Rev. Dr. Kevin W. VanHook II, Ph.D. serves as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland, where he is helping lead a historic congregation into an exciting new chapter of ministry.

Pastor Kevin brings an unusual journey to the pastorate. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Pastor Kevin began his career as an Air Force officer and systems engineer, eventually leading a multimillion-dollar space program responsible for multiple satellites in orbit. During that time, he earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the University of Denver. Upon returning from a tour in Afghanistan, he resigned his commission and attended Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned his Master of Divinity and received the Kenyon J. Wildrick Award for Excellence in Homiletics, recognizing him as one of the most gifted preachers in his graduating class.

Since finishing seminary, Pastor Kevin’s work has continued to cross the boundaries of ministry, leadership, and social impact. He served as Minister of Justice, Advocacy, and Change at the historic Riverside Church in Harlem and later as chief executive of a major New York City nonprofit, overseeing millions of dollars in charitable investments and programs serving more than a million people annually. His work has also included helping faith-based and mission-driven organizations navigate change, develop leaders, strengthen organizations, and increase their impact. He later earned his Ph.D. from Pepperdine University, where his research explored how organizations can navigate change while remaining deeply rooted in their identity, communities, and calling.

Today, Pastor Kevin brings that breadth of experience to his leadership at First Baptist and to a larger calling of helping churches and purpose-driven organizations thrive in a rapidly changing world. He is passionate about preaching the Gospel, developing people, building healthy organizations, and helping faith communities become places where people encounter Jesus, find genuine belonging, grow into who God created them to be, and make a meaningful difference in the world.