From the cumbia stages to the altars of Christianity; This is how life changed Katy Jara, the singer who left the stage and television to become a worshiper. However, the change, according to the singer, did not happen overnight. In March 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, she began to feel empty even though she had a consolidated musical career, a wonderful daughter, and a man who finally valued her.
Since then, the more I embraced the Christian faith, the more I began to feel that I no longer fit on stage or on television; That's why she decided to leave cumbia and 'Sundays of celebration', program that he ran for almost eight years. December 23, 2021 was her last recording on TV Perú and in May 2022, she just dared to reveal to the entire world the birth of a new Katy Jara.
For many months, the woman from Trujillo had to deal with ridicule and constant questioning about her new lifestyle. Many did not believe in such a radical change, while others thought that she would soon return to the secular world. However, Katy continued to spread her messages through her social networks and was patient to return to television, just as she dreamed of: to spread the word of God.
Katy Jara's return to lights and flashes
—These days on television, have you felt like a fish in water?
—Since I retired from music and television, I have always said that if one day I return, it has to be through the hand of Christ. We have trusted their promises, their times and we have returned in a big way because many doors are opening for us and this time to show this new Katy Jara. I'm excited, I can't deny it. I have been part of television for many years and I love meeting everyone again.
—Do you still have friends from the secular world?
—I talk to everyone, they hug me, some get excited and surprised. There is still that love. I have the best memories of my cumbia stage and my stage as a conductor. I'm left with the smiles, the hugs and the hope that at some point they will call me and tell me 'Katy, give me a word or I would also like to follow Christ.'
—You have even said that there are cumbia artists who want to follow in your footsteps
-If it hurts me. What happens is that I am a completely healthy Katy, who has heard all those hidden wounds from the past. It's so wonderful and sometimes I get emotional because when I see the Katy Jara of the past, I say: “Wow… how beautiful to be in this new stage.” When I see other colleagues, women and men, it does touch very sensitive chords because I have met them in rehearsal rooms, at the airport and you feel that hug and that look that says 'help'. Although they may be ashamed to say it, they would like a change of environment. It's very hard, both men and women are trapped in a vicious circle of temptations, because cumbia is very beautiful, but you are also exposed to so many temptations. Many girls get excited, they want to touch them and sometimes they go even further. And many cumbia women keep very sad stories and keep them to themselves.
Katy Jara's new steps
—What remains of the Katy Jara from before March 2020?
—There are people who think (and say): “Sister Katy, how boring, she doesn't speak anymore.” The thing is that the essence that God put in me is to be extroverted and communicative. (I like) dancing, only the message and meaning has changed. Don't be afraid of me, please. If you find me on the street, hug me with complete confidence, just obviously no longer ask me for cumbia steps.
—Some believe that now you are more critical and that you are more closed-minded.
—We must remember that the purpose that God has in each person is different; We are not created as robots. What corresponds to me, in terms of my essence, is my joy and my way of being, but the content of this bottle has changed, I have Christ from head to toe.
—Isn't putting on makeup against religious rules?
—There are ladies within the Gospel who choose not to use any product on their face and this is respected. In my case, every day I am as is, with my face clean, but I do have to admit that sometimes for interviews, for some cover photos and jobs, I do put on a balm, a lip gloss. The word says that a woman should dress in a prudent, modest way, with decorum, so I try to look like that out of love for Christ, out of obedience and because I love it. I would never have seen myself in long skirts because, in addition, I am very petite, I am 155 cm tall. Wearing a long dress was never in my vocabulary or in my agenda, because on television they told me: “You have to wear shorter shorts, everything tight.” Nowadays my vision is different, all those clothes are in the past. But the Bible doesn't say to be unkempt, unkempt, or dirty. You always have to be beautiful like the daughters of a king that we are and also in passing so that my husband doesn't stop looking (laughs).
—How do you see female empowerment now that you are a Christian?
—I was a rebellious girl, outspoken, with me everything was black or white. She was the standard bearer of 'women can do it alone, women don't need men, up, women and men go back'. I have been that person, my music was disappointment, of pain, but that is false empowerment and I say this with great respect for the feminist movement, don't get upset. When you know the word, you really know true empowerment because the word of Christ empowers you in the sense that women are of incalculable value. If I had known Christ sooner, I would have saved myself a lot of time and many tears. When I know the word, I know it together with my husband and it made us enter into a responsibility that he assumed. He told me: “Wait, I am loving you as the word says that I should love you.” If more women discovered that, they would not allow themselves to be abused physically or psychologically.
—But the Bible also talks about submission…
—Some claim: “Katy Jara says that women should be submissive.” But being submissive means holding on to something on which you lean, you are not going to hold on to something that is shaky because the scripture says that “man must hold Christ on his head.” I believe that once you open the Bible, you can know these truths and as a woman it can give you true empowerment.
