Dear Friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of my father’s death this last Saturday.
He had lived with Faith and I over the last 32 months and in that time we grew to appreciate him more than ever. He passed at home while we were all here, which was the fulfillment of our wishes in saying goodbye to him in this life. I want to express a tremendous thanks to my wife, Faith as she has served as a wonderful caregiver and co-founder of South Chicago Christian Center. None of which has been easy.
My dad left me a tremendously rich heritage. He was born in China in 1924 to two very adventuresome parents who had served the Church there as missionaries for several years prior to his birth. They had to escape political unrest there via U.S. Gunboats and returned to Portland, Oregon in 1927. My dad’s education began in Portland from where he left for Bible School in Canada as a young man. He left before finishing Bible School to plant churches in Alberta, Canada which was very remote and so he did a lot of his work via horseback. It was around this time that he met my mother who was the pianist in one of the churches in the interior of British Columbia. After their marriage, my brother and I were both born in Canada and in time, my dad contracted Tuberculosis which caused him to spend a year in the hospital. After his recovery, my dad continued his education while serving as a Pastor in Canada until 1954, when he moved our young family to Portland, Oregon. In Portland, he served as the Pastor at Immanuel Fellowship for 41 years!
The ministry allowed him to become a world traveler during which time he wrote a book review column for the Fellowhip of Christian Assemblies’ fellowship magazine for over 20 years. He authored two books, “God’s House Our Home”, and “Your Neighbor Next Door.” He was a mentor to many young pastors, leaders, missionaries and teachers, and he also started an education program which had extension centers all over the world.
I am thankful that I was able to communicate my deep love and appreciation to him for being a tremendous example of a Godly father which shaped the man that I have become today! He and my mom were the greatest parents I could have ever hoped for. May he enjoy the place that has been prepared for him.
Memorial Services:
Chicago, IL Saturday August 30th at 10am
Cross and Crown Church, 3701 W. Ainslie, Chicago
Followed by lunch at Reza’s Restaurant
Portland, OR Saturday September 6th at 11am
Immanuel Fellowship, 909 NE 30th, Portland Oregon
Lunch at the church.
With Appreciation,
Tom and Faith Kennington
South Chicago Christian Center
