Who We Are

Ken and Kay Koontz live in beautiful North Carolina and have been married for 45 years, have three married children, and 15 grandchildren.   They are very grateful for the Grand Adventure they have had in following the Lord's calling together.

Born in Texas, Ken was raised in Morrilton, Arkansas with his four siblings, Ken came to salvation in Christ as a child.  Through his young years he struggled with his value and identity. He found purpose and value as a rising star football player on his high school team. Receiving a football scholarship, he went on to attend University of Central Arkansas where he met the women he would marry, Kay. 

After Ken married Kay in 1976 and the birth of two children, Kristen (44), Joshua (42), he yielded to the calling  of the Lord on his life for full-time ministry.  Their third child, Katie, arrived two years later and soon the Lord led them to Paris, Texas.  In these years of learning to walk with Jesus, they saw miracles, grew in the Word, pursued strong teachings, and developed lifelong relationships. 

Later the Holy Spirit gave Ken an assignment in Ft. Worth, Texas, with Hope for Africa Ministries.  There he worked on sending food and relief to Africa .  He also made his first missions trip, going to Mozambique.  Seeing God work on this trip changed him forever and added a new dimension to the Grand Adventure. 

While still in Ft. Worth, Ken and Kay both heard the Lord speak to them about North Carolina.  A visiting pastor they met invite Ken to Salisbury, North Carolina, to consider becoming the pastor at his church.   He was leaving to do mission work.  Some of the events along the way to this assignment were challenging, even crazy, but they knew once they arrived in Salisbury, North Carolina, they were where God wanted them.   

There they began New Covenant Christian Fellowship which later became NorthGate Church.  The adventure also eventually took them to the Middle East with astonishing results as God proved His faithfulness abroad as well as at home.  Ken pastored Northgate for over 30 years before moving into another assignment of ministering to pastors and missionaries as well as  working more abroad. 

Ken has also taught and written extensively on identity, including authoring the book, Just Who Do You Think You Are?.  He experienced himself the weight of not knowing who God had really made him to be.  And he tells the story of how God showed him the truth about himself and the value his Father God had given him.  Hope, purpose, and new joy have sprung up in many people as Ken has shared God's truth of identity with them.

Today Father God continues to surprise them with new assignments and has given them the joy of seeing their kids, grandkids, and disciples growing and serving the Lord.

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