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10 Questions with ... Kelsi Craig
November 24, 2014
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1. Brief history/synopsis.
I was born in Altamonte Springs, Florida where we lived for a few years, moved to Viriginia for 2 years, then back to Orlando, FL where I have lived ever since! I have three younger sisters (Kaley 20, Cassidy 18, Camille 16), we were all homeschooled by our mom. I started a piano school when I was 14/15 & ran that school (with an average of 50 students) until I was hired at the age of 17 as the worship pastor, two weeks after my high school graduation.
2. What does a normal day at home look like for you?
When I'm home, I wake up around 8:24, RUSH to get ready to leave my house by 8:30 to be at work by 9! ha! I work at my church, Apopka Assembly of God, where I have been the worship pastor for 7 years. Then, around 5:00pm, I head to the mall, the beach, a concert, or home to slum it in my pj's for the rest of the day. :) I'm normally awake until 2am, and regret it the next morning at 8:24. ;)
3. What's the song that you just can't get out of your head right now?
"Cool Ya (Nobody Loves You Like I Do)" by Andrew Ripp. It's so catchy and great.
4. How much do you travel, what are the challenges? How do you juggle life on the road with wanting to be home?
Well, I've currently been working on my new EP, so between songwriting trips, recording, and a few shows/festivals, I've been gone a little more than half of the month. I love traveling & LOVE what I get to do. It's such an honor and I'm so thankful for every moment. The only part I don't like is when a flight gets cancelled and it feels like I'm in that movie, "The Terminal" (with Tom Hanks), and I'm never going to get to get out of there. :) I always miss my family when I'm on the road. It's nice to have FaceTime these days :)
5. What's the biggest "God moment" that you've ever experienced, personal or professional?
God has rescued me so many countless times in my life. I'll share with you one of the moments. I've battled Crohn's disease for the majority of my life & at one point a few years ago, became VERY sick; in and out of the ICU. The only thing that could help me medically was a treatment that was going to be thousands and thousands of dollars every month- way out of my budget. When I got the news, I went home and was honestly, very discouraged. I talked to the Lord about how scared I was & how much pain I was in and I really needed Him to work it out for me. Later that day, I received a phone call from the doctor with the incredible- SO GOD- news that there was a company that wanted to pay for the treatment for a study they were doing. So, all of the doctor's appointments, tests, etc. for the entire year that I needed to be on the treatment, was covered by them. God not only took care of healing me and taking away my pain, taking care of the entire treatment bills, but also the doctor's appointments and EVERYTHING else that was an expense. God knows your needs, He hears you, He takes care of you and cares about every detail of your life. Be encouraged today. :)
6. What's the last book you read?
The last book I read was my nana's autobiography, "The 9th Floor." She passed away just a few months ago; we all miss her deeply. I read her book once again. She has impacted so many people in this world, young and old. I aspire to be a woman like her. It's such an incredible book & life story on how God rescues us from wherever we are at, what we are facing & how He turns our mess into beauty.
7. Tell me how & when you became a believer. What caused you to want to serve God in full time ministry?
I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was 4 years old; my dad led me in the prayer. My parents have been in full-time ministry my entire life; which I'm so thankful to have grown up in a home that loves the Lord & has modeled it for me. I love the Lord & I love His people & so I have wanted to serve Him as far as I can think back on.
8. Tell us about your latest project?
I released my single, "Heartbeat" this month & I'm SO stoked about this song. I wrote it with Ed Cash (who produced the song) & Scott Cash (they wrote "How Great is Our God", "God of Angel Armies", and thousands of other songs); it was an honor to work with him. I love the message of the song; the chorus says, "Let my heart beat to the rhythm of Yours." My hope for this song is that it would remind us in our day-to-day life, to follow where Jesus is leading us. To see situations, people, etc. how He does. That we would be so close to Him, that our hearts would beat to the rhythm of His.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/heartbeat-single/id910603057
9. What organization/service group are you affiliated with?
I am a big fan and supporter of Mercy Ministries. I became involved with this great ministry because of my family's long history of support for the work they do. My grandmother began working with Mercy over 25 years ago. She passed her love of this organization to my mother and to me.
Mercy Ministries helps girls with issues such as eating disorders, self-harm, drug and alcohol addictions, depression and unplanned pregnancy. Mercy also serves young women who have been physically and sexually abused, including victims of sex trafficking. Many of the girls who come to Mercy for help are facing a combination of debilitating circumstances and have been in various treatment facilities with unsuccessful long-term results. They are committed to providing excellent program services that allow the young women they serve to recognize their self-worth and reach their full potential. Mercy does all of this free of charge and without state or federal funding. I am a firm believer in Mercy Ministries!
10. Person you'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead.....Deities are excused from this question
Ester! (From the Bible)
Bonus Questions
1. Favorite Bible Verse....life verse. Why?
Romans 8:31-39, it starts out in verse 31 saying that "If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?" Then in verse 34, it says, "For Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor nothing, no one, no situation, no act, no power, NOTHING, can separate us from the love of God. Verse 37- "Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."
What a POWERFUL scripture! I am so thankful that we have a God that loves us, so incomparably, so graciously and so faithfully. I love this verse because no matter what I'm going through, I can be reminded that "He that did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give me everything else?" He's everything that we need. He also gives us the victory and makes us MORE than a conqueror.
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