, If that isn’t assurance of protection, I don’t know what is. Imagine me walking around in a ball of fire! Won lenu mbe, Matrix has got nothing on this!

I serve a God who is not so busy answering your prayers that he can’t attend to mine. He’s not too occupied with looking after you that he can’t protect me.

Go tell my enemies, I am under the rock, rolling around in a ball of fire! Gbabe!


See how Roy Bolted! HERE.

Holy Musing! :)

Wow, can’t believe I haven’t written for a long time now. Well, I have the goings on in my life to thank for that. I try but I fall short and like David, I cry out “Lord, help me!” and what do you know? Bingo! He shows up for me. Ain’t he grand?

Anyways, I’ve been trying to arrange and rearrange my thoughts these past few weeks. Taking stock and making sense of my journey here (by here I mean the big HERE, Life!).

I feel very much like Esther right now. Why?
Well, Imagine how she much have felt when she was chosen by the king. Prior to that she must have underrated her chances at being the queen, I mean the queen of the then known world! Shikes!

How could she not, She was an orphan, a Hebrew orphan in a hostile region for that matter. Needless to say she must have been dazed and utterly flabbergasted when she heard her name called by that presiding Eunuch (what was his name again?)…
She must have felt giddy with joy; the king wanted her, her and only her! A-mazing!

That exactly how I feel.

But then again, I feel very much like Elijah,you know. Hiding in that cold, empty cave, running away from an evil queen. The same prophet who killed the false prophets of Baal and confronted the reigning king now cowered in fear at the ranting of an ‘over painted’, over pampered, excuse for a queen! (Don’t ask me what scared him gutless).

Anyway, I hear the wind roar, my heart races but the Lord is not in the wind, the earth quakes and I shudder, but he’s not in there, sorry. A fire ages and I’m scared, he’s still not there. And just when I’m about to give up, trudge back to the belly of the cave and sulk, I hear that gentle whisper (you might want to call it a still, small voice)and Oh! What sweet relief it brings.

I’m instructed, strengthened and rejuvenated and before long, I’m good to go.

If you’re like me, you’re probably never able to get over the fact that the Lord cannot get over you! Crazy thought, abi? It’s on point for me.

I try and I fall (flat on my face, with my rear up in the air!) but he pulls me up and dusts me off.

He says to go one way, I get curious and I say, “What’s happening in the other direction?” and before you can say Praise the lord, I’m off on a frolic of my own, but he always finds me, never leaves me alone.

I’m in awe of this God fa! Come with me, I’m off to sing praises to Him!

And oh! I just remembered that Eunuch’s name, Shaashgaz!
Quite a mouthful right? Lol!