James B. Hitch (Jim)

Jim plays guitar, banjo and bass, and sings leads and harmonies for the family group. He has played music and sung most of his life, including such activities as Boy's Octet in high school and the Lincoln Boy's Choir, followed by participation in many secular bands in the '70's. The Lord abruptly changed his life in 1981 when Jim heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the very first time, and made a commitment to serve Him at any cost. His conversion eventually led to a position with the praise and worship team of his church, followed by leadership with the choir and special music ministry. He also served as praise and worship leader for over three years. As his children grew, it became evident the Lord was raising up a family music ministry for Jim and Kathy, and their eight children, who minister together as Simple Grace Ministries. As patriarch of Simple Grace, Jim manages the operations of the ministry, including all the bookings and program details.

He wears many hats, some of which are that of Daddy, husband, home school principal, tour bus driver, finance director, road mechanic, trip planner, public relations, counselor, concert MC and taxi driver (only for the family!). He finds his long, lonely night drives across the country lifted and brightened by the Lord's presence and fellowship. Jim believes God has answered his heartfelt desire by allowing him the privilege of serving the Lord together with his family and in a musical capacity. Travel and fellowship with kindred spirits along the way is something he loves, and he recognizes the Lord's hand in placing that desire in his heart and fanning the fire with His Holy Spirit.

Kathleen A. Hitch (Kathy)

Kathy plays the acoustic bass guitar for Simple Grace, and sings some lead and support vocals. She has a deep desire to meaningfully touch the hearts of her audiences, and can be found listening to, sharing with and encouraging folks following the concerts. Because she and Jim have endured eight miscarriages during their marriage, the Lord has used her testimony and music to minister to those suffering similar losses. Music is rather new in Kathy's life, and writing songs under the guidance of the Holy Spirit has been an incredibly rewarding experience for her. She dearly loves people, and appreciates the opportunities for developing new friendships that the ministry travels provide. Taking advantage of every chance to incorporate the family travels into the home school curriculum, much teaching is done by Kathy on the road. Kathy's most treasured moments are spending time being a wife, mom and home teacher, and traveling as a family and the unforgettable memories they have shared together. Tending her flower gardens is her creative hobby. Reading and studying are daily treats for her. Leaving behind their adult children has been a heart-stretching challenge for Kathy, though their independence has been the goal since the beginning, and she acknowledges God’s plan to release them to serve Him in the manner which He has Sovereignly ordained. She is the ministry secretary and supervises all publications, mail and correspondence. In her spare time. . . . .never mind, . . . . . there isn't any spare time!

Nicholas B. Hitch (Nick)
Birth date: 2/11/83

Nick officially resigned from the family music ministry in November of 2002, to attend college in El Cajon, California.  He graduated from San Diego Christian College on May 3^rd, 2008, with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.  He accepted a summer position at Hume Lake Christian Camp, Hume, California, for 2008.  From there, he plans to work in mission ministry in Capetown, South Africa.  He made a missions trip to S. Africa in the summer of ‘07, and his heart was won by the evangelistic work being done there by JAM Ministries.  He hopes to raise support by January, ’09, and work there indefinitely. Nick makes guest appearances with Simple Grace as often as possible, and we are always delighted to feature him.  His position as eldest brother is irreplaceable, and his influence on the younger siblings is positive, inspirational and deeply appreciated. Oh, how deeply we miss and love you, Nick!

Larissa L. Hitch (Lacey)
Birth date: 3/30/84

Lacey resigned from Simple Grace Ministries in December of 2008 to become the wife of Brandon Wilkie!  She and her husband moved to Mullen, Nebraska, to begin their married life together.  Brandon is a Nebraska State Trooper, and a devoted man of God. We are delighted with their marriage, and excited to see God working and directing their lives. Brandon is a welcome addition to our family, and we honor him as our own son. Lacey is tutoring some local students during the summer, and babysitting for friends in her new home town. As a family, we dearly miss Lacey’s talent and company as we travel and continue our home life.  Her sparkle and close friendships with each of us have always been a treasure, and we are hard pressed to discover how to fill in the gaps she left behind.  Someone in the family speaks with her every day, and sometimes her phone is backed up with lines of Hitch’s waiting for her attention.  We are still aching with missing Lacey!  How we love you, Lace!

Avery E. Hitch
Birth date:8/7/85

Avery plays the fiddle, guitar and cello on stage, and sings lead and harmony parts.  She enjoys writing songs, and often expresses herself through the music she composes.  Avery is in charge of the financial side of the ministry and family, and works many hours managing the books. God has recently expanded her financial ministry to include managing personal and small business finances for clients, and helping others create and stick to debt reduction plans. Avery’s passion is for writing and she has completed two years of correspondence school through the Christian Writer’s Guild.  She has published three books and her newest book, A Penny Parcel, was released by Winepress Publishing in February of 2007. A Penny Parcel was nominated for the 2008 Christy Award, a prestigious award given for outstanding Christian fiction.  Visit Avery's website for additional information: www.averyehitch.com. With the publication of her most recent book, Avery has begun booking speaking engagements, and is thrilled at every opportunity to talk about her testimony and books. She speaks at churches, Bible studies, special events and schools. At home, Avery enjoys breeding and riding paint horses. She travels many miles in her pickup going to visit Lacey, and she also loves her quiet time and puts effort into staying connected with friends when she’s on the road.

