Soul of 78: Tyler Keene

Pastor, Living Light Church of God

Words by Cooper Kirkpatrick | Images by Justin Hunter

Pastor Tyler Keene is the proud husband of Mandy Keene and father of Avery Jane, Tucker, and Titus Rane. He is also a devoted servant of God, working as lead pastor at Living Light Church of God.

Keene was raised in Carbon Hill, Alabama, in a deeply religious household. Over the years, his love and devotion to God grew, leading him to serve as a local youth pastor for seven years. In 2018, he took on his first lead pastoral role in Calera, Alabama.

Despite facing initial challenges, Tyler persevered. "Those early days were tough," he recalls, "but I knew God had a plan for me. I just had to keep moving forward." He later became the pastor at Bagley Church of God before being called to Living Light.

"Being a pastor is the most rewarding job I've ever had. Every day, I get to preach, work with people, and deepen my understanding of Scripture.," Tyler says.

His ministry serves a diverse congregation, including children, adults seeking to reconnect with God, and jail inmates looking to make amends with their past. "It's not about business or profit for me," Tyler explains. "It's about devotion to the Lord and compassion for everyone who walks through our doors.”

While his duties as a pastor can sometimes be overwhelming, Tyler finds joy in the variety of his responsibilities. "There are days when it feels like too much, but having different tasks lets me switch gears when I need to. It keeps me productive and lifts my spirits when things get tough." In addition to his pastoral duties, Tyler is a bus driver for Corner Schools and has recently applied to join local school districts.

In his spare time, Tyler shares lighthearted humor on social media platforms like TikTok. "I love using humor to brighten people's days. We live in a world where negativity is everywhere, and I just want to spread a little positivity," he says.

Above all, Tyler promotes unity and togetherness, not only in church but in all aspects of life. "In our society, we've lost that sense of relying on each other," he says. "But asking for help isn't giving up — it's refusing to give up."

Tyler is motivated by many factors — his family, his church, and, of course, his faith. "My faith drives everything I do," Tyler says. "I'm not interested in running a church like a business. I'm here to spread truth, positivity, and God's love." 78