St. Paul Church believes that supporting the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is important for every church. St. Paul, however, is unique in our method of mission support. Once a month a mission offering is collected to support one of our designated missionaries or mission organizations. All gifts received on that Sunday (unless otherwise designated) go in their entirety to support that month’s mission. Below you will find a listing of our current missionaries and mission organizations supported by St. Paul Church.
Dana and Carolyn have served with SIM, international mission organization, for 35 years. The SIM mission statement is: “Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing God’s good news, we believe that He has called us to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known,” and for over 30 years, the Beltons lived and ministered in Zambia- which is where their 4 children spent their childhood. They served in a variety of roles during that time- including translation and publication of Christian education materials; teaching school; leading Bible study and other Christian education endeavors; providing support to local Christians and congregation; and serving in Christian leadership within the church both locally and nationally. They delayed return to the US several times to meet the needs of SIM in Zambia, but were finally able to come back to full time ministry with SIM, USA at the headquarters in North Carolina in 2019. They were asked to take on the role of People Care and Development- working with SIM missionaries who are on furlough from their normal assignments and have returned to the United States to visit with and update existing and potential sponsors regarding SIM’s work around the globe; to rest; and to renew. In many instances, the transition from the mission field back to the United States has many challenges for missionaries and their children, and Dana and Carolyn provide support and practical help in those seasons of their lives.
Matt Hoffland:
Matt and Tarah Hoffland have served on the Missionary staff of Forest Springs® Camp and Conference Center for over 25 years. Matt’s role as part of the Outreach Ministries team, has provided multiple opportunities to minister to numerous ages spanning from elementary-age to senior-citizens. Some of his primary roles have included worship leading for most of the Forest Springs® events as well serve as the writer/director of their annual Christmas Dinner Theatre outreach production. Matt’s secondary roles includes functioning as one of the on-site Audio-Visual technicians which allows him to serve the various church-groups as well as one of the class instructors forTrailHead (Forest Springs® Gap-year program).
When time allows, Tarah has been able to assist as one of the part-time Adult and Family Registrars.
Matt and Tarah are part of the Missionary staff team: a group of 30+ family units who have raised their own financial support in order to allow Forest Springs® to offer priceless, yet affordable opportunities for Christian fellowship, fun, and spiritual growth to thousands of attendees yearly.
Above all, Matt expresses that he desires to see people taste God’s glory through his ministry. “When an individual expresses something that has happened inside of them in such a way that the only answer is God…the honor I feel is that He allowed me to play a part in it.”
samaritan's purse:
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
The Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts‑filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many of these children, the gift—filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 178 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 160 countries and territories.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Samaritan’s Purse currently works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine.
Since 2009, more than 23 million children who have received a shoebox gift have participated in The Greatest Journey—a 12‑lesson discipleship program. Children learn from trained, local volunteers what it means to follow Jesus and share their faith with friends and family.
St. Paul Church has been participating in Operation Christmas Child for close to 25 years. It has been amazing to watch this ministry grow here at St Paul Church of Epleyanna! God’s love is indeed at work at this church. We have started collecting year round and the support from all of you has been wonderful. We are now packing over 600 boxes from our church! We have a wonderful group of people who work on making items throughout the year, packing boxes, and traveling to the processing center to help prepare boxes for their final destination to the children to learn of the love of Jesus Christ.
A Note from the team:
It has been amazing to watch this ministry grow here at St Paul Church of Epleyanna! God’s love is indeed at work at this church. We have started collecting year round and the support from all of you has been wonderful. Bible School and Awana had a great collection of items and money collected to be able to help send as many boxes as we are.
A huge thank you goes out to all of you for your donations, financial support, help with packing parties, shoebox wrappers, sewers, putting together kits, pencil sharpeners, packers, carton deliverers and lots of prayers. Many hands make light work and it would not be possible without all of you!
Be in prayer for the boxes as they start their journey to the kids and for our team of 15 volunteers (Mon. 13 and Tues. 9!) from the church as we travel to Chicago the first week in December to help prepare these boxes for the final stage of the journey.
