Ken Hunn

What's Different?

2010-09-02T17:56:21Z

Can't get that question out of my mind... Have you ever had an experience where you know for certain that things have changed? It's easy to put too much emphasis on a one-week-in-a-year experience, but I think most all attendees at our recent General Conference will agree that God used our annual gathering to give us the kind of insight and heart change to go and transform our communities by living out the life of Christ in practical ways. Things are different now.

In these last few weeks my inbox has been peppered by stories from all around our denomination of how God is giving us the vision and courage to ask how we and our congregations can be a blessing to our communities. If you've not already done so, I'd encourage you to ask the same question. There are so many needs in our community, and usually just within a few feet of our doorstep. These needs are wide-open opportunities to allow the Good News to be preached in our actions as well as our words.

I would be thrilled to hear your stories! Tell us about how God is calling you to be more outward focused in your activities. Others will be encouraged to go and follow your example. And maybe you didn't get in on the action during Conference week... Just let us know here at the National Office and we would more than happy to reflect with you about how we understand God to be calling us in these wonderful days of opportunity!

Let me hear your stories and your questions!

It's time again to think General Conference

2010-04-21T14:54:32Z

It really is an institution, and I believe a good one at that. Sometimes called our annual Brethren reunion we've planned for that extra time to re-connect as we always enjoy doing. And we've got some really insightful training opportunities planned in addition to the informative business sessions and additional updates on the progress of our combined efforts.

These are just a few reasons why it is vitally important that churches take time now to pray and identify key leaders, and then equip and empower them through prayers and finances to join us for these days of celebrating how far our vision has taken us and to be equpped for the next leg of our journey.

Here at the Brethren Church National Office we've accomplished our charge of planning for a time of transformation. The rest is up to you...Our General Conference experience is based on the idea of our key leaders coming together for a time of communication, relationship-building and equipping for a NEW DAY. Your prayers and participation will make all the difference in the Brethren Church, for our communites, for now and for eternity.

Back From India!

2009-12-02T16:27:30Z

Back at it in the month of December, after a wonderful trip to India! Exhausting, but so grateful for our partnership with the Kumar family and the great work they are doing to transform their part of the world.

As we witnessed the ministry in India, it was obvious that most all of what they do is to find people in need and then discover ways to meet those needs as a way to demonstrate the life-changing power of Christ.

What are some of the needs in your community, in the lives of the people around you? Which one(s) of those needs has God equipped you to meet? Are there others who could join you in helping to fill that need? In the course of reaching out in this way, how can you uniquely demonstrate the love of Christ? Is this a process with which others in your church could help?

I think we will find that in focusing on others, our lives are changed - and what we thought of as our own need, was actually met in meeting the needs of others. We grow and change and transform by giving. Sounds kind of like something that fits very well with the season!

What do you think?

Whew!

2009-08-04T20:55:32Z

What a great week of General Conference and BYIC Convention! How exciting to worship ALONGSIDE our youth and young adults - our emerging leadership. Bob Logan helped us connect the dots between our heritage, our new vision and core values, and the Biblical patterns of raising up new disciples of Jesus Christ. We're hearing many great reports of how helpful this conference was for applying simple Biblical strategies to our ministry for powerful - transformational - and life changing results. How about you? What was your big take-away blessing from our annual Brethren family reunion?

Conference is coming!

2009-07-10T17:50:45Z

It's Friday afternoon and Conference is coming next week! The Annual Brethren Family Reunion takes on a somewhat different approach as we focus on equipping our leaders to embrace a more missional way of doing church. Pray that we will all have the courage to ask the difficult questions about leaving behind the unproductive things that absorb our resources, and that we would seriously consider what it would take for us to partner with God to make a difference in our neighborhoods and in our world.

Always something . . .

2009-05-14T19:00:32Z

Stormy this morning as I made my way to The Pump House for the second day of the Coach Certification process, under the direction of Dr. Bob Logan. We've got a dozen or so who are completing their coach certification process, and some will go on to train yet other coaches as a coach mentor. The rest will be deployed to make a difference in the Natural Church Development process which provides direction for church health, others will come alongside the church multiplication process so that no church planter is ever alone, and still others will be working with leadership development opportunities throughout our denomination. Coaching is a relationship with a purpose, and we're excited to see how we can take our relationships to a new level to sharpen one another for leading in a NEW DAY! Our Church Health and Resource Specialist Gary Diehl has organized all of this and has done a great job. Interested in coaching? Another round of training begins again this fall. More info at General Conference. Or, give Gary a call or email.

On the horizon. . . Bill Ludwig is already in Northern California for their District Conference this weekend. Our hispanic churches from Southern California will be joining in for the first time! Would love to be there! And this weekend we will be remembering the the life of Dr. Charles Munson. I am so thankful to have had him as a professor, role model, and friend. We will miss the laughter and the faithfulness that he inspired!!! "Father, instill in us the character and the heart for the lost that Charles so clearly displayed!"

Today . . .

2009-04-14T18:26:47Z

It's a cold rainy day outside, but lots of activity here at the BCNO. Our staff is working on our web posting skills so we can learn to communicate more effectively. The Ohio District Board of Oversight is meeting with ordination candidates down in the archives. It's always great to see some of the OH leaders, and definitely great to see more pastoral candidates! Meanwhile the phone is ringing off the hook. As annoying as that can be, we are thankful for inquiries about how we can partner together in various ways. We are all mourning the loss of a dear friend, Marty Haskins. Marty had fought a long and difficult battle with cancer. He had been such a mainstay of the Northern California District and their camping and youth ministry. We will desperately miss him, but rejoice that he is with the Father and totally healed. Bill Ludwig's dad got a new kidney just over a week ago, and all is going quite well. On top of it all we've been getting some wonderful reports of how your worship experiences last weekend were a highlight. We rejoice with you! And we take a little pride in knowing that your ministries are helping to transform lives and communities. These events, the coming and going of activity, painful transitions, and great possibilites are all a part of our lives. We consider it a privilege to be serving with you and alongside you. When you get a chance just send along an email letting us know of how a NEW DAY is breaking out in your neighborhood!