Rev. Kevin Shields is the current pastor of the Mt. Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church at 601 Congress St., Emporia, KS 66801. He has been in ministry since 2003 and pastoring since 2005. Rev. Shields is a veteran of the U.S. Army's medical program, and a graduate of both Kansas City Kansas Community College and Park University, where he earned an A.S. in Physical Science and a B.S. in Public Administration and Management. Pastor Shields has also earned an M.A. in Religious Studies from Central Baptist Theological Seminary and a graduate of the Executive Development Institute (EDI) at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA. EDI trains candidates to be CEOs and CFOs (Chief Executive Officers or Chief Financial Officers) of leading companies in the United States of America and abroad.

     Rev. Shields has also attended St. Paul Theological Seminary and Calvary Theological Seminary, where he has been accepted in the newly accredited Ph.D. program in Religious Studies.

     Pastor Shields has been married for 25 years to his wife, Sherrie Shields. Their children are Malachi Shields, (21) a junior at Drury University in Springfield, MO, and Syria Shields, (18) a sophomore at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO.

     Rev. Shields also has a stepson Kendall Avery (40) and his wife Sheanna Avery, and they have two children, Kendell Avery Jr. (23), and KeShawn Avery (15).

     Rev. Shields has pastored three churches before arriving at Mt. Olive AME in Emporia, KS, and is very excited about the "PARASIA" of the Lord we continue to experience.

     Pastor Shields' parents Edward and Jean Shields, who were lifelong Baptist and nondenominational believers, both are deceased. Believing in God, he knows they now sit around the throne of grace, singing HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!