One of the things we stop often to do at the processing centers is laying hands on the shoeboxes to bless the boxes and the receivers of these shoeboxes. God knows where each of these boxes is going, the needs of that child and who the intended receiver is. We ask that you continue to pray for these boxes and that the children’s hearts will be opened and they will come to know Jesus Christ.
steve and Carol ruggs:
https://www.navigators.org/staff/188193/
Steve and Carol have been on staff with the Navigators for well over two decades, and have been in Colorado Springs (Navigators Headquarters) since 1999. Steve is currently Director of the Field Support Center with The Navigators in Colorado Springs, CO. He leads a team of staff that support field ministry in the areas of personnel, finance, events, marketing, communications, and general staff assistance, helping 3100 field staff to be more fruitful in advancing the gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom. Carol leads the Develop Team for The Navigators, which provides ongoing professional development for Navigator staff. In addition, she leads the Sexual Health and Wholeness Initiative for the US Navigators to provide training and resources for the Navigator’s staff across the country. It is an increasing challenge to address issues of sexuality as these staff members minister to college students, military personnel, church members, those in poverty, and people in the marketplace, yet it is desperately needed as our culture grows more dysfunctional in this arena.
salvation army:
The Salvation Army works in the local community and beyond to serve those in need as a neighbor. In the words of the organization: “Our local commitment is directed by our ability to know and learn what the community needs most.” The Freeport Salvation Army provides for such things as emergency assistance through a food pantry; free and reduced meal programs; utility and rental assistance and spiritual counseling. The local organization is part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God, and its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
Ken Krup:
“THE AWANA GOAL IS TO REACH BOYS AND GIRLS WITH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND TRAIN THEM TO SERVE HIM”
Ken’s love for children’s ministry began when he was in high school and served as a student leader in the Awana club at his church. It was continually confirmed as a deeper call after marriage to Denise and after several years of attending a Christian Family Camp. At that time, they considered taking on full-time ministry one day when they “retired.” Little did they know the Lord would move in their lives to make that possible much sooner.
Shortly after September 11th, 2001, Ken’s company went through a staff reduction and he was reduced. After several great employment opportunities fell through, the Krups began considering whether the Lord was calling them to ministry now instead of when they retired.
After what seemed like several coincidences (God things), they were certain the Lord was directing them to the ministry of Awana. The Krups have served as missionaries to churches in the Chicago area since the Summer of 2002 and more recently to the churches in northern Illinois. The Lord called Denise home in 2020 and Ken experiences the Lord’s continual confirmation that he is doing His work
To Learn More about our AWANA Program Click here: Awana
John and cindy cannon:
JOHN AND CINDY CANNON have been on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (also known as Cru) for over 27 years. CRU’S mission is to “Win, build, and send Christ-centered multiplying disciples out into the world to win, build and send others who don’t know Jesus.” It is an international ministry, and the Cannon’s are located at the National Headquarters in Florida.
Both John and Cindy began involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) while in college as baby Christians, and in the years before they even met, God used the ministry to make a tremendous impact in their individual lives as University students.
In the years since graduation, John has worked for the ministry full time- (raising his own support) in a variety of roles that allow him to use his accounting degree and skills in financial stewardship to help CCC executive leadership raise sufficient funds for their global ministry and to achieve optimal use of available funding. Currently, John has a dual role with a broad focus where he gives leadership on data analysis that allows CRU ministry leaders to foster greater engagement with supporters. This is all for the ultimate goal of increasing ministry reach and effectiveness so that more lost people can hear and respond to the gospel. This takes the bulk of his time, but in tandem, John also enjoys coaching new believers and seekers who come to EveryStudent.com with questions about God and the next steps in their growth journey. In addition, John serves on reserve status as advertising manager for EveryStudent.com. Cindy, who also worked on staff for years, currently homeschools their two children, Charis and Caleb, and works part-time with the homeschool co-op.
John writes, “It is exciting to realize that the impact of our 30+ years of ministry is still increasing today as students led to Christ and trained in evangelism over the years continue to grow and reach others!”
Friends of hope:
This vibrant grassroots mission organization is founded on the principle of
“Hope for a future. Hope for an education. Hope for a life filled with the love of God.”
Friends of Hope is a Christian non-profit organization based in the Midwest of the United States that supports compassionate ministries to the children in nations where poverty and destitute situations abound. Friends of Hope sponsors short-term mission trips that perform relief work through medical camps and prayer.
