Our Pastor &
First Lady
Reverend John F. Kenney is a native of Richmond, Virginia and a graduate of the Henrico County Public Schools System. Upon graduation, he attended Roanoke College and Virginia Union University. In May 2005, Reverend Kenney graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology with a Masters of Divinity Degree. He was licensed to preach on February 7, 2001 and ordained into the Christian Ministry on November 21, 2004 under the pastorate of Reverend Dr. Lance Watson.
As a former member of Saint Paul's Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, Reverend Kenney served in various ministries, and most notably, he holds the distinction of being the first Campus Pastor in the multi-site history of Saint Paul's Baptist Church. He has demonstrated his concern for social and community issues through his service on the Executive Board of the MICAH Initiative, an inter-faith mentoring program within the City of Richmond elementary schools. Reverend Kenney has facilitated conference workshops for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and the Central Virginia Baptist Mission Board. He has also participated in panel discussions focused on social issues such as HIV/AIDS and 21st Century Church Ministry in the age of cultural diversity as part of the Baptist Theological Seminary Church Ministry Initiative.
On April 7, 2013, God called Reverend Kenney to Third Baptist Church of Hampton, Virginia as the sixteenth shepherd leading His flock. He is excited about leading this vibrant and thriving community of believers into greater purposes and plans of God. As a lover of God's Word, Reverend Kenney is honored to have the opportunity to build upon the rich legacy of Third Baptist Church. In addition to serving as Pastor, Reverend Kenney also serves as Chair of the Clergy Division for the Greater Tidewater-Peninsula Baptist Association.
Reverend Kenney is proud to be the husband of Lorraine Harmon Kenney, whom he met while they both attended Virginia Union University. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Lady Lorraine Kenney has been gifted with wisdom, faith and encouragement. Her ministry has been a blessing to many persons throughout the years. While a member of Saint Paul's Baptist Church, Lady Lorraine was very instrumental in the growth of the Married Couples Ministry, where she and Pastor Kenney served as leaders. She is deeply committed to fulfilling God's purpose in every area of her life and lives by her motto that "each day is a new day of opportunity". As a woman poised and determined to do God's best, Lady Lorraine patiently awaits those divine moments when God's purposes are made known.
Reverend and Mrs. Kenney have been blessed of God to parent three children: Trevor, Kristin and Caleb.
