Mike Keown, pastor of First Newark Baptist Church, is now serving as a representative in the state legislature. While some self-proclaimed champions of the separation of church and state may look askance at a preacher in politics, others see it as altogether right and proper.

John Witherspoon, a minister, was a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Witherspoon, who has often been described as the "man who shaped the man who shaped America," said, "God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable."

William Paterson, a signer of the Constitution, typically ended his speeches by quoting Proverbs 29:2: "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."

Keown believes that God placed a desire in his heart to run for the Georgia House of Representatives. He asserts, "I believe state government needs a good dose of honesty, integrity and faith."

The newly-elected state representative from district 173 in Thomasville continued, "During the 2003 session more time was spent on the gay marriage issue than on any other. It appears more and more that the legislature needs moral people involved in the process. It is time we stand up for what is right, pure, moral, ethical ... and yes, Christian. I hope to be salt and light to the political process."

Keown is no stranger to public service and political office. In 1986, while pastor of Coolidge Memorial Baptist Church in Coolidge, he ran unopposed for mayor and served in that capacity for four years. In 1990 he ran for a seat on the Thomas County School Board and won against a two-term incumbent.

In 1993 Keown completed a Certified Public Managers Program through the University of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Corrections. In recognition of this accomplishment, Governor Zell Miller presented Keown his diploma in the House Chambers of the State Capitol.

The Thomasville pastor recalls, "While sitting in the chamber awaiting the start of the ceremony and considering all the decisions that had been made there through the years God spoke to me about making myself available for a state office."

Keown explained, "A year ago when it became evident that there would be an open seat in the House of Representatives through the political redistricting of my area in South Georgia, God made it very clear to me that the time was right to run.

"My deacons were lukewarm to the idea at first," Keown admitted, "but I asked them to pray about the matter. In the course of time the church became very supportive and now many of them feel like they are sending a missionary to the legislature."

When asked how he plans to manage his heavy schedule, Keown remarked, "I feel like a man with a split personality. At home I'm Mike, the pastor/representative, but in Atlanta I'm Mike, the representative/pastor. I really don't know how it is all going to work out, but I am ready for the challenge."

 

Accustomed to challenges

The pastor, a native of Canton, is not unaccustomed to challenges, but admits that his greatest challenge was to see his son, Matthew, leave with the 3rd Infantry Division to go to Iraq to engage in the initial onslaught on Baghdad. It was a harrowing experience for Matthew, but he attained the rank of Sergeant and returned home with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Keown met his wife-to-be, Kathy Clements, on the third day of student life at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. It was through Kathy's faith and witness that Mike became a Christian. They were married on Christmas Eve 1972. Mike was called to preach the next year and in 1977 they graduated together from Shorter College. The Keowns graduated together again in 1983. The second graduation was from Southwestern Seminary, where Mike received his Master of Divinity degree and Kathy received her Master of Church Music degree.

With much gratitude and pride, Keown added, "Kathy has served beside me as minister of music in every church I have pastored. We are a team. She is the best church music person I have ever known!" Kathy also works for Thomas County School System as a Title One and Special Projects Coordinator.

Mike and Kathy have two sons. The firstborn son is Michael, whose wife is Keumele, and who last June provided the Keowns with their first grandchild, Carrie Elizabeth. Matthew, now a teaching assistant at Thomas College, is married to Christina.

Prior to becoming the pastor of First Newark, Keown served as pastor of two other churches in the Thomasville area and director of pastoral services at Greenleaf Center in Valdosta. He also served in the positions of chaplain, chief counselor, deputy warden, unit manager and superintendent for the Georgia Department of Corrections, in addition to the elected offices he held.

 

Seeking God's direction

Keown states, "First Newark Baptist Church was a new church start in 1996, beginning mostly with a group of senior adults who had been displaced from their home church. God gave me a heart for them and their struggle and now eight years later I am still their pastor."

Under Keown's leadership the church has grown and now has 160-200 in worship on Sunday morning. The debt has been paid on the original facility. A Family Life Center was constructed in 2001; and this month the church is breaking ground for the expansion and renovation of the sanctuary to accommodate 450 worshippers.

The pastor/legislator's drive and ambition seem endless. Added to his extensive resume is a Doctor of Ministry degree, which he earned from New Orleans Seminary in 2003. The First Newark secretary, Jeanne Wilcox, describes Keown as energetic, compassionate and a "take charge" kind of person.

Terrill Ruis, Georgia Baptist Convention Ministry Resource Consultant in the Southwest Georgia Region, says of Keown, "He is one of the finest and most interesting pastors I know. Not many pastors I know have served as deputy warden of a prison, been to seminary, helped bring back a church as he has First Newark, and been elected to the Georgia legislature. God is doing some great things through his life. I'm glad to know him."

David Cook, associational missionary for South Georgia, remarked, "I have known Mike Keown for about 20 years. I am proud of him and the Christian citizenship he portrays. I know he will serve our state with the best interest of the public at heart and with direction from his deep devotion to God."