In an effort to "ignite hope, faith and encouragement" in Christian believers Ayodele David Salawu has written a book, Word Alive.

The ordained minister, who is originally from Nigeria, has an educational background in theological training, humanities and religion. He converted from Islam in 1987, whilst a college freshman.

“I came to the Christian faith early in my young adult life. It was a rough beginning as young Muslim believer. I was baptised by water and changed from my Muslim name ‘Tajudeen’ to ‘David’. I was ostracised from home and did not set eyes on my parents until over a decade later.

“Despite all of that, my personal experience in Christianity over the last three decades has been phenomenal. Christianity, to me, is way beyond a religion; a relationship and fellowship with God as Father through Jesus Christ, His son.”

In 1993 he married Tracey, a Bermudian, and the couple have been actively engaged in missionary ministry ever since, living here, in Nigeria and in the UK.

“My wife and I moved back to Nigeria in 1994 to embark on a missionary outreach in the southwestern part of the country," he said. "We lived there with our young family for 13 years and raised a few mission churches and Rehoboth group of schools.

“I have seen the way God speaks, works and moves. I have seen these three aspects of God in my life, family and ministry. This became the motivator for my book.”

He draws on these personal missionary experiences in Word Alive.

“The inspiration for my book began a decade ago in the UK. At the time I had so many journals, dating back 20 years, full of personal relationship and partnership in the service of God’s Kingdom.

“I have personally experienced the divine healing of my son, who at age two was airlifted from ICU here in Bermuda to Boston Children’s Hospital. I have seen various healings that took place in our ministry in Africa and England and so many other stories of God’s miracles and deliverances. I felt I needed to start putting these experiences together so that they could be a blessing to others.”

The onset of the pandemic and the resulting lockdown in April of last year, led Mr Salawu to start writing again.

“It was in the search of what to do during the early lockdown in 2020 that led me to rediscover the manuscript and I decided to update the book and get it published.”

The purpose of Word Alive is to show that the promises in the Bible are real and relevant.

“I believe the healing and miracles of God that we read about in the Bible, especially in the Acts of the Apostles, did not end there. I believe that is why the writer of the book said in the last verse of the last chapter of the book: ‘Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no one forbidding him.’

“To me this sounds like a continuation of the works of God to all generations and I am a living proof of this.”

Mr Salawu believes that we all have access to the miraculous work of God. Word Alive includes a workbook section which gives readers the opportunity to practically apply its teachings through a "daily word prescription".

“In developing countries one of the slogans of medicine is 'We care but God heals'. So the daily word prescription exercise in the book is the same concept. It is a challenge to see healing and miracles of God in our lives.

“The Bible is God’s prescription book that treats every aspect of living. When the word of God is personalised in our daily lives by speaking the word, it becomes experiential and results happen at the appointed time.”

His hope is that readers will change the way they see and use the Bible and find inspiration in the examples shared.

“The word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. The Bible is not just a story book, but also a living book.”

Mr Salawu has dedicated his book to the support of missionary work and encouraging disciples in African nations. Proceeds from the sale of Word Alive will go towards food distribution in communities that have been affected by tribal homicide.

Word Alive is available at Brown & Co, Sacred Christian Gifts and on Amazon. For more information: ayosalawu5@gmail.com