Jaime Jorge is a professional Seventh-day Adventist violinist who shares his faith through his music. He performed at the Walla Walla University Church on April 8, 2023, and in the following interview with The Collegian, he discussed how he found his purpose through God and music.
Jorge has had an extremely large impact in music ministry. Jorge’s website recounted his journey: “For over two decades, through 15 albums and more than 2,500 concerts in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, Jaime’s music has touched the lives of millions.” [1]
When Jorge performs, he not only plays beautiful music on the violin but passionately speaks as well. For example, during the concert here at the Walla Walla University Church, he paused between songs to recount testimonies of where he has seen God work in his life and in the lives of others.
Just as Jorge has a speaker quality, he has many other qualities that make him more than a violinist. These abilities come from challenges that have shaped Jorge’s life. He spent the first 10 years of his life in Cuba, where he grew up knowing what it was like to lack opportunities due to extreme political developments.
Jorge was very sick as a young child. Because of this, he dreamed to become a missionary doctor. He eventually made it to his second year of medical school at the University of Illinois. Throughout his academic journey, he continued violin due to his mom’s persistence. However, his dream wasn’t to play violin; it was to be a doctor. His decision to stop pursuing medicine and start pursuing music wasn’t an easy choice. But he continually felt called towards music.
He said, “I got to the point where I clearly realized God was calling me to the music ministry, but I was so skeptical and unwilling that I asked him for a sign.” [2]
He went on to describe how someone told him frankly that he was wasting his time doing medicine and should instead pursue music full-time. In 1996, Jorge left medical school and began his journey as a violinist. [3]
Jorge recounted how his faith was tested as a young boy. “I was offered a scholarship when I was nine years old to go to Moscow and study at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music. The only condition for me accepting that scholarship and receiving that opportunity was that I had to renounce my faith in Jesus and so when I told them I wasn’t willing to do that, they told me, ‘Okay, you’re never going to be anything’ and that was the end of that story.” [4]
Being told he was never going to be anything didn’t stop Jorge. He just kept working hard towards his goals. On work ethic he said, “I always try to encourage people and especially young people to sacrifice, to discipline, to work hard, to take advantage of the opportunity that we have and are given to us and make the most of them and turn them into blessings for God’s honor and glory.” [5]
A large part of his success, Jorge believes, was because of the opportunities the United States gave him and his family. “When my family came to this country in 1980, we started out with nothing, we were on welfare, we received public aid. I often say anything and everything that I may have accomplished or done that is good is thanks to God, my parents, and the United States of America. Here I received scholarships, opportunities to study the violin, my sister received scholarships to study piano, received scholarships to go to school.” [6]
But it’s not just about working hard and achieving success for himself that Jorge mentioned.
Jorge founded a non-profit organization in 2012 called “Healing Music” which promotes musical learning for younger children in less privileged places.
Jorge explained the mission of “Healing Music:” “Over the last 10 years we have started and grown three programs and schools. One in Nicaragua, one in Cuba, and one in Chattanooga, Tennessee where I live, where we give instruments and lessons to poor children, inner city children, to needy children. And through that venue as we serve them . . . [we] model true evangelism, which is doing what Jesus said when I was hungry you fed me, when I was thirsty you gave me something to drink, when I didn’t have clothes, you gave me something to wear; we are meeting people where they’re at and demonstrating what it’s like to be a follower of Christ and in turn then people want to know why we’re helping them to begin with. And it’s a very effective way in bringing people to Jesus Christ.” [7]
Jorge further explained his parents having an important influence in instilling an urge to give back, another purpose for starting his non-profit. They instilled in him the idea of using his success to help others gain opportunities to benefit from, like he had in the United States. Jorge worked on “La Voz de la Esperanza,” a Spanish speaking ministry series, for 12 years and developed a passion for incorporating music with volunteering kinds of work. [8]
Jorge heals, touches, and inspires people with his passion for sharing his faith through music. Jorge is more than a violinist; he’s had experiences of many different varieties allowing for a nuanced perspective on why he is doing what he’s doing.
He remarked, “I don’t get tired of what I’m doing. I feel excited and privileged to be able to do this and if people are coming up to my concerts and they’re enjoying it and they’re being blessed, and they’re responding and being encouraged to go out and start their own ministry or witness more for Jesus Christ, then that’s what keeps me going to continue.” [9]
References
3-9. Ibid.
