Baliva
| Status |
@chillininlondon im only getting some of your messages from last week, sory if i havent replied iim still getting used to this twiter thing
|
|
Join the Mailing List |
Bio
My name is Mark "Baliva" Johnes. I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1983. Growing up in Harare, I was exposed to the music industry from an early age. I learnt alot from my father who worked for a national radio station. I started recording secular rap songs in 1998 and studied Media production in London.
In 2003 I began to follow Jesus Christ as my lord and Saviour after attending a youth bible study. Since 2006, I've been using my music to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
About
All music is free to download and making CD copies for your friends is encouraged, click the Music icon below to go to the free music store, click the video icon for music video's and documentaries, click the Blog icon for articles and stories written by Baliva. "Its getting closer to that day when the lord makes his way, its time to get out
and reach to those lost souls send them out this is the gospel the good news, while these end times prevail, the urgency is now, it time to bow down, the king is coming back, his name is Jesus Christ layed his life on the cross and through his blood shed our souls have been redeemed, we sing songs of praise Halelulah, his been raised from thedead, the father sent the son , the son sent the holy spirit and though his spirit we preach boldly never giving up never slowing down, i aint going back to those day living in darkness no sense of purpurse life was meaningless, life was twisted running from it all, i just wanna run to the lord!"
My name is Mark "Baliva" Johnes. I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1983. Growing up in Harare, I was exposed to the music industry from an early age. I learned a lot from my father who worked for the national radio station. I would follow him to private functions wanting to learn all I could. I spent hours going through his collections recording songs onto cassette tape and learning lyrics then rapping them with my friends at school. I started recording with my school friends back in 1998. After moving to London in 2001 to study media, I spent my spare time in community studio projects recording songs and performing at open mic events around the city.
After attending a youth bible study in Summer 2003, I began to follow Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I felt a call to use my musical gifts to spread the gospel but for almost two years I lived a double life, I was half in the church and half in the world. Music was my idol and I often put music before my relationship with God as I compromised in order to achieve worldly success. I quickly learned that what the world defined as success was in complete opposition to what the bible taught so I gave up on all my solo pursuits in summer 2005 and decided to use my money, my talents and my time to show the world that God is real and alive.
Since then I have had the opportunity to travel around the UK performing with other Christian Mc's on street corners and church events. A group of us put together a gospel mix tape in 2006 and I then released my first EP called "The Resurrection" in 2007. In Summer 2008 I released a 10 track EP called "Sunrise" and took to the streets of London performing and giving out copies to people who were touched by the music.
I am grateful to God for giving me this privilege and opportunity to spread the Word through beats and rhymes and I hope to continue using all I have to reach the lost. I would like to thank Brandon and Pamela Munoz, Pastor Ernie Toppin, Joe and Liz for taking an interest in my walk with the Lord at a time when I was lost in my sin. I also give thanks to all those who have both supported and persecuted me over the years and I pray the Lord provides for and blesses you.
My official website is Pause and Think.org the website is designed to help you deeply understand Christianity. I realise that a CD or live perfomance is not enough to explain and teach the core essence of the faith.So the aim is to press Pause after the music and begin to Think deeply about how the Gospel relates to us on a personal level. You can download or listen to my latest music releases,l earn more about Christianity in Laymens terms , keep up todate with my personal blog on life, learn how to serve effectivly in Christian ministry and get questions and evidence for the existance of God and reliability of the bible.
Believe. (Psalms 18:29-30)The Greek word for believe literally means "to place ones trust in another" the aim is to encourage people to place their trust in Jesus and believe they can over come anything.
Acheive (Luke 15:1-7)There are many who have fallen away from Christ, many who don't know Christ. The goal is to reach reach out to them with the Gospel truth in the aid of seeing them reconciled with God, even if one is is found we will rejoice.
Learn To be consistent in learning.A wise man will hear and increase in learning , and a man of understanding will attain wisecounsel Proverbs 1:5
Inspire To inspire other Christians to walk firmly with the lord.
Value (Matthew 22:37-39) To emphasise a message of true love, by loving each other as brothers and sisters. Being open and building a close relationship with God and each other.
Authenticity 1st Timothy 4 v 16 To present material that biblically based as opposed to conforming to the current trends of the world, to become a living bible by practising what is preached in order to see others succeed in the faith.
I grew up knowing God existed but I never followed him and never really felt accepted. I was involved in relationships that were not healthy and I took drugs and drank lots of alcohol. I basically did what I wanted with no consideration to God. I considered myself a Christian.
After ending a long term relationship my heart began to get cold and I became more focused on my career. I pursued this career in the music business and in peoples eyes I was doing well, but inside still searching. I still didn't find the meaning or the acceptance that I was searching for. One day I saw someone talking about Jesus, I was just amazed that someone could stand there and preach so boldly.
I knew my life was not right before God and needed to change from a lifestyle of wrong living. I was invited to youth events at the church (Youth Aflame [Pre-Freedomhouse])where I began to follow the teachings of the Bible. I didn't realise what an effect it had on me until one day my mother mentioned to me that I seemed different.
I began to feel that God was with me, but I struggled letting go of certain sinful habits. I was still smoking cannabis and struggling to let go. God was giving me direction in life and I even felt a call to preach the word of God using the gift that I have to rap. But I ignored that call for a long time.
I was given an opportunity to go and join an independent record label, so I took it, but the deal ended up going wrong and I realized that God was was showing me something. The disappointment hit me real hard and I started smoking again and got even more depressed. I thought to my self, "Maybe its time I just stop ignoring the call.” It was clear God was calling me to put him first in everything I did.
One day I saw somebody from a local church out on the streets spreading the word of God with rap music and immediately I realized it was time to put God first even if it meant not being rich and famous.
I realised that being Christian doesn't mean that everyday is going to be trouble free or that we are perfect but as long as I sought God sincerely, I would go forward. I made a promise to endure every trial and temptation until His return and I pray you do the same.
Recommended
Contests/Events
