In 1976, at the National Convocation in San Francisco, California, under the unction of the Holy Ghost, the late Chief Apostle W.L. Bonner appointed Pastor Keith to go into the field to establish and shepherd a church in Louisville, Kentucky. He called the church, “Refuge In Kentucky”.  For the cause of Christ, Pastor Keith gave up his home, relinquished his job, and relocated his family from New York to Louisville, Kentucky. At inception, Apostle Keith, and Mother Keith, along with their 3 sons, Raymond III, age 6; Shimar, age 4; and Tamron, age 2; were the congregation located at 901 South 40th Street; which was consecrated by the Late Apostle J.P. Steadman on October 23, 1976. The Lord blessed the church with one member and grew to ten faithful members by the celebration of the First Church Anniversary in October 1977.

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Ministries were developed in 1980, the first childcare center was held in the basement of the church where the late Mother Addie Keith cared for two children.  A small food pantry was established, and lunches were served during the summer school break to the neighborhood children. Pastor and Mother Keith also started a 30-minute Radio Broadcast on Sunday evenings on WFIA-AM.  Eventually, the Lord blessed the church with enough members to form a choir, and with faithful musicians, which included the Keith boys.

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Under the leading of the Lord and direction of Pastor Keith, the Trustee Board began the search for a larger edifice to accommodate the growing congregation.  On March 8, 1991, the small but zealous congregation marched from 40th and Garland Streets to the new sanctuary on the corner of Hancock and Market Streets. The saints rejoiced and praised God for the triumphant victory of moving into a new edifice as a world of opportunity was opened to its visionary, Apostle Keith, as he recommitted himself to winning souls for the kingdom at any cost. It was time to “really” go to work, and on April 29, 1991, the Grand Opening Celebration of Refuge In Kentucky Church, 207 South Hancock Street was held.

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The Lord has enabled many visions, ministries, and works to come to fruition. In 1991, Pastor Keith established “ARC Enterprise” T-shirt Company. In June 1992, the state licensed “Rise and Shine Childcare” was established. In March 2003, the community outreach arm of the ministry was established, Refuge Community Development, Inc, 501©3, to aid the blighted communities in Louisville. A weekly Tutorial Program, Computer Laboratory, Kids Café, Tools for Life, Friday Night Live Program, Power of Choice Radio Program, Food Pantry and Clothing Closet, and an adult Lifestyle Enhancement & Physical Success (LEAPS) Program were a few of the ministries created through the federal tax exempted organization.

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After 27 years at 207 South Hancock Street, through much prayer, fasting, and exercising faith, Pastor Keith made the decision to relocate the church once again. With the new developments, gentrification, and the surrounding communities moving out, the Mission of the church was being hindered. The Board of Trustees and the Congregation, took the charge of the Establishmentarian, the late Apostle R.C. Lawson, “add thou to it.” The relocation plan was set in place.

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After much patience, weeks of negotiations, months of praying, the new Refuge In Kentucky Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, located at 1716 Prentice Street, was purchased. After the renovation of the sanctuary, the first worship service was held Sunday, June 24, 2018. All praises to our God! The facility includes a spacious sanctuary, prayer chapel, industrial kitchen, an auditorium, a children’s calming space, and ample office space. Construction is underway to build the “Refuge Christian Academy” for grades K-5, and Pastor Keith’s vision is to develop a Trade School to teach young men and women “real world skills”. Additional ministries and community outreach missions have been established since our relocation; W.L. Bonner Academy, Breaking Bread Brunch, Boys-To-Men Program, Women’s Breakfast and Bible Study, and the Helping Hands Initiative with New Direction Housing Corporation at St. William.

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God gave us this city 49 years ago, and the message given by the late Chief Apostle W.L. Bonner to then Elder Keith, in 1976, and again to Bishop Keith in 1991, and it still holds true today with Apostle Keith, “son, God has given you this city, and as you go in to possess the land which the Lord promised, hold on to your faith. It is faith which caused Elder Keith, District Elder Keith, Bishop Keith, and now Apostle Keith to come to Louisville. Faith has made Refuge In Kentucky Church what it is today” (letter of greeting to Apostle Keith by Pastor Bonner, April 28, 1991).