I promised not to charge any Church –Yinka Davies

 

 

I promised not to charge any Church –Yinka Davies

Dayo Emmanuel

Gospel artiste and television personality, Yinka Davies has explained how she started out in the industry and advised young talents to be focused and embrace hard work.

Davies who was a guest in a chat room discussion of Christian Talent Community (CTC), a group coordinated by Radio personality and artiste, Obus Zalee Brodor answered several questions from members of the group.

Explaining how she started out in the industry, Davies said, “I just walked into each blessing as though it was waiting for me. Fine arts, stage acting, dancing…Then singing was forced out of me by a friend who heard during one of our theatre practices.”

She continued that, “It was a struggle for me to be a back-up singer, all those lovely dresses, dancing on one spot before a microphone.”

On how she discovered she could do all these explosion away from stereotype, the guest confessed that, “I am serious it wasn’t like I planned to be an artiste. Yes I loved drawing but that actually was my ultimate goal when I was 10 to be a fine artist.”

“The rest just came by association at the national theatre. I never took any of them seriously I’m tempted to say even now.”

She was prompt to tell the group how she handles challenges as a successful Christian professional. “We ought to begin a journey of seeing all challenges from a victorious position. Because we see pain, we need to change our thoughts and speech patterns and declare the end of what we want regarding what we face on a daily basis,” she said, adding that, “So whatever is called challenge to me, is a blessing that must be acquired by smiles. Please note that we need patience to see the end of every desire.”

Stating further, she said, “In all sincerity, we as Christians must see life as a school for learning and passing each class. Even when we become famous, we need to see fame as an exam.”

For her, giving people something great at the end of each performance is her happiest experience as an artiste. Stating other challenges as a female artiste, she said, “Challenge for women could be sex based, money to get to record,” which to her are surmountable going by her experience.

Advising talents who want to be successful in the face of myriads of challenges, betrayals and disappointments, Davies asked, “Those of you that want to be famous, are you planning to be famous because you are desperate or you see money flashed around or you know in your heart you have a call to be a star?”

“If yes, The Holy Spirit is our ultimate friend in this world, we need to depend on Him entirely. This will actually be trying but you must trust Him completely…I know loads of people who spent their pocket money to record and it’s now news.”

On whether she ever got discouraged when she doesn’t perform well, she said, “Discouragement should never be your focus. Giving your best is.”

Responding to a question on those who get frustrated by comparing gospel artistes secular counterparts who seem to make faster progress, and those feeling the church doesn’t care for artistes, Davies gave a prompt answer. “If you’re tired just lean on The Lord, I talk with Him a lot before any program and I shut my eyes every time to listen for directions.”

“We are not here to be stars we are here to worship God and exhibit Him to the world. It will be trying for younger people when they are driven by what they want,” she submitted.

She however pleaded with young talents going through challenging time of development. ”I will beg them all to search inside themselves and see how good do they think they are, will they support any of their friends or unknown person who is better than them? I know for sure that frustrations set in when you’ve done all you could. My concern is your heart. What have you been instructed to do? Why are you looking at those who are making it in the world? THIS IS THEIR WORLD.”

When asked about her opinion on ministries who go outside to engage talents without developing in-house ones, Davies said, “Each of us must identify how God is leading them to where and to who.”

On if it is ethical for gospel artistes to charge for their performances, Davies recalled her experience. “I have been given N5,000 by a church before. I was upset because I was sort of broke at the time but I needed to tell myself the truth, I had promised myself I won’t charge any church money!” She recalled.

“It’s true that people would rather not give you anything. There are ways to be clear and firm about what you want from a church…God keeps us all, we need to see His hand on us everyday and we need in fact to decide who we want to be, with or without Him.”

She however submitted that “It’s a great pleasure to serve God should you be told to leave your job to go do God’s work it must mean our Father Himself will provide for you.”