The Missionary Team Members are passionate about their work for Jesus Christ.  They work diligently to ease the suffering of others.  They are all long-time members and supporters of Dissect My Soul Ministries. They work very closely with TaiVon Brown on the Global Missionary Outreach Program:

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Guetty Alfred: Missionary Team Member, Print Advertising Coordinator 

Guetty attended DeVry University with a focus in Network Communications.  She is currently a Sr. Reconciliation Analyst at a Network Services Company.  At age 16, she gave her life to Christ. Soon after, she became a member of Dissect My Soul Ministries in which she states…”and my life has never been the same”.

Based On My Faith: “I was born in Cap-Haitian, Haiti. I was raised by my mother’s sister and her husband, who was also my god father. Growing up, I was raised with my younger sister and two cousins. We all lived in the same house and were each other’s best friends. At this point, my life was good as a child and I was happy.  Like most people who refer to themselves as “Christians,” I attended church regularly, but I grew up in a Catholic Church without having a real relationship with Jesus Christ. I attended Catholic school up until the age of 12. I knew of God, read the Bible, and experienced my first communion, but I did not really understand the importance of Jesus Christ and how important He should be in my life.

I was being raised by my relatives because both of my parents had migrated to the US.  They resided in Florida in search of a better life for me and my sister.  Although my sister and I loved our parents, we only had a distant relationship with them through letters and photos. My mother became pregnant again while living in Florida. I was nine years old when my brother was born, and a few months after he was born my father died. In Haiti, children were kept in the dark about “adult matters,” so on the day of my father’s memorial service, I remember my sister and I were dressed in black and unknowingly on our way to a memorial service for him when we learned of his death over the radio during the reading of his obituary!  I had never experienced death so closely before, so hearing about his death over the radio instead of being told about it made me angry.  I never shared my feelings with anyone, and a great bitterness and a deep hurt began to grow within my heart.

Three years after my father’s death, I saw my mother for the first time since she had left us. I don’t know how old I was when she left.  My sister and I were told she was visiting us, but we soon realized she was gravely ill, and had simply come home to die! I spent the last three months of my mother’s life at her bedside helping take care of her while watching her deteriorate.  When my mother died, I was 12 years old, my sister was 9, and my brother was 3; just six months after reuniting with her.  Again, unidentified bitterness started to develop in my heart.

After my mother’s passing, the anger I held inside from my father’s death grew and grew.  I coped in life by withdrawing from everything and everyone to the point that my uncle became very concerned about my emotional safety.  All the adults in the family then agreed that I needed an immediate change in my environment. Within two months of my mother’s death, I found myself on a plane to Fort Lauderdale, FL to meet up with another uncle I barely knew. My younger brother was with me and we were required to leave everything and everyone behind…including my younger sister!  This was an extremely difficult time in my life. I found myself in a strange land, where I did not speak or understand the language, and there was no one I felt I could turn to. It was here in this new land that I discovered that both of my parents had died of AIDS! I discovered a new level of bitterness for my mother.  How could she have exposed our family to such loss by letting my father give her AIDS? I felt rejected, unloved, and angry!

I know that my uncle provided the best life he could for me and my brother, and I will forever be grateful to him.  I assumed a large portion of the responsibilities for raising my brother. My uncle was not married and I became the cook and housekeeper for all. This experience forced me to become self-reliant in a very sheltered environment.  Little did I know at the time that this would prove to be both good and bad!

One day, my uncle decided we needed to start attending church service as a family. We then united with a small local Baptist church close to our home.  A few years later, the church relocated, but we continued attending since we had now become part of the congregation. My uncle stopped going to church, but my brother and I were allowed to continue after the pastor’s wife agreed to be responsible for us. It was at this church that I met Minister McKinney. I now know that God kept us at that church so we could meet and begin the process of learning about Him and His love for us.  I eventually gave my life to Christ and was baptized at age 16.

