Kim Gentes

My wife and I have had the privilege of being blessed with three wonderful children. Our three boys have been the joy of our lives, bringing some amazing truth, life and experience to us and giving us an opportunity to learn how it is possible to love as a parent.

Ever since our first son, Jordan, was born we included and encouraged our children to join us as we praised and worshiped God with our songs and lives. And while all of our children loved to join with us in "our songs", we also wanted to give them songs for them. When Jordan was just 3 years old, Carol and I wrote a song to help give language for his young heart and mind in which he could genuinely worship God. The song "Jesus Is My Friend" was born.

My hope is that in providing this song and resources here for you and your local churches, you may find it a helpful resource for pre-school aged children. What I found was that there were plenty of children's songs written to help kids jump, smile, sing and shout. But there were few songs written to help give language for a child to declare their love for God, except perhaps for Jesus Loves Me. "Jesus Is My Friend" is just one song that can be used for pre-schoolers to have a simple and memorable song of love to Jesus. I hope you find it helpful.

Below, you will find a free download for an mp3, chord chart, lyric sheet, lead sheet, Piano/Vocal score and MIDI file. These resources should help you in whatever kind of local church or home worship situation you are working with.

These resources are offered for free to anyone in need of them. You are welcome to use them in church or home.

I do ask that if you use the song in your local church, that you report their use in your CCLI reporting normally done through your worship department. 

"Jesus Is My Friend" - Preschool Children's worship song

• Audio MP3 File
• Chord Chart & Lyrics PDF
• Lead Line Chart PDF
• Piano/Vocal Score PDF
• MIDI File

Worshiping Him!

Kim Gentes

Here is the first song story from the new album Kingdom Rain. This is for the song "Let Everything", the first cut on the Kingdom Rain album.



This is a video sampler of some of the songs on the new album.  It shows not only the photos from the creative process in the studio, but years of various gatherings in which these songs have been used as anthems to the voice of local churches I have had the priviledge to lead in.

The album artwork and final mastered tracks are being completed as we speak, so this is your "early look" at what is coming...

blessings

Kim

I wanted to share some encouraging news on the recording. First, as all the parts wrap up, I can't be more pleased with the musicians that producer Brian Thiessen has engaged to work on this recording. They include:

• Calum Reese on drums, percussion (Hungry, Come now is the Time, Dwell, etc)
• Matt Weeks on bass (Hungry, You Shine, Dwell, etc)
• Kelly Carpenter on keyboards (Light the Fire Again, Sweetly Broken, etc. songwriter of Draw Me Close)
• Brian Thieseen on guitars (all of Brian Doerksen's recordings, as well as other Vineyard releases and the latest Andy Park project)
• Andy Park - vocals on Holy Holy
• Rita Springer - vocals on Bless The Lord
• Jessica Park - duet vocals on All of Me for All of You
• and myself (Kim Gentes) - vocals and acoustic guitar.

I was very excited to hear that Brian had put this team together and now that the song premixes are coming in, I am so glad he chose these musicians/worshipers.  There is a beautiful quality of devotion on each of the instruments and arrangements.  I am honored to have each of these people be a part of this project.

The process of tracking is all nearly finished with occasional parts wrapping up to complete some songs. I am right now sitting and listening for the first time to an amazing vocal cut by Rita Springer, who did guest vocals on the song "Bless The Lord", a song I wrote some time ago. A few weeks back I got another track from the producer that features worship leader Andy Park singing the upbeat song "Holy Holy is the Lord Almighty". Both songs by the guest vocalists are wonderful!  Jessica Park also does a blissful vocal part in the hymn-like song All of Me For All of You, which we sing together.

Can't wait to get this project available for you all.

The entire process has been a joy!

Well, Brian T now has the task of completing the remaining parts and mixing up the final revisions.  As he was meandering through the tracks I recorded last week he came upon a gem that I thought I would share.

Kim out-take during recording...

It was a time that captured a moment when I got lost in the timing of a song... :)

That being said, it looks like production will continue for about a month more on the project.  As we get stuff completed, we'll keep you updated.