Bios

Joseph Owens

Pastor

Pastor Dr. Joseph L. Owens is one of seven children born to the late George Owens, Jr. And Mrs. Grace (Porter) Owens in Lebanon, Kentucky.  He is a graduate of Marion County High School.  He was baptized and licensed to preach at First Baptist Campbellsville under the late Rev. Gregory F. Smith.  He was ordained by Emmanuel Baptist Church, Louisville, KY under the late Dr. C.B. Lucas.  Pastor Owens is also a graduate of Campbellsville University with a B.A degree in Christian Studies.  He has received several graduate school degrees including a Master of Divinity and a Masters of Religious Education from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as a Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH.  He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Campbellsville University where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for five years.  He has had the honored privilege of serving as pastor for three different congregations over the past 42 years including Second Baptist Church, Vincennes, IN for 7 years, Zion Hill Baptist Church for 11 years, and currently as the 7th pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church for the past 24 years. He is the former national board directors  chairman for DART (Direct Action Research Training).  He also served as former Moderator of the Consolidated Baptist District Association as well as former President of the Baptist Unified Christian Leadership Conference of KY.  Pastor Owens has been married to the former Elizabeth White of Jacksonville, FL for 49 years.  They are the proud parents of two children, Charisa Jene’ (Kelan) and John Mark (Amber).  They are also proud grandparents of 3 granddaughters.

  • 1980 December ordained by Emmanuel Baptist Church, Louisville, KY

  • A 1980 graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY Master of Divinity & Master of Religious Education

  • A 2000 graduate of United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio Doctor of Ministry

  • 2004 received an Honorary Doctorate Divinity from Campbellsville University

  • Board Secretary ,National Board of Directors, DART (Direct Action Research Training)

  • Former Chairman, Board of Trustees, Campbellsville University (5 terms)

  • Former Moderator of Consolidated District Baptist Association

  • Former Pastor of Second Baptist Church Vincennes, Indiana  (7 years)

  • Former Pastor of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Midway, KY (11 Years)

  • Currently Pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church, Lexington, KY (24 Years)

Elizabeth Owens

First Lady

First Lady Elizabeth (White) Owens is a native of Jacksonville, Florida.

She is a graduate of William M. Raines High School. She is also a graduate of Campbellsville University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. Mrs. Owens has received a number of graduate school degrees that include a Masters of Arts in Criminology from Indiana State University and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She is retired after serving over 32 years with the State of Kentucky. Over 27 of those years, she was employed by the Fayette County Public School System as a Child Guidance Specialist at Yates Elementary. Mrs. Owens is a military veteran, having served in the U.S. Army as an Intelligent Analyst. She is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and the Kentucky Association for School Social Workers and Counselors Association. At Shiloh, she is a member of the Restored Women’s Sunday School Class, occasionally sings in the choir, and assists the culinary committee. She is the former Chairperson of the Shiloh Evangelism Team. Under her leadership over 40 plus individuals have been recruited and trained to lead the church in reaching out to those who may not know the Lord.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families as well as a grief counselor for children served by the center. In her leisure time, Mrs. Owens is a fashion model and staff member with Uniqueness Unlimited Modeling Productions. She has appeared in several drama productions. Her stage credits include Message Theatre's "I Dedicate This Ride, the Isaac Murphy Story" in which she played one of the townspeople. She got her start in college while appearing in the production of "A Man Called Peter." She has also played different characters in various church skits. She recently stared in her first production with Studio Players "Parent-Teacher Interviews" where she played the leading roll as dean of an exclusive private school.