A pastor who worked extensively with Ken “Kenny” DeLand – an American college student who disappeared in France for more than two weeks – said it was a “privilege and an honor” to know the now 22-year-old as an Eagle Scout.
The Rev. Brian Fellows, pastor of Clifton Springs United Methodist Church for the past five years, told Fox News Digital that he remains optimistic that DeLand will contact his parents soon to let them know he is safe “once this adventure it will be over”. He has known DeLand since he became an Eagle Scout four years ago.
“I knew it was fun-loving and adventure loving. I saw him do the typical things that scouts do, you know, play pranks and just be kids and have fun and have an adventure and learn,” Fellows said.
When asked what went through his mind upon learning of DeLand’s disappearance, Fellows said, “It hurt. This was someone who, you know, had a relationship with the faith community, a relationship with the community at large.” . it feels like a piece of us is missing.”
DISAPPEARANCE OF KEN DELAND: TIMELINE OF THE DISAPPEARANCE OF AN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT WHILE STUDYING ABROAD IN FRANCE
Ken DeLand poses as an Eagle Scout
(Jim Conner)
The pastor said he’s seen less of DeLand since enrolling at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, but has kept in touch with some of his fellow explorers. Remembering DeLand fondly, though, Fellows offers any spiritual support to his family, even if they just need someone to talk to to work things out.
DeLand, despite having traveled to Italy during the university holidays at the beginning of the semester and subsequently returning to France, was reported missing on 29 November when he failed to attend lectures at the University of Grenoble Alpes or to contact his French host family. He last spoke to his family in New York on Nov. 27 via WhatsApp.
Ken DeLand smiles in an Eagle Scout uniform in front of the church altar.
(Jim Conner)
His phone last rang at a train station in Valence, France on November 30. And bank statements and surveillance video last placed him in a sporting goods store in Montelimar, France, on Dec. 3.
Amid comments from a French prosecutor that DeLand was having trouble making friends while abroad, Fellows said he knew DeLand was normally very social and shared his theory.
Ken DeLand’s Eagle Scout project involved organizing banners of local veterans to be displayed throughout Clifton Springs, New York for Veteran’s Day.
(Jim Conner)
“Fun-loving, adventurous,” the pastor said of DeLand. “What I’ve heard from people and what we’ve thought is from Kenny. ‘Oh, I lost my phone. I’ll have to contact my parents sometime when this adventure is over.’ Our hopes are that’s exactly what he’s doing,” Fellows said. “He’s out on an adventure somewhere, and when he gets back, he’s going to contact his family. But no, we didn’t know he was someone who might be retired or something. Social outgoing. Want an adventure? Go on an adventure This is the Kenny I knew.
Ken DeLand with other Eagle Scouts.
(Jim Conner)
Despite taking five or six years of French in middle and high school, a French police report, dated Nov. 29, notes that DeLand “doesn’t speak French well,” was in a “fragile mood,” and “may be depressed.”
“I hope he is at peace wherever he is, enjoying the adventure, entering into a closer relationship with God through whatever adventure or journey he is on,” Fellows said.
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF KEN DELAND IN FRANCE SHINES LIGHT ON THE “ABOLISHED” BORDERS OF THE EUROPEAN TRAVEL ZONE
Jim Conners, committee chairman for Boy Scouts Troop 59, told Fox News Digital that he also worked extensively with DeLand from when he was 10 to 18 years old. hanging across the village of Clifton Springs.
Montelimar Decathlon Sports Good Store. Landmarks relating to missing American student Ken Deland in Montelimar, France on December 14, 2022.
(Julien Reynaud/APS-Medias/ABACAPRESS.COM)
DeLand coordinated with welders to make the signs, veterans’ families to provide the photos, and printing companies to create the banners. They were originally hung for Veteran’s Day that year, but the project DeLand spearheaded has continued every year for Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day since then, Conners said.
Speaking from his church office in Clifton Springs, Fellows recalled the impact of the project.
Ken DeLand walks into a sporting goods store in Montelimar on Dec. 3.
(findkendeland. com)
“When the banners go up for Memorial Day, when they go up for Veterans Day, I have a smile on my face as I walk our streets because it also reminds me of Kenny and his service to our community,” Fellows told Fox News Digital. “And I feel like we’re giving back to Kenny and his family by doing these things to remember him and give hope to his family.”
United Methodist Church of Clifton Springs Rochester, NY December 13, 2022.
(Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
“His project has given us reason to remember some of those people who are on the banners that I interact with. Of course, they are not young anymore. But being able to talk to them and knowing, however, what Kenny did is important to them, it strengthens me how much it means to our community,” Fellows added. “And I hope this gives you an insight into who Kenny is and how important he is to us. It has been a privilege and an honor to be able to work alongside him and remember him as we move forward with those two particular vacations.”
Reverend Brian Fellows inside Clifton Springs United Methodist Church in Rochester, NY on December 13, 2022.
(Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
Last weekend, Fellows estimated that about 125-130 people showed up for a prayer service for Kenny. Describing the community’s response, the Fellows said they expressed “gratitude for being given the opportunity to come together.”
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“We gave them ways to share what they cared about. Through notes, we created a system where they could write notes to family and then put them in a binder and send them to family so they would browse, read why they need of encouragement,” the pastor said. “And we also tied yellow ribbons on a tree outside our church to remind us every time we walk down Main Street that we must also remember Kenny and hope for his return.”
DeLand, who is a graduate of Midlakes High School, also interned for New York State Senator Pam Helming, a Republican, from 2019 to 2020. Helming said she first met DeLand when she was a high school senior and the presented a proclamation at his Eagle Scout ceremony.
