She Said, “God Told Me to Give You $10,000”… and I Froze

See...What had happened was…

Never in a million years did I imagine that I’d be standing on a stage, holding one of those iconic oversized checks like I was a recipient of a Publisher's Clearing House surprise.

But last month, that’s exactly what happened...

And it STILL doesn’t feel real.

Lemme back up though.

At the end of last year, I was honored with the My Joy Award at the HBCU Film Festival, which was already special because the event was held on the campus of my alma mater, THEE Howard University.

Miracle Maker, just when I thought my heart couldn’t take another surprise…

My friend of over 20 years, Sherri Shepherd, walked out to present me with the award.

​*Side note...I had just texted her 5 minutes before this moment. I had no idea that she was backstage.

I. Was. Floored.

In my acceptance speech, I shared something that has carried me through every twist, every leap, and every miracle:

"The key to my success has been simple. I Obey and I move!"

(Don’t worry. I’ll share the surprise and short speech with you under the Miracle Motivation section. I gave the 3 Keys To Walk In J.O.Y. I'm told it's a gamechanger.)

But then… right after the speech, a woman approached me.

She looked me in the eye and said:

👉🏽 "TeeJ, I’m obeying. God told me to give you $10,000 for Mafia."

🤯🤯🤯 Wait. What?

I stood there completely speechless. (Which doesn’t happen often. 😂)

So I did what any stunned human would do.

I called over my girl Mina, who had traveled with me, and made her stand there and hear it herself, just to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating.

Fast forward to last month...

Mina and I made our way to Charlotte, North Carolina, to accept the FIRST installment of her promise: a $5,000 check at the Rich Auntie Brunch hosted by Rebrand Black.

And let me tell you about the powerhouse behind it:

Dr. Veronica Pearson.

📍 She’s a strategist. A builder. A connector.
📍 She leads with excellence and a heart for people.
And she didn’t just hand me a check.

She poured into me like only a real one can.

​I had the honor of dining with her in Atlanta last night while she was in town for a panel and Baybeeeee, the wisdom she dropped had me locked in barely able to eat.

Do yourself a favor and connect with her brilliance:
🔗 Dr. Veronica Pearson on LinkedIn
And just like that Miracle Maker... the first $5,000 was in hand.

But let me tell you something. This wasn't just about a check.

It was a commitment. A stake in the ground. A real one saying, “I see the vision, and I’m in for the long haul.”

Because after that first installment?

She committed to being a monthly contributor.

BAM! Exactly what we need.

See, Move-In Day Mafia isn’t just about showing up once...we walk with these scholars for four years.

And we need partners who get that. Who know that miracles aren’t just one-and-done moments, but a steady, unwavering presence that makes sure these kids have what they need every single month.

And babyyyyy, the way things kept unfolding after this? Whew.

Let’s just say… this wasn’t the only miracle on the move.

M.C. Had a Dream. And the Mafia Said, "Not On Our Watch."

We noticed that one of our Move-In Day Mafia scholars, a Morehouse College freshman, I'll call him M.C., did not turn in his monthly request form. So his Mafia mentor checked in.

And what we learned?

It made my blood BOIL.

M.C. is at Da House on a partial scholarship, but due to a financial aid mess-up, he found out at the last minute that the money he was counting on for books? GONE.

So he asked us something that hit me in my core.

"Can I get cash instead of my necessities this month? I need to buy course materials."
Wait. What?!

This baby thought he had to choose between his monthly essentials and being able to do his coursework?!

🛑 NOT ON OUR WATCH. 🛑

No scholar should EVER have to choose between surviving and thriving.

Let me tell you about M.C.
💡 His dad is incarcerated.
💡 He’s known homelessness firsthand.
💡 And despite ALL of that, when I asked him during his interview what his dream was, this young king didn’t miss a beat…

🎓 "I want to graduate as a Morehouse man."

And I’ll be DARNED if we let a financial hiccup block that dream.

So I did what I always do.

I put the call out to the Mafia. And BOOM. Ivan answered.
✅ No hesitation.
✅ No back-and-forth.
✅ Just "I got it."

​But Ivan didn’t just buy the software. He sent a message to Misty, our Head of the Care Package Mafioso team.

"Let him know I’m rooting for him, and that we serve a God who will meet his needs before he even asks!"

And This? This is Why We Do It.

This isn’t just about buying things. It’s about showing up.

​It’s DaVona dropping off care packages and knowing she’s part of her scholar’s journey. ​

It’s Ivan stepping up without a second thought.

It’s this entire community making sure these students know...

"You are NOT alone."
And we’re not done.

Today, Friday, the 21st, is the last day for March’s Adopt A Scholar Week, and there are more scholars waiting.

Prairie View, Clark Atlanta, Savannah State, and Benedict really need your love.
📍 MoveInDayMafia.org/AdoptAScholar
💙 Pick a scholar. Click. Give. Show up.

But before I go…

Just know next week? I’ve got something BIG to show you.

I wish I could tell you now, but if our scholars are reading this, I can’t let the surprise slip.
Let’s just say… miracles are already in motion.

​See you next week for the reveal. 💙

At the top, I told y’all my secret to success was obeying and moving—and yes, that’s true...

BUT what I actually shared during my acceptance speech at the HBCU Film Festival was something even deeper: The 3 Keys to Walking in J.O.Y.

Because here’s the truth: I don’t just want success. I want JOY.

The kind that doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances.

The kind that carries me when the plan makes zero sense.

The kind that shows up loud, proud, and backed by heaven.

So when I took that stage and looked out at that room, I dropped this:

J.O.Y.
J – Jump to the end of your story.
Decide now how you want your story to end. Speak it. See it. Move like it’s inevitable. Don’t wait for proof — walk like it's already written.

O – Obey without the whole plan.
If God gave you the green light, why you still sittin' at the stop sign waiting on details? MOVE.

Y – Yank yourself out of your comfort zone… over and over again.
Growth doesn’t happen in the cozy. Miracles don’t show up in the safe. If it’s scary, it’s probably divine.

That’s how I got here. That’s how Mafia exists.

I didn’t have a map.
I didn’t have millions.
I just had a YES.

And listen, Miracle Maker—this ain’t just for me.
📌 This is your nudge to jump.
📌 This is your sign to obey.
📌 This is your push to yank yourself outta “stuck” and into “miraculous.”

You ready to walk in J.O.Y.?

Let’s go.

See you next week. I'll share the surprise reveals and don't forget...you have until tonight, March 21st, to grab essentials for the scholars at MoveInDayMafia.org/AdoptAScholar