Kenney Myers

Author | Actor | Producer | Kickboxer | Entrepreneur

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How to Raise Money for Your Mission Trip

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bake-saleMission trips are an exciting way to learn about other cultures, offer aid to those in need and share the message of Christ. Even if your trip is a domestic one, you’re sure to encounter people from all walks of life, some of which are far different from your own. Unfortunately, these missions of goodwill and assistance do cost money. From travel and daily expenses to funding the assistance programs you’re planning to organize, there are a variety of expenditures that your group will be faced with covering over the course of your mission trip. To help raise money for these expenses, consider the following ideas.

Hold a Bake Sale

There’s a reason why bake sales are an old standby in the world of fundraising: they work! In addition to raising money, pooling your resources, time and effort to churn out baked goods for a bake sale is a great team-building exercise, and can help you to foster a sense of teamwork amongst participants in your mission group before you ever leave home. If there are skilled bakers within your congregation, they may also be willing to donate time or food items to support your cause.

Consider Crowd-Sourcing

Everything from albums to novels are funded through crowd-sourcing sites like Kickstarter these days, which can be of great use to mission trip organizers. Drafting a thorough proposal and sharing the link to your chosen crowd-sourcing collections site through social media, blogs and email can even help your cause to go viral, getting the attention and donations of people that would ordinarily be far out of your reach. Be sure that you carefully read the terms of use and all the fine print, though, since every crowd-sourcing site works differently.

Send Out Fundraising Letters

Writing professional letters of solicitation to be sent out to members of your congregation or faith group can garner donations from those who would love to help, but aren’t quite tech-savvy enough to manage crowd-sourcing sites or navigate social media. Your own church directory is a great source for mailing list information, especially if you’re part of a very large congregation. While you can print out address labels that will make the work of preparing snail-mail much less time-consuming, hosting an envelope-stuffing party where every member of your mission trip pitches in to stamp, stuff and address mailers is another way of working team-building exercises into the fundraising process. Remember, it’s never too early to start building the bonds of teamwork and partnership.

Look for Business Sponsorships

Some businesses, especially those that proudly advertise their faith-based approach to business, may be willing to sponsor your mission trip for advertising or tax purposes. Don’t be afraid to send polite letters of inquiry to local business owners that share your faith, as business sponsorships can be quite hefty and can make all the difference in your fundraising efforts.

Make Inquiries Regarding Church Support

If your mission trip is officially sanctioned by the clergy and elders of your church, they’ll almost certainly be willing to either provide donations or hold a special collections ceremony to help fund the trip. Speaking with your pastor about the options available to you may open more doors than you ever realized, and could help you expand your mission trip far beyond your original intentions. Working closely with church leadership is essential if you’ll be representing your congregation to the rest of the world, especially if there’s any chance of media attention.

Hold a Car Wash

There’s something about a car wash that tends to pull in even those that aren’t affiliated with your church. You will need to look into obtaining any necessary permits before setting up shop on a busy street corner, but high-traffic areas can yield big results. Unless you live in an area that’s warm year-round, however, car wash fundraising efforts are really only effective in the spring and summer months.

In addition to these ideas, there’s also something to be said for good, old-fashioned brainstorming sessions. Gather your missions group together to discuss everyone’s ideas for raising money. When you make a collective effort to think outside the box, there’s no telling what you’ll come up with!

10 Famous Artists Named Ken

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kendoneVisual art is a highly subjective medium, which is why so many practitioners of the craft go to their graves having never achieved a high level of notoriety. Every once in a while, though, artists come along whose work speaks to the masses. These artists may never reach the lofty status of art icon, but some seem to speak in a language that transcends all other forms of communication. The 10 artists in this list share this common quality, in addition to the fact that they are all named Ken.