—Would you have liked to know Christ sooner and thus avoid a lot of suffering?
—Of course, I would have realized that the people I was associated with did not fulfill these prospects of the Bible. But we are here, perhaps it was what had to happen for us to know Christ, who has been a blessing.
—When did you feel that call from Christ?
—We met him when we had been married for six months. And like every young marriage, (there were) fights and complicated situations. I felt suffocated because my husband was a protector, a giver, my husband said: “I don't want you to lack anything, don't worry, don't do it, don't work, I'll give it to you.” And I said: “This one wants to control me, I'm not going to let myself.” He had gotten me so used to humiliation, contempt, mistreatment, and him not giving you anything. It had become so normal to me that when someone came to want to hug me and give me everything, I said: “This guy wants to imprison me.” This means that when we are broken inside, although we smile on the outside and perhaps we are apparently ready to begin new stages, as long as you do not heal that heart inside, everything that comes into your hands and is therefore a blessing, will be in your eyes. be a curse and you will waste it.
Will Katy Jara have a new show on TV?
—You said that one of the most difficult decisions was to leave 'Sundays of Party'. What feeling do you get when you watch the program?
—I want a program just like it, but that says 'Sundays with Christ.' There are many Christian music groups that do not have that platform to showcase their talent. Of course, there is a first mission: “Servants of the Lord, praise God.” But the human being would also like to make his work, his talent, known. There is no Christian music industry. I would like a platform where these artists or these Christian singers can be supported (…) Serving Christ is more than a job, it is a vocation, we are not after money. I know that the Gospel has been disrupted and stained because there are many bad testimonies, but there are also people who are capable o
f detaching themselves in order to serve others. And regarding 'Sundays with Christ', if God allows it. I only say in my dreams: “Lord, if you want, if not, there is no problem.”
—Have you dreamed about it so much that you already have the name of your program?
—I already have the set in my mind.
—Could your program be part of Bethel?
-Don't know. If God allows it and there are sponsors, even if it is on my Facebook we will do it. Friends of Bethel, here humbly stands this servant of the Lord. All my appreciation and respect for the folks at Bethtel who do a very professional job. To those who are interested, we are willing to work in the work of the Lord.
The future of Katy Jara
—Within religion there is also a career path, would you like to become a pastor or do you cross out that pretension?
—No, I can't cross it out because I know God's purposes with me right now, there are also many things that we are projecting, but I don't know God's future plans for me. Currently I am a servant of the Lord, a person who congregates, who strives to study and learn. I would even like to pursue higher education, but I am taking care of my little girl who has just turned three months old and my teenage girl Lucía, who is already 14 years old. I am focused on my work as a worshiper or psalmist, they are the correct names.
—They have also told you that you are a fan.
—I am a 100% fan. And who doesn't? I do not understand. When I was in the secular world, I was a fan of Group 5, Caribeños and Harmony 10. In the name of these groups, you take. Even though she was in cumbia, she didn't drink beer, but she saw a lot of people who did. But when you are a fan of Christ, is that really the bad thing? Some are fans of the 'U', of Alianza, of Corazón Serrano, please let me be a fan of Christ, where is the problem?
—Could you do some musical collaboration with such groups?
—I can't anymore, unless they convert to the Gospel and then, glory to God, we make a choir of angels.
—For example, if Christian Yaipén wants to sing with Katy Jara, would he have to be a worshiper first?
—I wouldn't want to take names because they're going to be offended. To make a duo, the word says, can two who disagree together walk together? There is the answer. They are in another space and I am in a space of Christ and I couldn't record a feat. with a person who is in another space. The person who is going to record with me has to be someone who is already in the Christian environment and if he is not there, he has to come here.
—Regarding your concert at the San Marcos Stadium this Saturday, March 30, what do you respond to those who criticize the ticket prices?
—95% of the Christian events I attend and those in Peru are free. Many churches make the effort to rent venues, stadiums, coliseums. And many of those events are empty. There are many people who complain, but do not go to the events. Regarding those who charge, some events bring bands from abroad. Now comes the group Barak, Therefore, the San Marcos Stadium is being rented, whose rent is too high.
Katy Jara will open Barak's show at the San Marcos Stadium. Photo: diffusion
—Some even believe that as a Christian artist you earn more than as a cumbiambera
—I understand, it is ignorance. Spiritual things are understood only by spiritual people, while we are in the flesh, we do not understand. Before, when I didn't know the Gospel, when I observed women with long skirts and hats, I said: “How exaggerated, oh how hot.” And now they tell me the same thing. I was speaking out of ignorance. I didn't know and yet, today I am that person with a long skirt and long-sleeved shirt. But I like it, I feel good.
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