What is Gloria A Dios
Gloria A Dios is a new season of what our journey of photography has been for me. It started off as CNV Entertainment, A business focused on showing people Christ Never Vanished. It was a way of glorifying God for me and escaping from the reality of this world. It was also a way of helping my community to be able to afford a photographer without breaking the bank. Eventually business started picking up and things started to look promising, It felt like i was doing exactly what god wanted me to do. As time went on, we did more events and shoots for our community, and we were able to keep the clients happy but our joy for what we did was fading and it no longer became about glorifying God. Instead, it glorified the people, and we fell into a state of life where we did what the people wanted to see and whatever got us likes on social media and money to try and make it a full-time job to be like the other photographers that just did it for money and not the joy and freedom of being able to express themselves through their vison. In March of 2024 I no longer had the joy or creativity to keep going, So we decided by the end of 2024 we will kill off CNV and see what God wants us to do till then.
After Months of praying and getting back to God we wanted to leave the business in the way we started the business, with creativity, love for the talent he's given me, and A way to leave a message for other photographers already doing it or coming into it. A message to not let anyone try to control your creativity or what you should be doing. So we began trying to figure out how to make this happen, How can we creatively leave this while leaving a message? So after days of listening to twenty one pilots my favorite band of all time, I decided to make one of their lyrics my inspiration to execute this correctly how I want it. That lyric is " I created this world to feel some control, Destroy it if I want so I sing Sahlo Folina". Sahlo Folina means "Enabling your mind to expressive thinking". So I looked back at my journey of photography and saw where my heart and mind sat and what it looked like in a world I can create and make a story out of it. I took inspiration from bible verses and my love for what animals represented and made that my first thing to represent me. As I kept thinking, more things kept coming up to inspire this story like different languages, the null sign, important dates in the bible, and different cultural items and stories. As the story started to form i had to find a way to post it to let people know there's something more to this story. We decided to make this story in form of letters from dates we took certain photos that were dates our progress was getting intense. As these letters started coming out on facebook people started getting confused and concerned. But here they are for you to judge
1st Letter
September 12, 2021
Sometimes I wonder why God has us on a certain path. There's times where I wonder if there was compromise to see if something will work. I see lights over the mountain with vultures flying above late at night when we rest. so my plan is to leave tonight and just go see what it looks like. he will still be here waiting for me so i hope its no big deal. i just want to see if the talent he gave me will work there. i use it to praise my god so nothing can go wrong, with the heart of a lion I can do anything.
~CNV
2nd Letter
February 6, 2022
I finally made it to the city of Catturá Volicheri. It’s a beautiful place, especially when you’re on the top of the mountain Siluetti Ajaa. As I came down the mountain into the city I saw the vultures above flying in a circle as if something died. But I will not focus on the negative things of this city as there is so much I can create . When I finally made it into the city I saw some creators like me. But they are different. All of their eyes glow red, they don't support each other or even interact with one another. But my god has taught me to be in community so hopefully I can make that happen. Either way the People of the city welcomed me and my work with love and support, I knew this was a good idea so I don’t know why god refused it. The people are already wanting me to capture stuff for them. And they are willing to help me get my business to the top. Now I just have to give myself a name. I think I’ll do CNV as in Christ Never Vanished. I know he’s still waiting for me but I want to show the people of the city that he’s never vanished from their life’s to. Anyways I can’t wait to get back to god but first I want to give the people what they need.
~cnv
3rd Letter
Øctøber 16, 2023
I've finally done it. I have made the people of the city happy. They all have memories captured and I've helped businesses get bigger. But there was no joy in it. I haven't had time to go up to the top of the city either to look out to god with all the work I've been doing for people. I haven't been able to create my own art either and my iris has been changing to red like some of other creators. I've realized the vultures eyes are the same. They fly above us creators every day as if they were waiting. But for what. I wish God was here to give me answers to what was going on but I can't leave because the people need me and as much as I'm tired and need him I need the people's approval. I have to know with the heart of a lion I can do anything.
4th Letter
Sept 9, 2024
The city of Catturá Volicheri has a form of beauty to it. As I sit at the top of the city, i see God's creation that's considered it's own natural light be faded out by the city's artificial light. It in a way represents how we treat life. It's how I treated god when I walked away. We tend to go through life broken and creating our own happiness and joy. We turn to drugs, alcohol, media, and even isolation to please our own hearts and we say we follow God so its ok. But the reality is were just following the devil who's using artificial light to guide you into a place where you wont be able to see gods natural light.
I'm hoping to escape the city soon before the people find out. It's time I get back to god and follow his light and not the one that led me here.
5th Letter
October 10, 2024
It's time. Im leaving the city before I'm fully seized and I'm controlled by the people of the city. My iris is almost fully red and I'm scared god. I know I left you and I don't deserve your love and forgiveness. But if your still waiting for me please send a sign. Im leaving in 8 days through the tunnels of Siluetti Ajaa. It's time I leave this all behind. This gift you gave me started to glorify you , But instead it glorified the people of the city. There is no love for it anymore or a hint of joy picking this camera up. I don't want to be like the other creators wanting riches and fame. I dont want it to be a job or feeling like i have to do this. I want it to be a form of worship to you and wanting to do it. Im Ready to be with you again god. Please send a sign to guide me back to you.
