Today we’d like to introduce you to De’Angela Haynes.
De’Angela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story is that I was raised by a single mom of three daughters, and all of us had different fathers. I was the middle child and all I ever dreamed about growing up was playing basketball, going into the military and becoming rich. My dreams were to go beyond the average and being better than what I saw growing up in the little town of Marion, SC. Education became a major part of transformation and seeing beyond my present situations. Middle school and junior high was a trying time for me as well as many others who were entering into teen years. However, my 8th grade year, I made the final cut for the Middle School girls’ basketball team. It was there that I began seeing the leadership skills being developed and shown, and the next year as a freshman at Marion High School I became a part of something historic in our area.
For the first time, our school had a chance to receive a JROTC program. I was one of the first cadets, and leadership began to be discovered and developed more as I matriculated that year until my senior year; from dquad leader to platoon leader to drill team commander, until having the highest rank and position of the program. Between JROTC and basketball, I was able to enjoy life beyond what I saw. My basketball career was going strong. I’ve received so many awards: MVP, All-Star awards and even during my senior year 1997, I received one of the highest awards for Varsity Girls’ basketball by being named one of the North-South All Star players (top players in South Carolina). Along with sports and the military, I experienced one of the greatest awakenings of my life in 10th grade, when I got saved and became a Christian. I was then introduced to my now Pastor, Bishop Michael Blue, who then my Gospel Chorus teacher and English teacher. This man of God taught me the Word of God and showed me through various scriptures and biblical principles that God was not just a God of Sunday, but He cares about every aspect of our lives.
From 2015 unto the present, a great initiative and movement was birthed into vision by Bishop Blue called the Fellowship of Kingdom Professionals, where we are taught that Psalm 24:1 is just as relevant as it was inspired by the HolyGhost for David when he wrote it in the Old Testament. It says, ‘The earth (planet) is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world (systems) and they (His people/His creation) that dwell therein. I was taught that God owns everything and when Jesus came to the earth, from His birth, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, He did the finished work of the Cross to give mankind back what’s rightfully ours as it was first given to mankind by God in Genesis 1:24-28. From these sessions, my educational background, leadership meetings and sessions, military training and a sense of purpose and destiny, there was another great awakening I experienced about three years ago. I opened my business, Encourager 97, LLC in February of 2018 because I wanted to help other writers to become self-published authors. My passion for youth and helping others has and is growing beyond what I could imagine. From the various things that I’ve experienced in life, I’ve found myself as a leader; there’s another me on the inside (Bishop Blue)! I became an entrepreneur because I wanted to not just be a consumer but a producer!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. I was raised in a single-parent household and did form a relationship with my father until the age of 18. However, I didn’t lack love because I was adopted by my aunt and uncle, who reared me as their own. We didn’t live in Beverly Hills but in a rural area that was listed as a part of the “Corridor of Shame”. Where it was once filled with agriculture and factory plants, we’ve seen these major industries offshored and outsourced to other countries, so our town was listed as having one of the highest unemployment rates in our region, state and in our nation. This affected me a lot because not ever seeing my father, my mother was having her own struggle as a young mom, her dealing with alcoholism and drugs, I had no hope and didn’t have everything I ever wanted, but I had the basic needs met: food, clothing and shelter. However, I needed more and I needed hope, I wanted to see more experience more or at least to help others. Lack of finances and not having adult guidance hindered me from moving forward.
In November of 2011, I received a concept of making a prototype for an action figure called the Encourager. I was thinking of how there was nothing in the toy industry to represented strong African-American males. I wanted something to represent black males positively, not just based on the negative stereotypes, so instead of me going to the mall to do wasteful spending, I saved money while working at JPMorgan Chase & Co. to get the prototype of the action figure made. I researched online and found a company in Connecticut called Herobuilders. I have been trying since 2012 until the present to find a way to get it manufactured and sold all over the world, but I have not been successful yet. I’ve tried to submit information to places like Hasbro to pitch the idea to Ellen Degeneres, Tyler Perry, you name it. I just want exposure and I want children to be encouraged to know that black males can be encouragers and leaders in their homes, in their communities, in their churches and in their businesses. I’ve gotten an illustration made because I want to see it as a cartoon and animation, but my vision expands because I want the action figure to be manufactured as a Hispanic, Asian, European, etc. I want it to be seen in diversity, but it has to be manufactured and produced first as an African-American male because this is where this nation and world has to demonstrate more respect.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m currently a teacher, but I opened my own business as self-publishing consultant in February of 2018. I’m a self-published author since 2010 with my first book “Encourage Yourself in the Lord” and from that time to now, I’ve published some more of my books, as well as helped to self-publish others, but I opened this business because I wanted to encourage more writers that it was easier to publish their writings and to have their work and creativity displayed; even if they were not published by big-time publishing companies. I helped to format their interior files and prepare them for publishing. What sets me apart from others is that in every aspect of what I do, I provide encouragement and give writers hope to believe that they could publish. I’m most proud of being able to publish first and helping other first-time authors publish their works regardless of their age. I’m just excited because I’ve gone above and beyond where I thought I would ever be.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I’ve learned that no matter what, you have to be true to yourself and walk in your own destiny. I’ve lived my life for others, trying to please others and be good for others, only to see that my efforts were not as valued as I thought they should be. The most important lesson is to seek God for His purpose for your life, not everyone else. Always continue to learn and improve your life. A great man of God once said, and this quote has stuck with me since 1995 until the present, “The largest room in the world, is the room for improvement” (the Late Apostle John W. Barber).
Contact Info:
- Email: Encourager97@gmail.com
- Website: www.encourager978.wixsite.com/0515
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/encourager79/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deangela.haynes.10
Image Credits
The shoes were designed by me with Alive Shoes in Italy. The books are mine and my photo was paid for and done by a photographer for my booksigning.
