LHFH Remembers Ken Speer – Ken Speer passed away Friday, April 25, 2008. Ken will long be remembered as the driving force behind the Imannuel Baptist Church (IBC) Annual Habitat Build. Ken had been a part of Lexington Habitat for Humanity since 1993 when IBC first partnered with Habitat to build their first affordable home. Immanuel has built fifteen houses to date and is one of the few Habitat sponsors that solely sponsors a house as well as provides the volunteers to build it; they are the only church to tackle this task, and they do so each and every year.

As Immanuel Baptist Church’s build leader, Ken Speer was responsible for the complete construction of the Habitat home. Each year he put months of planning and preparation into the project. He was extremely detail oriented and expected the highest quality of work out of his volunteers. He worked with a team from Immanuel to coordinate all of the volunteers for the project, the food for the workers to eat, and the sub-contractors to install lights and plumbing. A fellow volunteer of Ken’s said: “Ken Speer's dedication to this ministry is inspiring. He's the type of guy who gives praise to the volunteers for their hard work and good attitudes. He makes the job fun.”

Ken personally contributed to the betterment of life for fifteen different Kentucky families. He has also touched the hearts of hundreds of volunteers from his church and the community. When talking with Ken about Habitat last year he said: “Over the years, Immanuel’s Habitat Team has given their time, sweat and [their] love in order to give families a new start on life. Each year’s construction results in new friendships, long lasting relationships, the awesome reward of giving of yourself, and a new home for a deserving family. It’s not about building a house, but working together to help others.”

I personally worked with Ken Speer on several of his builds during my employment at Habitat. Each year I looked forward to IBC’s build so that I could be back with my friends, Ken Speer and Joe Sparks, on the build site. Ken was very organized and conscientious. He was one of those rare people that we all aspire to be; one that can lead others, do a job well and have fun all at the same time. This fall will not be the same without Ken standing watch over the build site, but his spirit will live on in me and in the heart of every volunteer and family that had the privilege to work with him and call him friend.

- Megan Memmer

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, April 28th and the funeral will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29th. Both events will be held at Immanual Baptist Church.