“a pillar and buttress of the truth”
The Kenwood Institute exists to strengthen Christ’s church, a pillar and buttress of the truth, by promoting and defending the whole counsel of God’s Word in the Reformed and Baptist traditions.
We accomplish our mission by training faithful pastors and church members (Kenwood Hall), providing resources to believers (KenwoodInstitute.org), and networking like-minded pastors and churches (Kenwood Network).
Come to Louisville. We’re keeping the community in the communion of the Saints.
Calling all men who desire to be trained for a lifetime of faithful ministry: Where else can you get a world-class seminary education paired with on-the-ground, in-person, local church ministry training and experience? That’s our aim at the Kenwood Institute: to fortify the faith once for all delivered and to equip the saints in a faith community that loves to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Unashamedly Baptist and Reformed
Minutes from Southern Seminary, the largest theological seminary in the world, the Kenwood Institute is designed to fortify the education and training pastors and ministers need for a lifetime of faithful service in the Reformed and Baptist traditions.
Unapologetically Complementarian
In a world that chafes against God’s design, the Kenwood Institute stands squarely on the foundation of what is revealed in Scripture and Nature in the orthodox stream regarding the natures and roles of men and women in the home, the church, and the world — because we know this is how male and female image bearers best flourish in God’s world.
Unrelentingly Word-Centered
Colossians 1:17 says the Jesus Christ, the living Word, is “before all things, and in him all things hold together” — including the aims and aspirations of the Kenwood Institute. How do we do this? God has given us a Book, in which we have all things “for life and godliness” — in other words, the Bible is not only our textbook, but our ministry manual.
Meet the Directors
The Kenwood Institute operates under the authority and oversight of Kenwood Baptist Church and her pastors, the Kenwood elders — all under the Lordship of Christ to be a “pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15).
Colin Smothers
Institute Director
Colin Smothers is Director of the Kenwood Institute. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and is an adjunct professor at Boyce College.
Gabe Molnar
Institute Board
Gabe grew up in Detroit, Michigan and moved to Kentucky to attend Asbury University in 2005. Gabe met his wife Jenna at Asbury, they were married in 2010, and now have six children: Eleanor, Teddy, Franklin, Patrick, Haddie, and Betsy. They became members at Kenwood in 2014 and Gabe works in his family’s commercial real estate company. Gabe enjoys hiking with his kids, playing on Kenwood’s softball team, and backyard bonfires with friends.
Randall Breland
Institute Board
Randall and Bethany have been at Kenwood since 2008 and are the proud parents of Evangeline, Juliana, and Shepherd. Randall holds an M.Div and Ph.D. in Old Testament from Southern Seminary. Randall enjoys cycling, hiking, golf, reading biographies, laughter, and the Dallas Cowboys.
Jim Hamilton
Institute Board
Jim and his family have been at Kenwood since 2009. He and his wife, Jill, are blessed with five children: Jake, Jed, Luke, Evie and Isaiah. Jim also serves as Professor of Biblical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to coming to Louisville, he was Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas and was the preaching pastor at Baptist Church of the Redeemer.
Denny Burk
Institute Board
Denny has been an elder at Kenwood since 2010.