I Ain't Ashamed:The Life Adventures Of Minister Olusheyi Banjo

By Olusheyi Banjo

This book is about the first 35 years of my life. The ups,downs and in-betweens. This book will take you on a very unique journey of the man that I turned out to be. It starts with the prophecy on my life before I was born, and culminates with the fulfillment of the prophecy. You will definitely enjoy it

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olusheyi Banjo
• Release date: Oct 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310368257

Olusheyi Banjo

Olusheyi is an awesome person Olusheyi is a goal oriented person who has a lot of love and loves to be good to people. He is a singer, songwriter,journalist, comedian,bible scholar,author, actor and entrepreneur. He has 3 gospel Cds that has been released (1.Look What God Has Done (Oct.10,2006) 2.Olusheyi(originally released on Nov. 17, 2009,re-released on May 24, 2011) 3.Joyful Return (Dec. 10,2010) He released his first single "Keep Hope Alive" on March 30,2002. Olusheyi has authored 2 poetry books 1."In Sorrow And Song"(March 10,2005) and 2."Hitchhiking Down Life's Highway" (March 25,2010.) He is working on 5 projects (a Children's book, 3rd and 4th poetry books. "Choose The Stars,""Galatic Underground," a book of reflections & his 4th CD "Growing In Faith") All scheduled to be released in 2012. Stay tuned

Book preview

I Ain’t Ashamed: The Life

Adventures Minister Olusheyi Banjo

by

Olusheyi A. Banjo

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Chapter 1.On The Edge of The Ocean

Chapter 2.A Change Of Scenery

Chapter 3.The Big Apple Bites Back

Chapter 4.Return To LA

Chapter 5.My First Album 

Chapter 6.On My Own & Back Again

Chapter 7.Here's Skid Row

Chapter 8.Look What God Has Done And Regal Living

Chapter 9.New Life New Job and   New Surroundings

Chapter 10.To Jenna and Back Again

Chapter 11.Loss And Found.

Chapter 12.Laughter and Stability

Chapter 13.The Stage Is Set to Telling It Like It Is

Epilogue

Discography

Bibliography

Foreword

Everyone has a story. A story about what made them who they are today. Most of us have a back story that will blow people's minds if we choose to tell it. This book is my story, my journey from the womb to the pulpit and most of the important things that have happened in between to shape my ministry. This is also my 35 year journey into self-acceptance. This is my written testimony

In this book, I reminisce about the major events in my childhood and in my early to middle adulthood. I go into necessary details about the important events and people that have aided me on my journey

I believe that every event in my life both good and bad has led me to where I am now. Every blessing and cursing has made me a better man.

This book has been the most challenging yet most rewarding book that I have ever written in my entire writing career.

This book took me one year and a half to write, between starting and stopping and self-doubting, I had to press on. Another reason why it was very challenging to me was, because as a writer and a minister, it is not easy exposing everything about you to your friends, family and even strangers.

There were times when I had doubts about publishing this book and had doubts about who would read it. I even had fear about, what if I lose friends or if church people turn their back on me. But I pressed on with the making of this book anyway.

Because as the title suggests, I’m not ashamed of my life's journey or the things that I've been through because it has made me who I am. I am truly blessed.

