It's take-off time. Buckle up!

When president of MRYS International, Yannick Brackenridge-Jackson, approached me in 2004 about heading up the media arm of her company, I instantly took on that "That's way too big for me!" kind of an attitude.

I was just starting grad school at NYU and I was doubtful about how I could ever tackle another massive undertaking such as spearheading a magazine. Fortunately, she's as persuasive as she is gracious.

I soon found out that, indeed, it was too big for me. When things are big, requiring a lot of time and capital - most times an equal investment - then who must step in to show us who's truly in control? Who has the power to make uneven paths straight or to make the biggest job seem like child's play? Yep. You know it. He's big!

From the inception of NEWD, I've learned that if God calls you, then He also equips you. And, the fact is, nothing is too big for Him.

After a few years of conceptualization, preliminary buzz-creation and the christening of the coolest name on the planet, NEWD was born.

Our tag phrase was Yannick's brain child.  And, each subsequent day we have tried to embody it.

It is our hope that, in all things, we commit to being a mirror for humanity, revealing our nakedness, lettin' it all hang out, kissing-and-telling, living on the edge, skinny-dipping for the world to see and, most of all, exposing our nakedness before a God who loves us.  Simply put, we're constantly "baring all to expose truth."

Our mantra has been evident each step of the way.

• In the launch of our NEWD website in 2009 along with our tongue-in-cheek Blog Talk Radio show

• In the smart, theologically-sound columns by K. Swann and the sassy, so-insightful columns by Ana Guthrie aka Ana Valeska

• In the  sleek design and re-design of our logo and website by Chris Philbert and Robert Gibson

• In the swanky re-launch parties we held in New York's STAY Lounge and Miami's Mai Tardi in 2010

• In NEWDradio guests and hosts' jokes, pranks, no-holds-barred on-air rants and creative thoughts

• In the couple hundred interviews we've landed with professional athletes, teen revolutionaries, urban gospel artists, social activists, top models, actors and celebrities like Spike Lee,Toby Mac and Jazmine Sullivan

• In the incisive work of NEWD's sharpest editorial assistants: Chrisnatha Derosier and Alicia Ramsay

• In our interns - past and present

• In the development of a new show - The Naked Truth - for Gospel Impact Radio this year, with our voices reaching over 2 million people

And, finally in the launch of our very own internet radio station January 2012

What a journey to greatness and we've only just begun! Consider this our take off!

So this January, besides our shows on BlogTalkRadio, you will hear us on Gospel Impact Radio UK in addition to our very own NEWDradio stream via our site, via weekly iTunes podcast,  via TuneIn radio, which broadcasts to your smart devices 24/7 wherever you are in the world. In total, that's more than 5 million people listening to us each week.

What can you continue to expect of NEWDradio?

·         Continuous broadcast of the hottest in urban gospel music, positive rock, r&b, hip hop, reggae, Latin and world beat

·         Signature Talk Shows like our 20something show: The Naked Truth with your hosts Tiffani Knowles, Pastor Andre Harrison and featuring KP; our youth and teens show: Spit Truth with your host Pastor Dre; and introducing a new show on romance and relationships: Love 101 with your host Tasha Phipps

·         Cool Giveaways for the month of January to our biggest fans

·         Truth, truth and more truth

If you want to get in on the action by booking time for your own show or teaching ministry, give me a buzz at radio@newdmagazine.com. There's room to get you in now. I can't swear for a few months from now.

All in all, I can officially say that I have learned so much from our own name. Transparency.  Honesty. Genuineness. No masks. No guises. No smoke and mirrors.

I am NEWD. My life is truly a chapter out of the NEWD chronicles. Even if I tried, I can't hide anymore. I can only speak and live in the truth. Anything contrary is considered sacrilege.

 I'm a NEWDist and it feels so good!