“Liberty Baptist Fellowship Chaplains, called to bear the presence and the message of Jesus Christ around the globe.”

About Us

Liberty Baptist Fellowship (LBF) is a ministry of Thomas Road Baptist Church and a sister organization of Liberty Church Network. LBF provides endorsement and pastoral care to chaplains serving in a wide range of settings, including the military, healthcare, corrections, public safety, athletics, corporate, and community environments. Chaplain endorsements may be granted for full‑time, part‑time, or volunteer service.

LBF was established in 1982 when seminary graduates seeking chaplaincy roles needed an official endorsing body. After applying to the Armed Services Chaplains Board, LBF was approved as an official endorsing agency. Early leaders included Dr. Dennis Fields and Dr. Lew Weider. Dr. Charlie Davidson later served as the endorsing agent until his passing in 2017, after which his associate, Dr. Steven Keith, assumed leadership and brought on Dr. Keith Travis as an associate. In 2021, Dr. James Wright joined as the second associate endorsing agent with a focus on healthcare chaplaincy. In 2025, Dr. Tony Petros was added as the third associate endorsing agent.

2027 Annual Training Conference: April 12-15, 2027

Details coming soon!

Dr. Steven Keith

Dr. Steven Keith

Endorsing Agent

Dr. Keith serves as Liberty Baptist Fellowship’s Chaplain Endorser, supports Liberty University’s Center for Chaplaincy, and serves as a Professor of Chaplaincy. A retired U.S. Air Force Chaplain Colonel, he led chaplaincy training across the armed forces and was awarded the Bronze Star for ministry under fire in Iraq.

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Dr. Keith serves as Liberty Baptist Fellowship’s Chaplain Endorser and supports the work of the Center for Chaplaincy at Liberty University, where he continues to mentor and encourage future chaplains. He is also a Professor of Chaplaincy in the School of Divinity and serves with Samaritan’s Purse through Operation Heal Our Patriots. A retired U.S. Air Force Chaplain Colonel, Dr. Keith served on active duty from 1984 to 2014. During his distinguished military career, he led the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center, oversaw inter-service chaplain education for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and served as Commandant of the Air Force Chaplain Corps College. His leadership impacted the training and ministry support of chaplains serving more than 800,000 military personnel and family members worldwide. Dr. Keith completed 19 assignments around the world and deployed multiple times to the Middle East, including service in Iraq where he was awarded the Bronze Star for exceptional ministry under fire. He also serves on the Executive Council of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF). Ordained in 1981, Dr. Keith holds degrees in strategic studies, divinity, and ministry. He and his wife, Delta, have five children and numerous grandchildren.
Dr. Keith Travis

Dr. Keith Travis

Associate Endorser

Dr. Travis serves as LBF’s Associate Endorser. A retired U.S. Army Chaplain Colonel, he previously led Chaplaincy Evangelism for the North American Mission Board and brings decades of experience in military chaplaincy, missions, pastoral ministry, and chaplain education and development.
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Dr. Travis serves as Liberty Baptist Fellowship’s Associate Endorser. Prior to joining LBF, he served for 11 years as Team Leader for Chaplaincy Evangelism with the North American Mission Board.  A native of Virginia, Dr. Travis earned degrees from Carson-Newman University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Erskine Seminary, Liberty University, and attended the U.S. Army War College.  A retired U.S. Army Chaplain Colonel, Dr. Travis completed 28 years of military service. He and his family also served for six years as missionaries in Costa Rica and Mexico with the International Mission Board. Throughout his ministry, he has served in numerous pastoral and associate pastoral roles.  Dr. Travis continues to invest in the next generation of chaplains as a professor with Liberty University, Gateway Seminary, and Columbia International University, teaching chaplaincy courses both online and in resident settings.  He and his wife, Pam, live in Orlando, Florida, and have three adult children and two cherished grandchildren.

Dr. James Wright

Dr. James Wright

Associate Endorser

Dr. Wright has served in ministry for more than 50 years as a pastor, chaplain, educator, and mentor. An ACPE Certified Educator, he developed accredited Clinical Pastoral Education programs and has trained chaplains, hospital caregivers, and ministry leaders across the country.
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Dr. Wright has devoted more than 50 years to ministry, beginning with his call to serve at age 15. Throughout his career, he has pastored several churches and served as a chaplain since 1995, bringing extensive experience in pastoral care, clinical chaplaincy, and leadership development. He has been actively involved in disaster relief, homeland security initiatives, and PTSD support programs for military personnel. His work in hospital chaplaincy led to the creation and expansion of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs and volunteer chaplain training initiatives that have equipped countless caregivers and ministry leaders. In 2002, Dr. Wright developed the accredited Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) program at Baptist Health Paducah, where he also served as Director of Pastoral Care. There, he established volunteer chaplain training programs, ethics consultation services, and CPE internships that strengthened pastoral care throughout the healthcare system. Today, Dr. Wright serves as Chief Chaplain at the Marion VA Medical Center, CPE Supervisor, and Senior Pastor of Gospel Mission Church. He continues to invest in the development of chaplains and ministry leaders through CPE and pastoral mentorship. Dr. Wright holds a Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and both a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Catherine, reside in southern Illinois, where they enjoy serving their church and spending time with their children and grandchildren.
Dr. Tony Petros

Dr. Tony Petros

Associate Endorser

Dr. Petros is Executive Director of Liberty University’s Center for Chaplaincy and a retired U.S. Army Chaplain Colonel with 28 years of service. His assignments included Special Operations and overseas commands in Japan and Korea, earning honors including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.
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Dr. Wright has devoted more than 50 years to ministry, beginning with his call to serve at age 15. Throughout his career, he has pastored several churches and served as a chaplain since 1995, bringing extensive experience in pastoral care, clinical chaplaincy, and leadership development. He has been actively involved in disaster relief, homeland security initiatives, and PTSD support programs for military personnel. His work in hospital chaplaincy led to the creation and expansion of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs and volunteer chaplain training initiatives that have equipped countless caregivers and ministry leaders. In 2002, Dr. Wright developed the accredited Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) program at Baptist Health Paducah, where he also served as Director of Pastoral Care. There, he established volunteer chaplain training programs, ethics consultation services, and CPE internships that strengthened pastoral care throughout the healthcare system. Today, Dr. Wright serves as Chief Chaplain at the Marion VA Medical Center, CPE Supervisor, and Senior Pastor of Gospel Mission Church. He continues to invest in the development of chaplains and ministry leaders through CPE and pastoral mentorship. Dr. Wright holds a Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and both a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Catherine, reside in southern Illinois, where they enjoy serving their church and spending time with their children and grandchildren.