  • Ken Done – A native of Sidney, Australia, Ken Done is an artist-designer best known for his contributions to the 2000 Sidney Olympics. He created a number of works for the Olympic games, which was off the back of a commission in 1995 for the Australian Prime Minister where he designed a number of flags for Ausflag – an organization that was put together to promote a new Australian flag.
  • Ken Kelly – With such iconic depictions as Conan the Barbarian, the band Kiss and covers for the magazine Castle of Frankenstein under his belt, Ken Kelly is one of the best known fantasy artists in the world. His work always centers around epic characters and settings, with an exotic backdrop that is unmistakable once experienced.
  • Ken Danby – Just six years after enrolling in the Ontario College of Art in 1958, Ken Danby had a sell-out exhibition to his credit. His work usually depicts realistic scenes from life, such as his piece about a hockey player passionately fending off attacking shots entitled At the Crease. The Canadian born artist sadly passed away after collapsing in 2007 while on a canoe trip in Algonquin Park.
  • Ken Howard – Howard is an artist who appreciates angles, light and the little details that are often taken for granted. His paintings are traditional in style, but have a particular emphasis on tones. He is the recipient of a number of awards, including the Lord Mayor’s Art Award, the John Moores Exhibition in Liverpool and the first prize in the Hunting Group Awards.
  • Ken Perenyi – They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. If that is truly the case, then Ken Perenyi is flattering, indeed. This artist made his fortune through art forgery, however, he has now turned his talents to honest work. Perenyi’s career of forging famous art work came to an end in 1998, when the FBI came calling to question him about forged James E. Buttersworth pieces that had been sold at Christie’s and Sotheby’s.
  • Kenneth Noland – Color Field painting was a popular art form in the 1940s and 1950s, close to Abstract Expressionism. Noland was one of the most well-known masters of the medium, and was instrumental in bringing about the Washington Color School Movement. He was particularly well known for his paintings of circles, targets and other abstract forms and shapes.
  • Kenneth M. Freeman – The “Rembrandt of the Rodeo,” as he is better known in the art world, this Chicago born artist has been commissioned to create covers for Louis L’Amour, famed author of popular Westerns. He has depicted such legends as John Wayne, John Smith and Robert Fuller in his portrait style paintings, and listed President Herbert Hoover among those who have purchased his art.
  • Ken Cox – Comic books and illustrations are the chosen medium of Ken Cox. However, he is most famed for his vintage American comic, which can often be seen in British newspapers, The Telegraph, Times, Financial Times, Independent and Guardian. Ken also makes his living as an illustrator of children’s books, when he’s not playing with his blues band, Bluesette.
  • Ken White – With over 100 murals under his belt worldwide, Ken White is, you could say, committed to making his mark. On his days off from creating murals, Ken takes time out to work for Sir Richard Branson as on-call artist for the entrepreneur’s record shops, airport lounges and offices. White’s work draws strongly on his youth, when he worked in railway workshops, and often depicts industrial landscapes.
  • Kenneth Snelson – It’s hard to decide whether Kenneth Snelson is an artist or creative engineer. Snelson claims that he perfected the concept of tensegrity, an artform that incorporates ‘tension’ and ‘structural integrity,’ to create art from combining both flexible and rigid materials. If you’re confused, imagine an intricate artistic structure, where steel bars and struts never meet, all suspended by tensioned cables. Still confused? It’s probably one of those times where you need to see it to believe it.

10 of the Most Popular Bloggers Named Ken

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kenlevineThe unsung heroes of the Internet are bloggers who, through their tireless efforts to deliver quality content, provide information and entertainment on any subject you can call to mind. These bloggers work extremely hard to build up an audience. For many, there is no financial incentive for doing so, only the love of sharing their passion with the reader. These 10 bloggers, in particular, are blessed with both a talent for communication and the name Ken.

    • Ken Levine – This Emmy Award winning comedy writer loves to blog. He has worked on The Simpsons, Mash, Everybody Loves Raymond and many more household shows, yet still finds the time to entertain fans on his blog. Levine’s blog was also named one of the 25 best blogs by Time Magazine in 2011.
    • Ken Wilson – As one of the world’s best English language teachers, Ken Wilson has created courses and given talks across the globe. Wilson, up until 2002, held the position of artistic director of the English Teaching Theatre. He now blogs on ELT and teaches classes with his wife, Dede, often incorporating theatrical performances into his lessons.
    • Ken Wilber – A world renowned writer and philosopher on subjects such as mysticism, philosophy and ecology, Ken Wilber is a busy man. However, he still manages to find time to dedicate to his blog, where readers will find posts on such fascinating subjects as understanding Integral Theory and experiments in vision. Wilber’s blog is heavy reading, much like all of his work, so make sure to set aside a few hours to really benefit from the experience.
    • Ken Jennings – The award winning player of Jeopardy, Ken Jennings, has a blog. Jennings once held the record for longest winning streak on Jeopardy, with 72 wins. So great was Jennings’ streak on the show that the production company actually implemented changes to give new players a better chance against successful contestants.
    • Ken Stevens – This blog has a Google page rank of three, which is pretty good for what amounts to a personal blog. The “Grumpy Old Ken” has over 1,100 followers, all of who get to benefit from Stevens’ daily and often humorous takes on modern life. Ken is also an author of popular eBooks, including his recent title, A Childhood Revisited. He writes both fiction and non-fiction with flair that has endeared him to his many fans and followers.
    • Ken Ilgunas – Try to keep up, because this Ken is on the move. Ilgunas started blogging in 2009 to document his travels. However, he has since authored a book, Walden on Wheels, and graduated from Duke University. Ken continues to document his travels, including a 1,700 mile walk along the Keystone XL pipeline route. As this young man continues his journey, you can be sure that he will have many more tales to share about his travels.
    • Ken Ham – He is one of the most controversial figures in the fight to have creationism recognized in world education, and Ken Ham is never at a loss for words. As he travels around the world, Ham documents his experiences on his blog. Ken also uses his blog to promote the Creation Museum, a subject that, as a founder, he is extremely passionate about.
    • Ken Albala – He has authored books with such colorful titles as, Eating Right in the Renaissance, Food in Early Modern Europe and Cooking in Europe 1250-1650. Albala’s reputation as food historian has earned him one of the highest spots on Google, with a page rank of five. This is a food blog like no other, and Ken’s unique passion for each strange and wonderful dish is what keeps his readers coming back for more.
    • Ken Segall – There are few bloggers who have as much authority when it comes to technology as Ken Segall. The author of this blog is one of the leading experts on both Apple and NeXT. He also has a book, Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple’s Success, which was featured on the New York Times best seller list.
    • Ken Schwaber – Just as his blog tagline suggests, Ken Schwaber “tells it like it is.” The particular “is” in question, is software development. Schwaber is privy to many of the developments in the industry, having worked with companies such as Microsoft and as one of the developers of the ‘Scrum’ process, a method of helping companies develop better software products. His blog is ranked five on Google, while the scrum.org comes in at a whopping page rank of six.

