Kenton L. Connor was born in South Bend, Indiana, and lived in Mishawaka, Indiana, until the age of ten. While attending First Baptist Christian School, he realized his need for a Savior. His fifth-grade teacher led him to Christ, and in the fall of 1984, Kenton began a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Shortly thereafter, his family moved to Plainfield, Illinois, where Kenton later graduated from Plainfield High School in 1993. Following graduation, he attended Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida, where he earned his degree and met his future wife, Cynthia Ford of Clearwater, Kansas.

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Within six months of graduating, Kenton was hired by the Wichita Police Department, where he served as a police officer for twelve years. After moving to Wichita, he and Cynthia were married. Throughout their careers and while raising their family, they remained active in their local church. God blessed them with four children: Katherine, Caleb, William, and James.

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As they worked, God began to reveal His plan for their lives and directed them toward full-time ministry. Kenton first volunteered with Rock of Ages Ministries in Cleveland, Tennessee. After an extended period of serving with the ministry, he resigned from the police department and was sent out of Heritage Baptist Church in Wichita as a full-time missionary to the prisons. For five years, he traveled throughout the country preaching the Gospel and teaching inmates the Word of God.

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God continued to lead their family and eventually directed Kenton to pastor Fellowship Baptist Church in Portales, New Mexico. After a year and a half in Portales, the Connors moved to Lakin, Kansas, where Pastor Connor has served as the pastor of Victory Baptist Church since January 2014.

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Because of his love for Lakin and the surrounding communities in Kearny County, Pastor Connor believes strongly in community involvement. He currently serves on the Lakin City Council and works full-time as an EMT for Kearny County EMS. In the past, he has served as chairperson of the Kearny County Library Board, as a board member of the Lakin Housing Authority, and as a volunteer firefighter with Kearny County Fire and Rescue.

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On August 20, 2023, Pastor Connor’s daughter, Katherine Anne Connor, went home to Heaven after years of battling mental illness. In her memory, the family created a social media ministry called Katie’s Hope on both Instagram and Facebook. Its purpose is to point people to the hope found only in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Though Katherine (Katie) took her life, her journals and conversations with her parents testify to her genuine faith in Christ. The family is grateful for the assurance that she is with Him today. Because Katie struggled with her mental health, the Connors desire to use the Katie’s Hope page to encourage others who face similar struggles or who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

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Pastor Connor’s desire is to faithfully teach about Christ and follow His guidance in all areas of ministry.