Ken Vance, shown here with soybean farmers in Zambia, will speak at the Mission Celebration at Trinity Park United Methodist Church.
Photo provided
GREENFIELD — Nearly 40 years have passed since Ken Vance and his late wife, Debbie, began ministering in Africa.
Landing there in the 1980s was the realization of a dream that started when, as an 11-year-old boy, Vance took his first plane ride with a missionary pilot, Ken Enright, who was supported for many years by Trinity Park United Methodist Church in Greenfield.
For decades Vance and his sister and their spouses served overseas, sometimes during seasons of unrest. Vance was once held at gunpoint.
In recent years the siblings, both widowed, continue to serve and are joined by members of the next generation.
Though much has changed through the years, Vance’s passion has not.
“After 38 years serving and living in Congo/Zambia, my Call to serve Christ in Africa is as strong today as it was when I took that first airplane ride with Ken Enright and experienced and knew my Call,” he wrote in an email. “My heart is in Africa!”
Vance will speak Sept. 18 at Trinity Park United Methodist Church’s annual Mission Celebration, a time when the congregation hears updates about global missions and commits to its mission giving for the year ahead. During those services, he hopes to share “that we ALL have a call from Christ to live for him in service wherever we are and whatever we do,” he writes. “The call of Christ is universal and lifelong.”
With Mission Celebration approaching, Vance took time to answer some questions via email.
There appear to be several family members there in Africa with you, joining in the work. Who’s there?
My sister, Kendra Enright (widow of John Enright, son of Ken and Lorraine Enright) also remains in Africa with her two sons and their families. My son, Joshua, and his wife, Kelly, have served with us for a number of years, but are currently in the U.S. for an extended stay.
Among the projects you’re working on are ChicKEN and Widows. We discussed those when you were coming to Greenfield in 2018. How have those changed through the years?
Debbie was deeply involved with the Widows. She had feeding programs both in Congo and Zambia. But years ago her concern was that this was merely “bandaid” ministry, and that was when we began programs to empower widows. Through education and financial investment we can partner with widows to become self-sustaining in their lives. Projects involve putting bee hives on their property in our honey projects. Also, chicKEN farming and other agricultural projects serve to empower these widows, as well as pastors and farmers.
You’ve visited Trinity Park for several Mission Celebrations (2004, 2007, 2010, 2018). Are there any memories that stand out?
My memories focus around the “table.” Many meals and conversations and deep friendships have been established over the years, and Trinity Park has become family. I’ve been coming to Trinity Park long enough to have watched children grow up and the church become even more committed to the Call of Christ both in Greenfield, Indiana, USA and the World!
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 ministering in Zambia?
We have to create the infrastructure to make things happen. The church becomes the center and focal point for all of life. We provide health care, education and opportunities for jobs as well as spiritual development. Discipleship involves the whole person and their entire life.
During your years in the Congo and Zambia, your home has been ransacked and you’ve been held at gunpoint. What, amid these and other hardships, motivates you to keep going? What helps you persevere?
A Call by God is paramount, and God’s Presence is what keeps us moving forward and continuing to live and serve in an often-time hostile environment. Seeing God bless and work through our lives and the church in Africa is rewarding as we see people’s lives truly transformed by Jesus Christ.
If you go
Mission Celebration is an annual event to highlight ministry happening locally and globally. The congregation of Trinity Park United Methodist Church commits each year to Faith Promise giving to support the various types of work. Anyone interested in hearing the mission updates, though, is welcome to attend.
When: Services are at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sept. 18, with keynote speaker Ken Vance, missionary to Zambia. Children ages 3 and older meet in Room 10 with Crystal Baker along with John and Beth Muehlheisen and Lazarus.
At 10 a.m., the Muehlheisens will speak to the church’s Faith Groups. They have served as missionaries in Kenya and Uganda, and John is now vice president of global strategy and training for World Gospel Mission in Marion.
Where: Trinity Park United Methodist Church, 207 W. Park Ave.
Also featuring: Music by Indiana Wesleyan University Praise Team
