Adapt Magazine Jan/Feb Teaser

ADAPTING YOU TO LIFE. ADAPTING YOU TO GOD

ISSUE 1. VOL. 1 $2.99

THE BATTLE IN THE SPIRIT RAGES...

WILL YOU

FIGHT OR...

FLEE?

PLUS: MEET CHRISTIAN RAPPER, K. SPARKS

INAUGURAL ISSUE

MASTER DEBT GO DEEPER FIGHT WITH EXCELLENCE IN 2013

EPHESIANS 6:10-17 ESV

FINALLY, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL. FOR WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES, AGAINST THE COSMIC POWERS OVER THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. THEREFORE TAKE UP THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND FIRM. STAND THEREFORE, HAVING FASTENED ON THE BELT OF TRUTH, AND HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND, AS SHOES FOR YOUR FEET, HAVING PUT ON THE READINESS GIVEN BY THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WITH WHICH YOU CAN EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMING DARTS OF THE EVIL ONE; AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.

CLASS IS BACK IN SESSION. ARE YOU READY TO IMPACT YOUR CAMPUS FOR THE KINGDOM?

(CONTENTS) SPIRITUALITY

IN EVERY ISSUE

P. 13 | Go Deeper in 2013 Want to know God more? Want to do something great? Here are six books that are bound to challenge the way you view yourself and your relationship with the Lord.

• EDITOR’S LETTER • CONTRIBUTORS • BY THE NUMBERS

LIFE P. 16 | The Plight of a Lazy and Tired College Student Monica Solomon talks candidly about her walk with the Lord, college and journey to find beauty beyond the crown.

CAREER PREP & MONEY P. 21 | Set Goals To Achieve More Start 2013 with a solid plan for accomplishing your biggest goals.

MUSIC, JUSTICE & ETC. P. 27 | New Releases Check out fresh music from various Christian artists coming out January and February.

P. 32 | Jesus In Their Own Words Monica Moss is preparing to be a missionary to the people of Mozambique. She shares a little bit about simply translating the Bible into another language can change everything. adaptmag.com

P. 4

Jan/Feb.

adapt (FEATURES)

SPIRITUALITY

LIFE MATTERS CAREER PREP & MONEY

MUSIC, JUSTICE, ETC.

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE P. 14 | Commitment to Jesus Equals Commitment to Excellence Sometimes serving the Lord is hard. Adapt Magazine Editor, Allysen Kerr reminds us that the straight and narrow is the more excellent way.

GET COUPON SAVVY P. 16 | The Coupon Savvy College Student Antoinette Charles, aka “The Christian Bargain Hunter” helps students master the art of couponing. Try her 60-Day challenge this month.

VICTORIA SHELLY P. 18 | Living Life Debt-Free Victoria shares how discipline and sacrifice helped her pay off $17,000 of student loans in less than a year.

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P. 5

K.SPARKS: NEW LIFE. NEW MUSIC P. 28 | Introducing K. Sparks Rapper, K. Sparks opens up about loving Jesus and creating a new kind of music that glorifies the King.

Jan/Feb.

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MAG.COM

ALLYSEN KERR Editor editor@adaptmag.com PAULA KERR Contributing Editor MONICA SOLOMON Contributing Writer ANTOINETTE CHARLES Contributing Writer MONICA MOSS Guest Writer

Adapt Magazine is published six times a year by UnKonventional Media, LLC. All questions regarding subscriptions or this publication should be directed to publisher@unkonventionalmedia.com.

Please visit www.unkonventionalmedia.com to learn more about our company.

SPRING 2013

“HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS WHEN BROTHERS DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY” WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/UFUNITENOW

(LETTER FROM THE EDITOR) Sometimes following Jesus is a difficult task. Sometimes the things He requires of us seem too daunting and totally impossible. Noah was told to build a ship (when he didn’t know how), Gideon was told to fight an army with only 300 men, and Esther was told to go before her king without his permission (which could have resulted in her death).

One thing I’ve learned is that God never leaves us without out a way to complete the task or a strategy to win the battle.

The problem is us, you, and me. We tend to view things through the eyes of men instead of God’s eyes, forgetting that when He says things like, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” He ACTUALLY means it.

A little over five years ago, the Lord gave me a specific vision for a magazine geared toward college students. The first time I felt this calling, I will admit that I wasn’t swift to follow through. I tried to bargain my way out of it, telling the Lord I’d only go this far and no further. As God’s sovereignty would have it, He wanted me to go all the way.

So welcome to Adapt Magazine: a place where you can learn to follow God’s calling for your life, overcome battles, and find encouragement along the way.

allysen

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. . .