~CNV
6th Letter
Dec 9, 2024
Im almost there. The city watched my every move so it took time to escape. They flew the vultures day and night to make sure I didn't escape. But the dove you sent knew a different way. Through the mountains west of the city. But I'm almost there. Im glad the city no longer seizes me but my eyes are still red. Maybe it's something that lives with me for the rest of my life but I'm hoping you can change that. Im Ready for the journey you have for me no matter the cost. You are my king and the master of my life. Gløria A Diøs.
~CNV
Last Letter
January 2, 2025
I made back to him. The journey was long and tiring but I feel at home being back to him. He sent the dove to get me out of the city through siluetti ajaa while the people of the city flew the vultures to stop my escape, luckily for me though The dove was able to find a tunnel where they never thought of looking. During the walk through the tunnel i kept looking back asking myself if i was making a mistake. So i put my torch down and asked Him to give me strength to not turn back to what i left behind. After a couple of hours of waiting for an answer on my knees in this cold tunnel the dove flew towards the end of the tunnel where i then heard a voice. "CNV! He has sent us to guide you the rest of the way. He's waiting for you, ready for you to come home to him." As i watched 17 torches come closer to me to pick me up i knew He heard my prayer. As we started to exit the tunnel the sun started rising from the east, Seeing that gave hope to a new day. Another day to try again.
As we got closer my heart was pounding, I didn't know what to think. The thought of leaving him for the acceptance of a city that only wants you to create what they want to see was weighing heavy. What if he doesn't take me back? We finally made it to camp where it wasn't just him and the 17 who he sent, but a whole community of people that called themselves "Madinat al-anhar". The leader of the 17 took me to where He was sitting waiting for me at the same spot i left him. As i approached him I fell to my knees in tears. " I know i don't deserve forgiveness or your love. I don't deserve to be back here, i don't know why you decided to save me from the city? I know your mad at me and disappointed in me, But I'm ready to leave if you tell me to". He stood and reached out to me "take my hand my son". As i took his hand he hugged me tight in tears " you came back to me and that's all i ever wanted". He rounded up the community around us and yelled " My son, And Your brother is back. So lets celebrate". As we celebrated I kept looking towards the city Seeing more vultures in the air as the sun fell in the west. As He walked up next to me looking towards the city I happily said " I'm glad I'm done with them, they weren't seeing what it was i did. The goal of it was to glorify you. But yet as they used the vultures to seize me, it became doing what they wanted me to do".
He looked at me smiling. As i looked back i asked " did i say something wrong. I don't mean to bring up what i left behind". He then proceeds to tell me " Son when someone gets baptized what does that mean?" i told him " Well its someone dying to themselves. Being born again to a better life". He Then replied " Yes. Now are you ready to do that?". I sat there confused Knowing the obvious answer. "Well yes lord but what exactly do you mean". He smiled one last time and reached for my wrist and covered it saying " Vultures represent death. They fly in a circle ready to pick off what's dying or already dead, the reason they flew like that when you got there. But when you asked for a sign to see if i was with you i sent a dove. The dove represents peace and my presence. But its also a sign of freedom. CNV is what?". I replied " Christ Never Vanished but also the initials of my name". He replied with happiness in his voice " Correct so now that you know i never vanished and knowing i have always been here waiting for you my son, It is up to you what you will do from there". As he removed his hand from my wrist there was a mark of a dove with a circle around it and lines as if it was Null. He looked to me and said " What you decide to do with that mark is up to you and i will bless it. I fell to my knee at his feet and others saw this action and fell to their knees before Him. With the only breath i had i spoke in my first language " Gloria A Dios" Which means Glory To God.
As he picked me up from the ground he began to make an announcement. " Madinat al-anhar It is time for a new journey with my son. We will pack and be ready to set out for the tunnels to the city of Catturá Volicheri". My heart stopped and i asked God " Why are we going back. Its not safe". With a calm voice he replied " Its scary because i was not with you, nor did you have a community to help you stay focused on me". I looked at him still confused. " So why are we going there at of all places?". Before he walked away to get his stuff ready he answered " Because now They will understand who you are and why you use the gift i gave you". as he walked away i looked towards the city one last time.
" Im coming back to use my work to give Gloria A Dios. The vultures will no longer have control of me. My mark will be a sign to many as a sign of freedom. I will do this for him. As A Child Of God. Im Coming Back".
~CNV
-4/3/2025
These letters represent something bigger, something to make a statement . In the middle of this idea of leaving photography God finally answered my question. So around letter 5 I was called to continue photography, but I didn't want to cancel the letters. So i continued the story including the call back to what god was calling me to.