Meyerton, 31 January 2026 — At Haddasa Ministries' outdoor worship event, amidst the baptisms and testimonies of transformation, one voice stood out—not just for its excellence, but for the redemptive story behind it. Leon van Zyl, known in the music industry as Leo Sonskyn, took a moment between leading worship to share his remarkable journey with JustGospel Radio.
A Talent That Chose Him
"I think it's something that chose me, to be honest," Leon shared when asked about his musical calling. Despite possessing an undeniable vocal gift, he's refreshingly candid about the music industry. "I always say to my kids that if I could choose for them, I wouldn't choose for them to be a musician in the industry. It's a really hard industry and I'm not even speaking death now. It's reality and it's hard work and sometimes it's an ugly industry. It depends on what you make of it."
Yet for Leon, music isn't about personal achievement or industry success. It's about something far more profound: stewardship.
"Why I praise the Lord is because I use the talents that I have to give to Him because they're not my talents. At the end of the day, it's me giving back to the Lord what He gave to me," he explained. "It's stewarding the talents and the gifts that He gave me. And hopefully being obedient enough to use them well."
From Rock Bands to Redemption
Leon's testimony is one of dramatic transformation. Coming out of school, he dove headfirst into the rock band scene—a world of "drinking and drugs and rock and roll." What started as youthful rebellion became a battle with addiction that would grip his life for years.
"I was an addict," Leon stated plainly, without shame or pretense.
But less than two years ago, everything changed. Leon found the Lord—or rather, the Lord found him—and set him free on that very day. "I haven't touched drugs since," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of genuine freedom.
The transformation didn't stop there. "Not even long after that, the Lord blessed me with a beautiful wife, and yeah, we are blessed to first be free and secondly just to be stewarding what He's put on our lives."
For those wanting to hear the full testimony, Leon directed listeners to YouTube, where his complete story is available on Alroy Ministries under "Leo Sonskyn testimony."
A Heart for the Lost
Standing at the outdoor worship event where over 20 baptisms had already taken place within the first hour, Leon's passion became clear. This wasn't just another performance or ministry gig—this was about souls.
"I always feel if one soul got saved today, that makes it worth it," he shared. "The Bible says in Luke 15, that the same way that father rejoiced when the son came home, the same way the heavens will rejoice for one person that comes to Jesus. So for me it's all about the people and it's all about God being glorified in it."
The planning that went into the event—both human and divine—created an atmosphere where testimonies flowed, people wept, and the lost found their way home. "That is what today is actually all about," Leon reflected. "Bringing the lost to Christ and revive and restore what needs to be restored."
A Message of Urgency
As the interview drew to a close, Leon had a clear message for the JustGospel family—one born from personal experience and prophetic awareness.
"Be obedient to the Lord. If He tells you something, listen. Be diligently seeking Him every day. Guys, Jesus is near, Jesus is coming. So, I love you enough to tell you that Jesus is King. Listen for His voice. That's it."
Coming from someone who once lived in darkness, these weren't empty religious platitudes. They were words of someone who knows firsthand the difference between bondage and freedom, between living for yourself and living surrendered to Christ.
Both Secular and Sacred
Leon van Zyl walks a unique path as both an Afrikaans gospel artist and a secular artist. Born and bred in the East Rand, he understands the complexities of navigating both worlds while maintaining his integrity and witness.
But regardless of which stage he's on or which audience he's addressing, his purpose remains the same: to steward well what God has given him, to point people to Jesus, and to use every platform as an opportunity for the kingdom.
At Haddasa Ministries' outdoor worship event, as worship filled the air and baptismal waters flowed, Leon van Zyl stood as a living testimony that no one is too far gone, no addiction too strong, and no life too broken for God's redemptive power.
From rock bands to revival meetings, from addiction to anointing, from darkness to leading others into the light—this is the journey of Leon van Zyl, and it's a story that continues to unfold with each soul that comes home to the Father.
Listen to the complete interview and worship experience on www.justgospelradio.co.za
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