The Power of Modeling - Faith, Finances, and Formation (w/ Hunter Chenevey)
Hunter Genevie is not in a studio. He’s not at home. He’s recording this podcast from the second floor of Kent State’s student center—with students walking by, backpacks slung over shoulders, and the tallest building in Portage County in full 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 is raw and relatable:
Graduated in a pandemic.
Raised support while sleep-deprived and caring for a newborn.
Wrestled with hurry, pride, and the quiet pull of burnout.
And through it all, he’s learning how to live like Jesus is actually king—not just in what he does, but in how he rests.
“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 9–1 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’s not preaching from the mountaintop—he’s in the middle of figuring it out. But he’s honest, and that honesty invites us in.
Talking About Money Without Making It Weird
One of the most refreshing parts of this conversation is how normal Hunter makes it to talk about generosity and stewardship with students. He shares how he and his wife started giving $21 paychecks to the church as students—and how those rhythms have quietly shaped their whole approach to finances.
He also shares:
How his team disciples students around budgeting and giving
The importance of modeling generosity in conversation, not just principle
What happened when one anonymous student dropped off a large cash gift for local families—asking not to be seen
“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 vision for discipleship is deeply relational, refreshingly honest, and grounded in long-term fruit. That’s why he loves The Well, an 8-week discipleship course used by many H2O churches. Each week explores a different angle of following Jesus—student, servant, sent one—and they recently added a new one:
A Disciple Is at Rest.
It’s not fluff. It’s formation. Students are invited to slow down, spend time with Jesus, and realize they’re not the savior of their campus. He is.
Why College Students Are Worth It
Hunter closes with the heartbeat behind 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
A powerful book that reframes hurry as an enemy of spiritual formation. It helped Hunter build rhythms of rest into his life.
📺 The Bible Project
Hunter’s go-to resource for students who want to engage Scripture more deeply. Clear, visual, and profoundly helpful.
💻 The Well Curriculum (H2O Church Kent)
Want to see how their team disciples students in intentional, accessible ways? Download their materials here.
