cky kennedy
REV BUCKY KENNEDY
in his Christian walk – not only as a pastor but as “It thrills me to see how a program like RLU is
a husband and father. At the top of the list of his changing lives,” he said. “If I thought we were
biggest encouragers are his wife of 19 years, the doing it just for the sake of having another
former Stacey Dover of Gainesville, and his two church activity, I would shut it down. The Gospel
children – Hannah, 16, and Ivey, 12. is having an impact on people’s lives not only
through RLU, but in the other ministries we offer
“I can only say that outside of my relationship to the church and to our community. I am grateful
with Jesus Christ, there is not a more crucial to witness how God is working in Vidalia.”
person in my life than Stacey,” Kennedy said.
“Not only does she support me in the ministry, As he prepared to be officially nominated as
but she has also assisted me tremendously. She president of the GBC at its November 2007
is a terrific mom and homemaker, but is also very general meeting, Kennedy took time to reflect on
active in our church. She sings in the choir, how obtaining a Christian education has helped
assists with our women’s and student ministries, him achieve great things in his ministry.
along with all of the extras of being a pastor’s
wife.” “While I was at BPC, there was teaching that I
agreed and disagreed with,” he said. “It was
“Hannah and Ivey are a real source of joy to me. during those adverse times that I was really
We are a family that loves to laugh and ‘cut-up’,” challenged and pushed myself to dig deeper and
Kennedy continued. “I believe one of the things deeper in search of the truth by studying God’s
that has helped Stacey and I with our children is Word. I believe that was one of my biggest
we made an intentional decision early that we rewards for attending a Christian college.”
would do everything we could to make being a
preacher’s kid a privilege and not a punishment.” Kennedy relates his own challenges of being a
college student and searching for truth in society
Outside of family, Kennedy points to one other to today where a Christian education may not
person who has served as a constant friend and seem as mainstream as in years past.
mentor throughout his ministry – Dr. Michael
Guido. “Colleges, whether public or private, put students
in a position to develop their own view of the
“When I think of Michael Guido, I think of world,” he said. “Attending a college like
endurance,” Kennedy said. “Here you have Brewton-Parker challenges you to develop a
someone whose ministry is reaching millions worldview that says we’re not here by accident,
with the Gospel from a small town like Metter. So but by design. We need to train and influence
what may be considered insignificant to man is men and women in ministry now rather than
very significant to God. To correlate that, I think have them face the many challenges of the faith
of Jesus’ birth in the small town of Bethlehem. later. I believe Brewton-Parker can be that
His birth wasn’t significant in the eyes of man, influence.”
but to God, it was very significant.”
When asked what he would consider to be the
The Kennedy Family. (l-r): Rev. Kennedy, Stacey, Hannah,
and Ivey (Photo courtesy of Olan Mills Portrait Studios)
greatest rewards of his ministry, Kennedy
pointed to the joy of seeing the Gospel
impact people’s lives. He specifically
spoke of Real Life University (RLU), a
series of biblically-based classes
offered on Wednesday nights at FBC
Vidalia. The program is now in its third
year and Kennedy is always
excited to see its positive effect
on the lives of those in his
congregation.
THE LAMP FALL 2007 7
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