The Bio of Ken's Birks, Bible Teacher

In February 1997, Ken and his wife Lydia believed the Lord was leading them to resign as Sr. Pastor of Golden Valley Christian Center (which had recently been renamed Cherry Glen Community Church.)   Golden Valley Christian Center was part of the Abbott Loop Fellowship of Churches under the apostleship of Dick Benjamin.  After pastoring for twelve years, Ken felt that he had fulfilled his time as senior pastor to his congregation, and that God wanted to do a new thing in his church.   The members helped make the decision that it was best to close the doors of the church permanently rather than trying to rebuild with another pastor coming in.  There were about 75 solid members who made and accepted this decision with a beautiful heart.   Their decision was to sell the building to a church that could really make a difference for the Kingdom of God.  Having known of Francis Anfuso and having great respect for his ministry, and then hearing it was his desire to start a church in the Roseville area, Ken contacted him and gave him first opportunity towards purchasing the building.  Plans were made and The Rock purchased the building within a few short months.  While it was heartbreaking to let go,  they knew their deep friendships would last forever.  They still meet together throughout the year in friendship and love.

Ken attended and graduated from The Charismatic Bible College of Anchorage where he came into relationship with Apostle Dick Benjamin, who was then the Sr. Pastor of Abbott Loop Christian Center (ALCC) in Anchorage,  Alaska.  Dick Benjamin has been one of the strongest spiritual influences in his life.  Ken would say,  “Aside from The Lord Jesus Christ, the core of my spiritual being and the person I have become is a direct result from the influence and teaching I have received from Dick Benjamin for more than 25 years.”  Other influences have been Bob Mumford from Life Changers and more recently Pastor Francis Anfuso of The Rock of Roseville. 

Ken was originally sent out on a church planting team from Abbott Loop Christian Center in August 1978 to Chico, California.  Lydia joined him in Chico a year later and they were married.  While in Chico, on an internship program from the Bible College in Anchorage,  Ken also had the opportunity to finish his AA degree in Business from Butte College in Chico.   In 1981, Ken and Lydia moved to the Sacramento area to join the ALCC outreach church that he later would pastor for twelve years. 

Ken’s primary gift is in the area of teaching.  He teaches the word of God with passion and balance.  He has an intense desire to impart a genuine love and appreciation for God’s Word.  He believes he is called to teach and preach God’s word in way that helps to shape and influence the minds and hearts of God’s people.  His vision and burden is to impart faith through teaching and preaching for the Body of Christ to come into the fulfillment of Ephesians 4:13 – that is for the Body of Christ to come to the unity of faith in the stature and fullness of Christ – and to impart vision for the Body of Christ to rise up and be who God has called her to be.