Kember Framed Scripture Texts

Welcome to Kember Framed Scripture Texts

kembertexts

Photos of Scripture prints by the late Mr. Walter Kember of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada (also known as “Kember texts”). Where have you found one?

Several #kembertext are received on a small boat i

Several #kembertext are received on a small boat in Spotted Island, Labrador. Romans 5:6. If you look closely at photo 1 and 2, and then compare to photo 3, you will see that this is the 1957 version of Romans 5:6 (this version is circa 1957, see photo 4). In this version, the text was left justified, whereas in later versions, the text was fully justified (see photo 5). Photo 1 and 2 are from the book “Early Glimpses of Pioneering in Newfoundland and Labrador” by Douglas C. & Muriel B. Howard. There is no date on the photo, but this version of Romans 5:6 formatting is the earliest version and circa 1955-1960. In other history, the first Kember texts were taken to PEI in 1961, and texts from PEI were often sent forward to Newfoundland for Gospel work there. However, it is possible that Kember texts arrived in Newfoundland prior to 1961. The first summer voyage of the Missionary Gospel Messenger boat led by Captain Herb Harris started July 15th, 1956. They potentially had Kember texts by the second summer voyage in 1957 as the Howard’s book states, “At Pack’s Harbour, Doug Howard and Ernie Dellandrea left the boat for a few hours to visit around the area and give out gospel texts.”
From theindependent.ca: “Spotted Island is on the east coast of southern Labrador, near Black Tickle. According to historical records, Inuit and settlers have seasonally or permanently occupied Spotted Island since at least the 18th century. In 1867 it was the site of a heroic effort by Captain William Jackman, who is claimed to have single-handedly saved 27 others from a ship that had run aground. And in the 1950s Spotted Island was home to a U.S. military aircraft control and warning station during the Cold War. Now a summer fishing community, about 80 to 100 people return to Spotted Island each year.” See photo 6. #walterkember #labrador #newfoundland

Not a #kembertext, but a good example of getting t

Not a #kembertext, but a good example of getting the word of God up on the wall for all to see. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 & John 3:16. These beautiful and huge Scripture texts are mounted on the walls of the Gospel Hall in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, witnessing God’s word to passers by on a busy street. #walterkember

Two #kembertext hang in a garage in Sarnia, Ontari

Two #kembertext hang in a garage in Sarnia, Ontario (not far from where they were assembled at 1295 London Road!). Acts 4:12 and Romans 6:23. These are vintage texts - notice the unique frames, which appear to be oak. When your neighbours visit you, do they see the word of God on the walls in every room (including your garage)? #walterkember

A #kembertext hangs in a bedroom in L’anse au Lo

A #kembertext hangs in a bedroom in L’anse au Loup, Labrador. Romans 6:23. This text was given to the owners by Mr. Walter Gustafson and has been hanging on this wall for 50+ years. It has been read and memorized again and again. Psalms 119:130 “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Submitted by Mr. Lindsay R. Earle of Gander Bay, Newfoundland. #walterkember

Mr. Walter Kember viewing a #kembertext with fello

Mr. Walter Kember viewing a #kembertext with fellow believers, Paul and Francoise Steciuk, in 1978 in a place called Lebisey near Caen in northern France’s Normandy region. In the autumn of 1978, Walter travelled to France with Mr. William Bell (Harley Street Assembly, Glasgow, Scotland), Mr. Tom Cherrie (Falkirk, Scotland), and his son, John Cherrie to visit several assemblies and supply them with boxes of French Kember texts (assembled by Mr. Samuel Johnston in Glasgow, Scotland). The second photo is taken in the Lebisey Assembly Hall with, left to right, Mr. Walter Kember, Tom Cherrie, Paul Steciuk, Francoise Steciuk, four unknown believers from Lebisey, and John Cherrie. #walterkember Photo Credit: Stephen & Wilma Marshall.

