Billy Graham Evangelical Association Chief of Staff Ken Barun has some advice for Israel: Share the positive stories with the world. Barun and his wife, Sethea, are visiting Israel as guests of Jonathan Feldstein, director of Heart to Heart and the Israeli representative of American Friends of Magen David Adom.
“I had the privilege of meeting and getting to know Ken Barun some months ago. It was truly a God moment when we sat together in his office, he sharing how much he wanted to visit israel and bring his wife,” said Feldstein. “So, I invited him to visit, to see the national blood services, to donate blood in Jerusalem, and to connect with a wide range of Israeli leaders and, several weeks later he was here. The trip deepened their connection to Heart to Heart, and Israel in general, and added a great deal to the strong heart for Israel that has always been part of Billy Graham’s ministry, and is part of who Franklin Graham is as well. “
The Baruns hail from Charlotte, North Carolina. Before coming on board with the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA), Ken Barun served as both senior vice president and president of Ronald McDonald House Charities worldwide and as Director of Projects and Policy for First Lady Nancy Reagan.
This is not Barun’s first visit to Israel. “Franklin Graham and I came on a trip between Budapest and Riga. I was overwhelmed by this country, and the spiritual content and context of Jerusalem was amazing to me. I expected that, and it by far over delivered.” Barun said he always wanted to return to Israel, but that the timing was never right until now.
He explains his love for Israel from an Evangelical perspective. According to Barun, the Bible teaches love for all God’s people. He explains that the Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their homeland. He calls Israel “the center of all history and the roots of my existence.”
Barun is looking to expand the relationship between BGEA and Israel, but it is also an educational trip for him. He would like to learn as much about the country as he can. As for publicizing Israel’s successes, Barun draws on his own experience in public relations. “ If there’s a negative story, you don’t repeat it and go over it…You don’t talk about it. You just give a statement, put it to bed and move on to the next thing.”
Barun encourages Israel to focus on its contributions in science and technology: “The things that Israel is doing – medical technology, electric technology, weaponry – everything that is far advanced comes from Israel…Many great breakthroughs in history have come from Jews.”
He acknowledges that politics often cloud people’s judgment of Israel, but believes that much could change if people knew the positive things that were happening here. He credits Israel with loving its neighbors: “I am so impressed at what I have seen in the past few days in the way Israel continues to help their Arab neighbors. Along its borders and in Gaza, Israelis are performing life-saving acts every day to help a child get needed medical care, supply food and other supplies to those who drop rockets on their towns. And when I asked why, I was told, ‘That’s what God tells us we should do.’
