SENIOR PASTOR BRIAN KENNEDY

​

Pastor Brian Eric Kennedy has been the Senior Pastor at Mt. Zion Church of Ontario in California since 1998. Prior to Mt. Zion, Pastor Kennedy was on the management team of Prison Fellowship, as the Los Angeles Area Director for eleven years.

Pastor Kennedy also served as a Youth Pastor for 15 years in two local churches in Los Angeles (South Los Angeles Baptist Church, and Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church) before serving at Mt. Zion, and has thoroughly enjoyed full-time ministry since 1986.

Pastor Kennedy’s life before full-time ministry was a short-term career in the accounting field. Graduating from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting, Pastor Kennedy worked as an accounting clerk, a bookkeeper and a cost accountant in a manufacturing firm.

Having received a foundation of commitment to Christ, and hard work from childhood from his father and mother (Bradford and Evelyn Kennedy), and his church family in Sacramento, Calif. (St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church), Pastor Kennedy's life goal is to live out servant leadership among the Mt. Zion Church Congregation, and beyond, to the end that God is glorified in His Church by Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:20 -21).

 

Pastor Kennedy, was encouraged to attend seminary by Dr. S.M. Lockridge, (Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego, Calif.) and received a Master of Divinity Degree from Talbot School of Theology and with unwavering support from his wife Hilda, children, and the Mt. Zion Church family, received a Doctor of Ministry at Gateway Seminary.

Academic Degrees:

Bachelor of Science Degree, Business Administration, with emphasis in Accounting, San Diego      State University, San Diego, California, 1983.

Master of Divinity Degree, Bible Exposition, Talbot School of Theology, LA Mirada, California, 1993.

Doctor of Ministry Degree, Leadership, Gateway Seminary, Ontario, California, 2005.

 

 

Ministry Highlights:

• Associate Professor of Preaching at Gateway Seminary, Ontario, CA

• Author of Timeless Insights From the Book of Judges, How to Function in God's Eternal Plan in a Compromising Culture, Westbow Press, 2017.

• Author of Let’s Stand Together and Pray, A collection of prayers to respond to God’s Word, Mt. Zion Church of Ontario Publication, 2014, 2015, 2016.

• Contributing Author of Secret Sex Wars, A Battle Cry for Purity, published May 1 2008 by Lift Every Voice.

• Host with Ontario Police Department of public forums with Federal, County, and Local Law Enforcement Officials to address Change from the Inside Out in Local Policing.

• Former Board Member, The California Baptist Foundation.

• R.I.P.A. (Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board) Board Member for the State of California.

• Former CEEM (Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement) Board Member.

• Member of the Racial Equality Task Force with California Senator, Connie Leyva.

• Advisory Team for Upland Police Chief.

• Author’s Group with the Superintendent of the Ontario-Montclair School District – 5 Year Action Plan for 2021-2026.

• Chaplain, Ontario Fire Department.

• Guest lecturer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Officer Training Academy.

• Guest lectured for the Ontario Police Department Sensitivity Training Course.

• Guest lectured for the Los Angeles Bible Training School.

• Guest lectured as a community leader at California Baptist University, Introduction to Ministry Class.

• Guest lectured for area-wide Sunday School conference for Pastor’s development class.

• Workshop Leader, California State Baptist Convention.

• Guest speaker for local churches, marriage and men’s conferences.

• Strategic planning facilitator for struggling local churches.

• Missionary to Africa, St. Vincent, WI, and Tchula Mississippi.

• Led historic Mt. Zion Church of Ontario through several potential church splitting transitions, through the COVID-19 pandemic, and to paying-off a $2.4-million-dollar land loan.

• Enjoys mentoring six Senior Pastors.

• Advocate for spiritual formation in the local church.

 

Pastor Kennedy enjoys cycling, walking with wife, and spending time with family and friends around delicious food.  He is married to the former Hilda Barnes and they have four children: Brian Jr., Evelyn, Lelia and Joshua.