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MEET THE STAFF!
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GIL & LINDA CARLSON -
Gil and Linda Carlson began as World
Impact missionaries in 2000, moving from their home in Asheville,
North Carolina, to St. Louis. When Gil and Linda were first
married, they talked of a future of full-time ministry after their
three children Lisa, David, and Brian were grown. That vision
remained throughout both of their careers, Gil as an electronic
engineer and Linda as a tax accountant. Having always had a heart
for urban ministry and church planting, 33 years later they pursued
that vision by visiting Linda’s niece and her husband, Robin and
Steve Boda, who were World Impact missionaries in St Louis, and by
joining World Impact St. Louis as full-time staff. The Carlsons
serve on the church plant core team for
Bridge of Hope
church, which requires a great deal of their time. Linda
also serves as the administrator at World Impact St. Louis, and Gil
does everything from managing building issues and projects to
automobile repair. Gil also has a heart for teaching and has put
his efforts into the development of
The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) at World Impact St.
Louis. Gil and Linda find the greatest reward of life as urban
missionaries is the “fast frame” change that takes place in people's
lives as they find hope in Christ and are embraced by the family of
God. To contact Gil and Linda, please
click here. |
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EARL
DUGGER- Earl arrived
at World Impact one day, and began to talk with Steve Boda and Gil
Carlson, missionaries with World Impact St. Louis. Through
their relationship, Earl came to know the Lord, and began a dynamic
walk with Christ. Earl now serves as building supervisor for
World Impact's Ministry Center in north St. Louis. Earl's
compassion and gift of service have had an incredible impact on the
surrounding community. Earl is also a key leader in World
Impact's current church plant, Bridge of Hope Community Church. |
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ANDREW & ADRIA MEDLEN -
Andrew and Adria Medlen both began to feel called to urban missions
while in college. Originally from Topeka, Kansas, Andrew attended
Manhattan Christian College, where he studied Family and Youth
Ministries. Andrew did a summer internship between his junior and
senior year of college and although he had to return to Kansas at
the end of the summer, his heart remained in the inner city of St.
Louis. Immediately following his graduation, Andrew moved back to
St. Louis and has been doing ministry with World Impact for almost
eight years. Originally from Camarillo, California, Adria attended
college at California State University Channel Islands where she
studied English. It was during college that she began to develop a
heart for inner-city issues. When introduced to World Impact in
2005, she decided to pursue a one-year internship and after she
graduated she moved to St. Louis in January of 2006. Following her
internship, Adria decided to pursue full-time ministry with World
Impact and joined missionary staff. It was through their individual
calls to serve in urban mission with World Impact that Andrew and
Adria met and in January of 2008 they were married. Both Andrew and
Adria share a desire to serve and mentor youth. Andrew coordinates
St. Louis's participation in World Impact's Leadership In Training
(LIT) program for high school youth. They both mentor junior high
and high school students, as well as assist in weekly Children's
Bible Clubs. With a background in English, Adria also assists the
ministry through writing prayer letters, newsletters, and the like.
To
visit Adria and Andrew's personal blog, please
click here. Or, to contact
Adria and Andrew, please
click here.
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JASON &
NANCY PHELPS
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Jason and Nancy Phelps met while attending Tabor College, a private
Christian college in Hillsboro, Kansas. Through various
experiences, the two began to discover a calling to inner city
ministry. Jason was first introduced to World Impact through a
summer internship with World Impact Wichita to fulfill a degree
requirement. After graduating from college, Jason with a degree in
Youth Ministry and Nancy with dual degrees in Journalism and
Organizational Communications, the couple was married in 2004, and
then worked in secular positions for some time before pursuing their
dream of inner city ministry. Since joining the St. Louis staff in
February 2006, Jason has established a regularly
meeting church service for World Impact missionaries. He has
also created a
weekly basketball outreach for the young men of the community (18
& up), and a weekly Men's Bible Study for further discipleship.
Jason is also a facilitator for the St. Louis satellite of The Urban
Ministry Institute. Nancy has been responsible for the new Communications
Ministry of World Impact St. Louis, working to create regular
updates and communication of the ministry vision and programs. She
also assists in the Men's Basketball Ministry, as well as assisting
with other youth outreach and programs. Jason and Nancy
welcomed their first child, Ella, on October 22, 2007. To visit Jason &
Nancy's personal blog, please
click here. Or, to contact
Jason and Nancy, please
click here. |
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KELLY SCHJENKEN
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Kelly Schjenken was named the Director of World Impact St. Louis in
May 2003. Before coming to World Impact he spent 28 years in
business and has volunteered with numerous non-profits and
churches. Vicky, his wife of 31 years, works as a CPA and a
Director of Tax at Charter Communications. They have raised three
children, Melody, Valerie, and Kenneth, and have three
grandchildren. Kelly grew up in a poor rural setting and
experienced his greatest mentoring from those who exhibited amazing
faith in the face of great hardship. Through this he has come to
believe that God has a special place for the poor, both the
spiritually and economically poor. His desire to reach the lost for
Christ and minister to those who are spiritually and economically
poor brought him to World Impact St. Louis. Kelly serves as
full-time volunteer Director and devotes his time to coaching the
staff in their ministries and further developing the overall vision
and ministry of World Impact St. Louis. To contact Kelly,
please
click here. |
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WILL WARD- Will grew up in the neighborhood
surrounding World Impact. Will serves as World Impact's
computer guru, overseeing all technology for World Impact St. Louis.
He has created a computer lab for staff and community usage, and
also assists in World Impact's youth programs. Will is also a
key leader in World Impact's current church plant, Bridge of Hope
Community Church. To contact Will, please
click
here. |
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JASON WATSON
- Jason Watson grew up in north St. Louis. Through a powerful
testimony of the life-changing goodness of Christ, Jason has now
returned to north St. Louis, to evangelize and disciple new
believers alongside World Impact. |
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