Being David Adjei
David The Man After God’s Own Heart
I was saved in the second year of my undergraduate degree in 2012 and welcomed Jesus Christ into my life. However, the fairy tale saved story was not my path back then. I returned to my previous ways of fornication, sex, smoking and ungodly habits whilst I attended Church.
As I remained in this grey area in my walk with God for many years, the same lukewarm results were displayed in my education and career; constantly unfulfilled, constantly trying to draw blood from a stone. I was working very hard for a minimal reward and was running dry on the inside, but smiled on the outside. I thank God for my naturally optimistic outlook on life, as I probably would have suffered depression if I did not have this disposition, but this also prevented me from truly reflecting and being convicted to change. I subliminally was thinking that change would happen eventually.
I remained in this ‘one foot in one foot out’ place until I was disturbed by my muse Alexis Oladipo (who is now my fiancé). Seeing her commitment to God inspired me to seek Him more diligently, and I rededicated myself to God. At that point, I had become inconsistent with my church Destiny Christian Centre, which had moved to West London, but that did a full 360 and God broke out in every area of my life.
He has broken every chain of addiction, sexual immorality and placed a vision in my heart to create the Christian based platform for men
Jet Code. The aim of which is to redefine the modern Christian man and celebrate and strengthen one another.
My advice to anyone who does not know God, or maybe is not in the same place with Him as before, is to give Him just one year. One year where you ask Him to show you Himself in your life as Romans 12:2 says…
“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”
Romans 12:2 AMP
The key thing that I pick up on in the amplified version is the ‘proving for yourself.’ Not proving to the Pastor, or church, or parents and not friends, but God proving His will to that little voice that speaks inside of you. Give God one year and I am certain that you will see Him move significantly beyond doubt in your life.
David The ‘Archipreneur’
My journey to running my own architecture firm Cognition is quite unconventional but unconventional is what our miracle working God does best. I struggled throughout my Bachelors in Architecture and achieved a 3rd in 2011. During a recession crippled industry, I did not find any work and went to work for Barclays Bank for two years, during which I was constantly unfulfilled. I was prompted in my spirit and recommitted to my calling by signing up to do my Masters in Architecture a week before the semester started in 2013 with no savings.
By the grace of God who sustained me through a string of freelance graphics work, I was able to complete my Masters and achieved a 2.1. Back in the job market again I was struggling to find work. My fiancé and I went into a time of prayer and fasting. Little did we know this would be the key to the door!
“The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.”
2 Peter 3:9
God broke out and blessed me at a contract at TP Bennett without an interview, which after 6 months switched to a contract position with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designers of the tallest building in the world Burj Khalifa. After spending 1 year on a contract with them they offered me a permanent role, and the offer was well below my expectations. I then researched salaries across the market and found that it was normal for someone after 7 years of studying/work experience to earn £35K. I compared that to the vision God had placed within my heart and found this not being sufficient, so I remembered what God provided me with to get through my Masters, my own work, my own clients, my own money. So I relaunched my business Cognition, which has gone on to develop properties across London and even recently getting contracted to work on Tottenham’s football stadium. Each and every day is a blessing and I regularly find myself far outside my comfort zone, but each and every time God glorifies Himself in the situation.
My advice to young people not only starting in architecture but in every industry, is to question the normal. Do what is not expected of you. I did not highlight that throughout all of this journey I’ve had classmates, tutors and colleagues all doubt and question me, but regardless of what they say (someone always has something to say) if it does not align with what God has said about you then brush it off and keep going.
@JetCode
@Jnr_Savage