In many ways Minister McKinney became the “Mother” that I never had. She recognized my battleground wounds and scars and loved me and my brother in spite of everything.  My brother and I enrolled in her Bible studies and our spiritual understanding started to develop in new ways. She introduced herself to our uncle so he would allow us to participate in the youth activities that she organized. This soon became a great outlet for us from our very strict home environment.  Although I was still hanging on to my deep pain and hurt and refused to trust anyone, Minister McKinney always kept coming forward even when I did everything I could to push her away.  Even to this day, she tells me how much she loves me and that there is nothing I can do to push her away!  More importantly, she has taught me that Jesus Christ is in love with me. I’ve learned quite a lot over the last 20 plus years that I have been associated with Dissect My Soul Ministries.  I know that I still carry many battle scars, but I also know that Jesus is granting me growth and healing opportunities day-by-day, and for that I praise His name. I’ve come to realize that I would not change one thing about my past. Everything that took place in my life aided me in becoming the person I am today, including meeting Minister McKinney and joining the ministry, which led me to my God, and my Lord Jesus Christ!

I now understand that God never promised me life would be without heartaches and sorrows. The book of James reminds me often to count it all joy for all these things have been tests of my faith.  I know my Creator loves me and I was created in His Image for a specific purpose.  Dissect My Soul Ministries and its members have been a wonderful extended family and a great source of support throughout my life. God has also allowed me to be an eyewitness of what unwavering faith and complete surrender look like, no matter what the obstacles are, because of my association with Minister McKinney.  Matthew 22:14 says, “Many are called but few are chosen,” and I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit granted me access to one of His chosen.  I’ve been truly blessed.

Although I gave my life to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at an early age based on what I understood at the time, I now realize that there is so much more that God wants from me.  Therefore, I strive daily to be “absolutely surrendered” unto the will of God.  As long as I live, I will choose to serve Him.  I know that God is not through with me yet, but I also know I can depend on Him for all of my needs and for Him to light and guide my way.  My constant prayer is that He renews me daily and helps me to release everything that might keep me from getting closer to Him and His best for me each day. For I know, through the Living Son of God, all things are possible.  To God be the Glory forever. Amen!

Based On My Faith: “I was raised in a home that knew “of” God, but did not “know” God. We, at times, attended a Lutheran church, but mainly only on Christmas and Easter. When I was in 7^th grade, I asked to go to church more often.  I praise God for my neighbor, Kay B., who read the Bible to me and her boys on summer evenings on her deck when I was 12 years old.  She read from John and Matthew, and then jumped to Revelation.  I remember having so many questions about what I heard from the book of Revelation. Although these words scared me, my longing to understand gave me the comfort to engage and seek answers.  This was (informally) my first Bible study.  My Dad’s Mother, Grandma Bee, and I were close, and she too spoke to me about God and His Beauty and Magnificence.

Once I went to college and progressed into a young adult, I found myself drifting away from God, becoming more worldly by engaging in “self” based activities.  In looking back at this, I understand that this occurred because the only Christian support found in Kay’s readings or my Grandma Bee’s words had been removed from my daily presence.  My conscience and heart felt the constant tugging reminder, but I was prideful and acted as if I did not need anyone.

Just as I was turning 33 years old, I was immersed in surviving as a single Dad of two boys trying my best, but overwhelmed with life’s  pressures. I realized God loves me and I humbly cried out, pleading for help. I surrendered myself and prayed all night asking God to forgive me – I was completely broken!  One of my prayers was that God would bring me a helpmate that I could truly live with. I prayed for a partner that I could love and that would return my love; someone that I could laugh and cry with while experiencing the joy of the Lord.  Specifically, I prayed for a good and kind Christian woman to become my wife and the mother of my two sons.  Less than 1 year later, Stella and I were married. Stella was already a member and devoted follower of DMSM.  Slowly, I began to see  how ignorant and blind I was about what it means to be a “follower” of the LORD. As my knowledge grew through the teachings of DMSM, I discovered the love and protection of God as He daily increased my faith.  My wife walked as a daily example of what it meant to be a “True Christian.” This was further enhanced by Minister Zelma who counseled and ministered to me by teaching me God’s word.  They are my support that God has put in my life to grow in Christ daily.  I crucify my flesh daily and praise God for everything…but mostly for knowing Him and becoming closer to God! I am truly blessed to be back in the will of the LORD!

I renew my faith daily by surrendering self, seeking God’s guidance, and standing firm in His protection. My constant prayer is, “I Love You, Jesus! Lord, Your infinite Wisdom and unfailing Love are always within me ‘through it all.’ I have had both joy and heartache, yet knowing that you, God, are dealing with the Eternal spectrum, not just my own comfort, has helped me to trust in You!”

For those who seek a spouse, I testify unto the LORD that if you humble yourself with a repentant heart, submit your will unto the “will of God,” that He is faithful in providing all that you need…including a “godly wife.”