Kierra McKenzie

My name is Kierra Whitfield, and I was born and raised in Maryland. Family has always been a huge part of my life. I have been blessed to understand the life of being an only child of my mother and spending time on weekends with my six siblings from my father. I did not grow up with a hunger or curiosity for God, my early experience was going to my local catholic church every Sunday as a family tradition.

There was an experience in college where I sat in on a service at a Baptist church and during the altar call, I felt a pull to go to the altar but fought until the last minute. I immediately fell at the altar and began to weep uncontrollably. A lady stood praying for me, but I didn’t hear anything that she said because I couldn’t stop crying. Once I wiped my face, I got up and left. And that was that; I just went about my day. No one explained to me salvation, reading the Bible, or even plugging into a church community. To me, it was just another awesome experience, but I had absolutely no language for it.

After graduating from college with a B.S. in psychology, I didn’t know what direction I wanted to take my life into. I had been dancing since the age of three with different dance companies and apprenticeships, and that passion was stronger inside of me than my other passion to become a psychologist or counselor. So, I decided to move to L.A. to pursue my dream of becoming a dancer.

I began taking classes, performing in different dance projects, commercials and acting gigs, while trying to survive as a server. I started going to a church — suddenly, I grew a hunger for more of God and started seeking out many questions like “Is God real?” and “What is my purpose?” I didn’t even know that you could hear the voice of God! That’s what intrigued me the most. Yes, I was one of those people that went to the alter at least 10 times just to be sure I was saved, until the Holy Spirit revealed to me that the encounter I had at the Baptist Church in college was my salvation. I began to serve in the church, became one of the lead ushers and joined their dance ministry.

Even though I had a great Father, I still grew up with attributes of an orphan spirit. God began dealing with the issues of my heart and childhood roots that I developed that needed to be broken down. I realized that it wasn’t ok to want to be isolated or judge mental or selfish or self-centered. Without knowing it, I developed this survival mentality where I felt like I had to look out for myself and take care of “me” or who else will. Which caused me to live a life of self-preservation that was rooted in fear.

God reversed the enemy’s plans for my soul and gave me hope and a future that I could never have dreamed of. God the Father was the answer to every void and misunderstanding in my heart. This journey isn’t easy, but He predestined me with a plan of redemption that my cup may overflow and those who drink from it will receive the healing and medicine that I have qualified to become, through my testimony. I continue to walk the path that he has prepared for me and helping those he sends my way to realize that this life was never intended for you to do it alone but to walk with Him as a son or daughter and become one with the lover of your soul.