Minister Keisha Janel Agard

Minister Keisha J. Agard is graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dramatic Speech and Dance and Howard University School of Divinity where she earned her Master of Divinity degree in our Nations Capital, Washington, DC.

While fulfilling her Master of Divinity requirements at the National Rehabilitation Hospital she recognized the vast need of the patients and the families with whom she worked for Pastoral Care. She believes pastoral care is the true heart of ministry, and endeavor to aid the sick, shut-in and broken, whether it is in the midst of grief over the loss of a loved one or being an instrument of healing through prayer, encouragement and presence with families experiencing challenging times. She realized that this need was not confined to the hospitals or elderly, it is a relevant need for the young and the walking wounded.

As a native New Yorker and a member of the Antioch Baptist Church of Corona in Queens, New York, Minister Agard serves as Co-Director of Youth At Work Youth Ministry, Director of “Living Word” Drama Ministry, Assistant Director of the Tillers Praise Dance Ministry, Mentor in GAAYAW (God’s African American Young Adult Women) Mentoring Program, and a member of the April Club and Leading Ladies Auxiliary. She has also served as facilitator, presenter, play write, youth retreat speaker and Youth Convocation Preacher for the American Baptist Church of Metropolitan NY. Minister Agard has been recognized as the youngest faculty member at the Gospel Music Workshop of America on the national level, where she taught drama and dance to youth and young adults. She is also an accomplished performer and recording artist, performing with such musical greats as Teddy Pendergrass, Stephanie Mills, Enrique Inglesis, Bebe Winans and Richard Smallwood just to name a few.

Minister Agard was licensed to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in August of 2000 under the nurturing leadership of her father in the ministry and Pastor, Rev. Dr. Marvin J. Bentley. While in Washington DC, Minister Agard was under the watch care of the historic Metropolitan Baptist Church under the pastorate of another great, Rev. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr. where she worked with the Music, Dance, Women and Youth Ministries. She is presently a member of the Antioch Baptist Church ministerial staff, The Corona East Elmhurst Clergy Association, Queens Federation of Churches and the American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan New York Woman in Ministry.

Minister Agard has been called to and anointed for a “Keepin it Real” through the Arts and Counseling ministry as well as a powerful Praise and Worship leading ministry. With the belief that her steps are truly ordered by God and the knowledge that the best is yet to come she references two scriptures and lives by them.

Phil 3:14 & I Corinth. 2:9

I press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus, For eyes have not seen, neither ears heard, nor entered into the hearts of man that which God has prepared for those that love him.