According to his employee ID, his name is Keith Gray, but asks anyone in Paris, France who attended the “Extraordinary People” concert and they’ll tell you his name is “Halle.” Halle is short for Hallelujah, a name the 21 year old gospel artist has branded here in The Bahamas and as far as Texas in the United States and France in Europe.
Halle, who also works as a Bus Boy at Bahamian Club, began using his singing talent for God shortly after turning 17 when he says he realized that doing anything unless it was for and to God was “selfish.” Since then he has grown from singer to community organizer and Christian youth activist. In October 2013 he won the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Pacesetter Award in Creative Arts.
The award was given to the most outstanding Bahamian under 25 who has contributed significantly to arts and culture. Halle has done this not only with singing but by helping other young people to find and express their talent.
As the founder of OCD - Obsessively Christ Driven, Halle uses that platform to bring together various Christian artists in order to put on concerts that includes music, dance, and poetry. OCD also regularly does community service which Halle explains is critical to its mission “to display God’s glorious grace that will stir a passion in the hearts of people for Him through love service and ministry.”
The success of OCD led to Halle’s latest initiative “Four-Walls Down.” Four Walls Down encourages Churches to get into the community, providing love and service beyond its four walls. Halle hopes that more young men will be inspired to live better lives through the work of him and his team.
“We don’t have a gang problem or a drug problem,” he said, “but an identity problem. We need to go back to what gives us identity and purpose and that comes from the creator. Go back to the creator and find true identity in him and that’s where you find real purpose. Be everything God wants you to be instead of others. Don’t live your life for other people who won’t be into you anyway. Live your life for God.”
So how does the Bahamian Club Bus Boy maintain his status as an excellent Atlantis employee while working on obtaining his degree, being a performer and engaging in community organizing? For Halle it’s a combination of balance, God and an intense desire to learn and give.
“Take everything one day at a time. Atlantis is a great opportunity for us to learn a lot and it can help us to make the best out of every situation in life.”
He further reminds us that, “even if this is just a stepping ground, learn as much as you can and make the best out of every opportunity.”
“Working at Atlantis has helped me to develop professionally. For example, roll call everyday teaches me about attitude. When I interact with customers and staff here, I am then better able to interact with clients and members outside,” he says.
