The Power of Modeling - Faith, Finances, and Formation
Listen to the conversation
Episode 12 · 39 min
Hunter Chenevey is recording this podcast on the second floor of Kent State's student center, with students walking past, backpacks on their shoulders, and the tallest building in Portage County in view.
Because that’s what ministry looks like for Hunter: present, planted, and right in the middle of it.
In this episode, we sit down with Hunter, a full-time missionary on staff with H2O Church at Kent State, to talk about the deep work of campus ministry and the unseen disciplines that make it sustainable. He’s a communicator, a discipler, a father of two, and a guy who left behind a degree in criminal justice to stay on campus and proclaim Jesus instead.
When Ministry Collides with Real Life
Hunter's story will sound familiar to a lot of people. He graduated during a pandemic, raised support while short on sleep and caring for a newborn, and struggled with hurry, pride and burnout. Through it all, he is learning to live as if Jesus is king, in how he rests as well as in what he does.
“I’d tell my younger self: ruthlessly eliminate hurry,” Hunter says. “And treat rest like it’s a meeting on your calendar—because it matters just as much.”
Work-Life Balance: Not a Luxury, a Ministry Strategy
Hunter pulls back the curtain on the rhythms that help him stay grounded in the chaos of ministry:
Setting 6:00 p.m. as a hard stop to protect dinner and bedtime with his family
Blocking Fridays from 9 to 1 for extended time with God, even when it's messy
Learning from a staff culture that values presence over productivity
Auditing his own pace and asking: “Why do I feel the need to answer every text?”
He doesn't claim to have it figured out, and he is honest about that, which makes him easy to listen to.
Talking About Money Without Making It Weird
Hunter talks about generosity and money with students as a normal part of life. He and his wife started giving $21 from each paycheck to the church when they were students, and that habit has shaped how they handle money ever since.
He also talks about:
How his team disciples students around budgeting and giving
Why talking about generosity openly matters as much as teaching the principle
What happened when a student anonymously dropped off a large cash gift for local families
“I’m not an expert in finances,” he says. “But I know that money is a discipleship issue, and if Jesus is Lord, then that includes our wallets.”
Resting. Reflecting. Asking Better Questions.
Hunter's approach to discipleship is relational, honest and patient. That is why he loves The Well, an 8-week discipleship course many H2O churches use. Each week looks at a different part of following Jesus, such as student, servant and sent one, and they recently added a new one:
A Disciple Is at Rest.
It invites students to slow down, spend time with Jesus and remember that He is the savior of their campus and they are not.
Why College Students Are Worth It
Hunter ends with what drives all of it:
“College students are among the most unchurched people group on the planet—and they hold enormous potential to influence the world with the gospel.”
That’s why he’s still here. Sitting in student centers. Learning from his mistakes. And believing that the gospel is worth giving your whole life to.
Resources
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. The book treats hurry as an enemy of spiritual formation, and it helped Hunter build rest into his life.
The Bible Project. Hunter's first recommendation for students who want to engage Scripture more deeply. It is clear and visual.
💻 The Well Curriculum (H2O Church Kent) Want to see how their team disciples students in intentional, accessible ways? Download their materials here.
Guests & resources
Meet the guest
- Hunter Chenevey
H2O Church Kent