The Names on the Walls | Kevin O’Brien

Faithful in Ministry

Kevin O’Brien was born in El Paso, TX on October 31, 1955. A little over fifty-two years later, God called him home. In that period, Bro. Kevin’s faithful commitment to the Lord and ministry made an impact so incredible in the lives of people that only Heaven is fully aware of it to this day.

Early Years

Kevin was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. There his parents, Claude and Angie O’Brien, and their family were faithful members of Hillcrest Baptist Church, which was planted and pastored by Bro. Bob Stewart.  After graduating from Irvin High School (where he met his future wife Darlene Turbeville), Bro. Kevin would go on to get his three-year Bachelor of Theology from Baptist Bible College. Before graduating in 1977, however, he and Darlene were married on June 12, 1976.

Bethany Baptist Church

Soon after graduating, Bro. Kevin and his new bride moved to Lubbock, TX to join the staff of Bethany Baptist Church under Pastor Ross Spencer as the music and youth director in 1997. Here he would serve for the rest of his life, becoming assistant pastor, co-pastor, then pastor in 1996. Bro. Kevin O’Brien sincerely loved the bus ministry and faith promise giving, and he encouraged both at Bethany Baptist. His love for preaching to youth led to countless young people coming to Christ and surrendering to the ministry! Bro. Kevin was also an accomplished pianist, piano technician, and singer and he used all three gifts willingly for the Lord.

Heartland Baptist Bible College

It was in 1996 that Bro. Kevin first became acquainted with Pacific Coast Baptist College of San Demas, California. Recognizing the importance of solid Bible college education, he wholeheartedly threw his support behind the school and became a director that year. As God led men like Sam Davison and others to move the school to Oklahoma City and rename it Heartland Baptist Bible College, Bro. Kevin enthusiastically supported it. At Heartland, he would serve on the Executive Committee and was the Secretary to the Board of Directors until the final days of his life.

Faithful in the Face of Trials

Bro. Kevin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006. By God’s grace, he endured over a year-long, grueling battle, at one point having to undergo chemo every three to four weeks. Yet through all the darkness, Bro. Kevin never gave up on the Lord! While preaching for Heartland’s Opening Days Conference in 2007, Bro. Kevin referenced Isaiah 45.

“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 45:3)

Most assuredly, Bro. Kevin discovered many of the treasures of darkness. When faced with a trial that would cause many a faithful Christian to waver, Bro. Kevin refused to do so. Instead, he encouraged the students that morning, “God is so good… He never leaves you, never forsakes you!”

Bro. Kevin kept his plow in the ground, faithfully serving the Lord until his last days. In honor of his faithful service and leadership, Heartland Baptist Bible College dedicated the Kevin O’Brien Memorial Conference Room on January 14th, 2009. May God raise up more faithful men and women of God, who, like Bro. Kevin O’Brien will keep the plow in the ground despite the dark trials through which they must follow the Lord.

 

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