After moving to Germany in 2002, Kirkman was invited to join the Gospel choir, Gospel & More (GAM) from Halle(Westf.) He sang with this choir from May 2003 until December 2008. It was this experience that changed his life and opened his eyes to a newfound voice in his soul. He dived into singing, and even composed a Gospel song that is still part of the repertoire of GAM. Kirkman took strong notice of the exploding Gospel scene in Germany, but was disappointed by several developments he saw along the way. Wanting to provide singers with an opportunity to learn from Masters of Gospel music, Kirkman began developing the idea for a Camp in New Orleans. The camp should be an environment where participants could learn more about the spiritual music and how it connects not only to the soul, but to the culture as well.

Kirkman planned a trip in 2005 to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with five other Germans, including his choir director, Brigitte Stumpf-Gieselmann. That trip, made just months prior to Hurricane Katrina, literally changed the direction of the GAM choir. It became clear that such an education should be available to all that sing or want to sing Gospel. Thus the camp idea began to form. But a Post-Katrina New Orleans made it difficult to realize this idea until now.

Teaming together with Brigitte Stumpf-Gieselmann, Kirkman hopes to bring the strengths of his event management experience together with her strengths as a music therapist and choir leader to make the Camp a great experience for all. Kirkman sought out two of the best Gospel choir leaders in New Orleans and coerced his second mom, a church organist in New Orleans to help out as well. The Camp has made the leap from idea to reality.

Kirkman maintains that the Camp should focus on education, communication, and cultural exchange all built on the foundation of having fun. Several fun events have been planned for participants, including attending a Baptist church service, a cross cultural collaboration with a local Gospel choir, and a closing service in a Baptist church where participants will have the opportunity to collaboratively sing with their newfound local Gospel choir colleagues. In addition to experiencing the music, nature, culture and food of New Orleans and Southern Louisiana, several other cultural surprises are currently being planned.