Pastor Keith Gilliam has been at Living Hope Church in Lenoir, North Carolina, for 40 years. The church, started in 1950, changed names in 2018, when Gilliam felt the Lord’s prompting to remember 1 Peter 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (NIV).
Living Hope Church, Lenoir, North Carolina
Living Hope Church, Lenoir, North Carolina
Gilliam is a third-generation IPHC member, following after his grandfather and father. He grew up in Marion, North Carolina, just 35 miles from where he now pastors. He and his brother, who is four years older, both attended Emmanuel University, where Gilliam studied pastoral ministry. Fresh out of college, Gilliam and his new wife, Lana, took Living Hope as their first pastorate, where just 35 people were in attendance at the time. He shares that approximately 20 are still active members. Throughout the past 40 years, the church has seen significant growth. They moved to their current campus in 1998 and recently completed their third sanctuary. Now, Living Hope has a sanctuary that seats 1100 and holds multiple services throughout the week. As far as advice for other pastors just starting out, Gilliam encourages: “Just be committed where you are. Be patient. Going from 35 to 1200… 40 years is a long time, and that didn’t happen instantly.”
Pastor Keith Gilliam
Lana and Keith Gilliam
For Gilliam, the greatest part of staying in one pastorate for 40 years is the relationships that are formed, for themselves and their family. Gilliam and Lana have two grown children: Jennifer, who is married to Bradley with one child, Briggs, and son John, who is married to Sydney. Their children had the unusual experience of growing up as “PK”s (Pastor’s Kids) with the same church family throughout. Throughout these years, Gilliam has come to know the community well. He has formed lasting friendships and watched children born within the church grow up, come to know the Lord, marry, and have children of their own. As far as the accomplishments he is most proud of, Gilliam says, “Watching people come to know the Lord, seeing true life change from the power of the gospel; that’s the most important.” Gilliam is also particularly thrilled when he sees a young person who has grown up in the church be called into ministry.
Living Hope Church
Living Hope Church
Gilliam recognizes that the length of his stay as pastor and the significant growth they have seen over the years are unusual. He knows their growth is partially due to their strong missions giving, both globally and locally. Gilliam’s heart is for missions, and he wants to continue to be a light in their community, the surrounding counties, and around the world. He has enjoyed going on many trips over the years, and Living Hope has built churches in several countries in Central and South America. In the past two decades or so, Gilliam has experienced some life-changing health issues that have required him to do more sending out, rather than going along with, their missions’ teams. Even so, Living Hope’s commitment to supporting missions remains intact.
Pastor Keith Gilliam is a humble man, preferring to turn the spotlight from himself and onto others. He desires to keep Christ as the center of his personal and professional stories, always pointing back to Him and all He has given to and done for Living Hope Church in Lenoir, North Carolina. Forty years have come and gone, and Gilliam looks forward to seeing what God has planned for this next season.
Living Hope Church, Lenoir, North Carolina
