Reverend Kevin J. Bedford, Sr. was born in Chicago, IL to Reverend Theodore E. Bedford and Mrs. Clara Bedford.
On September 20, 1981, he preached his first sermon at Second Baptist Church in Elgin, IL, becoming the third generation of ministers in the Bedford family. In June 1989, he was ordained as a clergy person in the American Baptist Churches, USA. He has served the church in various leadership roles, including Senior Pastor, Military Chaplain, Executive Pastor, Interim Director, Office of Corporate Social Responsibility, Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs, University Chaplain, and Church Growth Consultant.
Reverend Bedford has provided Pastoral leadership for American Baptist Churches, USA in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, DC, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan.
Since April 2013, Reverend Bedford has served as Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church of Aurora, IL. Prior to assuming this Pastorate, he served as Senior Pastor of historic Third Baptist Church, Toledo, OH, from 2004 to 2013.
On December 1, 2010, Reverend Bedford retired from active duty in the United States Navy achieving the rank of Commander. He served our country as a Navy Chaplain for 24 years.
Reverend Bedford’s academic background includes Doctor of Ministry Degree (in progress), Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, OH; post-graduate studies at Georgetown University Kennedy Institute of Ethics in Washington, DC; Clinical Pastoral Education (4 units), Veterans Administration Hampton Road; Pastoral Education Center, Hampton, VA (2002-2003; Master of Science Degree in Organizational Management, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT; Master of Divinity Degree, Memphis Theological Seminary, Memphis, TN; and Bachelor of Arts Degree, Religion and Philosophy, Union University, Jackson, TN.
Reverend Bedford is married to his high school sweetheart, Lettie M. (Lewis) Bedford of Humboldt, TN. They are the parents of two children, Kevin J. Bedford, Jr. (Breyana) and Brittany M. Bedford. He’s also the proud grandfather of Brinleigh Grace. Reverend Bedford’s extended family is from Mound Bayou, MS, which is the birthplace of his parents.
Reverend Kevin J. Bedford, Sr. was born in Chicago, IL to Reverend Theodore E. Bedford and Mrs. Clara Bedford.
On September 20, 1981, he preached his first sermon at Second Baptist Church in Elgin, IL, becoming the third generation of ministers in the Bedford family. In June 1989, he was ordained as a clergy person in the American Baptist Churches, USA. He has served the church in various leadership roles, including Senior Pastor, Military Chaplain, Executive Pastor, Interim Director, Office of Corporate Social Responsibility, Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs, University Chaplain, and Church Growth Consultant.
Reverend Bedford has provided Pastoral leadership for American Baptist Churches, USA in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, DC, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan.
Since April 2013, Reverend Bedford has served as Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church of Aurora, IL. Prior to assuming this Pastorate, he served as Senior Pastor of historic Third Baptist Church, Toledo, OH, from 2004 to 2013.
On December 1, 2010, Reverend Bedford retired from active duty in the United States Navy achieving the rank of Commander. He served our country as a Navy Chaplain for 24 years.
Reverend Bedford’s academic background includes Doctor of Ministry Degree (in progress), Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, OH; post-graduate studies at Georgetown University Kennedy Institute of Ethics in Washington, DC; Clinical Pastoral Education (4 units), Veterans Administration Hampton Road; Pastoral Education Center, Hampton, VA (2002-2003; Master of Science Degree in Organizational Management, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT; Master of Divinity Degree, Memphis Theological Seminary, Memphis, TN; and Bachelor of Arts Degree, Religion and Philosophy, Union University, Jackson, TN.
Reverend Bedford is married to his high school sweetheart, Lettie M. (Lewis) Bedford of Humboldt, TN. They are the parents of two children, Kevin J. Bedford, Jr. (Breyana) and Brittany M. Bedford. He’s also the proud grandfather of Brinleigh Grace. Reverend Bedford’s extended family is from Mound Bayou, MS, which is the birthplace of his parents.