Dr. Ken Hemphill

Camp Speaker

Dr. Ken Hemphill, former president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, serves as distinguished fellow of the Hemphill Center for Church Revitalization at Southwestern, and as the senior professor of church revitalization in the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions.

The longstanding Southern Baptist pastor and leader, served as Southwestern’s seventh President (1994-2003) and led a joint venture for the Center for Church Growth within the Southern Baptist entities now known as Lifeway Christian Resources and the North American Mission Board (1992-1994). Dr. Hemphill also served as a national strategist for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Empowering Kingdom Growth emphasis (2003-2011), is the founding director of the Center for Church Planting and Revitalization at North Greenville University, and was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Norfolk, Virginia (1981-1992).

Dr. Hemphill has a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from Cambridge University, both a Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University.

Hemphill has authored more than 50 books and numerous video/audio resources intended for the revitalization of local churches. Some of his works include You Are Gifted, Eternal Impact, Splash Discipleship, the Equipping Church, and the God Is Bible Study/Devotions. Dr. Hemphill resides in South Carolina with Paula, his wife of nearly five decades. He and his wife, Paula, have three children and 12 grandchildren.