Kevin Pruitt
Associate Pastor, Young Adults & Spiritual Growth
As Associate Pastor for Young Adults, Kevin is clearly passionate about young families, especially his own. As a husband and father of three young children, his life is truly full. After thirteen years of marriage to his wife Rebecca, Kevin reflects on their exceptionally early beginnings. Admitting he’s “no Casanova,” he shares, “I have known my wife since the 4th grade but it took me just over a decade to actually ask her out. Rebecca is yet another proof that God has been very, very kind to me. She is an unconditionally-loving wife and an incredibly caring mother.”
“In 1997 we had Abby, who is our resident executive. Last year she undertook the task of producing her first chapter-book, and proceeded to develop her classmates into a highly productive team of editors, illustrators and writers to whom she would delegate the work. She created a new team again this year that to her dismay decided to quit when she moved to Edmond. She continues to fire off emails to get them going again!
“In 2001, Anna, our star, was born. Her life’s ambition is to be a singer and she is making plans to take over for Hannah-Montana as soon as the position becomes available. Her first solo opportunity came recently and, in my totally unbiased opinion, she absolutely stole the show.
“In 2004 came the birth of my boy, Levi. After years of baby-dolls and pink tea cups, my house is now taking on a different quality: everything must be climbed or thrown. The fundamental question regarding any object is, “can I make it higher or can it make me higher?” Our family loves to spend Spring Break skiing in Durango, Colorado and Fall Free Days at Six Flags (Rebecca always has to remind me of why we like Six Flags. I get confused. Is it the excruciatingly long lines, the incredibly short rides, the $5 cokes?). Current Pruitt-family controversies include the words to the song King Louie sings in the Jungle Book (original version), the appropriate time for someone to start wearing makeup (not me or Levi), and whether or not the kids are ever going to get their own Queue.”
Kevin admits that he laughs at almost everything . . . especially his kids. “I laugh at them daily, in a good-natured, loving way of course.”
As a young man growing up in the Oklahoma City area, Kevin’s earliest childhood dreams were filled with the glorious exploits of being a pilot – more specifically a Naval Aviator (because of Tom Cruise – who ironically is not one). He also dreamed of becoming a lawyer and the President before realizing the true call of God on his life. Kevin’s call to ministry came when he was sixteen years old. He attended what he describes as a “life-changing week at the youth camp Super Summer” after which he committed to a year-long fast from secular music. He recalls, “A short time later I began to hear the Lord speak to me more clearly than ever before. It was not an audible voice; it was much louder than that. I was being led to repair damaged relationships and volunteer to serve at my church. Although it was the last thing I would have chosen, I began to lead the worship for the midweek student service because it was where I was needed.” He adds, “Not long after volunteering to serve I clearly felt the Lord leading me to commit my life to full-time service in the church. I did, and a few months later, while still in High School, I accepted a call to serve on staff at Westwood Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma.”
After his graduation from Christian Heritage Academy the following year, he went on to earn a BA in Religion from Oklahoma Baptist University and later, an MS in Psychology emphasizing Marriage and Family Therapy from Cameron University. Currently, he is working towards an MA in Counseling from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
When asked to describe his vision for Edmond's First Baptist Church (EFBC), Kevin shares, “My call to EFBC centers on building stronger Christian community within the church through small groups. A healthy portion of that vision concerns engaging young adults in small Bible-study groups that make possible a more intimate Christian fellowship than is found in almost any other setting. In addition to young adults, that vision for dynamic small groups includes every age and stage of life, so that EFBC is ready to help anyone of any situation in life, from preschool to retirement, grow closer to God and fulfill his or her purpose in life.”
Some of Kevin’s favorites include chocolate chip cookies and watching the movie, Elf, with his wife and kids as they put up the Christmas tree each year. He appreciates “a long drive down the middle of the fairway (as rare as that may be).” He loves “singing praise songs to the Lord with my guitar, those few peaceful minutes after a long run early in the morning, Chili’s Chicken Quesadillas with chips, salsa, and a coke (my comfort food).”
Kevin is humble in his confession that he is “most thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ.” His favorite verse can be found in Psalms and it reads, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Psalms 84:10
“I love this verse because it was the song of the gatekeepers, the Korahites. God had given them the duty of standing at the threshold of the temple, and they passionately sang about doing what God told them to do, guarding the door. Their passion was so strong that they would trade ten lifetimes of all the world has to offer for one day of following the Lord: “one day.” That’s the passion I desire to have for the Lord and His calling on my life, to rather be a doorkeeper.”