| New Christian Band Emphasizes Ministry Role Kansas Christian Newspaper. March 2002, Karen Walker. Updated, August 2010 by John Kratina | ||
| Topeka has a new Contemporary Christian Music sound to listen to. PIK JC (People in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ) is now on the scene to deliver the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Band founder John Kratina says, "We're a Christian rock and roll band, with a horn section and strong vocals."
He says the group are not performers, but a concert ministry where the whole family can have fun, praising God together. The music is important to the group, but the ministry is even more important. "Early on in our formation, we established a foundation of prayer," explains Kratina "First, prayer in rehearsals and before our concerts. Then we also want to include time for an altar call and decision time at our concerts." The group mixes some strong instrumental talents with equally strong vocals. Several members share the spotlight on lead vocals; giving each song it's own unique sound. |
  Names of several of the music veterans will be familiar to followers of the local music scene. Kratina plays electric and acoustic lead guitar and provides vocals.  Rod Callahan, joins in on keyboards and vocals. Mike Ottman plays rhythm guitar. Bass guitar is added by Karl Purvis. Jim Faelske plays violin. Callahan also covers saxophone.  From time to time, Jay Stevenson and/or Ron Spalding join in on trumpet.   |
 Josh Kratina adds the rhythm to their sound on drums and percussion. Weaving the whole PIK JC package together is their sound and lighting technician, Bruce Ottman. PIK JC plays both original music and the more familiar music from artists like Steven Curtis Chapman, Chicago, Tree63, Switchfoot, HyperStatic Union, Waterdeep, Eric Clapton and the more rocking tunes from the Maranatha Band's Promise Keepers project. Kratina says, "This mix gives our audience something they recognize and gives them a foundation on which we can put our own music." John Kratina pens most of the original PIKJC songs. Rod Callahan has also written some original PIKJC songs. Once the basic lyrics and music are established the whole group works together to arrange the total sound. They have music for the Saturday night youth rally as well as the Sunday morning worship service.Kratina says coordinating seven or eight busy schedules takes a lot of commitment from everyone to the mission of the group. "Thank You Father God, for E-mail" he says, adding, "I push one button and whoosh, everyone has the message." The band has been together since June 2001, and committed in December 2001 to practices once a week. They come from all over Northeast Kansas to rehearse. |
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| Johns' songs | "He Gave His Life" |
| "Runaway" | |
| "Where You Want Me To Be" | |
| "Jesus Loves You" | |
| All four of the songs listed above, as recorded by Johns' former group Sharayah, have been played by Christian radio stations in Topeka, Manhattan and Salina, Kansas. | |
| AWARDS | |
| Johns' song "Jesus Loves You" was awarded an honorable mention from The Billboard Top 100 Song Contest. | |
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Kratina formed the band by combining some favorite people from his musical journey. The group includes friends from college, different churches and groups he's been a part of. "We're really like a family," states Kratina, "That's why we call ourselves People in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. We're all a part of that family."