Kim Walker-Smith is an American worship singer and pastor, born in 1981 in Oregon. A historic figure of Jesus Culture at Bethel Church in Redding, she is known worldwide for her version of “How He Loves,” viewed more than 27 million times, and today continues a solo career with her husband Skyler Smith.
Kimberlee Dawn Walker was born on December 19, 1981, in Albany, Oregon, and grew up on a farm near Klamath Falls. After giving her life to Christ at eighteen, she moved to Redding, California, where she discovered Bethel Church's house of prayer and then completed the church's two-year ministry school. She went on to become a worship pastor there.
In 1999, she became one of the very first worship leaders of Jesus Culture, the youth ministry of Bethel Church that grew into a worldwide movement of conferences and live albums. Her cover of “How He Loves,” written by John Mark McMillan, has passed 27 million views on YouTube and become a standard in churches around the world. She released her first solo album, Here Is My Song, in 2008, and has continued a solo career while staying connected to Jesus Culture until the late 2010s.
- Origin
- Albany, Oregon, then Klamath Falls, Oregon (USA); settled in Redding, California
- Style
- Contemporary worship
- Active since
- 1999 with Jesus Culture, solo career since 2008
- Must-know
- Her version of “How He Loves” has passed 27 million views on YouTube
How did Kim Walker-Smith get started?
Born in Oregon, Kim Walker-Smith grew up in a musical family before going through a period of doubt that led her, at eighteen, to give her life to Christ. She moved to Redding to study and discovered Bethel Church through its prayer room, open day and night, then joined the church's ministry school.
In 1999, she took part in launching Jesus Culture, Bethel Church's youth conference that grew into a worldwide worship movement. She became its lead voice, alongside the Jesus Culture Band.
What makes Kim Walker-Smith distinctive?
Her cover of “How He Loves,” a song written by John Mark McMillan, marked a whole generation of Christians and has passed 27 million views on YouTube. Kim Walker-Smith also received a Grammy Award nomination in 2019 for Jesus Culture's album Living With a Fire. In recent years, she has also been leading a more personal project, Known and Loved, in which she dedicates a song to each of her three children.
Where should you start to discover Kim Walker-Smith?
Start with the songs she wrote for her children, “Friends with the Fire (Isabella's Song)” and “Known and Loved (Oliver's Song),” which show a more personal side of her worship. Round out your listening with her earlier Jesus Culture repertoire, especially “How He Loves.”
songs
Friends with the Fire (Isabella's Song)
A song dedicated to her daughter Isabella, from her family project Known and Loved.
Known and Loved (Oliver's Song)
The title track of the album, written for her son Oliver.
Armor On (Benjamin's Song)
A prayer of protection composed for her son Benjamin.
Discography
- 2025SEASONS (Live)
- 2021Revival Nights Pt. 2 (Live)
- 2021Revival Nights (Live)
- 2021Cafe Sessions
- 2020Wild Heart
- 2018On My Side (Live)
- 2017On My Side· number one on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart
- 2014When Christmas Comes
- 2013Home· with her husband Skyler Smith
- 2011Still Believe (Live)
- 2008Here Is My Song (Live)· first solo album
Read also
Frequently asked questions
Who is Kim Walker-Smith?
Kim Walker-Smith is an American worship singer and pastor, born in 1981 in Oregon. A historic figure of Jesus Culture at Bethel Church, she now leads a solo career from Redding, California.
What is Kim Walker-Smith's best-known song?
Her cover of “How He Loves,” a song by John Mark McMillan, has passed 27 million views on YouTube and remains her best-known performance around the world.
Is Kim Walker-Smith still part of Jesus Culture?
She was the lead voice of Jesus Culture for about fifteen years, until the late 2010s, before focusing on her solo career while remaining a worship pastor.
What is Kim Walker-Smith's Known and Loved project?
Known and Loved is a project in which Kim Walker-Smith dedicates a song to each of her three children, Isabella, Oliver, and Benjamin, in a style more intimate than her congregational worship albums.
Where can you listen to Kim Walker-Smith?
Her albums are available on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer, as well as on her official YouTube channel and her website, kimwalkersmith.com.
Is Kim Walker-Smith a Christian?
Yes, she is an evangelical Christian worship singer, trained at Bethel Church's ministry school, where she also served as a worship pastor.