Joel Thomas Kunkel

It's hard to believe that Joel, our 4th boy is now a highschool graduate and getting ready to move on. In less than a month he will be moving to Kansas City to work and take some classes at the college which Levi just graduated from. Levi and Alanna will still be there for 3-4 years more since Levi is doing a masters degree. So Joel will be close to them but living on his own, working and going to school.

Here are some pictures from his recent graduation party. Thanks to those who came out!

We are grateful for all who have poured into him over the years! We are proud of him and excited for what the Lord has in store.

Here a few ways you can be praying for him:

• For a reliable vehicle
• Permanent place to live once there
• To get settled once there
• Community

Thanks as always for loving and praying for our family!

Luke's 26th Birthday & Mother's Day

 Luke turned 26 last week! We can't be that old but yes we are. We attempted to take him to an Indians game (local AAA baseball team) that got rained out but he had fun anyway.

We had fun celebrating Mother's day too. I am so grateful for Jennifer and the amazing Mom she is.

Joel's last Mother's day at home at least for now.

I am grateful for my mom too.

Our moms our great!

How's the Ministry with RNV in Guatemala going?

 

Each month our global team made up of all the country coordinators meets to pray for one of our countries where we are working. They report on their work and we pray for that country. This month it was Guatemala and I was so encourage about what the Lord continues to do with Carlos Lopez and his team so I wanted to share it with you all. 

This is where the work is currently at. Keep in mind we started a small church in our apartment with 10 people. As RNV Guatemala, we are discipling 72 people across 7 different communities; we are training 13 individuals in local leadership; we have 2 students enrolled in the Bible Institute’s course on pastoral care and church leadership; we have planted 2 churches, with two more currently in progress; and we have one pioneer church. (Pioneer church is an existing church that enters the network)

Here are a few pictures of their discipleship groups.

Below is one of the churches in process of being planted in Santa Maria. They had a major earthquake last year and from the ministry and evangelism they did there a church has resulted.

This is their vision over the next 5 years:

To have 300 people active in discipleship groups. To plant 10 healthy churches in Guatemala by intentionally discipling their members through the Discipleship Route.

And 2 training centers:

A Bible Institute

A School of Missions

A Pastoral School

5 pioneer churches driven by a passion to make disciples who make disciples.

150 leaders undergoing training at the Bible Institute.

(Carlos has never lacked for vision ;-)

Here are some of the prayer requests he shared so you can join me in praying for them:

• Resources for the pastors and their families.
• Resources for transportation to reach the communities.
• That God would raise up a prayer leader to share with each of the pastors and community leaders.
• For the discipleship leaders, that they may attend to the needs of every discipler.

I hope this encourages you as it did me! May God be glorified and all of Guatemala discipled!

Easter, Birthdays and other celebrations in April 2026

Recently we celebrated Sofia's 9th birthday and also easter and a few other things. Check out some pictures below

Easter 2026

Emma has a mind of her own ;-)

Sofia is getting all grown up. This was the immediate family celebration and the cake above was with extended family on Easter.

Egg hunt with the cousins

Birthday gifts

Grace losing more teeth

Anything for free chickfila

Muffins and Moms at the girls school.

A trip to the children's musuem during spring break.

The girls climbing trees in their pajamas.

Pastoral Retreat in Waukegan with Iglesia Jesus El Buen Pastor

Ben had the chance to travel with 3 of the pastors from the Indianapolis area up to Waukegan, IL where we serve another church called Jesus El Buen Pastor or Jesus the Good Shepherd. It was fun to hang out together and serve together. See some pictures below.

Left is Manuel from Living Hope Church in Indianapolis, then myself, Harol from New Life Church in Indianapoli and Leslie from Mt. Pleasant Christian Church. In front is Maribel and Jose who serve at the church there in Waukegan.

This is the same group with some of their leaders there. This church is located in a strategic area of a town that is over 80% hispanic. We are praying for a discipleship movement in this area!

Harol preached at their service Friday evening.

We each shared "un saludo" with the church.

I love getting to serve this man (Jose Juan) and his family. 

On Saturday morning we served the church by doing some training on how to mobilize and form a ministry team and how to form a ministry plan.

It was fun to serve alongside these men.

I am grateful to get to serve churches in these types of ways!