Gospel reggae artist Raymond Symonds, known as Whopper Benz, reached a new milestone in his music career with the completion of his second album ‘Disciple of Christ Rises’.

But just a year or so ago, he was contemplating giving up music altogether.

He said he felt really discouraged when a pastor told him that Christian Reggae music was only good for outreach and not appropriate in the church.

“That really upset me,” Mr Symonds said. “I do realise it’s not traditional music, but I’m still spreading the name of Jesus, just like other artists.

“I feel like this genre can be embraced more by the churches. It’s okay if they feel everyone won’t like it, but the children and youth love it, just like they enjoy Christian rap.

“Some people call these genres the ‘black sheep’ of gospel and they don’t support it, but I feel that’s wrong. I’m ministering to people through music, similar to how a pastor would share the word in the pulpit.”

Mr Symonds decided to persevere with his music after learning some people at his church were praying for him.

“They told me not to worry about what people say and then asked me to remember who I do this for: other people or Jesus?”

The title for his latest album was inspired by his decision to rise up from that and other life challenges and carry on with the job he feels called to do.

He will be sharing songs from the ‘Disciple of Christ Rises’ CD with fans at a concert and album release party at Glory Temple in St David’s, on Saturday starting at 7.30pm.

The artist said his new tunes were more upbeat than the songs on the first album ‘Refined and Redeemed’. Mr Symonds wrote many of those songs while he was still in jail, serving time for drug smuggling charges.

It was actually while he was on bail awaiting a court appearance relating to that offence that a woman invited him to church and he made a vow to turn his life around and follow Jesus.

“My first album was my story, coming from doing a pack of ignorance to being in jail and being saved and happy to be in Christ,” he said.

“I was a broken man and the songs were really heartfelt and very emotional because that was where I was at that time, spiritually and mentally. And this is where I am now spiritually and mentally, I am a disciple of God and happy about it.”

His favourite song on the new album is called ‘Bless Up’. “It’s just a happy song and when I say ‘bless up’, it’s a modern way of saying ‘God Bless You’. It’s just a song about spreading the love,” he said.

Another song he’s looking forward to sharing with fans is called ‘Christ is Greater’. It lists a bunch of influential people, including political and celebrity figures, who we tend to admire and put on a pedestal, but the lyrics go on to say that Christ is greater than any of them.

Mr Symonds said the positive strides he has made over the past few years are all thanks to God.

“All this is God, He is the reason I have this,” he told The Royal Gazette. “I am married now and enjoying my life with my wife and I am still heavily involved with my church and Sunday school teaching teenagers, which I love because I remember when I was young.

“For me personally I think teenagers are at an age where they are heavily influenced and a lot of those influences that come their way are negative.

“I want to influence them to do right and not make the mistakes that I have made before they even get to that point.”

He also goes into schools across the Island to share his music and message with young people.

“Jesus Christ is the core of my ministry and my life and testimony is also a vital part of it, so I get to tell the children ‘Don’t go the way that I went. Stay away from the drugs, gangs and foolishness’.

“I tell them ‘I went to jail for all of the mistakes I made and you don’t want to be there’.”

He said it was rewarding to meet with young people and see their reaction to the songs.

His ultimate goal is get his music out to even more people and perhaps one day tour the Caribbean.

“I don’t have a plan myself yet, but that’s what’s on my heart to spread the gospel. I just feel led to do it, want to do it and I am going to eventually. I don’t know when, but it’s going to happen.”

‘Disciple of Christ Rises’ is for sale at the Music Box on Reid Street; and Heritage Worship Centre on Dundonald Street, Hamilton for $20.

The album release party will kick off at Glory Temple in St David’s, on Saturday starting at 7.30pm. Tickets, $10, will be on sale at the door.