Youth on Purpose Magazine - Issue 2

ISSUE OCTOBER 2021

Featuring Ziky Dickson

Depression To Hope THE STORY OF A NIGERIAN YOUNG MAN WHO FOUGHT PAST DEPRESSION TO FOLLOW HIS PASSION FOR MUSIC AND IS NOW BRINGING HOPE TO THE LIVES OF MANY

EDITOR'S NOTE Written By: Kimone Mcloud

Many times we are faced with challenges that cripple us and prevent us from walking as who God has called us to be. As youths, we are even more susceptible to getting distracted from when the pressures of life start catching up on us and we don’t know what to do. We may get discouraged but we must remain focused and maintain discipline to achieve our dreams.

This issue shares a young man who rose above adversities and is now pursuing his passion even when depression, hopelessness and other adversities were present at his doorstep.

As the Editor-In-Chief, my encouragement to you is this; believe in yourself even when no one else does. If you believe, you are halfway there. Life may seem hopeless now but there is hope in Christ Jesus. The passion that God has placed in you will help to bring you out of your hopelessness. He calls us to take the very passion/gift that lies inside of us and use it. As we walk in our purpose, we receive freedom and is then able to bring freedom to the lives of others. So even if you feel as if all hope is gone, remind yourself of what the word of God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, and also remind yourself of these: Why you are doing this, what you want to achieve and how you called to impact lives.

God Bless You!

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Ziky Dickson

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FINDING HOPE IN PASSION WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMS HOPELESS Ziky Dickson is a Songwriter, Rapper, Trapper, Poet, Motivational speaker and the Founder and CEO of Generation Xploit. His message is one of healing for the depressed and strength for the broken. His earnest desire is to see people coming out from their storm.

Testimony Time: I never got to know my dad, because he died when I was very young, leaving my mom with four kids and financially unstable. Here in Nigeria, to make ends meet, she had to sell wood, open a restaurant and a stylist salon just so we could have food to eat each day. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough money to go to the schools of our choice and it felt like we were just living in a different world compared to others around us.

As a child growing up, I discovered I had a love for seeing people who were gifted coming together to do something creative. That’s how my group “Generation Xploit” came about. I loved singing, acting and dancing but I did not take any of it seriously, mainly because I thought nobody would listen to me. On top of that, we did not have the money to fund the dream. So, like many other teenage boys, I chose to play football. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. I felt empty while playing football because it was not what brought me joy. At that time in my life, I needed someone to talk to; someone who could understand me. I was depressed and confused because I was tired of living like that. I felt there was more and I was settling.

I stopped playing football and later joined a worship group in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

We sang every day in the street, the church or wherever we found ourselves. That truly brought me great joy, because now I was involved in something I was passionate about.

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The first song that I recorded was entitled “FROZEN”. It was inspired by my own personal life and seeing all the things my mother had to go through, made me feel stoke. It was as if life just froze. This is why I sing the line, “ feeling like I’m frozen can somebody help me out ?”.

When the song was released, I started receiving testimonies from people who were saying that the lyrics helped them when they were at their lowest and ready to give up. Someone said “I felt this revival”. Another said, “this song was made for me.”

The feedback has been absolutely incredible. Everyday I feel encouraged to continue doing more so that more lives can be impacted.

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Out of of his own pain, he has now become the voice of the voiceless There have been people who have given up in life; those who are alone and need someone to talk to. One person said, “Anytime I listen to you I feel this inner peace."

By the grace of God I am happy today that God has used me to be a voice for the voiceless.

Very often, after going into schools and ministering to the youth, the joy I continue to feel is unspeakable when I see lives been aligned with the body of Christ because of the songs I sing.

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Are You

TIPS FROM ZICKY

Ready?

Key Lessons Learned!

01

Self-motivation is key

02

Remain humble

03

Be patient

04 Be consistent with what God has given to you

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Zicky's Encouragement To You Sometimes life throws stones at us and if we are not strong, we will live the rest of our lives broken and in depression. Depression is not written in the face, it’s not physical. So, in order to free yourself of it, you need to dwell in the word of God and build your foundation around knowing who you are and whose you are. Like the Bible said in Psalms 107:20, “I will send forth my Word and it will heal them”.

Rest assured, the word of God will bring you healing and reassurance to be the best God has called you to be.

I am God’s spokesman in the life of the depressed. There are people who are depressed and just want to hear that everything will be fine. They want to be encouraged and know that there is hope in God. Keep pushing! I am called to be a foyer to help them to be hopeful and come out from the cage of brokenness and sadness.

Instagram: Ziky.dickson Facebook: Zikydickson Email: zikydickson@gmail.com

Inspiration From The Word I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. (PSALM 40:1-3) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (MATTHEW 11:28-30) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4)

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I am called to be a foyer to help them to be hopeful and come out from the cage of brokenness and sadness."

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

info@divinepurposemagazine.com

This is a publication of:

THIS IS A SISTER MAGAZINE TO DIVINE PURPOSE MAGAZINE