God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. -Saint Augustine
This week's Portage Life in the Spotlight is Ken Miller; a man who loves God, life, his city, his, family.
Miller was born in Middlebury, IN in 1944. His father was a pastor and instilled Midwestern values and ethics into him. He was an active kid in school . Miller played sports, he was on student council, and he liked to participate in class plays.
"I was a happy kid. We had a good life. My parents were both people who grew up on farms and we lived in rural community. I had the advantage of working early in life I had a very rich childhood. Not rich monetarily, but rich in virtues," Miller said.
Miller met his wife in high school. The story goes that she and a friend were standing in a bathtub watching the football team practice. Miller just happened to be on the football team. She pointed to Miller and asked her friend who he was. When she found out she invited him on a hayride.
"And that's how our relationship began," Miller said with a smile.
After graduating from Jimtown High School, Miller attended Manchester College where he received a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. He then went to Ball State and got a Masters in Arts and Education, Counseling and School Administration.
He became a counselor and then moved to become the principal at the Duneland School Corporation where he stayed for 31 years.
Toward the end of his time with the Duneland School Corporation, Miller began pastoring at church in portage - Portage Christian Fellowship. In 2000 the church merged with Crossroads Family Church in June 2013 now he is the pastor of senior adults.
"It began in 1974 where God just moved in our families life. We fell in love with the Lord and became active and in 2000 God opened the door to the church in Portage," Miller said. "I like what I do now very much. I am a pastor but I'm also retired. I'm not tied to any schedule. I have a good life."
He may not be tied to any schedule, but that doesn't mean that Miller doesn't have things to do. He's very involved in his church and community. He coordinates a pastor's prayer group in Portage, he is active in prayer initiatives in the community, he helps organize National Day of Prayer and prayer meetings 10 days before Pentecost, and he helps with the Mayor's prayer breakfast.
"My activities center around the church and glorifying God. Our city is a great place and I want to make it even better," Miller said.
So how can one better him or herself?
"Put God first in your life. Seek first the kingdom of God and all of these things will be added unto you. Seek God first. Our lives have not always been easy. But He has been faithful and we will continue to serve Him," Miller ended.