As we enter February and turn our hearts toward themes of devotion, Kyle Williams’ story stands as a beautiful testament to how love, both earthly and divine, shapes a life. In July 2004, at age 23, Kyle left small-town Mississippi for Orlando to pursue a passion for music at Full Sail University. This move wasn’t just about a career; it was the beginning of a lifelong discovery of community. He soon found a small church family that embodied the sacrificial love of Christ, taking him in during the chaos of Hurricane Charlie just a month after he arrived. This radical hospitality was an early glimpse of the Church acting as the hands and feet of Jesus.
The year 2009 ushered in a season of romance that felt like a divine appointment. In January, Kyle met Amber, and despite the distance from Orlando to Fort Meyers between them, they discovered a miraculous connection: her parents lived just one mile from his home in Lake Mary. Their “instant chemistry” led to an April proposal and an August wedding. However, when their original church dissolved, the couple found themselves “churchless.” This period of wandering highlighted a profound truth: just as a husband and wife are called to a covenant of love, there is a specific, sacred love that Christ has for His Bride, the Church. We are not meant to walk alone, but to be cherished and sustained within a body of believers.
That sense of belonging was restored in December 2016 through a providential call from Chris Kutcher. Chris, a former roommate and worship leader, had just joined the team at Holy Cross Lake Mary (HCLM) and invited Kyle to play electric guitar for Christmas Eve. Kyle jumped at the chance, and that single service ignited a fire for worship that has seen him play nearly every week for the last nine years. Through Chris’s invitation, Kyle and Amber found a home where the love of Christ for His Bride was palpable and unwavering.
This love became a “calm in the storm” during the pandemic, particularly as they brought home their third child. One of the most powerful moments of Kyle’s journey occurred during a COVID-era Easter service. Though the room was physically empty, it was spiritually packed. Kyle recalls the moving sight of Pastor Paul Hoyer standing in that vacant sanctuary, arms raised and singing at the top of his lungs, a vivid image of a shepherd’s love for his flock and Christ’s love for His people. As Kyle played “The Blessing,” he was overcome with tears of gratitude, reminded that God’s favor remains constant through every generation.
As Kyle reflects on the baptisms of Amber and their youngest son, August, he sees a tapestry of love woven by God’s hand. From the early days of rooming with Chris Kutcher to serving alongside Pastor Paul Hoyer, The William’s journey at HCLM has been defined by the commitment we make to one another and the ultimate commitment Christ made to us. Today, he is more excited than ever to raise his family in a place where the love of Christ for His Bride is celebrated every single day.
Do you have a Holy Cross story you’d like to share? Please reach out to Grace Chewning or Tiffany Danley at tiffany@hclm.org to share how God has worked in your life and through our Church family. *Find past stories HERE!