Road To Redemption
Road To Redemption
Rare of Breed
We visit with Rob - Rare of Breed and his friend Velma Sasnett. This powerful episode brings together two remarkable stories that demonstrate how dark pasts can become beacons of hope.
Rob takes us through his journey from foster care at age eight to addiction at fourteen, leading to expulsion, military school, and jail time. Believing he would become "just another statistic," Rob's life changed completely when he encountered Jesus at twenty-one. Now a husband of twelve years and father of three, Rob travels the country with his unique "God Twang" sound—a blend of country rap and Christian themes that resonates across generations and backgrounds.
Alongside Rob's story, we meet Velma, whose rebellion against a supportive family led to addiction at eighteen, homelessness, and eventually incarceration. After experiencing a profound spiritual awakening following a diabetic coma ten years ago, Velma now operates a thrift store ministry in the very town where she was once jailed. Her work focuses on housing women and children, supporting foster care, and helping people access rehabilitation services—particularly those on probation seeking a second chance.
The beauty of these parallel journeys shows how redemption works: both Rob and Velma now use their difficult pasts to reach people still struggling in darkness. As Velma powerfully states, "If you've got a heartbeat, you've got a purpose, and every bit of it has been paid for on the cross." Learn how Rob's upcoming tour (with dates available at rarebreed.com) is bringing this message of hope to communities nationwide, including a special stop in Mariana, Florida where Velma serves—proving that anyone, regardless of their past, can find their road to redemption.
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Welcome to Road to Redemption, a show sharing powerful life testimonies, giving hope to those on their own road to redemption.
Speaker 2:Welcome to Road to Redemption. This is John Martin. We're here on a beautiful sunny day in Miramar Beach, florida, and I'm excited to be joined by Velma and Rob. Velma and Rob, thanks for being here. Thank you for having us.
Speaker 4:Yes, sir, excited to be here. Thank you for having me, man.
Speaker 2:This is a really cool show. I'm excited I was telling Velma earlier I get to have a conversation with two people and hear your stories and talk a little about some exciting things to come. Velma, why don't you start off and just give us, our listeners, a little background on who you are and how you came to meet Rob?
Speaker 3:So I do. I've been doing a ministry going on 10 years now. The Lord gave me a vision of mothers and children so I started housing women first and then I started housing the children. So I got into foster care and taking some kids without being in a system. So I've been doing a thrift store here in Mariana Florida. I'm going on three years now and it's been able to serve this community. So I'm able to send a lot of people to different rehabs to get some help and help them get in. So I actually met Rob or got to see him in concert up in. He was doing a up in Bradford, georgia. He was doing a concert up there probably about two years ago for rehab, but it was a men and a women's program. So I got to see a concert there. And then I got to see him up in Alabama. He showed up in a year ago up in Dothan, alabama and I just reached out to his booking guy, mr Chad, and bringing him here because where I'm at right here, some darkened places right here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and Rob, just to introduce you, you're, you're an artist, you're? I guess you're called Rare of Breed.
Speaker 4:Yeah, rare of Breed, yep, ok, sir.
Speaker 2:And tell us a little bit about what type of artist you are and your band and whatnot.
Speaker 4:Yeah, man, rare of Breed. So my name is Rob, acronym Rare of Breed, meaning that I'm different, so very unique, unlike anything you've heard. And it's definitely a unique style because it blends country rap and Christian of course, music right. So it has this style that I call God Swing. So it's a special style and it's real music, real-life music, monday through Friday to help people who need hope, who need to be pulled out of a dark place. Just dropped a new album called Redemption right. So, just like your radio station, just like your radio program, anyone can find redemption. They just have to believe, they just have to choose Jesus to where they can find redemption. And been doing music for the Lord now for about 13, 14 years going on, and so you know, the first decade really just doing just small ministry, inner city ministry, local ministry, and then about three years ago the music really started, I guess, growing legs and God really blessed it, put his hands on it and it started to spread all over the nation and the world really Wow, that's exciting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man, it's interesting how you and Velma intersected. I was reading a little bit about your background growing up. Right, you grew up and had some kind of similar situations that what Velma helps out with. You want to talk a little bit about your road to redemption.
