Missions
Reaching the World, Starting at Home.
At River of Life, we believe the mission begins at home and extends across the world. From serving our local community to partnering with global ministries, we’re committed to sharing the love of Jesus in both word and action. Our focus in missions is built on three pillars: Support, Serve, and Send—supporting ongoing ministries, serving hands-on where needs exist, and sending people wherever God calls. Whether it’s a service project down the street or a trip across the ocean, we follow His leading to bring hope, help, and the message of Christ to a world in need.
Missionaries
Adam Schnell
Adam Schnell is the Elk River Area Director for Timber Bay. Timber Bay is a steady, faith-based outreach that's been walking alongside Elk River area students for over 20 years. Their mission is to create a safe environment where students can thrive. Through mentoring relationships, shared activities, and outdoor adventures, they help students build resilience, grow in confidence, and develop healthy life goals.
Curtis & Jen Burnam
Curtis and Jen Burnam are missionaries with Missionary Gospel Fellowship who have spent more than 30 years equipping students, pastors, and ministry leaders to make disciples. Through The Multiply Project, they train and mentor leaders, lead mission trips, and partner with churches around the world to advance the Gospel. Their passion is helping believers grow in their faith and multiply their impact for Christ.
Dr. Pat
Dr. Pat is the founder and Director Emeritus of Living Stones International, a ministry dedicated to supporting Christians who are persecuted for their faith around the world. For more than 40 years, she has traveled extensively to encourage believers, distribute Bibles, provide humanitarian aid, and strengthen churches in regions where following Christ often comes at great personal risk. Through speaking engagements, prayer letters, and firsthand ministry, she helps raise awareness of Christian persecution and mobilizes believers to pray for and support the persecuted Church.
Harold Roberts
Harold Roberts is the Food Service Director at Camp Oak Hills in Bemidji, MN. He is in charge of everything in the kitchen. The main focus at the camp is the summer camps in June and July for kids preschool through 12th grade. The rest of the year is spent cooking for various retreats and fundraising activities.
Jordan Lacks
Jordan Lacks serves with ReachGlobal Crisis Response. ReachGlobal Crisis Response works alongside local churches to bring practical help and the hope of the gospel to communities affected by disasters and crises. They help coordinate volunteers, rebuild homes, care for those impacted physically and emotionally, and build relationships that point people to Christ while supporting long-term recovery and disciple-making efforts.
Jim & Melanie Wilson
Dr. Jim and Melanie Wilson serve with IBAC (Institutos Bíblicos de las Américas y el Caribe), a ministry dedicated to equipping pastors and church leaders throughout Latin America through mobile, modular theological education. Jim is the Founder and President of IBAC and Melanie serves as the Director of institute Operations. IBAC partners churches in the United States with churches in Latin America to provide long-term biblical, theological, and pastoral training for leaders who may not otherwise have access to ministry education. Through a seven-year program of 14 intensive courses, U.S. instructors work alongside Latin American leaders to teach, mentor, and strengthen local churches, helping advance Christ's kingdom through lasting partnerships.
Paul & Tammy Roop
Paul and Tammy Roop assist in planning and serving at the Weekend To Remember Events by FamilyLife. At these events, they see God working in the hearts of men and women bringing them to repentance. As couples hear marriage defined in the context of a loving God, lives and marriages are transformed. Each weekend couples hear about the Dream of Marriage, the Fall of Marriage "Sin", the Hope for Marriage "Christ" and the Mission for Marriage, as they take what they have learned to invest in others. Their mission is to effectively develop godly families who change the world one home at a time. Their vision is that every home would be a godly home.
Sam & Angie Platt | SOAR International
SOAR International forms disciples who behold Jesus, hear His voice, and obey His call. Through prayer, prophetic training, restoration, and community, we strengthen believers to carry Christ into real life. We’re after fruit that lasts.
Tyler & Avery Miller
Tyler and Avery Miller are passionate about seeing people encounter Jesus and grow in their faith through discipleship and missions. They serve full-time with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Lakeside Montana. There Tyler works in the facilities department, helping create and maintain a campus that supports ministry and training, while Avery serves in the business department, providing financial and administrative support behind the scenes. Together they are committed to equipping the next generation to know God, serve others, and take the hope of the Gospel to the nations.
Gus & Shikha
Gus and Shikha work with Two Fish Foundation to lead a team of 55 Indian nationals dedicated to the people of the Kolkata area. The team leads and serves twelve churches, conducts after-school tutoring programs at seven locations 6 days a week, and hosts weekly Christ-center Kids Club programs for approximately 700 children. Their deepest hearts' desire is to see more people of India come to faith and freedom in Jesus Christ!
Serve
We strive to provide opportunities for the River of Life community to serve locally throughout our city. Check here for upcoming Love This City events and local serve opportunities!
Send
Each year we provide mission trip opportunities both across the U.S. and around the world. Check here for updates on upcoming missions trips!
