Volunteer of the Month: Ken Jack

Memphis Union Mission is pleased to recognize Ken Jack as our July Volunteer of the Month.

Ken Jack, second from left, receives an award for his many years of service on the Board of Directors.

For Ken, it’s not unusual for strangers to approach him and say, “Hey! My God is so big!”

Those who greet him that way typically are men who’ve stayed at Memphis Union Mission. That’s because most Tuesday and Thursday evenings, Ken visits the Mission’s emergency shelter to play the piano and lead the men in worship, as has been his custom for 19 years.

Ken started volunteering because he wanted to put his piano skills to good use, so he approached the Mission with the idea of playing the piano and leading worship at the beginning of some of the evening chapel services – although the piano playing sometimes turned into something more.

“In those days, the Mission relied a lot on seminary students,” says Ken. “Well, students being students, sometimes they didn’t show up, so I sometimes ended up having to do the whole chapel service.”

Today, Ken no longer has to fill in for chapel speakers, but he continues faithfully to play the piano and lead worship at the shelter.

But it is for his trademark “My God is So Big” song – complete with hand motions – that clients at the Mission know Ken.

It all started when a friend taught the song to Ken eight years ago on a camping trip.

“I thought the guys back at the Mission would enjoy it,” says Ken. “And I added the gestures to help them learn.”

The song says, “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty there’s nothing that He cannot do.

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty there’s nothing that He cannot do.

The mountains are his, the oceans are his, the stars are his handiwork, too.

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty there’s nothing that he cannot do.”

Clients get a kick out of participating in the song with its hand motions. They also chime in with Ken’s “One more time!” line – which originated as a way to get the men to participate.

“At first, when I started teaching them the song, I didn’t get much participation,” says Ken. “So I would say, ‘One more time!’ And today, they jokingly repeat it each time I have them sing the song.”

Ken’s involvement with the Mission also goes beyond playing the piano and leading worship. In 1995 he was approached to serve on the Mission’s Board of Directors, which he did until rotating off in 2006. His tenure on the board included the recent $2.7 million campaign to build a new Moriah House, the Mission’s facility for women and children.

“I get a huge charge out of the chapel services and hearing our Lord praised in song and word; it’s become a part of me,” says Ken. “I believe so strongly in the work that the Mission does in providing for the homeless, downtrodden, hurting and needy; it’s been my privilege and pleasure to participate all these years.”

And we are so grateful for Ken’s faithful involvement in this ministry, and that is why he is our July Volunteer of the Month. Please join us in thanking him for his hard work, commitment, and faithfulness!

If you would like to learn more about how you or your group can get involved at Memphis Union Mission, please contact Greg Pointer at (901) 526-8434, ext. 1008.