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about us
Discover our team, core values, principles and purposes
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Don
Hess
New Testament Fellowship
E. Daniel
Martin
New Testament Fellowship
Pedro
Vazquez
Harvest Fellowship
Lawrence
F. Chiles
Koinonia Fellowship
Josh
Miller
Harvest Fellowship
core
values
Spiritual Home
Relationships
Prayer & Intercession
Church Planting
Leadership
Empowerment
Principles
Kingdom Life Network of Christian Ministries holds to these principle precepts:
1. Radical Discipleship Today
We endeavor faithfully and radically to follow Jesus in the present day, seeking to fulfill the Great Commission and to provide an authentic, biblical, credible witness to all those to whom He leads us.
2. The Authority of Scripture
We hold to the highest view of, and respect for, the Holy Scriptures. We believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God and that it leads to obedience to Jesus. We hold that its interpretation and application must be consistent with the words, Spirit and intent of Christ.
3. Christ Alone for Salvation
We affirm the full deity and the full humanity of Jesus Christ. We believe that God sent His Only Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross for our sins so that we would not have to be eternally separated from Him. We reject the teaching that there is salvation outside of Christ. We declare the message of the Gospel plainly and openly, by word and by deed, believing that every person must confess Jesus as Lord in order to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life. We endeavor, as we receive the keys to the Kingdom of God, to give Him full and complete access to every "room" in each of our spiritual "houses," not just one room for a brief visit from time to time.
4. God’s Design for Family and Sexuality
We understand the family to be the keystone in God's plan for spiritual growth and emotional stability. We affirm the biblical ideal of monogamous, heterosexual marriage - one man for one woman - until death does the parting. We reject any notion of "same-sex marriage." We understand the Bible as teaching that premarital, extramarital, and homosexual activity, as well as lusting of any kind, is sin and is not the will of God for the believer. We also believe that God deals graciously with the truly repentant heart.
5. Bless the Church
We strongly encourage women, as well as men, to use the gifts God has given to them to edify the Body and bless the Church.
6. A Call to Love and Nonviolence
We affirm the importance of love in all human relationships. We believe that this calls for the rejection of all forms of violence - including abortion and child and spousal abuse. We strongly discourage participation in armed conflict, and we oppose any kind of personal retaliation between individuals.
7. A Passionate Pursuit of Jesus
We advocate passionate spirituality, encouraging all to fall more in love with Jesus and less with the world with each coming day.
8. Ministry Gifts
We affirm the Ministry Gifts God gives for the building up of the Kingdom of God, and we believe that these Gifts are operative until the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
9. Local and Global Evangelization
We support local as well as world evangelization - both through our going as well as our giving.
10. Baptism: Covenant and Commitment
We believe that the baptism of believers with water is a pledge of their covenant with God. It identifies them with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is a sign of their cleansing and freedom from sin, and their commitment to follow Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
11. Communion: Renewing the Covenant
We believe that through the Lord's Supper, the Church renews its covenant with God and with each other, and participates in the life and death of Jesus Christ until He comes.
12. Christ’s Return
We place our hope in the reign of God and its fulfillment in the day when Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; the unsaved to be sent into everlasting punishment of hell fire and the saved into eternal bliss with Christ. We await God's final victory, the end of this present age of struggle, the resurrection of the dead, and a new heaven and a new earth.
Purposes
KLNCM is a covenantal fellowship of leaders of Christian church networks.
KLNCM is presence-based: We actively wait on the Living Christ, listening for His voice so His will can be done. While good works, sound doctrine, and wise judgment matter, they are secondary to the Word of the Risen Lord—discerned in prayer by the faith community, gathered around the open Bible and attentive to the Holy Spirit.
Core Characteristics
KLNCM is marked by:
- Commitment to prayer and the ministry of the Word
- Recognition of the voice of the Holy Spirit
- Bold proclamation of the Gospel
- Embracing both the Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit
- Loving Jesus as the Father does
- Engaging in spiritual warfare
- A repentant heart before God and one another
- Praise and worship
- Celebrating God's mighty works
- Self-sacrificing love
- A passion for global church planting: every neighborhood a faith community
Unity in the Body
Advancing the Vision
KLNCM promotes its vision through:
- Building a communication network for support, encouragement and consultation
- Sponsor conferences and seminars
- Developing websites
- Forming ministry teams to equip churches
- Encouraging church planting and global missions
- Publishing a periodical
- Developing healing ministries
- Pursuing the creation of a Christian university focused on Spirit-empowered ministry, leadership, and church planting
History
How did Kingdom Life Network Get Started?
Recollections by E. Daniel Martin
June 2, 2023
I resigned from Lancaster Mennonite Conference in 2005 after 17 years as a bishop and 25 years as a pastor. Ruth and I started a new church called New Name Christian Fellowship. I halfway changed my name to “E. Daniel.” (I did not change my name in medical circles but only in church circles. Isa 44:5: Some called themselves, “Jacob and some Israel”)
It was a disorienting time for me. Was I still a Mennonite after leaving the Mennonite church and starting another church? I found significant support and orientation in my relationship with Bishop Steve Haupert and Pastor Lindsey Robinson.
Steve and Lindsey had left the conference at the same time that I did. Neither Lindsey nor Steve had grown up in the Mennonite Church, as I had, but both were convinced Mennonite Anabaptists. Steve and Lindsey had started meeting together to start New Testament Fellowship of Mennonite/Anabaptist Churches. After prayer and agreement they invited me to join them.
