My Story Brings Our Big Purpose to Life

“Get me out of Egypt so I can worship You!” These ten words, a desperate plea for gender, marriage, and sexual wholeness, initiated a thrilling theatrical journey that appears to have no end. Unfortunately, I did not experience a quick gender epiphany, fast-super marital glue, or an immediate turnaround of unwanted behavior. But the view still presents awesomeness!

My greatest passion, speaking, and singing of God’s goodness, burns like a fire in my heart. That said, I enjoy words, music, and art. Whereas crossword puzzles and reading the dictionary thrilled me back in the day, today, Words-with-Friends and dictionary.com dawn my smartphone. With very little formal training, singing, composing music, and some forms of writing come naturally.

An African American male growing up in New York during the sixties and seventies, I must admit, I experienced the good life. I enjoyed a multicultural environment with friends of different nationalities in an integrated public school system for most of my early years. I mainly experienced the varied dynamics of African American culture through the six o’clock and six-thirty news. In addition, my years in religious schools were fantastic. Attending a parochial school in the second, third, and fourth grades began the excitement. My one year, 10^th grade, in a boarding academy and four years in college—Awesome! The academy was a Historically Black Boarding School, and the college was an HBCU, a Historically Black College and University. Even now, thoughts of those years still stimulate my happy place.

Marrying in 1985, I would live without a stain of pornography for 13 years. One day, just in time for a mid-life crisis, I came across a website. Spiraling downhill, I prayed my desperate plea. The theatrical journey engendered victory. This victory came through knowing God’s original purpose for males and females to marry and bear fruit to increase His Kingdom (Genesis 2:24). His love and grace inspired a passion for “strengthening my brothers,” my sisters, and my village. (Luke 22:32).

Today, I have a Master of Science in Addiction Counseling and a Certificate in Treating Sexual Addiction and serve as a trained Prepare-Enrich Marriage facilitator. A spiritual gifts survey presented my significant spiritual gift as Artistic Communication. I am the founder and executive director of Oneness Today. I am the right mentor for our community because my experience, education, and passion bring Our Big Purpose to life.

Charlton Alexander, Learning Center Mentor-in-Chief