Welcome to The Collide Kids Podcast. In this episode, host Christen Clark talks with special guest, Ali Gilkeson. Ali is a talented performer as a member of the internationally renowned Christian band Rend Collective, and new children's book author.  In this episode, listeners will explore Ali's unique journey of parenting with young children on the road while touring with her band and how her children have learned by observing their parents live out their calling and dreams in front of them. This conversation also covers her family's transition to life in Nashville, and her children now attending school for the first time.  Ali shares the inspiring story behind Rend Collective's hit song, "My Lighthouse," and talks about her new children's book inspired by the song. Details about Ali's upcoming book release are revealed, along with an inspiring childhood memory. Don't miss this inspiring interview! Plus Kids Only Segment featuring Zach Jones!

Clip Finder:

"Parent-Friendly Kids' Music": "It'd be so good to have music that was hopeful and spoken message that kids could learn the words off to and that the parents, you weren't pulling your hair out while listening to it."
— Ali Gilkeson [00:04:45 → 00:04:55]

**The Song That Touched Generations**: "We started getting these emails of skills and summer camps and prisons, and it really connected with a whole wide scope of people. I think that was what was so amazing about it was like you had three year olds doing the actions, and then you had, you know, 80 year olds, you know, listening to it, and then everybody in between."
— Ali Gilkeson [00:09:57 → 00:10:18]

Trust in God: "Sometimes if anybody was going to show up to a show, we just had no idea. And, you know, I feel like our lives have been built on trust a lot, and having to be where they always say, trust the process. Trust the process. Or for us, it was like, just trust in Jesus. Like, trust in God. Like, what he says is true."
— Ali Gilkeson [00:13:36 → 00:13:52]

Unique Instruments in Worship: "So probably the most unique instrument that we've used is thing called the Jingling Johnny, which my husband plays."
— Ali Gilkeson [00:16:58 → 00:17:04]

**Bridging the Gap Through Music**: "When you hear our music, you'll hear the words in the message, but there's an invitation to it. That anyone can almost listen to it and get a hold of and be. Be captured by it a little bit, you know?"
— Ali Gilkeson [00:18:38 → 00:18:49]

Balancing Parenthood and Careers: "We didn't want to stop our lives to have kids. We just wanted to bring our kids into our lives and be like, hey, this is. This is our ministry."
— Ali Gilkeson [00:20:35 → 00:20:41]

The Greatest Gift to Your Child: "I honestly believe one of the greatest gifts you can give your child is for them to witness you living your life and not stopping your life. And so our kids have seen that."
— Ali Gilkeson [00:22:52 → 00:23:02]

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