Dr. Keegel
The story of Rev. Dr. Leslie Keegel began on the 21st of September 1952 when he was born into a family of 8. His father struggled with alcoholism and at an early age he observed and experienced domestic violence, emotional abuse and neglect. Amidst these difficulties, he also observed unwavering faith in his mother and maternal grandmother. They provided him with a solid grounding in scripture and nurtured his interest in ministry. At the age of 12, Leslie had two dreams on two successive nights where he saw the crucified Jesus who spoke to him and told him that He died to save and heal him and that if he dedicated his life, Jesus would use him to bring many to Him. From that moment, Leslie dedicated his life to minister to people wherever he went. His ministry grew from sharing his testimony and handing out gospel tracks on crowded city sidewalks at age16. This ministry led to planting churches in the urban slums of Colombo.
In 1976, Leslie happened to meet an American couple from a Foursquare Church in Indiana, USA, Richard and Betty Kiser. He developed a close relationship with them and while having dinner at their home one evening, Leslie was drawn to the couple’s bookshelf. As he scanned through the titles one book particularly caught his attention because of its odd title; “This is That” by Aimee Semple McPherson, He borrowed the book and after reading it from cover to cover five times, Leslie resolved to one day become a part of Sister Aimee’s vision working through the Foursquare Gospel Church.
In 1978, Leslie went to Bangalore, India for training at Southern Asia Bible College and as he was preparing to leave, Richard Kiser told him that he would most gladly recommend Leslie to a Foursquare Bible College in the Philippines if he eventually decided to seek training under Foursquare. In September of 1978, God spoke to Leslie through a vision, that He is calling him to be trained in a Foursquare Bible College, and He would use Leslie to establish Foursquare Churches in Sri Lanka. Leslie immediately contacted Richard Kiser and requested the address of a Foursquare Bible College in the Philippines and lodged his application for admission. On the recommendation of the Kisers, Foursquare Missions International accepted Leslie as a pastor in training and sent him to the Philippines in May 1979. While undergoing his training in the Philippines, Leslie met his wife and partner in ministry, Belen. Together they completed their Bachelor of Theology and returned to Sri Lanka in August 1981 to begin what would one day be considered the fastest growing church planting movement in the island.
In September of 1982 he was ordained by the Foursquare Gospel's Director of Foreign Missions Dr Leland Edwards and subsequently appointed the President of the denomination in Sri Lanka in April 1983. Under his leadership the denomination grew from 2 churches in 1983 to 1,520 Churches Island wide at the present. While presiding over the denomination, Leslie also pioneered the headquarters church called the “Living Way Church” twenty years ago and currently serves as the senior Pastor of this Church, which has a congregation of over 1,000 members. He also started the LIFE BIBLE Institute in Colombo, Sri Lanka in March 1986 which presently has 20 extension centers nationwide and an enrolment nearing 1,000 students. Leslie serves as President of this Institute and teaches in it regularly.
Leslie’s ministry has been characterized by the free flow of the Holy Spirit with the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. His preaching has been accompanied with physical healings and miracles. Many thousands have been set free from demonic bondages and from the crippling power of witchcraft. He is an exemplary leader who is a living model of servant leadership. He is a discipler of men and women and is a very fruitful Church planter for the past 34 years.
In January 2000, the International headquarters appointed Leslie as Chairman of the South Asia regional Council of Foursquare Churches. The South Asia regional council covers India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He travels within this region as a mentor to the national leaders and trainer of emerging leaders. During his tenure of leadership he was instrumental in helping start the Church in Bangladesh through evangelism and Church planting. Since its inception in 2002, the Foursquare Churches have grown to a ministry of 180 churches in this nation. He conducts training Institutes in Colombo for emerging leaders regularly to equip young potential men and women within the South Asia region.
In 2006 October, Leslie was elected as Chairman of the Eastern Council of Foursquare Churches. The Eastern Council of Foursquare Churches is the Asia/South Pacific arm of Foursquare with 22,000 Churches in 31 nations. His role as Chairman of ECFC is training young people, motivating leaders, strategizing to open new countries, training and sending missionaries. In this capacity he also serves as an executive member of the Global Council of Foursquare Churches, representing the whole of Asia.
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel is in 144 nations of the world.
The International Board of the Foursquare Church observed Leslie’s leadership skills, fruitfulness and God's grace at work in his life and honored him as a Nation Changer at the denomination's convention on May 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was simultaneously conferred a Doctorate of Divinity for his immense accomplishments in the South Asia region.
Leslie is also involved in interdenominational leadership in the country of Sri Lanka. He was the President of the Colombo Theological Seminary from 1998 to 2004 and served as President of the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka from 2000 - 2003. He has resumed a new term as President of the Evangelical Alliance from July 2009.
He is a featured speaker at international interdenominational conventions, Leadership conferences, camps and city wide miracle healing evangelistic rallies.
