My name is Adnah McKenna. I am a Christian creative passionate about revealing God through art and music. I am also the author of Conceive, Achieve for Teens and its French version, Vise Bien, and a mentor with the Purposeful Teens Program. Through my writing and mentorship, I seek to equip teenagers to understand their purpose and calling and recognise how they can positively influence the spaces God has placed them in. I am particularly passionate about helping people discover their purpose and understand who God has called them to be.

My Mission

I am writing about the moment when God calls us and the many reasons we sometimes give for saying no. My book predominantly draws from the biblical story of Moses alongside experiences from my own life. Having experienced God and His calling upon my life from a young age, there are several lessons I wish I had either known or implemented sooner.

My motivation is to help people recognise the ways they may be saying no to God or settling for less than what He has in store for them. Sometimes we do this intentionally because of reasons that appear valid, while at other times our response is influenced by hidden beliefs that run much deeper. Our yes to God does not benefit us alone. There are people and spaces that can be impacted by the obedience of one person. Through this book, I want to help readers identify what may be preventing them from saying yes and encourage them to step into what God has called them to do.

My Writing Process

I experienced writer’s block, particularly because this book has been an idea I have carried for several years. Over time, I had accumulated pieces of the book across journals, pieces of paper, phone notes, apps, and other places. One of the overwhelming parts of the writing process was gathering ideas collected over such a long period and bringing them together into one cohesive manuscript. What helped me overcome this was asking for help, submitting to accountability, and allowing myself to be guided by the leadership and the team. Having someone else to talk through the book with also helped me organise my thoughts and continue moving forward.

Finding time for writing alongside my other commitments was also challenging. I learnt to prioritise the manuscript by writing down anything connected to the book whenever I could. I may not always have written much, but I made sure I wrote something. That consistency helped me continue making progress even when I did not have much time.

My Posture

The feedback I received during the Writing Class journey was incredibly helpful. The CLC team often says that a book impacts the author first before it impacts others. However, as we grow in both learning and authorship, the hope is that our experiences and the wisdom we have gained can eventually benefit other people. Having a team that could critique, guide, and help refine my manuscript was therefore valuable. It helped ensure that the message and its impact would not end with me but would be developed and positioned to reach and impact others as well.

My Onyx Writing Class Experience

My experience in CLC Kenya’s Onyx Writing Class was very beneficial. I particularly appreciated the leadership, guidance, and accountability throughout the writing journey. Accountability helped me continue working on an idea I had carried for years and intentionally develop it into a manuscript. Based on my experience, I would recommend the Writing Class to writers at all stages of their journey. Whether someone is beginning with an idea or already has experience writing, having guidance, accountability, and a community around the process can make a significant difference.

Closing Reflection

My encouragement to aspiring writers and beginning authors is simple:

You only give up when you stop trying.

Writing may become difficult. Progress may sometimes feel slow, and there may be moments when bringing everything together feels overwhelming. But keep at it.

My own journey has reminded me that carrying an idea is not enough. At some point, we must be willing to gather the pieces, accept help, submit to the process, and keep writing. In the same way, when God calls us, our response matters. Our obedience may reach far beyond us, impacting people and spaces we may not yet see.