Living Proof consists of...
Joe Wooldridge (Lead
Vocals)
Joe Wooldridge is a preacher/singer/songwriter from
Rocky Mount,
Va.
He graduated from Victory Baptist
Bible
College
in North Augusta,
SC in 2003 with a
degree in Pastoral Theology.
His desire to serve the Lord has led him to preach in
migrant camps, jails, nursing homes, to building youth groups, youth choirs, and
full SATB church choirs.
He has over Seventeen years of ministry experience.
He currently works with the Rocky Mount Police
Department and serves in his local church.
After graduating from Bible College, Joe went
into full-time ministry working with a young church as a music director \
assistant pastor.
He took over the 9 person all melody choir and watched
as God blessed his efforts and turned it into a 50 person SATB choir.
While there Joe also stayed busy putting together a band
to lead the worship service and assembling various trios and quartets. Following
this ministry Joe went on to serve as a Youth Minister within his home state of
Virginia. Joe
recognizes that while he may water and plant, it is God who has given the
increase!
Joe has a wife and helpmate of eight
years named Cindy who teaches at a local elementary school.
They have two beautiful children- Emma, 5 and Ryder, 3.
Joe and Cindy have watched in amazement as God has
blessed and anointed their lives together.
Joe’s love of music and singing for the Lord led him to gather two
talented friends, Paul Smith and Chris Williams, as a means of fellowship and
singing.
It was out of these informal gatherings that the group “Living Proof”
formed.
Paul Smith (Baritone
Vocals)
Paul Ryan Smith was born on July 19, 1977 and resides
in Rocky Mount,
VA.
Paul is a member of New Life Baptist Tabernacle in
Ferrum,
VA where he is
currently the Choir/Music Director as well as the Worship Leader.
He has been singing and playing music for over twenty
years and is passionate about using his God given talents for the Lord’s work.
Paul would like to attribute most of his musical
influence to his father who taught him how to play the guitar and introduced him
to bluegrass gospel music at an early age.
Paul is married to a wonderful woman by the name of Desiree’ and has two beautiful
daughters, Kendall Addison and Kadence Grace.
Besides his love for singing, he also likes to design
and manage websites.
Paul currently is the webmaster for Living Proof and New
Life Baptist Tabernacle, among others.
When he is not playing with his daughters, managing
websites or singing with Living Proof, he is busy cheering on the Virginia Tech
Hokie’s.
Paul is passionate about his
calling to sing with Living Proof and doesn’t take it lightly.
The ministry of music is a powerful avenue for the Lord
and it is Paul’s desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with whomever He
puts in his path.
“How
then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a
preacher?”
(Romans 10:14)
This verse in scripture resonates in the heart of Living
Proof.
How will people know about the gift of God if we don’t tell them?
It is what drives Paul to minister to others using
Living Proof as a conduit.
Chris Williams (Tenor
Vocals)
Chris Williams was born June 22, 1974 and presently
resides in his hometown; Rocky Mount, VA. Chris is an active member of
Providence Baptist Church in Henry, VA. While at PBC, Chris has served as
choir director, usher and has found a new love for the "role playing" in the
Judgment House PBC hosts every October. In 2007, after what seemed to be a
lifetime of prayer and waiting, God opened the door for Chris to serve his
community as a police officer with the Rocky Mount Police Department.
Chris admits that without his wonderful wife Tracey,
his joy would not be complete. God has blessed them with two sons, Tyler
Jordan, 12 and Lucas Connor, 4. Chris simply loves to sing and has been
doing so since he was a toddler. Outside Chris' love for singing, he loves
to play basketball, softball, running and numerous other sports. Let's not
fail to mention that if you cut him, he would bleed blue! This is due to
his deep-rooted devotion to the North Carolina Tarheels.
Chris is well known in the Rocky Mount community for
his BIG voice and his willingness to use it for the Lord. When God opened
the door for him to be a part of Living Proof, Chris seen yet another
life-long desire, come to pass. Psalm 37:4 states: "Delight thyself
also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Wow,
what an awesome God we serve!!! Also Matthew 19:26
