My Journey
Fork in the Road (High School to RMC)
In my senior year of high school, I was drifting. I started getting dishonest—sneaking around rules just to do what I wanted. I’d lie to my mom and stepdad, saying I had to work, and then wait for them to leave before my friends picked me up. I wanted freedom, to hang out, play music, see my girlfriend at the time, Jori. I even lied about going to youth group just to go spend time with her. I was doing my own thing, on my own terms.
That summer—2008—my youth group went to Acquire the Fire. Before I left, my mom looked at me and said, “Keith, don’t be surprised when they tell you that you’re going to face a choice—to follow God or follow destruction. You’re at a fork in the road.” She literally held her hands up to make a fork shape.
Later that weekend, during one of the altar calls, Ron Luce said almost the exact same thing: “Some of you tonight are at a fork in the road,” and he made that same hand gesture.
That moment wrecked me.
I knew I had to make a choice. The path I was on wasn’t going anywhere good. That night, I chose Jesus. I left that conference marked—and soon after, I enrolled in Rockford Master’s Commission.
Rockford Master’s Commission (2008–2009)
RMC was where I encountered God in a way that I still carry to this day. I became “souled-out” for Jesus in a real, gritty way. I was surrounded by people just as hungry as I was. We studied scripture, lived in community, and worshiped like our lives depended on it. And honestly, sometimes it felt like they did.
We had a band of musicians, and the worship was loud, raw, and untamed. It was prophetic and wild. People would dance, scream, fall prostrate, or run in worship. We had a metal drummer and we weren’t afraid to let it get heavy. We were giving God everything.
October 10, 2008
There was one night I’ll never forget.
We were deep into worship—leading, playing—and then something shifted. Our instruments started singing on their own. Literally, our amps were carrying melodies we weren’t playing. The soundboard cut out, but worship didn’t stop. We kept going, and we began hearing voices joining us—what we believed were angels singing with us.
The whole room exploded with praise. People were weeping, screaming, laughing with joy. The atmosphere was charged with something not of this world.
That was the first time I felt God use my playing prophetically.
It wasn’t about talent—it was like heaven was joining in and we were just vessels. That night marked me. It’s hard to explain without saying, “You just had to be there.” But I want people to know—because it was real.
Youth Leadership at LWCC (Post-RMC)
After RMC, we had plans to take this sound and spirit to Brussels—to bring prophetic worship to hard spiritual ground in Europe. Some doors were opening, and we were praying into it.
I moved to Naperville/Bolingbrook to pursue it with friends. We lived in a house downtown, kind of like a little Jesus commune. But things shifted. Some people chose different paths—got married, moved away. The Europe vision didn’t unfold the way we expected.
Instead, we became youth leaders under Nina, our former worship leader. She brought us into her home church, Living Water Community Church, and we invested ourselves into the next generation there.
The Life (Lisle, IL)
Eventually Nina transitioned to a smaller church in Lisle—The Life—and I followed. I thought I was just helping, but I quickly became more involved.
When Nina left in 2016/17, I stepped into the worship leader role and eventually got hired part-time. That was a whole new season—carrying responsibility, leading a team, choosing songs that carried theology and presence. I brought new music to the table, introduced worship books at rehearsals, and helped shape a culture that didn’t just play songs—we pursued the heart of God.
God Places the Lonely in Families
During those years, I was single. And if I’m honest, sometimes bitter about it. I was doing ministry, giving my heart to it, and longing for connection that felt out of reach. I felt like the last one left behind as my friends paired off and moved on.
But God sees the lonely.
And he placed me in a family—not just a church one, but a literal one.
Julianna
At The Life, one of the first people I met was Julianna. She was on the worship team—playing piano, singing. Over time, we got close. She became my teammate, my support. At first, I didn’t think I was romantically drawn to her. But that changed. I found myself missing her. Leaning on her.
We dated, and got married in 2019.
Now, we serve at The Table—together.
Looking Back
The story didn’t go how I thought it would.
There were plans for Europe, music, maybe even touring. Instead, God rooted me here. Gave me a church, a wife, a son, and a calling that runs deeper than hype.
I’ve seen the fire of God fall, and I’ve walked through seasons where I wondered where He went.
But I’m still here.
Still listening.
Still leading worship.
Still wanting heaven to touch earth again.