Kenneth J. Parker
Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Counseling (Instructional Faculty)
At a Glance
Biography
Dr. Ken Parker has been the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Kearney, Missouri, since January of 2006. Prior to coming to Kearney, he served as the founding pastor of Southpointe Family Church (SBC) in Fort Smith, Arkansas; Fianna Hills Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas; and First Baptist Church of Union, Missouri. Before becoming a senior pastor, he served churches in Illinois and Missouri as an associate pastor with responsibilities in worship ministry and student ministry.
Dr. Parker is a 1983 graduate of Cahokia Senior High School in Cahokia, Illinois; a 1988 graduate of Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, Missouri (B.A. in church music and vocal performance); and a three-time graduate of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1995; D.Min., 2002; M.A. in counseling, 2013).
Dr. Parker has served as an adjunct professor at Midwestern since 2008. He previously served ten years as a trustee at Midwestern, and in his last year he served as the board chairman. Dr. Parker served nine years as a trustee at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. He was elected to two terms as the First Vice-President of the Missouri Baptist Convention and two terms as the President of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
Ken and his wife Lori (married since 1988) are the parents of two sons, Zach (married to Chloe) and Luke. They are also grandparents of one granddaughter, Ryann Kay, and twin grandsons, Hudson James and Jack Andrew.
Education
B.A. in Church Music and Vocal Performance, Missouri Baptist University, St. Louis, Missouri
M.A. in Counseling, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri
M.Div., Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri
D.Min., Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri
Publications by Kenneth J. Parker
Elephants in the Church: What the Bible Says About Fourteen Contemporary Issues
Buy NowFaculty Q&A
I feel it’s my responsibility to prepare students for serving Jesus through the local church in whatever capacity they sense they’ve been called. The knowledge I’m striving to impart to students isn’t simply for the sake of them knowing more. Ultimately, the goal is to help students serve well and be faithful to Christ throughout their lifetime. The knowledge is for service. The church is the front line of spiritual warfare, and I want to equip students to be ready for serving.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a great place to serve with great people because the priorities are in order. Our goal is service to Jesus in an environment that is unapologetically biblical and geared toward helping students prepare to make a difference for Jesus in their world while maintaining a biblical worldview. A high priority is placed on character, theological acumen, and the ability to translate all of this into stellar service for Jesus, all within an environment that is tethered to the Scriptures. MBTS embodies the idea of scholarship on fire for Jesus, and the church is not an addendum. The church is the primary outlet for serving.
I’m encouraged every day by students who demonstrate they are thinking deeply about theology and the difference their understanding of God is making and will make throughout their lifetime of ministry. Students at Midwestern are inquisitive and desire to learn the truths of their discipline in order to translate that into service for Jesus. It is the best of study and practice combined, and students have demonstrated they’ve received so much of what they need to live for Jesus and lead ministries for Him.
