| CHRISTAFARI Release “John The Baptist” Behind “John The Baptist” When we began writing our latest album, I asked: who is my favorite prophet? I kept coming back to John — not just a prophet, but the cousin of Jesus, chosen before birth to prepare the way. He pointed everyone away from himself and toward Christ: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). His motto still challenges me: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). He preached in the wilderness and counted the cost with his life. This song is my prayer: “Let me be that voice. Lord, please use my voice. Speak through me.” Written by Mark Mohr and Jah Pickney, Music by Renato Taimes, Jah Pickney and Mark Mohr. Singing parts filmed in Belize. A Rank and File ProductionFeaturing Mark Mohr, and Jah PickneyWritten and Produced by Mark Mohr and Benjamin TangDirected/Filmed/Edited/AI created by Benjamin Tang This song is more than music – it’s a call to proclaim His name to the nations. Listen to the full album Voice In The Wilderness (Vol I), available on streaming on all platforms.  Watch “John the Baptist” on YouTube below or HereLYRICS: “John the Baptist” John the Baptist words come to passWhen the son of man pon di crossThe spirit of Elijah‘s words come to passWhen the Lamb of God died for us Behold, He is the the lamb GodWho takes away the sins of all of the earthOh no, I’m unworthy to untie His sandals Yes, He must increase and I must decrease in worth Behold, behold I’m just here to prepareWayo, for the Lamb of God is here Behold, behold this One He is dreader than dreadWayo, and for the Son I will lose my head He was just a voice in the wildernessLocusts and honey was all that this Christa would eatHe was just a voice in the wildernessHis dreads were so NattySwinging right down to his feet John the Baptist’s words come to passWhen the Son of Man ‘pon the crossThe spirit of Elijah’s words come to passWhen the Lb of God died for us Behold, behold the Son‘s return is nearWayo, so betta turn or burn, gotta be preparedBehold, because this judgment is dreader than dreadWayo, or for this one you will lose your head He was just one voice in the wildernessWearing the skin of a camel a belt wrapped around his waistHe was just one voice in the wildernessPrepare the way for the YeshuaLet’s make the King’s path straight So follow me nowEh! Like the baptizer we haffi prepare, prepareMake we voice call out everywhere make it clearRepent and be forgiven live by faith not fearThe second coming of the Lord is growing ever nearSo love for the people and peace for the people ah that we haffi call outRepent of your sin and forgiven for your sin ah that we voice a bawl out Proclaiming the coming of ChristAll for the Christ we going all outSinging to save the world from all of the sinful fallout Watch out, watch out, watch out, watch out children for BabylonWatch out, watch out, watch out, watch out children for the great deceptionWatch out, watch out, watch out, watch out children for the following awayWatch out, watch out, watch out, watch out children you better watch and pray Behold, behold the Son‘s return is nearWayo, so betta turn or burn, gotta be preparedBehold, because this judgment is dreader than dreadWayo, or for this one you will lose your head He was just a voice in the wildernessPreaching repentance and forgiveness for your sinsHe was just a voice in the wildernessPrepare the way for the Yeshua Make straight the path for Him So let me be that voiceLord please use my voice Let me be that voiceSpeak through meSpeak through me! Let me be that voiceLord please use my voice Let me be that voiceSpeak through me CHRISTAFARI – Beginnings: Christafari is not just a band; at its heart is a family led by founder Pastor Mark Mohr, his wife Avion, and their daughter Ziza. Along with dedicated team members who live and act like family, Christafari has been on a mission to spread the gospel through reggae music since 1989. In the past 8.5 years, they’ve reached a milestone of over a million souls for Christ, a testament to their decades-long dedication to faith and music. Additionally, in the post-COVID era, they accomplished an incredible feat of performing in all 50 United States within just 11 months. Their current mission directives include ministering in every country in the Americas—from North America through Central America and down to South America—sharing the message of hope through reggae music. They are also committed to ministering in all 26 states of Brazil, further expanding their impact in Latin America. The band has performed live in over 90 nations worldwide, including appearances at two Olympic Games and a U.S. presidential inaugural celebration. Their music continues to top the charts and reach audiences worldwide, bringing a message of faith and transformation through the powerful medium of reggae. Over the last 35 years, this trailblazing group has evolved beyond music into a full-fledged global outreach. They are one part Bob Marley and one part Billy Graham. More than just performers and evangelists, Christafari calls themselves “musicianaries” – musical missionaries – devoted to spreading hope and salvation worldwide through reggae. With an unwavering focus on their mission to “reach the lost at any cost.”  