Pastor Kevin Crain is a native to Western Washington, growing up in Bellingham and moving further south in his adult life. He accepted Jesus as his savior at six years old and was baptized at eleven. He grew up going to youth group, serving at church and participating in mission trips. After high school, Kevin Pursued a study in nursing at Everett Community College where he met his wife Betty. Nursing didn't work out  but his relationship with Betty did. They married in 1993 and now have been married 32 years. They have 2 children, Abbey is 24 and Chris is 22. Abbey arrived in the usual way, while their son, Chris, was adopted from foster care at 4 and a half years old.

​

A year after Kevin and Betty's wedding, the Lord prompted them to continue their education at Bible college. Betty studied counseling while Kevin pursued Biblical studies and church music at Northwest University in Kirkland, WA. It was still unclear where the Lord was leading them, But they were both easger to use their abilities for teh Lord. in 1997, they graduated with Bechelor's degrees, and Kevin was hired as a part-time music director at a church in Federal Way, WA. This began an amazing 19-year adventure in ministry in a single church.

​

Lifeway Church was a rich training ground for Kevin. When he demonstrated gifts with young people, church leaders allowed him to make a shift from music ministry to youth and children's ministry. Kevin and Betty started a youth group with two other couples that grew to 35 students and continued strong for 6 years. Later, after a merger with another church, Kevin was invited to be the children's pastor of the combined children's ministry of 100 kids, and to manage 50 volunteers. It was a trial-by-fire, but these were great times. He created a program called KidVenture, wrote the cirriculum, developed leaders and invented several of his own science-based VBS programs. To formalize his pastoral calling, Kevin began the two-year process of ordination. Demonstrating proficiency in Bible knowledge, systematic theology and practical leadership.

​

It was about this time, Kevin and Betty felt the Lord's leading in two areas - The adoption of their son, Chris, and the adoption of a church in Orting, WA. Together, they were two of the hardest things they had ever undertaken. Their son came to them with behavioral challenges that were greater than any they could have anticipated, making home-life a daily struggle. On the church side, the congregation was deeply wounded by the sudden departure of their pastor, but the Crains made slow and steady progress at the church, raising up a leadership team, starting seven ministries, launched and maintained home groups that included 75% of the church family, and under Betty's leadership, started a youth group of 25 students. After seven years with the church, God led them to step away to pursue what they thought was church-planting ministry.

​

Instead, God led Kevin and Betty to Kent First Baptist Church to lead and grow their children's ministry from scratch. The church had only two children. Kevin brought his knowledge and experience to bear, and after six years, the church had 25 kids and many families who are now a part of the congregation. Then, like God often does, He prompted us to begin praying for Kent's sister church in Puyallup who needed a pastor. Through this time of Prayer, Kevin felt led to apply which opened the door for a return to pastoral ministry.

6-01-2025