Pierre Moranza is a transformational leader, author, global speaker, and founder of Kingdom Mercy Ministries International (KMMI). Known for his ability to bridge the world of business, faith, and cultural healing, Pierre’s life story defies assumption and awakens purpose.
Pierre’s life took a pivotal turn when he walked away from a company that grossed $96 million in 15 months—not because of failure, but because he heard God say, “This is not the assignment.”
Rather than chase influence, status, or applause, Pierre chose surrender over success and purpose over profit. His testimony speaks to leaders, entrepreneurs, and believers who have achieved “everything” yet still hunger for meaning.
From the Hood to the Holy Land…and Beyond: $96 Million Was Never the Assignment is that story. His memoir chronicles his journey from childhood trauma and inner-city struggle to spiritual awakening, global ministry impact, and a radical act of obedience that reshaped his destiny.
Book Title: From The Hood To The Holy Land…and Beyond: $96 Million Was Never The Assignment
Genre: Christian Memoir
Website: https://kmmi.us
Hey Pierre! Thanks for chatting with us. Can you start by sharing what inspired you to write this book?
Honestly, I didn’t set out to write a book—I set out to make sense of my journey.
What inspired me was hearing and obeying the voice of God, even when what He asked didn’t make sense. From growing up in the hood, to serving as a Black Youth Pastor in an all-white church, to walking away from $96 million, every season of my life carried a lesson in learning how to recognize God’s voice in unlikely places.
I wanted to write something that bridged the worlds I’ve lived in—the hood and the holy land, the streets and the sanctuary, the boardroom and the altar—because I’ve learned that purpose doesn’t discriminate by background. You can have the career, the influence, even the millions, and still feel empty if you’re out of alignment with divine assignment. My hope was to help others see that true success isn’t found in achievement—it’s found in surrender.
And finally, I wrote this book because I felt a deep responsibility to concretize, solidify, verify, and certify my story—to leave a legacy and a written record of God’s faithfulness for my children’s children. I wanted them to have a documented point of reference, something they could look back on generations from now and say, “This is where it all began.”
Because truthfully, what I sense God calling me to next will look nothing like what I’ve already done—and I wanted this to stand as both a testimony and a foundation for what’s coming.
Why was now the right time for your story to be shared?
The timing of the book was never about convenience; it was also about obedience. I felt a leading from the Lord to write the book in mid 2023. I didn’t write it just to tell my story. I wrote it because there are people right now who are standing at the same crossroads I once stood at. They are gifted, but confused. Successful but empty. Called, yet still wrestling with surrender.
The world is noisy, identity is being negotiated daily, and purpose is getting drowned out by performance. I’ve lived the hood. I’ve lived the boardroom. I’ve lived the surrender. And now was the moment when my journey could actually serve as a witness — not just of what God brought me out of, but what He brought me into. This is legacy, this is assignment, and this is the right time because people don’t just need another motivational message; they need a map.
Who absolutely must read your book?
This book is for anyone who’s ever achieved success but still felt unfulfilled. It speaks to leaders, dreamers, and believers ready to trade status for surrender and discover what true purpose looks like when you finally align your life with God’s voice.
What are the top 3 things someone will learn from reading your book?
- How to hear and trust God’s voice—even when it disrupts your plans.
- Obedience isn’t always convenient, but it’s always connected to destiny. Every miracle in my life started on the other side of a risky “yes.”
- Success without surrender is just another form of slavery.
- I walked away from $96 million to discover something far more valuable—peace, purpose, and identity that can’t be bought. You’ll learn how to redefine success from God’s perspective, not culture’s scoreboard.
- Your story—no matter how broken—can become someone else’s roadmap to freedom.
- You’ll see how God can use the hood, the hurt, and even the hard places to shape a life that heals others. My prayer is that readers realize they’re not disqualified—they’re being developed.
Can you share some of the behind the scenes from your writing and publishing process?
I began by gathering all the year-end reports since I began the ministry. They contained crucial information, facts and dates, times and places. I then gathered as many photos as possible. In fact, the hardest part was narrowing almost 4000 photos taken over the course of 30 years and narrowing them down to 35.
Once I had gathered all of the info and photos. I just began to write my life (for the most part in chronological order). I would wait until the house was quiet, usually about 9:00 PM, and then I would start writing. Most times I didn’t stop until around 3:00 AM. A few mornings, I would write til 6:00 AM and not know it!
I want to highlight & thank selfpublishing.com especially for allowing me to write the way I was being led. They were not my first choice. One publisher had a vision for my book that was completely different than what I had. Two visions is division! Another publishing house did not have the reach that self-publishing had and neither one of those provided the marketing.
What was the hardest part about turning your experiences into a book?
The hardest part was learning to relive what I had already survived. I’ve spent years teaching, leading, and helping others find purpose—but writing this book forced me to slow down and look at my own story through a different lens.
It wasn’t just about sharing principles; it was about exposing the process behind them. I had to revisit moments of pain, loss, and surrender—not as a speaker or leader—but as a man who was still being shaped by God.
The challenge wasn’t in the writing itself; it was in being that transparent. But I knew that if I wanted to write something that would truly change lives, I couldn’t just offer wisdom—I had to offer my wounds.
What was your favorite part about that process?
Rewriting and reliving the moment I walked away from the $96 million company. Reliving all the countries I had visited and ministered in. Each picture conveyed a story.
What are your plans for the future now that you’ve shared your story?
My vision goes far beyond just selling books—this is about sparking a movement. From the Hood to the Holy Land…and Beyond is the foundation for something much bigger: building bridges between faith and the marketplace, purpose and profit, the hood and the holy.
I plan to use the book as a catalyst to launch mentorship programs, leadership trainings, and global initiatives under Kingdom Mercy Ministries International that help people hear God clearly, lead from identity instead of insecurity, and live on divine assignment. I also want to create resources for the next generation—workbooks, courses, and real conversations that equip them to discern God’s voice in business, family, and life.
Ultimately, this isn’t just a book—it’s a blueprint for transformation, legacy, and global impact.
More about Pierre Moranza:
Before launching KMMI, Pierre served for several years as a Black Youth Pastor in a predominantly white church, where he became a bridge-builder between cultural experiences, economic divides, and generational worldviews. His work helped cultivate authentic conversations about identity, racial reconciliation, and seeing one another through the lens of God’s heart rather than cultural assumption.
Pierre has traveled across 5 continents, speaking, teaching, and leading ministry initiatives. He has developed the UIO Model (Up-Reach, In-Reach, and Outreach) a framework that helps leaders hear God clearly, lead from identity, and build lives and organizations aligned with divine purpose.
Whether speaking to youth, mentoring entrepreneurs, preaching in churches, advising organizational leaders, or guiding individuals seeking help and alignment with God’s voice— Pierre’s presence is consistent: grounded, compassionate, authoritative, and deeply anointed.
From the Hood to the Holy Land…and Beyond is his first book, published September 27, 2025, with the help of selpublishing.com’s Author Advantage Accelerator Elite Program.
Has Pierre’s story inspired you to share your own? Learn more about the book writing support, editing services, book coaching, and more she received as a part of the Author Advantage Accelerator Elite Program? Schedule a consultation today or take the quiz above to find the right program for you and your book!
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