Dr. Kenneth Hubbard

Dr. Kenneth C. Hubbard, a great preacher and Christian leader died Sunday, February 7, 2010 Dr. Hubbard succumbed to pneumonia and the debilitating disease of Alzheimer’s that was diagnosed in 2005 soon after his retirement from ministering 54 years pastoring churches in Tennessee and Texas. He last served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Smyrna, Tennessee now known as LifePoint Church. One of Tennessee’s largest churches, FBC, Smyrna became one of the fastest growing churches in the state while he was pastor. The church grew and thrived under the dynamic preaching and loving pastoral care of Dr. Hubbard. He was named Pastor Emeritus of the church at his retirement. Dr. Hubbard was preceded in death by his parents, James and Rachel Hubbard and a sister, Dixie Kading. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, the former Faye Walker of Milton, Tennessee; their two daughters: Lisa (Bill) Crawford of Lexington, KY and Lana (Ed) Webb of Naples, FL; and five grandchildren-Will, Jay, Emma, and Chaz Crawford and Emily Webb. He is also survived by a brother, Dr. Preston Hubbard; sisters Helen Skolaris; Doris Uren & Kathryn Coleman. Ken Hubbard was born December 10, 1933 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Even though he was an avid fan of the University of Tennessee, Dr. Hubbard graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee where he followed God’s call on his life into the ministry. He earned a Master of Theology degree and a PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Hubbard served as pastor of three churches in Texas and five churches in Tennessee beginning at the age of 18. His Tennessee pastorates include First Baptist Church, Loretto; First Baptist Church, Manchester; Ridgedale Baptist Church, Chattanooga; and Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Knoxville before coming to First Baptist Church, Smyrna in 1988. He led the church to relocate from it’s downtown facility of nearly one-hundred years to what was then known as the ‘outskirts’ of Smyrna where the church experienced significant growth. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Dr. Hubbard exercised tremendous influence as a spiritual leader and true Christian statesman. He served as past President of the Tennessee Baptist Convention; past President of the Tennessee Baptist Pastor’s Conference; served on the Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board; past President of Belmont University Alumni Association; a Trustee of Belmont University and served as a Trustee for Tennessee Baptist Convention Adult Homes. He also taught Evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Church Ministry to African American pastors in Athens, Texas. Dr. Hubbard was a part of mission work in Canada, Costa Rica and Scotland. Dr. and Mrs. Hubbard also served as missionaries to Nairobi, Kenya through the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention where Dr. Hubbard worked as an advisor to Kenyan pastors and teaching at Kenyatta College. Ken Hubbard was a much beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend who will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him. Of all his accomplishments, Dr. Hubbard’s greatest joy centered in his relationship to Jesus Christ, his college sweetheart and wife, Faye, his children and grandchildren, and the churches he pastored. Visitation with the family will be from 3:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M.Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at LifePoint Church then from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 with the service following at 11:00 A.M. at LifePoint Church. The family kindly requests that any memorial gifts be made to the Hubbard Scholarship Fund of LifePoint Church. This scholarship is designed to assist young people of LifePoint Church seeking to enter the ministry with financial aid. LifePoint Church, 506 Legacy Drive, Smyrna, Tennessee 37167. Or call (615) 459-3311. Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home; 820 South Church St. Murfreesboro, TN 37130 615-893-2422 www.jenningsandayers.com