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Rev. Ken Samuelson's Influence in My Life

My godfather Ken gave me emotional and spiritual support when I decided to follow the Lord and everyone seemed to have abandoned me in 1978. I may not be a full time pastor or missionary in the classic sense of the word, but I follow and serve the Lord full-time through my business Passion for Perfection Inc. and Floodgates of Heaven Foundation. Ken inspired me. Ken is my model – an example of persevering service to God despite all the odds. Right now, I support more than 30 missionaries and churches through my Foundation. My Christian orientation, focus and passion were all influenced by my godfather Ken. I consider myself as Ken’s true son in the Philippines.

I am touched by his deep love for the Filipino people despite all our ugliness, foolishness and inadequacies. I pray that Ken’s faith in the Filipino people may not be disappointed. I pray that the Filipino people will be truly God-fearing people, imbued with the wisdom of the Lord, and may we stand up in the world as champions of God’s Kingdom. May all the sacrifices and faith of Ken bear fruit.

February 4, 2008

BIOGRAPHY OF MR. KENNETH JOHN SAMUELSON

Kenneth John Samuelson, 88, Page, ND, died Wednesday, November 14, 2007, at Union Hospital, Mayville, ND.

Kenneth John Samuelson was born in Superior, WI on April 16, 1919, the son of the Jule and Emma (Halverson) Samuelson. He graduated from High school in Superior and from University of Wisconsin in Superior. He received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He later went on to graduate from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI with a Master of Education degree. On September 4, 1948, He married Valeda Jean Kenward.

Kenneth was the US Army in the Philippines during WWII. He and other GI’s were thankful for the Lord’s sparing them in the war and pledged in a prayer meeting to return to the Philippines after WWII and build a Bible School and Seminary because the one there had been bombed out. He and Valeda sailed on the California Bear freighter 21 days to the Philippines, ending with a storm at sea. At once he began teaching in the new Febias College of Bible, Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Greek, Hermeneutics, Life of Christ and other subjects.

On the weekends he led Bible students in nearby areas in evangelism and beginning a church. One man, Mr. Deato, told a student, Mr. Allocod, that he, Mr. Deato had a dream that an American soldier would come teach him how to know the Lord. Kenneth went and told Mr. Deato how Jesus died and rose again so those who believe Him could miss hell and go to heaven. Mr. Deato, as others, repented of his sins, believed and received Christ as Savior, personally. Bible meetings began in his home. Student Virgilio Oberes, Mr. Allocod and others helped teach.

After 10 years of prayer for the area, in 1971, Kenneth and Febias student Agapito Bernardo with others went to a tribal group between two mountains. They were the first to preach the word to those people. Today four cement churches with believers are there. The present President of Febias College of Bible, Dr. Anacleto Carag, first heard the Word then as a boy of 8 years.

After 31 years in the Philippines and retirement Kenneth went to Israel yearly. 18 times he went until 2000. One that he taught the Bible in English was a communist Russian young man, Danny, who also believed in Jesus. Kenneth taught young Filipino workers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Some of those in Tel Aviv formed a church of believers for Filipinos and others.

In North Dakota, after retirement, Kenneth also taught Filipino Bible Meetings (FBM) but poor health set in and his wife took over the FBM. He also was very much a part of FBM in Winnipeg, MB and started in Twin Ports, Duluth, MN – Superior, and WI area.

Green Bay Packers was his favorite team, which everyone knew. However, he missed the first Super Bowl when they won, by being in the Philippines at the time. He was near the TV for the November 4, 2007 Green Bay win, but unable to see it. Everything is better now.

He is survived by his wife, Valeda (Kenward) Samuelson; nephews, Thomas Leuma, Michael Leuma, and Donald Broeten; nieces, Jacque Haugen and Valorie Hoffmeister; nephew-in-law Evan Thomas; niece-in-law Esther Estrella; cousin Harvey Halverson; and their spouses, children, grandchildren and great-grand children; brothers-in-law, Donald (Frances) Kenward, Richard (Violet) Lee Kenward, James (Eloyce) Kenward and Joe (Mary) Kenward; and their children, grand children, and great-grand children.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister.

Blessed be the memory of Kenneth J. Samuelson

2008 is the year that Kenny went to be with the Lord. His last illness was heart, lung and kidney failure. He couldn’t squeeze the doctor’s hand. My North Dakota brothers James and Joe Kenward, their families and friends have been with me and helped me physically and spiritually, so much at this time. My brother Donald in CA andRichard in OR, their families and Ken’s help me.

November 13, 2007 at night, Ken was brighter then I’ve ever seen him. His eyes were so shiny and blue. He was on oxygen and couldn’t talk. I reminded him how he invited Christ into his life at 16 years old, how he was in WWII in the Philippines, met Christian GI’s in the Manila mortuary and sang “Jesus Saves.”

