LIFE CHURCH 2025 PROJECT GUIDE
Greater is an initiative of fully committed individuals and families who prayerfully commit to give, over and above their tithes, to an on-going campaign. The purpose is to provide resources to fulfill the vision God has put on the hearts of the leadership of Life Church, which is all about “life change.” The vision manifests itself in three ways: Greater Mission, Greater Generation and Greater Expansion.
The Bible says, “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). In living out that command from Jesus, we have a choice to either spend our lives on ourselves or spend our lives for Jesus and others. Life Church is committed to the latter, and we invite you to join us on this journey.
Greater is made up of families that prayerfully commit to give, over and above their tithes, to global missions, the next generation, and local church expansion. We chose these three areas because they reflect the heart of Jesus, while positioning us to make a sustainable impact.
We give so all may hear of His love and lives will be changed.
Jesus commands us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, making disciples of all nations. Life Church does this through financially supporting missionaries and missions organizations, and sending teams on shortterm mission trips. We currently support 43 individual missionaries and more than 19 missions organizations. These partners focus on providing humanitarian aid, church planting, vehicles, resources, and pastoral development. Everyone, in every nation, deserves a chance to hear the Gospel.
We are committed to raising up the next generation. Paul wrote in the New Testament to Timothy, a young leader, encouraging him to set the example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Greater raises up our future generation to foster a love for the Bible, God, and the lost, while inspiring them to change the world. Our Greater partnerships work with organizations that care for the physical and spiritual needs of our future leaders from birth through those beginning their career. We want the next generation to be inspired to serve, give, and love more.
“The local church is the light of the world,” Jesus tells us in the gospel of Matthew. Greater is committed to funding the growth of the church locally through expanding our own campuses, planting life-giving churches in our communities, and ministering to the hurting in our own backyards. We do not do this for comfort, extravagant buildings, or praise, but to help more lost people to personally know a loving, Heavenly Father.
“This is a once-in-a-thousand-year flood. It’s a catastrophe unlike any we’ve seen before.” That’s how the recent flooding in North Carolina, caused by Hurricane Helene, has been described. No one anticipated a mountain town would be submerged, but Convoy of Hope was ready to respond.
For many years, Life Church has supported Convoy of Hope’s mission. But this October, a small group of Life Church members had the opportunity to witness firsthand the incredible work Convoy of Hope has been doing in response to the natural disasters that have impacted communities across the nation this fall. Back in the spring of 2023, Convoy of Hope trained several members of Life Church to become Lead Volunteers— individuals equipped to serve in the aftermath of natural disasters. It was this team of trained volunteers who traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, and neighboring cities devastated by the catastrophic flooding.
Partnering with Convoy of Hope, the Life Church team focused their efforts on restoring a 100-year-old church that had been entirely submerged in floodwaters. Some areas had more than 8 feet of water, leaving the church and its congregation facing an overwhelming loss. Two families from the church had lost their homes entirely to the swift currents, but the entire congregation feared they had also lost their place of worship. Since the church had never anticipated such a disaster, like many others in the area, it lacked flood insurance and wasn’t eligible for grant assistance as a house of worship. Despair had set in until Convoy of Hope stepped in with an offer to help.
The pastor of the church shared his heart with our team: “When I first saw the church after the floods, I thought we’d have to close our doors for good. But
now, for the first time, I’m starting to believe that this can be a place of worship again.”
As our team worked to restore the church, members of the congregation began to stop by, bringing whatever they could—sometimes arriving with their cars packed full—to help and to share their stories.
One family, who had lost everything in the flood, spoke to our team with tears in their eyes. “No one could have prepared for what we went through,” they said. “The river was carrying everything—semitrucks, homes, cars, and even people. I’ve never felt so helpless, hearing people cry out for help as the water swept them away, and knowing there was nothing I could do.” Despite their trauma and loss, this family walked onto the church property with hope and tears of joy, believing that their beloved church would open its doors once again.
And they weren’t alone. Congregations from Wisconsin, Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, and other states sent volunteers, joining together to restore not only the church building but also the community’s spirit. They weren’t just hoping for a miracle—they were actively working alongside the people of Asheville, believing that this church would rise from the floodwaters once more.
By the time the team finished the restoration work, the pastor, inspired by Convoy of Hope’s mission, was committed to supporting the organization, even with the little resources his church had. He had witnessed firsthand the transformative impact Convoy of Hope was making in the lives of so many.
Your generous giving to Greater this year helped make this and so many other efforts possible. Thanks to your support, Convoy of Hope was able to provide relief not just in North Carolina, but around the world—from agricultural projects in Tanzania to building initiatives in rural Honduras, and the restoration of this historic church in North Carolina. Your contributions are making a lasting difference, and the lives touched by this work will continue to feel the impact for many years to come.
