Ministries

Missions

Jesus last command to "go …and make disciples of all the nations," is the first priority of the Visalia Evangelical Free Church (VEFC). The aim of all our church's ministries is to make disciples. This is true of our missions program as we seek to reach out beyond our local congregational activity, sending and supporting workers in the Lord's harvest fields around the world.

As a member of the Evangelical Free Church Association of churches, we are already part of a "family" of churches with a vision for the world and a strong commitment to missions. From the beginning of our church's history in 1980, VEFC has given missions top priority. Within the first year, we had begun to support the Ott family in Germany, the Samulson family in Sudan, and the Vanderpoel family in Japan. Through the years as our church has grown, the Lord has blessed our missions program, enabling us to increase our contribution to the building of His kingdom through our giving, not only of our financial resources, but of several of our own church members to full time service.

VEFC Missionaries

Steve & Susan Bledsoe (Summer, Haley, Cameron)  – Campus Crusade – Greenville, S. Carolina -  For several years the Bledsoes were in New Zealand  but are now busy making disciples for Jesus Christ in S. Carolina.  They work one on one with individuals who want to grow in their walk with Christ.	Ben and Jeanne Beckner (Joel, Rachel, Laura, Erik)  - EFC - Lyon , France -  The Beckners have been church planters in Western Europe since 1984. In the past few years Ben has been taking short term French language teams into Russia , Ukraine , and Bosnia to establish a missionary vision among French believers.
Tim and Michelle Cantrell (Evan, Titus, Jana Marie )  - Johannesburg, S. Africa -  Tim and Michelle began their missionary career providing training for pastors and leaders in theology and counseling, as well as evangelism and pastoral care. God has now lead them to pastor a large church in Johannesburg .	Mike & Janet Davis (Bethany, John-Marvin, Matthew, Gabi)  - EFCA, Lisbon, Portugal - The Davis’ have been church planters in Europe since 1994, ten years in Spain, and now in Portugal. Mike presently serves as Area Leader for Europe as he oversees the work of twelve City Teams.
Darin and Kathy Dolson (Nikayla, Danielle, Bryan , Brock)  - Campus Crusade – Orlando , Florida –  The Dolsons were for many years involved in campus evangelism and discipleship. They are now involved in ministering to missionaries who are in transition seeking God’s direction.	Jon and Sarah Haahr (Nathan)  – Story Runners – Orlando . Florida –  Since 2003 Jon and Sarah have been working to help develop strategies to take God’s Word to oral based language groups who do not have the Bible in their language.  They have worked in Thailand and India , and are based in Orlando , Fl.
Jim and Deb Rumelhart  (Amber, Matthew, and April)  - Athletes in Action - Maineville, Ohio -  Athletes in Action use sports to share the love of Christ with students in the US and around the World. Through internship programs, school assemblies, international tours, and summer camps, AIA is able to reach many. Jim is a certified athletic trainer who helps coordinate their fitness programs. He is also on the leadership team of the Christian Sports Medicine Association, a growing ministry to sports medicine and fitness professionals.	Craig and Alice Ott ( Benjamin, Jonathan, Jacob)  – EFCA, Chicago, Illinois -   Veteran church planters in Germay, Craig now teaches at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago , and travels extensively training others in church planting.
John and Alina Pipes  - International Messengers - USA/Europe/Uganda -  After serving for several years sharing the Gospel in Poland , the Pipes returned to the states as their home base, but continue to focus on Eastern Europe . John and Alina have also in the last few years begun developing a medical/evangelism ministry in Uganda .	Phil and Cindy Porter (Derek, Isaac)  - Youth With A Mission - Bangkok, Thailand -  The Porters have been busy in Bangkok helping develop a university student outreach, Kings Kids, YWAM Music, a Thai worship/songwriting ministry, staff internship, and a School of Worship. Their ministry is now focused on YWAM Thailand's national office, helping the 30+ Ministry leaders in Thailand.
O. Georgekutty and family  - Christians in Action - N.E. India –  Pastor Georgekutty is an evangelist and pastor in Southern India . He and his family are native Indians.	AJ & Jordan Pitkin  - Young Life, San Diego , California -  AJ is involved full time reaching high school students with the Good News of Jesus through coaching sports, leading clubs, and camps.
Bret & Katy Laird  (Timothy, Titus & Aleithea)  -  Slavic Gospel - Ukraine -  The Lairds are busy in Ukraine making disciples for Jesus Christ. Their work involves mobilizing Ukrainian churches for missions efforts among unreached areas and peoples of Ukraine , as well as helping them extend their reach to places like Tajikistan and the Middle East .