Ken Graves

Ken Graves

9 Sermons
Ken Graves (N/A–N/A) is an American preacher and the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel Bangor in Orrington, Maine, known for his bold preaching and commitment to ministry despite personal and legal challenges. Born in one of the poorest parts of Maine, Graves grew up in a tumultuous household with an alcoholic father whose violence left deep scars, eventually abandoning the family. At age 16, inspired by David Wilkerson’s The Cross and the Switchblade, he dropped out of high school and joined a Teen Challenge facility, not as an addict but to train under Christian leaders. By 22, he returned to Bangor, starting a home Bible study in 1991 that grew into Calvary Chapel, marrying Jeanette (marriage date unavailable) and raising a family that remains involved in the church. Graves’s preaching career has centered on Calvary Chapel Bangor, where he has led a congregation of over 1,200—among Maine’s largest—since its founding, emphasizing verse-by-verse Bible teaching and maintaining a yearlong residential recovery program for addicts, reflecting his early calling to minister to broken lives. His ministry expanded with WJCX 99.5 FM in 1996 and frequent speaking at Calvary Chapel conferences nationwide, including a notable 2020 stand against Maine Governor Janet Mills’s COVID-19 church closure orders, risking jail to keep services open, a fight supported by Liberty Counsel. Known for his gravelly voice and masculine style, Graves has preached on embracing persecution and biblical manhood, leaving a legacy as a resilient evangelist whose influence spans his church, radio, and recovery programs.
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