In Loving Memory of Kurt Tunnell

SPECIAL TRIBUTE MTF BOARD MEMBER

In Loving Memory Kurt Tunnell

October 1, 1960 – August 31, 2019

It is with great sadness that we must report that one of our beloved board members, Kurt Tunnell, was tragically killed in a bicycle accident on August 31,  2019. I am sure many of you are aware of this news. Multiple news articles, blogs and press releases have been written regarding Kurt’s many achievements. A quick Google search will provide tons of information regarding this great man’s life and many accomplishments. If you are not familiar with Kurt, I would strongly encourage you to do a google search. He was a key influencer in the Ohio government, and his influence even reached Washington D.C. His memorial service was attended by the sitting and past governors, a U.S. Senator and house representatives from both political parties and so on. Please read for yourself, and you will be amazed.

In light of all his accomplishments and associations, we want to highlight three of his greatest loves: his God, his family and Malawi Talent Fund. We couldn’t do justice to highlight the great love he had for his family. His family comprised his most important earthy relationships. His enduring and unending love for his wife Julie, his two daughters Kristine and Jessica, and his son Jordon were well understood and observable from all who knew Kurt. He had the truly rare ability to maintain high-profile, high pressure positions while always making his family a priority. Upon Kurt’s passing, it was our honor and privilege to invite Julie to take Kurt’s place on the Malawi Talent Fund (MTF) board of directors.

When Kurt began contemplating the second half of his life and how he could give back, he fell in love with MTF and the mission God called us to in Malawi, Africa. He quickly became a major supporter, advisor and personal friend. He joined our board of directors early on and influenced our direction and accomplishments. He visited Malawi twice and planned regular visits. He loved the farm and loved what God was doing through this ministry. The ministry was such a high priority in Kurt’s life, that his wife Julie asked me to provide a eulogy at his memorial service. She wanted me to highlight his great love for creating a sustainable farm in Malawi thru MTF and wanted me to encourage others to participate as well. Kurt knew that merely giving money to the villages would never solve the poverty and hunger problem, but rather envisioned the farm as a way to teach Malawians how to make a living for themselves.

It is our intention in the coming months to dedicate our demonstration training field to Kurt. When plans become solidified, I will get a note out to our investors. We would love to have you attend…. yes, it will be in Malawi. Kurt loved to visit the farm early in the morning at sunrise. He would stand at the edge of our 35-acre farm and tears would flow down his face. He loved seeing the poorest of the poor earning a living. He loved the people of Malawi so much. As Kurt and I grew closer, he and I would plan and dream about the future on weekly phone calls. I will miss him dearly. Today, we can be comforted with the fact that Kurt is in the arms of his savior Jesus Christ. 

Many years ago, Kurt made the most important decision of his life. He came to an important realization. I want to let you know what he realized and what decision he made. That single decision, at a specific and exact point in time is the sole reason why he is in heaven today. Many that knew Kurt might agree that Kurt is in heaven, but they may have the wrong reason. As you read this, Kurt is screaming out from heaven endorsing what I am about to say. His presence with the Lord is proof. You see, to get this wrong, to have a wrong understanding of why Kurt is in heaven would be a tragic mistake. 

We could all reach a consensus that Kurt was a good, no not simply good, Kurt was a great man. He was kind, humble, charitable, loving and a moral family man. I would venture to say that most would even put him in the top ten people they know that lived a good moral righteous life…. right? I would say yes to that as well. Sure, he was not perfect, but my goodness, if anyone deserved heaven, it would be Kurt. 

There is only one problem with that reasoning, it is dead wrong. As good a man as Kurt was, he was NOT good enough to enter heaven. That’s right. And if he were here today, he would agree.  You see, the fact is, there has never been a person that walked on this earth that was good enough to make it to heaven, no not one! That includes you and me. Yet, just as I say to you today with 100 percent confidence Kurt is in heaven, I can tell you today with 100 percent confidence that I will be joining him in heaven someday, guaranteed. 

Many of you might be thinking that this is the most arrogant thing you ever heard me say “I guarantee you I will be in heaven with Kurt.”  That is like a sports figure guaranteeing the fans their team will be world champs in advance. We hate it when someone makes those arrogant kinds of guarantee because they cannot 100 percent for sure make it happen. Yet, I guarantee you, I will be in heaven with Kurt someday, guaranteed. And I can back it up. 

The reason I know Kurt is in heaven and the reason I can guarantee you and I are going to heaven has nothing at all to do with our good works but only because of what Christ did on the cross. And you can do the same. So how do we do this?  The Bible tells us what to do in Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” As you read this today, Kurt understood this and I guarantee you he wants you to know the same truth and trust Christ as your savior. 

To find out how you can be a part of the Malawi Talent Fund or support the mission, visit our donation page.