Children’s name(s) and age(s): Jentezen Henry Konemann, 2, and a baby due in July.
What is your biggest joy in being a dad? Getting to be around and grow with a unique and completely new person. Enjoying and celebrating their personality, gifts and abilities that nobody has ever had before.
Biggest struggle? Your perception of how you are doing. Things might be going great at work but feeling like they are failing at home. Doing great at home and but feel like failing at your career. Reminding yourself to keep your head up. Taking time to celebrate wins and move on from losses. At the end of the day knowing no event, situation, or problem defines you.
What has been your proudest moment as a father? Seeing my son feel comfortable being himself. There is so much good in him, and it’s rewarding to see it come out in his own way. At a very young age, he randomly started pointing at things and got excited when I would tell him what it was. It might seem silly but before he could even talk or interact, he would do what he could and point and smile. I loved that.
Looking back, what advice would you give to yourself as a new dad? Keep your hopes up. Keep believing for the best. Keep moving forward. Don't let people or fear keep you from fulfilling your dreams. Embrace failure and you will experience the best things. Know that God is for you and wants to help you fulfill your dreams.
Describe your perfect day with your family. Apart from binge watching a whole season of a favorite show, a day spent with friends at an outdoor park, followed by dinner at a local favorite. Finished off with taking Jentezen to the Scottsdale Airpark or Tempe Town Lake and watching planes fly in.
How do you like to celebrate Father’s Day? Now as the pastor of Church Alive, Father's Day is going to look different for me then it has in the past. It starts with celebrating the dads at our experiences, which is what I love to do. Celebrating people. From there a great lunch at a Valley hotspot and then on to the train park. There are so many great things to do around the valley that it’s hard to stay consistent.
Local favorites…
Family-friendly restaurant: Casa Añejo
Spot to be outdoors: McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
Little-known gem for families: Church Alive
Educational spot: The Civic Center Mall, especially The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
