Imago Dei: The Image Of God

The Birth of the Imago Dei Ecosystem

1. The Struggle With Identity

For years, I wrestled with the question of identity. I tried on many labels—cultural, social, and religious. From the Black Power movement to the Original Man movement, to various narratives about heritage and nationality, I searched for something that would make me feel complete.

Even after I became a Christian in 1993, I still struggled. I knew God had revealed Himself to me, but I didn’t fully know who I was in Him. I followed teachings about being an Israelite, clung to national and ethnic markers, but none of it satisfied the longing inside. My story felt fragmented—pieces here, pieces there, but never the whole picture.

2. The Long Journey of Seeking

Because of this deep hunger, I became infatuated with the question of origins: Who am I? Where did I come from? What is my purpose? Who created me?I saw the two competing narratives—evolution and creation. Because of my faith, I chose creation, but even then, my understanding lacked clarity. I read the Bible, prayed, and even pursued ministry and counseling training at Liberty University, hoping to not only help others but also finally find the answers for myself. Yet, even then, my identity still felt incomplete.

3. The Turning Point – A Hoodie and a Word

The breakthrough came in an ordinary moment. One night at work in 2023, a young lady walked in wearing a gray hoodie with the word IMAGO DEI written across it. I recognized her as a regular customer, but that night, the words on her sweatshirt struck me like lightning. She didn’t know what it meant, but I did—it was Latin for “the image of God.”At that moment, the revelation dropped into my spirit: my true identity wasn’t in my skin color, my nationality, or my past. My identity was—and always had been—rooted in the fact that I was created in the image and likeness of God.

4. Revelation of True Identity

From that day forward, the Word opened up to me in a fresh way. I realized the story of the gospel didn’t begin in Genesis chapter 3 with the fall—it began in Genesis chapter 1 with creation.

Before sin, before brokenness, before confusion, God declared:"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."That truth changed everything. I understood that the very breath animating me was God’s breath. My design, my purpose, my destiny—all were rooted in being His image-bearer. I was never meant to chase fragmented identities or cultural labels. I was created to reflect Him.

5. From Revelation to Ecosystem

That revelation became more than a personal awakening; it became the foundation of a movement. I call it the Imago Dei Ecosystem—an all-encompassing framework for life, creativity, and purpose. Why? Because everything that flows from me now is tied to that truth: I bear the image of God.

• Mentally – My thoughts are shaped by His Word.

• Spiritually – My identity and calling are rooted in Him.

• Physically – My body is a temple of His Spirit.
  

• Creatively – Just as God revealed Himself first as Creator, His creativity flows through me in music, art, and vision.
  

• Economically – Stewardship, business, and finances are all part of expressing His order and dominion.

• Relationally – As His image, I reflect His love to my family and to the world.

6. The Call of Imago Dei

The movement is simple yet profound: every human being, regardless of color, culture, or background, was created in the image of God. Our worth, our purpose, and our destiny flow from that truth. It is not about outward appearance—it is about inward design. We were made to reflect His character, to be fruitful, to multiply, to govern, and to walk in dominion under His authority.

And so, Imago Dei is not just a phrase, not just a concept, not just a logo on a hoodie. It is the heartbeat of my life’s work—an ecosystem where identity, creativity, stewardship, and dominion all flow from the eternal truth that we are image-bearers of the Almighty God.