An article on Worthington Christian High School’s website details a new fund that has been set up to honor Randy Kettering, former worship director at Grace Brethren Church in Worthington, Ohio, (now Grace Polaris, Mike Yoder, lead pastor). Randy and his wife, Jane, a long-time teacher at the school, retired last year after 44 years at the church. The Randy Kettering Family Performing Arts Fund will serve as an investment in others who use the performing arts to bring glory to God. A portion of the article appears below. Click here to read the complete story.
Founder Of WC’s Music Program Honored Through New Fund
Growing up in Massillon, Ohio, Randy Kettering dreamed of earning a football scholarship for college and perhaps even making it to the NFL. His career plans changed dramatically, however, when he saw classical guitarist Andres Segovia perform at the Blossom Music Center.
“At the time I saw him, he could barely walk, but once he got on stage, he mesmerized the crowd,” said Kettering, who recently moved to Colorado to be closer to his oldest daughter Jenifer (WC ’00), her husband Joshua Eldridge and grandchild Zia. “If you look at a professional, you’re considered old in the late twenties … unless you’re Tom Brady. Your career span in the NFL is just a few years…After that concert, I saw music as something I could do until the day they shovel me into the ground. As long as you have the strength to hold your instrument, sing out a note, shoot a film or write a screenplay, you can be effective.”
When he was 15 years old, Kettering met Pastor James Custer, who helped take the lead on the formation of Grace Brethren Church in Columbus and Worthington Christian High School. Seven years later, when Custer was laying the groundwork for Worthington Christian, he began recruiting Randy and Jane Kettering to work with him at the school and church.
“He invited us down to Columbus and he sold us on the chance to be the music director for both the church and the school,” Kettering said. “What I didn’t know then is that we would never leave.”
In his ten years of working in the school, Randy Kettering oversaw the development of the school’s music program. He helped start the high school and middle school’s band and choir. He offered 75 private music lessons a week for free in order to drum up interest in the new programs.
After working with the school and church for a decade, Kettering focused on leading the church’s music program and turned over the reins of the school’s music program. In total, Kettering served as musical director at Worthington Christian for a decade and as Grace Brethren Church’s musical director for a total of 44 years.
Click here to read the complete story.