Our Pastor

Pastor Kenneth W. Chandler is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the fourth child of five children, born to the late Robert L. Chandler and Rosemary D. Chandler. He was joined in matrimony to his beloved wife, Amy Slan Chandler, on May 2, 1987 and to this union, one precious daughter, Bianca D. Chandler in November 1992.

He is presently employed as an Information Technology Statewide Project Officer with the State of Louisiana, Office of Technology Services.

His educational realm includes graduation from Francis T. Nicholls High School in New Orleans in 1980. He has attended Louisiana State University (LSU), the University of New Orleans (UNO), and Control Data Institute where he received a Computer Technology certificate. He received his Bachelor of Theology degree from Christian Bible College of Baton Rouge in June 2002. He also received his Master of Theology in June 2017 and his Doctorate of Theology in June 2019 from Saint John Bible Institute.

Pastor Chandler accepted Christ as his personal Savior at the age of thirteen. He was baptized by the late Reverend Edward Brown, Pastor of the St. Matthews Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA. In November 1995, Pastor Chandler accepted his calling into the Ministry at the True Light Baptist Church, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana under the leadership of Reverend Dennis R. Hebert Sr. Pastor Chandler was licensed in December 1996 and ordained in April 1997. The ordination service was conducted by Pastor Dennis R. Hebert, and the Emmanuel Baptist Church Aid Association. As an Associate Minister at True Light, Pastor Chandler served as the Assistant to his pastor and he was in charge of the Youth Ministry. He also served as the former Secretary of the Evangelistic Ministry for the Emmanuel Baptist Church Association, and the former Vice President of their Youth Ministry.

Pastor Chandler is an instructor at the St. John’s Bible Institute located in Alsen, LA. He’s an active member of Mid-City Fellowship in Baton Rouge, LA, the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association, the Louisiana State Baptist Church Association, the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., and American Baptist Churches of the South (ABCOTS).

Pastor Chandler is a board member of the Butterfly Society of Baton Rouge. Also, Pastor Chandler is certified to teach by the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. This certification enables him to teach at the local, state and national Congress of Christian Education.

In his sixteenth year as Pastor of the Shady Grove First Missionary Baptist Church, he makes it known that he is first and foremost a true child of God. His mission is to live for Christ and to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ by the guidance of the Holy Spirit to Christians, and to those that are lost. To make disciples and raise a generation who will live for God, and share Jesus Christ with someone else.