“The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated,” once quipped Mark Twain.
I can relate to Twain’s consternation regarding the false news of his demise. Not that anyone has said that “Ken is dead.” But the news of my retirement has been greatly exaggerated.”
While we’re not employed in located work with one church at this time, we are still engaged in preaching the gospel. During the past year, we’ve been in 19 states and 9 countries.
After leaving Lewisville, Texas, we preached last summer in Ontario, Canada. In the Fall, we spoke once in Athens, Greece and twice more as we traveled the Mediterranean. From there preaching appointments have taken us to Iowa, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Ohio.
During the winter months, we preached in Tampa, Florida as well as Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Crystal River, Ft. Lauderdale, Brooksville, and Brandon. In addition, we were privileged to preach two Sundays in Costa Rica.
This Spring has taken us to preaching appointments in South Carolina, and back to North Carolina, Tennessee, and a month in Madrid, Iowa. Now we have returned to Ontario, Canada for the summer with the Wellandport church as our home base.
For the benefit of our readers scattered across Canada, for those in the US who may have family and friends in Ontario, here’s our summer schedule.
June 2 Wellandport–Home Improvement#1-–“In The Beginning” Sun. 6 pm
June 6 Wellandport Men’s Leadership Class, 7 pm
June 7-9 Meeting at Jordan, Ontario– Theme: “Restoring Our Focus”
June 13 Wellandport Men’s Leadership Class 7pm
June 16-19 Meeting at Wellandport–-Theme: “Building Better Relationships”
Home Improvement #2–Six Secrets of a Satisfying Marriage Sun. 6 pm
June 20 Wellandport Men’s Leadership Class 7pm
June 23 Wellandport–Home Improvement #3–Overcoming Incompatibility in Marriage. Sun. 6 pm
June 27 Wellandport Men’s Leadership Class 7pm
June 30 Wellandport–Home Improvement #4––How To Resolve Conflict Sun. 6 pm
July 1-12 Trip to Israel
July 14 Wellandport–Home Improvement #5–Anger Management in the Home, Sun. 6 pm
July 15-19 VBS Adult Class Wellandport–-Theme: “Facing Life with Faith”
July 21 Wellandport–Home Improvement #6–Defusing Fears in Relationships Sun. 6 pm
July 26-28 Meeting in South River, Ontario
August 1-4 Meeting at West End in Toronto, Ontario
August 11 Wellandport–Home Improvement #7–Raising Kids Without Raising Your Blood Pressure Sun. 6 pm
August 18- Wellandport–Home Improvement #8–How To Leave a Lasting Legacy Sun. 6 pm
Following our annual anniversary trip and a speaking engagement in New Albany, Indiana, we will return to Florida for a short time before beginning our Fall meeting and speaking schedule.
We plan to be in Florida during the months of November through March. Except for January, where we’re committed to return to the Northside church in Ft. Lauderdale, we have openings in our schedule for preaching appointments.
We are thankful for good health and grateful for the opportunity to engage in this type of ministry. All of this is planned with the warning of James in mind.
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that. (Jas. 4:13-15).
I share this update about the news of our work with the same spirit as the apostle Paul. “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16).
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
