I'm a pastor, ready to bling for Jesus, but don’t judge me by my appearance-D'Bling, multiple award winning singer By ADAEZE AMOS If you think pastors are not meant to be fashionable, trendy, cute, style enthusiasts, then wait until you read this interview of this Nigerian pop queen, multiple award winning singer and United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace. Guess her name? Lindsay Czerepwicz fondly known as D'Bling. She was born to an ex-military personnel father and a clergy mum. In this chat with Adaeze Amos she talked about her calling and the things she has given up just to be more focused on her duties in the vineyard of God. Excerpts: For some time now you have been out of the scene, why? Yes you are right. Last year I was out of the scene for a while because I was spending out time to get to know God the more. And also get to know myself, I mean discover myself the more. And in that process, I was going to a Bible School for some courses. And I'm through with that. So, I am now a minister of God. I’m a pastor. Were there some problems you had while you were going through your pastoral school? No there was nothing like that. What were some new things you learnt about God and spirituality? Well, as a matter of fact I have always been a God- fearing-person. I have always been spiritual. It's just that the people only saw the diva. I think my friends such as Muma Gee , Cossy Orjiakor and Majek Fashek, know the real me. And my mum is a pastor, and my father was ex-military personnel. I have a very decent and disciplined background. let me just say that I'm going back to my root. (Laughs). How do you think you would be able to win souls for Christ with your looks- your golden hair, diamond-studded crown, hot make-up, long curvy false nails, your jewelry and the bling-bling? Well, why you are asking this is because of the African mentality of our people. You know I lived in London for almost 10 years and my pastor is Benny Hill and he is also my mentor. Including Joyce Meyer who has inspired me in so many ways. Then in Nigeria Daddy David Oyedepo is my daddy in the Lord. I was in Shiloh for the cross over night last year. And I did most of my courses in Winners Faith Tabernacle. Then of course Daddy Adeboye also inspires me a lot. Then Pastor Awuzie is another pastor that has inspired me in life. I used to worship in Zoe Ministry in my early years when I was acting. Then Pastor Awuzie was a very good family friend and I admire him. Apart from being a pastor, what other things do you do? Well, as a matter of fact, I have an NGO, I have my foundation which renders care and love to motherless babies and orphanages. These are the things I have been doing even when they awarded me United Nations Peace Ambassador for Youths. And for UN Youth Ambassador, we have been doing a lot. We went to Ghana for peace conference last year. And we are leaving for London for peace summit conference this month. So we have been doing a lot of things to make the world a better place. As a woman of God, are you thinking of jettisoning secular music for gospel songs? Yes, already I have a single which I'm shooting next month. Yes, I'm releasing a single titled ‘I Bling For Jesus’. So you are saying that it is good for one to be fashionable in the Lord? Oh yes, it is good for one to look good in the Lord, you must look good. You know Jesus was very handsome. He had long hair and white lovely garment. And till date I still think that Jesus blings with love, mercy, faith fullness, kindness just name it. Reach out to some sisters in the Lord who feel that once you are born again, you shouldn't look trendy or gorgeous. Yes, that reminds me, I had a lot of problems when I was trying to discover myself. I wanted to be somebody else but God called me for him. Normally, there were people in the Bible, there were Moses, Solomon and so on that God called individually. What I'm saying is that God can call you for who you are. I was in this process last year, I was trying to discover myself. I pumped into some men of God, who brought me into some churches, they wanted me to be this or that. And somehow I was confused. But when I started going for my Bible courses, I started having a personal relationship with holy ghost. Then, I became happy, and later found peace. I became content and I found out it is not all about the way you look that matters. Maybe in future, if holy ghost tells me to drop my look-my jewelry, my golden hair, my rings, my crown, my make-up and what have you, I will obey. I will concur without asking questions but right, now, he has not told me to do so. Have you spoken in tongues before? Oh sure, I have. Many times. I do speak in tongues. Why not? I'm born again. The year is still new, what are your hopes and aspirations for the year? This year, I want to open my church. Yes I'm opening my church in Lekki, Phase (1), Lagos. In this year, I'm also going to release my album, I will take my clothing line more seriously and I have a reality TV show that is coming up. A lit about your love life? Ada of course you know I'm married now. So, what else do you want to know? I have been married for four years. And my husband is very supportive in what I do, he is very caring and very understanding. He is my soul mate. Your husband is a white man, why didn't you marry a Nigerian? Aren’t they man enough? I won't answer that please. Tell us more about your church? My church is unique. That is the right word for it. How would you combine