Pastor Bob and First Lady Graciela Kirkham on their Wedding Day

Rev. J. Robert Kirkham ministers out of a Pastor’s heart with a strong teaching anointing. The Lord called him into the ministry while he was serving as an officer in the United States Air Force. Since that time he has served in several capacities of ministry. From 1988 to 1992, Rev. Bob Kirkham served as an assistant minister of a local church. Among other things, while in that capacity, he was coordinator of cell groups, coordinator of altar workers, overseer of jail ministry, director of senior citizens’ ministry, youth worker and children’s worker. From 1992 to 1999 he ministered as an itinerant Bible Teacher, traveling throughout the South and Southwest, ministering in churches and teaching a variety of topics relevant to the Christian life. During this time, Rev. Kirkham also took a mission trip to Eastern Europe and had the privilege of preaching the Gospel to people who had never heard the Name of Jesus before. From Pastor Bob's teaching anointing and heart for mission came the Plowhandle Discipleship Curriculum, a course designed for the training of new converts, which is now being used by missionaries in at least three countries. In October of 1999, the Lord led Pastor Kirkham to pioneer and pastor Grace Family Church in Abilene, Texas with a vision to reach Abilene and the Big Country with the Word of Faith.

In 1995, Pastor Bob’s wife Christina went to Heaven after seventeen years of Christ-centered, Word-based happy marriage. As one might expect, he was shattered. Then, in April, 2000, Rev. Kirkham married Graciela, who is now the First Lady of Grace Family Church. Pastor Bob and Graciela operate together as a team, serving the Lord and the congregation of Grace Family Church. Having been involved in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles since 1972, Pastor Bob has seen many extremes and Charismatic fads come and go. He has arrived at a place of balance to minister effectively to the Body of Christ. The Lord has used all these experiences of life and ministry - including his experiences as a military officer, working in a local church, traveling in ministry and especially in overseas missions, the trauma and grief of losing a wife and all that is entailed in living as a widower and single man in his forties, and the adjustments of second marriage in mid-life - to work in Rev. Kirkham that indefinable quality that we call a Pastor’s Heart. Pastor Kirkham ministers out of a heart of love and compassion, flowing with the Holy Spirit to meet the needs of the people. "You are part of the Family at Grace Family Church!"