Kevin Dooley, Missionary and Global Ministry Leader, Dies at 65

Kevin Brian Dooley, a longtime missionary and global ministry leader, died October 18, 2026, at age 65. His decades of service included leadership with FAME, Central India Christian Mission, and Pioneer Bible Translators, along with missionary work across several continents. His legacy includes church planting, humanitarian outreach, and a commitment to sharing the gospel.

Dooley devoted much of his life to advancing the gospel through missionary service, Christian education, humanitarian outreach, and community development. His ministry extended across several continents, where he worked to strengthen churches, support missionaries, and improve the lives of people in underserved communities.

Born June 11, 1961, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Dooley was the son of Richard and Ruth Dooley. He attended Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, where he demonstrated an early commitment to evangelism and missions. While a student, he interned with evangelist James Lane in Hartford, Connecticut, and received the college’s Irv Dally Evangelism Award.

Dooley continued his education at Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary and Wheaton College Seminary. He was ordained to Christian ministry at Kingsway Christian Church in Avon, Indiana, in 1985.

Throughout his career, Dooley served in numerous leadership positions within the independent Christian churches and churches of Christ and their associated mission organizations.

He served as director of FAME (Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism) and CICM (Central India Christian Mission), two organizations involved in international evangelism, humanitarian assistance, and Christian missions.

Most recently, Dooley served as Marketplace Mobilizer with Pioneer Bible Translators, an organization committed to making Scripture accessible to people throughout the world.

His broader involvement in the missionary movement included service as a commissioner with the Chaplaincy Endorsement Commission and as president of the International Conference on Missions (ICOM) in 2018.

Dooley and his wife, Kim, spent years serving in Panama and North Africa, where they raised their family, participated in church planting, and worked alongside local communities.

His ministry also extended into Afghanistan, where he supported community health and development initiatives during and after the war. His international involvement included additional work throughout Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and India.

Beyond traditional missionary activities, Dooley emphasized the importance of practical neighbor-love, often supporting those in need through food, shelter, and education. His work reflected a deep commitment to serving others, embodying the call to care for the vulnerable and to live with integrity.

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