CHRISTAFARI – Origins & History:Christafari’s journey began in 1989 when 17-year-old Mark Mohr experienced a radical transformation from a life of rebellion to a newfound faith. Raised in a Christian home but entangled in drugs and Rastafarian beliefs as a teen, Mohr hit rock bottom and then had a life-changing encounter with God. After this, he felt called to form a reggae band that would glorify Christ and help others find the freedom he had received through Jesus. Just weeks after his conversion, Mohr debuted his first gospel reggae song at a Christian youth camp, prompting a friend to remark, “So you’re not a Rastafarian anymore; you’re a Christafarian.” The name stuck, and Christafari was born as the first Gospel reggae band in the United States, pioneering a new genre. Through the 1990s, Christafari quickly gained momentum with a string of influential albums. Mohr honed his ministry and musical skills in Bible college, and the band’s early releases, like Reggae Worship Vol. 1 (1993), helped lay the foundation for Gospel reggae. In 1999, after recording two albums with Gotee Records under the mentorship of TobyMac, he branched out to launch his own record label, Lion of Zion Entertainment, to ” reach the world through world music.” This move toward independence solidified Christafari’s vision and set the stage for even greater global ministry in the years to come. Family Leadership and Team: As Christafari evolved into the 2000s, it also became a family-led ministry. In 2003, Mohr married Avion Blackman, a Trinidadian singer and bassist whom he had met during a Caribbean mission trip a year earlier. The daughter of soca music pioneer Ras Shorty I, Avion brought a rich Caribbean musical heritage. She joined the band full-time on bass and vocals, perfectly complementing Mark’s leadership and vision. Under the Mohrs’ guidance, Christafari grew into an international ensemble – a team of men and women from various continents and cultures who share a passion for reggae and a heart for following Jesus to the ends of the earth. When she was just six, their daughter Ziza Forever Mohr officially joined the band on stage in the Solomon Islands and has performed with them ever since. This strong family-centric leadership and diverse lineup give Christafari a unique unity of purpose, fueling the band’s longevity and impact in ministry. Mission and Ministry: Although their name might sound like a simple play on words, in Biblical Greek, “Christafari” denotes a group of people who bear or represent the name of Christ. From the beginning, Christafari’s driving purpose has been to share the Gospel through the universal language of music, fulfilling the Great Commission in every corner of the world. The band lives by the motto “reach the lost at any cost,” embracing whatever it takes to bring the message of Christ to those in need. This ethos led Christafari to become full-time musical missionaries, willingly traveling to remote and underprivileged places and performing free outreach concerts for communities that could never afford to host a band. Not only do they preach through music, but the band also strives to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever they go. Their ministry extends beyond the stage. During their tours, they frequently visit orphanages, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and serve “the least of these.” As Mark Mohr often declares, Christafari’s mission is “to go to the ends of the earth until all have heard,” and the band shows no signs of quitting until that vision is fulfilled. World’s Most Traveled Band: In over three decades of ministry, Christafari has made an indelible mark on both the Christian and reggae music landscapes. Their relentless globetrotting touring schedule often approaches 100 shows in a single year, bringing their uplifting reggae sound to venues ranging from remote villages and urban slums to major music festivals and prestigious stages like Los Angeles’s Greek Theatre and even the steps of the U.S. Capitol building before a crowd of 500,000. Such extensive travels have given Christafari a truly global platform to live out their calling, earning them the moniker “The world‘s most traveled band.” Musically, Christafari’s output is equally impressive. The group has released over 35 albums to date, and in 2012, they made history as the first Gospel artist to reach #1 on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart with Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival. Remarkably, each of the band’s following five studio albums also debuted at #1 on the reggae charts, underscoring their consistent impact. They have produced over 150 music videos (arguably more than any other artist worldwide), and their YouTube channel has over half a million subscribers. Major media outlets such as CNN, MTV, BET, TBN, and CBN have featured Christafari’s music and mission, further cementing their status as genre pioneers and bringing a positive message to diverse audiences. Yet, for all the accolades, the band remains grounded in its purpose – as Mohr puts it, “We care a lot more about hearts than charts and see every achievement simply as a means to reach more souls.” With their passion burning brighter than ever after decades on the road, Christafari shows no sign of slowing down. They continue to innovate and inspire, carrying their message of hope to the ends of the earth with unwavering faith and steadfastness. |