Speaker 4:Yeah, absolutely, and it's interesting, as Velma said, helping out with foster care and helping out with kids and people in the system. I went into foster care when I was eight years old, so me and all three of my siblings, we ended up being with family members, but I grew up with my grandparents and just really had a hard time growing up and just really trying to understand why I was there, what my purpose was, what my identity was. And I began to write music as a young kid but struggled. I struggled with drug use, trying to numb everything, and got addicted at the age of 14 and got kicked out of high school, sent to a military school, ended up in jail twice and it was a long road and it was just really this space that I was trying to fill from being abandoned, neglected, trying to figure that out and navigate it in all the wrong ways. And it just took all of these roads and everyone told me hey, you know, you're just going to end up another statistic, you're going to end up like this and it's like.
Speaker 4:I believed it for so long until I met Jesus and then I understood that there was a way out, there was another road. I didn't have to stay on this road and all I had to do was call on him. So when I did that, when I was 21 years old, everything changed. I had done even secular music before that for three years and my life changed. Therefore, the music was a byproduct of that and it changed as well. So being a full-time artist, now husband, father, three kids, and I've been married for 12 years so definitely a story of redemption.
Speaker 2:Wow, yeah, that's awesome, velma, what about you? What's your story?
Speaker 3:Well, I have a thrift store here in Mariana, Florida, where 29 years ago, I was incarcerated in jail right down the street from me, but God told me he was taking me to a place that no man wanted to tread. And I am on the western town where I get to minister every day and love on people and see people and serve and foster people, as I even opened up my home for fostering and, like I said earlier, without being in the system as well, but just being able to serve this community has been amazing. But just to see where God's brought me from being incarcerated here. I was raised by a good family. I was raised in church, I was rebellious. I was a rebellious child and so my addiction started at 18. I had 15 scholarships to play softball and take a one, had a family supporting me all the way, but I chose drugs over that.
Speaker 3:So, yeah, I was incarcerated, I was went on the run for a year and a half. I was homeless, I was wanted in four counties and then, 10 years ago, I mean, I got back in church after I had my daughter. But 10 years ago I got real hooked again after I lost my mom on Adderall, which is meth-informed and pill. But 10 years ago I went into a diabetic coma and I come out of that coma after two and a half days. I didn't know no one, but they said I was crying out to Jesus and I was going to serve him. And I just knew I had an encounter with him laying in that hospital bed and so that's when I turned my life around.
Speaker 3:It'd be October of this year, it'd be 10 years ago, and I just been striving every day just to be, trust him and let him guide my footsteps. So almost 10 years I've been full-time ministry and here we are. I'm running a thrift store, meeting people's needs, loving on people, praying with people and just serving. You know a place where I don't, a town that I don't even live in. I drive here 45 minutes every day to come and be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Speaker 2:Wow, amen, that's so cool. Velma Folks. We're visiting with Rob and Velma and just how their stories intersect is so cool. Rob is with the band Rare Breed and Rob I wanted to ask you because I saw you're doing a pretty major tour. I mean, you're going to a lot of cities and you've got great. You know, I guess would you call your genre. Is it Christian rap or yeah?
Speaker 4:it's a blend, you know it's funny, because people in you know people in Christian rap would probably consider it more of country rap, and then people in country rap would probably consider it more Christian rap. So it's kind of right down the middle but it blends, but 100% Holy Spirit-filled Christian music.
Speaker 2:Okay, that is so cool Because what I love. I was talking with my wife about you and I was telling her about you and your music and she's like, gosh, I just wish when I was younger they had music like that, because I loved a lot of the rap music that was out there. But she's like as a believer. I had such a hard time with it because I love the music but it had such ungodly language and it just seems like what a gift for I know probably all ages listen, but I would imagine is it is a little bit younger crowd at your shows and you're listening to your music or not Well interesting.
