Two New Staff @ KGF!

We're excited to announce the congregation's strong support of Josh Smith for Worship Ministries Director and Kristi Cooper for Kids Ministries Director, both on half-time basis.  Josh and Kristi are no strangers to the KGF family, and will be wonderful additions to the staff team starting May 1st.  We will be having a time of commissioning for these two during our May 2nd Sunday morning service.  You can read their stories below.

Kristi Cooper

I have been attending KGF since October of 2008, but my history with the church begins many years before. When I was eight, I was invited to KGF to attend Pioneer Girls with a friend. I met a number of friends, learned the books of the Bible, and accepted Jesus. Although my relationship with God began before this, KGF and Pioneer Girls planted a seed of God’s love for me. In my journey to submit the application for Children’s Ministry Director, God has continued to remind me of all the ways KGF has been instrumental in my journey with Christ.

I have been fortunate to have God pursue me. My parents tell me I was born loving God. I was always interested in learning about Him. In my adolescence and early adulthood I had times of extreme closeness and times I pulled away. My solid commitment to Jesus began at a wonderful church in my University years and continued when I moved back to Kelowna and became involved with Young Adults Ministries at Willow Park. I began attending Alive Ministries and then assisting in leadership with Pastor Mike Penninga. At Alive I developed relationships with incredible people who have come along side me in both friendship and as mentors in my walk with Jesus.

My next few years were busy as I met and married my incredible husband Basil, became a step mom to a wonderful daughter Lexy (12) and then had two more amazing children, Sam (4) and Nola (2). During these years I also continued to work as an elementary school teacher in School District #23. All these parts of my life have helped reinforce my love for Jesus and my love of children. My journey with Jesus has provided me with incredible opportunities to realize His love for me, and my need for Him. One of our reasons for moving to KGF was because we felt as though this was a church we saw ourselves raising our children in. We were drawn to the wonderful sense of community that is so evident here at KGF.

A few months after we began attending KGF there was a need for a person to organize the Children’s Church Ministries. As I have always had a passion for children and teaching, this was a great fit for me. I have so many hopes and dreams for the Children’s Ministry at KGF. Every time I walk into the Children’s Wing I am flooded with ideas of how to make this program excellent.

We have incredible opportunities to impact the lives of children with the love of Jesus. I want to continue building a program that encourages children to love Jesus and to love others. I am excited to be able to give back to a church that was so instrumental in my walk with Jesus. It feels fitting that this is a place that my children will also be inspired and taught. I am so excited about what God has for our church and feel incredibly blessed to be a part of this wonderful community.

Josh Smith

My wife Sarah and I have been attending KGF since April  2009. Soon after I began working with the worship teams and have helped lead since September. From all of the places I have led worship, KGF is the most connected we have ever felt with a body of believers.  I have had so many Holy moments at KGF, moments where I have to stop what I am doing and listen to God and hear the congregation minister to me.

I grew up on the East Coast in Halifax, in a Christian family, where my father was a worship pastor.  Music was a big part of our growing up years.  I was a part of musical teams throughout my teen years, and after high school spent a year at Briercrest Bible College in the Worship Arts program.  That led to an opportunity to lead worship on staff in a church in Nashville, which was a big learning experience.

God called me back to Canada, to Banff, where I met my wife.  We moved to Kelowna and connected with the young adults program, Alive, and Mike Penninga at Willow Park.  I led there for two years, and this opened the door for me to lead with worship leaders all over Kelowna and build great friendships.

Here is what I believe a worship leader is to do in the church. A faithful worship leader magnifies the greatness of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit by skillfully combining God's word with music, as a result motivating the gathered church to proclaim the gospel, to cherish God’s presence and to live for God's glory. I want to help people remember that God is bigger than their problems and joys, greater than their sorrows and successes, more significant that their tests and triumphs.  God is the center.

My vision is to together lead/teach what it means to Worship is as a whole (as I learn). I want to build a community of leaders who will be able to communicate to our next generation what it means to be a follower of Christ.  My passion is to create an atmosphere of pure, humble, true Worship, to teach that Scripture is key to leadership, both musically and day to day.  Worship is what we are made to do.

I have a love for artist development, this means, writing, craft, recording, musicianship and musical excellence. My goal would be to raise up musicians and writers, who have a heart for both worship and the arts, who want to learn how to write and share their gifts with others.

I want to express my love for Kelowna Gospel Fellowship.  Sarah and I are happy to be members of such a real place of community and love. We are honoured to serve alongside amazing people!