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'''Kevin F. O'Brien''', usually known as '''Brother Kevin''' (October 31, 1955 - February 27, 2008), was an Independent Baptist clergyman who pastored Bethany Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, from October 1996, until his death from prostate cancer. In 1998, O'Brien was among a group of fundamentalist pastors instrumental in the establishment of Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, which was renamed and relocated from Orange, California, where it had been founded in 1966. At the time of his death, O'Brien was serving as Heartland's secretary-treasurer.<ref>http://www.heartlandbaptist.edu/</ref>

'''Kevin F. O'Brien''', usually known as '''Brother Kevin''' (October 31, 1955 - February 27, 2008), was an Independent [[Baptist]] clergyman who pastored Bethany Baptist Church in [[Lubbock]], [[Texas]], from October 1996, until his death from prostate [[cancer]]. In 1998, O'Brien was among a group of fundamentalist pastors instrumental in the establishment of Heartland Baptist Bible College in [[Oklahoma City]], which was renamed and relocated from Orange, California, where it had been founded in 1966. At the time of his death, O'Brien was serving as Heartland's secretary-treasurer.<ref>http://www.heartlandbaptist.edu/</ref>

   

   

O'Brien was born in El Paso, Texas, to Claude L. and Angeline E. O'Brien. He graduated from Irvin High School in northeast El Paso in 1974.<ref>http://irvin.episd.org/</ref>. He then completed a three-year theology program at the conservative Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, from which he graduated in 1977.<ref>http://www.baptist.edu/</ref> On June 12, 1976, he married his childhood sweetheart, the former Darlene Frances Turbeville (born ca. 1958) . The couple had three children, Jeremy Daniel O'Brien, Jenilee (Tyler) Prater, and the newlywed Juliana (Nicholas) Carr. There was also a grandson, Griffyn O'Brien, at the time of O'Brien's passing.<ref>http://www.sandersfuneralhome.com/obituaries/02_February/obituary_obrien.kevin.htm</ref>

O'Brien was born in El Paso, Texas, to Claude L. and Angeline E. O'Brien. He graduated from Irvin High School in northeast El Paso in 1974.<ref>http://irvin.episd.org/</ref>. He then completed a three-year theology program at the conservative Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, from which he graduated in 1977.<ref>http://www.baptist.edu/</ref> On June 12, 1976, he married his childhood sweetheart, the former Darlene Frances Turbeville (born ca. 1958) . The couple had three children, Jeremy Daniel O'Brien, Jenilee (Tyler) Prater, and the newlywed Juliana (Nicholas) Carr. There was also a grandson, Griffyn O'Brien, at the time of O'Brien's passing.<ref>http://www.sandersfuneralhome.com/obituaries/02_February/obituary_obrien.kevin.htm</ref>

   

   

'''Bethany Baptist Church in Lubbock'''

==Bethany Baptist Church in Lubbock==

   

   

After graduation from Baptist Bible College, O'Brien joined the staff of Bethany Baptist Church, 4402 40th Street (the intersection with Quaker Avenue), which first opened in September 1973 under the founding pastor, Ross J. Spencer (born June 12, 1933) of Lubbock, originally from tiny Detroit in Red River County near Paris in northeast Texas. The associate pastor, J.D. Young, later ministered in Corpus Christi and is now based in Stinnett, the seat of Hutchinson County in the northern Texas Panhandle. O'Brien was first the music and youth minister, then associate pastor, co-pastor, and full pastor on Spencer's retirement from full-time ministry. Spencer thereafter served for nearly three years as an interim pastor in Andrews near Midland, Texas. Under Spencer, Bethany church conducted three week-long revivals per year and observed homecoming and various other special events. The late Louisiana Governor James Houston "Jimmie" Davis, a gospel singer, addressed one of the early homecoming ceremonies.<ref>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030208/obi_252869562.shtml</ref>

After graduation from Baptist Bible College, O'Brien joined the staff of Bethany Baptist Church, 4402 40th Street (the intersection with Quaker Avenue), which first opened in September 1973 under the founding pastor, Ross J. Spencer (born June 12, 1933) of Lubbock, originally from tiny Detroit in Red River County near Paris in northeast Texas. The associate pastor, J.D. Young, later ministered in Corpus Christi and is now based in Stinnett, the seat of Hutchinson County in the northern Texas Panhandle. O'Brien was first the music and youth minister, then associate pastor, co-pastor, and full pastor on Spencer's retirement from full-time ministry. Spencer thereafter served for nearly three years as an interim pastor in Andrews near Midland, Texas. Under Spencer, Bethany church conducted three week-long revivals per year and observed homecoming and various other special events. The late Louisiana Governor James Houston "Jimmie" Davis, a gospel singer, addressed one of the early homecoming ceremonies.<ref>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030208/obi_252869562.shtml</ref>

