Pastor Kevin Whitmire describes himself as a “Christian who happens to be a Southern Baptist minister.” With a quick wit and an infectious smile, this humble US Air Force veteran hails from First Baptist in Columbia, Tennessee, though he’s quick to let you know he’s a graduate of Channelview High School in neighboring Harris County and he’s happy to be back in Texas. Together with his wife Christi and their two young sons, Pastor Kevin’s approach to family ministry is straightforward. “In a Biblical sense, the Gospel hasn’t changed. How we reach people with the Gospel has changed,” he says.
Pastor Kevin has a heart for Student Ministry, and his work with young men and women through First Priority of America since 2017 has helped to shape his ministry focus on troubled families. First Priority is a nationwide student discipleship network of student-led clubs on public middle and high school campuses. First Priority’s website reports “only 4% of America’s young people have a Biblical world view.” They partner with churches to equip students to serve as missionaries on their campuses. Their mission is to take the hope of Christ to every student.
“Young people don’t care what you know until they know how much you care,” says Pastor Kevin. After the tragic death of his eldest son in 2021, he took a year off from structured ministry and entered the corporate world, working with youth outside of church and school through Chick fil A, whose Christian-based corporate culture includes mentoring student employees to think of others before themselves.
During this transition time for their family, Pastor Kevin’s wife Christi felt the Lord calling their family somewhere else to serve. After a two-hour Zoom meeting with Trinity’s search committee, Pastor Kevin followed up with prayer not for himself, but for the church. Trinity Baptist at 1819 N. 16th in Orange is the highly favored recipient of God’s blessing through those answered prayers.
Sr. Pastor Kevin leads Trinity Baptist in worship at 11 a.m. Sundays. Small group Bible studies meet at 9:45, and Pastor Kevin’s message is live-streamed on Facebook. For more information on Trinity’s weekly community activities and to find a small group opportunity for your family, visit trinityorange.com/ministries or call the church office at 409-886-1333.
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