Our Missionaries
Missions matter at UTMC! Whether at home or abroad, we are a community of Christians who are passionate about sharing the gospel of the Kingdom and the way of Jesus Christ.
Mike Nelson and Family
Open Air Campaigners
Gospel Express
Mike serves in several different capacities. In West Perth, Mike has an office from which he offers financial counselling to anyone in need of advice. In Southwestern Ontario, Mike works with Open Air Campaigners (OAC) sharing the gospel through street evangelism. Nationally, Mike and his family work with Gospel Express, primarily in prison ministry to inmates. Mike also takes special trips with Gospel express to the USA to work in prison ministry there as well.
Michael Van Oostveen
Arms of Jesus
Michael Van Oostveen works with the Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission in Parramos, Guatemala. Michael teaches English and spiritual formation classes at the mission school. He also works closely with international short terms mission groups that visit the Arms of Jesus ministry sites. These responsibilities include touring groups around the area, visiting house building sites, remote villages, other area schools and community centres, as well as local garbage dumps in which the poorest people live.
Michael regularly communicates with us through his BLOG (click here).
Support Michael by downloading, printing and filling out this form. Bring it to the Upper Thames Missionary Church office or mail it directly to AOJ using the information on the form.
Janelle Kuepfer
YFC/YU
Janelle has been serving faithfully in Mitchell for over 4 years with Youth for Christ / Youth Unlimited. She works primarily in the high school with Grade 7 and 8 students. Janelle also works with West Perth youth at the community youth centre on St. Andrew St. in Mitchell. Janelle’s goal is to provide social and spiritual support, guidance, and encouragement to area youth. She is driven by the good news of Jesus Christ to hang out to the youth people of our town for His glory.
Alyssa Van Oostveen
Youth With A Mission
Alyssa’s goal is to help train fellow Christians in the art of filmmaking and acting for the screen. Alyssa and YWAM seek to
help get more Christians into the film industry to be a light and a witness to those in film. She feels as a follower of Christ it is her job to use the gifts God has given her to be a support for others who feel led to enter into the film industry.
Eric and Veronica Kress
Eric and Veronica have worked with supporting young moms in Costa Rica and are now entering a phase of building support so that they can go back at the end of this year as full-time missionaries. They have seen incredible breakthroughs in the lives of young moms who receive care, support, and training in marketable skills. The work that Eric and Veronica do is primarily done through local churches and connecting young moms with existing support networks. Contact the church office to find out how you can support them.
Stan and Sally Bragg
World Partners: Saugeen First Nations
The Braggs work on the Saugeen First Nations Reserve, near Owen Sound, Ontario through ministry to children and youth and to their families. Their ministry includes outreach into the homes of these children and youth, 95% of the children who attend weekly children’s programs have not previously known Jesus. Included in their ministry are winter youth camps (in relationship with Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Ontario), Baby Blessing box distribution, a Youth garden produce project, an archery program, a community bike program and leadership within a Christian church on the reserve. The Braggs have also developed a First Nations team who ministers alongside them. They believe strongly in raising up First Nations Leaders.
EMCC
World Partners
World Partners is the international ministry of the EMCC. Commissioning over 80 professional missionaries who work alongside a host of national workers, World Partners is developing a ministry focused on making disciples around the world.
The Great Commission is the central focus of World Partners. Going into all the world to make disciples is understood as creating disciple making movements with each disciple carrying on the vision of making disciples to the fourth generation.
