Welcome to Discipleship
Information

Newsletters
Meet the Disipleship Team
General Information
Training
Resources
Support
Workshops
Job Openings across the Synod

The RCA has identified a mission statement which reads as follows: Discipleship is the practice of following Jesus Christ becoming more like Him in all we think, say, and do to be the very presence of Christ in a broken and lost world so loved by God.
 
There are also several values this definition holds and the hope is that each RCA church across country adheres to and strives to be about these values as we walk in our world.  
 
Missional discipleship focuses on preparing the disciple to move out from the church into the world.  It is the gathered people of God sent into the world to proclaim the Good News thru service, actions, message and practice.
 
Relational discipleship involves all generations teaching, living and learning from one another. It is lived out in the teaching of the Great Commandment.
 
Transformational discipleship is that which about life-change in an individual, church and community.
 
Incarnational discipleship are followers of Christ that embody the Gospel in their daily lives, their thought, works, actions and heart to become more like Christ.
 
Educational discipleship involves life-long learners who engage in practices that help them grow in mind, body, and spirit.
 
Pam Kimpson is the coordinator for Discipleship ministries in the Synod of the Heartland and serves to uphold and promote growth in individuals and churches in these mentioned areas of Discipleship.  Her vision is to equip and encourage individuals and churches to make disciples by providing…………training, resources, and support.

Training……………..Pam is available to come and lead workshops and seminars on a variety of topics mostly covering the overall area of discipleship, children and adult ministries.  She also offers scholarships for regional and national conferences to help fill in the gap for churches that can’t provide those finances completely for their staff and volunteers.  These opportunities need to be seized to help leaders refine their ministry strategies and skills and to encourage those to always be life-long learners.  
 
Resources……………..There are many resources available now to churches and the Synod resource library wants to be one of those avenues of help in providing up-to date small group curriculum, children’s curriculum, DVD’s and more.  Take a look at our list on the Synod website or stop in and browse what is available.  Some resources are being swapped from church to church and Pam has some of those contacts to help you get what you need. The RCA national discipleship team is also formulating a resources blog that will contain recent articles and helpful information around a variety of ministries.
 
 
Support………………..Often times working in a church can feel isolating.  We in the youth and discipleship office have several coaching networks set-up for discipleship, youth, and children’s ministry workers all across the Synod of the Heartland’s region.  If we don’t have a network in your area we may have some contacts of some other staff in churches that live close to you or know of some other way to help you get the support you need.  These networks have the goal of providing an environment of accountability, transparency and also are resources for one another.  
 
Pam is also available for one-on-one Discipleship coaching and will also come into your church and work with education/discipleship teams to help cast vision, re-define mission and strategy.   

The Discipleship Team

Stephanie Huisman
Stephanie graduated from Northwestern College with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities in 2003, and then from Western Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 2006.She is the Dirstor of Children's and Family Ministries at the Dundee Presbyterian Church Stephanie is the Children's Pastor, and is so blessed by a church that so recognizes the importance of children in the church that they have chosen to hire an ordained minister for their Children's Ministry! Stephanie's special interests are: family ministry, children and sacraments, and volunteer enrichment. When she's not working, she loves spending time with her son Adrian, scrapbooking, and baking.

Sue Fonkert

Sue has been the Christian Education Director at Bethel Refomred in Sheldon, IA, since 2002. Her background prior to that was in the education field.  In her position she coordinates Sunday morning education time for preschool-adults and Wednesday night activities for preschool-6th grade.  She also coordinates a Backyard Adventures in the summer.

Chris VerSteeg


Chris is the Director of Community Life at Sunnybrook Community Church, in Sioux City, IA.He has been at Sunnybrook for 5 years and is very passionate about casting vision for community, administration and leading a small group ministry along with equiping people on how to have healthy authentic relationships that change lives.  

Julie Wondercheck (pictured with Pastor Terry Maassen)

Julie was born and raised in Lincoln, NE. She graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA with a BA in Communications in 2003. She has been married to husband, Jordan, since August of 2002. In December of 2007 they were blessed with twins, Jackson Dean and Stella Mae. Their birth gave her a new understanding of God’s love for all His children. What a mighty and loving God we have!
Since the fall of 2003 she has been working as the Children’s Ministry Director at Hope Community Church here in Lincoln, NE. During that time the service and ministry programs have been held at a local elementary school, so she has experienced the”transitional church.” In April 2005 they moved into a new facility, which has allowed new ministry possibilities. Hope church is around 300 members, so making good use of volunteers without burning them out is always a challenge. Julie is here to bounce ideas around about recruiting volunteers and how to organize them affectively.

Jody Habinck

Jody Habinck served 8 years in the ANG Air Force in Security Forces in various roles globally from 1996 to 2004, graduated from Northwestern College in 2004 with a BA in Religion and History, and received a Masters in Divinity from Western Seminary in 2007.  Jody is an Associate Pastor focusing on Young Adults, Families, and Outdoor Ministry through a new outreach ministry “Call of the Wild.”  Jody serves Sheldon FRC which is larger church located in a small rural town that draws many young adults, and outdoor enthusiasts. It is the perfect setting for teaching, vision casting, and community building as he partners with a staff ministry.  Jody enjoys starting new ministries, enhancing community life, and using creative ways to widen the peoples’ perspective on life and God.  Family life consists of two toddler sons, and a wife of ten years who works outside the home. Jody enjoys reading, weightlifting, and hunting. When Jody can get away his other passion is bow hunting Iowa’s trophy whitetails each November where in solitude he is annually refreshed and inspired.