ν Strauss Lunyangwe
After turning over a new leaf in life four years ago and devoting his life to serving God, Jeffrey Haoseb (35), once known as ‘Slammer the Infamous Rapper’, recently shared his experiences about making decisions that were life-changing and difficult at the same time.
Speaking to VIBEZ!, Haoseb narrated how he felt he had to start moving away from the public eye to start prioritising what was important to his faith.
“I started losing all my friends because I didn’t share similar interests anymore. Nevertheless, they would all cheer me on my new journey and show me mad love, especially my colleagues in the music community,” he said.
However, life has not been all rosy for the 2019 NAMA award nominee. This, he said, is because since he assumed the role of an evangelist and preacher, he feels he has been offending many religious people because he considers himself a New Testament preacher.
“The gospel I preach has been making more enemies in the ministry than ever before in my life – and so, my experience from that of a Christian to being appointed as a minister of the gospel is quite different and comes with some challenges. Often, I feel pressured to change some of the doctrinal views to what people want to hear, rather than what is biblical.
“But I completely refuse to do so – and in this way, many people would even start calling me all types of names and sometimes even criticise me for my preaching – even when they know I did nothing wrong. But teaching the true gospel of the Bible in the most loving attitude possible is still offensive to some people because of their hidden agendas and traditional beliefs,” he shared.
Haoseb added: “I have realised that I was wrong in thinking that everyone knows and understands the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because to my knowledge, it’s taught in the Bible – but the fact is that false teachers have perverted the gospel by taking scripture out of context for hidden agendas. So, part of my mission is to expose every false doctrine out there that misleads people into wrong beliefs by correctly teaching the truth and tackling every topic in the New Testament, as it relates to the Christian faith today”.
Haoseb launched his debut hip-hop/rap album, titled ‘When I make it’, in November 2018, and he was also an ambassador for children with learning disabilities, advocating the importance of prioritising children with disabilities.
Quizzed as to why he has not chosen the paths of fellow artists like D-Naff, Lady May Africa and Jericho in spreading the gospel, Haoseb explained that he considered it but he has been trained, ordained and appointed in the church.
“Based on strong biblical principles and guidelines for the ministry of an evangelist, which is my position with the special task of preaching the word, I am not authorised in scripture to be an artist or musician, as it’s not the same ministry. But I remain a gospel preacher, speaking at public gatherings and weekly church meetings. I also partake in congregational singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in acapella with the church, and I love it,” said Haoseb.
Haoseb said he should soon be starting his TV podcast, called ‘Church of Christ TV Namibia’, which he hopes to get off the ground with support from his congregation.
He worships with the Church Of Christ in Donkerhoek, Katutura, at the kindergarten opposite Namutoni primary school in Wambo location.
* Haoseb can be reached at @jeffrey.haoseb on Instagram and Facebook, and @coctvnamibia on TikTok and Twitter.