Pastor Karen D. Thompson: The Motivating Minister Who Preaches in the Streets
Dr. Anita Turner welcomes Pastor Karen D. Thompson to Won't God Do It? — a candid conversation about radical street ministry, surviving childhood abuse, mental-health stewardship, and turning tests into testimonies. Watch the full episode for moving stories and practical examples of ministry beyond four walls.
From street baptism to pulpit influence
Born in Los Angeles and shaped by mentors like Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer and Pastor Elton Johnson, Pastor Karen — known as Pastor KK — tells how a junior-high teacher invited her into faith and set her on a course to ministering outside conventional church buildings. She describes being “the church” in everyday places: hugging young men on a street corner, quietly paying for groceries for struggling families, praying at hospital bedsides, and officiating funerals for people from her neighborhood. Her approach is direct, compassionate, and unapologetically real — preaching in jeans, sneakers, and with a mission to reach folks who will never step into a sanctuary.
A testimony forged in pain and healing
Pastor Karen shares the painful truth of childhood molestation she carried in silence until age 36, the difficult family confrontation that followed, and the complex aftermath that led to both loss and eventual closure. She also speaks transparently about mental-health care — diagnosed bipolar, on medication for years, supported by therapy, and now off medication after sustained work — and how she integrates professional help into her ministry. Her “CARE in Ministry” (spelled C-A-R-E) conferences include psychologists and practical resources, reflecting a belief that spiritual care and mental health support must go together.
A message of mercy, second chances, and everyday witness
Pastor Karen’s core message: nothing sneaks past God, mercy is new every morning, and every test can become a testimony. She urges believers to live visibly Christlike in grocery aisles, on freeways, and in classrooms — because some people will only ever read the Bible in you. For pastors, lay leaders, and everyday Christians seeking courage to minister beyond church walls, this episode offers raw testimony, practical wisdom, and a call to compassionate, whole-person ministry. Watch the full episode to hear the powerful stories and learn how to apply Pastor Karen’s “motivating minister” methods in your life or outreach efforts.
