The Influencers - pt1 - Kevin Berry

Pastor Kevin Berry was my youth Pastor for all of my Junior High and High school years... all the way through what would have been my college years had I gone to college, before he passed on the youth ministry to work as an executive Pastor at our church. I had the amazing honor of serving with Pastor Kevin for most of my high school years, and many many years to follow. Every time I get home my wife and I try and have dinner with Kevin and his wife Renee (also amazing). We share a love for the steaks at Carrabbas, Dawn and I get the Filet O Bryan, they get the Sirloin Marsala. Every single time we go, they buy it for us. No matter how many dollar bills or debit cards I pull out, they always take care of us. Next time we go, I am gonna hide his wallet or something until after we leave. They are just that good of people.

If it was not for Kevin Berry, Hyperbole would be about 30 steps behind where we are right now. He saw something in us that he believed in, and he helped me believe in it even more then I did. First he let us play at our youth group, at the time our biggest platform to perform. After playing at the church several times, he hooked us up with the district and helped get us on the Michigan Youth Convention 3 different years, which lead to other youth conventions in other states, tons of youth camps, etc. When pastors would call the youth department asking if they could recommend a band to come play at their church, I feel like Kevin and Renee always recommended Hyperbole! These referrals helped us grow our ministry literally from coast to coast.

A few years ago Pastor Kevin launched "The emerging Leaders Academy" internship program, and I instantly knew that I had to be a part of it. The only problem was that it was designed to be a very intensive training program, one that would require full time dedication, and would have made it so I would have to put my ministry and travels on hold. Trusting God, I asked Kevin what I considered to be the craziest question ever, basically along the lines of "Can you let me do this academy without it getting the way of Hyperbole, I want to do it." I probably said it a little more gracefully then that, because he agreed, and when the part time version of ELA's was launched, a handful of others were chosen to do it at the same pace and went on to complete the program. Although I knew all of the guys chosen prior to doing this program with them, friendships were born there that will last forever, friendships that possibly would not have lasted had we not had the Emerging Leaders Academy.

Kevin Berry's biggest contribution to my life is this. As a person of influence, over thousands of people in the church and running the biggest youth group in the city, this busy busy man took the time to believe in MY dreams. He was never selfish, he encouraged me to goto California, to pursue my dreams, to Never Give Up no matter what the circumstances that are thrown at me. As an incredible leader, he literally, without knowing it, helped me map out my destiny and where God has brought me this far. His training and influence has prepared me 100% for where I am right now in life, doing youth ministry in Los Angeles, and continuing to work towards my dream of Hyperbole, and the most relevant musical presentation of the Gospel the world of youth and counter culture has ever seen.

I know for a fact that there are hundreds of people with a similar story of the influence of Kevin Berry, he is one of the greatest gifts from God this generation in Lansing, MI has. He is a guy that fully believes, with all of his heart, in equiping the next generation leader, so when they are somewhere that maybe he couldn't go, they will be ready. He is raising up world changers, and people that he is helping are going out, loving on people, and make a difference. This mans influence and ability to raise up Timothy's will truly go on forever.

I Love ya Pastor Kevin Berry. Thank you, so much, for changing my life, my view of youth ministry, and seeing a dream in me that I did not even know I could dream. You are a gift from God.

j-cub.