Rodney Gilchrist

Place 7

Rodney W. Gilchrist and his family arrived in Central Texas in June of 2006 on assignment to Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division as the Command Paralegal NCO, senior enlisted advisor to the Staff Judge Advocate. He retired as a Sergeant Major (E-9) in August 2010 after 24 years of service. Some of his noteworthy assignments and service include time as a Basic Training Drill Sergeant, a Small Group/Senior Instructor for the Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, and tours as First Sergeant of two training companies. He is a combat veteran, having served tours in both the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Rodney has earned an Associate Degree from Central Texas College, a Bachelor’s Degree (Cum Laude) from Columbia Southern University, and a Master’s Degree from Liberty University School of Theology and Seminary.

In 2010, Rodney founded Liberty Christian Center, a nondenominational ministry, in Killeen. Under Rodney’s leadership, Liberty has experienced steady growth from its 8 founding members to currently over 500 in-person attendees and thousands online each Sunday. For the past 14 years, Rodney’s passion for ministry and service has led to many of this community’s leaders seeking him out as a spiritual counselor, confidant, and advisor.

As a local Pastor, Rodney believes the church is supposed to be a community resource, so the multipurpose facility on their campus serves as a County and City Emergency Evacuation Shelter, a County and City Election Precinct, and a City Warming/Cooling Center.

Prior to the closure of the Moss Rose Recreation Center, each 3rd Saturday of the month for over 8 years, Liberty served hot breakfast, while OG Barber School gave free haircuts. Liberty has donated thousands of turkeys, hams, and complete Thanksgiving Meals to families in need. At Christmas 2017, Liberty gave away 100 free bicycles. Since 2022, Liberty has provided a traditional Thanksgiving Meal to veterans housed and serving in the VA Domiciliary in Temple.

Under Rodney’s compassionate leadership, Liberty Christian Center provides weekend meals for underprivileged children at a local elementary school and sponsors an afterschool outreach program. Rodney also serves as the Overseer of the Stellar Award-Nominated Gospel Radio Station KRGN (Kingdom Revelation Gospel Network) 98.5FM.

Rodney and his lovely bride, Karen, have been married for over 35 years with two adult children, Jonathan Gilchrist and Tanesha Ramirez, both KISD alums. They also have a son-in-law, Elijah Ramirez, and one precious granddaughter, Vanessa. Currently, they reside in Nolanville, Texas, and continue to serve as the Lead Couple of the Liberty Christian Center in Killeen, Texas.