Edward Keyes was elected executive secretary of the Arizona Conference by the conference executive committee Feb. 13. Keyes moved into the position vacated when Tony Anobile became president.

Keyes came to the Arizona Conference four years ago from New Jersey where he was ministerial secretary, evangelism director and church planting director. In Arizona, he has been ministerial director, vice president for administration and evangelism coordinator.

He will continue as ministerial director while serving as executive secretary.

Keyes' life's story is one of divine intervention and a dramatic conversion. Raised in a tough neighborhood in Jersey City, N.J., Keyes faced gang pressure to wander through the darker side of life. He stole cars, ran drugs, and frequently found himself on the wrong side of New Jersey law. He has been shot at and stabbed, but his life was spared.

Eventually, Keyes made a 180 degree turn from his troubled life. While working as a medic in Atlantic City, he often read his Bible and witnessed to people in distress.

Keyes was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Marmora, N.J., after attending a series of evangelistic meetings. He felt called to the ministry and enrolled at Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Md. Keyes remembers his first time entering the religion building, named H.M.S. Richards Hall. He was a fledgling Christian and a novice Adventist, and wondered why they would name a building after a ship!

The Bible became Keyes' passion, and he studied and memorized Scripture with a voracious appetite. After graduation, he worked as a teacher, then as a pastor.

Keyes met Lillian, now his wife, at the Atlantic City church. They married in August 1985 and began a ministry together that has taken them from New Jersey to Oregon and now Arizona.

The Keyes have two children, Andrew and Rebecca. Andrew graduates with high honors from Thunderbird Academy this spring and will continue his education at Southern Adventist University. Rebecca is a sophomore. Both children enjoy their father's passion for sports and excel in baseball, volleyball and basketball.

Keyes has been a fan of the New York Yankees all his life. He even helps coach the baseball team at TAA. Keyes also enjoys hang gliding.

His sanguine personality makes Keyes an natural evangelist and story-teller.

"Fast Eddie," a nickname that has its own story, has been changed into a zealous warrior for Jesus. His life is consumed with spreading the gospel and helping his fellow ministers and membes in the Arizona Conference to do the same.