   

   

'''Song leader, pianist, preacher'''

==Song leader, pianist, preacher==

   

   

O'Brien's singing abilities were considered to have been exceptional for both traditional hymns and more contemporary Christiam music. He was also a pianist and a piano technician. He was particularly adept at reaching young people and preached frequently at summer camps. Bethany Baptist Church under O'Brien's direction dispatched several men into the ministry and to the mission field. The church gave some $1.2 million to world evangelism. O'Brien, and Spencer before him, supported a bus ministry that brings persons from all backgrounds to church services, many being children of a lower socio-economic class who otherwise lack ready transportation.<ref>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030208/obi_252869562.shtml</ref>

O'Brien's singing abilities were considered to have been exceptional for both traditional hymns and more contemporary Christiam music. He was also a pianist and a piano technician. He was particularly adept at reaching young people and preached frequently at summer camps. Bethany Baptist Church under O'Brien's direction dispatched several men into the ministry and to the mission field. The church gave some $1.2 million to world evangelism. O'Brien, and Spencer before him, supported a bus ministry that brings persons from all backgrounds to church services, many being children of a lower socio-economic class who otherwise lack ready transportation.<ref>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030208/obi_252869562.shtml</ref>

   

   

'''Heartland College'''

==Heartland College==

   

   

O'Brien committed his last years to Heartland Baptist College, which forbids non-fundamentalists from speaking and teaching at the institution so as not to create heretical divisions and doubts within conservative biblical circles. O'Brien said that ministry students did not need dissenters from Scripture but reinforcement of biblical truth. The school is unaccredited and does not seek accreditation from government or regional educational associations. Therefore, it cannot issue degrees, but it offers diplomas to students who complete the instructional program. Education majors at Heartland can teach only in Christian institutions, not public schools.<ref>http://www.gibf.org/bapt_times/0208.pdf</ref>

O'Brien committed his last years to Heartland Baptist College, which forbids non-fundamentalists from speaking and teaching at the institution so as not to create heretical divisions and doubts within conservative biblical circles. O'Brien said that ministry students did not need dissenters from Scripture but reinforcement of biblical truth. The school is unaccredited and does not seek accreditation from government or regional educational associations. Therefore, it cannot issue degrees, but it offers diplomas to students who complete the instructional program. Education majors at Heartland can teach only in Christian institutions, not public schools.<ref>http://www.gibf.org/bapt_times/0208.pdf</ref>

   

   

'''Personal life'''

==Personal life==

   

   

O'Brien was a motorcyclist too and often took sojourns with fellow Christian men to the Texas Hill Country and Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas. He and Mrs. O'Brien also toured parts of Colorado and Arkansas on his motorcycle.<ref>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030208/obi_252869562.shtml</ref>

O'Brien was a motorcyclist too and often took sojourns with fellow Christian men to the Texas Hill Country and Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas. He and Mrs. O'Brien also toured parts of Colorado and Arkansas on his motorcycle.<ref>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030208/obi_252869562.shtml</ref>

   

   

'''A tribute to O'Brien'''

==A tribute to O'Brien==

Jason Smith, the associate and youth pastor at Lubbock Baptist Temple, in his website STL (Speaking the Truth in Love), paid tribute to O'Brien:

Jason Smith, the associate and youth pastor at Lubbock Baptist Temple, in his website STL (Speaking the Truth in Love), paid tribute to O'Brien:

"You were always an inspiration to me. In a day of compromise, you were always a man of conviction. You were who you were right to the end of your life. You never let suffering, fear of man, or anything weaken your faith.  Did you ever wonder if it was worth it? Did you ever think about giving up?  Did you know the impact your ministry had? God used in such a special way in my life, and I know your ministry will live on in those whom you invested yourself, which were many. How amazing it must be that the One you knew in faith you now behold in sight! What you preached about, prayed for, and dreamt of is now a reality. We give thanks for the life you lived and the life you are living now. . . . "<ref>http://stljason.blogspot.com/2008/03/tribute-to-kevin-obrien.html</ref>

"You were always an inspiration to me. In a day of compromise, you were always a man of conviction. You were who you were right to the end of your life. You never let suffering, fear of man, or anything weaken your faith.  Did you ever wonder if it was worth it? Did you ever think about giving up?  Did you know the impact your ministry had? God used in such a special way in my life, and I know your ministry will live on in those whom you invested yourself, which were many. How amazing it must be that the One you knew in faith you now behold in sight! What you preached about, prayed for, and dreamt of is now a reality. We give thanks for the life you lived and the life you are living now. . . . "<ref>http://stljason.blogspot.com/2008/03/tribute-to-kevin-obrien.html</ref>

'''References'''

==References==

 

[[Category:Texas]]

[[Category:Texas]]

[[Category:Ministers]]

[[Category:Ministers]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]