music, modeling, acting and preaching the gospel together? I have dropped modeling. I no longer model. No more runway jobs for me any longer. I have also dropped acting so as to concentrate with the work of God. I don't act anymore. I dropped acting last year. The last movie I did was Chico Ejiro's movie. So, I needed to concentrate because I was going through the process of getting to know God the more and myself. I had to stop all that. But for music, I'm still a musician. But there is a difference now. Then I was a hip-hop artiste, now I'm going to be gospel hip-hop artiste. I'm still going to sing because it is another avenue of spreading out the word. Reason being that it is not everyone that I can reach. But through my music, I can reach the whole world. So, I'm still going to sing. You are a very flashy lady and some guys love your looks. So, how do you handle your male fans who want to get intimate? Actually, one thing about me is that I'm good with my male fans. They don't even trouble me. I have a good platonic relationship with them all. The other side of me is very humble and nice. So, I get along with my male fans very well. And by the way, I'm a very playful person, so sometimes I joke with them and have a laugh. You are now Pastor D'Bling, so, what strategy are you bringing into your preaching? I don't know, I can't say. People should just have to wait and see because I can't say for now. Holy ghost would have to tell me and then I know where to go. I can't just start telling you that this is this or that is that. Most pastors hear from God, have you started hearing from Him? Yes. I told you earlier that I have a personal relationship with holy ghost. And I speak in tongues as well. I don’t dictate for myself anymore. I have to hear from him, he orders my footsteps. There are different callings, what are you called for? I'm called for deliverance. My ministry is deliverance ministry Really? Sure! Have you casted out demons before? What kind of question is this (frowns) You actually took Majek Fashek to be delivered in a church, right? I didn't take Majek Fashek to church for deliverance. But we went to church together. We go to church together. The Pastor of the church is our friend. So, we do go to church, that is just it. People go to church. So Majek Fashek and I pray together, we pray all the time together. How come you have not been able to help him solve his problem Listen sweetie, it is God that can do that and not me. You know, in life we human beings especially Nigerians are quick to condemn and judge people. If they think Majek has a problem, let them come out and sit down and look for a way to help him not to debate and say all sorts of rubbish. Majek Fashek is fine, he is my friend and we pray together. It’s just that a lot of people don’t know him well. Have you been able to counsel him to stop smoking? Gradually he will. But know it that Majek doesn't take drugs point of correction. Majek only drinks Guinness stout. But he smokes marijuana, right? I don't know about that. Maybe he does that when he is with some people else but each time I'm with him he doesn't. I think the real Majek is a very humble person. He has got a good soul. What is your relationship with Cossy Orjiakor the booby queen? Cossy Orjiakor is my friend. What efforts are you making to convert her? Excuse me, sweetie, you don't get it. Nobody has the right to judge and condemn anybody. You are a woman of God, are you saying that what she... With time (she cuts in), give her a breathing space. Cossy can be used by God. Look at me for instance. Sometimes we Nigerians just want to condemn. Do you know that God sometimes uses radicals? So, don't judge and condemn. It is written in Matthew 7:1. God says don't judge so that you won't be judged. Cossy is a beautiful person, she is my friend. And she has got a beautiful heart. You know, you need to know her, the real her. Not this thing she portrays. You know we entertainers we portray this kind of thing- glamour and diva. But there is another side of her. She is a beautiful person with a beautiful heart. The word of God says ever since the days of John the Baptist till now the kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force. So, how do intend to collect the lost souls back by force? As you were lust and God used somebody to bring you back. That is a very good question. That is the same thing we are talking about because most of the people you mentioned all go to church and they know God. Cossy goes to church and she knows God. It is just that we Africans we judge and condemn. With time, if they are going to work for God, why not? It is just like me. Then, the way I'm going to win souls is with time. Remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. And most of those people you mentioned sometimes don't want to go to church even when they feel like going because of discrimination. But that is not the message Jesus sent to us. Discrimination/holier than thou attitude is in so many churches today and it is not good. I'm saying this because it happened to me. They looked at me with disdain when I started going to church. My church will do that to people. My church will be opened to everybody no matter how you are dressed. Come in and listen to the word. It is the word of God that can change a person. Jesus did not sent anybody away. He dined with the Pharisees and tax collectors. I was almost pushed out of a church because of discrimination. But I was determined. I continued and today I’m saved.