August, 2024
Dear Friends,
This is the time of year for the good ministry of Vacation Bible Schools (VBS). Ira and our two daughters already helped in a local VBS this summer. This kind of ministry has a special place in Ken’s heart because that is where he was saved back when he was seven years old in Columbus, Ohio. His family’s dentist invited Ken, and eventually all of Ken’s family was saved as a result. You never know what an invitation to church can lead to. VBS also is special because the whole VBS movement started in our own Chester BPC with Dr. A. L. Latham (the church later moved to Marcus Hook).
BRAZIL
Let us tell more about our journal, “The Fundamentalist”, that was sent out back in March. We continued the long article on our Protestant Heritage, by Dr. William LeRoy. It will finish up, Lord willing, in the next issue this September. This is an important subject as it points out differences between Protestants and Catholics, as Brazil is a Roman Catholic country. At the right is a picture of this article.
We also continued our long article on Bible versions that will also finish up in the next issue. We ran an article entitled, “Good News”, by Pastor Moyses who attended the ICCC in Collingswood. It discusses nine components of the true gospel. We also had a short article entitled, “A Man is a Man and a Woman is a Woman, Says Rishi Sunak of England”. The former English Prime Minister dared to say that in the present transsexual environment.
CAMEROON
We continue to keep in touch with our mission field of Cameroon. That mission in Cameroon was a continuation of the great mission work of the PCUSA starting back in 1892. In June, we visited the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia. Beside their current woke displays, they had a model of a boat that was used in the early days of missions on the Congo River, as seen on the right. We have a great heritage of missions in the Presbyterian Church.
International Council of Christian Churches
In June we had a Zoom conference of the Executive Committee to discuss a number of things concerning the upcoming ICCC Congress. We decided that the 22nd World Congress would be held in Nakuru, Kenya, July 22 – 29, 2026. The theme will be “Sanctified, Set Apart, and Standing.”
USA
This is now a circuit of three churches in which Ken preaches every month: Marcus Hook, PA; Kingsville, MD; and Collingswood, NJ. Ken is now preaching every Sunday and doing a series on the books of II Kings and Revelation. We have also been continuing our door-to-door Gospel tract distribution in Marcus Hook. Ken told a local pastor that he was a kind of modern-day circuit rider. The pastor asked what is the name of Ken’s horse. Well, it won’t be a horse, but we hope to have a Barracuda on the circuit soon. In past letters, we have mentioned our Barracuda project; here is a recent picture.
Finally, Ken became a little involved in local politics recently, when the Smyrna town council doubled the property taxes all at once! He campaigned against two council members, who were up for election and had voted for the huge increase, and they both lost. As always, continue to pray for Leah as she stays with her treatments. Thanks again for all your prayers and support.
In His service,
Ken and Ira Olson