Worship leader, 19, goes deep in Christ
By Allen Palmeri
Associate Editor
NEW HAVEN—Kaleb Krueger is a Missouri Baptist worship leader who may turn out to be a somewhat odd combination of Chris Tomlin and Keith Green in that he brings fresh songs and rich scripture quotations at the tender age of 19.
“His music has passion and a heart cry,” said Ed Moncada, a friend of the family who directs the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) ministry to international students.
Krueger, who is a cradle-to-college product of home schooling, knows that he is being set aside to do something magnificent. He just completed his freshman year at Missouri Baptist University, and his home church is Memorial Baptist in New Haven, a Missouri River town of around 1,700 people located midway between Hermann and Washington.
“The Lord’s grace upon my life is beyond my understanding,” he said. “I thank Him daily for his love and faithfulness. I’m thankful beyond description for the incredible gift of salvation. I know God has rescued me for His glory, and I desire to live out my life in a way that brings the most glory to Jesus Christ my Savior.
“Outside of my family, one of the greatest blessings in my life has been the countless people that lift me up daily in prayer. The power of prayer is something I feel we too often take for granted. I know the prayers of my brothers and sisters in Christ are what have brought me where I am today, and what keep me going. Even before my singing ministry began at the age of 12, people were praying for me.”
Kaleb’s parents, Jeff and Kaela, are teachers who emphasize scripture memorization. The fruit of their labor hangs sweetly within the fresh pop/rock sound of the Kaleb Krueger Band. Homeschooling helped them identify their son’s talents and gifts in the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age.
“Our home school schedule allowed Kaleb the opportunity to pursue music and to focus on what he knew to be his gifts,” they said. “This was particularly important in high school, at a time when he was beginning to write songs. For example, we would continually see a pattern in which he would complete a school assignment and then jump up immediately and go to the piano or guitar to try out a new melody, lyric idea, etc., as inspiration struck before moving on to the next subject. One song in particular, ‘Even Here,’ was born following a reading from Pilgrim’s Progress, a school assignment.
“The self-discipline learned from extensive reading equipped Kaleb to spend significant time in God’s Word. Furthermore, God fueled in Him a desire to spend this time with Him, in His Word and in prayer. Daily quiet times began as a toddler with Dad, continued as a regular part of the home school routine with Mom, and developed into an invaluable daily practice which today we see as one of Kaleb’s greatest sources of strength. This also ties to his music. His songwriting is purely an overflow of the time spent alone with God each morning. The results of the prayer he puts into each venue are evident in the overwhelming response of the people. We are amazed to receive constant feedback about how people see the Spirit move and how Kaleb is used to bring the people before the Lord in worship.”
At least three Missouri Baptist churches have invested heavily in the young musician. First Washington called him as interim worship leader and First Ellisville called him as youth intern after Memorial in New Haven allowed him to grow in worship from 2004-2007 as a pianist, evening service worship leader, and youth worship leader/pianist.
“I still work with the youth at First Ellisville, serve on the contemporary service worship team as pianist, and lead the worship for the contemporary service the first Sunday of each month,” Krueger said.
The Kaleb Krueger Band is becoming known in the Midwest and the South for its blend of ancient anthems of the faith, modern worship choruses, and original works that appear to be created with an eye toward the 2010s.
They got to live out their idea of politics by praising the One and Only True King at an American political gathering. People worshipped Jesus the last weekend in April in Kansas City at the national convention of the Constitution Party. Krueger described it as a place where “God was honored and our nation’s heritage was valued.”
A series of “Rise and Shine” concerts, named after his second full-length CD featuring all original music, will culminate in a night of worship June 1 at First Baptist Church, Ellisville. The goal is spiritual awakening, with believers living “cross-centered, God-honoring lives everyday, while there is still time.”
The band’s award-winning music has been recognized by The Gospel Music Association (GMA) and Focus on the Family. In 2007, their song “You are God” was the runner-up GMA Academy Worship Song of the Year. At the 2007 GMA Music in the Rockies, Krueger was chosen for an artist mission trip to Peru with Compassion International. That missionary venture, with a signed artist and the Compassion staff, is scheduled for an Oct. 26 debut.
Krueger is worshipping with a bunch of Baptists. Daniel Meyer (electric guitar/vocals) is from Concord Baptist Church in St. Louis, Evan Pitchers (drums/percussion) is from Tower Grove Baptist Church in St. Louis, and Jacob Hammack (bass guitar) is from First Family Church, Overland Park, Kan.
“The band and I are really looking forward to the months ahead,” Krueger said. “We have been in contact with churches in Alabama, Florida, and Texas as well as many around the state of Missouri about leading the worship for youth camps, revivals, youth rallies, and worship services. I thank the Lord and give Him the glory as we move ahead.”
Clearly Krueger wants God to get maximum credit.
“I pray that through my music and through my life many would come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior,” he said.
