Senior Pastor Kent and Sherry Grimes
Commissioned into ministry after his conversion in 1974, Kent Grimes has studied and served under a number of anointed ministers. He earned his Associate of Science degree in Business and his Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Kent has 50 years of ministry experience and has functioned as a Bible teacher, evangelist, Associate Pastor, and Senior Pastor, as well as counselor, counselor, and mentor. He also has experience in church planting, church rebuilding, conference speaking, and many years of serving others in leadership in their ministry. Kent has written a book titled “Power Principles for Life on the Rock”, a foundational study on the Hebrews 6 doctrines of Christ.
Sherry Grimes is an integral part of Church of the Living Water, where she serves faithfully in many capacities including leading the worship ministry and women’s ministry, teaching, counseling, leadership team, and everything else that goes along with being the pastor’s wife. Kent and Sherry have been abundantly blessed with eight children, 25 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
“I was messed up, messed with, and messed over. I needed a Savior from my sins, deliverance from the devil, and eternal life rather than hell fire which is what I deserved. Born into a typical American home for those days, I reached my teenage years during the turbulent times of the late 60’s. Much to the dismay of my parents and other family members, I got heavily involved in drinking, drugs, and a debauched lifestyle that led me down a road of destruction. By the time I was 21 years old, I felt like I was 80 because of the abuse to my body, but especially to my mind and psyche. Spiritually, I had no input from the Bible and did not know about Jesus. I was seeking answers and meaning to life through the music of the day and the “poets” who wrote the lyrics. One day a dear friend from my rock and roll days as a lead singer in a band came to me, and from the Bible he preached Jesus to me. I received that message into my heart by faith, repented from my sins and asked God to forgive me. I have never looked back with any longing for that old lifestyle, except with a heartfelt desire that old friends that I knew back then would come to know Jesus, too.”
“Though my parents divorced when I was a young child, I was raised in a Christian home due to my faithful, praying mother! Experiencing salvation at the age of nine and walking out that commitment, I have personally known God’s goodness, faithfulness, trustworthiness, righteousness, protection, and love through my life experiences, and have leaned on Him throughout my life to keep me from living in desolate places. I have not been without suffering or disappointment, but I have known the steadfastness of the Lord, His refreshing and filling, His strength, His peace in the midst of adversity. His Word can be counted on; His promises are true! There is no human relationship that comes near to how satisfying an intimate relationship with Jesus is! He says, “Everyone who thirsts, come…” (Isaiah 55), and He will fill the longing of your heart. He says in Deuteronomy 30 to choose life (in Him) so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him, for the Lord is your life. And in Isaiah 40:11, it says, ‘He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.’ Oh, what a place to be!”