| Chart Success: Christafari is no stranger to chart success. Since the release of their first “Reggae Worship” album in the early 90s, most of their CDs have held high positions on both the Christian and/or Reggae Billboard charts. In 2012 Christafari made history as the first Gospel artist to hit #1 on the Billboard Reggae Charts with “Reggae Worship: a Roots Revival.” Each of the band’s 5 subsequent studio releases has also topped the Billboard Charts. However, speaking about the band’s chart successes, Mohr states, “We care a lot more about hearts than charts. Our passion is for souls, not sales, and we only do concerts as a way to make converts and fulfill the great commission.” Touring & Media: Christafari has performed in 50 states, over 85 nations, at two Olympic Games and even for a President of the United States of America. The band’s first major tour was 1995’s Reggae Sunsplash, which had them traversing 46 cities in 53 days. Since then, they’ve performed at most major reggae and gospel/CCM festivals with the top artists in the genres. The group has had the privilege of performing at many of the country’s most prestigious venues like LA’s Greek Theater, Dodger Stadium, the Presidential Inaugural Ball, and even from the steps of our nation’s Capital before a crowd of 500,000! Christafari has been featured on: The 700 Club, CNN, MTV, MTV Brazil, ABC, TBN, JUCE TV, BET, TBS, Greg Laurie’s Harvest, and many more. Their music is even featured in the current curriculum taught at Carnegie Hall. Christafari’s YouTube channel sees well over a million views each month. “Aside from touring,” says Mohr, “our greatest platform to reach the world is YouTube, so we’re doing our best to maximize it with the few resources that we have.” Over the last few years, Christafari has released roughly one music video per month through their Rank and File Film Co. Full Time Missionaries: After the inception of Christafari, the band took several annual mission trips to Jamaica. “The funny thing is that one of my first prayers to the Lord after coming to Christ,” recalls Mohr “was, ‘Please don’t make me a missionary in the jungle in some Third World country.’” He now thanks the Lord for not answering that prayer – for it would quickly become the greatest desire of his heart. After visiting places like Africa, Central and South America, and some of the most remote islands on earth, it became clear also to the rest of the band that these were the types of places that the Lord wanted them to invest their time and talents in from here on out. Their mission was simple: “To reach the lost at any cost and make disciples of every nation.” But the band quickly became troubled by the reality that Third World nations and developing countries couldn’t afford to fly out even a single member of the band, let alone their entire team. So they became full-time musical missionaries – willing to travel to the ends of the earth in an effort to preach the Gospel through the universal language of music to those who could never afford them in conventional terms. Each of the members in Christafari has the same mission and vision, a commitment that requires tremendous sacrifice and discomfort. But this is right where they believe the Lord has called them. Seeing lives changed across the globe makes it entirely worth their while, and the results have been astonishing: in the last few years alone, the band has seen over 3/4 of a million decisions for Christ at their free outreach events! They are well on their way towards their goal of seeing one million decisions for Christ. Humanitarian Efforts: Not only does the band travel the world proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ through reggae music, but they’ve also set out to be the hands and feet of Jesus. They try to find and fill a need in each country they visit, such as outreaches in trash cities and slums, serving at orphanages, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and ministering to those whom Jesus called “the least of these.” “Christafari’s mission is simple: to go to the ends of the earth until all have heard, and until all have heard we’re not quitting.” – Mark Mohr |
| UPCOMING DATES Upcoming Dates Fri, JUL 17@ 5:00 PMTuna ParkNoro, Solomon Islandswith Avíon Blackman Sat, JUL 18@ 5:00 PMTuna Park NoroNoro, Solomon Islandswith Avíon Blackman Wed, JUL 22@ 5:00 PMAPS Field AukiAuki, Solomon Islandswith Avíon Blackman Thu, JUL 23@ 5:00 PMAPS Field AukiAuki, Solomon Islandswith Avíon Blackman Sat, JUL 25@ 5:00 PMSIPA Car ParkHoniara, Solomon Islandswith Avíon Blackman Sun, JUL 26@ 5:00 PMSIPA Car ParkHoniara, Solomon Islandswith Avíon Blackman Wed, JUL 29@ 6:00 PMLowkatai Field West TannaTafea Province, Vanuatuwith Avíon Blackman Thu, JUL 30@ 6:00 PMLowkatai Field West tannaTafea Province, Vanuatuwith Avíon Blackman Sat, AUG 1@ 6:00 PMSeafront StagePort-vila, Vanuatuwith Avíon Blackman Sun, AUG 2@ 6:00 PMSeafront StagePort-vila, Vanuatuwith Avíon Blackman Wed, AUG 5@ 7:00 PMTo Be AnnouncedNadi, Fijiwith Avíon Blackman Wed, AUG 12@ 7:00 PMRedwood Glen Camp & ConferenceScotts Valley, CAwith Avíon Blackman Thu, AUG 13@ 6:30 PMReGeneration ChurchScotts Valley, CAwith Avíon Blackman Sat, AUG 15@ 6:00 PMGrace Fellowship Bible ChurchHemet, CAwith Avíon Blackman Sun, AUG 16@ 7:00 PMHuntington Beach OutreachHuntington Beach, CAwith Avíon Blackman Sun, AUG 23@ 6:00 PMChristafari Live at Calvary Chapel Chester SpringsExton, PAwith Avíon Blackman Sat, AUG 29@ 3:00 PMRural FestIsle, MNwith Avíon Blackman Fri, SEP 4@ 6:00 PMReggae RevivalArtesia, CAwith Avíon Blackman Sat, SEP 5@ 10:00 AMLight at the Lighthouse Music FestivalLos Angeles, CAwith Avíon Blackman Sun, SEP 6@ 7:00 PMChapel of Change Paramount CampusParamount, CAwith Avíon Blackman Click on the photo below to download broadcast master files or HereStay up on all the latest with: CHRISTAFARI |