This man who is a preacher, musician and composer promised to give us an interview on a weekend. Quite busy that he was during that festive weekend, we were unsure if he would be able to make it after all. He assured us at least a phone interview that day. But what pleasantly surprised us was how this man of God, Mr. Isaac Joe [Read Biography] himself ended up calling us when he found time amidst his busy schedule that afternoon, so that we could interview him. Here’s what he had to say:
About his youth days:
Born in a Christian family, my God-fearing mother always told me how I should serve the Lord. She would instruct me to search my heart, confess my sins and read the Bible. Instead, I preferred hanging out with my gang. We would bunk school and have fun. Our modus operandi would be to roam about in the streets after dark, vandalizing things for the thrill of it. My mother would be heart-broken and she cried unto the Lord that He should change me before I crossed my teenage years.
When music entered his life:
My mother, led by the Lord encouraged me to learn to play some stringed instrument. She also felt that this would help me stay away from my gang. She found a music tutor to teach me to play the guitar. I began to put all my energy into strumming the guitar. Six months after I had learnt to play the guitar, I was called to play for two bands. I started playing in local social functions and parties. I learnt to play my guitar by ear and I didn’t know how to read sheet music then. I had a passion for music and was enslaved to playing my guitar.
Turning point in his life:
During my final year in school, I entered an inter-school music competition which was reputed to be a major talent hunt. As I made my appearance on the stage, I noticed that most people were either drunk or stoned on drugs and the air was choked with cigarette smoke. As I started playing, the lights in the auditorium went off but the stage had power. I had no problem strumming in the dark. The crowd cheered me on and I was on top of the world. It was then that I heard a voice, a voice so distinctly different from the noise of the recreating crowd, saying, “Joe, are you using your talent constructively or destructively?” Deep inside, I knew that it was the voice of Jesus. I realized that my music was making this crowd who were halfway to their grave comfortable with whatever they were doing and thus, killing them softly. I remained disturbed for an entire week as the Lord slowly started drawing me towards Him and I began to change my lifestyle. I later began to compose songs and play music to glorify God.
How do you feel when you see people at churches across denominations, around the world, sing your songs?
I feel humbled and honoured when I see that my music is being used to glorify God. It is indeed a blessing to see people worship and praise our living God. Whenever I see churches sing my songs, I join along and sing with the crowd like I would sing any other song. It’s a good feeling.
Profession. God. Family. How will you prioritize them? Why?
God, family and then profession. Because that is the divine order and any other order that we choose to follow will put us in a mess.
Ideas: Ideals: India
The youth today have a very high potential. The Indian youth today are hard-working. God has given the youth grace to come up in life. But the greatest fear is that we might end up seeing ourselves sandwiched between two cultures, the culture that our family raises us up with and the culture that the outside world is showing us. The youth today are not ignorant and they are discreet to both the worlds. Therefore, what you choose to follow is important. The decision has to be made by you: Will you throw away what you already know or will you hold on to your roots, the roots of culture that your parents and family have laid in you? If you throw away your roots, the roots of positive values that were nurtured in you – you end up having an identity crisis. There is always a pressure to merge with the other culture but you must realize that when you do so, you tend to lose your own identity.
So, it really matters that you stick onto your roots in a positive way. The right values that your family teaches you, your identity and your God. When you throw away all this, you end up being like an amoeba, shapeless; not knowing who you are and what you ought to do. So, be proud of the identity that God has given you and don’t live on a borrowed identity. When you do so, God will lift you up, everybody will look to you and God will ensure that you are a blessing to all.
Secondly, look up to the Lord for all that you do. I mean, have a reverence for Him, for His love and His grace on our lives. That will be the greatest treasure to Indian youth.
Thank you Mr. Isaac Joe for sharing with us how the right blend of hard work and faith in God helps us reach greater heights. In this season of joy and giving, Know Your Star would like to wish its readers a Merry Christmas with unmerited grace and mercy flowing into all your lives.