Popular Christian YouTube artists, Jayesslee, evangelize through their music

Posted on 21 July 2011  http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2011/07/popular-christian-youtube-artists-jayesslee-evangelize-through-their-music-16656/ 

Janice and Sonia Lee, or “Jayesslee,” have a total YouTube upload view of 30 million. For them, music is the medium of choice for evangelism.

The online popularity of the Korean-Australian twin sisters has resulted in performances in their home country, Australia, as well as in China, across the U.S., and other countries.

On July 29, they will visit Washington D.C. to perform in Fresh Concert with the Korean Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom. They hope that through their music, more prayer warriors can be raised for the North.

The sisters said, “North Korea is a nation that God is highlighting to our church. We have had numerous mission groups visit our church with presentations of the persecution in that nation. We have watched documentaries and read testimonial books written by people who have escaped the country after being interrogated for years. Time and time again, we have been challenged by their faith. There is no doubt that God is stirring a revival in that nation and we pray for it to be soon.”

Singing for Jesus

Janice and Sonia uploaded their first YouTube video in 2008. Since then they have gained millions of fans, with a total upload view of some 30 million. Among the tours and concerts they’ve done, they say China is very memorable.

“[The] producers allowed us to sing Amazing Grace live on set. We were able to worship on national television in China.  What an unforgettable experience.”

But Jayesslee say their most memorable concert was in their hometown in Sydney, Australia. “[Our] closest friends and family heard us play live for the first time. We were on stage with YouTube celebrities such as KevJumba, RyanHiga and Andrew Garcia.”

Knowing Jesus

Although they were raised as Christians, Janice and Sonia say that they came to know Jesus in a personal way when they were in high school. At the time, their mother had been afflicted with cancer for seven years.

“[It] was difficult for us to understand the goodness of God for most of our lives. However, it was the way that God radically changed our mum through her sickness that sparked a curiosity to know who Jesus really was. In year 9, God met us during a time of prayer at a church camp and we’ve had a relationship with Him ever since,” they said.

At the time, they recall how their father stood by their mother. “For years, he gave up his job and hobbies to be next to our mum. He nursed her and did his best to fulfill his role as a husband and a dad.”

Today their father is remarried. “[We] now live with our dad, step mum and step brother. They are both amazing people and we are so thankful and blessed to be a family.”

Secular songs

Jayesslee sings both Christian and secular songs online. They have gotten some flack for this, but they say that when they choose secular songs they make sure the lyrics are wholesome and not explicit.

“By singing only Christian songs, our influence is limited to listeners who are Christians. As much as we love to empower fellow believers, our aim is to relate to our non-believing audience as well. We sing every song as worship to God.”

They have, because of this, had the experience where non-Christians have approached them to ask about their faith. This is because they first established common ground through carefully chosen secular songs.

Encounter with God

The Lee sisters say they aren’t sure how long they’ll be singing, but hope to do so for as long as possible. More important for them, however, is being able to share the gospel with “as many people as possible.”

They said they hope someday that they can hold concerts at stadiums, “where people would come to experience more than just a performance but an encounter with God. We’d like to leave an impact upon this generation that keeps them talking about the goodness of God, like the legacy that our mum has left behind.”