It was under the sunny skies of Sacramento that he was introduced to the Lord through his parents. He was raised by a hard-working mother from the Deep South. In her humble home, she endeavored to make every Sabbath of his childhood a delight which left an indelible impression on his young mind. And although his parents were divorced, Kietrich recalls sitting on the piano bench beside his father on those days that he would visit. It was there that he was inspired by the lyrics and passion of his father’s music to long for his father’s God. His yearning for God ended one night when his mother took him to an evangelistic series as a young boy and he heard the Spirit of the Lord calling him to Himself. And there he and God met.
From that point onward, Kietrich’s life was interwoven with God’s presence. Although his soul was prone to wander, God, like a gentle shepherd searched for him time and time again, and would not let him go.
God’s calling upon Kietrich was revealed over time as he stumbled along beside his Maker. Drawn to God’s vision for him, Kietrich experimented with various ministries as a teenager which led to a blossoming thirst for preaching and teaching the word of God. It was while he thus ministered at a prayer conference that a woman of God, under the power of the Holy Spirit, laid her hand on his shoulder, looked him square in the eyes, and told him that God had called him to the ministry.
With a bagful of clothes and a head full of ideas, Kietrich followed God to Oakwood College where he would receive a more formal education for ministry. Upon graduating, Kietrich was hired as a youth pastor in Sacramento, and there he was until autumn of ‘06 when he enrolled at the Seminary at Andrews University. It is now his pleasure to be called by God to be used by Him at the Oakland Market Street Church.
God did not call Kietrich because he is stronger than most, because he’s not. God did not call Kietrich because he is holier than most, because he’s not. God did not call Kietrich because he is closer to Him than most, because he’s not. God called him because His grace is sufficient for Kietrich and His power is made perfect in his weaknesses.
If you ask him, Kietrich will say, “I’m just a beggar telling other beggars where I found bread.”