Max Kennel

Steinmann Mennonite Church, Steinmann, Ont.

I was born in Kitchener, Ontario (Canada), on August 7, 1991, to two loving parents who raised me in the Mennonite community (Steinmann Mennonite). Because of our location I attended a very small country school from grades one to eight which provided me with a unique perspective as I graduated from a class of 16. After this I began attending Waterloo Oxford District secondary school where I was introduced to a larger social and academic experience. Things I enjoy doing include reading, playing music and writing on all manner of topics. Playing music in a band has also been a source of great joy in my life for many years. This began with playing in a praise band at a United church in my hometown of Ayr after which I began a praise band in my own congregation. After broadening my taste in music I began playing guitar for a Jazz band in high school. Recently I’ve been writing music of many genres with some friends and neighbors in preparation for a future performance. One constant is that I have inhabited the same home for my entire life. Living in the country with my parents, brother and dog has shaped my perception in many ways. It fostered a certain respect for nature and an enjoyment of the peace that nature can elicit. I am also interested in the future of the church and the direction that spirituality will take in the coming years. This has brought me to the !Explore program to search out whether pastoral leadership is the career I should pursue in the coming years. I am very interested in the philosophies of Robert Pirsig, Peter Rollins, Eckhart Tolle and Brother Lawrence. Study and introspection are pivotal parts of my (hopefully) growing faith.