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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 was the [[pastor]] of Bethany Baptist Church in [[Lubbock]], Texas, from October 1996, until his death from [[prostate cancer]]. In 1998, O'Brien was among a group of [[Fundamentalism|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 was the [[pastor]] of Bethany Baptist Church in [[Lubbock]], Texas, from October 1996, until his death from [[prostate cancer]]. In 1998, O'Brien was among a group of [[Fundamentalism|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>
==Background==
O'Brien was the oldest of four children of Claude L. O'Brien (1933-2019) and the former Angeline E. Sill. Claude O'Brien was born in Cotulla in LaSalle County in south Texas, graduated from the Agua Dulce High School in Nueces Cournty, near [[Corpus Christi]], and was drafted into the [[United States Army]] during the [[Korean War]]. His military service took him to Fort Bliss in [[El Paso]], Texas. After leaving the army, Claude O'Brien became an electronic technician at the White Sands Missile Range. In a career there of thirty-four years, he reached the rank of radar chief and worked in special missions including the Gemini and Apollo projects for the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lubbockonline/obituary.aspx?n=claude-o-brien&pid=191324068|title Claude L. O'Brien obituary|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=January 23, 2019}}</ref>
Kevin O'Brien graduated in 1974 from Irvin High School in his native El Paso.<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 c. 1958). Their three children are Jeremy Daniel O'Brien, Jenilee Danielle (Tyler) Prater, and 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 Baptist Bible College, O'Brien joined the staff of Bethany Baptist Church, which opened in September 1973 under the founding pastor, [[Ross Spencer]], originally from Red River County, Texas. First O'Brien was the music and youth minister, then associate pastor, co-pastor, and pastor upon 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 [[Jimmie Davis]], a gospel singer, addressed one of the early homecoming ceremonies. So did [[Curtis Hutson]], editor of ''The Sword of the Lord'' from 1980 until his death in 1995.<ref>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030208/obi_252869562.shtml</ref>
After Baptist Bible College, O'Brien joined the staff of Bethany Baptist Church, which opened in September 1973 under the founding pastor, [[Ross Spencer]], originally from Red River County, Texas. First O'Brien was the music and youth minister, then associate pastor, co-pastor, and pastor upon 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 [[Jimmie Davis]], a gospel singer, addressed one of the early homecoming ceremonies. So did [[Curtis Hutson]], editor of ''The Sword of the Lord'' from 1980 until his death in 1995.<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 Christian 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 Christian 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 was a well-known preacher in Independent Baptist ranks too. He used only the King James Version of the Bible, which he considered more conducive to the reception of the Holy Spirit and more helpful in memorizing and understanding scripture.<ref>http://www.biblepreaching.net/</ref> Some of his sermons have been placed on the Internet, including "Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14 and Jeremiah 32:17).<ref>[http://www.sermons.org/txt/kobrien1.txt]</ref> For a time, he also preached over [[radio]].
O'Brien was a well-known preacher in Independent Baptist ranks too. He used only the [[King James Version]] of the Bible, which he considered more conducive to the reception of the Holy Spirit and more helpful in memorizing and understanding scripture.<ref>http://www.biblepreaching.net/</ref> Some of his sermons have been placed on the Internet, including "Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14 and Jeremiah 32:17).<ref>[http://www.sermons.org/txt/kobrien1.txt]</ref> For a time, he also preached over [[radio]].
In 1998, Bethany presented two dramatic presentations highlighting patriotism. In an interview with the ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'', O'Brien said that there was "a need for the nation to turn back to the Lord" and that presentations of this kind, which brought full attendance, served to acquaint people with the spiritual heritage of the nation. He said that the [[Constitution of the United States]] protects the church from encroachment by government, not government from being influenced by [[Bible]] believers.<ref>Beth Pratt, Religion Editor, ''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'', Religion Section, July 4, 1998.</ref>
In 1998, Bethany presented two dramatic presentations highlighting patriotism. In an interview with the ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'', O'Brien said that there was "a need for the nation to turn back to the Lord" and that presentations of this kind, which brought full attendance, served to acquaint people with the spiritual heritage of the nation. He said that the [[Constitution of the United States]] protects the church from encroachment by government, not government from being influenced by [[Bible]] believers.<ref>Beth Pratt, Religion Editor, ''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'', Religion Section, July 4, 1998.</ref>