You don’t have to be a missionary or a pastor to do the will of God.Johnae Tucker was inspired by popular faith-based spoken word artists Janette…ikz and Ezekiel Azonwu.God laid it on her heart to use her creative gifts for His glory after she heard them perform here. The actress, singer and poet leaves in July for a world tour with educational performance group Up with People.“If it wasn’t for them being obedient to God by coming to Bermuda, I don’t think I would have been inspired to write and perform spoken word when I did,” Miss Tucker said. “It was their love for God, their testimony and their talent which I was most inspired by. “It was as if I felt this conviction in my heart, or rather a yearning to go public with my gifts and talents such as poetry and musicianship,” she said. “Plus, seeing all these amazingly talented people using their gifts for God made me want to branch out more and join them.”Miss Tucker hopes to make new friends on her trip, and share her faith with people who aren’t yet aware of God’s great love for them. “I can only hope that through my obedience, God can use my talents to spread the gospel to a world who desperately need to know that they are loved,” the 21-year-old said. “That’s actually been the biggest reward that has come out of me having a personal relationship with Christ — experiencing His love. “I think it’s easy for us as humans to worry about what others think of us and obsess over pleasing them — it was definitely easy for me. But once I realised that Christ has this unconditional and everlasting love for me, it became so much easier to live this Christian life. “I’ve gone through pain, both physical and emotional, but I’ve gotten through them only by God’s grace.”As a young child Miss Tucker went to church because that was what was expected of her. She figured if she worshipped on Sundays and was a “good person” she would make it to this magical place called Heaven when she died. “It wasn’t until one summer in my last year of middle school when my faith journey began,” she said. “I always knew the common facts about Jesus, like how He was born in Bethlehem, how He fed thousands of people and that He was God’s son. “But it was at a Word of Life/Evangelical Camp at Grace Island where I learnt about how He loved me so much that He chose to die a horrible death just so that He could take all my sins — past, present and future — to the grave so that I could be forgiven and live a life free from guilt and full of Him. I was 13 years old.” She and her mother were living on their own at the time. Not long after that experience God brought Miss Tucker’s father back into her life. Because he’d struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, she hadn’t been able to see him as often as she would have liked. “One day, God helped my dad to change his ways,” she said. “My biological parents decided to get married [to each other] and are still married to this day — something not every child can say of their parents who were in a similar situation as myself. “We were going to church as a family and eventually found our way to Cornerstone. I immediately dived into ministry, joining a dance team called the Bible Zone Dismissal Team [and] the drama ministry and was a worship leader for a youth group for children. “Soon I was the leader of the Bible Zone Dismissal Team and when I turned 18, I was appointed director of the Bible Zone Dismissal Team. “So basically, I went from being this timid young girl to a responsible young adult serving God, and it has been amazing.” The biggest lesson God has taught her so far is to always set her sights on Him. “He is the only one that matters. His opinion, His acceptance, His attention is all that matters,” she said. “Matthew 6:33 says if we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness then everything we would normally worry about on a daily basis will fall into place. “I remember when I was attending Bermuda College and one semester I was stressed out about finances and worried about how I would even be able to finish and obtain my degree. God literally spoke to me through His spirit and told me that He was everything I needed and if I trusted in Him that everything will work out how it is supposed to. “I graduated a year later than I expected, but I received my associate’s degree in psychology and English with honours.” She tells young believers that they may face tough times but God will be by their side through any and everything. “But you have to want God more than anything else,” she said. “You have to want a better life and the only way you can have that is by wanting God. You have to want it and actively pursue it daily.” •One hundred Up with People cast members from 20 countries will perform at CedarBridge Academy on Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29 at 7pm. Additional performances take place on Saturday, April 30 at 2pm and 7pm. Visit upwithpeople.org/Bermuda for more information[naviga:ul][naviga:li][/naviga:li][/naviga:ul]