“The
Jesus Girl” aka Dana Chanel, I heard Atlanta’s own The Durtty Boyz Show (Hip
Hop radio show) refer, is basically the synopsis of what she is all about. Born
in Brooklyn, New York, Ms. Dana is swooping social media with her positive
video messages and overall love for everyone. I’ve had the pleasure of
interviewing Ms. Dana Chanel, and I truly believe she’s a voice of
reason for our generation. It’s just refreshing to see a young individual
excited about Christ. Check out the
interview below!
Firstly,
thanks for taking the time to be interviewed by SLBWunder. For those who may not know, what made you start making
inspirational videos for social sites like Instagram?
DC: I guess you can just say the
Holy Spirit just did the darn thing. I never said to myself "Hey, I'm going
to make videos about Jesus," but I guess before my relationship with
Jesus, I use to post pictures smoking weed, and hanging out in the strip club.
If Jesus is consuming my life now, why can't I post about that? I would pray
for God to use me, and the videos is all how it started. I couldn't keep it to
myself everything He was teaching me.
•Did
you make the conscious effort to become our generation's voice of reason on the
web? Meaning, do you enjoy the influence you have?
DC: Did I make the conscious
effort? Not at all. This is my calling, this is what I was created for. I can
say I make the choice every day to walk in obedience, but I was given this
purpose. I feel blessed for God to have chosen me to put me on a pedestal to
speak through me.
Your
Instagram is constantly gaining new followers & even the likes of Bishop TD
Jakes, Kierra Sheard, & Tasha Cobbs follow you. Does that mean something to
you or are you not fazed by it?
DC: All these anointed men and
women of God you specifically pointed out are just like you and I- humble
servants. We are ordinary people with the same goal, so for us to want to
follow one another, isn't that what we do? Follow people that encourage and inspire
us, and enjoy, like the same things. We happen to all love Jesus. They mean
just as much to me as every single one of my followers that are not in the
public eye.
•
You have an online ministry called Sprinkle of Jesus. How did that creation
happen?
DC: Sprinkle of Jesus manifested when I began
learning who God was. I started to blog about my experience and I thought to
myself, “Where else do people my age have a place to talk about this stuff
like, what God thinks about drugs, sex, violence, the club.” I wanted other
young, "in our prime" people to know that they can be cool and have a
relationship with God. God needed me to create a platform, a community for us
to guide one another without being judged. We talk about stuff and people ask
questions that they would be afraid to ask in church. We just encourage one
another to have a relationship with Jesus; we let the Holy Spirit to do the
rest. It's such a blessing to hear from my peers on this journey to be
Christ-like. We even created the Sprinkle
of Jesus app to stay even more connected with one another, where you can
submit prayer requests, read the blog, chat with other Christians, and all that
good stuff.
•
Speaking of the website, I love that you have a directory tab for Christian
owned businesses. Can you elaborate on why you feel it's important to use the
site's platform to help businesses?
DC: I believe money in the right
hands could do amazing things. I believe Christians should be successful and
rich, not just spiritually, but in our finances as well. If God has blessed me
with a successful business, why wouldn't I pass on that information to put my
brothers and sisters in a better space? So we offer TV commercial opportunities
and everything it would take to start your own business. For example, at the moment
I am searching for 25 Christian owned businesses to feature in the new Sprinkle of Jesus commercials!
•
I've watched your countless bible study sessions and you have such a positive
outlook on life, and exude excitement about spreading the Gospel. What is it
that keeps you encouraged & coming back for God's word?
DC: My past. The memories of how
I use to live, feel, think, look at life, walk, act, how I use to love is
something I never want to go back to. I was in love with the world and even
though life now still isn't perfect, I've never been happier in my life. Jesus,
gives me something this world could never and that's enough for me to keep
coming back.
•
Everyone has a testimony & on Sprinkle of Jesus you blogged about yours and
became candid about the car accident you experienced. Can you talk a little
about it & the relationship you had with God at the time?
DC: Actually, I believe that car
accident was God answering my prayers to show me He was real. I wasn't sure. I
flipped my car 100 feet into the woods with no seatbelt on- everything was
ejected from the car except my 105 pound body. I didn't have a relationship
with Him, I wasn't even sure about Him, but He spoke to me. He protected me. He
defeated odds, when everyone was asking how you could be alive right now, I
finally knew the answer.
• On
a lighter note, who are a few artists you enjoy listening to, gospel or not?
DC: Ahhh, I'm a fan of so many
people. Maybe some of the music I listen to is only because I know these people
personally. I believe there are testimonies in so much music that people
completely shut off because it's not "gospel music," but I believe
culture has created different styles of sharing life experiences through music.
I'm judged on my music choice all the time, but I’m totally cool with it. I
love my awesome friend Tasha Cobbs, she is just amazing! I like Jon McReynolds,
he is dope. William Murphy kills it! Not so much gospel music, OG Maco, Tink,
Ariana Grande, and Sia. I couldn't even name all the people I enjoy. I just love
talented individuals.
•
For all of your supporters out there, what's an encouraging word you can leave
them with?
DC: Stop looking for the
"Christian" you should be in everyone except Jesus. [It’s] Kind
of something that I need to focus on, because it's a struggle. It's not always
easy to constantly be judged on social media. I'm human. I have feelings, and
Jesus is constantly telling me to continue to look past some of the negativity,
and stay focused on Him to do what He needs me to accomplish.