 

10 Educators Named Ken Who Have Influenced Generations

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jkgThese great educators have gone above and beyond in their respective fields, inspiring entire generations to follow in their footsteps. The ten men on this list are all remarkable in their own right, however, they do have one thing in common – they all share the name Ken.

  • John Kenneth Galbraith – A former teacher at Harvard University, Galbraith is perhaps better known for his books on economics, which were bestsellers from the ‘50s through to the 2000s. JKG had close connections to a number of other fairly well known men with triple barrel names, as he was an active member in the administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
  • Ken Carter – Sports teams, and especially their coaches, are not often praised for their dedication to academics. However, Ken Carter, now better known as Coach Carter from the 2005 movie based on his life, changed all that. Carter had a very strict academic upbringing, but still found time to fall in love with sports. Coach Carter is still doing what he loves despite the fame, and has found a home with the Slamball team Rumble in Los Angeles.
  • Kenneth Clark – This man brought the distinct style of expert narration to TV documentaries with his work on the BBC series, Civilisation. The show was internationally popular from when it first aired in 1969, and allowed Clark to continue with his love of all things academic while also pursuing a career in broadcasting and directing.
  • Sir Ken Robinson – Who wouldn’t want a teacher who is also a knight? Robinson has now been campaign leader for creativity in education, even having led the British government’s 1998 advisory committee on creative and cultural education. However, it was his TEDtalk in 2006 that catapulted Ken into the limelight, as it was greatly received around the world as one of the most inspirational talks on education heard, anywhere.
  • Ken Wilber – In the world of philosophy, Ken Wilber’s name has been mentioned alongside Aristotle and Nietzsche. Wilber lists Bill Clinton and Deepak Chopra among his friends, and has had his books translated into more than 30 languages. When it comes to study and general knowledge, Ken Wilber’s “A Brief History of Everything,” is a must read for everybody.
  • Ken Appel – An acclaimed mathematician, this Ken is credited with being the first person to use a computer to prove a major mathematical theorem. This skill would prove to be invaluable during the Cold War, when Appel used his genius to break Russian codes while simultaneously encoding U.S. messages to keep them secure. Ken was a tough teacher, but the love and respect he commanded from his students was still apparent in the messages of support his wife received when he passed away on April 19, 2013.
  • Kenneth Chung – The education that Kenneth Chung offers is one that may just save your life, or at least make a mugger think twice about tackling you. Chung is a former student of the legendary Wing Chun master, Yip Man. He teaches at the Stanford University Wing Chun Club, as well as travels the world educating people on the benefits of the martial arts.
  • Ken Saro-Wiwa – Although Saro-Wiwa’s life as a teacher is not what brought him to inspire thousands of people, it is the path that led him there. As a gifted child growing up in Bori, Rivers State, Ken seemed destined for great things. He first rose to prominence for his satirical novels, children’s tales and plays. However, it was when he was imprisoned in 1994 and subsequently hanged in 1995 that Ken’s legacy reached the world. His imprisonment was due to speaking out against the government’s oil policy with Royal Dutch/Shell.
  • Kenneth Hartley Blanchard – Most leaders in business will agree, “The One Minute Manager” by Kenneth Hartley Blanchard is the most definitive guide to management ever written. The book teaches leaders how to manage staff within the confines of each minute, and has become the go-to resource of corporations all over the world.
  • Ken Hames – This ex British Special Air Service’s officer is a world renowned motivational speaker – that is, when he isn’t pioneering and directing adventure TV shows. Hames spent his early life as part of a military family before completing his own 25 year service. In his own words he is, “passionate about giving  people the opportunity to do extraordinary things.”

