“Bro. Kenneth and Mrs. Shirley Bobo, A Testament to God’s Faithfulness.”

HOPE – This past Sunday evening June 29th, Providence Baptist Church, Highway 29 south of Hope, recognized the 65th ministry anniversary of Brother Kenneth Bobo. 170 were in attendance, according to Providence pastor Casey Curtis, who shared with Hope-Prescott News the printed program entitled “Bro. Kenneth and Mrs. Shirley Bobo, A Testament to God’s Faithfulness.”

Bro. Kenneth Bobo was born near Hope, Arkansas, in 1939 and accepted Jesus as his savior in July 1957. On June 25, 1960, he surrendered to the ministry and was ordained later that year by the Providence Missionary Baptist Church, where he would later serve in his first full-time pastorate. Since that day, God has led him on a path of faithful service that has taken him across Arkansas, Tennessee, and even other nations.

Throughout his ministry, Bro. Bobo has served as pastor of many churches, including Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Hope, Arkansas (1960-63); Central Baptist Church in Trumann, Arkansas (1963-69); Berean Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee (1969-77); Liberty Memorial Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee (1981-93); Charity Heights Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas (1998-2002); Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Hope, Arkansas (2014-17); and Calvary Baptist Church in Stamps, Arkansas (2024-present).

Bro. Bobo has also served as an interim pastor at Zion Baptist Church in Fordyce, Arkansas (2006-07); First Baptist Church in Gurdon, Arkansas (2011); Temple Baptist Church in Fordyce, Arkansas (2012); and First Baptist Church North Lewisville in Lewisville, Arkansas (2019-20).

As a full-time evangelist, Bro. Bobo has preached over 600 revival meetings in 15 states and 2 foreign countries (Africa and Honduras). One of the most meaningful moments in his ministry was sharing a devotion on the Mount of Olives in Israel.

God also entrusted Bro. Bobo with leadership roles in the Baptist Missionary Association. He served as president for two years and vice president for two years of the Baptist Missionary Association of America, president of the BMA of Arkansas for three years, and a member of the Board of Trustees for Central Baptist College in Conway for 19 years.

Bro. Kenneth has been a faithful husband to his wife, Mrs. Shirley Bobo, for 66 years. Together, they have three children, Thomas Chad Bobo, Roger Gil Bobo, and Christi Bobo Rooker, and numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren whose lives have been blessed by their example. Most importantly, however, they have stood together as partners in ministry, encouraging churches and families with grace and truth. For all these things, he gives the glory to Jesus Christ.

Photos courtesy of pastor Casey Curtis and Providence Church