Joel Kibble is a member of Take 6 who, after debuting in 1988 with the Platinum self-titled "Take 6" album, went on to record three more Gold Albums. Take 6 has received ten Grammy awards, ten Dove Awards, the Soul Train Music Award, and an award for BRE Vocal Group of the Year. For four consecutives years Take 6 was voted "Best Jazz Vocal Group" in Down Beat Magazine. Joel also writes for the "devotional corner" of the Take 6 website, and provides motivational speaking and singing at various national and international venues. In addition, he currently in the process of writing an inspirational book and is an active leader and supporter of programs that mentor, motivate, and empower troubled young adults.
In spite of his many outstanding accomplishments, Joel came from humble beginnings. He was born into a pastor's home in Buffalo, NY, but spent his formative years in Alabama. It was in Alabama that he obtained the discipline necessary for his life's calling, which was instilled through years of intense training with the Huntsville, AL Swim Association's Junior Olympic swimming team. Though he aspired to one day compete in the Junior Olympics, Providence ordered something greater.
As Joel grew older, his family situation markedly shaped his inevitable call to ministry. The divorce of his parents while attending boarding school at Pine Forge Academy in Pennsylvania, was one of many pivotal points in defining his life's calling because he began to truly experience what it means to trust in God when one's trust in others begins to fade. During this difficult time in Joel's life, he began to develop fears of trust, marriage, and public speaking. But it was while attending Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL that Joel's focus began to change. As he stood one fateful night before a packed auditorium of fellow students, he felt for the first time in his life the Holy Spirit take hold of him and he lost himself in a powerful message of song.
In 1991, Joel was invited to join Take 6 to fill the awesome responsibility of replacing former member and producer Mervyn Warren. He has no shame in saying, " I didn't know anything about the music industry"; but Joel has found that it's when you're at your weakest that God is strong. He can now speak from experience when he says that, "God equips you to do what He calls you to do".
Even now his past fears of public speaking have melted away and been replaced with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. His style of ministry is truly Holy Ghost led. He says, "When it's time for me to open my mouth—He [God] comes through". It is not coincidental that one of his favorite texts is from the gospel of Mathew chapter 10, which reads, "And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake… take no thought how or what ye shall speak… For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."
Through discipline and perseverance, Joel then accomplished another life-long dream—to complete his college degree. He returned to school, almost 10 years later, and received his Bachelor's of Arts degree in 2006 from Oakwood College, now Oakwood University, while maintaining a rigorous touring and speaking schedule. Joel Kibble lives his ministry and, in practice, becomes a message of hope and love in every way. Through his life, Joel admonishes all of us to "Be the message—Live the message—Don't just speak the message".
