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10 Questions with ... Kim Walker-Smith
April 17, 2017
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1. Brief History/Synopsis
I was born and raised in Oregon in a small farm town. At the age of 18, I fully surrendered my life to Jesus and shortly after moved to Redding, California. I went to a college there for one year then to the School of Ministry at Bethel Church. I married my husband in 2009 and in 2013 we moved to Sacramento, California with Jesus Culture to plant a church. We currently live outside of the city in a tiny farm community called Rescue. We have two sons (ages 2 & 3) and a daughter on the way. I have had many jobs... I worked as a banker for quite awhile before becoming a worship pastor. I was also an ultrasound technician for two years in a physical therapy office. I've worked retail, landscaping, fast food and I worked in a Mack truck parts store counting inventory for a while.
2. What does a normal day at home look like for you?
My boys wake me up early and the first thing we do is eat breakfast otherwise we will have a bunch of grumpy people on our hands! My normal day when I'm not on the road or songwriting is like most moms, I play with my boys all morning, give them lunch, we take naps, we play more and then have dinner, followed by bedtime. Right now playtime is a lot of "karate" and super heroes. Haha!
3. What's the song that you just can't get out of your head right now?
Oh my word... well, if I'm really honest...right now it's a song from the Disney movie "Moana." It's the song called "You're Welcome." Haha! That's mom life for ya.
4. How much do you travel, what are the challenges?
I travel quite a bit. When it's a long tour (like the one I'm about to go on-nearly 4 weeks) I bring the whole family. We love being together and are thankful to be able to do that, but it is very hard. My boys miss their routine and their home and toys. It's not easy traveling with toddlers. Trying to find snacks they will eat, working out nap times in weird time zones, etc. My husband and I decided that family is priority. We just stay willing to adjust all the time. It's hard on the road but doable. If at any point it stops working and our kids are letting us know they are miserable, we stop, we go home, we readjust.
5. What Pastor has had the greatest impact on you?
Bill Johnson has probably had the greatest impact on me. He has taught me a lot through his messages and books and challenged me in what I believe to be true of God. He was the first person I ever heard give language to the struggle we have here on earth of what we know of God vs. what we are dealing with. For example, we know that God heals, but we don't always see that happen. Not a lot of preachers will tackle something that doesn't have clear answers, but he did. And it really helped me.
6. What's the last book you read?
The last book I read was "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown. I struggle a lot with wanting everything perfect and setting unrealistic expectations of myself at times. This book challenged that mindset a lot and gave me some tools to work through it.
7. Funniest or most embarrassing moment on the road?
There have been so many it's hard to name one. One time my son as a baby puked all over me. I went to clean it up and unfortunately did not have an extra shirt at the venue with me. Suddenly we were being called back up to the stage and I was rushed up there. When I got out on the stage I looked down at my shirt that was half wet with water and half wet with puke still. I just tried to ignore it and sang through the songs. At that point I was also just too tired to care!
8. Take me thru a couple songs on your latest project, ON MY SIDE.
It's the first time I've done a studio album outside of the Christmas album and mine and my husband's album. So it was a very different experience for me. It's also the first time I wrote on every song except for two songs.
I wanted to express the journey I've been on with the Lord over the last three years. It's honestly been a hard journey... becoming a mom, two kids only 14 months apart, post partum depression, moving, and my stepdad (dad to me) passing away. This album is the story of that journey. It was a hard journey but never without hope.
The one thing the Lord kept letting me know over and over is that He is on my side. Even in the mess, in the chaos, in my anger and frustration....He meets me right where I am.
So far, at the point I'm writing this, three singles have been released and the response from people is amazing. Many have said, "You put words to the season I am in and what I'm feeling." As a songwriter, that is so encouraging. As another human, it's VERY encouraging to know you aren't the only one with these sorts of struggles.
9. What organization/service group are you affiliated with?
Jesus Culture has worked a lot with Compassion and some with World Vision, but we take care of and partner with an orphanage in Mexico called "Rancho De Sus Ninos." We send a team there every year to do work and ministry, gifts for the kids at Christmas time, and many other things. I think it's really important for us as Christians to take Jesus seriously when He commanded us to take care of the orphans and widows.
10. Person you'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead.....Deities are excused from this question
I would love to have a conversation with President George W. Bush. I can't imagine the pressure and the things he felt leading our nation through 9/11 and afterwards. I admire him and his courage and think it would be great to talk to him.
Bonus Questions
1. Favorite Bible Verse....life verse?
Hosea 2:14-17 because it makes it clear that the desert season is an invitation to intimacy with the Lord and He is the one who leads us into those seasons. It really encourages me.
2. How & when did you become a believer?
I knew about God and Jesus to a degree as a kid. As a teenager, I started going to church very regularly with my family but had a lot of pain and anger towards God. I went through the religious motions to appease my family but not until I was 18 did I fully surrender and not look back and really allow God to come in and change my life and set me free.
3. What's the biggest "God moment" you've ever experienced?
Well there really have been a lot of them. But currently the most powerful "God Moment" has been at the birth of my sons. Birth is a crazy and powerful experience, but it was so significant to go through that with the Lord and experience His strength and love in a way I never have before and never will outside of birth. It's very special and requires a level of trust that is hard to verbalize.
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