A decade after Bishop Joseph Smith was promoted to senior pastor at Independence Drive Church of God and his subsequent appointment of Reverend Tiffany Newman to church administrator, the duo has collaborated to pen a male and female empowerment series.
Smith has penned the first volume in his "SIR (Struggle Is Real), But..." series - "You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup".
He was able to pull from his life experiences for the book, which he said he wrote with boys age 13 and older in mind.
Newman used nuggets from her life experiences as a female in "Girl on Fire INK Volume 1: Self-Love, Your Superpower" to encourage and uplift young women.
"I want the readers of this book to understand that in life, he will have struggles, but once he puts God first and applies godly principles and wisdom, he will develop the stamina and discipline necessary to overcome and be victorious," said Smith.
Newman said the nuggets of wisdom and exercises in her book can be described as one-size-fits-most, but like Smith, she said her book is recommended for young ladies age 13 and older.
"They will discover or be reminded that they are good enough ... special enough, strong enough, and no matter what comes their way, it is still possible to achieve their goals - once they agree with the Creator's description of who they are. They will acquire the power to unapologetically, passionately, and purposefully work on every idea, goal, dream, and vision that He has placed in their hearts," said Newman.
Smith said he wrote his book as inspiration for himself, first, then for others.
"As a young boy growing up on Long Island, I had dreams and aspirations to become a leader among my peers in my future. My family and I were relocated to Nassau in 1973, I was nine years old at that time, in primary school having to deal with kids who I did not know. This was a challenge for me at first, but I persevered. It was during my early school years that I recognized the struggles young boys and men go through in life. I witnessed many statistics and I vowed not to be one of them."
Smith, who traveling the world representing The Bahamas in volleyball as a player, coach, and administrator, said he encountered boys and men struggling with the same issues he saw at home.
"Seeing all of this from my early childhood was the catalyst for writing this book."
He hopes to achieve connection between his readers and the real world.
"I hope to connect to their desires, their world, and the different characters out there," said Smith. "I also want to achieve trust from my audience. The trust and confidence in my writing and my experiences in this life would go a long way in helping young boys and men to realize their potential."
Newman is also the founding president of the HGRD Orphanage & Empowerment Center, a nonprofit organization that provides dignified aid to less fortunate children and purpose-oriented training and mentorship to young adults. She grew up with her grandmother in a humble community, but that did not stop her from dreaming big and developing the mindset that there is more to life than just getting by.
"These series of books are designed to empower focused, self-reliant, high-energy, positive, and faith-filled females who recognize that life is not perfect, but [that] they can succeed when they refuse to let anything stand in the way of their purpose. They become girls on fire (GOF)!"
GOF, Newman said, is a term she uses throughout the series to describe a female who is bold, fearless, persistent, strategic, inspired, vibrant, focused, self-reliant, high energy, positive, and faith-filled, who recognizes that life is not perfect and refuses to let anything stand in her way.
"A GOF is vision-minded, grateful, blessed, disciplined, committed, resilient, passionate, self-motivated and prepared to fight for her dreams to become reality."
The "Girl on Fire Ink" series consists of seven volumes, each volume broken down into 30 meditations that can be completed at the reader's leisure.
Newman's books are a result of her journaling. It's the tool she uses to record her plans, thoughts, ideas, dreams, goals, and prayers.
"I had big dreams from childhood, but little did I know, the world had other plans for me. I encountered many challenges, from mild 'Oh man!' interruptions to huge throw-in-the-towel setbacks. I can say, though, that everything I experienced on this journey - the good, the bad and the ugly - have worked together for my good and [God's] glory!"
Everything went into her journal from which she was able to pull inspiration.
"I fell, cried, dropped the ball, found amazing mentors, prayed, read life-giving scriptures and inspirational books, watched power-packed videos, networked with successful people, learned powerful lessons, matured, overcame, and succeeded at my goals. Along the way, I kept journals of my prayers, wisdom nuggets, revelations, dreams, ideas, goals, thoughts, sketches ... anything that I wanted to reflect on later."
In due course, she said she was happy she had her arsenal from which she could pull.
"I didn't share my journals with anyone, and I didn't plan to share them until the night I dreamt I had traveled back in time to visit a younger version of myself for a short time. As I looked at this young girl on fire, so full of life and love, my heart ached, [because] I recognized that her life's journey was only just beginning.
"Tears fell as I thought about the difficult times ahead for her. The times she would feel overwhelmingly lonely, not special, or smart, or pretty enough to be a part of anything amazing. I thought about the people she would meet who would try hard to pull her down, the situations she would encounter that would challenge her sense of self-worth, and I wanted so desperately to give her all the advice she would need to successfully navigate her journey. I got up and as I pondered the dream, I heard the word 'write'. I embarked on an amazing journey of writing the 'Girl on Fire Ink' series to pass on to young women the wisdom nuggets I learnt in pursuit of my divine purpose."
Newman said her series is for people who are dreamers, goal-setters, visionaries, passionate, energetic, resilient and purpose-driven. She said it is for girls and women who desire to become the best version of themselves and who recognize that while their dreams may be big and seem impossible, that with faith, nothing is impossible.
"'Self-Love, Your Superpower' is the first volume in the series and is designed to be your guide on your journey to radical self-acceptance. It is designed to help dream chasers recognize that they are not perfect, recognize their weaknesses, appreciate their strengths, and as such are free to be their authentic selves on their faith-filled journey," she said.
Smith and Newman came together to pen the books after becoming comfortable with each other after years of planning, brainstorming, and problem-solving sessions in their church.
Newman shared with Smith her desire to empower and encourage young women to be the best version of themselves through a companion book series. They recognized that a male voice was required to offer the same to the young men - an idea that Smith also had. They began the collaboration.
Smith's coaching and Newman's teaching experiences they said afforded them the opportunity to recognize the positive character traits found in the young people they interacted with.
Smith is also the national secretary/treasurer for the Church of God Bahamas. He was recently appointed Western District overseer. He is also president of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation, and a Bahamas Olympic Committee vice-president. His ultimate purpose is to reach the lost and hurting and bring them into the kingdom of God.
Smith and Newman's tomes, the first in a series of "SIR" planned books, are set to be released on May 10. Book bundles are available at Independence Drive Church of God Administrative Office, Independence Drive Highway.
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