Speaker 4:Yeah, interesting enough. The demographics actually probably mostly, probably even 25 to 50. Like it's, there is a lot of young people too, right and it's. I've seen three generations at shows. I don't, I don't know when. When have you ever seen the kids, the mom and the grandparents both jam into the music? I've never seen that. I never could listen to the music. My parents listen to, right, and then the same with the grandparents, but. But there's generations could listen to the music my parents listened to, right, and then the same with the grandparents. But there's generations who are enjoying the music.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. What are you seeing? Rob out there doing your shows and connecting with your listeners, because with Road to Reemption, we're really trying to give hope to the lost. I mean, what are you seeing with your audience? Their needs are.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I see people who are hungry. I see people who don't put on a face or a facade, people who can admit that they don't have it all together and they're still being worked on, and people from all walks of life. I mean, this is not just one background, one ethnicity. This is. This is everybody, all age groups, all different people that are struggling, that are looking for hope, that are looking for an answer and really looking for encouragement.
Speaker 4:You know, also for believers and non-believers, the same right and it's bringing these two things together and we just it's a lot of times I wanted to make music that kind of filled the gap I think there's a gap between the church and the world, to where you have a lot of people who may grow up in church and may have wandered away, and they may come from a small town, may not feel like they would be accepted back after some of the decisions they've made, and this music is kind of like that bridge that kind of helps you get back with your relationship, and the same thing with a non-believer man. This is gospel, this is Christian really, and just blown away by the style, the conviction of the music and just how real it is. So we're seeing a lot of people who are being impacted all over the country.
Speaker 2:And Rob, what would you say is your message to your listeners?
Speaker 4:Yeah, anybody can be redeemed. Like I said, there's a seat at the table for you. You just have to sit down and it doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter if you have a checklist. Hey, I haven't been to church in a while. I have this checklist. Look, I can't do this. I'm not ready yet. God is just telling you to put that checklist down and focus on me. He's like we'll deal with this, We'll cover this, but if you just follow me, we'll take care of the rest. And everybody has an opportunity. Everybody's the same at the foot of the cross. So it's definitely a message of hope, redemption and reconciliation.
Speaker 2:Awesome, velma. What about you? What advice do you have for people that may be struggling with addiction or just anything, that they just feel like there's no hope and they're just in a place of darkness and despair? What advice would you have for them?
Speaker 3:I tell everybody every day when I see someone that comes in the store struggling every day, I know what he did for me, he could do for you, because if you've got a heartbeat, you've got a purpose and every bit of it has been paid for on the cross. We've all been bought with a price and you've got to push forward and know that. You've been out there getting your testimony long enough. It's time to surrender to him. That's my advice I give every day I run this store with these people on probation.
Speaker 3:They're here to get a second chance. It's just been me, me and people on probation here every day in a little town of Jackson County, mariana, florida, and I'm just here to give them hope and a future. And I tell them, I say hey, let's look, let's get this done, because you're one step closer and God's got a purpose for you.
Speaker 2:Wow, that's awesome and something's exciting to talk about for folks that are listening is Rob's going to be with Rare Beads going to be going out on the road and giving opportunity for folks to talk a little bit about that. Rob, what can people expect when they come to your shows? What's that going to be like?
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's powerful. It's really an experience. It's a mixture between this high energy show with church and unlike you've never seen. I mean, it's an experience. It's hard to explain. If you talk to people who've been there, I think they can tell you that it's a powerful thing. It's something just like you said, man. I wish we had this music growing up. I feel like it's a breath of fresh air for people who feel like they're wow, I get it, he gets me, I get, I get this and yeah, we're going. We're going on the road. We're going to start on the road next week. We're going to do about a three to four week run I think 15 dates into where one of those towards the end of our tour is going to be in Mariana, Florida, and we're extremely excited about it and we're fired up, man.
