In 2003 when he entered and won the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Jamaica Gospel Song competition with the song Praise, gospel singer and minister Kevin Downswell’s life changed drastically.

Today, he is one of the most popular and recognisable names on the gospel music scene, having toured the world, including Nigeria recently, while churning out popular songs and delivering memorable performances.

On Independence Day, last week, it was announced that Downswell was among more than 140 individuals to receive national honours and awards for 2025.

The insignia will be presented on National Heroes Day in October.

Downswell has been vested with the Order of Distinction in the rank of officer (OD).

He told the Jamaica Observer that he was stunned when he learnt that he would be receiving the national honour.

“This is deeply humbling. For me, the Order of Distinction isn’t just a personal achievement, it’s a reminder that when we say ‘yes’ to God, He can use our lives to impact generations. It affirms that the ministry has touched hearts beyond church walls and stages, and I’m just grateful that heaven and Jamaica are both keeping count,” Downswell told the Observer on Thursday.

He continued: “[W]hen I got the news I paused and just had a moment with God. Like, wow, this is really happening… I was in the middle of preparing for ministry overseas when I got the call and it completely shifted my day. My family was emotional, and my wife was very happy. It became a moment of celebration, prayer, and thanksgiving.”

Downswell’s career in gospel truly began before he even entered the Jamaica Gospel Song competition. He shared that his initial objective was to touch people’s lives.

“When I started, my heart was simple: To lift up the name of Jesus and reach people through sound and truth. I wanted to deliver Jesus in a way that the normal man could see, understand, and embrace, without compromising the message. I wasn’t thinking about awards or platforms… But yes, by God’s grace, many of those dreams have unfolded. Lives have been transformed, nations have been reached, and now this national recognition. But I still believe the greatest impact is yet to come,” said Downswell.

Originally from Savanna la Mar in Westmoreland, Downswell attended several institutions before graduating from The University of the West Indies, Mona, with a degree in biochemistry.

“I attended Ferris Primary School before moving to St Catherine and then to Kingston. I attended Melrose All-Age, then Jose Marti Technical High School, Camperdown High, Excelsior Community College, and then The University of the West Indies. Education gave me structure, but the call of God gave me purpose,” said Downswell.

He pointed out that he gave his life to Christ at the age of 13.

“Young, curious, and searching, but Jesus found me early. And that decision anchored everything that followed,” he said. “[I]t was my faith in God that kept me out of trouble, and kept my gaze fixed in the right direction. It’s been an incredible journey; one of pruning, purpose, growth, and becoming. There were seasons of crushing, and seasons of great joy, but through it all I’ve grown to know God not just as Saviour, but as father, provider, friend and elevator.”

Harking back to his Gospel Song competition win, the artiste said: “Interestingly, I went back to school to complete my studies right after I won. God wasn’t ready yet to expose me to the world. It wasn’t until 2008 that I released my first album Close To You. Entering the competition, it was like God used that moment as a launchpad. But it took time.”

Now, he has several hit songs to his credit, including his breakthrough hit Stronger and subsequent fan-favourites including
Change Is Coming, Naah Bow, Carry Me, and Goodbye World.

Asked to share a high point of his career, Downswell said: “There have been many unforgettable moments ministering in packed arenas, sharing stages with legends, hearing testimonies from people across the world. But honestly, the high points for me are those encounters when someone would say, ‘Your song brought me back to Christ,’ or ‘Your song helped to restore my family,’ or ‘Your song kept me from taking my own life,’ now that’s everything. And if I may add, hearing my four-year-old daughter sing my songs every single day, as if she wrote them, there is no greater feeling.”

The recording artiste says he still finds time to give back to the community.

“Through the Kevin Downswell Foundation, we’ve led mentorship initiatives, back-to-school drives, prison ministry, and scholarships. One thing that is very dear to my heart is The Realignment Initiative that we have been doing since 2017, where each year, we focus on a group of kids who have been abused or abandoned by their guardians… We spend at least five months in each year sitting with these kids, pouring into them, mentoring them, and helping them to heal. Helping them to believe in themselves again, and helping them to know and understand that in spite of their situation, God still has big plans for them… We help them to see purpose even in their pain,” he said.

His recent visit to Nigeria marked a significant milestone in his career. It was the first time the singer ministered on the African continent and coincided with his birthday week, making the experience especially meaningful. According to Downswell, the spiritual hunger and passion he witnessed in Nigeria affirmed the global reach of gospel music.

“There’s a global cry for authenticity. Especially for songs that heal, restore, and deliver,” he said. “Being in Nigeria expanded my vision, not for fame, but for impact.

“Jamaican gospel is raw, real, and rooted in resilience,” he noted. “We’ve lived through hardship, yet we worship with joy. That tension is where the anointing flows.”