Kim Walker-Smith

Kim Walker Smith (born in Albany, Oregon) is an American singer, songwriter, worship leader, and recording artist. She currently resides in Redding, CA with her husband Skyler. She produced her first solo album, titled Here Is My Song, which was released in February 2008 through the Jesus Culture record label. Kim is best known as the worship leader for Jesus Culture, and a worship pastor for Bethel Church in Redding.
Her rendition of the John Mark McMillan song, "How He Loves", has been viewed over 1.2 million times on YouTube. Her own song "Where You Go I Go", has over three million views on YouTube.
Childhood/Adulthood
Kim Walker was "raised in a small farm town called Klamath Falls, Oregon." Her "home background was a bit rough." Her parents got divorced when she was four years old. Every year Kim had to move, so she always became the new kid in school. This caused her to be shy and withdrawn. Walker states, "My family for generations has been very musical and my mom put me on a stage when I was three. I grew up singing and was very involved in musical theater."
Later on Walker moved to Redding, California to attend a Christian college. While she was there Kim felt that her life was going to change. She was struggling with her grades and wasn't happy attending university. One night as she was driving around she cried out to the Lord asking Him why she was at the University. Apparently while driving she came across Bethel Church. During that time the church had just built up a house that consisted of believers praying for twenty-four hours a day. When she ventured inside there were people praying and worshipping inside the house. Kim was captivated and attended their church service the following Sunday. After a year at the university she was attending she decided to leave , and attend the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. She stayed at the Bethel school for about two years and graduated from their university, and was hired as a worship pastor to work alongside Brian Johnson. The "greatest desire of her heart is to see God's kingdom and power manifest for people to be set free, healed, and radically changed as they encounter God in worship."
"In 2005 her powerful voice won her $25,000 cash in an "American Idol" type of competition called "So You Want to Be a Star," which aired on Chico television station KRVU. The 26-year-old worship pastor at Bethel Church is considered by many to be a forerunner in a new kind of worship referred to as prophetic worship."
[edit]Kim Walker-Smith Marriage
In 2009 Kim Walker married Skyler Smith and is now referred to as Kim Walker-Smith.[citation needed] In her current releases she uses the name Kim Walker-Smith instead of her maiden name. Her husband Skyler Smith "has been leading worship for over 10 years and has a powerful pastoral anointing. He has many interests and talents including professional photography and graphic design."[9] Kim Walker-Smith is now living in San Fransico, California with her husband. Her heart still remains in her home-town church (Bethel) which is still in Redding, California. Though she is now a member of the band Jesus Culture they still go back and play in Bethel frequently. The band started off in Redding, California with a group of youth in a worship team. The team was "led by Banning Liebscher when he was a young pastor at Bethel Church. The Jesus Culture Band is composed of Kim Walker-Smith, Chris Quilala, Skyler Smith (acoustic guitar), Jeffrey Kunde (lead guitar), Brandon Aaronson (bass player), Ian McIntosh(keys), and Josh Fisher (drums)."[10] Kim Walker-Smith stated, "I'm at Bethel once to twice a month right now. We travel about three to four times a month. About 40 percent of that is Jesus Culture."