Merlene J. Purkiss, a single mother of four, left her native land of Jamaica and immigrated to the United States in 1967. She has a master's degree in English education and is an associate professor, senior, at one of the largest institutions in the country. She is also an author of six English books and is the founder of a small organization called Alfa Outreach Ministries, Inc. This organization targets impoverished families in Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and South Florida. Purkiss believes that God has created us for good works, but sometimes we allow life's circumstances to deter us from being what He wants us to be.

TBA