Pastor Kenneth Dembeck
Pastor Ken and his wife, Kandee, came to Calvary shortly after they were married in 1982. When they first moved to the area, they lived on Mirror Lake in Fruitland Park and both worked at Lakeview Terrace in Altoona. Robert Mullis was serving as pastor when they began attending Calvary Baptist Church.
During a midweek service in April 1984, a missionary to Korea presented his ministry and asked whether anyone would be willing to help take the Gospel to the children of the world. Ken and Kandee went forward, surrendering to go wherever the Lord would use them. A man named Mark Cook joined them at the altar, prayed with them, and encouraged them in God's call to ministry. By June, Ken and Kandee were enrolled at Liberty University.
After graduating in 1989, Pastor Ken planned to go to inner-city Baltimore to begin a rescue mission. Pastor Mullis called and asked whether he and Kandee would consider returning to Calvary to help with the teenagers. They came home to Calvary—and have served here ever since.
Pastor Ken spent 27 years ministering to teenagers before becoming Calvary's senior pastor. He has now served 10 years in that role. Through the years, he has had the joy of seeing many people trust the Lord. He is trusting God for more years to serve Him and praying that the Lord will send the right people to carry on the ministry long after he and Kandee are gone.
He loves building things, seeing what God will send Calvary's way next, and playing soccer and other sports. Most of all, he loves seeing people trust the Lord and continue faithfully with Him.
