“We want people to know Jesus and for God to bless them,” –Josiah Pope
Christian musicians come in all ages, including nine and eleven-year-olds.
Noldon Pope, Resident Pastor at Harvest Missionary Bible Church began offering his sons, 9-year-old Josiah Pope and 11-year-old Joshua Pope chances to learn valuable spiritual lessons and musical skills with a father’s loving touch at a young age.
“I sat them at the piano when they were toddlers. It’s always been there for them to take advantage of,” Noldon recalls.
Pope’s ambitious honor roll scholars are aspiring cardiologists who both sing, play piano and keyboard.
Photo credit: Benny Pope
Noldon—a devoted father who retired from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, moved to South Carolina with his boys. He plays guitar and introduced musical skills to them the best he could, but his budding musicians were eager to learn more. YouTube videos began to fill in teaching gaps as their skill level increased.
Josiah and Joshua were motivated to study music theory on their own and they received a bit of helpful guidance. When they get stuck, the Pope family calls Scott Michael Sharp. Noldon regards Sharp as an excellent piano teacher.
Josiah and Joshua began performing at Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church in 2022 when they were just seven and nine years old.
“Joshua played piano, and Josiah sang,” Noldon explained.
The musical brothers have also performed at a gospel fest and entered a Talent Search sponsored by the Monroe Johnson Foundation at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia.
“They won first place in the elementary division,” Noldon added.
However, singing at their grandfather’s interment was a very special moment for Josiah and Joshua. January Pope Sr. passed away on August 31, 2024, around the time his grandsons started to record their debut song, “He Loves Me.” When Noldon asked his sons if they would like to sing at their grandfather’s interment, they said “yes” and practiced on the way there. The special performance demonstrated courage and the love they have for a great man who meant so much to them. The picture that was used for Joshua and Josiah’s single depicts them sitting in January’s dining room while having breakfast with his grandsons in 2021. “He Loves Me” was released in late November of this year.
“It is our way of singing the song, ‘Yes Jesus Loves Me’,” said Joshua.
Josiah sang the verses and the runs. He also played the electric piano and the bassline. His brother sang the bridge, played the piano and added string instruments. The song was dedicated to their grandfather.
Joshua shared that it took a month to complete “He Loves Me.” The talented scholar is proud that he can play music for people and strives to evoke joy within others.
“We want to make people feel happy,” he said, mentioning the duo’s performance goal.
“We want people to know Jesus and God to bless them,” Josiah also said.
Christmas is a meaningful time of year for them.
Photo credit: Calvin Ford
“It means that Jesus came because he loves us and we celebrate that,” Joshua stated.
He and Josiah have diverse interests which range from making origami figures and giving them away, to taking beach trips and kajukenbo (a hybrid martial art form from Hawaii), and working on more songs. In fact, Joshua wants to perform at more festivals.
Josiah explained another message that ties to the meaning of their new song.
“Jesus will always love you no matter what.”
Pastor Pope stated that celebrating the coming of Jesus first is a holiday tradition that he instilled in Josiah and Joshua. The hands-on father invests considerable time in his son’s personal development away from school.
“Besides God, the parents are usually a child’s primary teacher. I look at the school system as just a secondary entity. Our responsibility is to get them ready for the world and to point them to a path of success.”
He would like families and individuals to keep something in mind this time of year.
“It’s not the lights or the traditional figures that make for a great Christmas, but that people see hope, joy, peace and love in us. And the only place I know to get lasting love, peace, joy and hope is in God.”
“He Loves Me” can be downloaded and added to playlists. The song is available via https://open.spotify.com/artist/3L24ozdpv7dNZZk1a57JG6, https://music.apple.com/us/artist/joshuajosiah/1783010492, and https://www.iheart.com/artist/joshuajosiah-44940648/songs/he-loves-me-301831622.
Visit their growing YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Joshuajosiah100