Pastor Kerns, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been at St. John’s since August, 2016. He earned his MDiv from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2000 and was ordained into the ministry in 2001.

After planting and pastoring a non-denominational church for thirteen years, he began to read Luther and the Book of Concord. This field of study led him to other Lutheran authors, which eventually convinced him to be Lutheran. After resigning from his non-denominational church he colloquized into the LCMS and was accepted in March, 2016. He served his vicarage at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Newark, Delaware.

He and his wife, Edith, have four children: Caroline, Greyson, Mollie and Owen.