Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Many famous Kentucky Christians experienced very difficult childhoods

How many of your students would you say are experiencing difficult childhoods? People like Harlan Sanders shared that experience. His father died when he was very young. He had to help his mother care for his younger siblings which caused him to start working when he was ten. He did not attend high school. Yet, he went on to found Kentucky Fried Chicken and he ended up a millionaire. He is just one example of many individuals who overcame obstacles that we at the Kentucky Faith & Public History Education Project talk about. Many of the famous Kentucky Christians we profile on our website and in the FKCC series of easy-reader, high interest chapter books also had difficult childhoods but they went on to become successful, contributing individuals. Consider the following:

Simon Kenton ran away from home after thinking he murdered his brother-in-law. It took decades for him to discover that no one had died. Meanwhile, he became a significant early Kentucky pioneer. The FKCC Book 1, Big Bully, portrays his life.

Elisha Green was enslaved from birth until he purchased his own freedom as an adult. His enslaved wife and children were sold away from him several times. The FKCC Book 2, New Boots, is his story.

Dottie Rambo's father kicked her out of the house when she was 12 for refusing to sing secular songs after she became a born-again Christian. The FKCC Book 3, Hurt Feelings, is her story.

Effie Waller Smith grew up in a happy family but her husband was murdered, their baby died and she had to navigate the challenges of being an African American in segregated Kentucky. Her story is told in the FKCC Book 4, Picked Last.

The first four books are available here now. Four more books will be available in time for Christmas.



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