Pastor Samuel Keith Avent III was born in Shelbyville, TN to Samuel K Avent, Jr. and Lovie B. Avent. Pastor Avent was baptized at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Shelbyville at the age of 7 years old. He was a graduate of Shelbyville Central High School in 1973. He later attended and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. He also holds a Bachelor of Theology degree from American Baptist College .

Under the leadership of the late Pastor William J. Harris, Sr he was first ordained as a deacon. Later he was licensed to preach in 1977. He served as Associate Minister at Brandon Chapel from 1977 to 2002. After the death of Pastor Harris,  Minister Avent received his ministerial ordination in January 2002 under the leadership of Moderator Odie Lawrence, Pastor of the Prosperity Missionary Baptist Church. In June 2002, Minster Avent was installed as the pastor of Brandon Chapel.  
Pastor Avent and his wife, Cynthia for over 30 years, have 4 children; Tavara, Byron, Joshua, and Isaiah. They have 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.