Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Pastor ministers to professional athletes through sports, music, other means

  • December 11, 2022
  • Georgia's The Christian Index
  • Church Life, Georgia, Latest News, Sports
Kennedy is best known for having served as senior pastor of four Georgia Baptist churches and as an inspirational and motivational speaker.
(Photo courtesy of the Christian Index)

Pastor ministers to professional athletes through sports, music, other means

Some might say Randy Kennedy is one of the most winsome individuals you will ever meet. They also might say he is also versatile – very versatile.

The affable Georgia minister is not only an excellent preacher, but he has had an effective ministry to many professional athletes through the years.

Kennedy, current interim/transitional pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Snellville, is an exceptional golfer and he is a percussionist. As a teenager and young adult, he played drums for a rock band called the Monarchs.

One might wonder if the rhythm required to play “Wipeout” on the drums as Kennedy has done with perfection is advantageous to one developing the pace, pulse and tempo for being successful on the golf course.

However, Kennedy is best known for having served as senior pastor of four Georgia Baptist churches and as an inspirational and motivational speaker.

His wife, Lisa, has dedicated her life to ministering to people through music. Several years ago, she released an album of her music titled “My Alabaster Box.”

Developing relationships

Kennedy served as chaplain of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks for 10 years, and he started the chapel ministry for the Arena Football League’s Georgia Force upon their arrival to the Atlanta area.

In addition to the pre-game chapels, he hosted a weekly Bible study open to players and staff in the organization.

In 2006 Kennedy began ministering to the PGA’s Sunbelt Senior Tour, both as a player and chaplain.

“Being able to share God’s Word with high-profile athletes has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my ministry,” Kennedy said. “Even though they earn millions of dollars, I have seen the power of the gospel and the love of God reach them at the same level as anyone else. However, I can not overstate the importance of developing a personal relationship with those you may be trying to reach for Christ.”

Kennedy noted, “Watching athletes respond to someone who genuinely cared for them and asking nothing from them was the key to building a strong and lasting relationship.

“It was that relationship that afforded me the privilege of leading some of the athletes to Christ, baptizing them, performing their weddings and in some cases conducting their funerals,”  he said. “I was a pastor to so many.”

Upon being urged to reveal the names of some of the players Kennedy was able to serve, he mentioned Dikembe Mutombo, Tim Conley, Lon Kruger, Mark Jackson, Doug Plank, Tree Rollins, Kevin Willis, Craig Ehlo, Roger Roland, David Robinson and even Michael Jordan (to some degree).

Disciplines

Many have compared some of the characteristics of athletics to the disciplines of the Christian faith. Kennedy agrees.

He explained, “If believers embraced the mindset and the daily disciplines of successful athletes, they would very likely have a more meaningful life and a greater influence on those around them.

“Vision, focus, dedication, determination, perseverance in the world of athletics make all-stars,” he said. “Those same qualities in lives of Christians makes them champions for the King of kings. If we are to be fruitful, we must be faithful whether we are athletes, Christians or both. True success in the sports arena and in the Christian faith never comes easy.”

Jesus said, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). That statement describes the difficult road to Christlikeness or success in “the faith which was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Kennedy is eminently qualified to take a large basketball, a small golf ball, a prolate spheroid (football) and even a big pencil and present truths that are powerful and impactful. Because of his identity with various major athletic teams, Kennedy often speaks to men’s conferences, civic clubs, retreats, golf tournaments and pastors’ conferences.

Like many believers, Kennedy is concerned about the spiritual health of the nation and believes it is urgent for Christians in particular and the church in general to become the light and salt that is to characterize all believers.

He explained, “Years ago, Dr. O. M. Cates, director of evangelism for the Georgia Baptist Convention, spoke at a Pastors’ Conference and after a stirring message challenging his hearers to action, stated, ‘Now is the time! We are the people! And this is the place!'”

Kennedy observed, “This is so fitting for the church today in her present condition. God is waiting and willing to do a great work in us if we only would seize the moment. I believe that now is the time to wake up; and yes, we are His people, and we live in the place where God wants us to do a great work. Dr. Cates’ words are more profound today than years ago when he spoke at that conference. There has never been a greater urgency to be God’s ambassadors in a world of chaos and lostness.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by J. Gerald Harris and originally published by the Christian Index.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: How churches can encourage Christian fathers
    First person: How churches can encourage Christian fathers
    June 15, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: My Dad, the know-it-all — and ‘lifelong learner’
    First person: My Dad, the know-it-all — and ‘lifelong learner’
    June 14, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Churches targeted in Russian-occupied Ukraine
    Churches targeted in Russian-occupied Ukraine
    June 13, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

‘Ripple effects’: Sports gambling fueled by greed, ethicist says

While compulsive sports gambling begins as an individual issue, its “ripple effects” are felt throughout society, said RaShan Frost, director of research with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

Baptist broadcaster defined by faith, not career

“I got as low as I could possibly go and when I was at the bottom I looked up and there was Jesus standing with His arms open saying, ‘Son, come home.’ ”

First person: Lessons from the hardwood

With College March Madness just around the corner, high school basketball is winding down and regional tournament brackets are starting to take shape. What can we as Christians learn from basketball?

Executive order protecting women’s sports signed, praised as ‘encouraging and helpful’ step

The order defines “sex” strictly as an individual’s immutable biological classification, effectively ending efforts to tie transgender participation to Title IX protections.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel