Testimonial Poetry: "Eternal Gain," In Memory of My Grandfather



I lost my grandfather a few years ago and was given the privelege and the honor to pen a poem that was printed in his obituary.  I wrote this piece without a written story or testimony.  The memories I have of him served as the foundation of this poem.

I looked up to my grandfather.  He is the portait of a man that I model my life after.  Deacon James Kelsey was the patriarch of our entire family.  Even though he was my mother's father, he was more of a father to my brothers and I than he was a grandfather.  My grandfather was a father figure to so many young and older in the DC Metropolitan Area.  His funeral was one that mirrored the likes of political figures.  His obituary was adorned with letters from the White House, the Mayors Office, and Bishops from all over the country.  If I have the ability to leave a fraction of the legacy that he left, that would be a great feat.  The funny thing is ...he stressed to me the significance of exceeding the legacy of my predecessors.  Therefore, I accept the challenge of touching as many lives as I can; not only with my writing but with the way I live my life.

He was recognized as a PFC (on paper) because black soldiers weren't promotable then.  But if I were to show you the amount of medals and honors he received, it would blow your mind. Trust me!  It blew my mind.

Eternal Gain
By Christoph Jenkins,
(Grandson)

Your influence flows through our veins | And our hearts are maintained by the thought of your eternal gain | No loss has been claimed | We praise His name | Your name, Deacon James Kelsey, will live on through the lives you’ve changed | Your teachings have not been in vain | Our lives have been enriched and sustained because we’ve watched and listened while you trained | Your life ought to be framed | Men have followed your lead because you taught them to go with God’s flow and not against the grain | We thank God for granting you peace and relieving you of all pain | You can finally enjoy the sun because you have endured the rain…long enough | You started the chain to which we’ve added links to carry on the Kelsey name | So on today, as we celebrate your life, we long for the day we see you again!

We Love you, Granddad!



The men in our family who are better because of Deacon James Kelsey!



Until next time ...exceed the legacy of your predecessors and touch as many lives as possible!

Christoph Writes...

"If my words have the ability to develop wings of encouragement, I hope they take flight in someone's life." ~Christoph Jenkins

Testimonial Poetry: "The Fight of My Life" | The Testimony of Justin Izlar

 In my most recent post, "Project of Passion: My Gift ...Your Testimony ...Their Breakthrough!," I introduced the launch of a NEW project that I believe will make a HUGE impact in many people's lives around this world.  For details concerning the particulars of this project, please visit the post and see how you can get involved by telling your story.  We all have a testimony because we have all gone through something that GOD has brought us out. And some of us are currently being tested. In the end, though, people who hear about people going through similar things can be encouraged and empowered to endure the PROCESS that God has them in.

It is my esteemed honor to present to you our first story... the testimony of a close friend of mine who fought a long HARD battle with Osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of CANCER.   My childhood friend and fellow church family member, Justin Izlar, 25, wrote his testimony some time before he went home to be with our Lord, in January of this year. Just WON his battle with cancer...because he completed his God-given assignment and God was pleased!  You ask me how I know?  I'm glad you asked.  When you get some time, visit Justin's tribute website called, www.JustinTouchedMe.com.  There you will find numerous stories submitted by the many people who Justin touched while on this earth.  Following the story below, you will find the poem I wrote that was featured in his obituary.

"The Fight of my Life"

by Justin Izlar

Dealing with cancer is one of the hardest things that I’ve ever had to do. Just hearing the news about it was shocking like ‘wow, can this be true?’ I couldn’t believe I had to deal with something that I thought older people get. Something where your suppose to just sit back, relax, and see other people with. Something where you go visit people in the hospital to show them that you’re there and then you go back to live your own life, in your own home, without a care not once, not twice, but three times I had to deal with this.

Wasn’t sure if I would survive, so sometimes wanted nothing more than a kiss. Just something simple to say, "I love you", you’re not going through this alone
And just hold out a little while longer and you’ll be on your way home. I’ll be honest; the first time I cried hard, cause it was devastatin’ I cried eight times just on the way home, sometimes thinking I did something that God was hatin.’

Second time I got very mad, cause now it was just frustratin.’ Why I gotta suffer when I tried to do right, but there’s others outside right now crap playin’? During all of this, I began to have a reality check. I wasn’t being punished, but the devil knew God had a plan that hasn’t happened yet, so the third time it got a little funny, and I just laughed a little bit at Satan telling him that I’mma do Gods work regardless man, you need to stop hatin’.

You might as well keep it moving, because I know that I’m gonna be fine. I aint leaving this world no time soon, at least not until I know Gods will and mine are aligned. You need to go find new business, cause messing with me is just asking for trouble. All you are doing is wasting your time. I’m not about to complete your little puzzle.