… How Kenny and others thanked the Lord for their lives being saved in war and vowed in prayer to build a Bible School & Seminary for Him, of different experiences there. All the time his eyes were so bright. I sang to him, “Beautiful, beautiful blue eyes” and his favorite hymns. I think we had 2 or more hours like this but I didn’t know it was his last night on earth. About 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Kenneth John Samuelson went to be with the Lord at 88 years old. “…Absent from the body…present with the Lord” (II Cor.5:6). How I miss him.

Kenneth began Filipino Bible Meetings in 1986 at our retirement from Philippines work, and also taught many a Bible class to Filipinos and others in Israel 18 different years, until 2000. We were always together in the work. When he stopped, I continued, at the same time attending to him.

New Address:

Valeda J. Samuelson

311 May Ave Apt 2A

Page, ND 58064

Tel # 701-668-2473

Floodgates Foundation's Development Models

Righteous Wealth through Business
By Rene

About Christian Entrepreneurship
By Rene

I recommend that we train Christians to become successful Kingdom Entrepreneurs. This is the only way to get righteously wealthy. Then we can finance Christ's Great Commission effectively. We must not be dependent on foreign funds. We must learn to create our own wealth and finances solely through the Wisdom that God gives.

God promised and He will never lie, "For the Lord your God will bless you as He has promised and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none, you will rule over many nations but none will rule over you." (Deut. 15:6) We Christians are destined and designed to rule over the world - to rule over others in a benevolent way. We are to be the rulers and not the ruled. And we rule with Christlike humility, gentleness, servanthood and authority.

The Bible says, "Remember the Lord your God for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth and so confirms His covenant which He swore to your forefathers as it is today." (Deut. 8:17-18) We Christians possess the POWER TO CREATE WEALTH. This is the sure promise of God. Let us learn to activate this power within us. It is activated through the direction of the Holy Spirit, faith, wisdom, and coursed through the savings habit and entrepreneurship.

The only legal way to get rich in this world is through business. Business is the "money making machine" in this world. But there is a worldly way to succeed in business, and there is a Godly, Biblical way. We Christians only follow the Biblical way, which is through:

1. Acquisition of the Mind of Christ
2. Acquisition of the Wisdom of Solomon (which God freely gives)
3. Practice of excellent "leadership by servanthood" to employees
4. Practice of excellent Christlike, honest, ethical service to clients and customers
5. Constant cutting down of unnecessary expenses
6. Being generous in giving and helping others.
7. Saving at least 10% of all income and living frugal, simple lifestyle

I do not believe in prosperity gospel. I believe in becoming investors in God's Kingdom. We must raise up and activate the Army of the Providers in each local church. We Christians do not follow the world's ways of business, which includes cheating, stealing, swindling, crime, lying, etc. These ways do not lead to genuine success.

Please teach our Christian brothers to learn to save money, accumulate capital and invest in honest, prudent Holy Spirit-directed businesses. Teach them to "be shrewd as serpents but innocent as doves." Our brethren should surpass the righteousness of the Jews, the Muslims, the Buddhists, and other religious people. We should become better entrepreneurs, businessmen, leaders, bosses, employees, and students than the unbelievers.

Many Christians throughout the Third World are experiencing extreme poverty. Churches are losing members to others religions because of the problem of poverty. Activating the Army of the Providers is God's way for Christians to experience financial breakthrough. Christians must become Christlike rulers, not the ruled.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of going to successful businesses and increasing our righteous wealth. May the Lord give us all the Mind of Christ and the Wisdom of Solomon. Amen. (October 29, 2005)

"It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich"

How to know God's will

Your parents are only thinking of your best interest, because indeed to be a nurse can open great opportunities for your financially and career wise if you go abroad. To be a nurse today is really a very practical decision to make. If you will marry, financial stability is truly a must.

But then I know how difficult it is to pursue a profession or college course that is not your passion. I teach passion for perfection, so giving one's best in one's education or career is very important to me. If you can work it out in yourself to love nursing for the "practical reason" as well as to please your parents, that would be nice. But if in your heart of hearts you believe that God has a different calling for you, then by all means, you must follow what God directs you in your heart. As you know I finished psychology, and I truly love it. It is very useful for my chosen career as trainer-entrepreneur. I truly believe that it is the course that God directed me to take. Nowadays, there is a glut in "psychologists" but if you will become an entrepreneur or businessman for God, then it does not matter, any course will be alright.

Find out if these four considerations all point to your taking up psychology:

Direction from God's Word
Counsel of godly advisers ( example: pastors)
Peace in your heart coming from the Holy Spirit
Circumstantial evidence - doors opening up for you in that direction (for example, if you talk to your parents about this and they give their agreement or approval)

If all four considerations say yes to your psychology, count it as God's will.

"Store up treasures in heaven"