Don Kern
Music Ministry

Transformative Gospel Music
Testimonies to encourage
Teaching of The Word

It's not every day that God waits until you're 56 years old to awaken His gifts in you. But sometimes the preparation time is necessary. It's never too late; you're never too old!! Paul the apostle said, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." Colossians 4:17

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About the artist

Don was raised in a musical family. His mother Evelyn was professional in the accordion before she was 20 years old. She trained as a young teen at the Guild Institute of Music in Washington, D.C., in the 1940s. Evelyn sang as a soloist with her accordion at the start of her music career, and transitioned to the cordovox as lead singer in small ensembles at nightclubs, bars, and congressional events in and around D.C., including the suburbs of Maryland, and Virginia. Don used to travel from time to time with his mom when he was 9 to 11-yrs old, only singing a time or two. When his mom wanted to teach him piano, Don preferred to play sports at the local boys club as a youth. Any music gifts Don had been given by God remained dormant for years.In the early 1970s, through much intercessory prayer by Evelyn’s father, mother, and others, Evelyn had an encounter with Jesus, rededicating her life to Christ since her first confession of faith as a 12-year old child in 1946. She became a member of Trinity Assembly of God in Lanham, MD. Surrendering the music gifts God had given her to the Lord for Christian ministry, she then relocated with Don, the youngest child of her six children, to Springfield, MO, in summer 1977.Evelyn obtained a sacred music degree from Central Bible College while working full-time as a typesetter and proofreader for Gospel Publishing House of the Assemblies of God, retiring after 17 years with GPH. She could play anything with keys: piano, organ, accordion, or synthesizer keyboard. Evelyn served as church pianist, church organist, and accompanied her daughter, Diana (an accomplished Gospel songwriter and singer), at some Gospel events. Diana Hurd Cates (Don’s sister), has been active in Christian music ministry for over 50 years, recording several Gospel songs and full album projects, serving or leading worship at various churches, and ministering at women’s conferences.Through months of intercessory prayer by the women’s prayer group Evelyn attended at Glad Tidings Assembly of God in Springfield, Don did receive Jesus as Savior, was born-again December 1980, and water baptized in March 1981 at Glad Tidings Assembly of God, Springfield, MO. Don also received the Acts 2 baptism in the Holy Spirit under Evangelist Tom Waggoner’s ministry in spring 1981.After falling out of fellowship, backsliding into sin through his college years, Don had a radical re-encounter with Jesus in December 1987, not even seeking to come out of sin, and return to the Lord. Once again, it was God answering the prayers of his mother, grandmother, sister, brother-in-law, and others. This awakening by God in Don started a new walk of holiness, sanctification, and depth of relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with instant deliverance from alcohol abuse and sexual immorality. Don became an intimate worshiper of God, with many hours in the secret place from age 24 to today, growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ with fasting, prayer, study of the Word, praise and worship, faithfully all these years. He has been faithful to a local non-denominational congregation, Dayspring Church in Springfield, since March 1995, serving as a missionary in Japan for three years (2007 to 2010).In fall 2019, at age 56, the Holy Spirit impressed upon Don to get a vocal coach. Since Don wasn’t a singer, and any music gifts from God were very dormant, he was puzzled. Calling his sister, Diana, she said something to the effect that “it is never too late to move into what God has for you, as I always knew you had a music gift from God.” When the decision was made to get a vocal coach, the Holy Spirit started impressing on Don that He had a Gospel version of such and such song from his younger days. Like a prophetic word, the new Gospel lyrics flow almost effortlessly in the Spirit, fitting the syllable count of the original song, and producing a rhyming pattern with the particular message from God intended for the new, transformative work.It helps to already have a teaching gift in regard to the Bible, as years of study allow for recall of specific Gospel content that is utilized in the lyrics. Over 100 sets of lyrics, and counting, have been received by Don from the Holy Spirit so far. It is an incredible work of God’s grace for such a time as this, the dormant gift of God awakened as a lyricist and vocalist for the glory of God. The purposes are for the Gospel message to go forth in song as both an educational tool and ministry tool, along with testimonies of God’s goodness to encourage others, sound teaching of the Word of God to make disciples of Jesus, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to do His part to change everyone who yields to Him at every ministry opportunity.The end time indications are all around us more than ever if your spiritual eyes are open, so we must be about the Father’s business, shedding the cares of life as much as possible to be fruitful in the Word, as we surrender our hearts and allow His Spirit to lead us. Don will do his part as a harvest worker to feed Jesus' sheep with edification in love, encourage the Body of Christ, see the backslidden prodigals restored to intimacy with Jesus, see lost souls saved, and disciples of Jesus made. And all for the Glory of God.

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