Today we’d like to introduce you to Vempre Terrell Jr.
Hi Vempre, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). This biblical scripture has words that hold so much power to the extent that they spiritually resonate in my mind on a daily basis, as they continually lead my soul. As an author, motivational speaker, actor, and entrepreneur, I have been able to express myself to others in an effective fashion. With a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington, I have been able to gain a quality education. Moving forward after gaining my education, my experience in the field of acting came about with being a part of the TNT remake of “Dallas,” in addition to the drama series “Queen of the South.”
My energetic personality even opened the door for producers on the Emmy Award-winning Tamron Hall Show to allow me to appear on the talk show. While wearing the shoes of a motivational speaker, I have used my time to inspire small rooms of listeners with the need to hear encouraging words, and massive audiences with the desire to have motivation. It is my pleasure to have my words serve as an encouragement to my listeners. Whether speaking to listeners at churches, business people, the homeless, underprivileged youth, individuals who are struggling with poverty, or listeners who are serving time behind bars, I make my best effort to positively reach out to anyone in need of word encouragement.
Along with this, my passion for writing has been a great aspect of my life for many years. Whether winning several writing contests over the span of my years as a student, or my first publication, “The Power of One Choice,” being published in a book entitled “Authors of Tomorrow,” I have seen my love for the craft thrive.
The passion I have for writing has even reached the high point of me writing a book entitled “The Eyes of Faith,” which has been acknowledged by both the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at Arlington.
In “The Eyes of Faith,” I encourage my readers by presenting a spiritual set of tools that serve as a foundation to rise above obstacles faced in life. Through the use of personal anecdotes, I model how I shifted consistent remarks of worry and doubt into a more hopeful and motivating mindset so that my readers would, as well. Whether something as small as removing a pessimistic word from my vocabulary and replacing it with something optimistic, or making excessive efforts to rise above my limits, I traced it all back to one important thing in life: faith.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Reaching points of success on the paths that I have pursued has brought about numerous challenges, but it has taught me that what looks like a mess today will become a message tomorrow when you have faith. I have experienced times in life when I have taken one step forward only to be forced to take two steps back, regardless of how hard I have worked. Even so, I have not let this stop me. Times have existed in my life when the color of my skin has served as a limitation for me, no matter how well-qualified I have been. Despite this, I have been able to show through hard work and keeping the faith that being a black man does not make me less capable than anyone else of achieving my goals.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My passionate love of being an author and motivational speaker resonates throughout my work whenever I am able to share it with others. With my book, “The Eyes of Faith,” I have been able to touch the lives of many readers. It makes me smile from ear to ear as I reflect upon a time when I was writing the first few words of my book, yet now readers are able to enjoy it for themselves.
Having met numerous readers in person, I’ve been blessed to have them share specific points of inspiration they’ve gained from my book, and how encouraging it has been overall. As well, spending time as a motivational speaker shows me how God brought my skills of writing and public speaking together in order to allow others to gain inspiration from the words I articulate. Having had audiences of multiple sizes and backgrounds, it brings me joy to know that I am able to use gifts that God has given me to touch the lives of others.
Acting is another passion that I have, and I love to express myself in this manner. It is a pleasure for me whether on stage or on camera to express myself as an actor. From actors like Sidney Poitier who have opened doors for me to even have the thought of acting to those currently keeping hope alive for me today, I am glad that opportunities for me to act exist.
Being able to rise above challenges and push beyond limitations is certainly what sets me apart from others. I’ve been verbally pushed down and had my work unnecessarily pushed aside, but I have not let this stop me. My passion for achieving my goals keeps me going on a daily basis. When I see that times get hard, I keep in mind that a test that I am undergoing today will become a testimony tomorrow as long as I keep the faith.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Being able to take risks in life is one of the most pivotal aspects when it comes to success. I’m the type of person who would much rather shrug my shoulders and say “Oh well” after taking a risk to reach a goal and getting there, as opposed to wondering “What if?” for the rest of my life.
People have told me so many times that becoming an author, taking the stage as a motivational speaker, stepping out to become an actor, or embracing the challenge of becoming an entrepreneur are risks that are “too big” to take. Nevertheless, I have not let this stop me. Having something be “embarrassing” if I don’t reach a goal that I set is not a limitation that I have ever been willing to let stop me. I’ve now had the experience of becoming an author, standing on stage in front of thousands of listeners as a motivational speaker, turning on the television and being able to see myself, and reaching out into the world of business. Why? It’s because I have been willing to take risks.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Book/The-Eyes-of-Faith-325656551281668/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMaHRumNFefQCIfxZxcF3wA
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Faith-Vempre-Terrell-Jr/dp/1937269744
