Name: Ken Kessler

Job Title: Coaching Network Director

Years at BGAV: 17 years, 10 months - Ken has served on/with: Team Leader for the Empowering Leaders Team (Team Leader), Religious Liberty Committee (liaison), Ministers’ Unemployment Committee, Virginia Interim Network of Ministers and interim ministry, VIP Care process, Baptists New to Virginia process (executive director’s assistant), and LifeWay (BGAV representative).

Retirement Date: February 28, 2026

Ken’s highlights/favorite memory from working at BGAV:
‍"Attending Leadership Gatherings at Eagle Eyrie in May and providing the first virtual coach training class for about 12 people during the COVID shutdown!"

What Ken plans to do in retirement:
"I hope to write, read, coach leaders who will let me, occasionally facilitate coach training classes, serve as a transition/interim leader for churches in various roles, assist churches with strategy conversations, go on trips with my wife (Teresa), and visit our sons and their families—especially those grandsons! I plan to go Florida immediately, where it is warmer, and attend spring training for Major League Baseball."

Advice Ken has for everyone as he’s retiring:
‍"Listen deeply to the needs of the people around you, and ask more probing, powerful questions to support their self-discovery and foster greater accountability among them. Keep our heritage of religious liberty and soul freedom the hallmark of our connection as Baptists."

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