Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews - She Said Yes to God and He Made Her a Missionary Through Music

Anike grew up with a Muslim father, a conviction that some of the music she was listening to was wrong, and no idea she would one day be the first female artist signed to Reach Records. She looked up Christian remixes, found Lecrae, convinced her family to let her go to a church summer camp by calling it an internship program, and gave her life to Jesus on day three. Two days later, Lecrae showed up at the camp. She had no idea what God was setting in motion. Christian hip hop, the gospel carried in a beat, and what it means to give God your yes even when it costs you everything: Anike shares how a high school biology project turned into freestyle circles at lunch that turned into a full-time calling, why she carries headphones everywhere so people can listen before they realize they're hearing about Jesus, and what led her to change her name from Wande to Anike as an act of obedience to God. She also talks about the new single Holy Girls, inspired by Proverbs 31, what it felt like to record her entry for the Forrest Frank contest on a camera mic at her relative's house and get selected anyway, and why she believes you don't need the perfect setup for God to use what you have. Highlights How finding Lecrae through a search for Christian remixes became the first domino in her entire journey to faith The summer camp permission slip she got her Muslim father to sign by calling it an internship, and what happened on day three Why she brought headphones to school every day as her non-awkward strategy for evangelism What it cost her to give up a Nigerian family's expectation of becoming a doctor or lawyer to pursue music full time Holy Girls, the Proverbs 31-inspired single celebrating women of God who are unashamed, diligent, and fearless Why she changed her name from Wande to Anike and what God showed her through letting go of a brand she had built Recording her Forrest Frank contest entry on a camera mic at her relative's house and getting selected for the album anyway Her new ebook Song Release 101, giving other artists everything she had to figure out alone about releasing music legally Resources / Links / CTA Anike website: https://anike.net Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anike Single: Holy Girls Single: Contagious Forrest Frank collaboration: Jesus Is Alive Reach Records: https://www.reachrecords.com/artists/wande Follow, share, and explore more of Crosswalk Talk Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on Lifeaudio Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.