Pastor Kingsley Avagah went from sleeping on the streets in Ghana to sipping tea with Queen Elizabeth in the UK.
Kingsley Avagah, 43, started a Christian-based performing arts group Paradigm Impact network in Doncaster, UK back in 2014.
He is also the Senior Pastor of Agape Life Chapel in Doncaster and moved to live in the UK eight years ago – prior to this, he lived in Holland.
Pastor Avagah described his time in Ghana as very rough.
At the age of 8, he was left to roam about on the mean Ghanaian streets as he did not live with his mother and his guardian did not want anything to do with him.
“I had a rough time growing up, when I was eight years old I was living on the streets of Ghana. But I found God and started following Jesus.”
Kingsley was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the queen for his role in community cohesion in Doncaster,UK.
“About a hundred of us were invited there but only seven of us got to have one-to-one conversations with her – it’s an experience that I will never forget.”
The Queen during the meeting said she had admired the friendliness of the Ghanaian people during her visits there and was pleased he had brought that to Britain.
The Paradigm Impact community group currently has 12 members but is always open to more. Kinglsey said:
“It’s all about empowering and changing the mindsets of young people.
“The group helps them build confidence and teaches them how to be good citizens and make positive contributions to society. Young people are the future and by investing in them we are improving the future.
“Every young person has potential in them but they must be willing to succeed. Helping people makes me happy and if I only inspire one or two people I have done my job.”
The community group also provides counselling for members who have struggled in life and need support.
“Many of the young people who come here have been in abusive relationships or have confidence issues. But we get to see them mature and see their talents grow.”