Interview with biographer Malachi Stewart

Today's guest is Malachi Stewart. He's doing a virtual book tour for his personal biography, Journey to Malachi.

At the bottom of the interview is a rafflecopter entry form to enter to win a signed copy of the book.

Bio: 
Malachi Jeremiah Stewart is an ancient vessel housed in a modern body. In 2011, he was entrusted to lead Prophetic Streams Ministries in Philadelphia, PA as a unique tributary of Kingdom life, by declaring the finished work of Christ and dispensing the ‘unforced rhythms of grace.’

Currently, Malachi is pursuing a degree in Religion and Christian Counseling at Liberty University and seeks to work in full time ministry, both at locally and globally. He serves as Youth Advisor & Trainer to Dominion’s Prophetic & Apostolic Coalition Trans-Continental (D'PACT), Youth L.E.A.D. and Youth in Ministry (YIM) organizations, training high school and college students in the areas of evangelism, spiritual devotion, biblical instruction, and Papa prayer. He leads IGNITE! a youth evangelistic outreach in the capitol region, including DC-Maryland-Virginia. As a visionary leader and prophetic flame, he has a strong desire for souls to be saved, families to be restored, and for nations to be reconciled with Christ.

Welcome, Malachi. Please tell us about your current release.

Readers of Journey to Malachi will embark upon a biographical journey through my life as I face the perils of abuse and the tribulations of its many after effects. Through hopelessness and despair I invite readers to join me for the moments that bring great sorrow and the moments that bring great joy. Journey to Malachi is a celebration of the purpose behind our deepest pains.

What inspired you to write this book?

When I was a small boy and my sexual abuse started I was extremely confused and deeply hurt. Since that moment I never felt like there was another person who understood my inner struggles and so my problems made me feel isolated. When I started writing I wrote the book to my inner child. I told the stories I knew he could relate to and I gave him the honesty he deserved. I also gave him the love, support, and spiritual wisdom he would need to survive and overcome his journey to healing and hope.

Excerpt:

After the rape I totally suppressed any feelings I had the same way I had done years ago when the molestation occurred. I knew that I didn’t have the strength to risk exposure and tell any adult what happened. To tell any of my peers, who knew my secret would cause me to feel weak and foolish. A huge part of me really believed that the molestation and the rape were my fault. To most people that probably doesn’t make sense, and in retrospect it doesn’t honestly make any sense to me either but at the time that feeling was so very real to me. I kept wondering how I could have been so stupid. How could I have put myself in that position of vulnerability? The easiest way to cope with what happened was to pretend that it didn’t. Somehow I managed to move forward and by the time I graduated high school I had a pretty good control over my sexual urges and was doing my best to abstain from sinful activities all together. I was deeply involved with the church and had been serving as a youth leader. I was getting my first real taste of ministry as I planned revivals and watched the labor of my hands manifest into powerful moves of God. It felt so good to be living what I believed. A part of me, however knew that it was temporary. How long did I really expect to go through life with my heart separate from the lifestyle that I was living?

 My survival mechanism in the church realm was that I embraced the legalism, which caused my youthfulness to be abandoned. Following all of the doctrinal rules of my denomination and reciting religious dogma made me feel like I had changed. Changing physical things gave me the façade of deliverance. It is for this reason why I understand how the woman the bible describes as being caught in the act of adultery must have felt when they brought her to the Messiah’s feet. She knew the law and knew she was wrong. Her accusers were many and worse of all they were justified. She was indeed guilty as charged. It would have been convenient for Jesus to introduce her to religion and have her to repent and wear a long dress, cover her hair, remove her jewelry and do everything else that would make her feel whole and worthy. Yet he extended grace to her and removed her accusers, releasing her to “sin no more”. Receiving that’s grace was the hardest thing the woman had probably ever done in her life. It is easy to change the external with legalistic practices that produce tangible results but it’s hard to receive grace and allow Christ to transform the internal in the fullness of time. If only I knew that then I would have saved myself years of settling for a ‘form of godliness’! My façade was intact but unfortunately in time all facades fade. Mine was fading faster than I knew.  

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am working on a book called Daddy that illuminates how our experiences with our natural fathers are reflected in how we perceive and relate to God as our heavenly father.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I considered myself a writer at my first book signing. Even after publishing and holding the book in my hands for the first time, it wasn’t until I was seeing strangers purchase my book that I felt like an official writer. Truth be told, I feel I am more of a storyteller. I feel that my destiny it to share the truths that are applicable to us all by telling stories that bring healing, hope and happiness to the darkness that can comprise reality.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I am a full-time student and transitioning into full-time ministry. I write whenever I can find time. Fortunately, I am able to write large amounts quickly but unfortunately rarely have the time to devote to writing. I suspect this will change as I become more prominent as an author.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

When I am writing I cannot use a pen and paper! I have to type and everything must be completely silent. I do my best writing early in the morning and where I am surrounded by nature and beauty.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Interestingly, the first thing I ever wanted to be was a writer. Of course, I found out that other occupations make more money so quickly opted for the more logical and lucrative career path. I never felt I could be successful as a writer. Recently, I decided to choose passion over prosperity, but I hope one day the twain will become one.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I just want the readers to know that my purpose for sharing the intimate details of my life was so that it could inspire, comfort, and cause healing for someone else. This book was certainly written with my readers in mind so as you begin to take my journey, be encouraged in your own.

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Thanks, Malachi. Readers, enter here to win a signed copy of Journey to Malachi:

 a Rafflecopter giveaway