Kenneth Lavern Snider was born of farm parents, Ezra and Mary Snider, in Verona, Ontario, on April 5, 1924. Lavern was one of 10 children, including a set of male triplets, born a year after Lavern. Lavern was predeceased by Elwood, Estess, Glendyne and Cyril. When Lavern was a year old, his family moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario to pursue work opportunities. There, Lavern completed his elementary and high school education.

The Great Depression in the ‘30s, coupled with the requirements of a large family, made life economically difficult. Father Ezra worked hard at gardening, while mother Mary canned fruit in season, and baked and sold pies and bread. Lavern gained sales experience early in life by delivering the baked goods and peddling apples door-to-door. This training proved beneficial when, at Asbury College and Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky, Lavern and his bride sold Watkins products in Wilmore and in other nearby towns. Diligence in sales, summer employment, a student pastorate in Toronto and extreme frugality enabled Lavern, with Lois’ support, to gain graduate level education without incurring debt. They held the position throughout life that “what you cannot pay for, you shouldn’t have.”

Born in a Christian home, Lavern gave his heart and life to God during an evangelistic service when he was 14 years old. His call to Christian service followed a year later in a high school classroom, where he experienced God’s call to overseas Christian service.

At 18 years of age, Lavern enrolled at Lorne Park College, Port Credit, Ontario. There, he met Lois who later became his wife. Married in 1948, Lavern and Lois pursued further education, Lavern at Asbury Theological Seminary, and Lois at Asbury College.

Lavern served for a 6 year period at Lorne Park College, as both teacher and principal. A year later, upon completion of Lavern’s advanced theological degree (Masters in Theology) at Knox Theological College in Toronto, Lavern and Lois were appointed to Free Methodist missions in Japan. Lavern’s graduation thesis was entitled: SHINTOISM EXAMINED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. While completing his education in Toronto, Lavern and Lois pastored the West Avenue Free Methodist Church (now Buchanan Park Free Methodist Church) in Hamilton, Ontario.

Lavern and Lois and their one year old daughter, Carol, along with veteran missionary, Pearl Reid, set sail for Japan on November 15, 1957. There, they worked for 35 years as teachers in Osaka Christian College and Seminary. Lavern also served as Seminary Dean, College President and Chancellor.
Following their first 7 year term in Japan, they took an extended furlough so Lavern could complete his doctorate in administration and higher education. He graduated from Michigan State University with a PhD in 1968. His doctoral thesis was entitled: FIELD EDUCATION EXPERIENCES AS AN ELEMENT IN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PREPARATION FOR THE PASTORAL MINISTRY AS PERCEIVED BY PARISH MINISTERS. During this furlough, son, Craig, joined the family.

Lavern’s commitment to Christ led him to joyfully give his best to whatever ministry he was involved in, even when an assignment was not his first preference. Admiration for his aunts influenced Lavern to consider elementary school teaching as a vocation. Initially, he thought God’s call to missions ruled out the possibility of teaching, and meant a preaching career instead. Yet, in the providence of God, much of his life was devoted to teaching in high school, Bible College, College and Theological Seminary.

Through the years, he was heavily involved in teaching and administration in the Orient and Africa – Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, the Philippines, Korea, India, Egypt, Malawi, South Africa, as well as in Japan.

Lavern authored four books on church growth. Some have been published in Japanese and Chinese, as well as English. Beginning in 1974, Lavern also served as Area Administrative Assistant for Asia, overseeing Free Methodist work in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Following his retirement from Missions in 1992, Lavern traveled extensively in Canada and the U.S., representing the Free Methodist Missions.. He also conducted 3 missionary tours to the Orient, presented Bible Studies in retirement homes, and spoke about “Japan Yesterday and Today” in churches and community clubs. In the latter part of his retirement, Lavern conducted weddings in his home and in the community.

Throughout his life and ministry, Lavern gave all glory to God for any contribution he was able to make to Christ and his Kingdom.