I’ve been reflective of my father’s life and legacy over the last week. We’re so blessed that he’s still with us and while he’s not out of the woods yet, I firmly believe that he will have a glorious comeback.

I couldn’t help but take into account all of the signs and wonders that God brought to pass through my father’s life. My dad had the audacity to believe God against the odds of his circumstances and God proved Himself to transcend human limitations in and through my Dad’s life.

I’ve witnessed faith in action my whole life. I recall living on the west side of Detroit and at the time being the 4th of 5 children that my parents brought into the world. With a 6th child on the way, my Dad was moved to start 2 children’s choirs in the city of Detroit. The Boys and Girls Choirs of Detroit. He witnessed the excellence of the Boys and Girls Choirs of Harlem and followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit to build a similar model for the youth of the City of Detroit. The only thing was my Dad was a married man with 5, soon to be 6, children and worked as a security guard making not much more than minimum wage.

There were a million reasons why my Dad should never have believed his idea was possible, but those million reasons were outweighed by his belief in God’s abilities to do the miraculous in and through his life.

In 1996 my Father founded the Boys and Girls choirs of Detroit. I was 2 years old. I remember some things but not accurate details of how exactly my dad managed to establish this major institution with very little resources. All I know is that it had everything to do with his faith in God and the unique way in which he applied his faith.

The choirs became a staple in the culture of Detroit in the 90s and early 2000s, a period when drugs and gangs were at an all-time high and many of Detroit’s youth fell victim to the snares that lined the city’s streets. I use the word “snares” because it wasn’t by chance that our community was suffering from a barrage of atrocities. Just outside the city, in the suburbs, all was well! What a difference a few miles makes.

Social engineering through government policy, laws, law enforcement, music, and media (specifically gangster rap) all played a role in harming the cities most precious assets, the youth. My dad always said, “you can’t go up against a plan without a plan” and so while there exists those that have plans of destruction toward the youth, my Dad saw it fit to counter their strategy with a plan of investment, development, and provision for the youth. I am a product of the latter ones of these plans.

Thank you Daddy for your strategic foresight and legacy of unwavering faith in the God whose Holy Spirit lives inside of you.

With love,

Victory