2025 PROJECT LIST - $900,000
Global Missionary Support – $150,000
Missionaries are going into all the world and preaching the gospel. Romans 15:13 says “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
Here is a list of the missionaries we support:
Rob & Jasmine Akin – Middle East
Wes & Crystal Brinson – Middle East
Dick & Jennifer Brogden – Middle East
David & Karmi Buckley – Hungary
Steve & Rachel Campbell – Sensitive
Troy & Heidi Darin – Moldova
Britt Dyer – South Africa
Elena Espinoza – AGWM
Carol Feigleson – Thailand
Jeff & Wendy Garrett – Tanzania
Joe & Laurie Gordon – Middle East
Justin & Kristen Gordon – India
John & Shirley Gowdy – Thailand
Larry & Melinda Henderson – Europe
Robby & Sarah Hereth – Middle East
Josh & Kimberly Hoogendoorn – Middle East
Rolly & Heather Hurst – Fire Bible
Daniel & Therese Irizarry – Cuba
Matt & Lucy Johnson – Djibouti
Al & Steph Kinnunen – Central Asia
John & Kristen Koeshall – Germany
Tim & Angie Lang – Middle East
Tony & Zorina Lopac – Intercultural Services of Milwaukee
Samuel & Stephanie Maddux – Thailand
Wendell & Patti McClung – Slovakia
Mark & Heather McKinstry – Spain
Kevin & Noel Miller – France
Makenzie Muehler – France
Jeff & Brittnia Papendorf – Sensitive
Zachary & Amanda Ray – India
Garrett & Kailey Sahkel – Middle East
Don & Terri Triplett – El Salvador
Nathan & Lisa Turney – New Zealand
Dan & Rachel Wenig – India
Josh & Karri Woolley – Ecuador
Grant & Molly Wyatt – Vietnam
Every year we send dozens of Life Church attenders to different parts of the world. These short-term trips typically have a project associated with them, and Greater helps fund those projects.
$200,000
Feeding children in need, providing disaster relief, training women to start businesses, and helping farmers in developing nations.
Providing the essential transportation and creative communication equipment like boats, cars, and even yaks, for missionary evangelism.
Luke & Emma Bryant are committed to reaching Liverpool through church planting. Life Church wants to come behind their church financially to maximize their impact.
Each year Life Church funds the translation of a comprehensive study Bible into the heart language of a community to help pastors and leaders preach, teach, and reach others.
Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge is the organziation Life Kids raises missions funds for each year. They provide supplies for missionaries to reach the lost all over the world.
The Hills Church
Andy & Victoria Gamble launched The Hills Church in Northern Ireland to impact the city of Londonderry. Life Church is committed to helping see this vision accelerated.
In each of the areas where Project Rescue serve, leaders and staff work 24/7 with survivors of sexual slavery and trafficking to support them on their journey toward restoration.
Over the past 5 years, Life Center Milwaukee has experienced tremendous growth and impact in the heart of our city. Started as a subsidiary of Life Church, Life Center has two major initiatives: distributing food all over the city and creating a safe environment for students to further their education and social skills after school each day.
(pictured left)
Stephen is a passionate advocate for kids in our After-School and Summer-Nurture educational programs, bringing a wealth of experience from education, athletic coaching, the arts, and community involvement. As a certified wellness practitioner, he’s dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of young people. He also plays an active role on the Events and Education Committee for the Milwaukee Community Advisory Committee and serves as the Program Director with Nearby Nature MKE.
Reflecting on his work with kids at Life Center, Stephen shares, “Growing up in Milwaukee, I understand that many of the kids we serve will call this city home for their entire lives. The staff and volunteers at Life Center have a unique opportunity to connect with these kids. The people who are there for them can truly shape their futures. The earlier we introduce them to positive role models, the better chance they have to grow into healthy adults.”
He sums up his commitment with heartfelt conviction: “I’ve dedicated many years to serving kids in Milwaukee, and I’ve seen firsthand how impactful it can be. I constantly meet young adults who were influenced by caring individuals early on. That’s why I believe so strongly in what we do.”
JASON HERNKE (pictured right)
Jason is a Senior Project Manager at a construction company, but his journey took a meaningful turn when he joined Life Church. After the Milwaukee Campus was entrusted to Life Church, Jason found himself leading major renovations aimed at revitalizing the Sherman Park Neighborhood. Little did he know, as he guided the team on building projects, God was busy working on his heart.
