Page 37 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2017- Online Magazine
P. 37
HONORING SENIORS
A Pitch-Perfect Love for
God and Each Other:
Couple’s Battle Against Alzheimer’s
Hasn’t Stolen their Song
DON AND MONA KINDER by Bear Mills
he first time Don Kinder leave Don’s high-paying oilfield tell me that, over in Cuba, the
heard Mona Robinson playing job and go into full-time music accordion is an instrument of revival
Tthe piano and singing at evangelism, ministering at churches because they can take it wherever
a gospel meeting in the Permian and conferences around the United God is moving,” Don said.
Basin, his heart skipped a beat. Here States. It was certainly an instrument of
was a beautiful, talented girl who “It was back in the day when it revival everywhere the Kinders
seemed as devoted to the Lord as seemed like God was really moving traveled, ministering in venues
he was. The only problem was that in a powerful way,” Don said of the that included Lakewood Church,
Mona was engaged to someone else. days when he alternated between pastored then by John Osteen, and
But the recent college grad bided his guitar and accordion, with Mona now by his son, Joel.
time and hoped for the best. playing piano and providing pitch-
“The first time I heard her, she was perfect vocals. “God called us to “Our parents were very supportive
of our ministry,” Don said. “There
singing, ‘I’ve Come to Know the was never any question about us
Lord in a New Dimension,’” Don following where God was leading.”
recalled. He wanted to get to know
Mona in a new dimension, too, but it However, after a few years, the
didn’t seem meant to be. However, Kinders had three children, Krista,
after two or three months at an Kasey, and Jeremy, and it was time
oilfield tech school in Houston, Don for the oldest, Krista, to enter first
moved back to the Permian Basin grade. “This was before the time
and found a different response. when home schooling was really
an option,” Don said. “I thought,
He remembered, “When I got back ‘I need to get a real job and get our
and went by Sears, where Mona was daughter in school.’”
working, she was really glad to see
me. I knew then that this was going He took a leadership position in his
to work out.” father’s Denver City construction
business, and Mona taught music
Remembering is something that in the school system. But whatever
Don does a lot of lately. Because of be a part of it. We composed our they were doing, sharing Jesus was
Mona’s worsening Alzheimer’s, it’s own songs, with me playing the Job One.
his job now to remember for both accordion and us singing. Back then,
of them. “The thing is that our story we’d lead in worship, the Holy Spirit Krista Kinder Bumstead, Don
isn’t really our story,” Don insisted. would move, and just the music and Mona’s oldest child, said,
“It’s about Jesus. It’s about what portion of the service might last an “My parents have always lived
Jesus has done for us and through hour.” their faith overtly. They always
us, for others and through others.” considered themselves in ministry
Traveling the country in an no matter what they were doing
Don and Mona married during Airstream trailer, the Kinders professionally.” She continued,
the height of the Jesus Movement ministered in churches ranging from “Even though my dad is an
of the late 1960s. Their dedication Catholic to Baptist, Methodist to introvert, he always has the biggest
to the Lord compelled them to Pentecostal. “I had a Cuban minister smile and is trying to be warm and
Lubbock Senior Link 37
