NAME: Kevin Ikeda
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF:
Hello, my name is Kevin Ikeda. I turned 54 years old in June. I was born in Philadelphia and raised in King of Prussia, PA, lived 14 years in Upstate New York, and I now live in Fairfax, VA. I have a wife named Connie, and we’ve been married 13 years. Our son is 24 and our daughter is 21. God has been educating me all my life through the “University of Hard Knocks” because He knows that I learn best from doing. But a wise man once advised me that I won’t live long enough to make all the mistakes myself, so to also incorporate learning from others. 🙂 My hobbies include landscaping, gardening, reading, and I love learning and playing with the equipment side of music. The life partnership with my wife and my family play a huge part in my life. Puns are an easy way to make me laugh!
DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR ULTIMATE VACATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.
A trip with my wife where we can explore/enjoy an extraordinary part of God’s physical creation, and relax and decompress. And if our two grown children can join, that would make it ultimate!
AS A FATHER, WOULD YOU RATHER CHANGE THE DIAPER OF A CHILD OR ADDRESS A WRONG ATTITUDE OF A TEENAGER—BOTH ARE MESSY AND THEY STINK.
It wouldn’t be the easier option, but I would rather address the wrong attitude of a teenager. Changing a diaper is a simple transaction – just me giving and the baby receiving. But the latter requires dialog and interaction to address the wrong attitude of a teenager, earning a place of trust to influence his/her intrinsic motivators. Changing a diaper is a necessary single action, but developing a trust relationship with a teenager does more to advance His Kingdom.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 25-YEAR-OLD SELF?
My Dad took us to church every Sunday growing up. But I didn’t give my life to the Lord until I was 26, and I was baptized in the Holy Spirit at 40. “Hey 25-year old Kevin, let me introduce you to Jesus who sacrificed everything for you, the Father who loves you more deeply than you’ll ever know, and the Holy Spirit who empowers you…”
AN INNOVATOR IS SOMEONE WHO INTRODUCES NEW METHODS, IDEAS, STRATEGIES, AND PRODUCTS. BEING ONE YOURSELF, WHAT ARE SOME MINDSETS THAT YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT AS AN INNOVATOR?
Humility with a servant’s heart: Everything we do must benefit our customers – so protect your attitude of serving your customers. (1 Cor 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor).
Gratitude and worship: Then plug into Holy Spirit – He’s amazingly creative and innovative! (We enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.)
Courageous: Be courageous to allow any process, product, and even team be a candidate for reformation and even transformation.
BASED ON YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WHAT DOES A WELL-EQUIPPED BELIEVER LOOK LIKE IN THE MARKETPLACE?
It’s so exciting just to be a part of advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth! And that we have the privilege of doing so in the marketplace (i.e. we don’t have to be clergy to do so). Hearing His voice is the most precious experience in all of life. Heeding His voice is the most fulfilling experience in all of life. A well-equipped marketplace believer first has an intimate relationship with Jesus. Second, he/she embraces Jesus’ attitude of servanthood and sacrifice to seek first His Kingdom and righteousness. There are many distractions that can tempt us off God’s path. To stay the path through the marketplace, we must hold fast to His vision for our lives.
WHERE HAS ALL THE TIME GONE? OUR LACK OF TIME SEEMS TO BE THE GREAT EXCUSE OF OUR CULTURE. SHARE WITH US SOME KEYS ON HOW YOU BELIEVE WE CAN MASTER TIME?
Establishing solid disciplines. The Lord said to make His Word central in our marriage, so my wife and I start most days in the Word. Some days we invest 15 minutes, and some days it’s several hours, but starting our day in His Word sets the trajectory for the day. Through this regular discipline, we’ve read completely through the Bible four times.
Fasting. Technology can become a major distraction if we’re not attentive. “Fasting” or “dieting” from those habitual areas (TV, computer games, etc.) can remove major time consumers and distractions, and free up more time for prayer, people, and projects.
Setting goals. Goals focus our attention and can motivate us to be efficient with our time. Some seasons have been more productive than others as a result of setting goals.
IF YOU WERE SPEAKING TO A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
Go as deep with Jesus as you possibly can. Take great care of your customers. Live within your means (because your excess becomes influence). Commune with Holy Spirit consistently. Find, then fulfill His destiny for your life! Trust in God’s plans for you, after all, His plans are for your HIGHEST BEST!!!
NONE OF US WANT TO BE REMEMBERED IN INFAMCY OR FORGOTTEN IN OBSCURITY. EXPLAIN WHY LEGACY IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.
Legacy has less to do with me being remembered, and more to do with the next generation being equipped and positioned to fulfill their destinies. America was founded by individuals who put their very lives in peril so successive generations could worship the Lord in freedom. The greatest joy in life for me is to see someone moving toward their destiny! I totally love seeing people living Holy Spirit empowered lives of destiny!
MORALLY SPEAKING, IS IT WRONG FOR A VEGETARIAN TO EAT ANIMAL CRACKERS?
That depends on whether the animal crackers are “gluten free.” 🙂
WHAT IS ONE THING THAT YOU MISS FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD THAT JUST DOESN’T FIT INTO YOUR ADULT LIFE?
I’ve been thinking about this one for three days now. And I can’t think of a single thing that I miss from my childhood. My Mom and Dad are still married today. They raised us in a very solid and stable home. My brother and I were loved, mentored, educated, and grew up around aunts, uncles, cousins and lots a great, devoted friends. It was a wonderful childhood full of lots of wonderful memories. But I was a child back then, and I thought and behaved like a child. And now that I’m grown, I don’t think or behave like that anymore. The Lord has taught me much through the years, and as much as I loved my childhood, that’s all in the past that God used to make me who I am today.