10 Bible Passages About Forgiveness

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forgiveThe New Testament of the Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness; specifically, the great redemption of Christ’s followers through his sacrifice. Still, there’s also a fair number of passages in both the Old and New Testaments outlining the importance of forgiveness in the hearts of believers. If you’ve ever struggled to find forgiveness in your heart for those who have wronged you, here are ten Bible passages on the subject which may help you along your path.

  1. Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (New International Version)
  2. Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.” (New International Version)
  3. Luke 6:37 – “Do not judge, and you will not be judge. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (New International Version)
  4. John 8:7 – “When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'” (New International Version)
  5. Luke 17:3-4 – “So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” (New International Version)
  6. Matthew 5:23-24 – “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” (New International Version)
  7. Matthew 18: 21-22 – “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'” (New International Version)
  8. Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (New International Version)
  9. 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 –” If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he as grieved all of you to some extent–not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.” (New International Version)
  10. Galatians 6:1-2 – “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (New International Version)

While it’s not always easy to forgive others, it is something as Christians we are called to do. The Bible makes it clear, many times, that forgiveness and tolerance are callings of the faith that must not be ignored. With the power of prayer and the guidance of God’s Word, you can let go of past hurts and continue to grow in Christ.

10 Famous Restaurateurs Named Ken

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chefRestaurants are marvelous things; regardless of the economy, people still flock to the great ones in droves. Diners are willing to save up for an exceptional meal in a restaurant with great ambiance, which is one of the reasons why these 10 Kens have been able to make such a name for themselves in the world of restaurants.

  1. Ken Oringer – A native Bostonian, Ken Oringer has created a name for himself through the craft of cuisine. He was named the award of Best Chef Northeast in 2001, then opened Uni, a sushi bar that was named the Best Sushi Bar in 2008. In addition to running his own restaurant, Mr. Oringer teaches cooking classes for aspiring chefs to learn the tricks of the trade.
  2. Ken Irvine – Ken Irvine brings French cuisine to a whole new level at his restaurant Bleu Bohème. The food is authentic, and has been influenced by several regions of France. French cooking is notoriously fussy, with each region boasting its own superb wines and contributions to national cuisine. Ken Irvine captures the spirit of French cooking perfectly.
  3. Ken Todd – Though he may have originally been known for his skills as a football player, Ken Todd has reinvented himself as a successful restaurateur. He and his wife own some of the top restaurants and bars in the Los Angeles area. But they didn’t stop there; they also have dabbled in the restaurant industry across the Pond. In fact, the first bar he owned was called Corks and it was located in Kensington, England.
  4. Ken Rivard – For approximately 30 years, Ken Rivard and his wife, Chef Jody Adams have been cooking together and running restaurants like the Rialto while publishing books to share their experience with other aspiring restaurateurs.
  5. Ken Davitian – Ken Davitian is perhaps known best for his acting career, but he’s also a successful restaurateur. He’s recognizable from his appearances on shows such as “Chuck,” “ER,” “Ghost Whisperer” and “Six Feet Under,” just to name a few. In 2003, he opened his own restaurant known as The Dip. His son now runs this hot dog-serving restaurant in California.
  6. Ken King – In 2009, Ken King passed away, leaving behind a legend as a co-op owner along with the ownership of a restaurant called the Indian Summer Restaurant. His unique farm-to-table concept worked because the farm was on-site, with the staff doubling as cultivators of the food served inside.
  7. Ken Howard – Another actor-turned-restaurant-owner, Ken Howard has received an Emmy for his acting abilities. He is also the successful owner of two Boston-area restaurants: Rustic Kitchen and Mario’s Place.
  8. Ken Conrad – Ken Conrad is the chairman of Libby Hill Seafood Restaurants, a smaller chain with nine locations throughout the country. In 2007, he was named Restaurateur of the Year. On top of this experience, he was also a cook in the Army National Guard.
  9. Ken Forkish – Ken Forkish owns Ken’s Artisan Bakery where the art of bread making and pastries comes to life. His success as a bread and pastry maker afforded him with the opportunity to write books on his crafts to inspire other chefs, both novice and professional. Ken’s Artisan Bakery opened in 2001 in Portland, Oregon. Since 2006, he has also been the proud owner of Ken’s Artisan Pizza.
  10. Ken Goff – Ken Goff was a chef at the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School’s restaurant known as Technique. Aside from being a chef there, he became one of the instructors at the famous school. He went from line cook to executive chef throughout his career. He is one chef who’s known for his dedication to Midwest cuisine, and his time as instructor at Le Cordon Bleu was spent in the Minnesota branch. He has been credited with shaping the dining scene in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Every great chef starts in the kitchen, so don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty if you dream of owning a restaurant. Whether your name is Ken or not, following the examples of these 10 successful businessmen can give you the inspiration you need to make it to the upper echelon of restaurateurs.