A Shared Bond in the Gospel: The Ministry of Keith Stonehart

Sometimes God writes His most beautiful stories on the most broken pages. For nearly twelve years, Keith Stonehart lived a life that seemed worlds away from the pulpit. As a touring rock musician in the late 1990s, Keith chased the spotlight, but the road led him into a dark spiral of atheism and severe substance abuse. It was a lifestyle that threatened to completely shatter his family.

But God is an expert at pursuing those who are running away. Facing a critical turning point, Keith walked away from the band to fight for his marriage and his future. It was at this rock-bottom moment that the gospel intercepted his life (Romans 5:20). Through patient, judgment-free Bible studies with a loving brother-in-law and a mentor in Moody, Alabama, Keith deconstructed his doubts. When he finally stepped through the doors of the church, he expected rejection because of his tattoos and rock past. Instead, he was over whelmed by unconditional love and radical grace (Ephesians 2:4-5).

That transformative encounter changed the trajectory of his life, anchoring his marriage to Kelly and reshaping the future for their children. For the past thirteen years, Keith has served as the full-time evangelist for the Fultondale church of Christ in Alabama. This congregation holds a special place in my own heart, as I had the privilege of preaching there on a few occasions as a guest speaker around 25 to 30 years ago, long before Keith’s path led him there.

As a side note, my daughters (Kerilyn and Makena) have attended the Alabama FC camp, where Keith served as a beloved counselor, impacting their lives and the lives of so many young people with his raw, authentic faith (1 Timothy 4:12).

Today, we praise God for the opportunity to fellowship in Keith's ministry (Philippians 1:3-5). By God's grace, our Franklin church family is blessed to partner in this ministry, helping to provide the financial support needed so Keith can fully devote his time and energy to preaching the gospel. (2 Corinthians 9:12). Keith’s journey is a living testimony that no one is beyond the reach of God’s redeeming love, and we are blessed to partner with his family in spreading that message of hope.