Lucas J. Hitch
Birth date: 3/19/1988

Lucas continues to be a key component in Simple Grace Ministries. He plays guitar, fiddle, cello, piano, drums and helps to arrange music for the band. He is planning to stay in the music field for as long as possible. Lucas has been composing songs prolifically in the past few years. In February of 2008 he met producer Je’kob Washington, and in May of 08’ Lucas began recording a full project in Los Angeles, California. He is hoping to use his music and abilities to impact his generation, while at the same time not forgetting his roots, both musically and spiritually. Lucas plans to work in tandem with Simple Grace for as long as possible and see where God takes his own ministry. He has been performing solo concerts for young adults alongside of Simple Grace this year. For more information, visit his page at www.myspace.com/lucashitch.

Lucas continues to enjoy the extreme sports of the west coast; snowboarding, surfing, dirt bike ramping, break dancing and stunts. He enjoys working on cars. He loves to travel and the changing scenery and environments of life on the road. He works with his cousin Chris, tiling part-time when we are at home, and keeps up with his friends on his time off.  Simple Grace Ministries is blessed to have Lucas involved with our ministry, and our family is blessed with his friendship and fellowship both at home and on the road!  It will be a sad day, for sure, when God moves Lucas to different horizons.  Sad, and exciting on his behalf, at the same time.

Blake D. Hitch
Birth date: 8/27/1989

Blake resigned from Simple Grace Ministries in May of 2008, following his high school graduation.  He plans to work full time (and then some!) during the summer and begin college classes in the fall, or winter of ’09. We miss his talented dobro and drum playing on stage, and his vocals and cheerful presence in the ministry! Blake enjoys any extreme sport including skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and surfing.  He has a love of cars and engines, and is considering pursuing an education in performance engines or a related field.  He is the youngest ever to leave our ministry, and we miss him with heartfelt longing!  The good thing is he is living at home and helps out with the care of the farm while we are traveling.  It’s been a lot of years since we could leave home and not make arrangements for the care of the home place.  We all stay connected with him no matter where we are!  How we miss and love you dearly, Blake!

Sterling J. Hitch
Birth date 12/9/1991

Sterling has stepped up admirably to fill the shoes of those who have left our ministry the past couple years!  He plays mandolin and sings tenor vocals for Simple Grace.  His newest contribution to the ministry is composing and singing a powerful song about poverty-stricken children around the world. The Lord has given him a strong passion for missions, and he is leading our ministry’s participation in Compassion International’s Independent Artists Program, coordinating sponsorship of children around the world with our audiences.  He is committed to finishing his last two years of high school at an accelerated pace, and joining a missions project around the world as soon as possible. Sterling enjoys keeping in touch with friends all across the country, and has a long list of those whose lives he has touched.  He hopes to attend school in California after high school.  He also enjoys staying in touch with his extreme side, perhaps a bit more than his parents appreciate, by participating in dirt biking, paintball, wakeboarding, break dancing, surfing, as well as other stunts.

Sterling has a gift for training horses, and enjoys polishing green-broke horses and training them into gentle, useful animals.  He can be found most mornings riding our neighboring lands on one of the horses he has purchased for training. He is working a landscaping job also, on the days we are not traveling.  If you want to see busy, see Sterling!  Somehow, he still finds time to connect with each family member and mentor Bristol and our family’s cousins, too.  His heart follows after the Lord, and we are so happy to call him our own

Havilah R. Hitch
Birth date: 12/14/1993

If you have seen Simple Grace perform before, you may not recognize Havilah!  She has changed the most in recent years, and is now a young lady, not a little girl.  Havilah is filling in many of the gaps left when Lacey resigned from our ministry.  She plays piano and fiddle and cello, and sings a good portion of our vocals with her beautiful voice.  She learned to sign a song, and the mixture of beautiful music and signing stirs our audiences deeply.  She is not afraid to try anything, and her boldness is refreshing and inspiring.  She helped her dad with roofing this spring when the boys were unavailable, and is not afraid to tackle any job, right along with the boys in our family!  She keeps the lawn mowed weekly, and can put up an electric fence with the best of ‘em! 

Havilah loves horses, and the Lord provided her with a dream-come-true-horse, that she named Andre (the giant J).  He is a huge chestnut gelding, a little bit challenging, but has won Havilah’s heart completely.  She rides daily when we are home, and in her dreams while we are traveling!  Havilah also enjoys reading and playing piano.  She is dreaming of a Clavinova some day, too.  She will be in the tenth grade in the fall of 2008.  She is a joy, and the love of the Lord shines in her face.

Bristol L. Hitch
Birth date: 3/24/1998

Bristol is ten, now, and not the cute little child we used to know.  He is very mature for his age, a young man, and loves music and travel.  He is learning fiddle, playing drums and singing for the ministry.  With the older boys gone, Bristol has picked up more responsibility and he wears it well.  He enjoys any outdoor activity, including horseback riding (he has his own horse), hiking, camping, paintball, swimming, football, bicycling and fishing.  He has mowing and animal care responsibilities at home, and is entering the fifth grade in the fall of ’08.  He enjoys time with his cousins when we are home, and our annual camping trip to Halsey National Forest in Nebraska. We enjoy his humor and his eagerness to surprise us with gifts and random acts of kindness on a regular basis.  Bristol takes his relationship with the Lord seriously, and strives to please Jesus in all he does.  He won second place in Scripture Memorization at Rodeo Bible Camp in 2007 and 2008.  Way to go!