Speaker 2:And I also see I grew up, born and raised in Gulfport, mississippi. I saw you coming there so I was like, oh, that's super cool. I know a lot of people there and we'll have to tell them about you being there. Jones Park, I see that's awesome.
Speaker 4:Yeah, gulfport's going to be an awesome, awesome event as well. Absolutely. You can find everything on the website rarebreedcom. You can find all the dates, all the tickets, all the info.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a lot of towns and how's that? I know that'll be hard for you being away from your family. Or do you bring your family with you out there, or you got to kind of be a part of it.
Speaker 4:Well, it's interesting because I've been doing ministry for about 13, 14 years now and my wife, she's totally built for this. We did, like I said, we did ministry. We've been doing ministry together for that long and we started doing these straight run type tours probably a couple of years ago and in the beginning it was a little difficult, right. I mean, no one likes that.
Speaker 4:I'm definitely a family man. I love being home, love being with my family, but a lot of times when you do, we don't go out for more than your three to four weeks and we're home for quite a bit. But actually my boys, my two boys, are going to go with us on this tour and they'll be with us for the first couple of weeks. They really enjoy it and we try to do it when we can, but sometimes it's just not feasible. But we just try to make sure that we get home in time and it makes a big impact and, like I said, my wife, she's a rock and she understands, kind of this, what we do, and she's all for it. That's awesome.
Speaker 2:Well it is. It's a great ministry what you're doing. You're getting to do music and ministry what a powerful thing. And Rare Breed will be coming to Mariana, florida, april 5th, 6 pm, madison Street Park. So we hope everyone listening can go to the website, go to rarebreedcom, is that it? Yeah, yeah, rarebreedcom, yep. And look at that schedule is on there. And look at Mariana. And we've got people listening all over the country. So there's a lot of dates and places that y'all are going. That's exciting. What else, guys? Is there anything else before we close up the show that y'all want to add?
Speaker 3:They can reach out to me at House of Hope Thrift Store, mariana Florida, and just reach out, google it, find my number and reach out to me.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and if you, if this? These are all family friendly events, right? So you know, a lot of people ask questions like can I bring my kids or is this just a thing? This is, this is for everybody, so it's a family friendly event. And the tip if there are tickets, they're very affordable. We always want to make sure that you can bring the family out if you want to do something like that, and this is a great event in the area that I think you're just not going to want to miss. You're going to want to make it. If you're contemplating, man, should I go, Should I not go? I'm telling you you won't regret it. You definitely won't.
Speaker 2:And I see it, too, even as an opportunity to bring non-believers people that don't know Jesus, that are searching many of our listeners to come. Just even if you question God Does God exist? I'm not so sure Come to this event, come hear this great music and just not only hear great artists, but be around some great people, meet new friends. Sounds like a great thing, and I want to encourage everyone to come to the show here in the Florida panhandle, mariana, florida. Wow, well, this has been so great. I've been really blessed. I know our listeners will really appreciate this.
Speaker 2:I'm going to close this in prayer, dear Heavenly Father, lord, we love you, we thank you. We thank you, lord, that you died on the cross for us and you rose again and you were seated at the right hand of the Father and, lord, we just celebrate that we have eternal life by knowing you and we're so thankful for you, jesus, and what you did for us on the cross. And we just, lord, we want to just lift up this show and want to lift up Rob with Rare Breed and Velma with her store and her ministry there in the Mariana area. Lord, we just ask that you bless these ministries and that many people will come to these shows and just receive your love and your peace and your joy and your redemption, and just the hope that only you can provide. In Jesus' name, we pray amen, amen. Well, good guys, thanks so much for joining us on Road to Redemption.
Speaker 3:Well, we appreciate you having us.
Speaker 1:Thank you, man You've been listening to Road to Redemption, sharing powerful life testimonies, giving hope to those on their own road to redemption. If you have any comments or questions, we would love to connect with you. You can reach out to us at destinyradiolive. Thank you for listening and we'll see you next week on Road to Redemption.