Jelani Lewis
Department: Amazing Kids/Mix56
Areas of Ministry: Mix56 (5th–6th grade)
Family: I married an absolutely wonderful woman named Erin on December 30, 2011. It's important to know that she can cook and catches a football with her hands.
Saved: In 1996, the quarterback on my high school football team was radically saved by God. For the first time in my life, I saw another young person begin genuinely living for the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit. That summer, inspired by the transformation I saw in him, I surrendered my life to Jesus.
Education: I graduated from Central Arkansas with a degree in Speech Communication.
Previous Lines of Work: After college, I worked for a faith-based nonprofit organization teaching character education. I have also coached high school and college football, served as a team chaplain and most recently, was a youth prison ministry director.
One of the Things I Find Most Fascinating: Creation, especially people
FAVORITE
Books: The Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards, The Revolutionary Communicator and It Came from Within by Andy Stanley
Food: Shrimp (that's the Louisiana, AKA Dirty South, in me), tamales, waffles and pancakes
Snack Food: Strawberry Twizzlers (never Red Vines), orange-flavored Craisins and chocolate-covered almonds
Movies: Braveheart, Remember the Titans, Hitch, Gladiator, The Blind Side, and shamefully, Pride and Prejudice (the new version)
TV Show: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Musical Artists: Hillsong, David Crowder,
CD: Everything Hillsong, Chariot and Thriller (I still have love for you MJ!)
Actors: Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman
Actress: Julia Roberts, Zoe Saldana, Sandra Bullock, Mable ‘Madea’ Simmons
Time of Day: Morning
Season: Fall
Place in the World: Hawaii
Place to Pray: The park
Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Flag football, movies, walking in the park, reading books
Scripture: Philippians 4:13
Sport: Football
LEAST FAVORITE
Food: Onions
Season: Winter
Place in the World: Anywhere really cold
Sports Team: All hockey teams
Best Thing Someone Said to You: No
Life Motto: I don’t really have one but off the top of my head—Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get … but God sure does.
Three People I’d Like to Meet: Martin Luther King, Will Smith, David (the guy that killed the bear, the lion and a giant)
My Heroes: Jesus, Mom, Dad and Matt Carpenter
One of My Greatest Experiences with God: When I was in Boulder, Colorado, for a discipleship project, the Lord showed me His Father heart. For the first time in my life, I saw myself not solely as a servant/ messenger boy but as a son in the arms of a loving Father. That single moment tremendously transformed the way I pray, worship and live.
Most People Don’t Know This About Me: I was born in
