Johnmark Wiggan’s ‘By Fire’ launch ignites worship
Published:Thursday | April 2, 2026 | 12:15 AM
The Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at Jamaica College became a sanctuary of sound, fire, and purpose last Saturday, as gospel artiste Johnmark Wiggan staged the official launch of his sophomore album, By Fire. And, for Wiggan, seeing the event and most importantly, an atmosphere of worship come alive, “felt like the room understood what this moment was about”.
“It was honestly humbling,” he told The Gleaner, adding, “Because you plan, you prepare, you pray … but you don’t control moments like that. And to stand there and watch people engage, not just with the music but with God in a real way, it meant a lot to me.”
The stage for By Fire was populated with a constellation of the Caribbean’s gospel and worship voices. Wiggan was joined by an ensemble that included Kevin Downswell, Samuel Medas; international award-winning Guyanese artiste Alicia Taylor, Prince Saj, Rondell Positive, Genesis Praise Squad, Gilead, Go Worship, and Audia Spencer-Brown, each representing a different thread in the sonic and spiritual tapestry Wiggan crafted across the 12-track project.
As the night progressed, the performances drew sustained audience response throughout the evening, with several moments of collective worship that altered the production schedule and gave way to something less choreographed and more authentic. This, by all accounts, was exactly what Wiggan had envisioned.
Wiggan, who won Album of the Year for his debut project Validation at the 2024 Sterling Gospel Awards, stepped into his sophomore offering with the confidence of an artiste who had allowed the process to do its work. The crowd responded in kind.
“What stood out to me most was the people. From the very beginning, there was a posture of worship in the room that didn’t shift. Whether it was the high-energy moments of people jumping and dancing or the more sober and vulnerable moments where people were just calling out to Jesus … it was consistent,” he noted.
Performing Because You Are Good from the album, Wiggan’s lyrics reflected that journey, “ There’s so much that I could tell you ’cause I’ve really been through the rough, but there’s one thing Your goodness has taught me, is Your grace is always enough”.
By the close of the evening, the question of whether By Fire could live up to its name had been answered. Rooted in Wiggan’s conviction that refinement and pressure are not setbacks but preparation, the album found its fullest expression in a room full of people who had felt the same.
The response has continued beyond the launch, with Wiggan describing the reception to the album as “extremely encouraging”, particularly because of how it is resonating with listeners.
“Beyond being widely received, much of the feedback has gone deeper than the sound of the music, with listeners reflecting on their own journeys … and that’s always the goal for me. People are seeing Jesus more clearly and having their own encounters with Him; that lets me know it’s connecting in the right way,” he said.
The launch also helped spotlight a student housing initiative for music students at Edna Manley College, raising awareness, sparking conversations, and generating growing support for the effort. For Wiggan, that visibility was a key outcome of the night, as it gave the initiative a strong start and helped deepen public understanding of its purpose.
“For me, that’s important because it means the impact can continue beyond the night,” he added.