GNWBC is pleased to announce the selection of its third senior Pastor, Pastor Keith S. Hackett, from Louisville, KY. Pastor Hackett and First Lady Tanisha come to GNWBC from Greater Salem Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, where he served faithfully as their Senior Pastor for 16 years. Before becoming Sr. Pastor at Greater Salem, Pastor Hackett served as Director of Thurmond Coleman Sr.’s Family Life Center for First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown, KY.

While in Louisville, Pastor Hackett was active in numerous community and civic activities and organizations.  Pastor Hackett was a recurring speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a Life Member of the NAACP, an officer and member of the Louisville Urban League Youth Professionals, and an officer and member of the Baptist Fellowship Center Board. Pastor Hackett also served a tenure as the Dean of Education for the J. L. Roberts School of Religion.

Pastor Hackett was bi-vocational while serving as Greater Salem’s Senior Pastor.  Pastor Hackett served as a Senior Executive in the Louisville Metro Government, where he managed million-dollar budgets and supervised hundreds of people with Louisville’s Department of Public Works for 18 years, and currently serves as the Facilities Manager for Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD). While working with Louisville Metro Government and MSD, Pastor Hackett obtained numerous certifications, completed voluminous hours of extensive executive, and continued professional education training.  He was also affiliated with numerous professional organizations and associations.

Pastor Hackett is an alumnus of Ball State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources. He was also a Ball State University football team member during his college matriculation. Pastor Hackett has also completed hours toward his Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

First Lady Tanisha R. Hackett, a former citizen of Indianapolis and a dedicated and committed former member of GNWBC, has been Pastor Hackett’s rock, best friend, and matriarch of their family throughout his secular and ministerial career.

First Lady Tanisha Hackett originates from Decatur, Illinois; she is a 1989 High School early graduate of the class of 1990. She then moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Computer Information Systems in May 1995. First Lady Tanisha Hackett received her certificate of completion in a 21-month Discipleship & Co-labors class at Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY, on May 31, 2016. She also received a master’s degree in Human Resource and Organizational Development at the University of Louisville, where she is employed. She graduated on May 8, 2021, Suma Cum Laude, and received the R. Wayne Pace Human Resource Educational Research award.

First Lady Tanisha Hackett is currently a Financial Coordinator for the University of Louisville (UofL) Department of Surgery and has been with UofL for over 13 years. More importantly, she understands that she has a vital responsibility to serve and be a witness for God through word and deed, desiring to exhort others and be a light wherever present.

First Lady Tanisha Hackett’s greatest joys are her personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She desires to walk in the will of God through being a wife and helpmate to a remarkable man of God, being a mother, grandmother, ministering to her family, teaching women’s bible study, disciplining women one-on-one, and sharing the gospel for His glory!

She speaks and facilitates women’s conferences, retreats, and appreciation events as the Lord provides opportunities for His glory and purpose in her life. At Greater Salem Baptist Church, she served as the Women’s Ministry “Devoted Women of God” Bible Study leader and facilitator, Discipleship Edification Ministry (DEM) Director, and Audio Video & Social Media Ministry. First Lady Tanisha Hackett taught Sunday School and VBS whenever needed. She also led and took part in the planning of conferences, retreats, and outreach events. First Lady Tanisha Hackett also participates in marital counseling alongside Pastor Hackett. Outside of church ministry, she is a member of Fellowship Christian Athletes (FCA), in which she goes to local schools to share the gospel with female athletic teams as assigned. First Lady Tanisha Hackett is also a member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), seeking to pursue the SHRM-CP certification.

Pastor Hackett and First Lady Tanisha are the proud parents of two sons (Jaelyn and Keith II) and two daughters (Ronnee and Brenda), and a grandson (Nolan).

Pastor Hackett will be installed as GNWBC’s Senior Pastor on Sunday, January 16, 2022. Additional events for Pastor Hackett and First Lady Tanisha’s Installation Celebration will be a Prayer Breakfast on Friday, January 14, 2022, as well as, an Installation Banquet on Saturday, January 15, 2022. A more detailed itinerary for the Installation Weekend will be posted on GNWBC’s website in the very near future.

“LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN”…God has spoken in a mighty and powerful way, and His Will shall be done.  GNWBC members and leaders are truly honored, blessed, and pleased to receive Pastor Hackett and First Lady Tanisha as their next Senior Pastor and First Lady.  We are excited to see what God has in store for Pastor Hackett, his family, and GNWBC in the days, weeks, months, and years to come as we all “STRIVE TOGETHER FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL.”