A Power Boost that Defies Description
Rev. Lisa Tunstall, President/CEO, and Rev. Wehnona Barnett, Board member
Last September, the NBA Incubate Initiative welcomed its largest SENT Seminar cohort yet! The annual four-day training opportunity equips Disciples social entrepreneurs of faith for leadership and change as they nurture emerging health and social service ministries. This project, Broken, Mended And Restored (BMAR), in Los Angeles, California, addresses brokenness caused by family abuse, spiritual abuse, physical and emotional abuse.
Nine years ago, along with a group of 10 people, I organized Lisa Tunstall Ministries (changed to Broken, Mended And Restored, Inc. in 2015). Armed with a vision for helping domestic abuse victims, great determination, a few resources and lots of prayer, we were able to sponsor transforming events such as conferences, seminars, the Healing Path small group ministry, and community praise and worship events in public spaces (i.e. restaurants, community rooms, etc.). Throughout that time the vision expanded to addressing family, relationship, emotional, physical and spiritual abuse in the Christian community. However, in 2017 we realized that the time had come for BMAR to go to the next level of having a greater impact in the faith community. Thanks to the outreach effort of NBA Incubate Associate, Larry J. Morris III, we were made aware of NBA Incubate Initiative and SENT seminar. Through Larry’s efforts, I soon connected with Rev. Ayanna Watkins, who encouraged us to attend the SENT seminar.
I attended the 2018 SENT Seminar with BMAR Board member, Rev. Wehnona Barnett. Our experience at SENT seminar was a power boost that defies description. Every topic covered seemed customized to meet our need for strengthening our organizational infrastructure and equipping our organization to bring the vision into full fruition. The presentations on self-care for social entrepreneurs, Facebook for social enterprises, the leadership coaching, fundraising and four foundations of a nonprofit ministry were particularly helpful to us. Actually, all of the SENT seminar modules helped fill in the gaps of the informational void I felt existed prior to attending SENT. The small group coaching meeting with Geetha Sant, JD, gave us direction in what we needed to do regarding the legal aspects of our nonprofit. It was comforting to know that we would have access to the informational resources on NBA’s website, as well as limited consultations with the SENT seminar presenters for the next 12 months. The fellowship with other Disciples social entrepreneurs from around the country was rich and encouraging. Hearing their experiences and exchanging ideas and information was priceless. It helped us to feel connected with others who dare to launch out into the deep in pursuit of fulfilling a vision that can be a part of helping to heal a fragmented world.
Broken, Mended And Restored (BMAR) is a faith-based non-profit organization that addresses brokenness caused by family abuse, spiritual abuse, physical and emotional abuse. Programs are aligned with the 5-Ministry Pathways: Annual BMAR Conference (for men, women and young adults), The Healing Path (a bi-weekly small group biblically based study), Leadership seminars (for clergy and church leaders), BMAR Teen Forum (healthy relationships), AWE (Amazing Worship Experience) in different locations (community rooms, restaurant meeting rooms, etc.)
The NBA incubates new ministries, supporting social entrepreneurs of faith who are serving their communities in a variety of innovative ways and empowering these Disciples-led health and social service projects to focus on growth, impact, and sustainability. Learn more at nbacares.org/incubate
