Youth on Purpose Magazine - Issue 1

ISSUE 1 JULY 2021

Featuring Kimone McLoud

Depression to Hope THE STORY OF AN INNER-CITY JAMAICAN TEEN WHO FOUND HOPE IN GOD, DREAMED AGAIN & BECAME AN AUTHOR.

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From The Publisher

WHAT IS YOUTH ON PURPOSE MAGAZINE ALL ABOUT? Welcome to the inaugural issue of Youth On Purpose Magazine, a quarterly mini-magazine designed to feature young persons all over the world between the ages of 15 to 24, who have overcome battles in life through Jesus Christ, The objectives of this publication are to: Provide a platform for Christian youth around the world to share their burning passion for God Promote the stories of youth who have surrendered their lives totally and are working to propel the gospel of Jesus Christ Motivate other young people to discover and walk in the perfect will of God for their lives Motivate young people to be examples of Jesus Christ in everything that they do In this issue, Kimone McLoud from the beautiful island of Jamaica tells her story of finding hope when everything seems hopeless.

Please feel free to share this publication with a young person who needs to be encouraged and of course if you know someone who should be featured, please send an email to vicki@divinepurposemagazine.com, God bless you!

Vicki L. Otaruyina

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Kimone McLoud

FINDING HOPE WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMS HOPELESS Sometimes life has a way of pushing us up against the wall, where all the dreams we had and plans we made become no more possible, because of circumstances beyond our control. Such situations can cause us to become fearful and the only solution is to just throw in the towel as uncertainty, fear and hopelessness takes over.

Story Time: While growing up in the rural area of Jamaica, life was extremely hard. We could barely afford to make ends meet; however, I was hopeful that things would get better. I often told my grandparents, who I was living with at the time, that one day in the future I will be rich.

I was so focused on accomplishing this dream but as I got older, and entered into my teenage years, everything started to change.

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I moved from the rural areas of Jamaica to live in Kingston, Jamaica, in the inner-city and there, I was exposed to a life of partying, drinking, gambling, promiscuity, teenage pregnancies, violence, sexual abuse, immense poverty, negativity...and the list could go on and on. I was just a country girl, who was now caught up in the inner-city way of life. This lifestyle became my new normal. I felt out of place, but yet still I just wanted to fit in with my environment and as a result, I started to live the reality I saw right in front of my face.

This lifestyle became overwhelming. I got depressed and suffered from anxiety. I struggled with low-self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. I stopped expecting things to work out for me and in every situation I was focused on what could possibly go wrong, instead of what could go right.

That little girl who had so much hope for a bright future had lost all and was just living through disappointment after disappointment. She was now living in what seemed like a hopeless reality. I remember being so depressed at one point that I just wanted to end my life. And just like that I lost sight of what was so important to me. All hope was lost and I became numb and felt so useless. I didn’t know what to do anymore. I was grappled with fear and consumed by insecurities in everything that I wanted and tried to do. I just stopped moving. After a while, I started to realize how stuck I was and that I would remain hopeless and discontented if I did not seek help.

One day things turned around for Kimone

What changed? You may ask.

I decided to seek after God’s own heart.

I started visiting church and asking God to change my life and heart posture so that I could see beyond my circumstances. Soon after, my life changed. Life started to look up and I started to associate myself with people who loved God and had my best interest at heart. I met people who became like family, showing me a love beyond anything I had ever experienced. I was being exposed to life outside of my sheltered environment, and just like that, I started believing again that where I am from geographically does not define where I am heading.

Kimone McLoud is a teen author and certified Christian Life Coach. She derives much joy from motivating others and feels most content when people around her experience true fulfilment. This driven young lady sees herself as a generational curse breaker and agent of change. She loves to write, read and inspire others. She now finds herself developing an interest in public speaking as well. As a young woman chasing the heart of God, Kimone had the urge to use past traumatic events to encourage others to pursue inner healing and walk in their God-given purpose, while fulfilling their royal realities.

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She encountered God and her life has changed forever!

In August 2019, Kimone surrendered her life to Jesus Christ. She became content more than ever and everything in her life started to align.

I started to have many dreams once again and I was motivated to chase after everything I put my mind to. I had mentors who played an integral role in my development and the shift I experienced in my mindset.

My life circumstances started to improve. I became the first person in my family to go to university. I started breaking generational curse after generational curse in so many areas of my life.

I can boldly say today that choosing to follow God was the best decision that I have ever made.

I am striving to be the best version of myself and to become who God has called me to be.

My life solely depends on who God says I am and how I can bring glory to His name.

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She regained her life and pursued her purpose!

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Today she is an author!

Advice to You! The truth is, we are going to face challenges in our everyday life, whether small or big, but we cannot forget the “WHY” behind what we are doing.

It is how we choose to handle the hurdles that determines how successful we will be at reaching our goals.

God also reminded us in Psalms 62:5-6, that our soul finds rest only in God and that our HOPE comes from Him. He is our rock and salvation, and we will not be shaken.

Instead of letting fear hinder you, stand up to the obstacles that come your way and remain positive. Victory is sweetest where battle is greatest, and that’s how life is.

Be encouraged to never lose hope!

You too can hope and dream again!

Authors of Living A Royal Reality - Teen Edition

Are You

TIPS FROM KIMONE

Ready?

Let's Move From Hopelessness To Being Hopeful!

Here are four ways to help you do so:

01

Acknowledge the positive moments in your life and live a life of gratitude Most times we get caught up in the negativity around us, we fail to see God’s faithfulness in our lives. The fact that we are still breathing, it gives hope knowing that we still have a purpose to fulfill. [See Psalms 150:6]

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02

Walk out of Hopelessness by choosing to surrender your heart to Christ We live a life of brokenness and think that we can fix ourselves, but God is our creator and he can turn all our pain and brokenness to purpose and make us whole again. You just have to choose to surrender your heart to Him. A wise person once told me, surrendering to God is not a cost but rather an investment. When we surrender, the return God gives is exceedingly abundantly more than you can ask, think or imagine.

[See Ephesians 3:20] PYOUTH AGE 6 MAGAZINE

03

Write down your hopes and dreams Journaling plays a vital role in my life.

Every time I have an idea, dream or vision, I write it down. What this does, it helps you not to forget, it also keeps you accountable and on track with what you need to accomplish and it is also reference in the future when everything you once hoped for starts to come to fruition. [See Habakkuk 2:2]

04

Surround yourself with people who are purpose driven, futuristic and ambitious If you surround yourself with people who only speak negatively and settle for the sheltered life they are used to, then you will never grow. Step away from the mediocre life and associate with people who strive for extraordinary. This will drive you to want better and to do better.

[See Proverbs 13:20]

Read more about Kimone in the book "Living a Royal Reality: Teen Edition" If you want to hear more about my story, or want to be empowered for such a time as this, you can purchase a book I co-authored, called “Living A Royal Reality - Teen Edition”.

It is a book written by 11 courageous teen girls, that will help you to discover your identity and worth in Christ.

The book is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions. If you want to hear more about the book or connect with me, you can do so on: Instagram: Kimmy_Kimz18 Facebook: Kimone.Mcloud PAGE 7

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You just have to choose to surrender your heart to Him. A wise person once told me, surrendering to God is not a cost but rather an investment."

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For more information on how other youth (ages 15-24) can get featured in Youth on Purpose Magazine, please email: vicki@divinepurposemagazine.com

This is a publication of:

SISTER MAGAZINE TO DIVINE PURPOSE MAGAZINE