Abel and Ruth Sairattanyu – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Abel and Ruth, natives to Thailand, work with the Lahu and Shan tribes. Their ministry includes seven village churches and an orphanage (about 25 children). Each of the churches has a native minister and is visited by Abel monthly.

Jason and Sarah Lucas – Foundations For Nations – Wyoming

Chance and Ginger Newingham – Lifegate in Africa

Ginger (Malcolm) Newingham attended FCC since birth and was active in its youth activities before going to Lincoln Christian University in 2003. She met and married Chance while in college, and they served churches in the Carlinville and Athens areas. They still live in central Illinois and have four sons, Nasko, Edward, Louis, and Walter.

Kenny and Heather Haggard – Korce, Albania

Larry and Mandy Renfro – Lincoln, IL

Larry and Mandy (Patterson) Renfro were active members at FCC during the 1980’s. In March 2005 they began their ministry in Malawi, Africa.  However, they moved back to the States in 2017, where they are both serving in different ministries.  Larry works with ACM International to make teams of disciples, form Kingdom churches, and to build a global community.  Mandy is employed at Lincoln Christian University as the Resident Director of the girl’s dorm.

Bill and Susan Weibel – Naledi Christian Education – South Africa

Bill and Susan Weibel (Daughter and son-in-law of Wayne and Carol Winans) provide proper education to students in South Africa. South Africa is ranked among the worst in the world for proper education. Naledi Christian Education seeks to change this. They have implemented a high standard, international schooling curriculum known as Accelerated Christian Education. They are in the process of building a school for 320 children from Grade R to Grade 7. Bill and Susan want to equip children with academic skills, life skills, and sports skills. Empowering children with Christian morals and values is also a main focus of this ministry.

Pino and Evelina Neglia – Italy and Albania

Pino Neglia, a native to Italy who was raised in a Christian home, did his graduate studies at Cincinnati Christian Seminary. Returning to Italy, he worked in the Lecce Christian Mission which was started by the Troyer family in 1954. The mission prints magazines with Christian articles, and holds both worship services and Bible studies. Using a type of friendship evangelism, they have been successful in reaching people of other cultures who have been transplanted to Italy. The mission supports 20 churches in Italy and 5 in Albania. Bible courses and leadership training started by Pino have been helpful in both countries.

Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois

This campus ministry holds weekly large group services as well as Bible studies, retreats, and mission trips. The building used for the ministry in Macomb (Campus Students for Christ) includes a number of apartments which are rented to WIU students.  

Spire Conference and the International Conference on Missions

These two annual conventions are held in a variety of U.S. locations and attended by many from the Christian Church and Church of Christ. The conventions include large group sessions and many smaller workshop sessions as well as providing an oppurtunity to learn about the various missions and colleges. In addition to encouraging, equipping, and recruiting workers, it is a time of renewing friendships and participating in worship services.

Kewanee Local Missions Fund

The Kewanee Local Missions Fund goes completely towards changing lives right here in Kewanee. Last year we donated it to Rebuilding Together Henry County, when we partnered with them to help repair and fix up 4 homes in Kewanee for families in need. We hope to see this fund used as a blessing to our neighbors.

Kewanee Ministerial Alliance Benevolence Fund

The Kewanee Ministerial Fund is sponsored by the churches of Kewanee; it is used to help individuals and families with living expenses such as utilities, rent, car repairs, food, etc. Although we are not as involved as some other churches, we do feel that we should contribute to these needs in our community. FCC has its own Shepherd’s Fund to give that same type of assistance to our members. In the past year the Shepherd’s Fund has spent over $12,000 to help 30 families.

Lincoln Christian University – Lincoln, Illinois

Founded in 1944, Lincoln Christian University has grown to an annual enrollment of over 1000. LCU has developed into three related schools–the College (undergraduate programs for traditional students), the Seminary (graduate theological programs) and the Hargrove School (professionally-oriented programs for working adults). These schools offer a wide range of programs in more than twenty majors, from business to worship. The campus includes dormitory housing for more than 600 single students and about 60 apartments. In addition, the Las Vegas site has multiple classrooms and a theological library.

Rock River Christian Camp – Polo, Illinois

Organized in 1944, the camp now ministers to more than 60 churches and includes nearly 100 acres. Beginning as a cluster of rustic cabins (now called Main Camp), Rock River has added Wilderness and Settlement Camps, Earth and White Oaks Lodges, and the Farm. In addition to the traditional camps for elementary, junior and senior high students, there are wilderness, adventure, equestrian, volleyball, and paintball camps. Other family members are invited to attend family camp, crafting retreats, marriage retreats, or “young at heart” days.

Safe Families – Henry County

Safe Families is a volunteer movement that connects the children of parents in distress with host families who have been called to open their hearts, their arms and their homes to serve those in need. The Safe Families experience starts at church, where families are invited to not only change the lives of a fellow family for better, but to enrich their own with untold blessings by living out the gospel. By hosting these vulnerable children along with support from the church, this extended family environment helps keep children safe and reunite families all in the name of Christ.

WorkCamp – Litchfield, NH

In 1989, workcamp originated with 17 students and their adult sponsors heading out for a week-long mission trip to do home repairs for low-income/disabled families in Bolivar, Tennessee. After a couple of years the team decided that there were many under-resourced families right here in the Northeast who could benefit from the type of work they did.

Current Directors Ken and Marcia Therrien have been providing oversight to workcampNE since 2003. Ken had spent the previous four years as a crew leader prior to assuming his current role as Executive Director. A volunteer staff of approximately 20 people help in the “off season” by lending a hand at various custom day/week events held throughout the year. The year 2006 saw us expand to two weeks enabling campers to work on 45 different housing sites through the efforts of 350 individuals. In 2007, workcampNE incorporated as a 501(c)(3); a federally recognized non-profit.

In 2013, Jack and Tammy Hageman answered God’s call and moved from Illinois out to New Hampshire. Jack is a retired state trooper and has generously, and obediently decided to volunteer full time for the ministry. He serves now as our Building Arts Director, or “BAD” for short – overseeing worksites for camp. Tammy lends her talents to back office work and to doing whatever is necessary for the smooth running of five weeks of actual camp. While history is important, workcampNE prefers to look to the future! With God’s leading we’re looking forward to more weeks of camp per summer, more residents helped, more students impacted for His name and a richer history being developed.