A vintage #kembertext hangs in Sarnia, Ontario and

A vintage #kembertext hangs in Sarnia, Ontario and not far from its origin on London Road! Matthew 6:33. Circa 1957-1960 because it is after Mr. Walter Kember bought his first stamp (1957) but before he added the “DO NOT SELL” condition to his stamp (around 1960). Also, this is a rare frame that he used for some time - he bought these frames bulk from a frame manufacturer that had leftover stock and may have been going out of business. #walterkember

A #kembertext hangs in a sewing room in Schurman’s Point, Prince Edward Island. Matthew 6:33. I don’t think the frame is original.

A Spanish #kembertext found (literally) in Windsor

A Spanish #kembertext found (literally) in Windsor, Ontario by Mr. Walter Kember’s great grandson. Romans 3:23 & Luke 5:24. Mr. Kember’s great grandson was working at a job site where a home was being gutted, and as he tore down a wall, he found this Kember framed Scripture print hidden inside! He couldn’t believe it when he pulled it out of the wall. He never met his great grandfather but was touched by the fact that he found something his great grandfather’s hands had assembled and handled! Very cool! Reminds me of the story of king Josiah in 2 Chronicles 34 when Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses. Rediscovering the truth of God for ourselves. #walterkember

Here are some photos of the late Mr. Walter Kember

Here are some photos of the late Mr. Walter Kember assembling framed Scripture prints circa 1995-1996. One thing about #walterkember was that if you went to visit him at 1295 London Road, you knew where to find him! Out back in his building assembling #kembertext or in the basement of the house (where he stained the pine wood strips, cut them to length, nailed the frames together at the corners, then put in them into banana boxes before taking them out to his building to finish the assembly process). There was no adequate heat nor insulation in that building (he got the building for free from a neighbour). It had a wood stove that he would fire up every morning at 8am when he started assembling texts. In the photos, you can see that stove as well as the “Two Roads & Two Destinies” chart. More about that chart… we are not sure where he got them from, but Mr. Kember used to give copies of that chart to the people who came to pick up shipments of texts. Which road are you on? Where will you spend eternity? Heaven or Hell? Tell me, friend, whither bound?

These #kembertext in this photo from May of 1967 w

These #kembertext in this photo from May of 1967 were part of a homemade mail-out that Mr. Walter Kember made up on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper. The mail-out had this photo of six Kember texts and a handwritten message by Mr. Kember below it. The gist of the message was, “If you would like a framed Scripture text, call or write Walter Kember, and it will be delivered to your home free of charge.” Then, for those who responded to the mail-out, Walter and his brother, Mr. Dave Kember, would visit them, give them the text, and make a contact for the Gospel work. This mail-out was used extensively in Gospel work in the Clinton area in Huron County, Ontario. What are you doing to make contacts for the Gospel? #walterkember

#Kembertext adorn the inside of this building on t

#Kembertext adorn the inside of this building on the Magdalene Islands in 1973. Our late brothers Mr. Nelson Livingstone (Charlottetown, PEI) and Mr. Jim Thompson (Augusta, Maine) and their wives (Donna Livingstone and Lois Thompson, respectively) went to Magdalene Islands in 1973 to hold children’s meetings. They brought boxes of Kember texts with them. Nelson had a contact there who he had met in PEI. The man was addicted to alcohol but had embraced the gospel after Nelson and Donna put him up for a night in their home and witnessed to him. The man invited Nelson to come to the English part of Magdalene Islands for the meetings. The four Christians set up their camper tent in the man’s yard. The first morning, the man rounded up all the children in the community to come to this building and hear a Gospel lesson. Donna and Lois had cleaned up the building and plastered the inside with Kember texts. That night, since fishing season was closed, the men in the area came to this very same building to drink and chat. The next morning, the Kember texts were all gone, and Donna and Lois cleaned up the building and put more texts up! This went on for two weeks in a row! Donna wished she had counted how many texts they had given away in this very interesting arrangement! #walterkember

Seven #kembertext adorned the walls (five on one w

Seven #kembertext adorned the walls (five on one wall, two on another) at an eleven-week long Gospel series at the Matty Eckler Community Centre in Toronto, Ontario in the autumn of 2024. Romans 5:1, Romans 5:6, John 1:12, 1 Peter 1:18,19, Isaiah 53:5, Isaiah 53:6 #walterkember

