I have no Fear of the Future - Akinjobi Oluwagbemisola

Can we meet you?

 Guest: My name is Akinjobi Oluwagbemisola, an unashamed Christian.

With the extra feather to your cap, how did you feel when you were announced as a category winner in The New Man Gospel Writing Contest, 2022?

Guest: At the time of the result announcement, I felt a sense of nervousness but on seeing the results, I could say I was a little surprised because I was expecting to do well but not to the extent of winning and the earlier nervousness was due to "what ifs".

What are your writing aspirations for the future?

Guest: My writing aspirations for the future is to appear on the biggest print networks in Nigeria and all other parts of the world as a multi-award winning writer.

What other things do you do apart from writing.

Guest: Apart from writing, I'm actively a student - studying medicine at the University of Ibadan. I also do a bit of graphics design.

As regards your dreams and aspirations, what is/are your greatest fear(s)?

Guest: I do not think I'm fearful of anything regarding my future aspirations.

What and Who inspires your writing?

Guest: My family and my God inspires me to write. I want to make known just how good God is and I want to solve some problems of mankind through our own experiences.

When did you start writing? Can you give us a background story?

Guest: I started writing in April 2021. I was at church and my Pastor was preaching about "Stepping out with the gospel" and somehow, I felt the way for me to step out was by writing. I began to look out for openings for writers and I came across the New Man application. So, I applied and the journey started.

What would you love to say to encourage other writers?

Guest: To other writers out there, I'll like to tell you to remain tenacious with what you do because someday, there will be a great reward and an expected end of success.

What do you think about the New Man Gospel Writing Contest? What new things do you hope to see in subsequent editions?

Guest: The New Man writing contest is what the body of Christ needs at this time and I'm thankful for the organisation. For subsequent editions, I wish to see more winners recognised per category as this creates an avenue for more creatives to be rewarded.

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I Wrote my Entry 5 days to the Deadline - Lois Nguveren Ugbu

Lois Nguveren Ugbu won the Prose category in 2022's edition of the New Man Gospel Writing Contest hosted by The New Man Movement. In this exclusive interview, she shares her writing journey, creative process and how she pulled off writing an award winning  story in five days.

 

NELOC News: Can we meet you?

Guest: I am Lois Nguveren Ugbu a 200 level student of the European Studies Department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo state. I am a Christian with an amazing passion to communicate Christ in words and letters and I am an omnivorous reader. I am also from Benue state and I am Tiv by tribe. 

 

 

NELOC News: You recently won the 2022 edition of the New Man Gospel Writing Contest. How did you feel when you were announced as a category winner in theGospel Writing Contest?

Guest: I was so excited. I didn't see it coming at all.

 

 

NELOC News: What are your writing aspirations for the future?

Guest: I want to be able to do a lot of writings to tell the world about Jesus especially prose and any creative piece. I don't look towards being famous, I just want the works to reach thousands of people. I hope to meet people affected by the power of God through my works and communicate with them too.

 

 

NELOC News: What other things do you do apart from writing?

Guest: When I'm not writing, I'm volunteering or teaching. I love to add value every time through volunteering and I love to teach,. At other times, I get to learn what I love to learn most - languages.

 

 

NELOC News: As regards your dreams and aspirations, what is/are your greatest fear(s)?

Guest: My greatest fear sometimes is that I might have a bigger or different assignment and might have to abandon my dreams totally especially the dream of traveling the world.

 

NELOC News: What and Who inspires your writing?

Guest: I love to read my work to myself and just look at the creativity and smile and I love the smiles and reflection I see on others too. It keeps me writing. Also, many people motivate me to write. I'd just pick out Jackie Hill Perry (Gay girl, Good God) and Adegbola Goodness (Complete).

 

 

NELOC News: When did you start writing? Can you give us a background story?

Guest: I started writing sometime in secondary school, but because of laziness, I never placed a finger on it. It was a casual thing I did. I just wrote a piece on every of my birthdays and saved it up, maybe for an anthology, I'm not sure. The New man Gospel writing contest is my first official work actually.

NELOC News: How did you know about the New Man Gospel Writing Contest?

Guest: I got to know about the New Man Gospel writing contest from Mr Philip Vincent who happens to be the head of Publicity at the New Man Movement. I saw the information about the writing contest on his Whatsapp status.

