Jaeson Ma
Encyclopedia
Jaeson Ma is an American actor, musician, writer, and minister who is best known for his work as a pastor and Christian entertainer.
of Chinese
descent. Jaeson was the youngest of three children. According to a CBN
article of Ma's testimony, he had a difficult childhood in San Jose, California
, and was involved in stealing and selling drugs. When the police showed up to Ma's house one day with a warrant for his arrest, Ma decided to "[get] his heart right with God" and "came clean of all his wrongdoing". Following his conversion
, Ma served as a minister, church planter
, and writer before becoming a Christian entertainer.
Ma went on to earn degrees in Bible theology, business management, and youth ministry. Ma has ministered on various college campuses including San Jose State University
and UCLA
.
reporter, referred to Ma as the "world's most prominent Asian hip-hop pastor, travelling the globe and spreading the Christian word of God through music".
Ma has also been noted as a blog
ger and as a minister. He is credited for leading the Chinese-Canadian film actor and rapper, Edison Chen
, in a religious-conversion
experience to Christianity.
Ma has been described as a friend and mentor to various Korean pop artists such as 2NE1
, Girls' Generation
's Tiffany and Sooyoung, Super Junior
's Choi Siwon, ex-UKISS member Alexander Lee Eusebio and Jinusean
's Sean. According to some sources, Ma seemed concerned with the increasing rate of suicide among "Korean artists & entertainers".
Jaeson is managed by talent manager and business partner Carl Choi
.
in 1040
, which is a documentary on Christianity's growth in Asia.
According to Charisma Magazine
, "The film tells stories of faith, hope and love from across the most populous nation of the world."
Ma spent three months working on the film touring China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia to document the explosive growth of Christianity in Asia. While on tour, he filmed interviews with church leaders, Asian celebrities, artists, and entrepreneurs representing both Christians and non-Christians.
), which was produced by KevNish from Far East Movement
, was released by Catch Music Group
. In the first two weeks of the music video's release, it received 60,000 hits on YouTube
and was #10 on Amazon's mp3 sales.
Ma performed alongside David Crowder Band
, Seabird
, and Danyew at Fresh 2009—held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
Ma released a new album, Glory, on December 7, 2010.
Early life and education
Jaeson Ma was born on November 11, 1980 in Lubbock, TexasLubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
of Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
descent. Jaeson was the youngest of three children. According to a CBN
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
article of Ma's testimony, he had a difficult childhood in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, and was involved in stealing and selling drugs. When the police showed up to Ma's house one day with a warrant for his arrest, Ma decided to "[get] his heart right with God" and "came clean of all his wrongdoing". Following his conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
, Ma served as a minister, church planter
Church planting
Church planting is a process that results in a new Christian church being established. It should be distinguished from church development, where a new service, new worship centre or fresh expression is created that is integrated into an already established congregation...
, and writer before becoming a Christian entertainer.
Ma went on to earn degrees in Bible theology, business management, and youth ministry. Ma has ministered on various college campuses including San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
and UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
.
Career
Ma is best known for his work as a Christian rap musician, actor, and pastor. Zoe Li, a CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
reporter, referred to Ma as the "world's most prominent Asian hip-hop pastor, travelling the globe and spreading the Christian word of God through music".
Ma has also been noted as a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger and as a minister. He is credited for leading the Chinese-Canadian film actor and rapper, Edison Chen
Edison Chen
Edison Koon-Hei Chen is a Hong Kong film actor, Cantopop singer, Hong Kong hip hop rapper, model, record producer, fashion designer, and a pop icon. Chen is also the founder of CLOT Inc., and the CEO of Clot Media Division Limited...
, in a religious-conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
experience to Christianity.
Ma has been described as a friend and mentor to various Korean pop artists such as 2NE1
2NE1
Both the song and the group became popular online: Fire topped Mnet's online chart and 2NE1 became a popular search term. The group was awarded three Cyworld Digital Music Awards; "Lollipop" and "Fire" both won "Song of the Month" and the group won "Rookie of the Month" for May 2009...
, Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation is a nine-member South Korean electropop girl group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2007. The nine members are: Taeyeon , Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun...
's Tiffany and Sooyoung, Super Junior
Super Junior
Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
's Choi Siwon, ex-UKISS member Alexander Lee Eusebio and Jinusean
Jinusean
Jinusean is a well-known Korean hip hop duo from YG Family. The duo is made up by Jin-woo Kim and Noh Seung-hwan .-History:In 1994, Jinu debuted in Korea as a solo artist with the popular song: "I Was the Captain"...
's Sean. According to some sources, Ma seemed concerned with the increasing rate of suicide among "Korean artists & entertainers".
Jaeson is managed by talent manager and business partner Carl Choi
Carl Choi
Carl Choi , also known as Catch, is an American entrepreneur, producer, and talent manager. Graduating from the University of Southern California, Marshall School Of Business, he has held senior positions with Andersen Business Consulting and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. He is no longer the CEO...
.
Filmography
Ma has worked with MC HammerMC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
in 1040
1040 Movie
1040 is a documentary film about Christianity in the "10/40 Window". The film is narrated by musician Jaeson Ma, who travels to several countries including China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ma describes the growth of Christianity in Asia as one of the greatest Christian Revivals...
, which is a documentary on Christianity's growth in Asia.
According to Charisma Magazine
Charisma (magazine)
Charisma is a monthly Christian magazine based in Lake Mary, Florida, aimed at Pentecostals and charismatics...
, "The film tells stories of faith, hope and love from across the most populous nation of the world."
Ma spent three months working on the film touring China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia to document the explosive growth of Christianity in Asia. While on tour, he filmed interviews with church leaders, Asian celebrities, artists, and entrepreneurs representing both Christians and non-Christians.
Music
In September 2009, Ma's hit single, "Love" (featuring Bruno MarsBruno Mars
Peter Gene Hernandez , better known by his stage name Bruno Mars, is an Filipino-American singer-songwriter and record producer. Raised in Honolulu, Hawaii by a family of musicians, Mars began making music at a young age...
), which was produced by KevNish from Far East Movement
Far east movement
Far East Movement is an Asian American electro hop quartet based in Los Angeles. The group formed in 2003 and consists of Kev Nish , Prohgress , J-Splif , and DJ Virman...
, was released by Catch Music Group
Carl Choi
Carl Choi , also known as Catch, is an American entrepreneur, producer, and talent manager. Graduating from the University of Southern California, Marshall School Of Business, he has held senior positions with Andersen Business Consulting and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. He is no longer the CEO...
. In the first two weeks of the music video's release, it received 60,000 hits on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and was #10 on Amazon's mp3 sales.
Ma performed alongside David Crowder Band
David Crowder Band
The David Crowder Band is a six-piece Christian Modern Worship band from Waco, Texas.-Band history:The band began when David Crowder, from Texarkana, Texas, realized that almost half of the students at Baylor University were not attending church...
, Seabird
Seabird (band)
Seabird is a Christian alternative rock band from Independence, Kentucky. The band formed when Aaron Morgan, Micah Landers, and Aaron Hunt began playing songs with each other in 2004. The band soon added accordion player David Smith. After playing together for a little under a year both Landers...
, and Danyew at Fresh 2009—held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
Ma released a new album, Glory, on December 7, 2010.