I grew up on a row-crop farm in Southeast Missouri. I am thankful for my godly parents who taught me about Jesus and His church. I grew up riding horses, enjoying all kinds of water sports like barefooting and wake boarding, and lived and died with my high school basketball games for South Pemiscot in Steele MO. I attended Freed-Hardeman University and made some of the greatest friends in the world. Through FHU, some good friends, great teachers, and the Lord’s providence I went in intending to be a coach and came out a preacher.
I met my wife, Amanda Carson there and we were married on January 1st, 2000. I love her more everyday. She is my best friend and biggest supporter. She is incredible as a wife and mother. You can follow her blog as she shares her thoughts on being a preacher-wife and homeschooling mom to four. We are blessed with four kids; Austin (13), Brooke (11), Landon (9), and Caleb (5).
I completed my Master of Divinity at FHU in May of 2012, it only took me 12 years from when I finished the Master of Ministry degree! I have been working with the Seven Oaks Church of Christ in Mayfield, Kentucky since November of 2003.
My hobbies are running our family farm, playing golf, family outings, and watching sports. I like the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Lakers, PGA tour golf, and NASCAR.
As a preacher, you do a little bit of it all with church work, but I try to focus on strengthening marriages and families, reaching the lost with personal studies, and preaching life-changing sermons. I don’t usually feel like I do those that well, but it is my aim and prayer and with His help there has been some success. It is about like golf, enough small victories, to keep you going back for more!
I have been blogging since November of 2012. Our family recently jumped into a new adventure with the purchase of a farm in Graves County. You can read about the journey by searching the blog with the word “Farm.” Currently we have fifteen Dexter cows, 4 Berkshire pigs, 3 St. Croix sheep, two horses, and pony. We also began doing marriage seminars and retreats in 2013. We would love to come to your church and host a seminar. I am also available for special speaking engagements and gospel meetings. Thanks for reading and enjoy the blog.
You can contact me through email (josh@joshketchum.com) or at Seven Oaks Church of Christ at 270-247-5201. I am also on Facebook and Twitter @joshketchum
