A Gift and Showcase of God’s Glory
Jubilant Sykes, a beloved brother and longtime key member of the Music Ministry at Grace Community Church, was called home by the Lord on December 8, 2025. In moments like these, our church family gathers not only to mourn, but also to give thanks—to acknowledge together the goodness of God displayed in a life He graciously lent to us for a season.
Jubilant was a man whose name suited him well. His life radiated the joy of one who had tasted the mercy of God. Though known to many around the world for his remarkable baritone voice, those of us who walked with him in fellowship came to treasure something far deeper: a humble, steady faith, and a heart that longed for the beauty of Christ to be seen and heard through everything he did.
From his earliest years in Los Angeles to his first time singing at Grace Church in 1978, God was shaping in Jubilant a gift that would one day draw audiences into a place of reflection and wonder. Whether he was singing opera or classical to thousands outside the church, or hymns and worship inside the church, there was always a distinct sincerity in his expression—a conviction that his voice was not his own, but entrusted to him for the glory of God and the encouragement of others.
Above all, we remember Jubilant as a beloved brother. His presence among us was marked by generosity, warmth, and a genuine love for the Word of God. He worshiped beside us, prayed with us, and found joy in the fellowship of believers. Many here will recall moments when his incomparable voice lifted our hearts heavenward—not as a performance, but as an offering.
Jubilant’s life reminds us that excellence in one’s gifts need never eclipse devotion to Christ. In him we saw the harmony of both—a heart seeking to steward his talents faithfully while resting in the grace of the Savior who redeemed him. His journey stands as a testimony to the truth that beauty, when surrendered to God, becomes a servant of hope.
As we grieve his earthly absence, we do so with the assurance he held dear: that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The same Savior who sustained him in life now welcomes him into eternal joy, where every redeemed voice joins the song that does not fade.
We extend our love and prayers to his wife, Cece; his sons; and all who held him close. May the God of all comfort uphold them with His steadfast kindness. And may we, as his extended church family, honor his memory by setting our hearts on the same hope that shaped his life: Christ, our resurrection and our peace.
Until that day when we, too, are gathered into the presence of our Lord, we give thanks for our brother Jubilant—for his music, his faith, his friendship, and the gentle reminder his life leaves with us: that every good gift finds its highest purpose when it leads us to worship the Giver.