Dean Poling | The Valdosta Daily TimesKenji Bolden is the director of music ministries at Valdosta First United Methodist Church.

VALDOSTA – Several factors have brought Kenji Bolden to this point in his life.

A point where he is the director of music ministries at Valdosta First United Methodist Church, where he performs a rotating schedule of dates at South Georgia nursing homes, where he is the husband of wife Courtney, and father of Justin, 8, Ashlyn, nearly 2, and a third child on the way, a baby daughter to be named Scarlett.

Bolden grew up in a musical household, adopted at six weeks old by Edna Jackson, a woman who raised 22 children through the years, though she never married, never gave birth to a child. She played piano for churches. Bolden started playing piano at the age of 4.

“She inspired me to do what I’m doing,” Bolden said. 

He was born in south Florida, reared in central Florida, raised in the church by Jackson. Bolden studied music at Emporia State College, South Florida State College and Florida Southern College, where he met and befriended teacher Carol Krueger. 

She moved to Emporia, Kansas, and Bolden also moved to Kansas, where he studied and worked part-time with music in churches. “She has become a second mother to me in many ways,” he said. 

Krueger took a job at Valdosta State University where she is director of choral studies. A couple of years ago, when she learned First United Methodist was looking for a new director of music ministries, she thought the job and South Georgia would be a good fit for Bolden and his growing family.

But Bolden was reluctant to consider the Valdosta job. He didn’t want his career to appear to follow Krueger from one place to the next and he was uncertain about trading Kansas for an unknown Southern city more than 1,200 miles away.

So, he passed up the opportunity, with a caveat. Lord, he prayed, if it’s still open in a few months, I will look into it. A few months later, learning the job was still open, Bolden looked into it.

“As I said if it’s open, it’s meant for me.”

He and the Rev. Bob Moon, First United pastor, spoke on the phone several times. Bolden interviewed with the church. More than a year ago, he got the job as director of music ministries.

Some residents are surprised to learn that Bolden, a black man, is the music minister at a predominantly white church. For Bolden, the situation is nothing new. He was in similar positions with with predominantly white churches in Kansas.

Though he admits, coming from a black church culture, he sometimes has a hard time repressing the gospel music style he has known since earliest childhood. But he said he has found ways to incorporate and blend styles.

Performing for nursing homes is another way he can minister as well as express himself in different ways musically. He regularly visits several nursing homes monthly. Church children often prepare care packages for Bolden to take to the nursing homes on holidays.

Visiting nursing homes is something he does voluntarily. He said he enjoys connecting with the residents, developing friendships with some people who may have few visitors.

“I walk out after visiting a nursing home, it’s a new lease on life,” he said.

Living in South Georgia has given him and his family new perspectives on life. 

At First United, he said he would like to add a second adult choir and hopes to develop a youth choir. 

But he remains true to the ideas instilled in him by his mother.

Asked why she raised so many children, Bolden said her answer has always been, “If a child needs raising and you can do it, you do it.”

It’s the same concept behind ministry. The same philosophy that keeps Bolden visiting nursing homes.

If there’s a need you can fulfill, you fulfill it.