Larry Theisen, director of missions at Keystone Baptist Association, retires

In recognition of the retirement of Larry Theisen, Keystone Baptist Association’s director of missions on December 21, 2019, below is an edited Q & A interview by LaVeta Jones.

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January 9, 2020
LaVeta Jones
BRN

In recognition of the retirement of Larry Theisen, Keystone Baptist Association’s director of missions on December 21, 2019, below is an edited Q & A interview by LaVeta Jones. We thank Larry for his 24 years of service to BRN and we wish him our Lord’s best as he embarks upon a new chapter in his life.

Theresa Kreig honors the Theisens — PA/SJ WMU President Theresa Kreig honors Larry and Joan Theisen for their many years of service.

Jones: Give me a one-word description of your tenure at KBA.
Theisen: FAMILY!

Jones: When did you begin serving at KBA?
Theisen: December 1, 1995

Jones: What did you enjoy most about leading KBA?
Theisen: Working with KBA staff, pastors, pastoral staff, and members of the churches. People are more important to me than mere accomplishments. I had pictures of people all over my walls and doors to remind me to pray for them and to remember all that God did in my life through those people. I hope I had some encouraging impact in their lives as well for the Lord!

Jones: What are some of your accomplishments?
Theisen: KBA assisted the start of 24 churches and affiliation of 11 churches during the 24 years I served there. Most of these were done in partnership with the BRN & NAMB. We had 29 churches in 1995 and 36 by the end of 2019, due to churches closing or leaving the SBC.

Jones: How did God reveal Himself to you?
Theisen: God revealed Himself through people and His Word as I daily prayed for people and recorded His work in my prayer journals. Whether good or bad things happened, I always sought to hear what God was teaching me through others and the Word that spoke to me that day.

Jones: How did your relationship with Jesus Christ grow while at KBA?
Theisen: Serving at KBA taught me to trust God more day by day through the challenging times of difficulty and the good times of great blessings.

Jones: What will you miss the most?
Theisen: I will miss the people I regularly interacted with.

Jones: What are your retirement plans?
Theisen: I plan to spend more time with the Lord, my wife, our four children, and our twelve grandchildren; continued ministry as requested with churches; substitute teaching and ESL ministry in York City; work on my music and art; improve my golfing.

LaVeta Jones

LaVeta Jones is a community outreach event coordinator, freelance media producer and communication consultant. She has coordinated events with the school district of Philadelphia and elected officials. She also works extensively with the faith-based community and the Philadelphia Police Department and has taught community policing workshops and presented for department press conferences. LaVeta, who earned a bachelor of arts in film and media arts at Temple University, graduated Summa Cum Laude and served as class valedictorian, began working for BRN in 2007, where she has assisted in telling the stories of our BRN churches.