Welcoming Spirit

In their late 20s, Ruth and Ken found their church home at Christ Covenant in Matthews, just outside of Charlotte.


With three young children and a deepening faith, they purchased an 8,000-square-foot ranch house on Huntington Park Road, off of Providence Road in south Charlotte. It included a full apartment in the basement, which they opened to missionary families, seminary students and others who needed temporary housing.


The home also became the location of a lending library for fellow homeschooling families, as well as a meeting place for Bible studies and other church groups. Eventually, the Samuelsons purchased a second house on an adjacent lot to house more visitors. It became known as Providence House.


In the mid-1990s, the Huntington Park house was also an early gathering spot for Uptown Church, which the Samuelsons help found.


How did Ruth live her God-given gift for hospitality and community building?

Welcoming Spirit

Ruth was blessed with the gift for hospitality. She recognized that gift, and she worked hard to use it. Find out about the extraordinary ways Ruth opened her family’s home as a tool for ministry.

Voice Clips Icon

Speeches

Race Relations House Floor

Race Relations House Floor

5 Habits That Are Essential to Your Future Success

Ruth posits that our "future success is tied directly to the quality of [our] relationships with others."

5 Habits That Are Essential to Your Future Success

Ruth posits that our "future success is tied directly to the quality of [our] relationships with others."

Ken's Rotary Presentation on Gratitude

Ken discusses the subtle different between gratification and gratitude and how to be proactively grateful.

Ken's Rotary Presentation on Gratitude

Ken discusses the subtle different between gratification and gratitude and how to be proactively grateful.

Speech on Leadership

Ruth builds a case for servant leadership as both biblical and most effective.

Speech on Leadership

Ruth builds a case for servant leadership as both biblical and most effective.

Articles - Icon

Articles

"Be generous with your time, with your talents or abilities, and with your treasure. I promise it will reward you in ways you could never imagine."

Ruth Samuelson

Tweet tHis

"By placing primary provision for the poor under the government … we run the risk of creating the false idea that government is our shepherd instead of God."

Ruth Samuelson

Tweet tHis

"The key to your future success is tied directly to the quality of your relationships with others. Every success you have achieved, or will achieve in the future is tied to a relationship."

Ruth Samuelson

Tweet tHis

"The key to your future success is tied directly to the quality of your relationships with others. Every success you have achieved, or will achieve in the future is tied to a relationship."

Ruth Samuelson

Tweet tHis

CaringBridge Quotes

During Ruth’s struggle with cancer, hundreds of people shared messages of hope and support with Ruth & Ken on their CaringBridge site. Here are a few.

The words that come to mind when I think of you are "selfless obedience." Time after time since I've known you, I've seen you make choices that put your wants and needs aside in order to care for someone else. This extended to people outside your family and friend circle and even to our community and our state. The first example of this was when you bought that large house with a large basement in order for you to be able to offer housing to people who needed it for a time. I remember you telling me at that time that if you had just picked a house for your wants it would have been a different house in a different location. You have mastered the greatest life skill - from John 10:27: you have listened to Jesus' voice above all others and have done what he asked you to do. How much better our world would be if all of us who love Christ would do that.

Valerie Kuykendall

Oh... The pink door!!!!! Ruth, we were new neighbors and friends - we were in late 20's- I didn't know you well yet, but you so excitedly came back and forth to my house to get my opinion on what color you should paint your front door. I was expecting beige- or black - or forest green. But oh no - it was PINK - and some other very nontraditional color. Being the conservative never try anything daring person I am, I was at a loss for words trying to pick between the pink and whatever that other color was! I was thinking you were plumb crazy, and that it would look terrible, but you said you wanted your house to be fun - but more importantly, welcoming! Ok whatever I thought somehow I fuddled through the choices you gave me, as I didn't want to offend my new friend - and you ended up going with the pink. (This was in the day when nobody used pastels or bright colors.) Guess what? It looked BEAUTIFUL! I remember you being so happy about that door!!! And your house was indeed always welcoming to all.

Beth and Jody Carpenter

Your beauty, your wit, your charm, your intellect, your undying devotion to your husband, your love for our Lord and your magical Mary Poppins ability to pack a bag for the amazing adventures we have shared with you, Ken, Bobby & David...are a few of my favorite Ruth Samuelson memories! You have touched our hearts with gladness and we keep you close forever.

Colleen Monteverde

Ruth, you were the first person I met at Uptown! I doubt very much you remember it, but I came alone that Sunday in 2012 as Cody was working - and it was very encouraging to me to be greeted by such a warm and friendly face.

Marianne Carpenter

When I think of you, the first thing that inevitably pops into my head is your voice. Your voice, and the thoughtful, challenging, Godly and often funny words, that it projected is my best thought of you. At so many church events and Sunday School classes, silence often emerges as the congregation gathers its thoughts. Out of this silence comes a voice, a familiar voice, a voice that is confident, yet respectful, a voice that commands attention, presses a point, provokes a thought and so often elicits laughter. That voice and the loving, Godly woman to whom it belongs is my picture of a Christ-like woman. Thank you for being a model to so many Christian women of how to beautifully serve your family, the church and the Lord with grace and wisdom.

Megan Harris

I learned that hospitality was so much more than having someone over for dinner. You let us into your home for 10 months! And right after we moved out, someone else was moving in. Your home was a constant rotation of people. We needed a home and you took us in.

Melissa Kruger

When our family was new to Charlotte, you and Ken graciously opened your home for us to live there during our house search. I often look back on that time and am so grateful for God orchestrating that. It was a sweet gift from Him to have the privilege of seeing a family live out their faith in such a vibrant way. I am thankful as well, Ruth, for the blessing and inspiration you have been especially to our Lauren as in recent years your paths crossed again at Uptown. I truly have never known a woman who has lived out her faith with such zeal and purpose in so many arenas of life.

Nancy Seeley

Ruth you warmly welcomed my wife and I into your home without knowing us beyond that we were friends with your sons, some missionaries coming back home from London. Your kindness to us and thoughtfulness in conversation was immediately evident but not surprising given the amazing way these qualities have been passed on to David and Bobby.

RJ March

You once told me that you like to bring people together. I believe I recall you saying that you "connect the dots". Well, imagine if each of those "dots" were placed on a single canvas. I believe all of those dots would collectively make a beautiful portrait of a life well lived. Take comfort in knowing you have lived a full life, and in its course, have done so much for others.

Rick Killian

You were appropriately named for Ruth for she spent her life helping others and was committed to this because of her love of God.

Ruth Knight Gammon

Then there were those months living in your basement. You gave us a home in our first months of marriage. So many memories there. I even have sweet memories of visiting Melissa Kruger there...another recipient of your generosity. I have always been so struck and challenged by your faithfulness to follow God in terms of generosity. I remember your decisions to take scripture seriously and to "give to all who ask" even if you didn't give what they ask. This has been so inspiring to me, and it has come to mind so many times.

Susan Foster
Recommended Reading Icon

Recommended Reading

The Likeability FactorThe Likeability Factor
The Likeability Factor
Tim Sanders

The more you are liked, the happier your life will be. Tim Sanders shows how to build your likeability factor by teaching you how to enhance your friendliness, relevance, empathy, and realness.

The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal ConflictThe Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict
The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict
Ken Sande