I beat you up the first time, and I beat you bad the second. You would think that somebody would finally learn his lesson, but it’s obvious, since you’re still coming, that you’re not that clever. This time, I’m going for the knock out, cause I’m stronger than ever. If it’s a war with me that you really want to be in, we can go head to head. Because I know that as long as God is on my side, all of my enemies are already dead.

He himself bore my sins in his body on the tree, so that I might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds I have been healed. ~1 Peter 2:24

The Lord forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. ~Psalm 103:3

Anointed For The Assignment

By. Christoph Jenkins

“The size of the anointing matches up with the size of the assignment!”

~Bishop Michael V. Kelsey

I was assigned an assignment before I even knew what it was | I say this because…initially, my mind wasn’t in alignment with the one who assigned the assignment | At the time when the assignment was assigned, my mind was blind to the fact that God had a plan for my life | So I mistook the assignment for confinement | I was confined to a life of tests, studies, and treatments | I thought to myself, “This must be a lesson because how could this be a blessing? | I’m wrestling! | I’m wrestling with my purpose so I pray for realignment” | And as time went, God began to realign my mind with His | His mind was revealed to me …this was no confinement!” | This was an assignment and I was anointed for it | My assignment blessed others, my sisters and my brothers | I remember when Bishop uttered, “The size of the anointing matches up with the size of the assignment!” | That was about the size of it | And because my mind was in alignment with His, I could receive that | Therefore, I felt honored to carry out such an assignment | I grew stronger as the time went | And when the time came…I was at peace and I was content | My assignment was complete because the people I was assigned to reach were reached | And greatest of all, God told me Himself, “I am pleased!”

Until next time... testify and shame the devil!

"If my words have the ability to develop wings of encouragement, I hope they take flight in someone's life." ~Christoph Jenkins

Testimonial Poetry: "My Baby Girl," The Love of a Grieving Mother

One of my good friends from college (Norfolk State University) contacted me on Facebook.  She asked if I would do her a favor.  I said, "Sure, of course."  She asked if I had time to personalize a poem for her.  I told her that it wouldn't be a problem.  I asked her what about.  She told me ...and I sat there.  Where ever I was sitting, I sat frozen with disbelief.  She told me that she had given birth to a beautiful baby girl...that passed away two days after. And she wanted me to write a poem that could be read at her baby's homegoing.  I sat there and I quickly tried to gather myself.  I cannot imagine how she and her husband must feel.  My heart goes out to her.

I gathered myself, somewhat, and I offered her my condolences.  Then I realized that I had to ask her to do something that may spark an emotional roller coaster for her.  In order for me to write a personalized poem that really "works," I had to ask her to talk about her beloved daughter.  I requested that she email me her thoughts towards her daughter, the dreams she had for her, the plans her and her husband had for her, and so on.  That was difficult for me... but she did send the email and this is what she said about her daughter...

"My daughter's name is Brook'lynn Barbara Jean Hawkins and she is beautiful...she was gonna be my first girl...I was so excited to dress her and play with her and experience the life of a girl...my mini me! She was gonna be everything I was and so much more...a star...she lived 2 days and in those 2 days she had the fight of a lion in her spirit...i could see it already! she had fire, power, & strength in her eyes already. 

She was a fighter...she was on a oxygen machine and she was even fighting that. She was gonna be tough like her Mom. My husband and I were so excited for her...as we both have other children. We were ready to do with her what we had not done with our other relationships and children...doing it together...completing our family. I wanted so much for her! I just knew she was gonna have a powerful tongue like her mother and use it to go so much further...she was gonna be anything and everything she wanted to be! For my husband this was too a big deal...his first child all the way from beginning to end with...for her to go so quickly pains me to see him hurting so! Our daughter Brook'lynn was...is...our rock! She was loved by so many."

 This was perfect!  A few days later, replied to her email with an email of my own with the personalized poem attached.  And it reads as so...

"My Baby Girl"

Brook’lynn Barbara Jean meant…and stills means the world to me. My first baby girl was destined to be …a better version of me. Thoughts of her, urges me to pray and say thank you for allowing me to have known her in her first 48. Two days straight, she fought…brought tears to my eyes to know that my daughter was a fighter. Her light shined brighter than the sun does at its first rise. She had fire, power, and strength in her eyes. My husband and I share the same sentiments. The memories of Brook’lynn are intimate. She was and is our most cherished dream and reality. Out of what we have in common she is our most treasured commonality. She is our rock and was loved by many. Though it may seem like the end, in heaven it’s the beginning.

 The homegoing for Baby Brook'lynn Barbara Jean Hawkins was today and when I signed on to Facebook, the poem that I personalized was posted to my friend's profile page.  That let me know that she was satisfied!

Until next time...tell someone you love them!

Christoph Writes...