The Life and Legacy of Ursula Kemp

Ursula Kemp was born in Breslau, Germany, on March 28, 1924. She and her family, German Jews, endured the rising tide of antisemitic persecution until, at last, they fled Germany in August 1939. Ursula, her parents, and her younger sister, along with some other family members, secured passage on the very last passenger ship permitted to leave Germany, bound for Shanghai—one of the only places in the world willing to accept Jewish refugees. Ursula and her family called Shanghai home for seven years. Sadly, most of the relatives they left behind in Germany lost their lives in the concentration camps.

In Shanghai, Ursula grew from a young girl into a woman. It was there that she met Charles "Ian" Kemp, a Scotsman serving with the British Military Police. In time they married, while still in Shanghai. After a couple short stints, first in Scotland, then in Canada, they eventually journeyed to Houston to join Ursula's family.

Coming to Faith

Years later, when she was thirty-five and working as a dental hygienist, Ursula made a life-changing decision. On a Thanksgiving Day, she felt overwhelmed by her spiritual need and found herself in the Bible, in Isaiah 53.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:4-5

She came face to face with the Suffering Servant. That day, she placed her faith in Jesus Christ for the eternal safekeeping of her soul.

A Life of Teaching

Ian and Ursula's first church home was Berachah Church in Houston, where they eagerly absorbed Pastor Bob Thieme's teaching six nights a week for a season. Ursula's love of God's Word soon overflowed into service. She was asked to be the primary department superintendent—a remarkable task for someone who had been forced out of school at fourteen due to persecution. For twelve years she co-wrote children's ministry curriculum. She would always try out the children's curriculum at home before it was presented at church. This went on at weekly Bible classes in her home, which at one point brought seventy-five children to her living room!

When her season in the children's department ended, Ursula discovered her true passion—teaching Ladies Bible Study. For more than four decades she poured herself into the diligent study of God's Word and the careful crafting of lessons, which she would finalize by typing out detailed lesson handouts on her typewriter. Her dedication to this precious teaching ministry left an enduring impact on the many ladies who were privileged to gather in her living room.

Later Years

In 1984, Ursula became a widow at the age of sixty. While the loss was great, by God's sustaining grace she pressed on.

In her later years, Ursula's final church home was Sugar Land Bible Church, where she delighted in sitting under the teaching of Pastor Andy Woods. She lived independently and continued teaching for most of her life, until health challenges required her to move into assisted living in 2017. Her two nieces and their families as well as her church family made sure she felt loved and taken care of during this new season of her life, which lasted two years before the Lord called her home.

It is a great joy to be able to share her Bible studies with you through this website project and to know that her influence—rooted in her devotion to Christ and His Word—will continue to impact many, long after her heavenly homegoing.

Who was Ursula Kemp and why should I trust her teaching?

As a new believer at the age of 35 Ursula quickly fell in love with God's Word. Within a couple years of getting saved she began writing children's Sunday School curriculum for Berachah Church in Houston. The following testimonies speak to the excellent caliber Ursula brought to her study and teaching, as well as the far reach and continued impact of her ministry.

A generation of baby boomers in Houston, including myself, were grounded in the Word of God by [her] curriculum, which transformed their lives.

Pastor Robby Dean of West Houston Bible Church, who grew up at Berachah Church

She was a woman sent from God, because of her commitment to God's Word…to study and teach…and to help others study and teach. She diligently prepared and taught the Bible with discernment, clarity and grace. She was quick to notice where teachers went astray and point out errors, to fit the meaning of her name as a "little bear!" She wrote Bible Study materials on unfamiliar portions of God's Word so that individuals and Bible classes will grow into maturity.

Dr. Ramesh Richard, founder and president of RREACH Ministries

Because of her faithfulness in teaching both women and children in home and church Bible studies, she has had a transgenerational influence upon the city of Houston. I remain in deep appreciation for not only her personal encouragement to me in ministry but also for her many hours of biblically astute proofreading of my writings. I am honored to call her a Sugar Land Bible Church member. More importantly, I am honored to call her my personal friend.

Dr. Andy Woods, senior pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church and Ursula's favorite Bible teacher (from one of his book dedications)

A Testimony: African Violets

The following is an excerpt from the eulogy given by Faber McMullen at Ursula's memorial service in 2019. It gives greater meaning to the purple African violets featured on this website.

Somehow, I would always end up in the kitchen where Aunt Ursula would teach me all kinds of things. I loved being with her in her little kitchen, and it was in there that God created a bond between me and this German Jewish Christ-Following lady who somehow became my "aunt". In that kitchen she would show me her African Violets growing in the window sill. She explained to me that they were delicate little plants that needed to be planted, fed, watered, and cared for in a very special way. She taught me that the tender little plants needed to be sheltered from the direct light of the hot Texas sun.

You see, Ursula had many little "African Violets" that never made it to that kitchen. They were sitting in her Sunday School class each week at Berachah church. As she pulled out her flannelgraph, she tended the little garden of children in front of her, teaching us about the beauty, power, and holiness of an awesome God who communicated with each of us in His precious Word. She planted us in the soil of God's Word, and she was careful how she watered us, fed us, and kept us focused on Him. Ursula was a GREAT SPIRITUAL ENCOURAGER.

Every year Aunt Ursula made me a special gift for Christmas. It was something handmade. It didn't matter whether I was living in N. Carolina or living in Texas, something beautiful always came. I treasure them still. They were always accompanied with a dose of spiritual encouragement. They always focused on a piece of Scripture that helped me remember that I was the child of a King who cared for me and loved me. Her notes encouraged me to be the right kind of father I should be. They encouraged me to be the right kind of husband I should be, and through each and every step of God calling me as a pastor, I received letters from Ursula reminding me of the sanctity of God's calling and the privilege of serving others spiritually, and of rightly dividing the Word of Truth to others. During a recent visit with Ursula, I realized that other than my parents, she had been the greatest spiritual encourager in my life. We spent a glorious afternoon talking about the past. She had aged gracefully, and I sat by her bed as she excitedly wanted to know every detail about my ministry at Union Grove Baptist Church of Whitehall. What was I currently teaching? How was the congregation receiving the teaching? Were people growing in the Lord? She reminded me that teaching God's Word to others is one of the greatest privileges in which a human being can participate.

As I sat by her bed, I once again experienced the pleasure of watching her tend what had once been one of her little African Violets in the kitchen. That flower was me. She planted me in good soil. She made sure I was spiritually fed over the years, and she cared for me through her cards and letters. Only God knows how many hours she spent praying for me, and helping me to find God's plan, place, and purpose for my life.

Faber McMullen, Ursula's memorial service, 2019