Andrew and Adria Medlen both began to feel called to urban missions while in college. Originally from Topeka, Kansas, Andrew attended Manhattan Christian College, where he studied Family and Youth Ministries. Andrew did a summer internship between his junior and senior year of college and although he had to return to Kansas at the end of the summer, his heart remained in the inner city of St. Louis. Immediately following his graduation, Andrew moved back to St. Louis and has been doing ministry with World Impact for almost eight years. Originally from Camarillo, California, Adria attended college at California State University Channel Islands where she studied English. It was during college that she began to develop a heart for inner-city issues. When introduced to World Impact in 2005, she decided to pursue a one-year internship and after she graduated she moved to St. Louis in January of 2006. Following her internship, Adria decided to pursue full-time ministry with World Impact and joined missionary staff. It was through their individual calls to serve in urban mission with World Impact that Andrew and Adria met and in January of 2008 they were married. Both Andrew and Adria share a desire to serve and mentor youth. Andrew coordinates St. Louis's participation in World Impact's Leadership In Training (LIT) program for high school youth. They both mentor junior high and high school students, as well as assist in weekly Children's Bible Clubs. With a background in English, Adria also assists the ministry through writing prayer letters, newsletters, and the like. To visit Adria and Andrew's personal blog, please click here. Or, to contact Adria and Andrew, please click here .

Randy, Hannah & Mona Riggs

Randy and Hannah Riggs began to feel led to urban ministry during their engagement to be married. After being married in May 2007 they lived in Knightstown, Indiana where Randy worked as a funeral director and Hannah served on staff at their home church. In June 2008, they moved just west of Chicago to Mooseheart, Illinois where they worked and lived with ten high school girls whose families couldn't care for them for various reasons. During their time at Mooseheart, they continued to feel God directing them to urban ministry, and in June 2009 made the move to St. Louis to serve with World Impact. Randy and Hannah have been involved with the youth program. On June 29, 2009, they were blessed with the birth of their first child, Mona Evelyn Riggs. Randy and Hannah are happy to be living within the community in which they serve, and are excited to share the message of Christ's love with their neighbors. To contact Randy, please click here. Or, you visit their personal blog by clicking here.

Kelly Schjenken

Kelly Schjenken was named the Director of World Impact St. Louis in May 2003. Before coming to World Impact he spent 28 years in business and has volunteered with numerous non-profits and churches. Vicky, his wife of 31 years, works as a CPA and a Director of Tax at Charter Communications. They have raised three children, Melody, Valerie, and Kenneth, and have three grandchildren. Kelly grew up in a poor rural setting and experienced his greatest mentoring from those who exhibited amazing faith in the face of great hardship. Through this he has come to believe that God has a special place for the poor, both the spiritually and economically poor. His desire to reach the lost for Christ and minister to those who are spiritually and economically poor brought him to World Impact St. Louis. Kelly serves as full-time volunteer Director and devotes his time to coaching the staff in their ministries and further developing the overall vision and ministry of World Impact St. Louis. To contact Kelly, please click here .

Jason Watson

Jason Watson has a dramatic testimony that began while growing up in the inner city. His father passed away when he was three, and two years later, his mother was sent to the penitentiary. The youngest of his mother's 10 children, Jason was the only one that she retained custody of. So, after she was released, he returned to north St. Louis, hisformer home. Jason's mother has been addicted to drugs her entire life. And, at the young age of 12, he began to follow in her footsteps, smoking marijuana, and later heroin when he was 16. He began selling drugs. A high school dropout, Jason was living the fast life, living for money, for fame, for his rap career. Through all of this, God continued to draw Jason to Himself. His girlfriend, searching for something more, began attending church, and committed her life to the Lord. Convicted about their relationship, she broke up with Jason. Through her consistent prayers, the Lord began to work a miracle in his life. One day, Jason went to church, heard the gospel, and gave his life to the Lord. His girlfriend became his wife, and they now have two sons. Jason began rapping for Christ, rather than for himself, for money, or fame. In 2006, Jason was introduced to World Impact through a visitor to a Bible Study he was hosting in his home, and began to feel a call to return to the inner city...this time for ministry. Jason assists with World Impact's youth outreach and Men's Basketball, and is a very active member of his church, New Direction Christian Church. He also performs Christian hip hop under the stage name J-Son - learn more by clicking here!

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WORLD IMPACT ST. LOUIS . 3108 N Grand Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63107
P 314.533.8313 F 314.652.8616

Check out World Impact across the nation! www.worldimpact.org

ministry center

Missionary Staff

Summer & Support Staff

Rob comes to us from Indiana. Rob is entering his Sophomore year at Kuyper College in Michigan. His goal is to graduate with a degree in Cross Cultural Studies and Community Developement.

Alison Hager

Rob DeGraff

Jessica Sweepe

Ken Joly

Leah Jasper

Jessica comes to us from Visilia California before entering her Senior year at Simpson University. Jessica is studying Cross Cultural Studies with a minor in Bible and Theology. Jessica has served on numerous missions trips and continues to seek the Lord in the direction of her future.

Ken comes to us from Ottawa, Canada. He learned about World Impact STL after spending a week in St. Louis at Urbana this past January. Ken is currently attending University of Ottawa studying Political Science and United States Studies.

Leah comes to us from Minneapolis after graduating from St. Catherine University in 2010 and serving two years with Urban Homeworks. Leah has served with us on a number of occasions including Fall Fest and our Spring Break program. Leah feels a strong calling to St. Louis and desires to serve with World Impact and serve the community with her Dietetics degree.

Alison comes to us from Kansas after graduating from Northwestern of Iowa in 2010. Alison served with us 3 years ago as a summer intern between her Freshman and Sophomore years of college. Alison desires to use her teaching degree by becoming employed with the St. Louis school system and continue to volunteer with World Impact STL.