Joshua Williams is a Christian recording artist and songwriter. For nearly 25 years he has crafted original songs reflecting the joy, longing, and sorrows of walking the narrow road. Producing his first solo album, Roadside Photographs, at the early age of nineteen, Joshua drew from his habit of retreating to prayer in the midst of life’s tragedies for expressing heartfelt meditations through his music. This theme continues as the trademark of his unique style of songwriting.
By early 2001, Joshua’s solo career became a duo when he met his lovely wife, Kerry. The two agreed to a betrothal without ever seeing one another. In a truly modern day Isaac and Rebekah love story, Joshua and Kerry became engaged—quite literally—worlds apart. Kerry, a native of Scotland, previously met Joshua’s parents and, recognizing God’s will, agreed to marry Joshua trusting His plan for her life. Joshua chose not to date throughout his teen years, believing that God would provide his better half when and if He chose. That same year the two married and pledged their Fortunes of Grace to one another from that day on.
Early Days
In the following years, Kerry “joined the band” as it were, featuring her distinctive harmonic voice on Joshua’s subsequent recording projects. In 2003, the two produced a second album entitled In the Line of Holiness with eleven new songs crafted in Joshua’s unique “folk worship” style. His musical influences harken back to the early Jesus movement era. Such artists as Keith Green, Micheal Card, and Bob Bennett regularly appeared in Joshua’s record collection. These and more helped shape his unique approach to songwriting.
Recognizing the desperate need for young adults to discover the joy of waiting on God’s timing, Joshua and Kerry expanded their ministry to share their love story at their concerts. This led to a book and ministry dedicated to challenging believers to a life of waiting on the Lord’s plan for their lives. As a full time congregational worship leader and lay pastor, Joshua continued to write new songs. After completing construction on a personal home recording studio (a relatively new idea in those days) Joshua and Kerry produced a third record entitled Confession. This project brought home new expressions pouring out of the heart with such songs as Dearest Father and Answer Heaven.
By this time, Joshua and Kerry’s work was receiving national radio play, still the main way of accessing music back then. Joshua’s daily occupation transitioned into managing a ministry owned Christian bookstore and later the creation of a coffee distribution company. They dedicated the following decade to raising their four children, operating two businesses and continuing to write songs as the Holy Spirit led.
New Mission
Today, Joshua and Kerry commit their time to producing more than a decade’s worth of fresh new music and homeschooling their two boys and two girls. Oak Hill Productions encompasses a fully-equipped recording studio, a son who is a wiz at technical music engineering, and an online video blog. No matter what “career” God has called them to, Joshua and Kerry have always striven to remain in the center of God’s will, dedicated to Christ and His kingdom.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)