Who is Robert "Kiah" Coleman
Robert Hezekiah Coleman II, affectionately known as Kiah, is a 24 year old musician who shares his gift of music in service to God and as a reliable support system for other musicians. Kiah is the lead organist at New Bethel Church of God In Christ. His lineage at New Bethel began with his great grandmother, the beautiful Ms. Beatrice Noble, continued with his grandmother, Ms. Ada Noble, and flowed right to his mother, Deidre Coleman. Deidre and her husband Robert instilled the love of God into their son, and he reflects that teaching in his everyday life and through his music ministry.
Kiah began his musical journey in the 4th grade as a saxophone player in the school band. He earned the position of 1st chair saxophonist in the 7th grade for both middle and high school. His love of music quickly became all-consuming as he continued playing through middle school. As fate would have it, his attention would soon be turned to another musical instrument. Kiah’s father, Robert Lewis Coleman Senior, had a keyboard at home that Kiah began tinkering with. He soon developed a hunger for learning the keyboard, which his grandmother took notice of, as grandmothers often do. The tinkering ignited a spark of interest that kept his attention.
Ms. Ada asked Missionary Lucy Williams to take him under her wing and that she did. Missionary Williams asked Paul Whitley, an amazing piano/organ player in his own right, to begin lessons for Kiah. Kiah’s mother Deidre and Grandmother wanted that spark of interest to become a flaming inferno that could be used by God. A young 14 year old Kiah took to the organ quickly and by age 16 was a staff organist, playing for the main choir at church. This musical ingenue also began learning to play drums and soon became the drummer in the youth choir as well. He has simply gotten better with time, so much so, that he is requested to play for many other ministries and singers. But this humble young man with an old soul noted that “he just wants to use his talent for whatever God wants him to do”.
He understands that the musical gift that God gave him is a special one, and he uses that gift to help others. His passion is helping musicians and he has done so, outside his church responsibilities, for many years. As a 19/20 year old Lewisburg College student in Raleigh, NC, he offered his talent to help other students learn or enhance their keyboard playing ability. He also volunteered his time as a music trainer for students who were either having a difficult time or wanted to learn to play as well. He did not do this as a teacher’s assistant, for grades or for money, he did it because he understand the power of service and music ministry.
While in college he offered his talent as an organist for Faith Tabernacle Outreach in Lewisburg, NC. Following in the footsteps of his grandmother, mother and mentor, Lucy Williams, he knew that God would take care of his needs if he gave of his time and talent in a way that honors God. Kiah notes that he has always been the “go to” guy for his friends and close circle. He counts it an honor that fellow musicians feel comfortable confiding in him about issues they have as a musician and just everyday life. He sees that as an opportunity to help, as he can apply some of the lifelong lessons and teachings that he’s learned to help someone else.
Hezekiah is also proud of the work that he is doing with the children’s choir at church and his goal is to focus on teaching children to play the piano. He also wants to help people who already play, get to the next level of musicianship, by teaching them different styles and techniques. He also wants to become a entrepreneur by opening his own production company and creating music for and producing artists. This shy servant/leader is a young man of few words, but he did note that he wants to take whatever hardship he’s been through and apply it to other musicians to help them avoid some of the pitfalls that he dealt with AND to help them become better musicians. But most importantly, he wants offer his talents to God so that he can use them for HIS service.
Now if THAT isn’t in the spirit of Missionary Lucy V. Williams… I don’t know what is.