LOCAL MISSIONARIES

Young Life exists to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them to grow in their faith.  Mike has been involved with Young Life since high school.  As a native of Syracuse, NY, Mike attended church but thought little about God when he was outside of the church.  It was at Young Life camp where he heard the Gospel and learned that God not only loved the world, but also loved him.  Mike made the decision to follow Christ and he has been involved with the Young Life Ministry ever since!

Mike felt called to pursue full-time ministry with Young Life during his college years at the University of Buffalo.  He began his ministry with Young Life in Syracuse, NY.  He and his wife, Kim, have been married for 22 years.  They have lived in Central PA for more than 13 years, where they’ve raised their three children – Alex (18), Abby (15), and Holly (13).

• Pray for the Lord to guide leaders.  Navigating COVID-19 regulations and concerns has been a challenge.  Pray the Lord would give wisdom to leaders as they make decisions about meetings in groups with kids.
• Pray for volunteers.  Many Young Life volunteer leaders are new and need training and ministry experience.  Pray for God to provide wisdom.

       Pray for God’s provision.  Funds continue to be a challenge – especially because of COVID-19, where typical fundraising events could not be executed.

Andrew Berg (born in Newburgh, NY) and Liz Berg (born in Northampton, PA) first met as freshmen while attending Franklin & Marshall College.  Together, they served as student leaders in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.  After graduating with honors and double-majoring in Spanish and Environmental Science, Liz felt God drawing her to work for InterVarsity as a campus staff minister to Dickinson College.  Andrew, who double-majored in History and Political Science, joined Liz two years later.  The Bergs married in 2014 and planted roots in Carlisle where they seek to minister to college students who attend Dickinson and nearby schools.  They desire for students to experience life transformation, deep discipleship, and a passion for Jesus Christ.

Currently, Andrew serves as an Area Ministry Director for InterVarsity in Central PA in which he supervises staff and volunteers and oversees InterVarsity fellowship at 15 different campuses.  Liz is serving as an InterVarsity Campus Team Leader at Dickinson College and Penn State Harrisburg, where she guides volunteers and student leaders to facilitate Bible studies and engage in evangelism.  Together, the Bergs have witnessed dozens of students come to faith, hundreds of students trained in evangelism and leadership skills, plus countless others who were impacted by the love of Christ.

In 2020, the Bergs welcomed their first child (Luke) into their family!

Jack Crans is the founder and Director of County Corrections Gospel Mission.  In 1959, he moved to Coatesville, PA, where his eyes were opened to the epidemic of poverty, broken families, and sorrow facing the community.  Crans was deeply impacted by the reality of classmates and neighbors who were incarcerated for drug crimes and, too often, dying prematurely.

Taking action, in 1973, Jack stepped into the role as Chaplain of the Chester County Prison, where he quickly began to see great needs in the lives of prisoners and in the lives who “kept” them.  A heavy heart for correctional officers and wardens spilled over into a burden for police and all related peace-officers.

County Corrections Gospel Ministry is in its 48th year.  In addition to serving as Prison Chaplain, Jack leads alongside of Pointman Leadership Institute.  He and his wife, Sue, have been married for 50 years; have three grown sons, and 12 grandchildren.   Their sons – Jonathan, Timothy, & Joshua – are engaged in full-time ministry.

More than 18 years ago, Joel was working as a Youth Pastor in Chicago, but sensed the Lord was calling him to something new.  God led Joel and his wife, Jennifer, to the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship of Cumberland County where they seek to reach children with the Gospel message.  Their focus is not only to reach new children with the Gospel, but also to help the Christian child to grow in their knowledge of God and their walk with Him.  The organization also seeks to train adults to teach and reach children effectively.  We rejoice alongside Joel in learning of the 12 children who accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior while attending summer camp 2021!

Joel and Jennifer have four children.  Their eldest daughters – Brianna and Alyssa – continue to serve as summer missionaries with Child Evangelism Fellowship.  The McLeod family enjoys doing ministry together!