NELOC News: As a Writer, what is your creative process like?

Guest: Because I'm a fictional writer, my creative process is mainly inspired by my immediate environment and issues that drop into my spirit. Whenever I get an idea, I simply pray over it and then it builds into a story. From that point, I start to write and scriptures start to come together and make the work whole.

NELOC News: What are your thoughts about the Christian fiction writing industry today? 

Guest: I think the Christian fiction writing Industry has really grown and it's now so creative and powerful. My life has been affected by a lot of Christian fiction positively and the creativity always left me amazed and spurred me to write better.

NELOC News: How do you think Christians can write compelling stories to promote the gospel?

Guest: 4. Christians can write compelling stories that promote the gospel by always pointing people to the cross, to Jesus. Make sure your writing always draws attention to "HIM" and not your creativity. Of course your creativity will make people want to read but the whole point must be Jesus. Jesus + Creativity = a whole article or story.

NELOC News: As a result of the contest, how has the New Man Movement impacted your writing journey?

Guest:  New man movement boosted my confidence. Having to get reviews from people made me so happy. I felt like I could actually write then I started writing and submitting writings at different places.

New man was a starting point and a push for me.

I needed it. Thanks to the New Man Movement, God bless the whole team and move the work forward.

 

 

NELOC News: What would you love to say to encourage other writers?

Guest: I'd love to tell other writers to keep at it. No matter the genre of writing you are involved in, keep writing, don't stop. Writing sometimes seems really difficult even when you know what to say, but don't stop, stay at it, you'll come out just fine.

 

 

NELOC News: What do you think about the New Man Gospel Writing Contest? 

Guest: I think the Writing contest was such a great one for me. I had to do alot of praying, reading my Bible, calling people, running around. I wrote 5 days to the deadline. I was so scattered but it was an exciting and educative experience. The measures taken were fair and simple. God bless the New Man movement.

 

 

NELOC News: What new things do you hope to see in subsequent editions?

Guest: I hope that it becomes bigger and better. I hope contestants get to meet physically too. Maybe just the winners and they present their piece to a crowd and if possible constructive criticism comes after. It will be a beautiful experience really.

Ugbu Lois, Akinjobi Gbemisola and Faniyi Oluwatomiwa Win Big in New Man Gospel Writing Contest

On Monday, 18th April, 2022, The New Man Movement, organisers of the New Man Gospel Writing Contest released its final winners list for the gospel writing competition. In an official release published on the website, the founder and President of the New Man Movment, Mr. Nelson Vincent Ayomitunde congratulated the participants of the writing contest with special mention to

Weeks earlier, we duly reported that the New Man Gospel Writing Contest was open for entries into its 2022 edition of the annual gospel writing contest. The contest which has held since 2016

New Man Movement Shortlists 100+ in 2022 Gospel Writing Contest

Coming few days after the official closure of it's submission portal, the New Man Movement, in a press release on its website has announced the release of it's final shortlist for the New Man Gospel Writing Contest 2022. 

The shortlist which contained about 100 entries was selected from a handful of poems, articles, stories and drama pieces which were submitted over the open period from January 31st through March 11th, 2022.

In our earlier report, we gathered that the 2022 edition of the writing contest which has held yearly since 2016 is a gospel writing contest where creative writers across the genres of poetry, drama, prose and article writing are given a space to show their literary expertise. 

We also reported that Nelson Vincent Ayomitunde, President of the New Man Movement revealed through the release on the website that the writing contest has evolved to recognise the efforts and excellence of Christian writers as well as showing them to the world thus, propagating the gospel through creative writing.

The New Man Gospel Writing contest which is in its sixth year is a fully gospel writing contest with the theme, Burning Altars which is taken from the Bible book of Leviticus 6:12.

According to the organisers of the writing contest, entries are open to all Christians and true believers without restrictions to age, race, nationality or location. Submission of entries into the New Man Writing Contest is also free.

Mr Nelson Vincent while speaking to our correspondent on Monday also added that while the participants are currently engaged in an online voting process on the ministry's website, the New Man Writing Contest judges are tirelessly working to ensure that winners emerge in the coming weeks. According to him, the judges including James Coburn, OlaKristi Ayo Obiremi and himself are seasoned literary writers who will look into the entries to select the final winners in the coming weeks.