A SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF YOUR HOST, GLENN KENNEDY
Born on Thanksgiving Day, 1952, and raised in Clarksville, Tennessee, Glenn Kennedy was nicknamed "the little turkey" before that phrase ever became a popular cliche. Glenn is the eldest of three sons born to Laurence and Sybil Kennedy. Glenn's father was a farmer and local barber. Glenn's mother was an assistant bookkeeper in a local bank for over 30 years. The family attended Spring Creek Baptist Church, affiliated with the Southern Baptist denomination. Glenn attended Sunday school and vacation Bible schools faithfully, memorizing vast amounts of scriptures as he grew up. The family watched Billy Graham's Crusades on TV, and Billy's messages had a powerful impact on Glenn's understanding of the doctrine of justification by faith. At one point in time, Glenn received a "Ten-Years' Perfect Attendance to Sunday School" pin for his faithful commitment to this area of church work.
TEEN/COLLEGE YEARS
Convicted of his need for the saving grace of Jesus Christ, Glenn made a public profession of his faith in Jesus Christ at the age of thirteen at a Sunday morning worship service in February of 1965. This act of dedication to Christ's Kingdom was so real that Glenn never doubted his salvation experience from that day forward. Pastor Morris E. Lee later that spring water-baptized this new believer in the baptistry of St. Bethlehem Baptist Church. Glenn devotedly committed himself to spending a daily "quiet time" alone, communing with God and meditating on His Word. In 1971 Glenn graduated form Clarksville High School, ranking fifteenth in high academic grades in a class of over 400 students. He then attended Austin Peay State University, graduating first in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in history with teacher certification and minoring in vocal music. He especially loved the study of Church history. He received a graduate assistantship in history to further his studies, graduating in 1976 with a Master's degree in history. During his college years Glenn was actively involved in the Lord's work. He made many friends in the Baptist Student Union, traveling with them on short-term missions trips to Pottstown, PA, and Chicago. In the summer of 1973 he served as a summer missionary for the Southern Baptist Convention's Home Mission Board, leading backyard Bible clubs, preaching, and doing door-to-door surveys in Youngstown, OH. Glenn also served as a Music and Youth Director at Parkview Baptist Church in Clarksville from 1974 to 1977. A major highlight of his college career was his participation as a member of an interdenominational Christian choir called "The Joyful Noise Singers." This group of approximately 25 traveled to various churches and sang contemporary Christian songs of that era, such as "I've Found the Happy Side of Life." Glenn was also a member of Chi Alpha, a Christian campus organization which often sponsored Christian concerts by such artists as Don Francisco.
EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
In the Fall of 1973, Glenn received a mighty baptism in the Holy Spirit and a prayer language. This experience brought him into a much deeper, more intimate relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He began to attend the local Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship, nursing home Christian sing-a-longs, home Bible study groups, and major Bible conventions at Corvilla, a Christian retreat center in Zephyrhills, FL, founded by Erskine Holt. Holt was greatly used by God through his powerful Bible teaching gift to influence Glenn to seek to know the ways of God with a holy passion. As an apostle of great faith, Holt often traveled to Clarksville to encourage and strengthen the home group of believers with which Glenn was associated. After a period of time as a substitute teacher, Glenn attempted many times to obtain a job as a history teacher in the public school system, but without success. He then decided to attend Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, and pursue a career in full-time Christian ministry. Due to the fact that this institution had become a bastion of liberal theology and a center of false, unscriptural teachings, Glenn completed only one year of courses from 1977 to 1978. He returned to his hometown disheartened and found a job working second shift on an assembly line, making five ton air-conditioners for the local Trane Company from 1978 to 1981.
YEARS OF MINISTRY AND TEACHING
During this period Glenn conducted weekly Bible studies in many homes both in Clarksville and at Fort Campbell, KY. He also led weekly summer backyard Bible clubs for children, taught an adult Sunday school class at Christ Chapel, and participated in evangelistic street ministry. He was asked to sing and give his testimony at a number of revival meetings. In 1982 Glenn returned to Austin Peay State University and received his certification in elementary education. Since that time he has taught school in both the public and private Christian school settings. From 1985 to 1987 he taught the third and fourth grades at Montgomery Christian Academy, leading numbers of children into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and into the fullness of the Holy Spirit. In 1987 Glenn took a break and decided to attend Southeastern Bible College in Lakeland, FL. There he made many friends and relished the good instruction in the study of God's Word. Returning to the public school setting in the fall of 1988, Glenn has taught within the Montgomery County School System for many years, predominantly giving instruction in the third and fourth grades.
THE GATHERING
Over the years Glenn has preached, taught, exhorted, encouraged, counseled, and prayed with many individuals who have attended his home meetings. In addition to his teaching and singing gifts, he possesses a wonderful ministry of hospitality. One fellow believer has referred to Glenn's home meetings as a "place to receive love, acceptance, mature teaching, and instruction in how to live a more godly, Christ-centered life." Glenn's heart is to be a faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Body of Christ and to encourage others to fervently pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our local community, our state, and our nation. Click here to e-mail Glenn.
