Kim Pelfrey VanHoozier (soprano) The outgoing piece to the Pelfreys' puzzle is Kim Pelfrey VanHoozier, the sister to lead singer and manager Jerry “Punkin” Pelfrey and sister-in-law to alto singer Mikki Denice Johnson Pelfrey. However, that outgoing demeanor didn't always come naturally. “In high school, I started singing more in choir,” shares Kim. “I really dealt with a fear of standing in front of people. I battled that for a long time. “We were asked to sing at church. I was afraid to sing by myself, so I asked Punkin to sing with me. I would have panic attacks about singing. It was Satan working. Now, I just say, 'God, it's less of me and more of you.'” Kim was a member of the UT-Chattanooga singers – a concert choir of mixed vocalists – while in college, and she sang and danced as part of a performance group at Atlanta's Six Flags Over Georgia theme park. “It was a good experience,” points out Kim. “It kind of pushed me out in front a little more. It was building confidence. “But I always knew I needed to be singing at home in church.” Kim now has five children, which includes 17-year-old Maddie and four children that Kim and her husband Ronnie adopted (nine-year-old John, eight-year-old Noah, seven-year-old Lexi and six-year-old Nevaeh). “Ronnie and I miscarried four times,” says Kim. “Over in North Carolina, there were four children who needed a plan.” Since the Pelfreys began touring again in November of 2013, the whole family travels together. “It's a lot of fun to be back on the road,” emphasizes Kim. “It's even more fun taking the kids. “It's amazing the blessings God gives. My mother got all of the grandkids an individual suitcase to take with us when we get a bus.” Kim and Punkin were original members of the Pelfreys when the group began touring as a family in 2002, and Mikki signed on in 2005. They remained on the road until 2008 and then restarted once Punkin left Gold City in October of 2013. Kim actually wrote one of the group's most requested songs, “I Touched Jesus.” The song relates the story in Luke's gospel of the woman with the issue of blood. “It means so much more to me now, because spiritually I had touched him before,” explains Kim. “Now, physically, I have reached out and believed. There's a reason why he does all things. If we didn't have those rough times, we wouldn't trust him.” Kim had some rough times in 2013, when she was diagnosed with Adenosarcoma. Adenosarcoma is an uncommon form of cancer. “I said, 'Lord I'm just going to trust you. I know you didn't give me those five kids to take them from me. So, I'm going to thank you and praise you now,'” remembers Kim. “God is our provider. He shows up when we need him.” Kim had surgery in early February of 2013, followed by a follow-up procedure in early April. “They said I was going to have to do radiation and chemo,” notes Kim. “I didn't have to do any of it. “Who is Jesus to me? … he is my healer. He's my restorer. Satan is a liar. God is a restorer. The things that showed me in the last year, it's amazing. There's been so many good things. If there's any one thing I could say is that God is so good to us.” Seven months after that final surgery, the once-shy young lady was anxious to share that timeless message as she shared the stage once again with her family. “I want people to understand that it's all about the love,” emphasizes Kim. “We have to get back to Jesus. He's love. “I want them to understand that we serve a God who loves us and wants to be close to us. In my lifetime, in the decisions I've made, he is so much more forgiving than what we understand. Our ministry, I want it to be healing place where people can find a place to hide and a place to rest.”