Obituary for Rev. Kenneth Dale Burden "Preacher Burden"
Kenneth Dale Burden, “Preacher Burden”
April 7, 1934 - September 2, 2021
Kenneth Dale Burden began worshiping his risen Savior in Heaven’s unveiled glory on the evening of September 2, 2021. He had preached Jesus Christ crucified, risen, and coming again since he was 16 years old. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Jane Burden; 6 children and their spouses, Tim and Teata Jones, Rick and Teresa Edwards, Ken and Kathie Riebling, Barry and Kim Burden, Eric and Dayla Brooks, and Mark and Donna Thomas; 15 grandchildren, and 30 plus great-grandchildren. His family rejoices that he was welcomed into glory as one of the redeemed. Some of those who welcomed him were Donnie Burden (brother), Edna Graham (sister), Nova Simmer (sister), Troy Jones (grandson), and Oliver Hull (great-grandson).
Born in Weleetka, OK to Jesse and Mamie Burden, Dale was saved when he was 8 years old. His parents were known for integrity and ran a general store where he honed his skill with numbers and sums. Their move to the farm developed his competitive work ethic as he made the goal of doing the work of 2 or 3 men on the next row and acting as foreman by 12 years of age.
Dale Burden graduated from Free Will Baptist Bible College (BA-’56), and Columbia Bible College (MA-‘58.) He pastored and helped establish the Free Will Baptist Sunday School department. He later wrote the adult Sunday School booklets called “Quarterlies” and served on the board. His began full-time pastorate in 1959 in Nashville, TN, then in Miami, FL, then in 1965 at Fairmount Park Free Will Baptist Church where he stayed for over 30 years.
Sunday school attendance at Fairmount Park was 236 the first Sunday, but only 176 stayed for morning worship in the 350-seat auditorium. This soon began to change as he regularly preached Christ crucified.
He worked diligently for the Lord and recruited others to join him! With new staff at the church plus volunteers, he was able to begin a bus ministry in 1971. The radio program “Preacher Burden and His Bible” began airing Monday - Friday in 1973 which spread the message. Sunday morning worship attendance averaged around 1,050 for the next nine years, and Preacher Burden established a college level institute to multiply the messengers. (He would later host Southeastern Free Will Baptist College from its inception until May 1987.)
Preacher Burden led the congregation to purchase the current 25 acre property in Virginia Beach and changed the name from Fairmont Park to Gateway Free Will Baptist Church. The land had only 2 buildings: a school and a garage. He was the contractor using much volunteer member labor to build the high school building (’77) new auditorium (’79), staff apartments (’82), gymnasium, and college dormitories (’83). The new auditorium was the setting for 18 television broadcasts of the church services. The Military Base Outreach took off in 1982 and continued as attendance peaked in 1984 with Sunday school averaging 1,500 and morning worship at 1,850. After all the projects he led, he was able to step down as pastor after 30 years with the church being debt free.
Even though he stepped down as a lead pastor, he continued ministry as a “Senior Adult Pastor”; took mission trips to Haiti, Moldova, and Colorado; held revival meetings across the country; and filled local pulpits when needed.
When not preaching and ministering, Preacher Burden enjoyed family reunions with the kids and grandkids. First were rustic camping trips, then a rented chalet with outlying tents, followed by renting a church camp in Tennessee. Each night the family took part of Bible reading and prayer before bedtime.
As his wife’s health declined, he increased his domestic chores and caregiving until his own health was overcome. But they still sat in church holding hands and singing hymns. He was a wonderful example of faithfulness for over 66 years. To God Be the glory. Preacher Burden’s life’s verse was Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
Graham Funeral Home, Chesapeake will be caring for arrangements. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to offer condolences to the family.
April 7, 1934 - September 2, 2021
Kenneth Dale Burden began worshiping his risen Savior in Heaven’s unveiled glory on the evening of September 2, 2021. He had preached Jesus Christ crucified, risen, and coming again since he was 16 years old. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Jane Burden; 6 children and their spouses, Tim and Teata Jones, Rick and Teresa Edwards, Ken and Kathie Riebling, Barry and Kim Burden, Eric and Dayla Brooks, and Mark and Donna Thomas; 15 grandchildren, and 30 plus great-grandchildren. His family rejoices that he was welcomed into glory as one of the redeemed. Some of those who welcomed him were Donnie Burden (brother), Edna Graham (sister), Nova Simmer (sister), Troy Jones (grandson), and Oliver Hull (great-grandson).
Born in Weleetka, OK to Jesse and Mamie Burden, Dale was saved when he was 8 years old. His parents were known for integrity and ran a general store where he honed his skill with numbers and sums. Their move to the farm developed his competitive work ethic as he made the goal of doing the work of 2 or 3 men on the next row and acting as foreman by 12 years of age.
Dale Burden graduated from Free Will Baptist Bible College (BA-’56), and Columbia Bible College (MA-‘58.) He pastored and helped establish the Free Will Baptist Sunday School department. He later wrote the adult Sunday School booklets called “Quarterlies” and served on the board. His began full-time pastorate in 1959 in Nashville, TN, then in Miami, FL, then in 1965 at Fairmount Park Free Will Baptist Church where he stayed for over 30 years.
Sunday school attendance at Fairmount Park was 236 the first Sunday, but only 176 stayed for morning worship in the 350-seat auditorium. This soon began to change as he regularly preached Christ crucified.
He worked diligently for the Lord and recruited others to join him! With new staff at the church plus volunteers, he was able to begin a bus ministry in 1971. The radio program “Preacher Burden and His Bible” began airing Monday - Friday in 1973 which spread the message. Sunday morning worship attendance averaged around 1,050 for the next nine years, and Preacher Burden established a college level institute to multiply the messengers. (He would later host Southeastern Free Will Baptist College from its inception until May 1987.)
Preacher Burden led the congregation to purchase the current 25 acre property in Virginia Beach and changed the name from Fairmont Park to Gateway Free Will Baptist Church. The land had only 2 buildings: a school and a garage. He was the contractor using much volunteer member labor to build the high school building (’77) new auditorium (’79), staff apartments (’82), gymnasium, and college dormitories (’83). The new auditorium was the setting for 18 television broadcasts of the church services. The Military Base Outreach took off in 1982 and continued as attendance peaked in 1984 with Sunday school averaging 1,500 and morning worship at 1,850. After all the projects he led, he was able to step down as pastor after 30 years with the church being debt free.
Even though he stepped down as a lead pastor, he continued ministry as a “Senior Adult Pastor”; took mission trips to Haiti, Moldova, and Colorado; held revival meetings across the country; and filled local pulpits when needed.
When not preaching and ministering, Preacher Burden enjoyed family reunions with the kids and grandkids. First were rustic camping trips, then a rented chalet with outlying tents, followed by renting a church camp in Tennessee. Each night the family took part of Bible reading and prayer before bedtime.
As his wife’s health declined, he increased his domestic chores and caregiving until his own health was overcome. But they still sat in church holding hands and singing hymns. He was a wonderful example of faithfulness for over 66 years. To God Be the glory. Preacher Burden’s life’s verse was Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
Graham Funeral Home, Chesapeake will be caring for arrangements. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to offer condolences to the family.