For the Kings, making music is a family affair. The unofficial sextet made their way from Pennsylvania to St. Augustine in 2014 by way of Crescent Beach Baptist Church, where Kevin is now the Worship Pastor and his wife, Cheryl, is the Children’s Ministry Director. Long before the two led a music ministry, they began with their own family.
Both Kevin and Cheryl developed a love for music at early ages. Originally from New Jersey, Kevin played music both in church and at school. This trend continued as he went on to college and earned Bachelor of Science Degrees in Music Education and Bible Studies, and a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting. Cheryl, the daughter of a pastor, grew up singing and playing music in church and later earned a degree in Early Childhood, because of her desire to care for children.
Keeping with tradition, Kevin and Cheryl introduced their four children, ages thirteen to twenty, to music at a young age too. “Anna was seven when she started. Colin was five. Abigail was four or five. I believe Cameron was three when he started with a little, tiny violin.” Cheryl laughs. “It looked like a toy!”
“By the age of four or five,” says Kevin, “you can get kids started on a string instrument, and it grows with them, and they grow with it. It’s a great way for them to learn to play.”
Because of their age and skill differences, it took some time for the King children to be able to play together cohesively, but with plenty of practice and patience, the siblings were able to combine their special talents. “They couldn’t wait to play together,” Cheryl shares, “That was one of our goals and theirs too. Once we got to that point we were like, ‘Yeah! They made it! They can play something together!”
Indeed they can. These days, on Sunday mornings, you can hear their harmonies play out in a variety of classic hymns and contemporary Christian music as they reverberate through the pine trees of the Matanzas Forest along S.R. 206.
Music has always been an important part of the lives of the Kings. It’s something that envelops every member of the family and gives them an added reason for spending more time with each other. That is something that is very dear to Kevin. “It’s a great blessing to be able to play music as a family,” he says, “We have a lot of fun!”
It is obvious that their musical interests create a common bond among the King family members, but there is another tie of the utmost importance. It is their faith in God and their desire to serve Him for all that He has done for them. This is truly the purpose for their lives. Kevin explains, “It goes beyond music. It goes back to the root of life; that we will live for God’s glory.”
Photography by Rob Futrell
