Growing up in 7 Miles, Bull Bay, Shaniqwa Clarke attended the local Church of God of Prophecy along with her mother. She later became a member of the church choir and this fuelled her relationship with the Lord so much that she became a born-again Christian.

“I believe that my experience with the choir helped me on my journey with the Lord. It drew me closer to His words and developed my faith in Him,” Clarke told the Jamaica Observer on Friday.

She continued: “I would often see my mother praying, fasting, and trusting God for absolutely everything. As children, we had to gather every morning for devotion and my mother would randomly have one of us read the Bible, share our understanding of the scripture, and pray. As a result of this training, my love for worship grew and so we enjoyed going to church with her.”

Clarke said her journey with Christ has had its challenges; however, it has made her faith grow stronger.

“My journey as a born-again Christian has been one of transformation, grace, and deepening faith. As a person who gave my life to God at the tender age of eight years old, I was living with my mom who was my constant prayer warrior, guide, and she was always encouraging me in a loving way, [which] helped to make my experience with God a very pleasant one. This life in Christ hasn’t been without challenges, but through every trial, my faith has grown stronger. God’s love has been my anchor, guiding me, comforting me, and giving me hope even in difficult times,” Clarke shared.

It was earlier this year that Clarke decided to pursue a career in gospel music.

“Even though I was singing at church rallies, concerts, funerals, and weddings, I never considered a career in gospel music before now,” she said.

Earlier this month, Clarke released her debut single The Fire. Written by her brother Fabian Clarke, the song was produced by Rippaz Entertainment.

She spoke about the inspiration behind the song.

“The message being conveyed is basically saying to us having the Fire God (which is the Holy Spirit) how it is enough to cleanse and purify our hearts and minds bringing us peace. It suggests that the Holy Spirit can empower and anoint us, but only if they are open and willing to receive it,” said Clarke.

The singer told The Gospel Beat that she knows there is a higher purpose for her ministry of music.

“My priority is always to create a space for authentic worship. I am passionate about leading others into the presence of God, making sure that my performance serves the greater purpose of helping people connect spiritually, rather than focusing on the performance itself,” Clarke said.