New Testament Fellowship of Mennonite Anabaptist Churches (NTF) was incorporated as a 501(c) (3) organization, and Brother Lindsey spent countless hours developing the bylaws and constitution. Initially, there were only two churches, New Name Christian Fellowship and Cedar Hill Mennonite Church, which had remained with me when I left the conference. Cedar Hill was led by Pastor Wayne Lawton. There was a hope that other churches would join us; however, this did not materialize in the early years.
Prior to this in the early 2000s, as I saw bishops starting to consider leaving LMC, I began to dream of having a global Anabaptist fellowship. I discussed this with Richard Showalter and we drew up some tentative guidelines. However, this never materialized. Richard went on to put his energies into International Mission Associates (IMA) and I went on to focus on New Testament Fellowship with Steve Haupert, and Lindsey Robinson.
As we drew up the guidelines for NTF, I discussed with Lindsey and Steve the possibility of joining with Koinonia or Harvest networks who had also left LMC. Lindsey pointed out that he wanted New Testament Fellowship to maintain its identity as a Mennonite/ Anabaptist fellowship of churches and he wasn’t certain that they were committed to maintain that identity. So the issue was tabled.
Brother Lindsey died on February 4, 2008 after several years’ battle with brain cancer.
The funeral memorial service for Lindsey was held on February 9, 2008. I do believe that LMC had a memorial service for him at a later date. As I recall, Lawrence Chiles spoke at that Memorial Service as did I.
It was in partnering with Lawrence in the memorial service that the thought again occurred to me, “What would hinder us as New Testament Fellowship from associating with the other networks, such as Koinonia and Harvest.” I was a bit uncertain as to whether I should approach Lawrence because I felt that New Testament Fellowship was so small it could hardly be called a network and they might feel that we were not in the same league. However I learned that Lawrence‘s wife Nereida had made the comment that she could see E. Daniel and Lawrence working together in a ministerial association. This was a confirmation which encouraged me to proceed with explorations of possible association.
As I recall, Bishop Steve and I discussed the issues and we decided to be in touch with Lawrence Chiles, Henry Buckwalter, Leon Schnupp, and Leonard Burkholder. I was extremely gratified by their very positive response to my initial inquiry.
And thus began the deliberations that led to the incorporation of Kingdom Life Network in 2009.
As we developed our network we brought in other networks with whom we had relationships: PC Alexander from PTL-India, Joseph Kamau, from Happy Church Ministries and Lou Goszleth from Destiny Ministries and later the Cambodian Network of Christian churches.
Kingdom Life Network (KLN) provided a safe place for healing from the wounds of the transition and for reorientation and spiritual growth and development in a place surrounded by brothers of like Christian faith. KLN provided a place where we could begin to laugh again and dream again and plan for the legacy that we would leave behind us.
KLN saved and shaped my spiritual life. Praise be to God!
Reflections by Enos Daniel Martin (aka. “E. Daniel”, “Pastor E.”
Our networks
Discover our affiliated networks
Remembering Leonard Burkholder
Reflections on the Life of Leonard Burkholder
When we reflect on the life of Leonard Burkholder, we see the portrait of a man who was both steady and remarkable—not because he sought recognition, but because he lived with quiet faithfulness to God and to others.
A Man of God and Steady Purpose
Leonard served as a bishop, and his life was shaped by devotion to the Lord. He set goals with perseverance, like the way he walked the Appalachian Trail in stages until he completed it. He was not flamboyant; he did not call attention to himself or to his accomplishments. He simply did what was before him with faithfulness and discipline.
A Man Anchored in Family and Relationships
He was blessed with a faithful, loving wife and children who honored him. Coming from a conservative Mennonite background, Leonard was deeply connected to family and community. He was well-grounded in relationships and was both loved and appreciated by those around him.
Though his family had wealth, Leonard never flaunted it. He lived simply. Yes, he enjoyed a few interests—such as antique cars and occasional investments—but his life was not about money. His true focus was people.
A Shepherd Who Invested in Others
As a minister, Leonard poured himself into people, especially those who were vulnerable or in need of encouragement. He had a particular heart for immigrants who arrived in this country without connections or support. Leonard became that connection. He gave them encouragement, friendship, and a place to belong.
He invested in churches, often small or struggling ones. He would come alongside pastors, share wisdom, encourage them, and speak in their congregations. He laid down his life for the kingdom, expecting nothing in return. His reward was never earthly recognition—it was the joy of seeing others strengthened in faith.
A Legacy That Lives On
One immigrant friend, who is now preparing to return to his home country, still grieves Leonard’s passing. Years later, he says, “I don’t understand why God took him. He was so important to me, and to so many others. He was doing so much good for the kingdom.”
And yet, as we reflect, we can see God’s hand. Leonard’s work was not in vain. The people he invested in are thriving. The churches he strengthened continue to grow. The seeds he planted are bearing fruit. It is as though God said to him, “You have done what I asked you to do. You have invested well. Now I want you home with Me. What you have sown will continue to multiply, and I want you to begin enjoying your eternal reward.”
The Scriptural Seal
Leonard’s life echoes the words of Jesus:
- “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” (Luke 6:35)
- “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3–4)
Leonard lived these truths. He loved, he gave, he encouraged, and he expected nothing in return. He did not seek recognition, but his Father in heaven saw—and welcomed him home with eternal reward.
Conclusion
Leonard Burkholder’s life reminds us that greatness is not measured in wealth, fame, or self-promotion. It is measured in love, faithfulness, and the quiet investment of one’s life in the kingdom of God. Leonard lived that way. He loved people. He strengthened the church. He reflected the kindness of his Savior. And though he is deeply missed, his legacy continues—in lives changed, in churches encouraged, and in the eternal joy laid up for him in heaven.
Enos Daniel Martin