Bermuda resident Nolan Brown is to launch his first gospel reggae album this weekend.‘Missian on a Mission: Vol. 1' will first be heard publicly at a gospel concert on Saturday at the Heritage Worship Centre.Mr Brown, who performs under the name ‘Missian', grew up singing in a church choir in his native Jamaica.He was encouraged to sing gospel reggae by his brother Joel.“In my teens I found a love for country music and I decided that I wanted to sing,” said the 30-year-old.“So I started out doing country music, but being in Jamaica, the land of reggae, country wasn't going to make it.”In 2001 his brother encouraged him to enter the Jamaican Cultural Development Competition.“It is the platform for any young person who wants to get into that genre,” said Missian.He entered three times. In 2001 he made it to the semi-finals; in 2005 he came fourth out of 600 contestants.“From there I decided to take it seriously.“In 2007, I entered again, because I was born a winner and I got more publicity that time and I ended up getting a contract for a single, ‘Armour', that did very well.”He then came to work in Bermuda as a construction worker, at which point his music took a back seat.“Then I met my beautiful wife, Sheena, here and she invited me to her church Glory Temple,” he said.“I told her that I could sing and she told the pastor and one thing led to another.“Everybody wanted me to sing and my first public performance was at Harbour Nights.”Community activist Gina Spence took him under her wing.‘Missian on a Mission: Vol. 1' is his first album.“Most of my inspiration comes from God.“The rest comes from real life situations and the struggles of the world, because I am from a proud country where a lot of people down there are still suffering.“My aim is to uplift people out of their dark situation and to give them a better life, to tell them about Jesus and to show them that He is the way, the truth and the light.”He continued: “I have this song called ‘Don't Give Up' and I was going through some family and financial struggles and I was really depressed.“So I went to the altar in church and I prayed for a solution. I came home and I felt that my prayer was answered.“So I decided to have a rest and as I was lying there sleeping this song came to me ‘Don't Give Up, Don't Give In' ... just like that.“I came out and I told my wife about it and I got the melody and everything. It was inspiration like this as it doesn't matter what you are going through, don't give up, because Christ will solve the way for you.”Another song is entitled ‘Why Do We Cry?'.“A lot of people in the world today, when they are down, they just think about being down and it magnifies it.“The song doesn't tell you not to cry, but to know that there is a better way. Just trust Jesus and pray to him and he will fill your need.”There has been a shift in the kinds of gospel music that attracts younger Christians, Missian said.“The gospel has changed and even the American gospel has changed, so it is more like the hip hop/R&B and in Jamaica it is gospel reggae and hardcore dance hall.“You see, with the young people today they are in the world and they like the dancehall and the hip hop beats, so we give it with an uplifting and positive message.”The album is aptly named, he said.“I am always on a mission, my name has to be Missian too. So I am Missian on a mission.”Other artists performing on Saturday include Big Snipes, Tricray Astwood, Fire Kid, Deandre, Bobby Washingon and Sister Pat O'Conner. Students from Elliot Primary School will do sign language throughout the concert.General admission is $25. Patron tickets are $40. Tickets are available at The Heritage Book Store and Dub City Court Street. Tickets may also be purchased through Missian: 333-0210 or djmissian[AT]gmail.com. Part proceeds from the concert go to Elliot Primary School.Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start.Missian's CD is available at Saturday's concert at a cost of $15.It is also available at Dub City, Music World, Heritage Bookstore and Music Box and online from CDBaby, iTunes and on Amazon, for $18.