“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ”
Ephesians 2:10
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1Peter 4:10
TEAM KERKMAN
Our Story…
In 2015, after several years as a Denver deputy sheriff and tour guide, we took a leap of faith, selling our home and quitting our jobs for a YEAR of YES – committing to say yes to all things in the categories of Music, Travel, and Service to see where God might lead us through this exercise. At the end of our year, we had had many adventures in all three categories, and Randy found himself with a calling to study theology. Beki found herself with a breast cancer diagnosis, and both found that IRELAND was now home.
In 2020, we recorded and released our album Earth & Asphalt and Randy graduated with a BA in Theology from Irish Bible Institute. In 2021, Randy also acted as producer for Aaron Rohde’s album Rooted to Grow. During the coronavirus lockdowns, we opened our home as a “house church” on Sundays which has continued on as a weeknight Bible study group.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Prison Ministry (Randy)
Randy is using his experience both as a musician and a deputy sheriff to volunteer in prison ministry through Release, seeking to restore people on the fringes to a hope in the living and loving Savior Jesus Christ through prison music ministry, facilitating Prison Fellowship’s Sycamore Tree course, and one to one mentoring with ex-inmates.
Bible Translation & Engagement (Beki)
Working as part of Biblica’s Advancement team and the illumiNations movement to eliminate Bible poverty throughout the world and remove barriers to engagement with God’s Word.
Vis de Copil – Arad, Romania
We have had a close relationship with day shelter Vis de Copil in Arad, Romania through fundraising, personal communication, and our time spent volunteering there for 6 of the past 8 Christmases.
We strive to be good neighbors, living openly as Christians and always being ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us. (1Peter 3:15)
DUNDALK, the largest town in Ireland, with a population of 35,000 people is the halfway point between Belfast and Dublin and just a few km south of the border with Northern Ireland. In the 1960s it was known for its shoe factories (Ecco) and brewery (Harp Beer), but during the Troubles in Northern Ireland (1968-1998) the town’s position close to the border saw the population swell, as nationalists/Catholics fleeing the violence in Northern Ireland settled in Dundalk. As a result of the ongoing sectarianism in the north, there was sympathy for the cause of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and Sinn Féin, and the town was home to several IRA members. (It still is.) Dundalk earned the nickname El Paso due to its proximity to the border.
These days, the scars of 30 years of civil war remain but Dundalk is a thriving and diverse community, home to many Nigerian immigrants in the early 2000s and more recently, refugees from Ukraine and the Middle East (and a couple Americans even!).
ABOUT US…
Randy Kerkman
Randy was that troublemaker kid that the whole youth group was praying for He became a Christian at camp in the late 1970s. Co-founder of the Warehouse Church in Aurora, IL, former co-owner of a sound company, and guitarist for several bands, he also served 11 years as a Denver deputy sheriff before embarking on the “year of yes” that led us to full time work in ministry and music. He is a Chicago Cubs fan through and through, and loves good pizza, all dogs, and playing his guitar loudly.
Beki Hemingway Kerkman
Beki asked Jesus into her heart at the age of 6, but the journey to deep faith has taken years and continues daily. Growing up at a Christian camp and having attended Colorado Christian College (for a year), she is familiar with ministry, but her own work career has been varied – backup singer, executive assistant, travel coordinator, and movie extra before (and during) working with Randy on their joint endeavors in music and mission. She loves to meet new people, travel, and is a terrible dancer who likes vegan food, 80’s new wave, and houseguests.
You
It’s good to know we’re not alone. Thank you for taking an interest in what we’re up to. Maybe you are here because you know us, or maybe you landed here because you have an interest in music or mission. Maybe we just met you and you googled us! No matter what the reason, we are glad you are here, and we welcome your questions about anything you read here.
Funding Update:
Thanks to your generosity, and the work we are able to do, we are currently 100% funded for our basic monthly budget. Praise God!
Additional gifts go to help us with unexpected costs and to provide hospitality in our home and community. We welcome your questions about budgets, cost of living, or anything else.
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- Beki works part-time for Biblica as Events Administrator for Europe.
- We play music when we can – and sometimes get paid for it.
- Randy teaches guitar, produces music, and runs sound for concerts.
- Randy’s work in prison ministry is busier all the time. It is unpaid and requires support.
- Your donations fund prison ministry, hospitality, allow us to make time to say YES to ministry opportunities in Ireland, Romania, and more.
Thank you for visiting our page!