Kathie Howard & Friends is a multifaceted music ministry, dedicated to going wherever God leads. Kathie is a Praise & Worship Leader and has put together numerous Praise & Worship teams for various churches since 1980. Along the way she met a talented and anointed musician, Steve, who has been playing lead guitar and piano for the ministry since 1987, starting out in one of the first praise teams.
Kathie had always known that a band ministry was in her future. Her husband of 30+ years, Jimmie, shared her vision and along with Steve and his wife Leslie, they saw their prayers answered by God. They praised God as talented musicians and singers (the “Friends”) came along side them to form the Kathie Howard & Friends band in December of 1995. The band took 1st place in a ‘Battle of the Bands’ contest singing Praise & Worship songs in 1996, and in 1998 they won best lyrical content in another one.
Kathie has been a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. Kathie’s husband, Jimmie, is head sound man for the band and brings joy to all around him. It is truly a family affair. The band continues to grow and change. With marriages, the birth of babies, members moving away, all are still a part of the KH&F Music Ministry, because “A Friend is a Friend for Life”.
Kathie has written most of the songs the band sings now and using various music styles, the band has performed in places from Coffee houses to Prisons, from Churches to Juvenile Boot Camps, Recovery Homes to the Chaffee Zoo. From City Parks to Retirement & Assisted Living Homes, from city wide Family Awareness Day to the check-out counter of a grocery store. From California to Texas, Russia to South Africa we have seen all types of people including gang members & drunken farm laborers give their lives to Jesus.
As a band and a dance team, we hold a high regard for giving our very best. As a ministry we find it crucial to display the love of Christ to the world not only through music and dance but, our lives also.