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I give all praise and glory to the most high God, for giving me the strength to do another book. Lord without you absolutely none of the events in my life would have happened. Thank you for loving me. Thank you to my wonderful mother and stepfather .I appreciate your wholehearted prayers. To my big sister Olubunmi, thank you for having my back when I need you, our song We're gonna Make It is awesome. To my big brother Olusegun, God bless bro, we will speak soon. To my niece Damolia and nephew (my namesake) Olusheyi, your uncle loves both of you. My wonderful grandmother Patricia and my dynamic grandfather Luke, no one could ask for better grandparents. I love you both. To my aunts, uncles and cousins around the world, thank you for being a great family to me. Grandma Flo, your motivation is priceless. My Godfather Benjamin Williams, I love you man so much. Godmother Saundra Royster, love you always. Thank you to my awesome church family Renewed Church of Los Angeles and Pastor Curt, God bless all of you. Thank you to my Crosswalk Culture and Accelerate Radio family, God bless each and every one of you. To my triple O family, (Ronin Gray, Wicked Rob & Lil Gee), God bless you all. You all are awesome. Julius, the most wonderful best friend that any man could ask for. Thank you for listening to my drama. Thank you Tim & Becky Baumgarner. Thank you Michael Gonzalez for being a real friend and accepting me for myself. Thank you Micaal, Thank you Dante Mitchell. Thank you ROK, Thank you Bobby Buck, Thank you Geza X. Thank you Erik Sarni. Thank you Tim Poole, you are so funny & you are a mess.lol. Thank you David Cipres Jr. Thank you Joey Herman. Thank you Lou Green and Tee Rexx and the Tightwodz Family. Thank you Tom Hicks. Thank you Unkal Bean. Thank you Brenton Fosner ,Vince ,Paula, Kara, and Noemi. Thank you Cornerstone Theatre Company, who gave me my start. Thank you Ron, Juan. Thank you Skid Row 3 on 3. Thank you Choko. Thank you Skid Row Housing Trust. Thank you David Andreiws. Thank you Marc Marcel and Edgar Dominguez. Thank you Deon Joseph ,You are an awesome friend. Thank you Devonte & Myesha James. Thank You Kirk Milton Jr. Thank you Kenya Willis, you are amazing. Thank you Lashaun Jones, praying for you and the family. Thank you Brian Smith. Thank you Marco Winfrey. Thank you Eric Ransome, Peter Nwude and Aaron Cavitt. Thank you to everyone at Bethany Christian Bible College in Los Angeles. Thank you Robert Foreman. Thank you Demetria Washington for your encouragement. Thank you Mike Velasco, a great friend and  biggest cheerer, love you man. Thank you to my personal trainer and friend, Steven Arenas, I appreciate your constant motivation of me. Thank you Ms. Sherri and Angelia Harper. Thank you Erik Sarni & Robert Amaya. Hubbfase, Sarah and Grimey love y'all. Thank you Arend Beal. Thank you to Tiffany, Henry Walker, Alex Ramirez Juan, Jocelyn Maurice and Brenda, the best co-workers anyone can have. Thank you Josey Ritcher, you're amazing man. Young Shame & Killa Cane. James Rachal, you are an awesome man, may God continue to bless you. Also thank you Mac Lucci and Cassper Loc.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my friend and creative brother David Mouton. Your belief in me and unconditional friendship will never be forgotten. Rest in peace brotha. This book is also dedicated to my  producer and friend John Michael King-Smith aka Jon Doe. Love You brotha, your  encouragement was awesome and you memory will never die  .This book is also dedicated to my father, Dr FAB, My great-grandmother Juanita Robinson, Grandma Hanna, Tabitha Anthony and Mary Floyd.

This book is also dedicated to my wonderful Godson Devonte Deon James 3, keep reaching for the stars. I am so proud of you.

The Book

Chapter 1: On The Edge of The Ocean

I've never realize how much my life has been like the ocean it’s been up its been down sometime the waves were unsteady and sometimes uneven and tossed & driven but through it all I remain flowing in flowing out on this journey. My journey started before I was actually born in San Jose, California. My mother often tells me the story, that when she was 7 months pregnant with me, She went to a revival at a local church, the preacher finished his sermon and everyone was dancing, all of a sudden, the preacher stopped, called my mother up to meet him. I suspect my mother didn't know what to think at that time, She probably was scared to death, probably thought he was going to prophecy doom on me. But he felt her belly and told her You have a preacher in your belly, raise him right and in the fear of the Lord, and that was all, she told me that he said. 3 months later, I was born, I was a week late, I guess even then I knew that life would be crazy, so I wanted to stay away from it as long as possible. Also on that day, a mystery happened, to this day I wonder why it did. As I was being born into this world, my great grandfather was dying 350 miles away. They told me when I was born, he died.my grandmother, told me, she called his home to tell him that I was born, his wife at the time, went to wake him up & discovered that he had died in his sleep. That was heavy. I also never really got to see my parents together they divorced when I was very young. I believe I was 1 and1/2 year old. I often wonder what their married life was like. I later found out from  my mother that they divorced  because  of my father's frequent cheating and disrespect of  her.

Soon after the divorce my mother, older sister and I moved to Los Angeles to stay with my great- grandmother and grandmother. I was told by my mother that as soon as we moved back to Los Angeles on 84th street and Central Ave., It wasn't long before my great grandmother wanted her own space, so she bought a house on 67th street and San Pedro, my grandmother, Aunts Kimberly and Robin, as well as my Uncle John moved in the back house, and my mother, big sister Olubunmi and I moved into the front house Things were going alright, from what I heard.

