Interview with Khrystil Black
April 2006, BlackGospel.com (By Christopher Heron)

The Word is a powerful tool that can mend a broken heart.  It can serve as a balm for emotional and spiritual healing.  Paul declared it to be,”…quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.” 

Now, the Word, spoken eloquently and artistically, whether uttered from a church podium, an amplified mike or from a published work is divinely powerful, effecting the mind, body and soul.  This is precisely the type of reaction Khrystil Black, poet and humble servant, hopes to derive from readers of her latest offering in prose – Branches Of Life.

After living a life that went through a series of seasons and turbulent cycles, Khrystil has now found her voice that’s crystal clear, emphatically emotional and faithfully planted in the arms of her Savior. It might have something to do with the title of her book.  BLACKGOSPEL.COM spoke with author and minister, Khrystil G. Black about her journey in life that’s finally led her to fertile ground.

Christopher Heron:  Khrystil, could you start by sharing with us your passion and love for writing? Who were some of the writers and poets you drew inspiration from? And at what point did you feel you were ready to publish your work?

Khrystil Black:  For as long as I can remember I’ve had a love for writing.  Even as a child, prior to my relationship with the Lord, I would write letters that were poetic in verse. In high school, I took a writing class and was told by my teacher I could be a writer if I desired to do so and apply myself. I thought to myself at the time, “no way”.  I just like to write as a hobby, nothing more.  The hand of God was moving even then. More and more I found I was more comfortable expressing myself when I wrote, as opposed to verbally speaking, due to the fact I was extremely shy and had very low self-esteem…but God! 

When God grabbed a hold of me, and as I began to go through some years of hurt and pain, He allowed me to express my pain in a different way--through Him, in order to not only help me, but others as well. It amazed me when I would go through a situation or circumstance, be it happy or sad, immediately I would begin to write. I know it wasn’t time, but God using me as a vessel to express what I was going through at that moment, to release it on paper as opposed to stuffing it inside, not only for me, but for someone else. As my pain grew, so did my writings. I wondered at times, what would I do with all these poems. I wanted to forget about the pain.  I didn’t want to think about my disobedience. At the time though, I never would have imagined writing as much as I did, much less a book. I know my passion for writing came/comes from the Lord, Jesus Christ! 

My inspiration for my writings draw from personal experiences, seasons in my life that I was disobedient to God, lessons God wanted me to learn in order to draw closer to Him. I believe He was teaching and preparing me in order that I would love through my circumstances, love through my pain, love myself because I didn’t know how to love Khrystil, which is a continual process.  In essence, how to truly love Him through it all, good and bad, in order to pass His love unto others, others like myself who need love, who desire love. To show others the ultimate love, the love of Christ.  Some of the writers and poets I admire today and from the past are Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Emily Dickinson to name a few.

What I’ve learned about those writers/poets--they are expressive, they have a boldness in their writings, something I had lacked but always desired. Think about it.  You have to be bold in order to express what you’re trying to say, to get your point across to an individual, to have them ponder on what you have to say and have them believe, as a result of what they’ve just read. The written or spoken word enters in and touches the reader’s spirit, their soul. 

That is where the boldness comes in.  The words of a poet are penetrating that person’s soul.  I call it “truth”.  Their “truth” may change that person’s thoughts, actions, life in that very moment. I don’t think I was ever ready to publish this book. I felt the nudging of God to do it, not only for me as a release from those times, but to let others know they are not alone and that there is someone who cares about them, if they would allow Him to do so.

CH:  Poetry is more than an eloquent way to express an idea. It is an artistic expression of emotions and ideas. Could you share with us how you use poetry as a form of ministry?

KB:  Through my poetry I’m expressing that we all go through things in life, but there’s a place in Jesus that, if we yield ourselves totally to Him, our lives would be sweeter. Yes, we will go through trials and tribulations.  The word speaks of that but I want you to see what I’ve gone through also and as you read my poetry--some of my life.  You will see, seasons of my life and yours through verse. You will see it wasn’t all easy. I did not do what I was suppose to do at times, I desired things of the world, instead of God, but God stepped in and began to change my life, including the poetry.  As it began to evolve, so did I. If you look at the beginning poems and then the latter ones, it’s obvious God was transforming and renewing my mind to walk in His will. I believe poetry is somewhat of a lost art form, but in my life, a platform to minister the word, through verse, with my life as the sermon.

CH:  Could you give us a little insight on your new book - Branches Of Life? What type of mood or season were you in to write this book? And who was this very personal literature written for?

KB:  Branches of Life was again, as previously stated, birthed through seasons in my life, seasons of disobedience, seasons of disappointments, seasons of change, seasons of loss and seasons of obedience to God. To give you a little insight, the poem entitled – Tomorrow - was written while on a job and a gentleman had been released after years of service and, as I was in prayer, I received the words for “Tomorrow”. I believed God used me to write it in order to minister to this individual and I gave him a copy.  Unbeknownst to me, his last day on that job was a couple days later.  So in essence, God was warning me of what was to come, as well as letting the gentleman know, God already had his tomorrow taken care of. Every poem in the book has a story to tell--a story of times in my life where God was always in the midst!

I believe in my heart this book was written for anyone who has been in a place they never intended or thought they’d be - heartaches, pain or even a joyous place.  Sometimes in a joyous place, we have a hard time believing God because we’ve been in that place of pain for so long. But in doing so--going through, no matter what it looks like--they see light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. 

CH:  And finally Khrystil, when the last page is read from Branches Of Life, what type of message and mood do you hope to leave with the reader?

KB:  I want the reader to reflect upon their life, their relationship with the Lord, their relationship with others. I want them to see how God used experiences in my life to draw me closer to Him. I want them to see how even in my disobedience to Him, He never forsook me.  He was there to pick up my broken pieces. He was there in my joy, the one He gave. He was there in my pain, pain inflicted upon me by others, as well as by myself. I want them to know that if they are currently in a season, to remember that seasons do change, from winter, to spring, to summer, to fall.  Seasons change. I want the reader to walk through their season and allow God to map out their destiny!

To contact Khrystil Black regarding her book – Branches Of Life – or for speaking engagements, email her at jesusattheroot@yahoo.com or by calling 813-210-2892.  For more information on her ministry, visit her official website at www.attherootministry.org.