His cartoons and illustrations have garnered him much notoriety among Southern Baptists as they were featured in various state publications including The Alabama Baptist over the years.
A book containing many of his drawings was released in the 1980s and drawings from McKeever are currently circulated and released daily under the comics tab on the Baptist Press site.
He returned to New Orleans as the director of missions in the Greater New Orleans area during the early 2000s, just before the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Gary Myers, director of communications for NOBTS, has known McKeever for over 20 years. He has seen his ministry of artwork and preaching make an impact both on the city of New Orleans and in his own personal life.
“He loves the school (NOBTS) because God moved in his life while he was here and even came back later in his life to minister in the area,” Myers said.
“He was a connection point to offer New Orleans hope and information about what was going on during that difficult time. He’s a special person in my life because of what he’s done for the city.”
In addition to creating cartoons and illustrations for Baptist publications, Myers said McKeever’s drawing ministry has taken on an even more personal element.
McKeever will often visit various events, including the SBC annual meeting, and draw sketches of people with a notepad, frequently using this time to encourage or evangelize to the particular person.
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Myers recounted one example from a previous annual meeting in Indianapolis. While eating at a local restaurant, he noticed a sketch of his server on a napkin on the table and found out McKeever had already visited the restaurant and was drawing caricatures of some of the staff and interacting with them.
“When he’s drawing someone it is truly a ministry for him during that time,” Myers said. “He used his time of drawing ability for the Gospel many times.”
“He has the heart of a pastor and he wants to build people up so that they can be more effective in the Kingdom. I think his legacy is one of discipling, shepherding and pastoring, even in his artwork.”
McKeever retired from full-time ministry in 2009, but still continues to travel to speak or draw at various churches, schools and conferences around the country. He also writes devotions on his blog.
As a cancer survivor, he now speaks with a slight speech impediment because of work done on his tongue. Despite this limitation, McKeever said he plans to continue doing ministry-type work long into his retirement.
“God called me into ministry and even though I now have a speech impediment I am using every opportunity that I can,” McKeever said during an interview on the way to speak at a conference.
“It (ministry) is important to still do because God has given me a message to tell.”
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When asked what legacy he hopes his donated content will leave, McKeever said he simply hopes they will encourage future generations.
“I hope people are inspired, blessed and entertained,” McKeever said. “I hope the content encourages people to just rejoice in the Lord. The kind of joy the Lord gives is superior to anything else.”
This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.