Then in 1982, we received an unexpected visitor, my dad. Up until that point, I had never met my dad. From what I was told, my mother took both my sister and I from their trailer park home on Lewis Road in San Jose when I was still an infant & had kept us away from my dad, until that day. He finally tracked us down through my great grandmother telling him where we were. My father told me that he took a friend with him to meet us, knocked on our house door, my mother answered and finally let him in. My sister greeted him of course, because she remembered him, she was 5 years old at the time, I on the other hand, did not know him, so from what they said, I cried when he tried to greet me. Every time he came near me, I would cry, because I didn't know who this strange man was. but strangely  when his friend tried to greet me, I would smile and laugh with him. This drill with my father went on until he decided to walk with me down the street to get some candy from the store. I cried as he walked with me away from my mother and sister. From what he tells me, I cried so much, that in the middle of the block, he stopped, looked me in the face and said I am your father and I love you. He gave me a hug, and that was all I needed to hear, I stopped crying and began to walk with him. As we were on our way back from the candy store, he lifted me on his shoulders and gave me a piggy back ride. My mother and my father's friend told me, when were returned we were laughing, smiling and having a good time with each other, I did cry once more as he and his friend said, goodbye to me and my sister. He hugged me once more and told me that he would see me a lot more. That was a promise that he kept.

My mother became a member of Deliverance Church Of God In Christ Church, in Los Angeles. My mother told me that when I was 1 and 1/2 years old, her, my sister and I used to get up and sing songs together, during the service, the pastor loved us so much, he told my mother to put a children's choir together, thus The Deliverance Church Sunshine Band was born. Soon after that, my mother began teaching the Deliverance Church of God In Christ's children's Sunday School department as well as being

the director of The Sunshine Band, of which my sister and  I were members of. The Sunshine Band were the children's choir of the church. We would sing every Sunday in between the senior choir's songs.

We were a hit, they loved us.  Some of my earliest happy memories were singing in the Sunshine Band, songs like Jesus Loves The Little Children, Jesus Loves Me and Father Abraham. Those were the good ole days.

]My mother was and still is a sweet woman, yet she was also a stern Christian disciplinarian. I remember one time when I was 4 years old, my uncle had taught me how to say a  cuss word and how to use it. I was in church the next Sunday, and Poppy was messing with me, it was  right between songs, as my mother and the church were about to sit down, I said to poppy Bitch leave me alone. My mother looked at me, with a look that I knew that I was in trouble.  She dragged  me out of the church and angry asked me What did you say? I started crying and tried to make an excuse for me saying it. My mother didn't buy it,  she went to the sink and washed my mouth out with soap and gave me the whooping of my life and when my father found out I received another whooping. To this day, you cannot pay me to say one bad word in the presence of my mother or my father, when he was alive.

A couple of months later, My mother, sister and I found ourselves living in the Deliverance Church of God In Christ, when I was just 4 years old. I did not know all of the circumstances surrounding our sudden move from the front house of 67th street, but suddenly we found ourselves, living in the church. I don't think I would ever want to get all of the details from my mom or my other family members surrounding the move, because it would be too painful for all involved. But we ended up there is all I remember.

During the time, a terrible thing began to happen to me, that is still hard for me to deal with to this day. The story begins like this, Pastor of Deliverance Church Of God In Christ, Arthur Givan Sr., had  2 sons and 2 daughters, One son, Rickey was about 10 years my senior and he was the church drummer, I remember, he never said much to me, but to me he was cool. His daughter Renee was, I would say 16 years my senior, she loved to sing in the senior choir.. His daughter Sharnee, we used to call her Poppy, was a flirt, she was 3 months younger than me, she  would  sit right next to me and would mess with me, one time after church, kissed me, so I tried to shoo her away, to no avail.

He also had an older son Arthur Givan Jr., who was 18 or 19 years my senior, He would come to the church, but I don't think he had any special office in the church. I noticed that some Sundays, I would look over my shoulder and he would be staring at me. I didn't think much of it at that time. One time,I was 5 years old at the time,, my mother and sister had to run an errand, during the week, and Arthur Jr. was there, my mother asked him to watch me. He agreed. The next thing I knew, Arthur Jr., told me to follow him, he had something to show me. I of course, followed him into the restroom. He immediately pulled his pants down and told me to suck his penis. He also threatened that if I did not, he would kill my mother and my sister. So I began to suck him, not knowing how. He then told me to pull my pants down, I obeyed, he then tried to insert his penis into my butt, but when I began to scream loudly, he decided against that. He ordered me to go back to sucking his penis, until he came in my mouth. He told me that if I told anyone my family would be dead. I was scared and did what he said. But I also tried to tell my mother, but unfortunately, I was not believed. Now that I look back on it, I don't fault my mother, she was scared and unequipt to handle a situation, like the one that I was going through. This went on for almost 1 year.

One day, there was a whisper going around the church, that Arthur Jr. was arrested, nobody knew the details, but I knew. Apparently, I wasn't the only boy he was molesting. It was later told, that one of the parents of one of his other victim's had called the police on him, after their son confessed to them about