At an age when most young boys were preoccupied with sports, girls and getting into trouble, Kevin was busy with his Bible and winning souls for Christ.
Not the typical life of a pubescent Jamaican male right? But Kevin Downswell was never your typical preteen, and it was evident from early that he was destined to be a leader among men and a vessel for spreading the word of God.
Fast forward some plus twenty years and his mission has grown and expanded from one church to a nationwide ministry. Not only does he change lives with his music, but also ministers the word to those who have ears to hear.
He has a flair for fashion and a knack for knowing what people want to hear lyrically. He also has a yearning to touch the spirits of young people and a penchant for praising his lord.
It has not been an easy road but for Downswell, but the reward is the awesome journey he takes daily with God, and he would have it no other way.
Buzzz Magazine spent some time in his world on a sunny Friday afternoon, to find out more about the artiste.
Before we got into the meat of the matter,
Downswell opened with prayer, asking God for his blessings during the interview.
He then began by revealing that the Christian walk for him has not been without its challenges,
however, he is aware that nothing good comes easy.
He said: “My journey as a Christian overall it has been incredible, but it has had its ups and downs. It’s a daily walk so you grow and learn every day and when you fall you have to get up. Being a Christian involves messing up in front of people. It has also taught me to be patient and know that when I can’t anymore because of my limitations, then God will take over. Experiencing the love of God is awesome because God’s love is always safe, patient, present, kind and beyond anything I have ever experienced as a child.”
Blessed with three siblings and both parents in his life, many would assume that Kevin Dwayne Downswell had a reasonably secure upbringing.
The reality though was much different.
“My mother had me at age fourteen so I was supposed to be a ‘mistake baby’. When she was pregnant she moved to Savana-la-mar and when she came back to Kingston we moved all over. We moved from Maxfield to Central
village and many places in between. My father was not there for most of my childhood but I had to learn to forgive him.”
“However, when I went to bed, I was so tormented that night that when I woke up the next morning I said yes. I was twelve years old,” he disclosed.
When I got baptized at age 12, I got involved integrally with my faith and with the church in my community of Pretoria Road, Maxfield Avenue. My pastor had young people involved in ministering from the pulpit so it became ingrained in me. Kevin added that by age fifteen, sixteen, he was in front of the congregation so it is natural for him now.
Further, he added that he has been invited to preach both in Jamaica and overseas to bring inspirational messages to men, youth groups, the police force and other groups of people on a variety of platforms.
Not bad for a man just 34. Indeed, his list of accomplishments is long and extensive and many have heard his messages and have been drawn to him like moths to a spiritual flame.
As a result, Downswell has racked up a number of awards over the years locally and internationally.
His international awards include a Caribbean Gospel Music (Marlin) Award and an Atlanta Gospel Music Award.
Locally, he has captured a Youth View Award, an EME Award and was voted the Star Artiste of the Year in 2013 and 2014.
Known as a heavy hitter in the gospel music industry, we asked Kevin to briefly describe his style of music to someone who had never heard of him or listened to his music before.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #4, 2016 Issue.
Share this post:
At an age when most young boys were preoccupied with sports, girls and getting into trouble, Kevin was busy with his Bible and winning souls for Christ.
Not the typical life of a pubescent Jamaican male right? But Kevin Downswell was never your typical preteen, and it was evident from early that he was destined to be a leader among men and a vessel for spreading the word of God.
Fast forward some plus twenty years and his mission has grown and expanded from one church to a nationwide ministry. Not only does he change lives with his music, but also ministers the word to those who have ears to hear.
He has a flair for fashion and a knack for knowing what people want to hear lyrically. He also has a yearning to touch the spirits of young people and a penchant for praising his lord.
It has not been an easy road but for Downswell, but the reward is the awesome journey he takes daily with God, and he would have it no other way.
Buzzz Magazine spent some time in his world on a sunny Friday afternoon, to find out more about the artiste.
Before we got into the meat of the matter,
Downswell opened with prayer, asking God for his blessings during the interview.
He then began by revealing that the Christian walk for him has not been without its challenges,
however, he is aware that nothing good comes easy.
He said: “My journey as a Christian overall it has been incredible, but it has had its ups and downs. It’s a daily walk so you grow and learn every day and when you fall you have to get up. Being a Christian involves messing up in front of people. It has also taught me to be patient and know that when I can’t anymore because of my limitations, then God will take over. Experiencing the love of God is awesome because God’s love is always safe, patient, present, kind and beyond anything I have ever experienced as a child.”
Blessed with three siblings and both parents in his life, many would assume that Kevin Dwayne Downswell had a reasonably secure upbringing.
The reality though was much different.
“My mother had me at age fourteen so I was supposed to be a ‘mistake baby’. When she was pregnant she moved to Savana-la-mar and when she came back to Kingston we moved all over. We moved from Maxfield to Central
village and many places in between. My father was not there for most of my childhood but I had to learn to forgive him.”
“However, when I went to bed, I was so tormented that night that when I woke up the next morning I said yes. I was twelve years old,” he disclosed.
When I got baptized at age 12, I got involved integrally with my faith and with the church in my community of Pretoria Road, Maxfield Avenue. My pastor had young people involved in ministering from the pulpit so it became ingrained in me. Kevin added that by age fifteen, sixteen, he was in front of the congregation so it is natural for him now.
Further, he added that he has been invited to preach both in Jamaica and overseas to bring inspirational messages to men, youth groups, the police force and other groups of people on a variety of platforms.
Not bad for a man just 34. Indeed, his list of accomplishments is long and extensive and many have heard his messages and have been drawn to him like moths to a spiritual flame.
As a result, Downswell has racked up a number of awards over the years locally and internationally.
His international awards include a Caribbean Gospel Music (Marlin) Award and an Atlanta Gospel Music Award.
Locally, he has captured a Youth View Award, an EME Award and was voted the Star Artiste of the Year in 2013 and 2014.
Known as a heavy hitter in the gospel music industry, we asked Kevin to briefly describe his style of music to someone who had never heard of him or listened to his music before.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #4, 2016 Issue.
Share this post: