Rev. Kenneth D. Gooch

4957 Pollyhill Lane, Roanoke, Virginia 24019
(540) 797-5288 / kdgooch@gmail.com

Wife: Penny Diane Gooch
Children: Grown and out on their own.

Education

Master of Divinity, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, May 1990.
Clinical Pastoral Education Certification, Baylor Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, May 1990.
Bachelor of Science, Information Systems Processing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, May 1981.

Ministry Experience

Minister/Evangelist, New Life Quest Ministry

2003 to present. Began a ministry that provides volunteer missions training, Christian financial money management seminars, revivals and interim ministry for churches. I am currently serving Connelly Memorial Baptist Church, helping them to evaluate and redirect after 10 years of steady decline.

Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church

June 2002-Nov 2003. Calvary had faced a long term difficult pastorate before I came. I led over 100 leaders and staff through a 9 month study to clarify the work and ministry of the church. While affirming the value and importance God places on individual ministry and service, I led the church to developed a new vision statement, core values and an evangelism plan, which was adopted by the church.

State Director of Missions, SBC of Virginia

January 1998-May 2002. The Lord allowed me to implement three major divisions for the SBCV: Church Planting, Volunteer Missions and Disaster Relief. Working with state wide teams we developed the vision, core values, and mission of each division. I worked extensively developing training classes and materials and providing recruiting and training for volunteer leaders throughout the state in each area. I implemented and managed 2 major overseas partnerships in Romania and Ukraine.

Pastor, Warwick Baptist Church

September 1990-January 1998. Served as Pastor and Minister of Music. Through a clear focus on mission and evangelism and a commitment to community ministry we saw significant increase in members spiritual growth, in baptisms and missions. I managed an extensive individual and family counseling ministry since a large portion of our church were military families. I also served as a volunteer chaplain on a weekly basis for 5 years at Riverside Regional Medical Center. Because of God's blessing the church quadrupled in size in 3 years, allowing us to call a full time Minister of Music and a part time Youth Leader.

Pastor, Hillside Baptist Church

May 1987-August 1990. I served this rural church for 4 years as Pastor and Minister of Music. Hillside tripled in size as God blessed our focus on evangelism, missions and discipleship. We completed an educational building and saw the Lord grow our youth and young families in marvelous ways.

Denominational and Missions Service

Ukraine Partnership, SBC of Virginia. Developed and implemented a state wide three year partnership with the Brotherhood of Independent Baptist Churches and Ministries. 2001-2003

Certified Team Leader, International Mission Board of the SBC, March 2001.

Team Leader and Missions Volunteer, Romania Chapel Project, each year, 1997-2001.

Trustee, Baptist Banner State Paper, October 1997 - Sept 2000.

Certified National CPMS Trainer, North American Missions Board of the SBC, Fall of 2000. I served as a NAMB Associate, traveling and teaching one day seminars across America.

FAITH Certified, Liberty Baptist Church. Completed FAITH Evangelism training certification. Served in two semesters as a trainer leader at Liberty Baptist, Hampton, Virginia.

Certified Mentor Trainer, North American Missions Board, February 1999.

Certified Church Planter Assessor, North American Mission Board, Fall 1998.

Second Vice President, SBC of Virginia, October 1996-September 1997.

Volunteer Chaplain, Riverside Regional Medical Center, 1991-1997.

President, Peninsula Baptist Association Ministers Conference, 1995-1996.

Missions Volunteer, Mombasa, Kenya, July, 1995; Oklahoma, 1994; Brazil, August 1986.

Personal Statement

Having been raised in a Christian home, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at the age of nine. God has worked in marvelous and miraculous ways in my life throughout the years. In the fall of 1985, God called me into full time vocational ministry. I closed down my computer business and moved to Texas to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where I completed a Master of Divinity degree.

The Lord has blessed me to serve three churches as Pastor and/or Senior Pastor, in addition, I was blessed to serve as the first State Missions Director for the SBC of Virginia in it's first five years, for a total of 18 years of vocational ministry. This extensive ministry experience, overseas missions service and convention leadership combined with a varied secular business background have dramatically impressed upon me the critical importance of the Church and its mission to reach the world for Christ. It has also shaped my life them, "fulfilling the great commission in the love of the great commandment."

Throughout my ministry, I have employed a team model of leadership and believe that God can and will accomplish His purposes through the local church. God has blessed me with the ability to communicate in a relevant and practical manner that touches people with the truth of the Gospel right where they live. I have seen first hand how faith in Christ can dramatically change peoples lives and impact their responses to life circumstances. I have learned from ministry and personal experience that one of the most important needs in the church is to develop strong teaching and discipleship that offers accountability and mentoring relationships that help believers develop and maintain a healthy Christian life. In doing this, I believe that we provide members with the Biblical knowledge and practical skills necessary to truly live a full and meaningful Christian life.

There is no greater joy for me than to see people come to faith in Christ and then to see them grow in that faith to a point of Christian maturity and faithful service. I am confident of God's calling in my life as a Pastor and will continue to serve Him wherever and however He leads.

References

Available upon request