Missions Ministry

Richard and Joanne Piskator, Directors

Richard was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He gave his heart to the Lord at a Youth for Christ Rally in November of 1968 at Moody Memorial Church. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education at Northeastern Illinois University with honors in 1974. He taught band and choir at the secondary level for over 20 years and presently teaches music at a local school in Trinity, Texas. Richard joined LifeSprings Christian Church (formerly Trinity Fellowship) at its' inception in 1981.

Joanne was born in Iquique, Chile. As the daughter of missionaries, she spent her childhood in Chile, Bolivia and Madrid, Spain. She attended the University of Texas, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with highest honors in 1977. She taught for a year at Trinity Christian School as a part-time third and fourth grade teacher. She also has taught 14 years in the public school. Presently, she is a bilingual Pre-K teacher. Joanne joined LifeSprings in the summer of 1986.

Richard and Joanne were married in 1987 and have four children. They have served is various areas of ministries, including serving previously as Home Group Leaders and part of the Children's ministry. Currently, the Piskators serve as Adult Sunday School teachers and Mission Directors.

Since its inception, LifeSprings has been mission minded. As we are blessed through the covenant in Christ Jesus, we are also called to be a blessing to the world. The main goals of the LifeSprings Missions Ministry are as follows:

• To educate and develop our local body in the heart of missions so that we will rise up and send missionaries to all the earth to declare the Gospel of the Kingdom.
• To be a support group to existing missionaries with whom we are connected.

Our objectives are to educate and train our members about missions through a mission agency called, Accelerating International Mission Strategies (AIMS). AIMS assists churches in training and doing missions. Through on ongoing relationship with Agape Gospel Mission, spanning more than two decades, our church members support Agape Children's Home in Ghana, Africa. You may view a slideshow of our trip to Ghana.

In addition to these ministries, we also support and partner with missionaries in Ghana, Nigeria, Mexico, as well as AIMS' focus on the unreached people groups. Out longterm goal is to send out missionaries that present the gospel of Christ to those yet unreached.

The Missions Ministry works to maintain good communication with missionaries we support, so that we are informed of their activities and needs. We seek different possibilities of educating and informing on the why's of foreign missions through pastoral sermons and other teachings.

"And I will make you a great nation. And I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you, I will curse. And in you all of the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:2-3.