Missions
Grace Church is a mission-focused congregation. We support overseas missionaries with the Evangelical Free Church Mission, ReachGlobal, and two other missions organizations. Our overseas missionaries currently serve in Japan, the Philippines, and with candidates to serve internationally. Additionally, we support a strategic effort in Russia to prepare and distribute a variety of seminary-level DVD courses to train pastors and laymen. We also support several local outreach organizations.
Local Outreaches
Camp Victory
Camp Victory is a ministry accomplished through an evangelical Christian camping and retreat facility that serves the surrounding SE Minnesota community and the Upper Midwest. The ministries and programs provide an environment for evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development through life-changing encounters with creation, truth, and the development of caring relationships.
Camp Victory runs summer camp programs that focus on sharing the Gospel and how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. We run day camps and overnight camps throughout the summer where kids can grow in their faith, have fun, and make friends. During the year groups use our facilities to run their own retreats and we are starting up an outdoor education program where school and business groups can come out to camp and experience God’s creation.
Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch
Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch is a Christian Camp located in southern Minnesota serving over 24,000 people per year. Our purpose is to provide an atmosphere and opportunity for adults and children to get to know themselves, others, and God better. We strive to do this through our lives, words, and activities by conducting ourselves in a manner pleasing to God.
New Life Family Services
New Life Family Services exists to honor the sanctity of human life by assisting clients with life-affirming decisions with the love and compassion of Christ. Adoption services, and assistance to those choosing to keep their children, are provided as alternatives to abortion.
Salt & Light Partners
Partnering with first responder organizations to strengthen and support our community through emotional and spiritual support. We have assembled a cross-section of board members, advisors, and chaplains to ensure we are woven throughout the community and responsive to the cares and concerns of our neighbors. We also partner with a variety of organizations throughout SE Minnesota and beyond to bring complementary services and events to the communities we serve.
Our mission is to provide emotional and spiritual support to our first responders through chaplaincy in our community.
Teen Hope Ministries
The mission of THM is to give high school and middle school teens an opportunity to become life-long followers of Jesus Christ. With 80% of teens not connected to a local church, THM goes to where kids are at in an attempt to share the hope and encouragement of the gospel message. THM Executive Director Gary Kadansky reaches kids through their Campus Impact Ministry, Teen Gospel Choir, Bible Quizzing, events and the Sunday morning (7a - 10a) Christian music program on 106.9 KROC-FM. Visit www.teenhopeministries.org to find more information.
Overseas Missions
Larry & Bella Mori - serving with ReachGlobal in Sendai, Japan where they lead the Sendai Izumi Church and teach English classes.
Gary & Chris Persons work on Bolinao translation of the Bible project remotely from Maryland and return to the Philippines twice a year.
Garth & Jody Pederson - Garth serves as Mobilizer for the North Central Region guiding candidates through the process to become career staff with Mission Aviation Fellowship.
Lifeline Christian Mission/Honduras - Lifeline Christian Mission works globally to spread the Good News to undeveloped and developing countries.
Alashia Lyphout - Alashia currently served in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with the Navigators in the area of collegiate work.
Sarah Hillson - Sarah works with Greater Europe Mission (GEM) in Athens, Greece focusing on refugee and immigrant outreach.
See details on these missionaries below.
Larry and Bella Mori
The Moris are serving with EFCA/ReachGlobal as church planting missionaries. They currently are serving in Sendai Japan where they are planting the Sendai Izumi Church. They are focusing on three ministries in the church: evangelism, discipleship and community outreach. Less than 1% of the people are Christian in Japan. Most of the Japanese are nominal Buddhists and Shintoists. They worship ancestors, so it often is a barrier for Japanese to reject their ancestors, Buddhism, and Shintoism to believe in Christianity. However, despite the difficulties, the Lord has chosen some Japanese to believe. So, find and share the Good News to those chosen ones. The Moris hope is in the Gospel being the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes and knowing that God does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (Romans 1:16; 2 Peter 3:9).
Email: larrymori@efca.org
Garth and Jody Pederson
Garth serves as Mobilizer for the North Central Region guiding candidates through the process to become career staff with Mission Aviation Fellowship.
Email: gpederson@maf.org
Gary and Chris Persons
Gary and Chris are working on the Bolinao project remotely from Maryland and return to the Philippines twice a year to encourage the use and distribution of the Scriptures, encourage pastors, interact with teachers and work with the local team in Bolinao.
Lifeline Christian Mission
Founded in 1980, Lifeline Christian Mission works globally to spread the Good News to undeveloped and developing countries. They equip church leaders, provide business training and invest in healthcare and schools. Lifeline empowers local leaders and pastors to lead and develop holistic Gospel-centered ministries that are relevant to their own cultures and will impact generations to come.
Lifeline Christian Mission in Ocotillo, Honduras
Russ and Becky Kidd serve yearly in Ocotillo with the eyeglass ministry. They travel to various Lifeline church communities with a medical brigade (mobile clinic) consisting of both American and Honduras health care professionals to bring medical / dental care and eyeglasses to those who have little or no access to these services. Along with providing healthcare, they seek to provide spiritual care to each person, sharing the hope of Jesus Christ. They also work with Ocotillo clinic staff to provide education and training with the goal of developing a full-service eyeglass clinic in Ocotillo.
Alashia Lyphout
Alashia currently serves in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with the Navigators focusing on collegiate work on three college campuses. Those include Coe College, Mount Mercy University, and Kirkwood Community College. On each campus, she assists in leading Bible studies, participates in evangelism and outreach efforts, disciples students, and provides spaces for students to find Christian Community. In addition, she assists in leading a Disciple-Makers Team. This team is composed of students who want to learn how to further their walk with God, lead Bible Studies, do evangelism, and disciple other students.
Sarah Hillson
Sarah’s role with Greater Europe Mission (GEM) in Athens, Greece, focuses on refugee and immigrant outreach, personal discipleship, and supporting the local church. In Greece, less than 0.5% have a personal relationship with Jesus, and it is a major gateway into Europe for refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Many arrive in Athens after traumatic journeys, searching for stability, hope, and belonging. Through building relationships, walking alongside them in daily life, and sharing the hope of Christ, the ministry she is a part of seeks to meet both practical and spiritual needs while discipling and equipping new believers to grow in their faith and become part of the local church community.