5 Questions with Chanel Spence

A young creative on a mission to empower her peers about the love and fulfilment of Jesus–this best describes Chanel Spence. This mission has led Chanel to use her media-based gifts to spread the message of the gospel through various social media platforms, such as Youtube and Instagram. Additionally, Chanel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a minor in Chinese. She hopes to fulfil her dream of empowering Christian women full-time. We are pleased to have this conversation with Chanel as she shares her journey, and we hope you will be inspired.

Tell us a little about your educational journey.

My educational journey, despite my financial constraints, was a good one. I attended a prep school in Jamaica, then Gaynstead High School. Honestly, Gaynstead wasn’t my first choice, but it was a God-willed choice because I could obtain a scholarship to pursue my CAPE-level certification. That meant the world to me at the time because I wasn’t sure I’d have the funds to do it otherwise. I studied, obtained passes in my subjects, and went on to study at the University of the West Indies. There, I pursued a major in journalism and a minor in Chinese (Mandarin).

The real fight began there, but I trusted God would provide for me throughout it all. I had to sign up for the university’s payment plan but sought help when needed. I even got a loan to go on the US Work and Travel Program, just to get the funds to pay my way through. A highlight for me was during my second year: I attended bible study and my Pastor prophesied and said, “God says we [the church] are to pay off your tuition fee.” They did exactly that. Up until that point, no one other than my father knew that I hadn’t yet paid my tuition. That made me realise that God greatly cared about me and heard my cry for help. With the church’s help, I completed my tertiary education with second-class honours!

My primary sources of motivation in life

In life, my primary sources of motivation are my mother and my family dynamic. I grew up in poverty, lived through it, and I still am in a place where I am trying to make a better life for myself. I not only strive for this betterment for myself, but for my mother and the many sacrifices she made for me, my nieces and nephews who will need someone in the family to look to for motivation when things get hard, and for all the people I am called to help in this life.

What inspired you to use your social media platform to spread the gospel?

I want my family and friends to know that God is the author of everything in our lives, and I genuinely believe that we are all called to spread the love of Christ. I could improve at speaking with people directly, but whenever I take up the camera or decide to design something, I come alive! So, I thought, what better way to share the gospel?

After all, social media is clouded with so many things in the world. There must be a beacon of light in such a dark place. Rather than seeking fame or success for a business, I decided to use the medium for Christ.

Tell us about your Christian social media agency, Refined Digital Co, the services offered, and how they can be accessed.

Refined Digital Co (RDC) is a Christian social media agency which supports and helps faith-centred businesses flourish digitally. Our services include social media management, content creation (graphics, PDF documents such as mini-e-books, presentation slides, etc), and content writing (for blogs, email marketing, and online captions/copy). Most of our packages are customizable to the needs of the client and people can learn more about them by sending an email to refineddigitalmedia@gmail.com, a DM via Instagram to @christiancontentcreator, or by tapping the link in my Instagram bio and filling out the form!

Leave one piece of advice to young people struggling with Christianity.

I’ll leave these two pieces of advice: 1. Jesus is not your enemy, and 2. Remember where you are coming from and what you ran from in the first place. These two tips can be applied to everything you are feeling or struggling with. We go through challenges not because we deserve them or because God wants to torture us, but because they’re often the only ways we can be birthed into something greater. It’s like gold being refined. When you remember that God isn’t your enemy, you approach Him differently and remain open to accepting the strength He will give you for your season.

It's also important to remember what you ran from that caused you to draw closer to Christ in the first place. The world can look so appealing when you are going through a hard time in your faith, but do not be deceived. Remember that the devil is a manipulator and the father of lies. When you remember where you are coming from, you can see the enemy's devices to trap you again and you can stand firm.

Pray always, read the word always and monitor your environment. Doing these things will guard your hearts and minds as the book of Ephesians instructs, and remember to always reach out to your faith community. We all need each other.