Remembering Bishop Ken Letner

In the final months of his life and even as he continued to fight hard against the cancer that had invaded his brain, Bishop Ken Letner planned out the details of his memorial service. So when several hundred friends and family members gathered at the Grantham BIC Church on Tuesday, September 9 to celebrate Ken’s life and ministry, his voice was clearly evident in the music, the scripture readings, and in the choice of speakers. Continuing the theme of hope that he had communicated via frequent email messages during his seven-month-long battle with cancer, the service was Ken’s closing testimony to the joy that comes in loving and being loved by Jesus Christ.

Although his condition had deteriorated rapidly over the summer months, Ken’s death caught many people by surprise, in part because of the upbeat, faith-filled email communiqués that he circulated to friends and colleagues. In one of his last messages, Ken wrote:

And how do you and I build faith in spite of circumstances? Three things come to mind:

1. Remember what He’s done in the past for His people, you and me.  Think of some Old Testament characters and you’ll remember – Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, David, his defeat of the enemy. Both the Old Testament and New Testament is given to us as an example of what He wants to do for us in the face of the circumstances the enemy throws at us now.
2. Rest in Him.  As Brother Lawrence said, “Practice the presence of Christ throughout the day. He is in all and through all. . . Knowing that He is with you during and through all circumstances is a faith builder.”
3. Recall His promises from His word to His people and His rhema word to you through the Holy Spirit. His promises relate to healing, security, protection, provision, the present, the future, and His purposes and plans for you.

Raise a hand of victory as we build faith in spite of and because of the circumstances in the valley!

We’ve posted the denomination’s tribute to Bishop Ken on our website. DVDs of the memorial service will be available in mid-October and can be ordered by emailing bic-church.org.

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