Rev. Kenneth D. Gooch

4957 Pollyhill Lane, Roanoke, Virginia 24019
(540) 797-5288 / kengooch@nlqm.org

Personal Information

Married to: Penny Diane Gooch (maiden name: Porter)
Children: Our children are all grown and out on their own :o)

Licensed: Sandston Baptist Church, Sandston, Virginia, August 3, 1986
Ordained: Sandston Baptist Church, Sandston, Virginia, August 23, 1987

Ministry Call & Vocational Objective

I am a dynamic and energetic, practical and relevant expositional Bible preacher who loves the Word of God and the people for whom the Lord Jesus Christ gave His life. My life's theme is "Fulfilling the Great Commission in the Love of the Great Commandment!" With a strong missions and evangelism focus, my hearts desire is to work together with God’s people to reach out and touch the community and the world for Christ!

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 the staff through a 9 month study to revitalize and 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 develop 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. I managed a budget in excess of 5 million.

Senior Pastor

Warwick Baptist Church, September 1990-January 1998. Served as Pastor and Minister of Music. I came to Warwick after it had experienced significant decline. Through a clear refocus on mission and evangelism and a commitment to community ministry and outreach, God provided significant spiritual and numerical growth. I managed an extensive counseling ministry since a large portion of our church were young military families. I 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 allowing us to call a Minister of Music and Youth Minister.

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. God blessed us to completed an educational building under my leadership.

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. 2000-2003

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

Team Leader and Missions Volunteer, Romania Chapel Project,1998-2001. Coordinated and provided all training and state side management for 12 teams.

Armenia Back Pack Project, Managed and coordinate all aspects of project for 3 years including lining up cargo containers, shipping and logistics.

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 the CPMS system 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.

State Alumni President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997-1998.

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

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

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

Secular Vocational Highlights

Corporate Vice President

- Advance Electric Supply Company, Inc., Richmond, VA (12/1981-8/1985) Managed the Lighting, Telephone and Computer Divisions.

Police Officer

- Fort Worth Police Department, Fort Worth, Texas (8/1986-8/1987) Commissioned officer serving on Midnight shift in David district while attending seminary.

Licensed and Registered Financial Advisor

- (08/2006 - to Present) Completed all classes and training. I carry the Series 6, Series 63 and Series 26 state licenses as a Registered Financial Advisor in order to teach Christian based Financial and money management seminars.

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 since then. 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, and in addition, I was blessed to serve as the first State Missions Director for the SBC of Virginia in its first five years, for a total of 18 years of vocational ministry. I began New Life Quest Ministries to reach out to churches and families, helping to revitalize, grow and free them for Kingdom service. 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.
Throughout my ministry, I have employed a team model of leadership. God’s blessings in the diversity of my background have enabled me to effectively communicate in practical and relevant ways that touch people with the truth of the Gospel right where they live. I have seen first hand the power of God and know personally how God’s unfailing grace and forgiveness can restore and dramatically change peoples lives and impact their responses to life circumstances. I believe that one of the most important needs in the church today 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 tools, knowledge and practical skills necessary to 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 help them grow to a point of Christian maturity and faithful service. I am confident of God's calling in my life as He has so clearly confirmed and blessed throughout these years.