From Hippie To Worship Leader - Kiley Baldwin | Theology, Things & Stuff #033

J. Christopher McMichael was privileged to be raised in a Christian home, attending church his entire life. He surrendered his life to the Lord as a child while at a summer Baptist youth camp in the mountains of Tennessee. As a teenager on his first missions trip, he began to recognize the call of God to ministry. He earned a degree in earth sciences from Tennessee Tech University and enjoyed a successful career as a geologist in geotechnical engineering and mining. In 2007, he and his wife Manda were installed as the pastors of Engrafted Word Church while continuing to consult as a geologist for the next thirteen years. Today, Chris’ focus in solely on the church and world missions. After authoring six books and learning the ins and outs of book publishing, he launched Petra Press Publishing in 2023, with the goal of helping pastors and ministers publish their God-inspired work with the highest standard possible. Chris and his wife have three children they love raising in Tennessee.

Ben Weaver serves at Engrafted Word Church, where he was born and raised, overseeing the recording, editing, and publishing of Theology, Things & Stuff. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Video Production and a minor in Audio Production. Ben enjoys photography, audio mixing, and videography, and runs a small photography business on the side. He met his wife, Jessica, at church, where they dated, were married in the spring of 2024, and now continue serving together.

Kiley Baldwin is a wife, mother, songwriter, and worship leader at Engrafted Word Church. She had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ that led to her radical conversion midway through her college years in 2010. In the years that followed, God delivered Kiley from a lifestyle marked by addiction, rebellion, and sin. He restored her to a life filled with His love, fellowship, and guidance, leading her into a lifelong pursuit of holiness and His presence. During the time of her conversion, Kiley (née Brunette) met Kael Baldwin, the friend who led her to Christ and the man she would marry a few years later. They met in the music department at Tennessee Tech University and have loved making music together ever since. Today, Kiley and Kael are honored to serve together in music ministry as the senior worship leaders at Engrafted Word Church. Their passion is to lead others into the presence of Almighty God through the power of praise and worship. The couple also loves writing songs and building God’s Kingdom by training up the next generation of psalmists and minstrels. Kiley and Kael cherish their time together as husband and wife and as Mom and Dad to their three children, Phoebe, Ezra, and Micah. Kiley has the privilege of homeschooling their children while also helping to lead and serve in the local homeschool community where their family participates.