Graduated – University of Kentucky, 1984 – completed four year program with two Undergraduate Degrees:

(1) BA, Psychology (2) BA, Communications

Graduated – Asbury Theological Seminary, 1991 – MA, Missions & Evangelism

 

Life-long Kentuckian. Born in Corbin, KY. Lived in London, KY until HS Graduation and then moved to Lexington, KY to attend the University of Kentucky. Father, Hulen F. Girdler, was a HS Vocational Agriculture teacher. Mother, Jessie Chandler Girdler, (step mother from time of 10 yrs old) was a homemaker and long-term employee of a community drug store. After living in the community of Versailles, Kentucky from 1991 until 2004 (legitimately the horse capitol of the world with renowned thoroughbred farms and Kentucky Derby winners stabled just a few minutes from our home), we moved our family to a Louisville suburb.

 

Married Renee Vannucci Girdler – 1986. Renee is the daughter of Assemblies of God pastors in eastern Kentucky. In Medical School at the time of the wedding, Renee & Joe dated for 3 1/2 years during the time in which she attended Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky. She is presently the Vice Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Louisville and Clinic Director. She was formerly the Director of Clinical Affairs and Vice-Chair of the Dept. of Family Practice at the University of Kentucky, having graduated from the Univ. of Kentucky Medical School with Honors. Renee has her specialties in Women’s Health and in International Medicine. With an extensive background in ministry, she was recently honored by former Assemblies of God Gen.Supt Tom Trask and Assemblies of God Exec.Dir, World Missions, John Bueno by her selection to the World Missions Board of the Assemblies of God, being the first woman in Assemblies of God history to be appointed & serve a term on that Board. Renee's medical and missions travels/ministries have included, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, France, Spain, Mexico, South Africa... And, Renee speaks to various women’s groups and retreats as her schedule allows.

 

“Pastor Joe” served as the Kentucky District Missions Secretary for 7 years, and served on staff and then pastored one of the great Kentucky Assemblies churches, King’s Way Assembly in the Lexington area for a total of 16 years, prior to his election as District Superintendent. A revitalization project, the King’s Way congregation overcame paramount obstacles when he took the pastorate, then underwent three building programs and grew to an average attendance of approximately 400 people, with an annual Missions Giving Budget the last year of his pastorate of over $430,000.00. That last year of his pastorate (’03) the church was honored, of over 12,000 congregations, to achieve Top 100 status in the Assemblies of God World Missions Giving. Their ministry site of almost 40 acres and assets of nearly 4 million dollars at the time of his transition had become one of the strongest Assemblies of God congregations in the Kentucky District, baptizing new converts nearly every Sunday.

 

Radically born again while in college, Pastor Joe received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit shortly thereafter. He has a diverse background in music and in personal evangelism, and has a heart for student/campus ministries, work with the homeless, as well as ministries reaching the needs of unwed mothers and their children . He is firmly dedicated to the Assemblies of God and has often been described as a man of vision, a family man who enjoys his children, has a passion for missions and church planting, a hunger to encourage pastors and ministers of the gospel. He was honored to be named An Outstanding Young Man Of America in 1989, and is a member of Metropolitan Who's Who of Executives & Professionals. Of numerous global travels, his missions ministries have included: Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Holland, Belgium, England...

Pastor Joe serves on various Boards including, Evangel University (Springfield MO),  Native American Bible College (Shannon, NC), The Nile (Home for Unwed Mothers, Versailles/Lexington, KY), Teen Challenge of Kentucky, ...

 

 

Contact Information:

Joseph S. Girdler, Superintendent

PO Box 98, Crestwood KY 40014

Phone: 502-241-7111