Partnering with Friends of Hope gives action to words by reaching out to the destitute children of the world. For many of them, Friends of Hope is the only difference between life and death. Not only does Friends of Hope clothe, feed, love, and care for the children, but through shared partnerships of caring people, boys and girls receive hope in this life and the next. The opportunity to sponsor a child ($35/month) is a rewarding part of the FOH, Global ministry for individuals. Board members are all volunteers, which keeps administrative costs to a bare minimum. The mission currently provides full or partial support to homes for children in India (6); Nepal (3) and Nigeria (1) as well as partnering with other ministries to provide a feeding program for children in Malawi and help for Christian hospitals in Pakistan and Bangladesh. There are over 130 children whose full support is provided by Friends of Hope.
rockford rescue mission:
Rescue, Recover, Restore
The Rockford Rescue Mission “shares hope and help in Jesus’ Name to move people from homelessness and despair toward personal and spiritual wholeness.” Crisis programs provide food and shelter to hundreds of men, women and children each day. Meanwhile, Life Recovery Programs offer free long-term, Christ-centered help and hope for men and women struggling with addiction, domestic violence and destructive life behaviors.
The Mission’s Support Services include Hope Clinic, Works! Center and Food Service departments are also designed to serve physical, emotional, spiritual and relational needs. Programs including one-on-one case management, medical, dental, and chiropractic treatment, counseling, life skills classes, spiritual mentoring, educational assessment and support, vocational training, and so much more.
The Mission has two storefronts that provide hands-on vocational training experiences for our residents while also providing retail services to our community. Thrift Store is located at 2710 20th St. Donations are accepted there, and it is a great place to spend a dollar and change a life. Nettie’s Mercantile is located at 625 W. State St and is the Mission’s newest downtown venture. Savor a cup of coffee, and shop a wide selection of one-of-a-kind items handmade by our Life Recovery Residents. Visit the experience. Restore the rescued at Nettie’s! The best part is that 100% of all proceeds from both locations benefit the programs at Rockford Rescue Mission.
Freeport Pregnancy center:
www.freeportpregnancycenter.org
The Christ-centered ministry of Freeport Pregnancy Center exists to effectively serve at-risk pregnant women and empower each of them to choose life for her unborn child. The organization has been actively ministering in our community for over 28 years. Belief in the sanctity of every human life is foundational to the goal and hope to erase abortion in our community by educating women about all of their options when they are faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Through the Center’s process, many women’s fear is turned into confidence, and hope is restored for families in our area.
The licensed medical staff are able to provide pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, STI testing, and consults regarding pregnancy options to abortion-minded women in our community. These services are possible with donors’ support at no cost to patients. The Center also partners with organizations and churches in the community- providing referrals when needed to help families with material assistance during pregnancies and after their babies are born.
The staff also provides a spiritual assessment for each patient that includes the opportunity for receiving Christ, prayer, spiritual support, church referrals, and the Gospel of John. In addition, the staff has deep compassion and offers faith-based post-abortive healing resources for women suffering from the grief and heartache of abortion.
Jean-Louis and Havalyn Duchenne
Havalyn and Jean-Louis Duchenne are serving as missionaries in Belgium under the supervision of Foundation Bible Church in Janesville, Wisconsin- and directly reporting to the CCCC (4 C’s) Area Pastor, Larry Correll. Havalyn is a native of Wisconsin and met her husband, who is a citizen of Belgium, while doing short term mission work with Timothy Ministries. The laws in Europe concerning immigration, and particularly missionary visas, changed recently. The “Missionary Visa” which allowed Havalyn access to Belgium ten years ago no longer exists. This means that missionaries who have been in the EU for less than 5 years have been forced to go home, and incoming new missionaries can only stay for up to three months. Therefore, the work of the remaining missionaries, including the Duchennes, is even more vital.
Over their past decade on mission in Belgium, Havalyn and Jean-Louis have served in local churches through preaching, leading worship teams and choirs, youth group leadership, women’s ministry leadership, children’s ministry and individual discipleship. They continue to live out the vision given by Timothy Ministries at the beginning of their mission. This is based on 2 Timothy 2:2 – training and growing up disciples capable of leading and making disciples.
In a recent newsletter, the Duchenne’s wrote; “Sometimes even we as missionaries can feel small when we see the challenge before us: Struggling churches, millions of unsaved souls, Christians in need of spiritual food and discipleship – there is so much to do! But by faith, we continue, trusting that our contribution to His great plan, like the mustard seed, will take root and grow into a giant tree bearing much fruit. “We have witnessed with joy the fruit of our labors, seeing youth saved and growing in their faith, seeing broken people encouraged and built up, seeing teams unified where there was dispute, and worship where there was silence. This is the work of the Spirit through us and we give glory to God for using us – simple clay jars – for His service. Our greatest encouragement: To see our brothers and sisters in Christ nourished by biblical teaching, refreshed by wholesome worship and energized to reach a lost nation for Christ.”
Havalyn and Jean-Louis can be contacted at HavalynN8@gmail.com