Missions: I have worked with kids a lot in Minneapolis and found a lot of joy in leading them to Christ, and wanted to do the same thing in another end of the world where kids need help. Since I was retired I wanted to go to the Philippines and help ACTION. I am committed to serving with ACTION for the next two years. Over the next couple of months I want to do some Tagalog study so I will be more effective in ministry.
Church: I attended St. Paul Fellowship for the past 3 1/2 years in St. Paul, Minnesota. My pastor’s name is Pat Konke. I was involved with a prayer ministry every Tuesday, and helped with “Kid’s Life” - a youth program on Wednesday nights for kids ages five to 13. I organized the games time, spent time witnessing to kids one-on-one, led Bible study group activities, and facilitated playtime. I attended a Life Group at church which was like a weekly Bible study. I attended church regularly and usually brought kids along to church. If I would have had a van I could have filled it up each Sunday with kids that wanted to go to church with me.
Background: I worked in park maintenance (in Minneapolis) for 29 years and then retired. My responsibilities included pool maintenance, applying herbicides, maintaining a building, making an ice skating rink in winter, planting trees, and gardening. Over the last 15 years I worked at one park, where there was a day care center for kids before and after school hours, and all the time in the summer. I did so much volunteer work at the day care that the woman in charge offered me a job there. I worked there for about one year while the woman ran the day care, and then for 18 months I ran the day care with a coworker. We would set up programs for the kids (ages five to 13) which involved games, crafts, outside activities, and
getting meals organized for the kids. I also ran a few overnight programs where up to 15 kids would do overnights at the park, watch videos with them and play games. I had lots of opportunities to share the Gospel with the kids that I worked with, even though that is not common in the USA. Four of the kids I worked with now attend St. Paul Fellowship (my church) regularly. Others attend other churches.
Ken Blader
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