As he became more involved with Life Church, Jason discovered a profound joy in his relationship with Jesus. He started attending a Men’s Group and eventually stepped up to lead one at the Milwaukee Campus. Recently, he felt a tug toward the Food Bank ministry and volunteered one Saturday, alongside five friends. Now, he’s become a regular volunteer—and he has a great story to share.
“I never thought I’d have the time to serve at the food pantry, but opportunities opened up, and here I am! God has blessed my wife and me with more than enough, allowing us to contribute to His work in multiple ways. We are very grateful for the opportunities to give back!”
2025 PROJECT LIST - $550,000
$250,000
We want to invest into the city of Milwaukee through Life Center. These resources will be used for the operations of Life Center, which includes an after-school program, food pantry, and neighborhood outreaches. While we want to reach the whole family, we place specific emphasis on impacting the next generation.
Dedicated to Christian leadership development through the building of Bible training centers around the world.
A ministry training college in Springfield, MO with a heart to raise up the next generation of Christian leaders.
Sending kids and youth to a Bible camp in Waupaca, WI to experience God each year through camp scholarships and financially supporting the campgrounds.
Mobilizing students to reach other students through campus events and Bible studies.
A movement of young adults earnestly following Jesus on their college campuses.
Cuba Bible College
Training ministry students in Cuba to plant house churches throughout the country.
Helping teens and adults overcome substance abuse.
Life Leadership College
A four-year accredited degree program offered through Life Church for ministers-in-training. Greater helps offset the costs of the program to make it affordable for students.
In the Middle East, only about 5% of people know Jesus. For many of us, it’s difficult to imagine what life would be like in a country where there are no churches in the neighborhood, where conversations about Jesus are forbidden, and where you might be the only Christian you know. Unfortunately, this is the daily reality for many Christians who face persecution simply for their faith. Your support for Greater helps to fund missionaries who are living in these challenging regions, courageously sharing the light of Christ in the midst of darkness.
A group of students from Life Leadership College (LLC) recently had the opportunity to visit Oman, a country where the majority of the population has never heard the gospel. Among them was Jedidiah, a junior at LLC, who was deeply impacted by the experience. Before the trip, Jedidiah never imagined he would consider living or working in the Arab world, let alone becoming a missionary. But his time in Oman changed his perspective entirely.
The LLC team traveled to various communities, meeting with locals, and witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by missionaries in a place where Christianity is virtually unknown. In some areas, missionaries shared that there were no believers at all, and no one had come to share the message of hope with the people there. For Jed, this reality sparked a powerful question: “Who am I to say I’m not the one to go? If I truly want to follow the Lord’s will, why wouldn’t I say yes to this opportunity?”
One story that particularly moved the team was that of a young woman who secretly followed Jesus in a society where being a Christian could lead to serious consequences. When her husband discovered a Bible she was hiding, he physically abused her and reported her to the authorities. In Oman, being caught
practicing Christianity can result in imprisonment—or even death. Despite the fear and hardship she faced, this brave woman continued to love her husband, demonstrating the grace and forgiveness of Christ. She also worked closely with the missionaries to deepen her understanding of Scripture and receive discipleship. Over time, her husband’s heart was transformed, and he gave his life to Christ. Together, they now help lead secret house churches for local believers.
Jedidiah reflected on her courage: “I’ve always tried to encourage myself to stand strong in my faith. But her story showed me what true strength looks like in the face of persecution.”
Seeing the unwavering faith of believers like this woman and the dedication of the missionaries in Oman made it clear to Jed that God was calling him to one day serve in the Arab world as a missionary. “We’re all missionaries, called to fulfill the Great Commission,” he said. “We each have our own mission field, but experiencing what the Great Commission looks like outside of our community was life-changing for me. It gave me the opportunity to truly hear from the Lord.”
Your continued generosity to Greater not only supports Life Leadership College and the next generation of ministry leaders, but also enables missionaries like those in Oman to share the light of Christ in some of the darkest corners of the world. Thank you for making it possible for people like Jedidiah to respond to God’s call and bring hope to places where it’s needed most.
2025 PROJECT LIST - $300,000
Each year, Life Church partners with new church plants around the country to help them launch successfully and reach more people for Jesus.
Equipping churches across the US to better reach their communities.
Wisconsin Northern Michigan District of the Assemblies of God
Our district gives resources to churches and pastors in times of need. Life Church supports this cause so the funds are available to help these churches.
A small portion of Greater is set aside each year to expand campuses in the future. We want to be well positioned to expand our footprint locally when opportunities arise.
Learn more about the projects we are giving to by visiting us online at lifechurchwi.com/greater. Follow @lifechurchwi on social media for updates on Greater.
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Each dot represents a missionary supported through Greater giving.
Around the corner. Around the world.
