My name is Bob Kister, I play the banjo and sing both lead and harmony vocals.
I play with Strait & Narrow as a music ministry. We strive to point the way to Jesus Christ and salvation with our music, our testimonies, and a salvation message. We are a team of witnesses for Christ cleverly disguised as a bluegrass gospel band.
I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1942. I graduated from Custer High School in 1960 and went into the U.S. Navy that same year. I was in the Navy for 6 years and served aboard the USS Thornback, a World War II submarine, and the USS Gilmore, a submarine tender. I was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, and while I was there I got to like bluegrass music and the sound of the 5-string banjo.
After being discharged from the Navy, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and The university of Wisconsin-Parkside.
I started learning to play the banjo some time around 1975, and I played with a bluegrass band called Just Pickin’ from 1979 – 1993.
I was not a Christian until March 6, 1985 when I finally caught on to the message of the gospel and began my relationship with Jesus Christ. This was just a month before my 43rd birthday.
I Met my wife, Sharon at the Racine Assembly of God church. We both were members of the church evangelism team. We have four boys; Scott, Ethan, Jay, and Kayne, and three grand children; Scott, Elijah, and Hannah. Right now Sharon and I attend services at the Racine Assembly of God, and at a house church at Brown’s Lake. Sharon and I are also involved in the Royal Family Kid’s Camp as “Grandma & Grandpa.”
I met Dan Muniz, our guitar player, at church and we teamed up as a duo and played at church for awhile. Eventually our duo grew into the Strait & Narrow band of today.
Some of the places we have played at include:
Racine Assembly of God, Athelstane Assembly of God, Emmaus Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, The Inspiration Center, The Landmark Church of God, various nursing homes in Racine, Oak Creek, and South Milwaukee, The Common Grounds Coffee House, Grace Church, Community Christian Church, and the Channel 14-TV Station in West Allis.
We have never charged a fee to play anywhere. This is our ministry; it is not a job or just entertainment.
The most important thing in my life is my relationship with Jesus Christ. This is followed closely in importance by my wife Sharon, and my children and grandchildren. My message to others who don’t know Christ is this:
I was almost 43 years old before I finally caught on to who Jesus Christ is and what he has done for me and for everyone else. I was totally lost in sin and unbelief for the first 43 years of my life and would have gone straight to hell if I had died without Christ. I would now tell everyone to take Christ and the message of the Bible seriously and get to know Christ personally because we are all headed for hell without Him. Don’t delay and waste years of your life as I did. We can’t get to heaven by our good works. The Bible says that we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone, not by works lest anyone should boast. The Bible also says that all of our good works are like filthy rags in God’s sight. Since we can’t do anything good enough to earn our way into heaven, and God didn’t want anyone to be lost, Jesus Christ gave His own life to pay the penalty for our sins. He offers salvation as a free gift to us and all we need do is accept His gift by trusting in Him to save us. Please put your trust in Christ today; don’t wait until it’s too late.