I can't tell you how happy I am to have such an awesome group of co-pilgrims with whom to travel! It was a great blessing to have the time to be introduced and begin our bonding. I am excited beyond words about the pilgrimage.



As a racetrack chaplain the comments I most often hear are, "You are a chaplain WHERE?" or "What do you do, pray for the gamblers who have lost all their money?" Actually, when people SEE the ministry taking place at the racetrack, they understand why I believe this to be the most challenging, exciting, and fulfilling ministry anywhere.



A little about me -- I am 51, and joined Race Track Chaplaincy in January, 1990, as Chaplain at Tampa Bay Downs, in Tampa, FL, after previously serving as Associate Pastor in Cleveland, Ohio (1984-1989), and as Senior Pastor in Lutz, FL (1989-1990). In April 2003, I was asked to be the first full-time Chaplain at Churchill Downs, and its training facility, Trackside, in Louisville, KY.

“The barn area, also know as the ‘backside,’ of a racetrack is a city unto itself. Having served as a racetrack Chaplain for the past 19 years, I have come to understand some of the greatest challenges, as well as the greatest rewards, of this unique and wonderful ministry. Our chaplaincy program faces these challenges head-on, not only meeting the spiritual needs of our community, but by offering emotional, educational, physical, and social services as well. As an ambassador of the Lord, it is a privilege and a joy to share the promises of acceptance, love, joy, peace, community, hope, and salvation, which God freely offers to all. And there is no greater joy than seeing people come to know the assurance of eternity through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.”

I was born and grew up in NJ. I earned A.A. (Pre-Theology) and B.A. (Religion & English) degrees from Concordia College in Bronxville, NY (1975-1979); and a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO (1979-1984). My wife, Natalie, and I have a soon to be 16-year-old daughter, Bethany. I enjoys game nights with family and friends, playing Wii, golf, and watching the N.Y. Yankees.



Please keep my family and me in your prayers. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will have our family pet, Amazing Grace, a faithful friend and companion for the past 16 years, put down due to complications of old age.



I have been and will continue to pray for each of you as we prepare to literally follow in our Lord's footsteps.

Bless you all --

Ken Boehm