Most kids go through a lot of changes in middle and high school, but not many hit adolescence with a record deal and a huge youth tour—and still keep up their grades. Meet Robert Pierre, an Orlando teen with a big voice and an even bigger heart—a talented basketball and lacrosse player and honors high school student who has found his Identity, and who’s reaching out to ’tweens and teens with the message that they don't need to look to the world to define who they are.

Over two years ago, Robert released his debut album, Inside Out, and spent part of his eighth grade year performing before thousands of kids at Christ in Youth’s Believe conferences. The album was pure, positive, bubblegum pop, with Pierre’s clear, childlike vocals shining through. Now 16, Robert’s voice and musical style have matured, but his encouraging message remains the same. With his sophomore album Identity hitting exclusive stores this fall, this high school sophomore is on a mission to help kids discover that through Christ, they have value to God.

“A lot of kids are asking, ‘Who am I?’ and ‘How am I important?’ ” Robert says. “They are finding their identity through friends or sports figures or celebrities or whatever. They are not turning to the right people or things, but are using drugs, alcohol, sex and all sorts of bad things. They don’t understand that their identity isn’t in that stuff; it’s in Christ, because He died on the cross for their sins. It only matters what God thinks. I want kids to know that they are forgiven and set free, and that it doesn’t matter what other people think—they are very important to God.”

From the first note of the title track, Identity catches the attention of kids and teens with its bouncy hooks, clever lyrics and contagious melodies. But it strikes deep into the heart, too, with sweepingly simple ballads like “I Will Love You,” a love song to the Creator. With award-winning producer Matt Bronlewee at the helm and top-notch songwriters like Matthew West, Scott Krippayne, and Jason Ingram contributing, Identity is set to captivate and present the gospel to a rapidly maturing generation.
True to Robert's heart for missions, in the exclusive promotion with Family Christian Stores at the end of 2008, the high school sophomore gave away 100,000 copies of Identity to raise money  for the James Fund.
“For generations, my family has been involved with missionaries to build and run Christian orphanages,” says Robert. “But it wasn’t until I met thousands of kids right here in America who were truly hurting that I felt a calling for ministry.  I want kids to understand that it doesn’t matter who the world tells them to be, it only matters who God says they are. That’s our identity and it’s the motivation behind the CD.”

Robert also spread the message of true Identity to hundreds of ’tweens in the inaugural iShine Live tour, a high-powered event that featured new trio the Rubyz, Disney actor Luke Benward and speaker Paige Armstrong. It was Robert’s follow-up to the successful CIY Believe conferences, where he met thousands of middle schoolers and listened to their stories.

“I met a lot of kids going through really tough times, and I still keep in touch with a lot of them,” Robert said. “That’s why the theme of Identity speaks to me so much, because kids need to know who they are. And sometimes a song can reach them. I got a message one day from someone who basically said, ‘Thanks, you saved my life. I was getting ready to kill myself, and your song came on the radio. I listened to it and felt like God told me to put down the drugs. You saved my life.’ ”

It’s that life-changing power that Robert wants to share with every kid he meets. It’s what makes him willing to miss out on some of the regular high school experiences like basketball games, after school clubs and time with friends in order to spend time in recording studios and on the road. Music has been an important part of his life ever since he can remember. His mom noticed that even from toddler age he seemed to have perfect pitch, and by fourth grade, Robert had performed a solo for 50,000 visitors of his church’s Living Christmas Tree program. But it was a decision of the heart in seventh grade that Robert believes paved the way for a singing career.

 “I grew up in a Christian home, so I knew about Christ all my life and thought I was a Christian,” Robert admits. “But in seventh grade, a teacher at school asked us to write our testimony—and I said I had accepted Christ when I was four. He looked at me and said, 'Let me put it this way.  If God met you at the gates of heaven tonight and asked you why He should let you into His heaven, what would you say?’ "

That simple question made Robert question who he was and where he was headed. At Giordano’s Pizza, Robert had a conversation with his dad that changed his life.

“That night, I repented of my sins and asked Jesus into my life,” he says, “and that’s when the doors started opening to tell others.”

Shortly afterwards, Robert recorded a three song Christmas CD for his family and friends, which got some radio playtime and led to Robert's debut album Inside Out. With Identity, Robert takes the next step—showing by example how God can use anyone, even a young person, to accomplish His purposes.

“All I can do with everything I have is just to honor and glorify God with my talents,” Robert says. “It’s not about me. And if just one kid hears a song that changes his life, it will all be worth it.”