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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). Their three children are Jeremy Daniel O'Brien, Jenilee Danielle (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 in 1974 from Irvin High School in northeast 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 ca. 1958). Their three children are Jeremy Daniel O'Brien, Jenilee Danielle (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,  which first opened in September 1973 under the founding pastor, Ross J. Spencer (born June 12, 1933) of Lubbock. 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 [[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,  which first opened in September 1973 under the founding pastor, Ross Junior Spencer (born June 12, 1933) of Lubbock. 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 [[Jimmie Davis]], a gospel singer, addressed one of the early homecoming ceremonies.<ref>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/030208/obi_252869562.shtml</ref>

    

    

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

   

   

O'Brien was a motorcyclist too and often took trips 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 trips 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>