G N I C U D INTRO

S K R A P K.S

M

MUSIC

WHO IS K. SPARKS? WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM? I am a recording artist from Queens, NY. I received my name from a few things. For starters my government name is Kyle so that’s where the ‘K’ comes from. The Sparks part came from me always free styling in cyphers.

People in my neighborhood use to ask me to spark up rhyming cyphers and the name “Sparks” stuck as a result of that.

YOU STARTED PERFORMING AT THE AGE OF 15. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? Very intense in a positive way. It was an introduction to performing for me, and also helped groom me as an artist. I performed any and everywhere from lounges and clubs, to music festivals and concerts. I learned a lot during those days because they helped build character. Plenty nights I played shows for a crowd of only 10 people, and five out of the 10 people I already knew; real humble experience. But it built character, and with time the shows got better and bigger. At that time in my life I went from performing at small shows to performing at shows with major recording artist such as Q-Tip, Kanye West, Joe Budden, Talib Kweli, and [more]. Those experiences proved that persistence wears down resistance.

AS YOU GAINED RECOGNITION, YOU ALSO GAINED FAME, MONEY, CARS…EVERYTHING YOU COULD IMAGINE BUT YOU STILL FOUND YOURSELF MISSING SOMETHING. WHAT HAPPENED? When it all hit me was at a strange time. It was right after I purchased a new home, bought a new car, had a destination wedding in Aruba, released over 15 albums; things were going well. But one day I was seated in my recording studio at my new house and felt like everything adaptmag.com

meant nothing.

I felt like there was a void, like everything I was doing was a waste of time. Now that was crazy because I was at the top of my game in the music industry. I had released a [bunch of] albums, writing songs for other artists, my buzz was excellent; and my songs were getting played on Hot97 but still felt like everything was a waste. That’s when I started to rekindle the relationship I had with God and asked Him what was going on.

I was raised in the church because my mother is an evangelist, so from a young age I always knew of God, I just eventually lost interest in religion and decided to go my own path. However, God has a way of bringing things full circle, and that is exactly what he did with me. The message that I received was clear: only what you do for Christ is going to last. So even though I was successful in my own regard, I still wasn’t successful according to God’s standards and that’s where I was falling short, and that is why I felt empty.

Everything I was doing was for self-edification. God showed me that people need real leaders in this day and age that will dare to be different and take a stand for something positive.

[Many] of the artists nowadays glorify themselves and place themselves on pedestals and want people to treat them as gods, but they all got it twisted. There’s only one God, and that is who I’m here to represent.

God showed me [that] what’s happening is bigger than me and it’s not about me or my talents. I’m just a vessel that He’s using to convey a message of hope to the people that need it.

WHAT’S THE MESSAGE BEHIND YOUR MUSIC TODAY? 29

Jan/Feb

Persistence wears down resistance. I want people to be encouraged that there is hope regardless of their situation.

I try not to be overly preachy because I want people to embrace the message. I’ve found peace through Christ, however even if others don’t follow the same religion as me they can still appreciate and connect with the message of hope.

WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO REACH WITH THIS MESSAGE? Everyone willing to listen. The scripture says that he came so that we can have life, and have it more abundantly. So with that said, everyone is entitled to this message. Regardless of race, gender, or religion; no one is denied access.

WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW? I just finished my album “Read Between The Lines.” It was presented by DJ Booth and is available now for free download. For 2013 I’ll be working on two albums, an album with my bother Kurser from Paris, and another with my brother Payozo from Sweden.

Adapt Magazine is all about helping our readers “Adapt to Life. Adapt to God.” What has been the hardest thing you have had to “adapt” to as an artist, husband and father, disciple, etc?

Everything (laughs) within the last year my life has been a roller coaster. I had to adjust and adapt to a lot. From a music perspective I had to adapt to the CHH (Christian Hip Hop) Industry, which is very different from the secular music industry. I’ve found that a lot of fans are very judgmental and quick to lash out at artist. I had one guy go as far as to tweet he didn’t believe I’m a Christian because I support Obama, so he deleted me from his iPod; pure antics. People just judge without even having a proper understanding of what they are talking about. So I had to adjust in that regard.

Aside from that, being a husband and father is both an adjustment as well because I also wear those hats in addition to being a recording artist. However I enjoy every moment.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING THIS NEW PROJECT WILL ACCOMPLISH? To reach people that would normally not listen to the message. Most people think that music with a message is corny or overly preachy, but my music does the opposite.

It’s quality music with content that anyone can vibe to.

Connect with K. Sparks

“READ BETWEEN THE LINES” AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD NOW

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Jan/Feb

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