This post has been a long time coming! This is a #

This post has been a long time coming! This is a #kembertext that we rescued from a rural farmhouse known as “The Pastor Lee House” in Ontario, Canada. Isaiah 53:5. We found the location of the house, consulted Service Ontario, and contacted the owner. We told the owner about #walterkember and his ministry and that there was a #kembertext still hanging on the wall in there based on many videos and photos of #urbanexplorer who have been through the house in the last few years. We asked if we could come and take the text before the house is demolished, and he gladly gave us permission. We drove out in the early hours of the morning. Evidently, I hadn’t reviewed the videos close enough because I thought the bedroom that the text was in was upstairs… I marched upstairs but couldn’t find it. When I came back downstairs, I found the bedroom and found the text, still hanging there after approximately 65 years (this text was assembled by Mr. Walter Kember circa 1955-1960). Dozens of people have been through that abandoned house and stolen or destroyed nearly everything in sight. The text, however, still hung securely on the wall. Even the wallpaper above the text was falling off! I also love the 2nd last video showing the degree from the @moodybible face down before the Scripture text hanging on the wall… like Dagon fallen down on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord in 1 Samuel 5:3! Matthew 24:35. We took the text home, cleaned it up, and gave it a new (temporary) home! What would you do with this antique text?

A #kembertext at a thrift shop in Hamilton, Ontari

A #kembertext at a thrift shop in Hamilton, Ontario. 1 John 1:7 and Exodus 12:13. Circled in red in case you missed it! #walterkember

A Spanish #kembertext is mounted between each wind

A Spanish #kembertext is mounted between each window in this Gospel Hall in Chile. Ephesians 2:8,9. I have heard from two different sources now that thousands of Kember texts were made and distributed in Chile by a Chilean brother. I also learned that many other halls in Chile have these texts on their walls. #walterkember

A #kembertext pair in a workshop in Sarnia, Ontari

A #kembertext pair in a workshop in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Acts 4:12 and Romans 6:23. Not far from the source of these Scripture prints at 1295 London Road, Sarnia! #walterkember

A #kembertext in disguise as “constructivist pri

A #kembertext in disguise as “constructivist prints.” I agree with the author that these are “atypical” of Walter Kember’s work! Based on what I have learned of Mr. Kember thus far in my research, he would definitely be horrified to know that someone removed the Scripture print and replaced it with something else! Also in this carousel are some other people online that refer to #walterkember as an “artist.” It was actually his sister, Margaret (Kember) Brewster, who was the artist and hand-painted some of his original Scripture prints in the mid- to late-1950’s.

A few #kembertext hang in the Sunday school classr

A few #kembertext hang in the Sunday school classrooms and kitchen in the basement of the old Freetown Gospel Hall, Lower Freetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Hebrews 9:27 & Mark 2:10, Romans 5:1. An interesting piece of history is that it was in the basement of the old hall at this location where thousands of Kember texts were assembled by the late Mr. Lloyd Heckbert (and his helpers). #walterkember

A #kembertext collection hangs on a wall in Sussex

A #kembertext collection hangs on a wall in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada. Romans 3:10 & Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:5, Galatians 6:7 & Numbers 32:23, 1 Timothy 1:15. #walterkember

A #kembertext found in a thrift store in Hampton,

A #kembertext found in a thrift store in Hampton, Iowa, USA. John 3:3. Mr. Walter Kember never wanted these Scripture texts to be sold, and this text shows one of Mr. Kember’s stamps (black ink) before the “DO NOT SELL” condition was incorporated into his stamp. On this text, Mr. Kember stamped, “FREE. MUST NOT BE SOLD,” separately in red. Despite this, Kember texts continue to be sold at thrift stores worldwide. Pro tip: If you find one in a thrift store, show the “DO NOT SELL” stamp on the reverse side to the store manager, and they may give it to you for free! #walterkember

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