ABOUT THE MINISTER
Ralph Kinnel is a native of Springfield, Illinois where he attended Springfield Public Schools and later graduated from Southeast High School in 1988. He has been actively involved in ministry for 29 years. He has spoken on local, state lectureships. He has conducted Gospel Revivals, Gospel Meetings, Workshops, Special Training, and he has been selected to speak at the Texas State Youth Conference. He is currently a Supervisor for United Parcel Service in the Comprehensive Health and Safety Process department. He and his team provide injury prevention activities and programs for over 350 employees. Also, he investigates root causes for injuries in order to avoid future injuries, and Ministering Evangelist for Sinclair Church of Christ in Arp, Texas. He serves on the East Texas Empowerment Ministries Advisory Committee. He serves on the Spring Ridge Homeowner’s Association Board.
Ralph Kinnel attended the National Barber College in Springfield, Illinois and graduated in 1994 going on to pass the state exam and received his license in the state of Illinois. He has practiced in this profession in the state of Illinois and the state of Texas. He obeyed the gospel on September 20, 1992 after being taught by Minister Mayo Towles in Decatur, Illinois in the kitchen of his parent’s home. At that time, he was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Springfield, Illinois. He began preaching six months after his conversion. He placed membership with the formerly Lawrence Ave. Church of Christ in Springfield working with Dr. Lovell C. Hayes. He was active in preaching, teaching, youth ministry, and etc. Minister Hayes, Minister Towles, Bro. Ulysses Kinnel and Sis. Lillian Kinnel assisted Ralph Kinnel in attending Southwestern Christian College Lectureship in Terrell, Texas in 1993. Ralph Kinnel was inspired to witness not only a historically black college, but a Christian college too. Bro. Kinnel went back home on a mission to attend this college. After three years, he moved to Dallas, Texas in 1996 placing membership at the Southern Hills Church of Christ with Dr. James Maxwell, Vice President of SwCC. He immediately got involved in Youth Ministry working with Bro. Michael Anderson, the Youth Minister.
He enrolled in SwCC in the fall semester of 2001. He met formerly Lina Kassebaum (Kinnel) during that same time. He graduated from SwCC in 2003 with an Associate of Science degree. Lina and Ralph were married in October 2003. They have two children, Adrian and Arianna. He left SwCC with the intent of becoming a school teacher. He enrolled in the University of Texas at Arlington. He spent two semesters there. After prayerful meditation and the consultation of his father in the Gospel Dr. James Maxwell, Bro. Kinnel went back to SwCC to finish his four-year degree. He graduated from SwCC in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies with honors while working part-time for UPS and Whataburger. His senior year at SwCC Bro. Kinnel went to work as an intern with Dr. David L. Lane at the Marsalis Ave. Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas. He worked with Ministering Evangelist David L. Lane for about a year and a half until he received his first and only full-time assignment in ministry with the Sinclair Church of Christ in Arp, Texas August 19, 2007. In 2017, he graduated from Amberton University with a Master of Arts degree in Professional Development. Bro. Kinnel has been recognized with Who’s Who Among Junior Colleges award, Student of the Month, Student of the Year, National Dinner Day Scholarship award, 27 years of service with UPS, 16 years of service with the Sinclair Church of Christ as Senior Minister.
Ralph Kinnel attended the National Barber College in Springfield, Illinois and graduated in 1994 going on to pass the state exam and received his license in the state of Illinois. He has practiced in this profession in the state of Illinois and the state of Texas. He obeyed the gospel on September 20, 1992 after being taught by Minister Mayo Towles in Decatur, Illinois in the kitchen of his parent’s home. At that time, he was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Springfield, Illinois. He began preaching six months after his conversion. He placed membership with the formerly Lawrence Ave. Church of Christ in Springfield working with Dr. Lovell C. Hayes. He was active in preaching, teaching, youth ministry, and etc. Minister Hayes, Minister Towles, Bro. Ulysses Kinnel and Sis. Lillian Kinnel assisted Ralph Kinnel in attending Southwestern Christian College Lectureship in Terrell, Texas in 1993. Ralph Kinnel was inspired to witness not only a historically black college, but a Christian college too. Bro. Kinnel went back home on a mission to attend this college. After three years, he moved to Dallas, Texas in 1996 placing membership at the Southern Hills Church of Christ with Dr. James Maxwell, Vice President of SwCC. He immediately got involved in Youth Ministry working with Bro. Michael Anderson, the Youth Minister.
He enrolled in SwCC in the fall semester of 2001. He met formerly Lina Kassebaum (Kinnel) during that same time. He graduated from SwCC in 2003 with an Associate of Science degree. Lina and Ralph were married in October 2003. They have two children, Adrian and Arianna. He left SwCC with the intent of becoming a school teacher. He enrolled in the University of Texas at Arlington. He spent two semesters there. After prayerful meditation and the consultation of his father in the Gospel Dr. James Maxwell, Bro. Kinnel went back to SwCC to finish his four-year degree. He graduated from SwCC in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies with honors while working part-time for UPS and Whataburger. His senior year at SwCC Bro. Kinnel went to work as an intern with Dr. David L. Lane at the Marsalis Ave. Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas. He worked with Ministering Evangelist David L. Lane for about a year and a half until he received his first and only full-time assignment in ministry with the Sinclair Church of Christ in Arp, Texas August 19, 2007. In 2017, he graduated from Amberton University with a Master of Arts degree in Professional Development. Bro. Kinnel has been recognized with Who’s Who Among Junior Colleges award, Student of the Month, Student of the Year, National Dinner Day Scholarship award, 27 years of service with UPS, 16 years of service with the Sinclair Church of Christ as Senior Minister.
