Kevin T. Cunningham
Rock and roll was my life! I was a disc jockey on the radio and in nightclubs. I used to entertain people for a night; now I can impact people for eternity.
Serving God has included Christian radio; church planting in Milan, Italy; and local pastoral ministry in the U.S. in Indiana, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. I am currently serving as the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church of Bedford, MA (https://fbcbedford.church/)
Please visit www.EncourageAndEquip.com for more writing designed to help you grow in your faith.
Please visit www.PastorKevin.net for information on premarital coaching and weddings.
Faith Story
Rock and roll was my life and my god. When I was 8 years old, I remember very clearly wanting to sing or play the drums. When I was 12, I learned that I would never make a dime doing either one. So, I set my sights on radio. I was imitating DJs by 13 and by the age of 17 was on the air. I also worked as a disc jockey in nightclubs and at private parties and served as emcee for many 1950s acts such as Bobby Rydell, the Drifters, the Five Satins, the Coasters, and the Angels. Born in New York City, I attended Roman Catholic schools through high school. Although my level of participation varied, I had always enjoyed a sense of God’s existence and of his protection over my life.
Through the invitation of a Christian friend, I started attending a Bible-teaching church. I marveled at how the people actually seemed happy to be there. I also heard them talk about Jesus in a way that I had never heard before. I remember being puzzled, thinking there are so many different religions and churches, how can I know which one is right? I was taught from the cradle that the Bible was the Word of God and that Jesus was the Son of God. So, I bought a Bible to see what Jesus had to say. (During this time I would talk with a believing friend, listen to a fair amount of Christian radio, and attend a Catholic church in the morning and an evangelical church in the evening.) It was about nine months of reading the gospels through twice before the message took.
I was struck by Jesus’ perfection in all he did. I was most amazed at how he related with people, especially those who were trying to harm him. In light of his standard, I realized for the first time that I fell far short. I was getting a handle by now on heaven and hell and the frightening realization that I was heading in the wrong direction. Only then could I really understand the fact that Jesus not only died for the sins of the world, but he also died for my sins! I accepted, by faith, the fact that his blood was shed in my place to set me free.
There followed another nine months of struggle, trying to reconcile my rock music career with my newfound faith and praying to know God’s will for my life. It was not until I made a clear break with all my former ways of earning a living and trusted totally in the Lord that God was able to break through with clear guidance. On Christmas Eve of 1982, I loaded up my music inventory of 500 albums and 1,000 singles in the car and dropped them in a big green dumpster. Not that the music itself was all that bad. I knew it was something I needed to do. Somehow, I knew it was time to allow Jesus the opportunity to guide my life.
After that crisis moment, it only took two and a half weeks to learn of a position in Christian radio and send a tape, and my belongings were in the back of the car on the way to Kentucky and WNKJ.
I was very content working in Christian broadcasting with a great team and an excellent format. Little did I know, it was just the beginning. God would then lead me to serve him in church planting missions in Milan, Italy, and pastoral ministry in Connecticut, Indiana, New Hampshire, and currently in Lynn, Massachusetts.
The journey continues.
—Kevin T. Cunningham