GREENFIELD — When the Rev. Ken Vance was 11 years old, a missionary pilot took him for an airplane ride.
It turned out to be a pivotal moment in the boy’s life.
“I knew God had called me to be a pastor,” Vance said, “but after that experience I knew that one day I would be a missionary pilot in the Congo!”
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The missionary flying the plane was the Rev. Ken Enright, who was supported for many years by Trinity Park United Methodist Church in Greenfield.
Next week, that relationship comes full circle as Vance comes to Trinity Park as the keynote speaker for the church’s annual Mission Celebration. The weekend highlights mission work at home and abroad as the church’s members ponder their mission giving commitments for the year ahead.
Vance did indeed become a missionary pilot in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as Zaire) , serving with the Wings of the Morning ministry. After ministering at United Methodist churches in Marion and Converse, he and his wife, Debbie, were accepted as missionaries with the denomination’s General Board of Global Ministries in 1984.
Their 14 years in Zaire/the Congo brought challenges. Wars. A poisonous snake bite to Debbie. The ransacking of their home — twice.
Still, they and several family members including Ken’s sister have continued to serve in Africa. Ken’s sister Kendra Enright has been in Africa since 1973. (Her late husband, John Enright, served there too and was the son of Ken and Lorraine Enright — Ken Enright being the missionary who gave Ken Vance that airplane ride.)
In 1998 the Vances began ministering in Zambia. Ken Vance is a pastor of a church and teaches at Kafakumba Pastors School.
Vance took time for an email interview with the Daily Reporter leading up to the Mission Celebration, which kicks off Sept. 22.
Among the projects you’re working on are ChicKEN and Widows. Tell a little more about those.
Over the years we have moved to try to incorporate
economic development as a part of discipleship within the church — teaching and assisting pastors, widows, farmers and others ways and means to become self-sustaining along with teaching and preaching the Gospel.
The church in many areas is the only source of education, medical, nutritional and social interaction. Thus, we have developed projects such as the chicKEN project to help get pastors and farmers started.
We work with Widows in teaching sewing, hair and personal hygiene as ways for them to enter the workforce. We train these women in the skills of sewing and tailoring and then set them up with sewing machines to establish their own businesses. Cassava, bananas, aloe vera, moringa and honey are also utilized along with livestock as we get more developed.
You’ve visited Trinity Park for several Mission Celebrations. Are there any memories that stand out from those previous visits to Greenfield?
Trinity Park holds a special place in our hearts as we’ve visited on many occasions over the years and spent a lot of time with families from the church, watching the young people grow up and have families of their own and serve God in various ways.
You’re the pastor of a church in Zambia, and you help coordinate delivery of vaccines and supplies through an aviation ministry, Wings of the Morning. What might the average American not realize about what it’s like to live and worship in Zambia?
Over the years we have delivered babies in the airplane and provided vaccines, medicines and medical supplies to remote villages through the airplane ministry. It has also been a tool of evangelism and church growth and outreach.
I am currently the pastor of a church with about 50 adults and 150 children! I am enjoying the challenges this brings. We have just completed a new church building that will be able to hold over 400 people. We have a place for youth ministry and children’s programs.
During your years in the Congo and Zambia, your home has been ransacked, you’ve been held at gunpoint, you’ve had your own close call, and your brother-in-law died unexpectedly in December. Some people might be deterred by any one of these happening, let alone all of them. What motivates you to keep going; what helps you persevere?
In the midst of all the adversity of Congo/Zambia with the military, wars and death we are encouraged that we are right where we are supposed to be, in the center of God’s will and in the palm of His hand! Seeing the lives of children light up and grow through various projects and families transformed by the Kingdom of God is truly exciting and most rewarding.
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Mission Celebration 2018
Organizers say anyone is welcome to attend Mission Celebration to hear from missionaries and be encouraged. All events take place at Trinity Park United Methodist Church, 207 W. Park Ave. Baby-sitting is provided for all services.
Sept. 22
6 p.m. — Taste of Greenfield, featuring special dishes from Greenfield-area restaurants, in the Ministry Center
7 p.m. — service in the Ministry Center with the Rev. Ken Vance, missionary to Zambia, speaking and Adams Voice singing
7 p.m. — JAM (Jesus and Me) and Junior Worship in Room 11, featuring Pam Hall, ministry coordinator for Child Evangelism Fellowship of Central Indiana
Sept. 23
9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. — services with Vance speaking and Adams Voice singing
9 and 11:15 a.m. — JAM and Junior Worship in Room 11 with Pam Hall
10:15 a.m. — Sunday School
after 11:15 a.m. service — catered dinner in the Ministry Center with everything provided
4 to 6 p.m. — junior high and high school Youth Missions Night with Greenfield-Central graduate Jen Robbins, a Cru staff member at Ball State University, in the Ministry Center
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