Who we are
We would like to begin by defining what “ministry” means to us. The word “ministry” can be defined as department, bureau, or service. We view what were doing as our service to Christians, non-Christians, and most importantly to our Saviour, Jesus Christ. The ministry we are involved with does not separate us from other Christians, but instead it identifies us as members of the body of Christ. Our mission is the same as the disciples declared in Acts 6:4, But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. When we decided to create a name for the ministry God had given to us, we chose Carry The Cross Ministries and for our mission verse we chose Luke 9:23, If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. Both of these were selected because they illustrated specifically the ministry we had been given at that time, not only physically carrying the cross to reach the lost but also the living the life of daily dying to our own desires in order that He would live! Now, two years after choosing the name and verse our ministry has drastically changed. We still devote the same if not more time to carrying the cross, but we are spending more and more time working with the homeless and troubled youth of our areas.
Bios
Jason and Courtney Neland
The Nelands came together as a family in 2003 when Jason and Courtney tied the knot. Ten months later Gracie joined them and three years later Joshua decided to come along for the ride as well. Jason has been working with kids since 1998 when he got saved at a Youth Retreat through Emmanuel Baptist church. After close to four years at Emmanuel as an associate youth pastor he went to work for Daybreak Community Church as a Youth Pastor and then Associate Pastor. In 2002 he also went to work for KVC Behavioral Healthcare as a Juvenile Intake Counselor. There he worked with all ages of kids that were abandoned, neglected, arrested or had runaway from home. He worked there until June of 2007. In April of 2007 he began a program where he would take kids that had been through intake out to a farm in Bonner Springs where they would do farm chores, learn about and ride horses. He will continue taking kids out to the farm and is now currently pursuing opening up On Eagles Wings Farm. Courtney grew up the second oldest of seven children which allowed her to learn early on the skills that it takes to raise a family. She has spent time as a nanny and has worked in childcare. She also worked at Emmanuel Baptist teaching the Junior High kids and leading a small group bible study. Courtney was the Children's Director at Daybreak Community Church for several years. She is currently a homemaker taking care of their two wonderful children.
Chris Knowles
Chris grew up in a loving family that ended in a rough divorce. He then began to live a life where love and affection seemed only to be a dream. His hope was that one day he could have a family where love was always to be found. This loving family was found when he got involved with a church and decided to start living his life for Christ. Chris has made a commitment to share the love that he missed growing up with other youth that may be going through the same things he did. He has served many different age groups in several different settings. Chris is currently sharing his love for kids while spending time with them out on a farm. Some of his goals are to teach the kids a good work ethic and how to put their trust in something other than themselves. At the farm he teaches kids to trust the horse that is underneath them. At first they are scared but they soon find that they can trust something that could crush them if it wanted to. Chris feels helping the kids to learn to trust when everything and everyone else in life has failed them is truly a blessing and helps the kids to heal from past wounds and learn to love and trust again. He plans to move in full time when On Eagles Wings Farm opens up so that he can share his newfound love and trust with the kids that come to stay at the farm. His main responsibilities will be on the farm end working with the kids and the animals.
Warren Kittler
Warren Kittler is a 24 year old with a passion for following Christ, educating urban youth and practicing sustainable living. Warren spent the summer of 2007 as a field laborer at the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture where he got a first hand introduction to organic, agriculture practices. When he isn't in the field Warren is spending time with friends in his community where he lives or with the congregation of his church, Bread of Life Outreach Ministries in Kansas City, Kansas. He has been actively involved with this inner-city church over the past year. Warren plans on using his agricultural skills to help On Eagles Wings Farm to establish and maintain their vegetable production and to pass his knowledge on to the kids.
Scott Walden
Scott Walden is a loving father of seven wonderful children. Over the years of raising his own children he has developed a love for kids that knows no bounds and has inspired him to want to help them out in whatever way that he can. Scott has volunteered his time over the years as a foster parent, a Sunday school teacher and a middle and high school jv and varsity basketball head coach. He currently works as Manager of Engineering for Block and Co. in Kansas City and teaches heating and air conditioning classes at Johnson County Community College. Scott wants to pass his skills and knowledge on to youth that desire to learn a trade that will help them to find a steady job. He currently volunteers his time out at the farm by cooking incredible lunches and by being an awesome mentor and encourager to the kids that come out. When On Eagles Wings Farm is opened Scott will be involved with teaching and mentoring the kids in job and life skills.