Mfonobong Inyang Reveals Exclusive: The Untold Story 'In-Between Fights'

The author recounts a pivotal personal journey in 2008, where a trip to visit an uncle in another state opened doors for academic pursuits and their first experience leaving their hometown. Driven by a lifelong sense of adventure, the author chose to travel independently. During this visit, they discovered a CD titled “Manpower 2001: Men of Honour” by TD Jakes, which profoundly reshaped their understanding and interrogation of the Bible. This initial encounter blossomed into a consistent engagement with TD Jakes’ messages across various platforms. Notably, during a challenging period earlier this year, a specific message from TD Jakes, drawing on his half-century of ministry experience and focusing on Saul of Tarsus (Paul), provided crucial guidance for navigating the difficulties, preventing misdiagnosis of the problem. This article serves as an homage to that influential voice, sharing excerpts from the author's personal journal.

Paul’s story did not begin as an apostle but as the chief persecutor of the early Christian community, employing surgical, targeted attacks. His journey to Damascus with his crew was divinely interrupted by Jesus himself. Jesus confronted Paul, effectively calling him a coward for targeting vulnerable followers of “The Way,” demanding a direct encounter. The encounter, chronicled by Luke, highlights a “light that was brighter than the midday sun,” signifying a supernatural revelation to Paul, an intellectual, that there was a reality far grander than his existing knowledge. This moment irrevocably transformed Paul’s life, becoming the genesis of the widely recognized phrase “Damascus road experience,” used even in cultural contexts today to denote radical change.

This transformative moment was one of profound disruption. Paul, who began his journey with sight, temporarily lost it, becoming reliant on the very men he was leading. A doctor of the law was humbled, becoming a student under the relatively unknown Ananias, a stark reminder that seeking help from those one would ordinarily assist can be deeply humbling. Such an experience resonates with anyone who has faced similar reversals in life.

Paul’s journey then led him to become a misfit. A Pharisee deeply rooted in legalism evolved into the chief apostle of grace; an intellectual willingly became a “fool for the sake of the gospel”; and the predator of “The Way” became its staunchest proponent. This radical shift meant he was no longer welcomed by the Sanhedrin, where he was once a protégé of Gamaliel, nor was he immediately embraced by the ecclesia. Even Ananias initially hesitated to accept Paul due to his notorious past. Despite being a freeborn Roman citizen, Paul faced constant harassment, arrests, and assaults from authorities for his newfound conviction and his proclamation of a person superior to the emperor. Paul’s life powerfully illustrates that human choice does not dictate God's selection; his case was purely an election of grace. In an age driven by a desire for acceptance, Paul stands as a testament to embracing one's unique difference, for fitting in can often eclipse one's true purpose. Misfits are frequently misunderstood and unappreciated in their time, often feeling isolated. The author extends congratulations to anyone feeling like an outcast, welcoming them to the club of misfits.

Paul understood himself as a “chosen vessel” for his assignment, primarily sent to the Gentiles. His unique experiences forged him for this mission, enabling him to mentor individuals like Timothy and inspire countless others, yet always remaining a singular figure. This serves as a lesson in self-forgiveness for not being able to replicate oneself in others.

Paul grasped the profound weight, sanctity, and consequential nature of his message. He diligently ensured that emotions did not corrupt his revelations, carefully avoiding the creation of doctrine from personal desires or policies from preferences. He recognized that his writings would shape faith communities globally for millennia. This commitment allowed him to write encouraging letters to the Philippians even while imprisoned, offering support and hope while enduring his own despair and struggles. He eloquently expressed that he had learned to “abase and abound.” Paul further declared his determination to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified, indicating that amidst numerous competing messages, he resolutely chose to preach Christ.

This discipline, akin to a communications coach advising to “stay on message,” offers a powerful lesson. When life’s challenges strike, there is a temptation to construct purpose around pain, frame truth through trauma, and develop a message from personal struggles. This requires exceptional discipline to remain true to one's calling, even in adversity. Jesus himself prophesied Paul’s suffering for His name, not as a consequence of his past persecution, but as an inherent part of his future ministry. Paul embraced this reality, reflecting it in his language, such as stating, “I fought beasts at Ephesus.” Nearing his martyrdom, he wrote to his protégé about having “fought the good fight.” All of Paul’s monumental achievements, including documenting two-thirds of the New Testament, transpired amidst relentless battles, not in times of ease. In his own words, he endured immense hardships: working harder, more frequent imprisonments, countless beatings, near-death experiences, five floggings of thirty-nine lashes, three beatings with Roman rods, one stoning, three shipwrecks, a night and a day in the open sea, constant dangerous travels, encounters with robbers, struggles with friends and foes, risks in both city and country, exposure to desert sun and sea storms, and betrayals. He experienced drudgery, hard labor, sleepless nights, hunger, cold, and nakedness.

The ultimate lesson for us is that life often does not become easier. For some, it is a fight to raise children, pay bills, or succeed in business. Whatever challenges one faces, the imperative is to make life count in between those fights.