Keith Kinslow was first introduced to the Lutheran Church in August of 1965 by way of a pastor named, Fred Downing. During the 1968 riots, when Dr. King was murdered, after speaking to Keith’s mother Dorothy, Pastor Downing and Holy Family Lutheran Church provided a refuge for him from the chaos of the neighborhood. Keith attended St. James Lutheran School in Chicago in his later years of elementary school and Waverly Shellrock Junior High in Iowa for his freshman year in high school. The Lutheran church gave him a feeling of love and protection that he would remember throughout his life.
On through public high school, the United States Navy, marriage, a federal job, college, and three children, he was about the busyness of life. It was his children’s need for a quality education that brought him back to the Lutheran church. He joined St. Paul Lutheran Church while his children attended St. Paul Lutheran School. After six years his desire for education and spiritual understanding led him to seek membership at other churches (“The Valley” and New Life Celebration). Always longing for more knowledge he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry and a Master’s degree in Urban Ministry from Trinity International University. After serving at other churches he was once again drawn back to the Lutheran church.
Keith joined Chatham Fields Evangelical Lutheran Church in the summer of 2009. He became a deacon and soon after made a decision to pursue certification through Concordia Seminary’s Specific Ministry Program and after completing the SMP, he was installed as Assistant Pastor of Chatham Fields in 2010. Pastor Kinslow was installed as Associate Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School August 1, 2015. Alongside him on this journey is his wife, Monica, his three children, Aisha Ebony, Naomi, Miles, and many family members, friends.